John Howard Pagne accurately identified a home to be ‘Home Sweet Home’. The four walls surrounding us are not just walls, they are witnesses to all mesmerizing memories we all once had. It is more than just a physical structure; It is a haven of relief, warmth, comfort and affection. Not only is it a symbol of wellness and tradition, but also our humble abode. It is secure in our mind even if it is not perfect. 

Amidst the literary thrills of the 1990s, a haunting trend emerged within the young generation with its supernatural and macabre tales. But a rare few, woven with gothic folklore and chilling scenes, sent shivers down the spines of both children and adults, haunting their nights.

What makes a house,home? It can mean different things to different people and perhaps I do not know their perspective but what I do know is that a home is so much more than a physical structure fabricated out of bricks, cement and mortar. It is more than just four walls in which its 

inhabitants reside.For me, it is the alchemy of intangible factors such as acceptance and familiarity that transforms it into a home. 

“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger has faced numerous bans and challenges in schools, primarily due to its explicit language and mature themes. It is no secret that Holden Caulfield, the novel’s teenage protagonist, had a knack for profanity. Critics gasp at every “goddamn” and “phony,” as if the novel comes with a parental advisory sticker cautioning readers about the perilous path of using words that are not fit for a 1950s sitcom. The horror lies in exposing delicate high school ears to the linguistic acrobatics of a disillusioned teenager!

Since time immemorial, humans have sung songs about how Mother Nature has bestowed upon us the highest intelligence ever known to humankind and the greatest responsibility of maintaining equality among the world’s residents. To say that we have fulfilled Mother Nature’s wishes would indeed be hilarious. Through centuries, we have come across divisions in our society, cracks in the immaculately built foundations we would like to present to society.To maintain the impeccable facade of our foundation, we have silenced those who decide to question us.

On a hazy winter afternoon not too long ago, I was recollecting memories with a woman who
had travelled to faraway lands but seemingly not far enough. Her experiences were too
similar yet seemed unique enough to suit her. Now, this might seem a disarray of emotions
like the flutter of the wings of a flock of birds, analogous in a contemporary sense. The lady
was one such bird trying to flee the burdens of her soul, yet the flutter of her wings couldn’t
be heard. So, she travelled all over the nooks of Europe, the secrets Asia held and the

‘The Color Purple’ is a novel by Alice Walker; a powerful, moving narrative about how atrocious the life of an African-American woman could be in the USA of the early twentieth century. The novel addresses themes of race, gender, oppression, and the healing power of love and sisterhood.

A novel starring a wealthy and vain Manhattan investment banker who finds gratification in his hedonistic fantasies brought to life, sounds like a perfect read to me! And maybe, I do relate to Patrick Bateman’s obsession with money, after all, who does not? Also, Bateman being equal parts “Alpha” and “Sigma” is just the cherry on cake! Don’t worry, my dear readers, if you think I admire the protagonist’s sadistic personality, I most certainly do not.

If a wizard asked me, “Which fictional character you would like to be?” I would reply in an instant, “Dorothy from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written by L Frank Baum in 1900. It is a fairy tale that follows the adventure of Dorothy and her dog Toto, who were swept away from their home to the magical land of Oz. They meet a variety of characters including the scarecrow, Tin-woodman, and Cowardly Lion. Together they embark on a challenge-filled journey to meet the Wizard of Oz and have their wish granted.

• Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and overcome adversity. By teaching students to embrace failure as a learning opportunity and develop coping strategies for stress and setbacks, schools empower them to thrive in the face of challenges.
• Through resilience-building activities, mindfulness practices, and social-emotional learning programs, schools provide students with the tools and support they need to develop resilience skills.