Continuing with the momentum of the previous editions of their pan India essay contest, the UNESCO New Delhi Cluster and Takhte launched the third edition of the Essay contest book, ‘Year 2 AC (After Coronavirus): A Future Imagined by Youth’ on 17 December 2021.

The book contains a compilation of 100 winning essays written by young Indians and presents their unique perspectives on the challenges that youth face in the wake of the COVID pandemic – from disruption to education, to massive increases in the use of digital challenges. The contest presented them with a platform to imagine solutions to these challenges, both for the short and long terms. Over 900 submissions from across 30 States and Union Territories were received.

The book is a must-read to understand the observations, perspectives, and foresight of young writers across India. It includes a plethora of issues covered by the young writers, varying from education to culture, community to biodiversity, and the environment to disruptions in tourism. The anthology of essays is distinctive and unique, providing an important space for young people to demonstrate their knowledge, capacities, and drive for action.

“This book serves as a repository of reflections drawn directly from the minds of young people across India. What is so inspiring about these essays, however, is that a common thread can be found in young people’s desire and energy for change. They are demonstrating that they have the knowledge and wherewithal to step up and be part of the solution as we recover from the challenges of the pandemic,” said Eric Falt, UNESCO New Delhi Director.

 “Writing can be therapeutic. Children and youth must pen their thoughts as it can be incredibly relieving during these challenging times. Channelling the energy to the exclusive way of expressing and journaling can help one find better solutions,” said Goldie Kasturia, Founder -Takhte & VOV.

Reposted from UNESCO, New Delhi website

The book can be purchased from Takhte’s cart https://takhte.in/cart.php

Ashmita Karmakar
Amity International School
Noida
Uttar Pradesh

Weekly Winner
(Pan India Online Essay Contest 2021- 3rd Edition)
Category – Children

Essay Topic:
In times of hardship, our community, culture and traditions help maintain our social and mental wellbeing. What are some of the aspects of your culture that have helped you and your community?

WAS IT HALF-EMPTY OR HALF-FULL?

As Trisha pressed the ‘Leave’ button, she sighed in distress. She averted most of the homework assigned by her English teacher. Today, she dropped yet another topic for an essay beyond her understanding. She exclaimed to herself, “How does she expect us to write a 200-word essay on the ‘Positive Side of the pandemic’?”. Trisha rushed to her grandmother, her problem-solver and support system.

As she knocked on the door impatiently, Trisha’s grandmother already knew that this knock of impatience must have taken birth from a homework dilemma that her granddaughter often encounters. She called Trisha in. And, with her grumpy slight frown, Trisha cribbed, “Dadi, I think English ma’am is an alien. How can she give such absurd topics to write essays on?” Granny laughed, and as she was about to comment, her talkative granddaughter continued. “You won’t believe what she gave us for homework today”, she continued. “She told us to write an essay on the ‘Positive Side of the Pandemic’, that too in 200 words”.

“I am positive that she was joking. How is there any positivity in the pandemic, nothing good has happened during this crisis! Millions died around the world; economies fell, thousand were left jobless, and..” she went on complaining about the Pandemic. Grandmother didn’t interrupt Trisha until she paused to catch hold of her breath, and she started speaking. “Trisha, any situation in life must be looked upon from two sides or perspectives. Every situation, including this pandemic, has both a positive and a negative side. You kept on complaining, as you only looked at its negative side. It is true that during today’s time, the negative impact of the pandemic is more prevalent, but this doesn’t mean that one can overlook its positive impact. Although, the positive may be in the minority, still, it is there. Your teacher has assigned you this Home-Work to encourage young children like you, widen your perspective, and not only rely upon one side of the situation. I hope you can understand what I am trying to explain.”

“No, no, Dadi. I am not able to understand. If it is so, then can you please tell me WHAT are Positive Impacts are? How can I look from a different perspective when only one perspective is present in this situation?”

Grandmother started narrating a story to Trisha. As they reached the end of the story, she asked Trisha, “What do you think, dear, was the glass half-empty or half-full?”. Trisha replied, “Granny, I think the glass is half-full; the protagonist should understand this, shouldn’t he? He should always look at things with a positive outlook!”. Grandmother, alas, said, “Trisha, just like the glass, every situation can be either looked upon through a positive viewpoint or a negative one. Like, the same glass, could be half-empty for one person and half-full for another, we can see the pandemic, too, with a positive outlook. It not only has its share of positive impacts, but it can also lead to some ever-lasting beautiful changes in the world. Now, put on your thinking caps and start working on your homework, okay sweetie?”

“Yes, granny”, she excitedly remarked. “I will get nothing but A+ grade in this essay, I promise. Thanks a ton, Dadi, you are the best!!”. She ran to her room with an enlightened mind and an energised soul.

The next day, she read out her essay and finished by saying, “In the end, I would like to mention if the ‘Glass was half-full or half-empty”. I think it was always full as the bright side always overshadows the dark side, no matter how dark the side is! Thank you!” As she muted herself, a huge round of applause and an array of compliments awaited her.

After her presentation, she rushed to her grandmother and again knocked impatiently. But this time, her Granny knew that it was a happily different knock.

Anay Gupta
Ajmera Global School,
Borivali West, Mumbai
Maharashtra

Weekly Winner
(Pan India Online Essay Contest 2021- 3rd Edition)
Category – Children

Essay Topic:
Lockdowns and social isolation have led to increased screen time. This entails the risk of exposure to online hate speech, harassment and bullying. What is the role of young people in promoting peace online?

The novel coronavirus has intimidated the entire world and squeezed our way of living. Moreover, humans have had a sudden and untimely digital switch over to virtual life, crunching the world to their devices. All these have attracted juveniles to their screens. However, are the repercussions brimming with an influx of positivity? Although online tools have expanded one’s working and learning space, there are self-centered reprobates who utilize the internet to create panic, terror, annoyance, and anxiety among the crowd; alongside using the online environment to harass a victim or instigate hatred and netwars.

The online medium has witnessed a significant spike in its users and their daily usage. A meagre post on social media platforms goes viral like an irreversible wildfire. The use of WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and other platforms are widespread among youngsters. These spaces permit uncensored posting (pending moderation or user reporting), even if abusive, that may encourage hate speech, offensive content maiming a rival target. As the world chuckles over a poor subject, it is not uncommon to see derogatory posts being hurled on the quarry. The sufferer remains helpless, teary-eyed over those traceable gibes, and without the intimidation of the anonymity of the viewers. People freely pour out online their hatreds on topics like politics, religion and culture. Blue whale episodes exemplify online influence on children.

Youngsters believe it is ‘cool’ to indulge in online conversations. Unfortunately, in such catastrophic situations, some minds, remotely disguised within the practicality of the internet, are crammed with malicious intentions to create speculations on the reliability of the skeptically peaceful ‘internet’. Is it obligatory to indulge in mockery, harassment, hatred? Social media influencers are now the new role models for the youngsters, and their words, rightly or wrongly, influence the adolescents. The youth must understand that they must mitigate the sufferer and not the bullies or speculators. Supporting the affected instead of fueling the psychological attack will discourage the initiators and encourage a gradual decline of this demeaning practice; reassuring peace and fraternity.

We must maintain an environment of acceptance, harmony, and faith, leading to positivity and enthusiasm amongst youth, directing them to the right path and beliefs. Developing new media and digital literacy skills is one of the approaches to empower youth to use their knowledge to reach out to people for peace and a nonviolent society in the milieu. The youth is a carton of fresh ideas and delicate minds. Using forums as agents for exchanging ideas, for value creation in the true spirit of open dialogue is a way out. Education and the imbibing of positive virtues of brotherhood are the only methods of such constructive brainstorming. Moreover, youth must keep themselves and peers updated with the current world happenings so that they can distinguish between the facts and the fake, and form their own opinions.

Youth is the world’s future, and the correct exposure, empathy, and appropriate use of technology would lead to peace online. Enforcing uncensored independence to express your views should unveil wings to favourable flights for the future rather than drowning fellow users into the treacherous waters of depression.

In the words of Pete Cashmore, “We are living in a time where attention is the new currency. Those who insert them into as many channels look set to capture the most value”. But none of those channels should disparage bullying or hatred, and digital literacy would be most efficient to accomplish this!