Navy Wives Welfare Association Goa
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Transcript of Navy Wives Welfare Association Goa
VARUNIVARUNIN E W S L E T T E R A P R I L 2 0 2 1
VARUNI
Navy Wives Welfare Association Goa Navy Wives Welfare Association Goa
NWWA (GOA) COMMITTEE MEMBERS LIST PHONE NO 0832- 2585294 9405429817
E-MAIL goanwwagmailcom
PresidentSakhiVice President
SecretaryTreasurer - Welfare
Treasurer - Club
Mrs Priya PhiliposeMrs Sabida SadiqMrs Snigdha NehruMrs Nidhi VermaMrs Reena Pandey
CORE COMMITTEE - NWWA GOA
DIRECTORY
GROUP COORDINATORSArogya
AshirwadBalwadi
ChetnaJagriti
Kala KendraPragati
Prakrati
Mrs Priti KagtiMrs Panchali GhoshMrs Payal SwarupMrs Sucheta NavetMrs Neha ShrivastavaMrs Babita NairMrs Savita TheophilusMrs Navjeet Singh
Samudri SancharSankalp
SaundaryaSparsh
UdyogikaCounsellor
Mrs Tripti ChauhanMrs Malavika VartakMrs(Dr) Shweta VarshneyMrs Jyoti SridharMrs Sabida SadiqMrs Jayati PuriMrs Babita Nair
ACTIVITY CO-ORDINATORSKala Kendra
Pragati
PrakritiSanchar
Sparsh
Mrs(Dr) Aishwarya RaiMrs Veenu SheokhandMrs Rasika BhuteyMrs Sonal DarkeMrs Vidhu Bajaj KothiyalMrs Garima Singh
Meet the Team
NWWA Committee Goa
Front Row (L-R) Mrs Babita Nair Mrs Malavika Vartak Mrs Sabida Sadiq Mrs Priya PhiliposeMrs Savita Theophilus Mrs Tripti Chauhan Mrs Panchali Ghosh
Back Row (L-R) Mrs Vidhu Bajaj Mrs Veenu Sheokand Mrs Rasika Bhutey Mrs Jayati Puri MrsShweta Varshney Mrs Neha Shrivastava Mrs Jyothi Sridhar Mrs Monisha Rastogi
Mrs Snigdha Nehru Mrs Nidhi Verma Mrs Priti Kagti Mrs Payal Swarup Mrs Garima Singh Mrs Sucheta Navet
Sub Committee NWWA Goa
Front Row (L-R) Mrs Ashwini Patil Mrs Surekha Kadam Mrs Rukhsana Akhatar Mrs Sapna Malape MrsVeenu Sheokand Mrs Savita Theophilus Mrs Priya Philipose Mrs Rasika Bhutey Mrs Medam Dhanlaxmi
Mrs Nisha Shinde Mrs Radha Mrs Mahi Manjunath
1 Varuni April 2021
Message From the President NWWA (WR)
The Communique
2 Varuni April 2021
Dear Ladies
Ever since things have slowly started limping back to what it was like before COVID an essential skill wehave all realised we need is adaptability I see it as the ability to be creative and flexible in the face of newsituations and NWWA Goa sailed through the changing times with remarkable alacrity
From online workshops to live baking demonstrations and finally being able to organise a short fun-filledouting for the most vulnerable section of our community our senior citizens ndash the NWWA Goa team breezedthrough the pandemic with ingenuity There was no break in learning and the fun continued albeit fromhome Throughout the period community members including children were encouraged to socialisevirtually through seminars workshops poetry essay dance and music competitions
In this latest edition of Varuni the ldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo edition we also have in focus our four-legged friends whobrought joy to several families during the lockdown In the past year pets have provided companionshipconsistency and joy to millions around the world While many sought companionship in pets others set onthe road to self-discovery learning new hobbies and experiencing new things
Strangely this time of restricted social interactions also brought to the fore newfound respect for the samething Spending more time together strengthened family ties within nuclear families The time-out fromregular life forced me to re-examine my values my relationships and my general lifestyle And I know thatmany of us experienced the same - a shift in our mindset respect and love for the nature surrounding us apromise to travel again explore more and live life to the fullest never taking anything for granted again
I want to congratulate our Sanchar team for this beautiful Varuni For your commitment and fresh energyldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo is what I wish for all of us - proud survivors quick and keen learners tenacious in our tinyspheres of influence
God bless us all and keep us safe
3 Varuni April 2021
Message from the President NWWA Goa
Warmest Regards Priya
Priya PhiliposePresident NWWA Goa
The Communique
4 Varuni April 2021
Message from the Editorial Team
A warm welcome to the new edition of Varuni 2021 The theme for thisnewsletter Ctrl+Alt+Reset might sound like some technical jargon Yetit is but a summary of our lives in 2020 ndash when many of us pausedperhaps looked back or even looked ahead pondering about the lsquowhatifsrsquo and lsquowhat nowrsquo
This newsletter is a humble attempt at bringing to you some of thesestories of resilience and change The compilation is a celebration of ourindomitable spirit and the rare quality of finding humour in anysituation
In this special edition we have a couple of teachers from the NavalChildren School sharing their humorous yet poignant experiences ofteaching online in the past few months
Like teachers adapted to online teaching students also altered theirroutines and we have included some stories from the other side of thespectrum
Just like humans our pets had a lot to cope with ndash such as making peacewith too much human company at times While we couldnrsquot cover theirpoint of view we do have some exciting stories from pet owners in thisedition Therersquos also a dedicated page featuring the four-legged heroesof NOFRA
An interesting account of managing a transfer during the lockdowntaking up a new job and pursuing new hobbies post-pandemicnutrition tips from a renowned dietician and stress management tipsfrom an experienced psychologist fill up the remaining pages of thisnewsletter ndash a colourful kaleidoscope of how we hit the Reset button in2020
We sincerely hope you enjoy reading through this edition of Varuni asmuch as we enjoyed putting it together for you
Editors Note
Malavika VartakGroup Co-ordinator
Sanchar (Goa)
Vidhu Bajaj KothiyalEditor and Designer
Cover Design Kavya Vartak
Jojo Joseph and Vidhu
Bid Farewell to
Aparajita MenonMonisha Rastogi
Priti PurohitAmina M Azad
Toral VoraSonal Darke
Seema Dhanush
NWWA Committee Members
Welcome
Sabida SadiqMalavika Vartak
Navjeet SinghNeha Shrivastava
Garima SinghVidhu Bajaj Kothiyal
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
5 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) Western Region arrived on hermaiden visit to Goa after assuming charge on 11 Mar 21 She was received by President NWWA Goa Duringthe short trip President NWWA (WR) visited the Welfare Centre at Varunapuri went around the classes inprogress and interacted with teachers and students She also met members of the Welfare Sub Committeeand reviewed the activities President NWWA (WR) also inaugurated the renovated Saundarya BeautyParlour and thereafter interacted with the ladies of Goa Naval Area at Rajhans auditorium Mrs KalaHarikumar shared her vision and apprised the audience of the initiatives being planned by the WesternRegion She urged every lady to contribute towards the community in their own capacities
Interaction with the Ladies of Goa Naval Area
Visit to the Welfare Centre Varuna Puri
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
6 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Inauguration of the Renovated Saundarya Parlour
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
7 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
NWWA (GOA) COMMITTEE MEMBERS LIST PHONE NO 0832- 2585294 9405429817
E-MAIL goanwwagmailcom
PresidentSakhiVice President
SecretaryTreasurer - Welfare
Treasurer - Club
Mrs Priya PhiliposeMrs Sabida SadiqMrs Snigdha NehruMrs Nidhi VermaMrs Reena Pandey
CORE COMMITTEE - NWWA GOA
DIRECTORY
GROUP COORDINATORSArogya
AshirwadBalwadi
ChetnaJagriti
Kala KendraPragati
Prakrati
Mrs Priti KagtiMrs Panchali GhoshMrs Payal SwarupMrs Sucheta NavetMrs Neha ShrivastavaMrs Babita NairMrs Savita TheophilusMrs Navjeet Singh
Samudri SancharSankalp
SaundaryaSparsh
UdyogikaCounsellor
Mrs Tripti ChauhanMrs Malavika VartakMrs(Dr) Shweta VarshneyMrs Jyoti SridharMrs Sabida SadiqMrs Jayati PuriMrs Babita Nair
ACTIVITY CO-ORDINATORSKala Kendra
Pragati
PrakritiSanchar
Sparsh
Mrs(Dr) Aishwarya RaiMrs Veenu SheokhandMrs Rasika BhuteyMrs Sonal DarkeMrs Vidhu Bajaj KothiyalMrs Garima Singh
Meet the Team
NWWA Committee Goa
Front Row (L-R) Mrs Babita Nair Mrs Malavika Vartak Mrs Sabida Sadiq Mrs Priya PhiliposeMrs Savita Theophilus Mrs Tripti Chauhan Mrs Panchali Ghosh
Back Row (L-R) Mrs Vidhu Bajaj Mrs Veenu Sheokand Mrs Rasika Bhutey Mrs Jayati Puri MrsShweta Varshney Mrs Neha Shrivastava Mrs Jyothi Sridhar Mrs Monisha Rastogi
Mrs Snigdha Nehru Mrs Nidhi Verma Mrs Priti Kagti Mrs Payal Swarup Mrs Garima Singh Mrs Sucheta Navet
Sub Committee NWWA Goa
Front Row (L-R) Mrs Ashwini Patil Mrs Surekha Kadam Mrs Rukhsana Akhatar Mrs Sapna Malape MrsVeenu Sheokand Mrs Savita Theophilus Mrs Priya Philipose Mrs Rasika Bhutey Mrs Medam Dhanlaxmi
Mrs Nisha Shinde Mrs Radha Mrs Mahi Manjunath
1 Varuni April 2021
Message From the President NWWA (WR)
The Communique
2 Varuni April 2021
Dear Ladies
Ever since things have slowly started limping back to what it was like before COVID an essential skill wehave all realised we need is adaptability I see it as the ability to be creative and flexible in the face of newsituations and NWWA Goa sailed through the changing times with remarkable alacrity
From online workshops to live baking demonstrations and finally being able to organise a short fun-filledouting for the most vulnerable section of our community our senior citizens ndash the NWWA Goa team breezedthrough the pandemic with ingenuity There was no break in learning and the fun continued albeit fromhome Throughout the period community members including children were encouraged to socialisevirtually through seminars workshops poetry essay dance and music competitions
In this latest edition of Varuni the ldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo edition we also have in focus our four-legged friends whobrought joy to several families during the lockdown In the past year pets have provided companionshipconsistency and joy to millions around the world While many sought companionship in pets others set onthe road to self-discovery learning new hobbies and experiencing new things
Strangely this time of restricted social interactions also brought to the fore newfound respect for the samething Spending more time together strengthened family ties within nuclear families The time-out fromregular life forced me to re-examine my values my relationships and my general lifestyle And I know thatmany of us experienced the same - a shift in our mindset respect and love for the nature surrounding us apromise to travel again explore more and live life to the fullest never taking anything for granted again
I want to congratulate our Sanchar team for this beautiful Varuni For your commitment and fresh energyldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo is what I wish for all of us - proud survivors quick and keen learners tenacious in our tinyspheres of influence
God bless us all and keep us safe
3 Varuni April 2021
Message from the President NWWA Goa
Warmest Regards Priya
Priya PhiliposePresident NWWA Goa
The Communique
4 Varuni April 2021
Message from the Editorial Team
A warm welcome to the new edition of Varuni 2021 The theme for thisnewsletter Ctrl+Alt+Reset might sound like some technical jargon Yetit is but a summary of our lives in 2020 ndash when many of us pausedperhaps looked back or even looked ahead pondering about the lsquowhatifsrsquo and lsquowhat nowrsquo
This newsletter is a humble attempt at bringing to you some of thesestories of resilience and change The compilation is a celebration of ourindomitable spirit and the rare quality of finding humour in anysituation
In this special edition we have a couple of teachers from the NavalChildren School sharing their humorous yet poignant experiences ofteaching online in the past few months
Like teachers adapted to online teaching students also altered theirroutines and we have included some stories from the other side of thespectrum
Just like humans our pets had a lot to cope with ndash such as making peacewith too much human company at times While we couldnrsquot cover theirpoint of view we do have some exciting stories from pet owners in thisedition Therersquos also a dedicated page featuring the four-legged heroesof NOFRA
An interesting account of managing a transfer during the lockdowntaking up a new job and pursuing new hobbies post-pandemicnutrition tips from a renowned dietician and stress management tipsfrom an experienced psychologist fill up the remaining pages of thisnewsletter ndash a colourful kaleidoscope of how we hit the Reset button in2020
We sincerely hope you enjoy reading through this edition of Varuni asmuch as we enjoyed putting it together for you
Editors Note
Malavika VartakGroup Co-ordinator
Sanchar (Goa)
Vidhu Bajaj KothiyalEditor and Designer
Cover Design Kavya Vartak
Jojo Joseph and Vidhu
Bid Farewell to
Aparajita MenonMonisha Rastogi
Priti PurohitAmina M Azad
Toral VoraSonal Darke
Seema Dhanush
NWWA Committee Members
Welcome
Sabida SadiqMalavika Vartak
Navjeet SinghNeha Shrivastava
Garima SinghVidhu Bajaj Kothiyal
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
5 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) Western Region arrived on hermaiden visit to Goa after assuming charge on 11 Mar 21 She was received by President NWWA Goa Duringthe short trip President NWWA (WR) visited the Welfare Centre at Varunapuri went around the classes inprogress and interacted with teachers and students She also met members of the Welfare Sub Committeeand reviewed the activities President NWWA (WR) also inaugurated the renovated Saundarya BeautyParlour and thereafter interacted with the ladies of Goa Naval Area at Rajhans auditorium Mrs KalaHarikumar shared her vision and apprised the audience of the initiatives being planned by the WesternRegion She urged every lady to contribute towards the community in their own capacities
Interaction with the Ladies of Goa Naval Area
Visit to the Welfare Centre Varuna Puri
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
6 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Inauguration of the Renovated Saundarya Parlour
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
7 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Meet the Team
NWWA Committee Goa
Front Row (L-R) Mrs Babita Nair Mrs Malavika Vartak Mrs Sabida Sadiq Mrs Priya PhiliposeMrs Savita Theophilus Mrs Tripti Chauhan Mrs Panchali Ghosh
Back Row (L-R) Mrs Vidhu Bajaj Mrs Veenu Sheokand Mrs Rasika Bhutey Mrs Jayati Puri MrsShweta Varshney Mrs Neha Shrivastava Mrs Jyothi Sridhar Mrs Monisha Rastogi
Mrs Snigdha Nehru Mrs Nidhi Verma Mrs Priti Kagti Mrs Payal Swarup Mrs Garima Singh Mrs Sucheta Navet
Sub Committee NWWA Goa
Front Row (L-R) Mrs Ashwini Patil Mrs Surekha Kadam Mrs Rukhsana Akhatar Mrs Sapna Malape MrsVeenu Sheokand Mrs Savita Theophilus Mrs Priya Philipose Mrs Rasika Bhutey Mrs Medam Dhanlaxmi
Mrs Nisha Shinde Mrs Radha Mrs Mahi Manjunath
1 Varuni April 2021
Message From the President NWWA (WR)
The Communique
2 Varuni April 2021
Dear Ladies
Ever since things have slowly started limping back to what it was like before COVID an essential skill wehave all realised we need is adaptability I see it as the ability to be creative and flexible in the face of newsituations and NWWA Goa sailed through the changing times with remarkable alacrity
From online workshops to live baking demonstrations and finally being able to organise a short fun-filledouting for the most vulnerable section of our community our senior citizens ndash the NWWA Goa team breezedthrough the pandemic with ingenuity There was no break in learning and the fun continued albeit fromhome Throughout the period community members including children were encouraged to socialisevirtually through seminars workshops poetry essay dance and music competitions
In this latest edition of Varuni the ldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo edition we also have in focus our four-legged friends whobrought joy to several families during the lockdown In the past year pets have provided companionshipconsistency and joy to millions around the world While many sought companionship in pets others set onthe road to self-discovery learning new hobbies and experiencing new things
Strangely this time of restricted social interactions also brought to the fore newfound respect for the samething Spending more time together strengthened family ties within nuclear families The time-out fromregular life forced me to re-examine my values my relationships and my general lifestyle And I know thatmany of us experienced the same - a shift in our mindset respect and love for the nature surrounding us apromise to travel again explore more and live life to the fullest never taking anything for granted again
I want to congratulate our Sanchar team for this beautiful Varuni For your commitment and fresh energyldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo is what I wish for all of us - proud survivors quick and keen learners tenacious in our tinyspheres of influence
God bless us all and keep us safe
3 Varuni April 2021
Message from the President NWWA Goa
Warmest Regards Priya
Priya PhiliposePresident NWWA Goa
The Communique
4 Varuni April 2021
Message from the Editorial Team
A warm welcome to the new edition of Varuni 2021 The theme for thisnewsletter Ctrl+Alt+Reset might sound like some technical jargon Yetit is but a summary of our lives in 2020 ndash when many of us pausedperhaps looked back or even looked ahead pondering about the lsquowhatifsrsquo and lsquowhat nowrsquo
This newsletter is a humble attempt at bringing to you some of thesestories of resilience and change The compilation is a celebration of ourindomitable spirit and the rare quality of finding humour in anysituation
In this special edition we have a couple of teachers from the NavalChildren School sharing their humorous yet poignant experiences ofteaching online in the past few months
Like teachers adapted to online teaching students also altered theirroutines and we have included some stories from the other side of thespectrum
Just like humans our pets had a lot to cope with ndash such as making peacewith too much human company at times While we couldnrsquot cover theirpoint of view we do have some exciting stories from pet owners in thisedition Therersquos also a dedicated page featuring the four-legged heroesof NOFRA
An interesting account of managing a transfer during the lockdowntaking up a new job and pursuing new hobbies post-pandemicnutrition tips from a renowned dietician and stress management tipsfrom an experienced psychologist fill up the remaining pages of thisnewsletter ndash a colourful kaleidoscope of how we hit the Reset button in2020
We sincerely hope you enjoy reading through this edition of Varuni asmuch as we enjoyed putting it together for you
Editors Note
Malavika VartakGroup Co-ordinator
Sanchar (Goa)
Vidhu Bajaj KothiyalEditor and Designer
Cover Design Kavya Vartak
Jojo Joseph and Vidhu
Bid Farewell to
Aparajita MenonMonisha Rastogi
Priti PurohitAmina M Azad
Toral VoraSonal Darke
Seema Dhanush
NWWA Committee Members
Welcome
Sabida SadiqMalavika Vartak
Navjeet SinghNeha Shrivastava
Garima SinghVidhu Bajaj Kothiyal
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
5 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) Western Region arrived on hermaiden visit to Goa after assuming charge on 11 Mar 21 She was received by President NWWA Goa Duringthe short trip President NWWA (WR) visited the Welfare Centre at Varunapuri went around the classes inprogress and interacted with teachers and students She also met members of the Welfare Sub Committeeand reviewed the activities President NWWA (WR) also inaugurated the renovated Saundarya BeautyParlour and thereafter interacted with the ladies of Goa Naval Area at Rajhans auditorium Mrs KalaHarikumar shared her vision and apprised the audience of the initiatives being planned by the WesternRegion She urged every lady to contribute towards the community in their own capacities
Interaction with the Ladies of Goa Naval Area
Visit to the Welfare Centre Varuna Puri
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
6 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Inauguration of the Renovated Saundarya Parlour
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
7 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
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Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
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Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Message From the President NWWA (WR)
The Communique
2 Varuni April 2021
Dear Ladies
Ever since things have slowly started limping back to what it was like before COVID an essential skill wehave all realised we need is adaptability I see it as the ability to be creative and flexible in the face of newsituations and NWWA Goa sailed through the changing times with remarkable alacrity
From online workshops to live baking demonstrations and finally being able to organise a short fun-filledouting for the most vulnerable section of our community our senior citizens ndash the NWWA Goa team breezedthrough the pandemic with ingenuity There was no break in learning and the fun continued albeit fromhome Throughout the period community members including children were encouraged to socialisevirtually through seminars workshops poetry essay dance and music competitions
In this latest edition of Varuni the ldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo edition we also have in focus our four-legged friends whobrought joy to several families during the lockdown In the past year pets have provided companionshipconsistency and joy to millions around the world While many sought companionship in pets others set onthe road to self-discovery learning new hobbies and experiencing new things
Strangely this time of restricted social interactions also brought to the fore newfound respect for the samething Spending more time together strengthened family ties within nuclear families The time-out fromregular life forced me to re-examine my values my relationships and my general lifestyle And I know thatmany of us experienced the same - a shift in our mindset respect and love for the nature surrounding us apromise to travel again explore more and live life to the fullest never taking anything for granted again
I want to congratulate our Sanchar team for this beautiful Varuni For your commitment and fresh energyldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo is what I wish for all of us - proud survivors quick and keen learners tenacious in our tinyspheres of influence
God bless us all and keep us safe
3 Varuni April 2021
Message from the President NWWA Goa
Warmest Regards Priya
Priya PhiliposePresident NWWA Goa
The Communique
4 Varuni April 2021
Message from the Editorial Team
A warm welcome to the new edition of Varuni 2021 The theme for thisnewsletter Ctrl+Alt+Reset might sound like some technical jargon Yetit is but a summary of our lives in 2020 ndash when many of us pausedperhaps looked back or even looked ahead pondering about the lsquowhatifsrsquo and lsquowhat nowrsquo
This newsletter is a humble attempt at bringing to you some of thesestories of resilience and change The compilation is a celebration of ourindomitable spirit and the rare quality of finding humour in anysituation
In this special edition we have a couple of teachers from the NavalChildren School sharing their humorous yet poignant experiences ofteaching online in the past few months
Like teachers adapted to online teaching students also altered theirroutines and we have included some stories from the other side of thespectrum
Just like humans our pets had a lot to cope with ndash such as making peacewith too much human company at times While we couldnrsquot cover theirpoint of view we do have some exciting stories from pet owners in thisedition Therersquos also a dedicated page featuring the four-legged heroesof NOFRA
An interesting account of managing a transfer during the lockdowntaking up a new job and pursuing new hobbies post-pandemicnutrition tips from a renowned dietician and stress management tipsfrom an experienced psychologist fill up the remaining pages of thisnewsletter ndash a colourful kaleidoscope of how we hit the Reset button in2020
We sincerely hope you enjoy reading through this edition of Varuni asmuch as we enjoyed putting it together for you
Editors Note
Malavika VartakGroup Co-ordinator
Sanchar (Goa)
Vidhu Bajaj KothiyalEditor and Designer
Cover Design Kavya Vartak
Jojo Joseph and Vidhu
Bid Farewell to
Aparajita MenonMonisha Rastogi
Priti PurohitAmina M Azad
Toral VoraSonal Darke
Seema Dhanush
NWWA Committee Members
Welcome
Sabida SadiqMalavika Vartak
Navjeet SinghNeha Shrivastava
Garima SinghVidhu Bajaj Kothiyal
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
5 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) Western Region arrived on hermaiden visit to Goa after assuming charge on 11 Mar 21 She was received by President NWWA Goa Duringthe short trip President NWWA (WR) visited the Welfare Centre at Varunapuri went around the classes inprogress and interacted with teachers and students She also met members of the Welfare Sub Committeeand reviewed the activities President NWWA (WR) also inaugurated the renovated Saundarya BeautyParlour and thereafter interacted with the ladies of Goa Naval Area at Rajhans auditorium Mrs KalaHarikumar shared her vision and apprised the audience of the initiatives being planned by the WesternRegion She urged every lady to contribute towards the community in their own capacities
Interaction with the Ladies of Goa Naval Area
Visit to the Welfare Centre Varuna Puri
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
6 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Inauguration of the Renovated Saundarya Parlour
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
7 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Dear Ladies
Ever since things have slowly started limping back to what it was like before COVID an essential skill wehave all realised we need is adaptability I see it as the ability to be creative and flexible in the face of newsituations and NWWA Goa sailed through the changing times with remarkable alacrity
From online workshops to live baking demonstrations and finally being able to organise a short fun-filledouting for the most vulnerable section of our community our senior citizens ndash the NWWA Goa team breezedthrough the pandemic with ingenuity There was no break in learning and the fun continued albeit fromhome Throughout the period community members including children were encouraged to socialisevirtually through seminars workshops poetry essay dance and music competitions
In this latest edition of Varuni the ldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo edition we also have in focus our four-legged friends whobrought joy to several families during the lockdown In the past year pets have provided companionshipconsistency and joy to millions around the world While many sought companionship in pets others set onthe road to self-discovery learning new hobbies and experiencing new things
Strangely this time of restricted social interactions also brought to the fore newfound respect for the samething Spending more time together strengthened family ties within nuclear families The time-out fromregular life forced me to re-examine my values my relationships and my general lifestyle And I know thatmany of us experienced the same - a shift in our mindset respect and love for the nature surrounding us apromise to travel again explore more and live life to the fullest never taking anything for granted again
I want to congratulate our Sanchar team for this beautiful Varuni For your commitment and fresh energyldquoCtrl+Alt+Resetrdquo is what I wish for all of us - proud survivors quick and keen learners tenacious in our tinyspheres of influence
God bless us all and keep us safe
3 Varuni April 2021
Message from the President NWWA Goa
Warmest Regards Priya
Priya PhiliposePresident NWWA Goa
The Communique
4 Varuni April 2021
Message from the Editorial Team
A warm welcome to the new edition of Varuni 2021 The theme for thisnewsletter Ctrl+Alt+Reset might sound like some technical jargon Yetit is but a summary of our lives in 2020 ndash when many of us pausedperhaps looked back or even looked ahead pondering about the lsquowhatifsrsquo and lsquowhat nowrsquo
This newsletter is a humble attempt at bringing to you some of thesestories of resilience and change The compilation is a celebration of ourindomitable spirit and the rare quality of finding humour in anysituation
In this special edition we have a couple of teachers from the NavalChildren School sharing their humorous yet poignant experiences ofteaching online in the past few months
Like teachers adapted to online teaching students also altered theirroutines and we have included some stories from the other side of thespectrum
Just like humans our pets had a lot to cope with ndash such as making peacewith too much human company at times While we couldnrsquot cover theirpoint of view we do have some exciting stories from pet owners in thisedition Therersquos also a dedicated page featuring the four-legged heroesof NOFRA
An interesting account of managing a transfer during the lockdowntaking up a new job and pursuing new hobbies post-pandemicnutrition tips from a renowned dietician and stress management tipsfrom an experienced psychologist fill up the remaining pages of thisnewsletter ndash a colourful kaleidoscope of how we hit the Reset button in2020
We sincerely hope you enjoy reading through this edition of Varuni asmuch as we enjoyed putting it together for you
Editors Note
Malavika VartakGroup Co-ordinator
Sanchar (Goa)
Vidhu Bajaj KothiyalEditor and Designer
Cover Design Kavya Vartak
Jojo Joseph and Vidhu
Bid Farewell to
Aparajita MenonMonisha Rastogi
Priti PurohitAmina M Azad
Toral VoraSonal Darke
Seema Dhanush
NWWA Committee Members
Welcome
Sabida SadiqMalavika Vartak
Navjeet SinghNeha Shrivastava
Garima SinghVidhu Bajaj Kothiyal
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
5 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) Western Region arrived on hermaiden visit to Goa after assuming charge on 11 Mar 21 She was received by President NWWA Goa Duringthe short trip President NWWA (WR) visited the Welfare Centre at Varunapuri went around the classes inprogress and interacted with teachers and students She also met members of the Welfare Sub Committeeand reviewed the activities President NWWA (WR) also inaugurated the renovated Saundarya BeautyParlour and thereafter interacted with the ladies of Goa Naval Area at Rajhans auditorium Mrs KalaHarikumar shared her vision and apprised the audience of the initiatives being planned by the WesternRegion She urged every lady to contribute towards the community in their own capacities
Interaction with the Ladies of Goa Naval Area
Visit to the Welfare Centre Varuna Puri
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
6 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Inauguration of the Renovated Saundarya Parlour
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
7 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
4 Varuni April 2021
Message from the Editorial Team
A warm welcome to the new edition of Varuni 2021 The theme for thisnewsletter Ctrl+Alt+Reset might sound like some technical jargon Yetit is but a summary of our lives in 2020 ndash when many of us pausedperhaps looked back or even looked ahead pondering about the lsquowhatifsrsquo and lsquowhat nowrsquo
This newsletter is a humble attempt at bringing to you some of thesestories of resilience and change The compilation is a celebration of ourindomitable spirit and the rare quality of finding humour in anysituation
In this special edition we have a couple of teachers from the NavalChildren School sharing their humorous yet poignant experiences ofteaching online in the past few months
Like teachers adapted to online teaching students also altered theirroutines and we have included some stories from the other side of thespectrum
Just like humans our pets had a lot to cope with ndash such as making peacewith too much human company at times While we couldnrsquot cover theirpoint of view we do have some exciting stories from pet owners in thisedition Therersquos also a dedicated page featuring the four-legged heroesof NOFRA
An interesting account of managing a transfer during the lockdowntaking up a new job and pursuing new hobbies post-pandemicnutrition tips from a renowned dietician and stress management tipsfrom an experienced psychologist fill up the remaining pages of thisnewsletter ndash a colourful kaleidoscope of how we hit the Reset button in2020
We sincerely hope you enjoy reading through this edition of Varuni asmuch as we enjoyed putting it together for you
Editors Note
Malavika VartakGroup Co-ordinator
Sanchar (Goa)
Vidhu Bajaj KothiyalEditor and Designer
Cover Design Kavya Vartak
Jojo Joseph and Vidhu
Bid Farewell to
Aparajita MenonMonisha Rastogi
Priti PurohitAmina M Azad
Toral VoraSonal Darke
Seema Dhanush
NWWA Committee Members
Welcome
Sabida SadiqMalavika Vartak
Navjeet SinghNeha Shrivastava
Garima SinghVidhu Bajaj Kothiyal
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
5 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) Western Region arrived on hermaiden visit to Goa after assuming charge on 11 Mar 21 She was received by President NWWA Goa Duringthe short trip President NWWA (WR) visited the Welfare Centre at Varunapuri went around the classes inprogress and interacted with teachers and students She also met members of the Welfare Sub Committeeand reviewed the activities President NWWA (WR) also inaugurated the renovated Saundarya BeautyParlour and thereafter interacted with the ladies of Goa Naval Area at Rajhans auditorium Mrs KalaHarikumar shared her vision and apprised the audience of the initiatives being planned by the WesternRegion She urged every lady to contribute towards the community in their own capacities
Interaction with the Ladies of Goa Naval Area
Visit to the Welfare Centre Varuna Puri
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
6 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Inauguration of the Renovated Saundarya Parlour
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
7 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
5 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) Western Region arrived on hermaiden visit to Goa after assuming charge on 11 Mar 21 She was received by President NWWA Goa Duringthe short trip President NWWA (WR) visited the Welfare Centre at Varunapuri went around the classes inprogress and interacted with teachers and students She also met members of the Welfare Sub Committeeand reviewed the activities President NWWA (WR) also inaugurated the renovated Saundarya BeautyParlour and thereafter interacted with the ladies of Goa Naval Area at Rajhans auditorium Mrs KalaHarikumar shared her vision and apprised the audience of the initiatives being planned by the WesternRegion She urged every lady to contribute towards the community in their own capacities
Interaction with the Ladies of Goa Naval Area
Visit to the Welfare Centre Varuna Puri
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
6 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Inauguration of the Renovated Saundarya Parlour
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
7 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Visit to the Welfare Centre Varuna Puri
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
6 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Inauguration of the Renovated Saundarya Parlour
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
7 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
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Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Inauguration of the Renovated Saundarya Parlour
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar President NWWA (WR)Visit to Goa Naval Area
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
7 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
SPECIAL EVENTS 2020-21
NWWA Diwas Celebrations
8 Varuni April 2021
NWWA Goa celebrated the NWWA Diwas with great vigour pride and enthusiasm After the hiatus ofthe past year the memorable occasion helped revitalise the spirit of the members and infusedeverybody with fresh motivation and hope for the coming times
NWWA News
Cultural Program NWWA Diwas 2021
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
AROGYA
9 Varuni April 2021
Health amp Wellness OutreachMedical Camp Organised at Old Age Home Bogmalo
Arogya Goa in association with INHS Jeevanti organised a medical camp for the residents of ldquoOurHomerdquo Old Age Home at Bogmalo on Gandhi Jayanti 02 October 2020 Health check-ups for all theresidents were carried out Additionally medicines masks and a nebuliser machine were donated forthe residents
NWWA News
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
AROGYAHealth amp Wellness Outreach
Fruit Distribution at INHS Jeevanti
10 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
On Republic Day 2021 the Arogya Team organised a fruit distribution initiative at INHS Jeevanti Theteam interacted with the patients handing them hygienically packed fruit packets and wishing thema speedy recovery
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
AROGYA
11 Varuni April 2021
Special lectures on Marital Harmony and Womenrsquos Health were organised on the occasion of WomenrsquosDay on 08 March 2021 The presentation was attended by 110+ ladies who actively participated in theinteractive session post the delivery of the lectures
Health amp Wellness Outreach
NWWA News
International Womens Day 2021
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
ASHIRWADEngaging our Senior Citizens
All of us have relied upon dadi ma ke nuskhe to cure several maladies The Ashirwad team collectedsome ancient wisdom by inviting our seniors to send in videos with their favourite quick-fix tips Thebest videos with the most interesting tips were shortlisted and winners were felicitated
Gharelu Nuskhe Competition
12 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Traditional Wear Competition
India is a land of cultural diversity Each state or region is associated with a different dressing style butwe rarely find the time or occasion to dress up in ethnic wear Ashirwad organised an e-competitioninviting the elders to highlight Indias rich diversity through their traditional wear The initiative waswell-received with several colourful entries that touched our hearts and warmed our souls whilereminding us to always stay in touch with our roots
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
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Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
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49 Varuni April 2021
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My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
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During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
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I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
13 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Outings with our Senior Citizens
Ashirwad NWWA Goa organised an evening of fun and games for our senior citizens on 05 March2021 A total of 45 elderly parents attended the event Several activities were arranged for the seniorswhile adhering to all COVID-related protocols The highlights of the event included a meditationsession a lively bhajan session some fun games with light physical activity and a talk on householdremedies for aches and pains by an experienced physiotherapist
ASHIRWAD
An Evening of Fun and Games
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
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Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
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I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
BALWADI
Little Bundles of Joy
14 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Scholarship Exam
The challenging times did not deter the staff and the students of Balwadi Goa Even though the schoolwas closed students were provided with monthly worksheets so that there was no disruption in theirlearning process All social distancing protocols were followed while handing over and collecting theworksheets to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff The school also conducted ascholarship exam in the month of March 2021
Out of the fourteen students who appeared four performed exceptionally well Amongst the fourtoppers two students were admitted at NCS while the other two at Kendriya Vidyalaya Overall teamBalwadi successfully introduced a new way of learning and kept the students engaged throughout theacademic year
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
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Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
CHETNACoaching Classes at the Welfare Centre
15 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Offline Tutoring
Chetna is responsible for conducting of tuition classes at Varunapuri Presently there are tenteachers registered with Chetna for tuition classes However due to the pandemic situationonly four teachers are taking classes at the welfare center All social distancing norms andCOVID related protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of the students and teachers
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
JAGRITI
Felicitation CeremonyNCS Board Achievers 2019-20
16 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Felicitating The Student Achievers
The greater the effort the sweeter the reward Jagriti NWWA Goa organised a FelicitationCeremony on 3rd October 2020 for NCS Board Achievers 2019-20 to acknowledge and applaud theachievements of the students who excelled in academics and brought laurels to the school Thestudents were awarded Certificate of Appreciation and Amazon Gift Vouchers by NWWA PresidentMrs Priya Philipose
Throughout the academic year Jagriti has enabled various learning initiatives for the students ofNCS Goa Special arrangements were made to help children access the various remote learningplatforms and attend online classes at the computer lab in the school All social distancing normswere followed to ensure the safety and security of the staff and students
Stream Toppers of class XII1) Sunidhi Rana 9660 (Science ) 2) Nandini Narayan 9440(Commerce)3) Siddhivi Singh 9620 (Humanities)
Toppers of Class X1) Priyanka Singh 9902) Sairam Sanjay 9820
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
KALA KENDRA
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
17 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Christmas Craft Workshop
Mrs Pooja Sharma conducted a two day Santas Craft Workshop online to keep the little minds busyduring the Christmas break The classes saw enthusiastic participation from both kids and their helpfulassistants (aka MOM) The kids were mostly aged between 6 to 12 years and thoroughly enjoyed theworkshop They made several paper craft items and joyously displayed them after the class
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
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Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
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49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
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During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
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I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Boosting Innovation and Creativity
18 Varuni April 2021
KalaKendra NWWA Goa conducted a three-day baking workshop in January 2021 The workshopwas conducted by Mrs Shivangi (from our naval community) It was a great hit among the ladiesand therefore a second batch had to be introduced to cater for all the additional registrations
The chef taught a variety of delicious recipes of cakes and cookies She even taught the basics ofcake decorations which were then easy to replicate by all
KALA KENDRA
NWWA News
Baking Workshop
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
19 Varuni April 2021
Trataka Yoga Meditation Session
Trataka or steady gazing is a simple yet powerful Yoga technique for rejuvenating the eyes and themind Trataka helps improve concentration boost memory and strengthen will power To help ease thestress of the pandemic and promote holistic health practices Kala Kendra organised Trataka Yogasessions at the Kendra on 24 December 2020 Dr (Mrs) Anjali Rajurkar BAMS MSc Yoga Therapy andReiki Healer guided the sessions To maintain social distancing only five participants were allowed persession
NWWA News
KALA KENDRABoosting Innovation and Creativity
The extremely talented and creative ladies of Goa Naval Area utilised their time creatively by attendingseveral online workshops during the lockdown The three-day decoupage workshop conducted by Mrs Pooja Sharma found a lot of enthusiastic first time decoupage artists The instructor took a lot ofeffort to ensure each and every participant was involved in the hands-on workshop despite it being inan online mode with all the accompanying glitches The extremely informative and easy to understandworkshop left the participants with a sense of accomplishment in their own creative skills
Decoupage Workshop
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
20 Varuni April 2021
Competitions and Workshops
NWWA News
Best Out of Waste Recycle amp Re-Use
The Welfare Centre is a hub of learning and creativity for the ladies of Varunapuri Most of thetutors here are naval wives who take various classes ranging from cooking embroidery tailoringart and craft dance yoga Zumba etc
Besides regular classes the Welfare Centre organises several competitions throughout the yearArt and craft workshops capsule courses on baking and other interesting workshops are heldregularly to impart new skills to interested ladies
To promote better waste management a competition was held at the Welfare Centre on 27 January 2021 urging the ladies to create useful items out of waste material Six ladies participated inthe competition with enthusiasm Ladies created various items of use like a planter from an empty oilcan a flower vase from an empty wine bottle table mats from old sarees decorative items with oldnewspaper etc The competition was judged by Mrs Tavishi Singh and Mrs Smriti Pandey All COVID-related norms were followed including social distancing and wearing of masks
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
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I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
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Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
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49 Varuni April 2021
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My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
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During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
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I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
21 Varuni April 2021
Mehendi Competition Celebrating Karwachauth
NWWA News
PRAGATI
To celebrate the festival of Karwa Chauth and give the ladies a platform to showcase their talent teamPragati organised a Mehndi competition on 03 November 2020 Ten ladies participated in thecompetition They were given an hour to apply Mehndi on one of their hands The judgment criteriaincluded ndash Originality of design Neatness and Theme (Karwa Chauth) The competition was judged byMrs Aparajita Menon Mrs Minal Ghag and Mrs Priyanka Budar All the participants were felicitated fortheir remarkable talent The entire program was conducted keeping in mind strict COVID guidelineslike maintaining sufficient distance wearing mask at all times and using sanitizers
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
22 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Macrame Workshop
Macrame is a technique that uses knots to create textiles and other items of decorative use Mrs Mamatha Mani a Naval wife and successful entrepreneur who owns and manages the Macrameart venture lsquoKnottty Affairrsquo undertook a hands-on workshop for the ladies of Varuna Puri at the WelfareCentre on 25 November 2020 Eleven enthusiastic ladies attended the workshop They learned how tomake beautiful plant hangars and their queries were personally attended to by the Macrame artist
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
23 Varuni April 2021
Baking Workshop amp Exam A baking workshop was conducted by Mrs Rajvinder at the Welfare Centre on 15 and 16 February 2021
It was divided into two phases - basic and advanced After the workshop a baking examination wasorganised The examiners Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar and Mrs Vaibhavi Yadav both Naval wives arerenowned bakers in Goa The participants were awarded certificates of completion after the test Theexaminers not only praised the new bakers but also shared several tips to help them improve theircraft
NWWA News
PRAGATI
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
24 Varuni April 2021
Advanced Baking Workshop
NWWA News
PRAGATI
A baking workshop was organised at the Welfare Centre on 13 March 2021 This was an advancedcourse taught by Mrs Shivangi Bhatnagar a Naval Wife and renowned baker The fee for the course wasRs 500 per participant and they were taught items like pillow soft burger buns fresh fruit cake withcustard cream and thandai mousse shots
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Enhancing Skills Encouraging Talent
25 Varuni April 2021
In accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a COVID-19 vaccinationdrive for the families of Naval personnel was organised at the Welfare Centre by team Pragati Thevaccination doses were provided by District Health Authorities Goa and injected by the medical staffof Hansa A total of 50 beneficiaries received their first dose of Covishield vaccine and were providedwith Vaccination Certificates on the spot Refreshments were given to all after the vaccination
Vaccination Drive
NWWA News
PRAGATI
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
26 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Essay Writing CompetitionCaring about nature is the only way to a sustainable future and whats better than educating ourchildren about it The pandemic brought about a unique opportunity of engaging children inadditional activities outside school To help the children think in terms of saving the Mother Earthteam Prakriti encouraged them to put their thoughts on paper by organising an online Essay WritingCompetition in November 2020 The topic for the competition was ldquoHow to save your carbonfootprintsrdquo The winners of the competition were appreciated on WhatsApp and awarded giftvouchers worth Rs 250 each
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
PRAKRITIFor the Love of Nature
27 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
Fancy Dress Competition
To celebrate the fervor of Republic Day 2021 an online activity was planned for the children of GoaNaval Area by team Prakriti The kids were asked to dress up as their favourite leader and then speakon how to develop the country while preserving the environment Several kids participated emulatingnational leaders like Jhansi ki Rani Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Vinobha Bhave Some of the kids alsodressed up as popular sportspersons The videos of the participants were shared on a WhatsApp groupand the winners were felicitated online
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
SAMUDRIThe House of Beautiful Treasures
28 Varuni April 2021
The New-Look of the Samudri Gift Shop
The Samudri shop reopened after the lockdown in September 2020 Presently the shop remains openfor three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening which gives the shoppers a sufficientwindow to come in and shop All COVID-related norms are being followed including regularsanitisation of the premises compulsory hand sanitisation social distancing with mandatory usage ofmasks
For the comfort of the shoppers two new ACs have been recently installed at the shop The collectionat the shop was also expanded with the inclusion of decorative Goan tiles New consignees have beentaken onboard to provide Kota suits clothing items decorated with Phulkari work Chanderi sarees andvarious types of jewellery
NWWA News
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
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My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
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I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
SAUNDARYA
29 Varuni April 2021
The beauty parlours Saundarya and Urvashi run by NWWA are constantly evolving into better andwell-equipped centres of beauty and wellness for the naval ladies in Goa Both the parlours wereclosed for almost a year due to the ongoing pandemic situation They were recently opened after therequisite clearances were obtained Services can only be availed on appointment-basis presently toprevent crowding The premises are regularly sanitised and the staff has been trained to follow allCOVID-related precautions including the wearing of mask at all times
Beautiful YouThe New Look
NWWA News
Saundarya Beauty Parlour
Urvashi Beauty Parlour
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
SANKALP
30 Varuni April 2021
Almost a year ago when the entire country went into lockdown there was uncertainty around thereopening of our special schools Instead of going into hibernation mode team Sankalp decided toconcentrate on the pending infrastructure work of building a gated compound With round the clocksupport from Chairman Sankalp OIC Sankalp and NWWA Coordinator Sankalp the task wassuccessfully completed in a satisfactory time frame
Presently the team is working on the Sensory Integrated Pathway project that will help in the overalldevelopment of the special ones The overall goal is to have a full-fledged school ready for the specialangels by the time they return to their familiar surroundings with their special educators
For The Unique amp SpecialStanding by our Little Angels
NWWA News
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
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My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
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I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Donation Drive 2021
Sparsh NWWA Goa organised a donation drive for the children of Asha Sadan Baina Vasco DaGama Asha Sadan is a charitable organisation with over 25 years of good work under its beltHeaded by Sister Laurencia the organisation is working with underprivileged children and orphansto help them achieve better lives for themselves by providing basic education healthy meals andvocational training
Currently Asha Sadan supports nearly 75 children and requires basic support like food items andpersonal hygiene supplies The Naval Fraternity responded to their needs with enthusiasm andgenerosity and honoured their requirements in a befitting manner This endeavour has broughtthem much needed relief during these difficult times
SPARSHPhilanthropy for All
31 Varuni April 2021
NWWA News
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
UDYOGIKAEncouraging In-House Talent
32 Varuni April 2021
Even during the pandemic the talented ladies of Udyogika were relentlessly working The team hasmade available black and white masks for officers and sailors and colorful cotton masks for the ladiesPaper bags gift bags embroidered masks and handkerchiefs with crochet work were also made andsold through the Samudri shop
NWWA News
Items Prepared by the Talented Ladies of NWWA Goa
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
The pandemic not only impacted work and learning it alsochanged our dietary preferences mostly in the right direction
1 Preference for home-cooked foodWhether it is by choice or by compulsion one of the biggest shiftsin eating habits in India has been the dependence on home-cooked meals as opposed to eating out or ordering food onlineBeing self-reliant has been the mantra of late
Social media played a key part in advancing home cooking andhealthy eating Tutorials on platforms such as YouTube providedthose with non-existent cooking abilities the opportunity tochannelise their inner chefs and bakers Facebook and Instagramwere overwhelmed with pictures and videos of amateur chefsattempting new recipes hence advancing the practice andempowering more individuals to begin cooking for themselves
2 Moving patterns towards better eating and sanitationOnersquos immunity is closely linked to onersquos diet and lifestyle Mostacknowledged this mantra and started paying attention to thefood they consumed The consumption of fresh fruits andvegetables increased for those who could afford it and there was anotable shift from fried and processed foods
Food safety also came in limelight with increasing demand fororganically produced food items across the country
3 Increased reliance on traditional medicineMany turned to lsquogharelu nuskhersquo and started consumingimmunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric tokeep the virus at bay The famed Golden Latte (haldi milk)traditional kadhas (a mix of herbs and spices) and other age-oldnatural recipes were revived and spotlighted for their healthbenefits
Today as the world gradually returns to normalcy I only hope thatwe remain vigilant about our food and dietary preferences Whileyou may give in to the lure of fast food once in a while donrsquot justshelf your newly acquired cooking skills ndash remember what yousow is what you reap and what you eat is what you become
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Eat
Harpreet Pasricha Dr Diet Clinic
33 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
MUSINGS
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
34 Varuni April 2021
Have a healthy and balanced dietDevelop a good sleep routine Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep to recharge your bodyKeep yourself hydratedExercise regularly (while following socialdistancing rules)
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Establish workplace boundariesSet a peer support group consisting of youroffice colleaguesTake regular breaksWhile working from home demarcate properwork timingsAttend workshops and webinars to increaseknowledge and attain organisational growth
WORKPLACE SELF CARE
Reach out to your near and dear ones digitallyHave a supportive group of friends and talk tothem regularlyHave at least 1 meal with your family or connectwith them virtually via a video or audio callJoin online classes webinars and workshopsand connect with others virtually
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Establish a routine at homeDo things that make you feel good - read abook listen to relaxing music etcMake time for hobbies that de-stress youJournal your feelings regularly to understandand acknowledge themStart your day with positive affirmationsWrite three things you are grateful for each day
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF CARE
Mental Well-Being During the Pandemic
Advaita Puri (Counselling Psychologist)
MUSINGS
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
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Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
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My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
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I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Shifting of the house during transfer can becolloquially referred to as one of the many lsquoevolutionsrsquocarried out by a Naval officer (in this case his familyincluded as well) Transfers inherently bring alongwith them a plethora of activities of planningpacking travelling and needless to say a definite risein onersquos adrenaline levels to ensure theaccomplishment of all the activities in a proper andtimebound manner Adding to the despair is theongoing coronavirus pandemic that reminded me ofCharles Darwin during our transfer from Goa to KochiSpecifically the theory of evolution but only in termsof shifting and transfers
Our transfer was originally to be affected in May butthe nationwide lockdown changed many thingsincluding our date of transfer that was shifted to a lsquoyetto be decidedrsquo time in the future Now my pastexperience had taught me to work backwards fromthe date of travel with check-off lists made for eachday until the lsquoDrsquo Day However the date of the lsquoDrsquo Daybeing uncertain the biggest challenge was to predicta date and to commence the execution of our planFinalising our date of travel had many other variablesclinging like the date of availability of the quarantinefacility for our family at the next station availability ofaccommodation at the enroute halting station (INAEzhimala) closing down and handing over of thepresent accommodation the availability of packersand movers and subsequently reaching the nextstation on time and so on
Travelling to Kochi was another exciting eventNormally when it comes to planning a car journeywe only load the essentials without much botherabout food But during the pandemic carryingfood and water was a necessity to avoid additionalstops on the way We were also required to obtainTravel Passes to cross interstate borders whichwere duly received but my husband decided todrive down in his uniform to avoid unnecessarydelays The astonishing uniform not only helped uscross the borders smoothly but also ensured thatwe are let through on priority
Ingenuity adaptability and foresight ndash these threeingredients helped us minimise the disruptions inour plan and these three traits are what will keepus resilient in these tough times I am not surewhen things will return to normal again but untilthen wersquod surely have several stories of humanevolution in modern times
Finally the stars aligned and a date was decidedbut it depended on the confirmation of thebooking of the quarantine facility for our family atthe Naval Base Kochi The next task was packingthe household stuff Yes with a baby at home andthe news of the infection spreading like wildfire onsocial media ensuring hygiene as the labourersworked from dawn to dusk for two days was notan easy task I decided to be creative and placealarm clocks in every room that reminded us towash our hands and sanitise everything that couldbe sanitised every two hours
35 Varuni April 2021
Transfer During COVID-19
Gauri Kulkarni
Musings
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Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
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49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
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During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
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I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Years back on a visit to a cruise ship in Mauritius Imet a lot of people who had their homes on that shipand home-schooled their children from the ship (e-learning from their home ship) That was enchantingto the core and at that time appeared to be a luxuryof the rich
Today after almost 10 years homeschooling and e-learning seem to be the norm of the day
Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have changedthe scenario of education The academic session thatwas supposed to begin in April did begin with a BigBang and we all did hear and experience the BangDidnt we
The teaching community woke up on a working day(technically a lockdown holiday) to this great COVIDnews that online classes would commence soon andsome of us less tech-savvy (like me) wondered howmany os were between s and n in the word SOON
But beggars cant be choosershellip Can they And ifwishes were horses beggars would ride
Many like me had no choice nor a platform to opineand we were blended in the whirlwind of technology Rummaging on the net began in full swing
E-LEARNING
E-Teaching or E-Learning (During the COVID Times)
Monisha Rastogi
How to teach online and How to teach effectivelyonline were the most searched sentences on theInternetat least for me
And after a few peaceful days and nights ofbombarding the students with PPTs and onlineassignments (making a PPT was no mean task for ateacher of language whose years were spent in onlygiving lectures) came the great Stuka Bomber ofZOOM ONLINE CLASSES
Guidelines instructions DOs and DONTs flooded mypoor little phoneAnother download on my phone and anotherpassword Messages Passwords Downloadsthe never-ending saga of an E Era My phone started giving methose dirty stares as if telling and asking me ldquoHowmuch more can I bearrdquo
Safety Procedures to avoid hacking dangers camefrom all and sundry Truly speaking I stopped looking at messagesrelated to Zoom No offence meant to those whosent Zoom messages for the general well-being ofthe teachers students and parents but youknowexcess of everything is badand thesecountless messages had proved the adage right Sobegan my tryst with Zoom and that too with class12 students
Hope the readers can understand my plightTeaching and reaching out to Generation Nextthrough the e-world was indeed a herculean task Itwas like I was lsquotheir studentrsquo and they lsquomy masterrsquoIn fact the first Zoom class schedule was sent by mystudent and I like an easy-going student who getseverything on her platter was more than happy tojoin that meeting hosted by my student and carriedforward by me The idea of dressing up for an e-classwas not magnetic enough for me to rip open mywardrobe and dress for an hour After all age-oldproverbs like simple living and high thinking cameto my rescue and the fact
36 Varuni April 2021
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
that these tough lockdown times should make uslook simple 128518 128518 helped me pass this tide oflooking beyond presentableWell combed hair with a decent top was the needof the hour
So I began My online Zoom teaching in the monthof April a tad apprehensive and a tad nervous thatnothing should go wrong during those 50 minutesBelieve me those 50 minutes of online teachingmade me remember the days when I as a younginexperienced teacher would go for demo classesand be glared at by some 50 peering eyes To come out of that classroom without beingquestioned was a victory in itself That first onlineZoom class was nothing less than that My Missionfor the day was to be able to continue teaching andpresent my matter on an online platform withouttechnical glitches and without seeking the help ofmy students
Clueless about the innumerable features on thatapp I began my first class titled - The Last Lesson(CBSE Class 12) Ironical isnt it But then life is full ofironies and what better way to explain this figure ofspeech to my students An inductive approach togrammar learning had already begun (Refer toways of teaching grammar on the net please)
No one was allowed to enter my room (in my homenot the meeting room) after all I was WFH Thatrsquosno joke and I wanted no domestic disturbance withmy professionthis time a truly professionalapproach I could henceforth proclaim with prideabout my WFH status
A tad nervous I was in front of my intelligent tech-savvy students lsquoSharing of the screenrsquo and lsquomutingof allrsquo were not known to me so early in my e-teaching career But the fact that none of mystudents mocked at my lack of technologicalpotential made me proud of them and theirupbringing (hoping they didnrsquot on their one-to-onescreens) In fact many of them became my saviours bymessaging me personally on how to go aboutsmoothly Again rightly said ldquoChild is the father ofthe manrdquo
Of course practice makes a man perfecthellipAndwoman Well Women are born perfect and so there Iwas in the next Zoom session which I had scheduledon my own a more confident version of myselfcreating my own e-trajectory and sauntering throughthe Zoom platform with ease and finesse
Therersquos no looking back now Zoom Vedantu GoogleMST hellipyou name an e platform and itrsquos like BEENTHEREhellipDONE IT
Till I get to meet my lsquotwelthiesrsquo face to face I amhappy to be their E Teacher of E( English) subject andI am optimistic that this lockdown teaching-learningwill definitely improve my knowledge of electronicmedia and why it is essential and imperative to movewith the times and not cling to old is gold
I end with Viktor E Frankl ldquoWhen we are no longerable to change a situation - we are challenged tochange ourselvesrdquo
37 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
When my son was doing homework for school he would havefive or six windows open on his computer Messenger wasflashing continuously his cell phone was ringing constantly hewas downloading music and watching television over hisshoulder I do not know whether he was doing any homework atall but he was running an empire as far as I could see so I reallydid not care
- Sir Ken Robinson
Welcome to the new normalhelliphellipthis quote by themaster himself caught my eye as I was working onone of the numerous presentations that I work onpreparing for a webinar This is real and this is howour children are learning
After hundreds of students tested positive at IITMadras recently and the university shut down onceagain most Edu -leaders are of the opinion thatthere should not be a rush to open schools andcolleges with the full strength
It is already predicted that the parent and mentorcommunity at large must be mentally geared forlsquoschool at homersquo for half of the academic year 2021too With the target of inoculating only thirtymillion out of 13 billion by August 2021 we cannotexpect any better results or coverage Hencetheres at least another year before educationalinstitutions revert to normal
Should the panic continue Should lockdowns bebrought back After allhellipas a nation we havecrossed the million mark way back Though thevaccine is herehellipthe school children are probablygoing to be the last to be inoculated The guardcannot go down we must be wary we still need toprotect ourselves and our children
Reshaping the Corona Experience
Anupama Mehra Principal NCS Goa
While many areas in the education sector are in thegrey at the moment and parents and teachers areawaiting decisions from the education ministry withreference to Board examinations competitiveexaminations and the next academic calendaraparadigm shift was observed in the year 2020 whichwill go down in history The world moved completelyonline with respect to teaching and learning andhow we work and do business The Covid pandemichas actually affected 16 billion learners in more than190 countries across continents It will continue todisrupt and hamper learning in a while to comeLearning will never be the same again
But amidst this pandemic rose the education sectorlike a phoenixhellipthe rise of ed-tech firms andcompanies was seen at a phenomenal pace andinnovations were stimulated amidst this rising crisisSuddenly teachers doctors and nurses were thenew rockstars Whether it is language apps virtual classes videoconferencing Google and Zoom meetingshellipthissignificant surge in usage of technology is here tostay As the United Nations declared Covid -19 to be apandemic India saw a lockdown commencing from21 Mar 2020 We at Navy Children School shutdowntoo Just like that
38 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Yours truly at the helm of affairs along with ourmanagementhellipsprang into action The mobilephone and laptops our new weapons our livesbecame online completely overnight Each NavyChildren School across the country tried their levelbest to train itself overnight on a platform conduciveenough to reach out to our children and colleaguesOur WhatsApp groups went into overdrive Resultswere declared on time and class lists released on theparents portal Old groups dissolved new onescreated timetables declared teachers list releasedhellipWE were ready to re-open schools on the phoneOn the morning of 02 April 2020 we did just that
Itrsquos not that all is hunky-dory in the online world of achild Itrsquos not been an easy ride for our childrenHoled up in homes no friends only a screen tointeract withhellipand Mom and Dad your onlycompanions Earlier days into online learning werethe toughest for them They were learning todesperately keep up with the pace of instructionwhich I completely agree was immensely one-sided
But every day is a learning We are learning newtechnology better improvised platforms forinstructions new skills to address our studentsBlended learning is a new-age term that is here tostay Careers and college education is never going tobe the same We need to take charge revamp andadapt or the tech surge is going to drown us Theeducation industry MUST be the first to adapt andreally fast We are after all in charge of a generationwhich is learning newer skills by the day at par withtheir own teachers sometimes faster Suddenlyhomeschooling open schools and MOOCs are thenew buzzwords
As of now online and blended learning is here tostay Parents and teachers must work hand in handto look after this generation which has seen all toomuch in the past six months People expect to bebored by online learninghellipletrsquos together show themit doesnrsquot have to be that way As Donna J Abernathy puts it lsquoOnline learning is notthe next big thing it is NOW the thingrsquo
HAPPY LEARNINGhelliphellip
The rest I would like to say is historyhellipTeaching-learning moved to a different level altogetherTeachers invested in laptops camera stands andgraphic tablets Parents too went on a purchasingspree - internet connections laptops and extradevices for homes with siblings The schooladministration office opened once again on 20 Apr2020 and has been working non-stop without abreak so that we are connected with our parentsand students Our parents and the stakeholdercommunity stood by ushelliprock solid ready with allthe support and feedback We had become mastersof the online game
Meanwhile the teachers at the school were silentlyself-exploring and learning the art of lsquoZoomingrsquo of adifferent kind Teaching each other and fine-tuningthe technique of organizing a lsquoZoom meetingrsquo -Team NCS was ready with the Zoom platform for thesenior school students PDF assignments YouTubevideos animations and chapter links were the newnorm Even the little ones were completely on boardWe lsquoZoomedrsquo on till one day one of our classes washacked and bombed For the sake of the safety andsecurity of our staff and students we did away withthe Zoom app But by this time the teacherrevolution had started and like how Our team wassimultaneously ready with Google Meets and theVedantu platform
39 Varuni April 2021
The children rejoiced that it is going to be one longvacation Super fun While we wonderedhellipresults todeclare new timetables to prepare a brand newsession to declare open Great but how are we to dothis Eerie silence amongst the teachers waiting andwatching with bated breath looking for a sign fromthe school leadershiphellip
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
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Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
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47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
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49 Varuni April 2021
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My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
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During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
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I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
40 Varuni April 2021
Its been a while since I went to school And trust meit was fun at the outset No waking up in the morningand no need to follow a routine Life was going goodwith sleeping late and waking up equally late Butsoon boredom set in
Online classes were also fun but only during theinitial phase I remembered an English saying whichmy mother often quotes ldquoChildren should be seennot heardrdquo That was what was happening in onlineclasses We were seen we were taught but wecouldnt make noise
That is the missing link in online classes The fourwalls of the classroom the chaotic noise thepleasure of wishing the teacher in chorus thequestion answer and discussion sessions the friendsthe punishments and everything else that comprisesschool I miss the games period where we becamefree birds enjoying the sun sky and the ground Thehot sun or the thundering clouds never deterred usfrom enjoying those 40 minutes
I miss the recess time where we shared fooddiscussed irrelevant issues I miss submitting mynotebooks to my teachers and the pleasure ofgetting them back with ldquogoodrdquo or a ldquostarrdquo I misswearing my uniform with the Vice-Captain badgeIt was such a feeling of pride to put on the stripesand the badge on my uniform The charm ofpacking the bag every day and especially for daysthat had games library artcraft - I miss that toosometimes
I am now eagerly waiting for the schools to reopenso that I can meet all my friends and teachers andget to see my new classroom too ldquoExcess ofeverything is badrdquo has proven to be true What feltlike luxury (online classes in the comfort of myroom) is causing boredom now The brick andmortar rooms cannot be replaced by the comfortsof onersquos home not even an air-conditioned room
I hope the Covid and the lockdown become historyand life turns to normal soon
What I Miss About SchoolAntriksh Rastogi X A NCS
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
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So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
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Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
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My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
It was Jan 2020 BC (Before the COVID era) when Ithought of reviving my teaching mojo andappeared for a school teacherrsquos interview Within aweek I was shortlisted as a teacher for the nextacademic session I was content and happy toresume my teaching job but to my dismay thepandemic swept away all my plans for 2020 ByOctober I had made peace that the position I hadapplied for would only be available in 2021(hopefully) Online learning was the new norm andI decided to switch gears to keep my teachingmojo alive by looking for online teaching platformsMy research opened up a whole new world
Revive Your Teaching Mojo Tina Kumar
41 Varuni April 2021
The pandemic unexpectedly entered our lives andbrought everything to a halt It affected the lives ofpeople around the world bringing a flood oftension and worries followed by negative thoughtsand piles of burdens Fortunately for me I found anopportunity in crisis in the form of the BVoc inEarly Childhood Development course by TISSinitiated by NWWA Goa
Ratnaprava Acharya
Opportunity In Crisis
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
I discovered several tools and platforms that makeboth teaching and learning online seamless and funFor those who want to skip the research and shift toonline teaching - my favourites are TutorscomUnacademycom and Gurucom
So friends dont let your inner teacher get infectedRide the wave of online learning and start postingyour content Who knows how many lives youdchange
What I like the most about the experience is the shiftto an online learning model I no longer need to bedressed in advance and take a long commute toattend the classes Therersquos no hassle of ironingclothes leaving my children at home and rushthrough the daily chores Online learning gives methe freedom of expanding my horizons whilemanaging my household thanks to the wonders ofmodern technology that has kept us connectedduring these tough times
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
हाल ही म 2020 क शआती चरण म एक ऐसी खबर आई जोनया भर म हर कसी का दल तोड़ चक ह कोरोना वायरस कबार म एक खबर नया भर म एक रहयमय वायरस परी नयाएक ठहराव पर आ गई थी कोरोनो वायरस हजार लोग को माररहा था और हम असहाय महसस कर रह थ इस रोकन क लएसरकार न लॉकडाउन कया लॉकडाउन हम म स अधकाश कलएएक चनौतीपण चरण था इसन हम बत कछ सखाया ह इसत न हम चीज को अलग तरह स दखन का मौका दया बन सोचा क यह एक छ ह हम कवल खशी महसस ई जबलॉकडाउन बढ़ गया तो हम कल जान का मय पता चला हालाक श म ऑनलाइन काए लना सभी (वशषकर शक )क लए एक चनौती थी लकन व सब जद ही अनकलत हो गएताक हमारी शा म कोई कावट न आए
हम उन लोग को पलस ारा पटत ए दखन का आनद ल रह थजो तालाबद क नयम को तोड़ रह थ और बत सारी बात हो रहीथ जस पता घर म सफाई कर रह थ व उचत पोशाक क बना घरस कायालय क लए काम कर रह थ एक दन कछ अत आमर पता क कायालय क सहयोगी जो बठक म थ उहन ऊपर एकअ पोशाक पहनी थी लकन नीच व कवल पजाम म थ यहदखकर सभी को हसी का फवारा फट पड़ा हम भी कम नह थऑनलाइन का क दौरान कवल कल शट पहनत थ
42 Varuni April 2021
कोरोना क कारण लॉकडाउन क दौरान अनभवअभनव कमार राय
Ctrl+Alt+ResetE-LEARNING
लकन लॉकडाउन कवल हसी क बार म नह था कारखान को बदरखन क कारण हमन एक राय स सर राय म वासी मजर कपलायन को दखा हमन गरीब लोग को भोजन क लए रोत दखा हमनएक असमथ बट को दखा - जो अपन बढ़ माता-पता स मलना चाहताथा जो उसस बत र रहत थ हमन उन रोत ए लोग को भी दखाजह नौकरय स नकाल दया गया था हमन घर म रह कर दखा कहमारी मा कतन सार काम करती ह
लॉकडाउन क दौरान षण म कमी ई अगर लॉकडाउन स पहल कबात कर तो उस समय कारखान स नकलन वाला कचरा जल मवाहत कर दया जाता था गाड़य क कारण स वन और वायषण हो रहा था लकन लॉकडाउन क वजह स इन सभी चीज मकमी आई ह और आज चड़य क चहचहाहट हमार आगन म वापसस सनाई द रही ह जो कह खो-सी गई थी नदय का जल वताक ओर असर हो रहा ह
उपसहार - लॉकडाउन हम जीवन क बार म सबक कई सबक द रहा ह हमन जीवन क कठनाइय को सहज प स वीकार करना सीखा ह इसन हम चनौतय को अवसर म बदलन क रणा द ह मझ आशाह क य सबक जीवन भर हमार साथ रहग हर व का अत होता हऔर यह भी जद ही समात हो जाएगा
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
43 Varuni April 2021
As the owner of both a cat and a dog the most commonquestion I get asked is donrsquot they fight Or how do they livetogether My go-to answer is that they grew up togetherso theyrsquore friends This seems to be a safe somewhatplausible answer It doesnrsquot however completely satisfyonersquos inherent curiosity in the face of the certainknowledge that cats and dogs are mortal enemies Toaddress that Irsquom going to give you a quick insight into thefur filled friendly world of Buster (the dog) and Winry (thecat)
Like any good online recipe Irsquom going to start with apersonal backstory followed by part advice and partopinion wrapped as the absolute best version you will evercome across
Fast forward three years and Winry has turned into aprincess demanding to be fed pampered and generallylording over everyone in her domain This includes Busterwho in turn is still as boisterous as when he was a pupand despite efforts to entice Winry to play with him is onlymet with disdain This doesnrsquot dampen his enthusiasm inthe least and only serves to exasperate Winry into taking afew playful swipes at him occasionally Sometimes Busteracts the guard dog when curiosity gets better of Winryrsquoscautious nature Occasionally Winry intervenes if Bustergets a sterner than usual dressing down Every now andthen there are power plays where Winry attempts to eatfrom Busterrsquos bowl or when Buster begs for Winryrsquos treatsHowever none of these specifically scream Cat vs Dog Norare they exactly pushing role boundaries They are simplycreatures that are living true to their instinct moulded bycharacter and mellowed by their environment
Buster is a boisterous part terrier mongrel that I adoptedwhereas Winry was the queen of the latest litter of an oldPersian lineage Opposites among opposites and no theseones did not attract I got them both home when theywere about four months old When they were initiallyintroduced to each other true to their nature Buster wascurious and Winry was apprehensive They both quicklyfound their place in my household and around each other
Of Cats and Dogs
Lt Cdr Megha Sharma
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPets CorneR
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Catch lsquoem young Kittens and puppies growingup together is a solution in itself
If yoursquore introducing a kitten or a puppy to afamily with an adult dog or cat give them timeto get used to each other passively and providesafe isolated spaces (a perch for the kitten acage for the pup) where they can retreat andfeel safe They will slowly find their place in thehouse Supervise all interactions and keep theadult from antagonising the young one
Remember that the dog is more likely tooverreact on seeing the cat Curb theoverreaction make it positive and let the cathave the initiative Once the dogrsquos curiositywanes and is generally desensitised to havingthe cat around the cat will find itself a nicheMaybe theyrsquoll eventually be the best of chums
In conclusion can cats and dogs be friendsAbsolutely Itrsquos more common than you wouldthink Follow the tradition of domestication with afew helpful nudges from mother nature and catsand dogs can be pawsitively purrfect friends
44 Varuni April 2021
PETS CORNER
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
So how did they come to get along so easily
You donrsquot need to be an animal psychologist tounderstand that there are a whole lot of dynamicsbut it stands to reason that there are a few corebasics
The Dog vs Cat prejudice stems from the preyinstinct every creature is born with Dogs see smalland fluffy animals like rabbits squirrels and cats aspotential prey Cats being predators themselvesdefend against this perceived aggression with fangsand claws if necessary However not all dogs have aburning hunting instinct neither do all cats haveaggressive reactions Further if you take away thetriggers for a predator-prey reflex then they justbecome another part of the gang Just like how acat sees its owner (or slave) or a dog its master sowill they adapt their perception of each other
If you do decide to break the mould of being apurely lsquocatrsquo or lsquodogrsquo or lsquokidrsquo person here are somegeneral tips to get them to get along
Meet Simba The Furball
A handsome dog with hanging ears and a wagging tail has taken myplace in the family He sleeps where I used to sleep and gets all theattention nowadays Being a first-time dog owner it has been verybusy but at the same time it has been veryndashvery fun
As Simba is a Labrador he likes everyone From the Amazon deliveryguy to our helpers he is always overjoyed on meeting new peopleSince he came to our home Ive realised that most of the things in thehouse are edible There is not a single plant that Simba hasnrsquot eaten inthe lawn
Samridh Sundriyal
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
45 Varuni April 2021
BEHOLD hellip HERE CAME lsquoOLIVErsquo TOO
The lockdown also saw the addition of a newfamily member ndash Olive A tiny cute lab puppy Ohhow adorable he looked when I first saw him Allmy doubts were laid to rest as I looked into hispuppy eyes and brought him home Today all ourlives revolve around this bundle of joy
All in all while my dream holiday never happenedthe past few months taught us a new way of livingwhich I think is here to stay for some time Thus If Iought to summarize simplistically it was a journeyfrom Pattaya to NOFRA (not even Bogmalo) but ajourney that has opened new horizons and a newmeaning of life
For instance my husband offered to cook lunchone fine morning I couldnrsquot believe my ears Aperson who never voluntarily made a cup of tea forme in 21 years of our married life (though he hasbasic cooking skills) was offering to cook a fullmeal I had never imagined such a day wouldarrive I wish I had asked for something else had Iknown my wishes would be granted in 2020 Tomy surprise he had whipped up an amazing mealbut he did leave me with a messy kitchen to clean
And then this became a regular affair How Iwished for the good old days ndash when he would siton his favourite beanbag oblivious to the kitchenand its workings My younger daughter also joinedthe party venturing into the kitchen after beingbored of her gadgets Meanwhile my elder onewho once wanted to be a patisserie chef returnedto her passion and started baking a whole range ofgoodies regularly On my part I was gorgingdelicious food not cooked by me necessitating theneed of taking up a new hobby ndash working outregularly
Last year in February I was looking forward toholidaying in Pattaya with the family especially myelder daughter who was to appear for Class XIIexaminations and then leave the nest to make herway in the world
Unfortunately things changed drastically by mid-March A lockdown was announced Everybody wascompelled to stay indoors with a curfew-likesituation prevailing across the country What startedas a bonus holiday soon turned into the new normPeople came up with various ideas to pass their timefrom binge-watching to cooking and playing virtualLudo games with their family and friends In short lifegot concentrated around family and friends withseveral surprises whipped up in my kitchen regularly
Pattaya to Vasco A Journey That Never Happened
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
Preeti Joshi
PETS CORNER
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
The Secret Lives of Pets of NOFRA
46 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
47 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+ResetPETS CORNER
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
Activities amp Introspection
48 Varuni April 2021
2020 was a tough year for people worldwide butlooking back at the year that has passed I feel thatit was also a year of much learning and newbeginnings Many of us truly did go by the oldsaying ldquoNever letting a good crisis go to wasterdquo andmade the best of the time we had at hand
Besides the never-ending household chorescooking every day amidst the lockdown withlimited supplies was a MasterChef experience initself Yet cooking with my family was quite afulfilling experience and felt like a picnic in manyways
I also picked up a new hobby during this timealbeit accidentally It began when my younger sonduring his online classes got a project where hehad to make a north-eastern dish by the name oflsquoPittarsquo The dish was quite simple and consisted of amix of ingredients like rice flour and chana dalBack in Kerala where I come from we have a dishnamed lsquoIla- ada which isnrsquot all that dissimilar toPitta and making the dish was a piece of cake (punintended)
However the real hard work was what followed Theproject consisted of making the dish clicking picturesof it and formulating its recipe So while I found iteasy to prepare the dish formulating a cooking guidewasnrsquot simple at all From clicking appetizing picturesto compiling the steps I found that explaining thecooking process was actually harder than cookingitself but I somehow came up to the challenge andfinished it
Having done all this work already I decided to uploadthe guide to my Instagram account and the feedbackwas lovely This prompted me to try out more recipesand post them on Instagram Soon I found myselfdiving into the technical world of social media andgradually learned the ropes to becoming a successfulcontent creator
In conclusion Irsquod like to say that while 2020 wasnrsquot agreat year it was definitely a good teacher It did helpus get time from the daily hustle to learn anddiscover new things to bond with our families andpick up new hobbies that would perhaps stick withus for a lifetime
Kitchen AdventuresVineetha Anil
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
49 Varuni April 2021
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
My Lockdown MemoirsNoor Paramjeet Singh IX D
I also discovered the epics of Ramayana andMahabharata like my other friends 30 years afterour parents and grandparents had lapped themup in the 1980s It also encouraged me to changemy parentsrsquo names on my phone directory toMatashri and Pitashri Thanks to my improvedHindi vocab
I also learned the essential skill of recognising myfriends with their masks on As quarantinebecame the lsquoWord of the Yearrsquo adjudged by theinfamous Oxford Dictionary I like many otherslearned to be more human and resilient Today Ican only wish for things to return to normal butin the meantime I urge everybody to embraceuncertainty and make something good out of it
My lockdown started in December 2019 while Iprepared for the upcoming board exams Alas assoon as the exams ended the entire nation went intolockdown and all my plans of fun and frolic wentdown the drain So what did I do I decided tobecome atmanirbhar in every way For instance Idecided to try my hand at cooking Unfortunately thechapatis looked like maps of different countries andthe cake turned out burnt like charcoal But I didnrsquotlose heart I continued with my experiments and dideventually improve my culinary skills
Tejal Gahoi IX A NCS
I guess students benefited the most during thelockdown Teens of my age usually have a busylife in which they eat-sleep-study-repeat butthen they found the time to realize theirpotential and find their identity I tried to makethe best use of this time by preparing for theupcoming tsunami of studies that would hit usin high school
To conclude this lockdown got me closer to myfamily closer to my goals and surprisingly meto myself And I finally memorized counting till100 in HINDI
Everything you do is an experience But sitting athome and having nothing to do is a differentexperience in itself Well thank you 2020
For me having nothing to do turned out to be a timeof introspection I spent much time with my familyand have come a lot closer to them I finally realisedthat there is a life without malls restaurants andfriends And who canrsquot relate to those ludo gameevenings
A Teens Perspective
Activities amp Introspection
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
50 Varuni April 2021
Enduring The Catastrophe
Nisha Yadav
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
During the lockdown I yearned to be more creative Weary of what hadbecome my routine I took up photography inspired by the clear blueskies clean seas and pure air a result of the nationwide lockdown Eachday I would wear my mask and set out for a walk clicking pictures ofwhatever caught my eye
Back home I would spend a few hours digitally manipulating my photosusing photo-editing software Soon it became my passion Even todayalmost every day after online classes I move to my favourite chair tofiddle with Photoshop and create my art And because of it Irsquom far moreready to deal with any bad news or a roadblock at work or at home
Activities amp Introspection
Amid lockdown I had plenty of time and picked up a book to read for thefirst time As I started reading it slowly became a habit and now I can saythat I am addicted to reading The best thing about reading as a hobby isthat you dont need a specific time place or equipment to start readingAll you need is a book whether you are travelling or getting bored athome to switch to another world instantly
As far as my experience is concerned reading is one of the best hobbies Itrelieves stress makes you happy and gives you companionship wheneveryou need it You can immerse yourself in a story any time with yourfavourite book and derive immense pleasure from it
Shakira Khan
Books Are My Friends
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
51 Varuni April 2021
I was always fascinated with the various aspects of baking anddecorating cakes However I was content with baking simplecakes until my birthday in March 2020 when I decided todecorate my cake My husband was returning home from his seatime for a short leave and my sister had planned on joining us forthe celebration - what better occasion there could be to trysomething new
My first fully decorated cake an intense chocolate cake wasrelished by my family and friends who had dropped by tosurprise me Encouraged by the response I decided to perfectmy craft This was the same time when fortunately (for some) orunfortunately the nationwide lockdown was announced Whilemy husband had already left my sister was stuck with me (as shelikes to put it) as all the flights and trains were cancelled
My sisters company and some additional time on my hands sawme following various bakers from across the world and trying outnew things almost on a daily basis I started learning the finerdetails about baking the various kinds of frostings and the toolsneeded to achieve the kind of perfection I was seeking I knew Icould do it but I wanted to do it the right way No shortcuts andusing only quality ingredients I wanted to try my hand inmeringue based frostings and I learned it quite well
Having my sister around was a huge help and support Shepersuaded me to start baking for friends who furtherencouraged and supported me eCommerce came to my rescuein terms of supplies - ensuring I always had the magicingredients I needed for my cakes
Overall the feeling of a cake coming to fruition from thescattered raw ingredients is a proud moment that satisfies oneon many levels The lockdown gave me the time to discover andfollow my passion and I continue to bake interesting cakes tochallenge myself and bring a smile to others
Just Cake It
Rohini Fulshe
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
52 Varuni April 2021
The Art Perspective
It all started when as a kindergartner I doodled cartoons on everynewspaper I could get my hands on This soon became an unendingpassion for me and the doodles turned into paintings The quarantinepresented me with an opportunity to try my hand at making creativegifts and cards My paintings took shape and became a lovely present formy peers and family Painting for me is just another way of having apersonal diary blotting out my emotional expressions and trying mybest to keep it creative too Undoubtedly art is a getaway from thelockdown
Kavya Vartak
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
ldquoEvery Canvas is a journey of its ownrdquo
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
53 Varuni April 2021
Butterflies Around Us
Anandi Ghosh
My interest in photography started when I was in Class 7 and my fatherpermitted me to use his DSLR for the first time I suspect it was an effort to getme out of the house I didnrsquot really know what I was doing and clicked randomphotographs of everything But over time with the help of my father I learnedhow to use the camera and take better pictures
In the past year I developed an interest in photographing the butterflies thatvisit our garden regularly These beautiful winged creatures seemed to embodythe freedom that was temporarily denied to us My interest led me intoexploring their diverse world and a new journey started for me
Ctrl+Alt+ResetActivities amp Introspection
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
पाइनएपल अप-साइड डाउन कक
54 Varuni April 2021
सामी
बटर 25 ामाऊन शगर 25 ामपाइनएपल 8 टकडचरी 8मदा 125 ाममकमड 200 ामतल 70 ामबकग पाउडर 1 tspबकग सोडा frac12 tspपाइनएपल एसस 5-6 बदखारा सोडा ज़रत क अनसार
RECIPE
वध
सबस पहल मदा बकग पाउडर और बकग सोडा को छानलो अब एक बाउल म मकमड और तल को बीट कर लोअब उसम मदा बकग पाउडर बकग सोडा औरपाइनएपल एसस मलाए
अगर मण गाढ़ा ह तो उसको पतला करन क लए खारासोडा मलाए अब एक कढाई म बटर और ाऊन शगर कोगम कर ल अब कक मो म बटर पपर डाल उस पराऊन शगर और मट कया बटर डाल अब पाइनएपल कटकड डाल पाईनएपल क टकङो क बीच म चरी डाल
अब कक क मण को डाल दो कक टन को हलाकरअब OTG को 180deg पर 10 मनट क लए गम कर ककमो को OTG म डालकर 30 स 35 मनट क लए पकाएऔर कक को एक बार टथपक स दख ल क कक पक गयाह तो कक को OTG स बाहर नकालकर ठडा कर लो
अब कक को मो स नकालकर बटर पपर को हटा दो कक तयार ह
राजवदर कौर
Ctrl+Alt+Reset
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
I opened my closet today to find 2 corpsesinside which was strange since I rememberputting 3 inside (Nikhil Nair)
The dog sighed contentedly as he picked the lastbit of flesh off the bone Adam had been a goodmaster but a better meal (Ayushi Ghosh)
ldquoSo you see dear there is no one here at all hesaid in a sleepy voice bored of the recurrentlate night tantrums of his five year olddaughter
ldquoBut father what exists in the darkness is neverseen under the lightrdquo (Adhiraj Rastogi)
ldquoMary Mary quite contrary howdoes your garden growrdquo shehummed to herself as shereached to pick the flowerwhile her foot pushed the bodyfurther into the ground (MrsPanchali Ghosh)
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so
गज़र जायगा गज़र जायगामकल बत ह मगर व ही तो हगज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
जदा रहन का य जो जबा ह फर उभर आयगागज़र जायगा गज़र जायगा
The knot on the top right corner of every pagesymbolises the strength perseverance and
bonding within the Naval community that hasseen us through the tough times and will continue
to do so