Literary Week Assembly, classes VI-VII

Literature is as old as speech. It grew out of human need and has not changed, except to become more needed. Literary Week is celebrated at our School each year, to commemorate the spirit of Literature. The students learn through interesting events and innovative activities that mark the week. With The States along the Western Coast as our theme this year, we wished to explore the authors and poets of the states that constitute this rich part of our country. From getting to know about their lives, to learning about their literary genius, we paid tribute to some of the finest talent in the history of our great Indian literature. A Special Assembly was held in the auditorium on 28 April, 2014, where the children showcased some of the most celebrated literary names from these states, whose works have placed our country on the global literary map. The guest on the occasion was our Vice Chairperson, Dr. Nayana Goradia, an author- historian and a Gujarati.

The Assembly began with the rendering of Sanskrit shlokas. It was a befitting start as the students recited shloks composed by Shankaracharya, the eighth century reformer of Hinduism, from Kerala. The shloks spoke about the futility of materialism and the saints invocation to Lord Shiva. These were translated into Hindi by one of the students for our easy comprehension. The students of class V presented a beautiful story by the author Shel Silverstein. The story was presented by a group of students who complemented their narration with songs. The contribution of folktales in our literature cannot be denied. They form an integral part of the literature of most areas, as a mirror of the local art and culture. The students of class IV and V enthralled the audience with their hilarious depiction of a folktale from Gujarat. The characters were colourfully dressed in traditional Gujarati attire which added to the beauty of the act. The year 2014 marks the 450th birth anniversary of the most famous literary figure of all times, William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare needs no introduction. The great bard is immortal and his great legacy is handed down generations. A student from class VII presented a scene his great play, The Tempest. He played the role of Prospero and enacted the scene where Prospero explains to Ariel, the reason behind his playing magic in the sea. Another student from class VII recited a Shakespearean sonnet from Romeo and Juliet. When we talk of the western coast of our country, we find a large contribution of Indian authors and poets, to English literature. One such name is that of Kamla Das from Kerala. A power point presentation was prepared on the life and work of Kamla Das by class VII students. The directness of her voice is one of the key features of Kamla Dass poetic style. This is easily reflected in her poem My Mother at Sixty Six, where she explores the theme of ageing and isolation through a narration about her own mother. The poem was recited by a student of class VII. A dramatized presentation in Hindi, based on the life of Shivaji, the great Maratha, was presented by the students of classes VI and VII. The students enacted the scene where Shivaji in a moment of weakness exhibited a false pride and how his Guru corrected his failing. The scene provided an insight to the children of the Guru-Shishya relationship. The French Department presented The Flavours of France. Here, the students explored India's French connection through the savoury delights that are a part of Goan culture as a result of the French influence in the state. A power point presentation, with one of the students explaining in French, while another translated into English was a highlight. Last but not the least, the students of classes VI, VII, VII and IX presented Confluence: A convergence of art, music, literature and dance. It was a memorable performance of the synthesis of 3 forms of art on stage. The stage came alive with a dance in the centre, to the recitation of poetry whilst simultaneously two students wielded their paintbrushes on the canvas! Dr. Goradia was invited to address the gathering. She shared her personal experience with the audience saying how boring the study of literature used to sometimes be when she was a child at school. Today she said she was overjoyed to see that the every performance smacked of an understanding of the subject and getting under it's skin. It was obvious to those watching that the children had assimilated, in spirit, the purpose of the literary week. And what was also very pleasurable was that so made diverse cultures and languages and their literatures had been integrated. She warmly congratulated the teachers and every students. We all returned to our routines in great reverie! -Reported by Ms. Gandharvi Mukherjee.