BE N N E T T, C OL E M A N & C O. LT D. | E S TA BLI S H E D 183 8 | T IM E S OF IN DI A . C OM | N E W DE L HI
TODAY’S
EDITION
STUDENT EDITION
➤ Brush up on your
➤ Books that inspire
➤ A look at the rising
playground manners
PLUS: 10 Style tips to
be a sharp dresser
Hayao Miyazaki
PLUS: Movies to
understand bullying
Chess prodigies who
are likely to be stars of
the game tomorrow
PAGE 2
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022
Newspaper in
Education
#GOALS
GET
INSPIRED
10 powerful quotes for
Int’nl Women’s Day 2022
CLICK HERE: PAGE 1 AND 2
RUPI KAUR, poet
FOMO is over.
FOGO & FONO are here.
RETHINK
“What’s the greatest lesson a woman should
learn? That since day one, she’s already had
everything she needs within herself. It’s the
world that convinced her she did not.”
Pics: Istock
FEAR: IT’S
Now that we are tentatively
stepping out, most of us are facing OVERWHELMING
HOW TO HANDLE IT: It goes without saying that re-emerging into a normal life
a ‘fear of going out’ or a ‘fear of
may feel overwhelming, after two years of
To quell this feeling maintain
normal’. Here’s how you can fight it isolation.
your pandemic-era boundaries like where
Nupur.Amarnath@timesgroup.com
ed an increase in treatment provided for
anxiety disorders, and 60% saw an increase
in depressive disorder treatment. The
FONO/FOGO is real. But unless you have a
deep-seated fear of people (agoraphobia) or
a social anxiety, there are simpler ways to
handle this social anxiety.
N
ow that we seem to be on day 10
million (who’s counting) of the
pandemic, things seem to be
reverting to type. And that may
not be a comforting thought for
many. Thanks to the Internet memeverse, we
now have cutesy acronyms for this anxiety
you may be experiencing as we
approach a mask-less (to an extent)
life: they are FOGO aka fear of
going out or FONO i.e. fear of
normal. Last year, when
things seemed to
improve the same anxiety was editorialised as
‘re-entry anxiety’.
A recent “Washington Post”
article talked about a new phenomenon some are starting to
experience, as the end of COVID
flashes on our collective horizon. It’s FOMO for the postpandemic world. Both fears
are similar and describe the
anxiety and stress people
are feeling about socialising again. If you have any
such feelings you are not
alone. According to the
American Psychological
Association’s COVID-19 survey, 74% of psychologists report-
FEAR: SPEAKING FACETO-FACE MAY FEEL
LESS NATURAL
HOW TO HANDLE IT:
Socialising face-to-face may
feel a lot tougher, but
remember that you’re not the
only one. Mostly everyone is
on the same boat and
many would feel as
socially awkward
as you. If
needed, be
ready with a
couple of icebreaker questions
as conversation starters.
Shift your focus to kindness.
Instead of trying top make
great conversation, ask people
how they’re doing, listen attentively, show interest in what
they’re saying, and
give compliments that are not about
appearance at all.
NEW PANDEMIC TERMS
FORO
Abbreviation for “fear of running out”: a
worried feeling that you may run out of a
product or a supply of something as
many did immediately after the pandemic-induced lockdowns were announced
HOGO
Abbreviation for “hassle of going out”: a
feeling that leaving the house to socialise
is too difficult or not worth the trouble
Did you know March 5 is the birthday of inventor
of instant noodles Momofuku Ando. We tell you
more about this man and his invention
al udon and soba noodles at the time. Ando
began the sales of his most famous
product, the Cup Noodle, on
Obviously
Born on March 5, 1910 in Taiwan,
September 18, 1971 with the masits not the
Momofuku Ando founded Nissin
terstroke of providing
healthiest of food
Foods on September 4th, 1948 in
a waterproof
and one must eat in
According
Osaka, Japan. He got the idea to
polystyrene
moderation it has
to the World
make an instant noodle product
container.
many chemicals in it
Instant Noodles
when he saw people waiting in
to prolong its
Association China conlong lines patiently for a bowl of
shelf life
sumes 46 billion packramen. Thus, he wanted to create a
ets of ramen yearly—
product that was tasty, inexpensive, and
the most in the
easy to prepare. He first introduced the chickworld
en ramen in 1958 and then the Cup Noodle in
Again Ando developed
1971. With
Ramen that could be
Japan
eaten in space in 2005. The
suffer“Space Ram” is a vacuing post
um-packed ramen
war food
made with smaller
shortages,
noodles and a thickAndo’s creer broth. This
ation was
space food was
aimed at
invented for
tackling food
Japanese astroshortage.
naut Soichi
After months
Noguchi’s trip in
of trial-and-error
the Discovery
experimentation to
space shuttle.
perfect his flashfrying method, Ando
marketed the first
package of precooked
instant noodles.
Momofuku Andu invented the
idea of instant ramen
It was the
first type of
noodle in space
It was once considered a luxury item
Ramen is the
Japanese pronunciation of the
Chinese word lamein
There
The true history of this noodle dish is
is a CupNoodles
unclear. Some say it has a Chinese
For a product that aimed to
Museum in Japan
origin, while others say it was
tackle food shortage, Ramen
where you can learn the
invented in the 20th century by
wasn’t always so cheap. When
history of how the instant
Japan. Either way, the Japanese
it was first released, it was
noodle came to be and
word for ramen comes from the
actually considered a luxury
you can make your
Chinese word lamien, which
because it was cheaper to buy
own noodle conmeans Chinese noodles. In fact in
fresh Japanese noodles (udon)
coction too
a poll, Japanese voted for the
from the grocery store than it was
Ramen as their best innovation with
to purchase instant noodle. It was
karaoke coming a close second.
priced at ¥35, around six times
that of traditionThe noodle
length inside
an
instant
ramen packet
is 51 meters
that is equivalent to 2
basketball courts
Instant noodles cause more harm
to women than men
According to a Harvard Study, women have 68%
higher risk of metabolic syndrome if they have
instant noodles twice a week, but not men.
Scientists aren’t certain why that is so, but some
of them think that the results could be due to the
female subjects reporting their diet more accurately or that they count servings more precisely.
“If we stop defining each other by what we
are not and start defining ourselves by what
we are, we can all be freer.”
AMANDA GORMAN, poet
“There is always light. Only if we are brave
enough to see it. There is always light. Only if
we are brave enough to be it.”
you will go, whom to
visit, etc. Boundarysetting is an important
practice. Start with
what’s comfortable to
you and then slowly
introduce changes.
Also, now is a god
chance to examine the source of your
overwhelm. What is causing it? Is it just
the re-entry or maybe the fact that it is
some deep-seated mental health issue?
KALPANA CHAWLA, astronaut
“The path from dreams to success does exist.
May you have the vision to find it, the
courage to get on to it, and the perseverance
to follow it.”
RUTH BADER GINSBURG, jurist
“Women belong in all places where decisions
are being made. It shouldn’t be that women
are the exception.”
SERENA WILLIAMS, tennis player
“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we
cheer each other on.”
FEAR: YOU ARE NOT
READY FOR “NORMAL”
GD ANDERSON, feminist
“Feminism isn’t about making women
stronger. Women are already strong. It’s
about changing the way the world perceives
that strength.”
HOW TO HANDLE IT: You may not want to
return to your pre-pandemic “normal” –
maybe you didn’t like going to work or
school. Since the world is mostly hybrid
now, use that option. You can also have a
detailed talk with your school, office or the
place you are visiting for a dinner on their
Covid protocols to set your mind at rest.
MARGARET THATCHER, former UK
PM
“In politics, if you want anything said, ask a
man; if you want anything done, ask a
woman.”
RE-ENTRY ANXIETY
TRIVIA TIME
Interesting facts about
INSTANT NOODLES
EMMA WATSON, actress
A feeling of stress or worry
about returning to normal
life after the restrictions caused by
COVID-19
RE-ENTRY
DRESS
As we emerge from
our homes, the little
black dress has been christened as the “re-entry dress”
only its more summery, voluminous and with loose sleeves
ANNA QUINDLEN, author
FEAR: NOT EVERYONE IS
WORTH RECONNECTING
“After all those years as a woman hearing,
‘not thin enough, not pretty enough, not
smart enough, not this enough, not that
enough,’ almost overnight I woke up one
morning and thought, ‘I am
enough.’”
HOW TO HANDLE IT: While its great to
return to your friends, we all have negative people in our lives. Not every connection is positive, there are the ones who
give unsolicited opinions, toxic friends,
unsupportive people. For many, lockdown
has been a time for introspection. You
now know what connections really matter
to you and what you are better without.
Use that knowledge to cut off toxic ties or
to adjust your behaviour in a way that the
negativity doesn’t affect you.
MAYA ANGELOU, poet
“Each time a woman
stands up for
herself she
stands up
for all
women.”
FITNESS
DEPRESSION
AND EXERCISE
WHAT’S THE CONNECT?
Supriya.Sharma2@timesgroup.com
A
lot of research has come to
the fore that talks about
exercise as an all-natural
treatment to fight
depression – in
some cases being even as
effective as antidepressants. The
Sports sociology
research
department
of the
University of
South
Australia
(UniSA) and
MSH Medical
School
Hamburg
in
THE EXERCISE EFFECT
In people with depression,
neuroscientists have noticed that the
hippocampus in the brain —the
region that helps regulate mood
— is smaller. Exercise supports
nerve cell growth in the
hippocampus, hence relieving
depression. Other than that, any
amount and type of sustained
physical activity results in
lifting mood; better sleeping
patterns; good energy levels;
blocking negative thoughts
Germany released a study
that demonstrates how
sports can protect people
from serious mental
health disorders. They
also gauged factors such
as indoor settings versus
outdoors, as well as
team sports compared to individual
sports. Athletes who met the World
Health Organisation’s exercise guidelines – 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week – generally
experienced better mental health
than those that didn’t.
For more such inspiration, check
our special edition to mark
International Women’s Day 2022.
Out this Tuesday, March 8
SLOW AND STEADY
While we all feel sad, moody or low
from time to time, some people
experience these feelings intensely,
for long periods of time (weeks,
months or even years) and sometimes without any apparent reason.
Depression is more than just a low
mood – it’s a serious condition that
has an impact on both physical and
mental health. One in six women and
one in eight men will experience
depression at some point in their lives.
Depression manifests physically
through symptoms like disturbed
sleep, reduced energy, appetite
changes, body aches, and chronic pain,
all of which can result in less motivation to
exercise. So, the idea is to start slow and take
it a notch higher every week.
TEAMWORK WORKS
“You get different benefits from group exercise than from individuals. Typically, group
exercise keeps you engaged and is energizing,
while individual exercise is more contemplative and stress reducing,” says Thomas
Plante, PhD, ABPP, a professor of psychiatry
and behavioural sciences at Stanford
University. But ‘moderation’ is the key. Over
exercising or vigorous-intensity physical
activity can add more stress to both your
physical and emotional state.
HEALTH
WAYS TO PROTECT
5 YOUR EARS
Hearing health is perhaps the most overlooked
aspect of our lives. Let’s try and
change that to mark World
Hearing Day (March 3) this month
A
ccording to the
World Health
Organisation, 1.1
billion teenagers
and young adults
worldwide are at risk for
noise-induced hearing loss
from unsafe use of audio
devices. Researchers have found
that your ears need an average of
16 hours of quiet to recover from one
loud night out.
Turn down the decibels: If you like
to enjoy music through headphones
or earbuds, you can protect your
1
let them rest.
Get moving: Hearing health
professionals believe exercise
increases the blood flow to the ear.
Good blood flow is essential to the health
of the tiny hair cells in the inner ear
which are responsible for translating the
sound your ears collect into electrical
impulses for your brain to translate.
Focus and Locate Sounds: It’s a
good idea to try fine-tuning your
focus on noise, as this can help
improve hearing. There are various
exercises you can do. One of the most
popular involves putting on music in a
quiet room and walking around your
house while listening; you then attempt
to identify certain words and
instruments. This helps train your brain
to locate and understand sounds with
increasing ease and success.
Right nutrition: Some minerals are
also critical elements in protecting
our hearing health. Potassium
regulates the fluid in your inner ear
which is important because as we age
these levels tend to drop which can
contribute to hearing loss. Eat potatoes,
spinach, lima beans, tomatoes, raisins,
apricots, bananas, melons.
3
Lots of people who suffer from
impaired hearing say a yoga
workout can sometimes help them
hear better. Relaxing and
stretching in positions like
downward dog gets oxygen-rich
blood to your head quicker,
which may assist with
hearing
ears by following the 60/60
rule. The suggestion is to
listen with headphones at no more
than 60% volume for no more than 60
minutes a day. Earbuds are especially
dangerous, as they fit directly next to
the eardrum. If possible, opt for overthe-ear headphones.
Avoid prolonged noise: If you are
exposed to loud noises for a
prolonged period of time, like at a
concert or a bar, your ears need time
to recover. If you can, step outside for
five minutes every so often in order to
2
4
5
— SUPRIYA SHARMA
02
ETIQUETTE
“Good grooming is integral and impeccable style is a must. If you
don’t look the part, no one will want to give you time or money.”
— Daymond John, businessman
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022
PICS: ISTOCK
MANNER MANUAL
Pallavi.Shankar@timesgroup.com
T
here is no playground/park etiquette handbook, but there are
time-tested manners that should
be followed while enjoying play
time as this space is shared by all
age groups, from toddlers and tweens to
teens — and in the case of colony parks,
elders like parents and grandparents too.
Here’s a guide that will help.
BE MINDFUL OF
SMALL CHILDREN
“Tweens and teens, while it is fun to leap
from monkey ladder to the ground, make
sure there are no toddlers underneath
before you play Spiderman,” advises etiquette expert Pria Warrick. Ditto for being
cautious while playing cricket or soccer so
that no one around is hurt by a fast-moving ball. It is the first lesson in thoughtfulness and etiquette.
SAY SORRY
SAY NO TO BULLYING
“Apologies are important, even if you have
unintentionally stomped on a child or the
accompanying parent’s feet,” says
Warrick. Say ‘sorry’ when something like
this happens – chances are the person will
say ‘no problem’ and continue doing what
they are busy doing with a smile.
PLAYGROUND
MANNERS MATTER
Just because you are heading to your local playground, don’t leave
Don’t
your manners behind. After all, it’s good to play with rules
throw used face
masks or hand gloves
DON’T
ground is just not done. Besides making
ing or running around, don’t walk near the
in the park or school playthe place dirty, the soil can get into the
swings. And if you are on the swing, give
ground – they can be a
THROW eyes of people around, leading to dis- chance to others too if they are waiting.
source of infection for othcomfort, skin allergies and also fights.
Hogging the swing for a long time, when
ers. Dispose them off in the
MULCH So, avoid at all costs.
there is a queue, is bad manners.
trash bin and wash or
It is tempting all
right but throwing mulch — soil
and decaying leaves —
around the park or play-
sanitise your hands
once done.
BE ON SWING WATCH
Remember, the child on the swing can’t
control momentum, so when you are walk-
DON’T DROP FOOD
Soggy biscuits and chips attract insects
and ants. So, enjoy your favourite treats
This applies to both – the bully and the
bullied. Sometimes bullying is subtle, at
other times in your face – both have
devastating consequences on the
psychology of the person being bullied,
as was seen recently after a boy in a
Delhi school developed acute school
phobia after being bullied for years. Do
know that bullying is anti-good manners,
anti-social and anti-humanity. If you are
being bullied by your senior/classmate
in the school playground or in your
society park while playing, inform your
teacher/parents. For those who bully, do
understand that it’s punishable and the
bully can be rusticated from school or if
it’s outside the premises of school, can
get a bad reputation in the area.
Bullying, sometimes, comes from
unresolved issues like insecurity, low
self-esteem and such other issues.
If you feel you are prone to being a
bully, address these concerns to your
parents, teachers or a trusted elder.
They will help you in regulating your
emotions and may even consult a
psychologist to manage the issue. Either
way, don’t stay silent – don’t bully and
don’t accept bullying.
with your friends but be mindful enough to
dispose of unused food and packets/bottles in the dustbin. Don’t drop them on the
ground carelessly – it’s very unhygienic,
especially in the time of Covid.
NO HUGGING
Now that the third Covid-19 wave is receding, people are dropping guard and mingling more. Children, you will
understandably be excited at the opportunity of playing in the park/football ground
with your friends but avoid hugging each
other. Say hi and wave at each other and
wash your hands and face well after you
are done playing.
MIND THE ELDERS
When playing in the park, you may see a
group of elderly people practicing yoga or
enjoying being a part of the laughter club
or just out for an evening walk. Give them
space and don’t snigger or laugh at them.
Warrick says: “If you spot a known face in
the elderly group — your friend’s grandparent or a neighbour — greet them with a
smile. These small gestures go a long way
in inculcating etiquette and humane values
in your life.”
PANDEMICQUETTE
DRESSETIQUETTE
YOUR BACKTO-SCHOOL
10 STYLE TIPS ON HOW TO DRESS
SHARP AS A YOUNG PERSON
ETIQUETTE GUIDE
A ready reckoner for
getting back to physical
learning as schools reopen
DROP OFF AND PICK UP
SELF-CONFIDENCE IS KEY
#1
A big chunk of style depends
on a confident attitude. Selfconfidence is an internal driving force for remembering who are you
are and what you stand for. When you are
confident it will send a strong signal that
affects your “aura”. To develop self-confidence, pick a mentor close to you – it can
be your parent, teacher or even your peer.
Also work on your self by reading more
and educating yourself, it all helps in
developing a well-rounded personality.
GET YOUR JAB
If you are eligible for a vaccine shot, then make
sure you get a jab before you join. Also be
truthful about the vaccination status of the
people in your family. Getting vaccinated
makes it much less likely that you will get
infected. And if you do, a vaccine reduces your
risk of severe illness, hospitalisation, and
death. It also also protects those around you
from becoming infected.
MASK UP
Unless the orders whether to mask
up or not are specified, invest in
some comfortable high-quality
masks for your child that are long
wear and easier to operate for the
whole day. In-person learning will
require adherence to COVID-19
precautions in order to reduce
risk. Parents and teachers
should explain to kids why
we need to social distance
and encourage them to
do so. It’s important to
teach children to use
good manners with
each other while
also staying safe.
Make sure social
distancing doesn’t
become a form of
bullying.
LUNCH
ROOM
Lunchtime is a
tricky part of the
day because it’s
one of the only times
that everyone needs
to take off their
While personal style
evolves as you grow
there are some style
rules that stay the
same even so
Drop off and pick up will need to
function differently since they
naturally lead to crowding. Many
schools are implementing new
drop-off and pick-up protocols, like
having kids line up on assigned,
spread-out spaces and wait for
attendance to be taken;
introducing scattered drop-off
and pick-up times to reduce
crowding of parents or using
sidewalk drop off and pick up.
There’s a need to follow
these protocols strictly as
we are gingerly getting
back to the new
normal.
masks. This is where
social distancing has
to be more stringent.
There are a
number of
safety rules
around
lunchtime
that need to
be observed like
washing hands
before lunch; three
feet distance; masks
on unless seated and
eating; assign seats and no
sharing food.
Queries relating to Etiquette
Etiquette is the customary code of polite behaviour in society. Social situation and the way we live, even etiquette, is
ever changing. For instance, who would have thought that
one would need a whole new set of classroom rules in 2019?
If you have a question on the new rules of engagement in a
post-covid world, a relationship dilemma or just a query
regarding writing a thank you note, write in to us
toinie175@gmail.com with the subject line ETIQUETTE.
DEVELOP AN IMAGE
#2
Whatever you have heard
about beauty being skin-deep
is true but in the real world,
first impressions matter. In short, people
still judge books by their covers. Paying
attention to your appearance is not shallow because it will get people to want to
talk to you and get to know your better –
and that’s when your personality kicks in.
Also note that appearance is not about
looks but being a well-groomed, wellstyled and well-spoken person.
GET GOOD SHOES
#3
A shoe can instantly elevate
any outfit. Keep your shoe
wardrobe small but stocked
with good quality shoes. Other than
your school shoes which you must keep
spick and span you should have a good
running shoe, one formal pair, a kitten
heel and flat shoes for dailywear. Build
over and above this. Shoes represent
attention to detail.
CARE FOR YOUR CLOTHES
#4
Sharp style is not how much
you spend on your clothes but
how well you take care of
them too. Buying the right equipment to store also goes a
long way in keeping your
clothes as good as new. Get
wooden hangers, shoe trees
for your shoes, a good iron,
and mild detergent. Know
about how to wash away
stains and how to iron and you
will always look sharp.
of basics (white, blue and black
shirts/tops); basic trousers and jeans,
shoes and jackets in core colours. Add
elements like quirky bags, scarves and
more to make the looks trendy.
Put away styles that are no longer in
vogue as they might just make a comeback. Give away clothes that are
beyond repair. See what it is lacking
and shop for only those styles next.
EDIT YOUR CLOSET
IGNORE FASHION TRENDS
Do a wardrobe audit every
year to keep a check on the
state of your clothes and
accessories.
It’s difficult to fight off trends
as a young person but seriously true personal style is
beyond trends. Resist being a prey to the
whims of fashion. Mainstream fashion
trends change too fast to become staples
of your style. And you can’t afford to
overhaul your wardrobe every month.
#7
#8
GET A BLAZER
#9
Get it stitched or maybe just
off the rack but a good blazer is a great addition to any
wardrobe. It can instantly add a style
statement to your basics or make a
casual outfit formal. You can get it in a
fun colour for a day look or get it tailored for a formal outing. For a formal
blazer black, grey and blue work. A
casual blazer can be over sized.
MIND THE FIT
#5
A good fit is always
a great way to
dress sharp. Fit is
king for any clothing item too
look good. Always try on your
clothes. If shopping online, follow the size guide diligently and
keep your measurements handy
to nail the right fit.
PERSONAL STYLE
#10
Know what works
for you. This is a
trial and error game
– the more styles you try, the more
you will know what works for your
body type, height, build and even
hairstyle and skin tone. Use these
formative years to develop a personal style. Remember, it’s now
you can make as many style mistakes. Know that we are all not the
same: an outfit you see working on
someone may not be for you.
Find your groove.
QUALITY > QUANTITY
#6
Ever faced the dilemma
of a full closet but
nothing to wear? It is
quite common. A minimal
wardrobe could be your style saviour. Aim towards building an
interchangeable wardrobe,
which includes a good core
ASK THE EXPERT
“My 11-year-old is always
overwhelmed these
Q
My 11-year-old daughter
feels very confused and overwhelmed these days. She
tells me she can’t explain why she
feels so. She says it feels like she is
not the same happy person anymore.
I don’t know how to help her.
Most kids have days where they
feel sad, lonely or they don’t want
to do their daily activities. There
are many reasons why children to go through such
mood swings. While
one can owe these
changes to puberty
related
changes,
there are a couple of
other factors that may
contribute to such
A
changes such as school-related issues,
home environment, social changes, physical changes etc. Although this is a common change we see in most children, if
you feel your child seems persistently
sad or hopeless and it is affecting
her day-to-day life, then we need
to give it some attention. Some
of the steps you can take are:
 Talk to your daughter
about her feelings. Ask her
about how her day was
in school or
anywhere else
and try to figure
out if there were
any events that
might have
bothered her.
 Further, the basics
for maintaining good
mental health
include a healthy diet,
enough sleep, exercise
and positive connections
with other people at
home or
at school.
 Talk to and listen to
your child with love
and support.
Encourage her to
share her feelings.
 Help your
daughter look at
problems in a
days”
more positive way.
 Avoid pressurising her with
respect to academics or any
activity at the moment, if at all you do.
 Keep a check of the environment at
home. Avoid any fights, arguments or
disagreements in front of her, and till
whatever extent it is possible try to
maintain a happy environment at home.
 Talk to a professional therapist. They
may recommend psychotherapy which
involves counselling to help with
emotions and behaviour.
Hope this helps. TNN
— Expert: Dr Rachna Khanna Singh,
HOD, Holistic Medicine, Artemis
Hospital, Gurgaon, Relationship,
Lifestyle & Stress Management Expert
CLICK HERE: PAGE 3 AND 4
FILMS.BOOKS.MUSIC
03
“This above all: To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
— William Shakespeare, Hamlet
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022
PICS: ISTOCK
tions between Copper and his uncle.
The two take long walks through the
streets of Tokyo, exploring ideas as they
talk, and the uncle writes his own reflections on their conversations in a notebook that he leaves for Copper to read.
Interestingly, in 2018, artist Shoichi
Haga published a manga adaptation of
‘How Do You Live?’ which sold more
copies – a whopping two million – than
any other Japanese book that year.
‘How Do You Live?’ takes readers on a
simple yet profound quest that should
not be missed. At some point it has
been announced that Miyazaki was
returning from retirement to make a
film based on this book with a tentative
release scheduled in 2023.
THE SECRET GARDEN
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The message of
MIYAZAKI
Great news! Hayao Miyazaki, the Oscar winning Japanese
director of films like ‘Spirited Away’, ‘My Friend Totoro’, is
coming for your bookshelves. According to the latest
buzz, his graphic novel ‘Shuna’s Journey’, published
nearly 40 years ago in 1983, is being translated into
English. An avid reader, much of the acclaimed director’s
work has been fuelled by his literary inspirations...
adventure to talking animals and fantasy worlds. Here are some of them:
“
Nitya.Shukla@timesgroup.com
I
do believe in the power of story,”
Hayao Miyazaki once said. “I
believe that stories have an
important role to play in the formation of human beings, that they
can stimulate, amaze and inspire their
listeners.” As a self-described “physically weak” child, Miyazaki — the cofounder of Studio Ghibli, filmmaker, writer, animator, and manga
artist — read a lot. It was only in
2010, when he revealed his profound love of children’s literature,
and 50 of his favourite books for
an exhibition honouring publisher
Iwanami Shoten. His 50 favourites
ranged from tales of American
HOW DO YOU LIVE?
by Genzaburo Yoshino
First published in 1937, Japanese author
Genzaburo Yoshino’s coming-of-age
classic was a bestseller that year, and
has sold millions of copies since then.
Today, Yoshino’s classic is
an essential part of a
Japanese classical arts
education and has been
called a major influence
by Miyazaki, who cited it
as his favourite childhood
book. Set in 1930s Japan,
‘How Do You Live?’ is
about 15-year-old teen
If you have
watched his
film, you know
Miyazaki is
famous for creating characters
(frequently children) who
exhibit courage,
generosity, honesty, and a willingness to try new things. A favourite
from Miyazaki’s list, ‘The Secret Garden’
is a children’s classic about Mary
Lennox, the headstrong, emotionally
neglected heroine, through which
author Frances Hodgson Burnett taught
the world (in 1911) that it was possible
to heal oneself. Mary’s journey echoed
in Miyazaki’s film ‘Spirited Away’ which
also began with a 10-year-old protagonist Chihiro who is spoilt, disagreeable
and selfish. Like Mary, Chihiro yearns
for the love of her well-to-do but inattentive parents and eventually learns to
heal herself emotionally.
THE RADIUM WOMAN
Hayao Miyazaki is a popular
Japanese animator, director,
producer, screenwriter, author,
and manga artist. He is regarded
as one of the related animators in
the world! He is best known for his
Studio Ghibli movies. His works
take the viewers into relatable
fantastical worlds, and through his
loveable characters, one can learn
important life lessons.
protagonist Copper, who is dealing with
bullies at school and the loss of his
father. The story’s central plot leads him
to confront some hard truths about himself before can do the right thing.
However, in between the drama unfolds
a series of long, thoughtful conversa-
by Eleanor Doorly
Miyazaki once
said, “Many of my
movies have
strong female
leads – brave,
self-sufficient
girls that don’t
think twice about
fighting for what
they believe with
all their heart.
They’ll need a
friend, or a supporter, but never a savior. Any woman is
just as capable of being a hero as any
man.” A recurring theme in Miyazaki’s
films is women empowerment. His
female characters weren’t weak
princesses but strong, and sometimes,
fierce humans. For example, Nausicaa
from ‘Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind’
and San from ‘Princess Mononoke’,
Sophie in ‘Howl’s Moving Castle,’ and
Kiki in ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’, are fearless in the pursuit of their goals.
Perhaps, it is unsurprising then that
Eleanor Doorly’s 1939 children’s book —
a biography of famed (and courageous)
scientist Marie Curie — features in the
director’s list. Miyazaki also listed Lewis
Carroll’s ‘Alice In Wonderland’ and ‘Heidi’
by Johanna Spyri among his favourites.
IVAN THE FOOL
by Leo Tolstoy
First published in
1886, Leo Tolstoy’s
fairytale for children
‘Ivan the Fool and His
Two Brothers’ spoke
warmly about the values of living simple,
generosity and being
truthful to oneself.
The story is about Ivan, deemed foolish
for being a kind simpleton by his ambitious brothers who constantly pursue
their greedy desires, money, power etc.
And yet it is Ivan who has a happy ending in the story, revealing Tolstoy’s philosophical condemnation of commercialism. This story reflected themes of simplicity and kindness that have often
appeared in Miyazaki’s films.
TISTOU OF THE GREEN
THUMBS
GEORGE
ORWELL’S
Rules of
WRITING
A
s the writer of seminal novels like ‘1984’, ‘Animal
Farm’, and ‘Down and Out in Paris and London’, and
essays like ‘Shooting an Elephant’, George Orwell
was passionate about good writing. According to
reports, he asked himself the following four
questions for every sentence that he wrote:
 What am I trying to say?
 What words will express it?
 What image or idiom will make it clearer?
 Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?
 And then he would ask two more: Could I put it more
shortly? and Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?
In his essay, ’Politics and the English Language’ Orwell
wrote the following rules of writing:
 Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech
which you are used to seeing in print.
 Never use a long word where a short one will do.
 If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
 Never use the passive where you can use the active.
 Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon
word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
 Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright
barbarous.
by Maurice
Druon
Most of Miyazaki’s
films are anchored
powerfully in
nature which
comes through his
vivid depictions.
The environment is
a recurring element both as a physical
presence and as a source of inspiration.
In several instances, nature and people
co-exist in various settings, such as the
countryside, towns, and even cities.
Miyazaki believed people could and
should live in nature, or at the very least
co-exist in harmony. This idea is prominent in ‘My Neighbor Totoro’, as nature
appears to look after the children. As it
did in the story of 8 year old Tistou who
discovers a remarkable gift – that he has
green thumbs. Everything he touches
sprouts beautiful plants. Tistou is a
French children’s classic that ranks with
‘The Little Prince’ and ‘The Man who
Planted Trees’.
ALL OF US CAN BE BULLIES!
But all of us can also learn how not to be one; or help friends and classmates open up to us. No one should suffer in silence. It's time to take a stance.
Watch these films with your parents to start an honest conversation about the subject that’s on everyone’s mind right now…
SPEAK (2004)
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (2010)
STORY: Freshman high-school student Melinda
STORY: Greg Heffley, an 11-year-
(Kristen Stewart) has refused to speak ever
since she called the cops on a popular summer
party. With her old friends snubbing her for
being a rat, and her parents too busy to notice
her troubles, she folds into herself, trying to
hide her secret. But Melinda does find solace in
her art class headed by Mr.
Freeman (Steve Zahn).
MESSAGE:
old, is about to begin middle
MESSAGE:
school and wishes to
Dream big, like the
become popular among
protagonist, Greg Heffley.
the students. However,
He is blissfully unconcerned
his attempts to gain
with his own narcissism, lazifame land him in hilariness, and lack of muscle tone,
ously sticky situations.
but that never stops him from
believing. And then he discovers something magical: empathy
When someone
known to you
goes all-quiet, it’s
time to listen to
silence
MESSAGE:
Your dreams and
aspirations are yours
no matter what the
world says. Find one person who believes in you,
and courage will
follow…
BILLY ELLIOT
(2000)
ANT BULLY (2006)
STORY: Tired of weather-
MESSAGE:
It’s easy to bully or
think of revenge but
that’s never helped anyone.
Compassion, teamwork, and
loyalty can get much more
done, while calming your
senses and making you
believe in goodness
ing constant attacks on
their colony, ants shrink a
destructive boy, named Lucas
(Zach Tyler Eisen), to their size
and sentence him to live among them until he
learns the errors of his ways.
STORY: Billy Elliot has an
aspiration at odds with his
father’s. Billy wants to
become a professional ballet
dancer, while Jackie, his coal-miner
father, sends him to the gym to learn boxing.
MATILDA
(1996)
MESSAGE:
When Matilda’s parents aren’t neglecting
her, they are berating her -so she decides to punish them.
But she also stands up for the
principal’s victims. The film
explores themes of youthful
independence and personal identity
STORY: Matilda
shares a home
with her parents
and brother, who do
not appreciate her.
When her principal tortures her and a kind-hearted teacher, she uses
her telekinetic powers to settle scores.
STAND BY ME (1986)
STORY: After learning that a stranger has been
accidentally killed near their rural homes, four
Oregon boys decide to go see what’s happened.
On the way, they encounter a mean junk man
and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn
more about one another and their
very different home lives. Just a
MESSAGE:
lark at first, the boys’ advenThe movie defines
ture evolves into a defining
coming of age and
event in their lives.
captures the essence of
childhood friendships, as
well as the way children
are naive to their significance during
youth
CHICKEN LITTLE (2005)
STORY: When a piece of sky falls on
the head of Chicken Little, no
one believes him. However,
his friends trust him and
together they save the
world from ending.
MESSAGE:
To belong is a
powerful need, especially, when you are a
teen. But you must always
give a thought to whether
belonging comes at the
cost of your
conscience
MEAN GIRLS
(2004)
STORY: Cady joins a new
public school and befriends
Janis and Damian. They warn her to avoid the
Plastics, a group led by Regina, but things get
worse when she falls in love with Aaron,
Regina’s ex-lover.
MESSAGE:
Have courage,
even when it feels
like the sky is literally
falling and no one
seems to believe you.
Speak up till they
hear you out
THE KARATE KID
(1984)
STORY: Teenager Daniel
MESSAGE:
Decide what it is
you want from life and
work how best you can
achieve it, with 100% commitment you’ll fulfill your goals.
“It's okay to lose to opponent. It’s never okay to
lose to fear, “ as said
Mr Miyagi
LaRusso is bullied by Johnny
Lawrence, who is adept at
martial arts. In order to defend
himself, he tries to learn karate from
Mr Miyagi, his apartment’s kind handyman.
THE FAT BOY
CHRONICLES
(2010)
MESSAGE:
Parents need to
know that film deals
with some harsh truths
about teen obesity and bullying. By the end, a journal
assignment changes his
life as he realises he is
in control of his
future
STORY: An overweight teen
focuses on his goals of losing weight and getting the girl of his dreams despite being teased
and tormented by his classmates.
“Never say never because limits, like fears,
are often just an illusion.”
Michael Jordan, former basketball player
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022
TIME FOR A
Photo: ANI
AND
CHECK MATE
Indian teenage grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa stunned the world when he
got the better ofworld No.1 Magnus Carlsen in early February,the youngest at
16 to beat the Norwegian.As India bids to host the 44th edition ofthe Chess
Olympiad this year,we take a look at rising prodigies India has nurtured since
Viswanathan Anand and Koneru Humpy first made their mark on the board...
Photo: ChessBaseIndia
ARJUN ERIGAISI
Fide Rank - 2633
Fide Rank - 2658
VAISHALI
RAMESHBABU
Grand Master - 2018
Grand Master - 2016
Fide Rank - 2403
International Master - 2018
International Master - 2014
International Master - 2021
FIDE Master - 2017
Hailing from Thiruvanthapuram,
Kerala, Narayanan won his first
championship, the Kerala State
Under-9 Championship, in August
2007. He became the Asian under-16
champion in 2012. In August 2021, he
finished second in the Riga Technical
University Open ‘A’ tournament. In
October 2021, he finished second at
ChessMood Open 2021.
Woman Grand Master - 2018
Candidate Master - 2016
A name to be reckoned in the
future, eighteen-year-old Arjun
Erigaisi is slowly getting used to the
analogies. In August 2018, he
became India's 54th chess
Grandmaster after earning his final
GM norm at the Abu Dhabi Masters.
In 2021, Arjun became the first
Indian to qualify for the Champions
Chess Tour 2021. Recently, he won
the coveted Tata Steel Chess 2022
Challengers, and is currently the
9th ranked Indian chess player.
NARAYANAN SL
Photo: Twitter
Woman International Master - 2016
Photo: ChessBaseIndia
Photo: Tamilchess.com
BHAKTI KULKARNI
Fide Rank - 2388
The Chennai-based player won the
woman Grandmaster title after completing her final norm in the Riga
Technical University Open chess tournament in Riga, Latvia in 2018. The
2001-born player won the Girls’ World
Youth Chess Championship for Under14s and Under-12s. In 2016, she was
ranked second in India and World no.
12 U16-player, with an Elo rating of
2300. Her brother is Praggnanandhaa
R, the second youngest IM in history
and the fifth youngest GM in history.
International Master - 2019
Woman Grand Master - 2012
NIHAL SARIN
Woman International Master - 2010
Fide Rank - 2652
Woman Grand Master - 2021
Woman International Master - 2017
Bhakti Kulkarni, Goa’s first woman
IM, won the Asian Junior Chess
Championship in 2011. In 2013, she
was the first at the international
women’s chess tournament in
Czech Republic – Open Vysocina. In
2016, she won the Asian Chess
Women Championship. She was
part of the Indian team in the
Women’s Asian Team Chess
Championship, in 2009 and 2016,
where she won an individual bronze
in 2009. Bhakti had a great 2020,
winning gold with the Indian team
at the Online Chess Olympiad and
Online Asian Team Championship.
FIDE Master - 2015
Candidate Master - 2014
At 14, he was a Grandmaster and the
the fourth youngest ever to cross the
Elo rating mark of 2600. He won World
Blitz Under-10 championship and gold
medal for the Indian team in the 2020
FIDE Chess Olympiad. In 2019, aged 15,
he become the youngest Indian to play
in the World Cup. In 2014, he scored 9/11
in the World Youth Chess Championship
and won the Candidate Master (CM)
title. He won World Online Youth
Championships 2020 in U-18 category.
Photo: Wikipedia
Fide Rank - 2381
Woman FIDE Master - 2005
International Master - 2017
Photo:TOI
As part of the Indian national team,
she won the FIDE Online Chess
Olympiad 2020. She saw great success in the year 2021, winning silver in Indian Junior Girls Online
Chess Championship and gold in
Indian Junior Senior Women Chess
Championship. She also won FIDE
Binance Business Schools
Supercup. She was ranked in 14th
place in FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss
Tournament 2021. In 2016, she won
the bronze medal in World Youth
Chess Championship in U14 girls
category.
Fide Rank - 2648
VIDIT SANTOSH
GUJRATHI
Grand Master - 2010
Fide Rank - 2723
Woman Grand Master - 2020
International Master - 2008
Grand Master - 2013
Woman International Master - 2015
Hailing from Chennai, this prodigy
is currently the 7th highest-rated
player in India. Known as ‘The
Beast’ for his hyper-aggressive
style of play, Adhiban secured his
Grandmaster title at age 18 in 2010
after completing his final norm at
the Olomouc Chess Summer Tournament. This former U16 World Youth champion won the Biel Open in
2014 and Barcelona Open in 2013
and was part of the Indian team
which won bronze in World Olympiad in 2014. He became the 5th
Indian to cross the 2700 FIDE rating mark. A prestigious feat indeed!
International Master - 2009
A tenacious player, she won the Asian
Junior Chess Championship in 2015
and 2016, followed by the Asian
Nations (Regions) Online Chess
Championship Team in 2020 and the
Asian Youth Chess Championship in
2011 and 2012. She was part of the
Indian women chess team which won
the Asian Nations (Regions) Online
Chess Championship 2020. The team
won the gold medal for India beating
31 Asian countries. This Tamil Nadu
born player earlier won a silver in the
U20 World Junior Chess Championship, in 2016, and bronze in U14 World
Youth Chess Championship in 2010.
ADHIBAN BASKARAN
Photo: Wikipedia
P V NANDHIDHAA
He is the second-highest-rated player in India and is the fourth Indian
player to have crossed the Elo rating threshold of 2700. Born in Nasik,
Vidit was coached in chess from an
early age. In 2008, he won the
World Youth Chess Championship in
the Open U-14 section, the first
Indian to do so. He finished 2nd in
the U16 category of the World Youth
Chess Championship in 2009. He
was the captain of the historic gold
medal winning Indian team in FIDE
Online Chess Olympiad 2020.
Fide Rank - 2682
Grand Master - 2008
International Master - 2005
A five-time winner of the
Commonwealth Chess Championship, hailing from ‘textile city of
India’, Bhilwara, Abhijeet earned
his Grand Master title at the
Balaguer 2007 International Open.
In the 2012 Chess Olympiad in
Turkey, he won an individual silver.
He is the third Indian to win the
World Junior Chess Championship,
after Viswanathan Anand and Pentala Harikrishna. He was awarded
the prestigious Arjuna Award in
2013. He is currently the 10th
ranked Indian chess player.
Photo: Wikipedia
Fide Rank - 2380
Fide Master - 2005
ABHIJEET GUPTA
VANTIKA AGRAWAL
Candidate Master - 2009
Grand Master - 2018
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Photo: YouTube
Photo:TOI
PADMINI ROUT
Fide Rank - 2350
International Master - 2015
Woman Grandmaster - 2010
Woman International Master - 2007
From her first U11 national title in
2005, Rout has come a long way.
She won the U14 girls Asian and
World Youth Chess Championships
in 2008. Rout played for the Indian
national team at Women’s Chess
Olympiad, Women’s World Team
Chess Championship and Women’s
Asian Team Chess Championship.
She was part of the Indian national
team at Asian Individual Women’s
Championship in 2011 and. She won
an individual gold at the 2014
Women’s Chess Olympiad in
Norway. In 2015, she became the
Commonwealth Women’s Champion. She won the National
Women’s Championship from 2014
to 2017.
Photo: ChessBaseIndia
SOUMYA
SWAMINATHAN
Fide Rank - 2360
International Master - 2020
Woman Grand Master - 2008
Woman International Master - 2007
A World Junior Girls’ Championship in
2009, she was only the third Indian to
win the title. She became the Commonwealth women’s champion in 2012.
She was Women’s World Championships
in 2010 and 2012. She finished second
at the Moscow Open 2016, and won
bronze in the Women’s Asian Individual
Championship 2016. She was part of
Indian team in 2012 and 2016 Chess
Olympiads and won Women’s World
Championship with bronze in 2013.