July 2019 The Official Newsletter of Vissanji Academy For Private Circulation Only

Welcome Monsoon

Rain provides a much needed respite after the

scorching summer heat. It adds scenic beauty to the

environment and the showers rejuvenate mother

earth.

There are many things money cannot buy and one

of them is the pleasure of floating paper boats in the

puddle during the rain. This reminds me of the

poem ‘Paper Boats” by Rabindranath Tagore, in

which he has vividly recollected his childhood days

when he used to float paper boats with shiuli

flowers in them.

Forget the blocked roads, the

potholes and the traffic jams; Live-in the moment and appreciate

nature’s beauty, for this rainy season will only last for three months.

So friends, let’s enjoy the pitter-patter of the rains with piping hot

samosas, fritters and crispy jalebis.

“Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain, but you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.”

Shresth Ashar

7B

Please allow our flour legged strays to take

shelter in our building during rains.

Be kind to them and do feed them.

Do not let them suffer during the monsoon

SUMMER HOLIDAY ESCAPADES

A Surreal Experience I like to think of the world as a book- those who do not travel, read only one page. Personally, I have read quite a number of pages of my own book. My family and I travel a lot. As explorers, our hearts had always yearned to see the Aurora Borealis, a dancing show of green light, visible only in the far northern latitudes. Well, we were lucky when we did get a chance to see them. This journey reminded us of the famous quote by Ibn Batuta, It leaves you speechless and then turns you into a storyteller……

Our aeroplane touched the ground at the runway of a small isolated airport in the town of Kiruna. Outside, snowflakes were falling, and through the tiny window of the Scandinavian Airlines, I could make out the snowy woods outlining the horizon. Our van awaited us, ready to transport us to a magical experience and an unforgettable destination....

It was a wintery night. The temperature was a biting -13 degrees Celsius. The deep snow glistened in the faint rays of the moon. We were away in the extreme Arctic latitudes. The chill drafts of breeze caused our skin to tingle, and we pulled in our woollen coats for more warmth. Our eyes reflected the millions of stars in the night sky and we clutched the high end cameras provided to us by the kind owner of our guesthouse. Shall we somehow get lucky and see the Auroras? After weeks of rain, the night sky was clear and cloudless, and that just had to count as a good omen. For minutes we stood there, shivering as much from the excitement as from the cold. Far away, a green ray of light lit up the horizon and then went out. A general cheer rose up and suddenly, each person was hastening towards their cameras and a lot of fingers slipping on the metal, were observed. The lights inched closer second by second, and then they were directly above us. The Northern Lights!!!Our dreams fulfilled!!! Each one of us stood and captured this moment- not only in our cameras, but also in our hearts…

We set up a bonfire under the Auroras and toasted marshmallows, celebrating our success. There was a good deal of laughter and merrymaking in our group as we sat there and together, lived one of the greatest moments of our lives…….

Adishree Kale-9-C

A Trip to Hiroshima

The most interesting place I have visited is Hiroshima. Hiroshima is a city in Japan. Japan is a beautiful and diverse country with many locations to visit. However, it remains an underrated tourist location among Indians. Hiroshima is an iconic and well known city. One of the most famous places in Hiroshima is the Bomb Dome which was the only structure to remain standing when the atomic bomb nicknamed ‘Little Boy’ was dropped by the pilots of an American bomber during World War II. The Cenotaph with its arched tomb is a tribute to those who died due to the nuclear bomb blast. Hiroshima is an iconic location in the world. It is a must see destination and has interested many tourists due to its past history. It shows the perseverance and endurance of the Japanese people who, like a Phoenix, rose up from their ashes. The Miyajima Island is a small but beautiful offshore island which is scarcely populated. One of the world’s first five storey shrine called Itsukushima Shrine and the majestic Torri Gate which was built as a grand entrance for the emperor and was used only when the tide was high as it was created to give a cinematic entrance to the

emperor. It also features the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. The air conditioned ferry to Miyajima Island is convenient and fast. The island is also a sanctuary for the Sika deer. They are harmless, adorable and are taken care of by the local inhabitants. They were believed to be sacred messengers of God and are called Itsukushima in Japanese. All good things eventually come to an end and sadly so did my visit to Hiroshima. However, I returned to Mumbai with fond memories of a beautiful and truly amazing place.

The Bomb Dome, Hiroshima. Jehaan Shenoy – 10A

Family Trip to Qatar One of the most memorable vacation ever, was our family trip to Qatar in May, 2019. Qatar is one of the fastest growing countries in the field of tourism. Tourism in Qatar is divided into several categories like cultural, historical and religious. One of the most attractive places in Qatar is the Arab museum of Modern Art. The museum contains many works of art from 20th Century to 21st Century.

Another tourist attraction was the Aqua Park in Qatar. It is a beautiful water park built over 50,000 square meters with many water sports like space boat, wave pools, etc.

We went to Doha Corniche which is another beautiful destination that gives the city a special character. From Doha Corniche we can take a boat ride to Banana Islands which is a great tourist place with its hotels, restaurants and various places of entertainment.

We also visited the Souq Waqif famous for its traditional garments, spices, handicrafts, and souvenirs. It is also one of the major tourist attractions. The biggest mall in Doha is Mall of Oasis. The greenery inside the mall is incredible.

Later we went to the Al Rayyan Stadium where FIFA World Cup 2022 will be hosted. It is one of the four stadiums in Qatar. We had a great time taking family photographs at different places of Doha. The trip was surreal. There were many attractions that we enjoyed while in Doha. We returned to India with beautiful and fond memories of the trip that we will never forget.

Ayushya Kapri- 9B

My Favourite Place

There are many amazing places on Earth, but the one place that is my favourite is Singapore. Singapore is a very beautiful

place and many people come here to visit. For me too like many, it was a very

memorable and enjoyable visit.

First, my parents and I went to Singapore by flight. It was a three hour long

journey. When we reached the city, we saw how beautiful the place was.

There were huge malls and there we saw the famous Merlion statue which is

a half lion and half mermaid. We stayed two days in the city and then we took

a ride and went to Sentosa Island where we stayed for five days in a luxurious

hotel. The first day, we went to the Universal Studios, where we went on

many fun rides, some were scary and some not. The next day we went to the

water park which also had long and fun slides and rides. On the last day we went to the Sea

Aquarium where we saw and learnt about many fishes and different marine creatures. We even

swam and played with dolphins.

We had lots of fun in Singapore. It was the most memorable and enjoyable journey of my life with

many happy memories. That is why it is my favourite place in the world. Sanika Kuruvilla–5B

A Trip to Thailand

During my summer holidays, we visited Thailand- the Land of Elephants. What makes this

place interesting is its amazing culture and natural beauty.

Bangkok has a variety of shows like tiger show, crocodile show, elephant

show, dolphin show, Thai show etc. which were all very entertaining. I

was spellbound to see the magnificent Buddha temples. We also visited

Phuket which is an island. I was mesmerised by the large stretches of

beaches with clear crystal water and the silvery sand shining in the

radiant sun.

It was an unforgettable experience of my life and will be imprinted in my mind

forever.

Rhea Maniyar-5A

My vacation to Maldives, an archipelago

We saw many beautiful beaches in Maldives. We went there

by plane and the view was awesome. I could see the clean

turquoise water from the top.

I went in a submarine which took us 100 feet down and

showed us the ocean floor apart from the colourful fishes and

corals. We also went in a canoe and got a chance to see the

live corals floating in the water.

I ate delicious food there, but it was more fun to feed and

touch the stingrays and reef sharks. There was a nice view

from my room. We had so much fun and I wished my vacation

would never end.

Aiden D’Silva - 3B

The Waves

My eyes are in a delight,

When they fall upon the mighty blues;

Where a thunderous roar of the surf;

Chaperones the aqua hues.

They oscillate in perfect shape,

Enough to baffle the soul;

Such timely mechanism;

And maneuvered control.

Just as fast as they propel,

Their recoil is also seen;

As if dejected and cast

down;

By some unfair mean.

As the horizon engulfs the sun,

There is a portrayal of pride;

The return of the retreating ripple;

And the mighty tide.

What a lesson of life,

In disguise of nature's creation,

O' what a marvellous spectacle,

The majestic waves of the

ocean.

Tanay Sodha - 10B

Another World: Part 2

Story Till Now, Another World, Part1

Seven young astronauts are journeying through space, their

destination being a galaxy called Andromeda Major. A sudden

malfunction in the spaceship leads to it going out of control, and

changing its destination to Leo II, a dwarf galaxy.

Beyond the Known

A shimmering wall loomed up in front of the spaceship, the entrance to the dwarf Galaxy. The

spaceship shuddered as it went through the wall, making a beeline for a small planet.

Aadya stood at the control centre, with Zhi Rou and the sixteen year old Indonesian, Irfan, checking

all available stats for Leo II, and the unknown planet they were heading for. Zina continued to give

instruction for landing from the starboard, and Reo, followed them. Frank and the blonde American,

Alexis, were at the port, checking the fuel, and oxygen supplies.

The planet had an atmosphere with a surprisingly adequate oxygen percentage, comprising of 64%

of some unknown gas, 10% of a mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. and the rest, oxygen. The

brightest star was a red giant, LMi.

“Get back to your bunks, prepare for landing”, Zina yelled, doing so herself, after setting the

spaceship in autopilot.

Aadya strapped herself in her bunk. Just in time, apparently, for the landing was not pretty. The

spaceship crashed, with a lurch that would have thrown everyone to the front, had it not been for the

secure strappings that held them back.

She quickly unstrapped herself, and put on her suit, noticing others doing the same. Zina was

already at the control centre, nodding approvingly at the stats Aadya and Zhi Rou had compiled.

The air was a mixture of the excitement of something new, and the fear of something unknown. The

seven astronauts donned their white space suits, with their country’s flag just above their heart, and

NASA’s common symbol on the top right.

Aadya opened the door to the unknown world, trepidation running through her veins. A cool, sharp

wind blew; the sky was orange and red, and a huge red star could be seen across the sky. Probably

the LMi. The ground was a strange mixture of blue, green and red crystals. At a distance, Aadya

saw something coming towards them. Not something, a horde of somethings. The rest of the seven

were discussing something, but Aadya, captivated, put on the advanced optic lenses that her mother

had gifted her and took a closer look. The horde of ‘somethings’ were tiny humanoid creatures, with

heterochromic eyes, surely not even half her height.

“Aadya! Stop dreaming! Help me with the life–searching device!” Reo yelled at her. Looking at the

nearing throng, she said, “We don’t have to search for them; they are coming right at us.”

To be continued…

Shreya Basu – 9C

Baba Mandir

An interesting place is a place which fills a person’s heart with curiosity and

interest catching the attention of the viewer. I have visited many interesting places along with my

family during Summer Holidays. Every year, my father plans an exciting trip to places of my interest.

I am always attracted by snow, mountains and rivers, so this year’s location was Sikkim and

Darjeeling.

My uncle and aunt had already visited these places last year so they told us about beautiful

mountains, rivers, snow and narrow roads locked by mountains.

Sikkim has many interesting places. I tried gathering information about various monasteries and

temples. Finally, the day came to see those magnificent locations. Our location, Baba Mandir was a

place of spiritual and patriotic importance. It was amidst the tall snow-capped mountains at the height

of 1800 feet above sea level. It is very close to the Indo-China border. The only route was by road

going pass various military checks as it was in the territory of the Indian army. The guide had

provided us with camphor to smell to overcome the breathing problem at such a great height. The

travelling time from our hotel at Gangtok to Baba Mandir was three hours.

Baba Mandir is very close to the Nathu La Pass. Captain ‘Baba’ Harbhajan Singh (1946-1968) was

an Indian soldier. He passed away when he fell into a deep pass known as Nathula Pass. His body

was nowhere to be found. Then

one day, he appeared in one of his

companion’s dream and revealed

the location of his body. The body

was found at the same spot where

this holy shrine is built. He was

regarded as ‘Hero of Nathula’.

Even after death, he is believed to

serve India and has helped soldiers

escape from Chinese, by revealing

Chinese plans by appearing in the

dreams of the soldiers.

At the shrine, soldiers who regard

him as a saint, come to seek his blessings. Every night, it is appeared that his shoes are dirty and

the bed sheet is crumbled. It is said that if a person drinks water blessed by him, he will get cured

from any disease. This shrine instils a spirit of patriotism in people. The soldiers who serve our nation

at such great heights are to be saluted. We feel cold and have breathing problems even at lower

altitudes. Hats off to these brave men serving the country for twelve months in this type of terrain.

While returning from the shrine, I also saw yaks at the Shango Lake. When we reached at the lower

altitude, we felt better and everyone had great respect towards soldiers.

We should always respect the soldiers and try our best to help them. My experience of the Baba

Mandir was great. But that was not the end. Places like Khecheopalri Lake in Pelling also have their

own legend and teach us about cleanliness.

The end of the trip was full of memories.

Shreyas Kulkarni, 8A

Trip to Bhutan

The bright rays of the sun forced me to wake up. This was the day I had been waiting for.

Finally we were leaving for Bhutan. I was looking forward to this trip for so long because I had been working

very hard and slogging for my exams and I needed a break from my daily-busy life.

We touched Paro International Airport at one ’o’ clock in the afternoon. The weather out there was very

pleasant even though it was summer time. The air was unpolluted,

roads were clean and tidy and the people were lively and kind. The

country also had beautiful ambience.

The next day after our arrival, we visited one of the most famous and

tourist friendly place, Kichu Lhakang Monastery. The area was very

quiet and serene and the walls of the monastery were inscribed with

numerous Bhutanese texts which gave the walls a very rugged look.

The Jacaranda gardens was a breath- taking sight, a thousand flowers lay before which gave out a very

soothing fragrance. We also took a few Jacaranda seeds back home as souvenirs so that we could plant them

in our farm house.

Next day we hired a taxi and visited the capital, Thimpu. There are a number of tourist places in Thimpu, but

among them the best was the apple orchard and the Buddha Dordenma. We were one of the lucky ones as

we were able to visit the orchard which is usually closed for tourists. All the apples were green and juicy and

had a slight vanilla taste to it. The Buddha Dordenma statue was one of its kind. The whole structure was

made of bronze that glistened in the sun and gave it a very majestic look and stood at a height of 54 meters.

Finally, we visited the famous Bhutan temple and picked up a local confection, Ara and also

tried the staple diet of the Bhutanese people that is Datshi, a cheese-based dish. This was a

very exciting and unwinding trip which left us with many happy memories.

Isha Jaikumar – 10C

An Interesting Place I Visited Recently

On 15th of June 2019, my grandparents and I visited my grandmother’s sister in Murud. The road to the

Murud beach was through betel trees, coconut palms and cool sea breeze. We stopped on the beachside to

eat roasted corn. There the wind was blowing at a great speed. We

clicked few pictures and left from there.

Murud is also known as Murud Janjira because of a huge strong and

sturdy fort. This fort is located in the Arabian Sea. My Aunt told me

interesting stories fought for Janjira Fort. The fort has three gigantic

Cannons. It was built by Siddi Nawab - Mallik Ambar. Marathas and

Mughals could never conquer this fort.

I have seen many beaches in Mumbai, but this time I was thrilled to see wide expanse of

white sand. Since it is located on the coastline of Maharashtra there is fresh and abundance

supply of sea food .I was charmed by the natural beauty of Murud. It is a great place to

explore and enjoy.

Sriya Abhaysinh Desai - 5C

Amritsar

A spectrum of colours: that’s the first word that comes into my mind when I glanced

out from the window of my aircraft. It was a summer morning and almost the end of my vacations. I

and my family were on our way back from Am-ritsar.

I remember my first day in the city, visiting the golden temple. Thousands of devotes from all around

the world travel on pilgrimages to pay homage at the Golden Temple. Surrounded by white marble structures

the golden temple stands out; a mesmerising blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture; topped by a grand

dome made up of seven hundred and fifty kgs of pure gold Just as the memory faded back, another memory

resurfaced, my visit to the site of the massacre at Jalianwala Bagh. On April 13, 1919 British forces fired on a

peaceful gathering of people on the very site. A lot of pain is embedded in those walls; the very same bullets

that created a mass of panic and death among those innocent souls. As I walked through the historical site

waves the of remorse and pity washed over me as I recalled the ruthlessness of the British and the

helplessness of the Indians as they watched their fellow Indians get slaughtered in cold blood.

We later visited the Wagah border. It was a hot, sunny

afternoon in Amritsar. But that was no deterrent for the hundreds of

people who were heading to Wagah Border for the lowering of the

flags ceremony. And I was one of them. The ceremony is a daily

military practice followed by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the

Pakistan Rangers, since 1959. As I was walking with the crowds

towards the border, I wondered what it was that drew so many

people to Wagah. Love for the country and patriotism. But for me the reason was fascination. Fascination to

see what exactly transpires at the border, fascination to see what it is like across the border, to see ‘those’

people, to see the other side, from Bollywood numbers like ’Chak de India’ and ‘Suno gaur se duniya

walon’ playing in the background to shouts of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Hindustan Zindabad’; from being able

to see people sitting on the other side and wondering what must be going on in their heads and hearts, to

the powerful show put up by the BSF and Pakistan Rangers. The experience at Wagah is gripping, no doubt.

But for me, the icing on the cake was the moment when the flags of both India and

Pakistan are lowered in diagonal unison. It’s was a beautiful sight indeed, a sight that springs

hope. My flight to Mumbai soon landed I was there smiling at the memories that trickled into

my mind when I saw the spectrum of colours.

Saanchi Anand – 9C

Matheran

We chose Matheran, which is a perfect weekend getaway as my destination to celebrate my birthday during the month of May and to escape the scorching heat of Mumbai. This place is quite unique because vehicles including cycles are banned here. To commute, the only means of transport are horses and carts pulled by men. Roads are not metalled and are made up of red mud. We decided to reach the hotel and plan our day. During our journey, we found out that monkeys, langurs, giant squirrels and various birds have made this place their home. The first day we freshened up and went for shopping. The next day, we visited different places to see the spectacular view of the mountains, valleys and the waterfalls. The lake is worth visiting as it provides a picturesque view with lush green surroundings. By the end of the day, it was exhausting....as we were continuously moving. A plunge into the pool was the only solution! My father had arranged for a large cake to celebrate my birthday.

The next day, my sister and I went to learn horse riding. We spent the rest of the day learning about horses. This place was very interesting and beautiful because of the breath-taking views with its waterfall and the well preserved colonial architecture. Children in this area go to school in the month of May as the monsoons bring in plenty of rain in June. There are catastrophic landslides too. One has to be very careful during the rainy seasons.

I loved this place and the way my birthday was celebrated this year. Sana Shetty - 9A

Munnar

It is said that “nature is the art of God” and my family and I rightly agreed to this point after visiting Munnar, in Kerala. Munnar is certainly one of the greatest creations of the trinity. It is lush green due to tree plantations in the valleys and on the hills. My parents had booked a resort named ‘Chandy Windy’ located on a hilltop. The view of the green valleys, incredibly beautiful mountains and the layer of fog was pleasing to the eye.

The dams, waterfalls, dew and the pitter patter of the rain were an icing on the cake and added even more beauty to the natural scenery. We stopped at many places where the landscapes were incredible. We clicked pictures during the sightseeing. We also visited a tea garden and a massive spice garden. We ate local

food in a restaurant and enjoyed for the day. Next morning we visited a tea factory, where tea leaves are processed. The journey on the way was very captivating and we wanted to capture each and every moment in our mind.

There was no sign of pollution at all and neither was there any hustle-bustle. It was just calm, peaceful and lovely. It is difficult to describe Munnar in words as it is the epitome of beauty. Finally we reached the factory. The guide at the tea factory presented a PowerPoint presentation

and a video showing the multiple processes of manufacture of tea. Later we witnessed the live processes of cleaning the tea leaves and then powdering. It was really a great learning experience and later all of us among our group had an interesting conversation over a cup of hot, freshly prepared tea.

Later we visited many more places like Alleppey which had back waters, Cochin where we saw Chinese fishing nets and a synagogue. But among all, my favourite was Munnar, as it was uniquely captivating. All the places were beautiful and that’s the reason we realized why Kerala is known as ‘God’s own country’. The number of tea plantations was equal to the number of memories we carried back along with the spices, herbs and tea leaves. A stay of seven days was not enough but it was indeed one of the best trips, I ever had.

Vaishnavi Singh - 9B

A Visit to Porbundar I had gone to Porbundar, in Gujarat, with my family during my summer vacation. We took a flight from Mumbai to Porbundar which took us approximately 45 minutes. When we landed in Porbundar we felt it was very warm. Porbundar is a vastly spread out township, with the new city area slight away from the airport. We did not visit the new city. We visited old Porbundar, which is still historic in nature and most of the houses and shops are single-storeyed, or at the most double-storeyed. The lanes are very narrow and there are mostly people either walking, or on two- wheelers. There are few people moving around in auto-rickshaws. We hardly noticed any cars in the old part of Porbundar which we visited. We visited the ancestral home of Mahatma Gandhi, father of our nation, which is also known as Kirti Mandir. It is spread over a large area. There are pictures of Gandhiji with his wife Kasturba and his children too. There are also pictures of him with the British Viceroy Lord Mountbatten and other Britishers and leaders and famous Indian Freedom-fighters such as India's first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Poet Rabindranath Tagore and the architect of India's Constitution Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. We went inside and saw that the house, now a tourist destination, was very big. It had 22 rooms. In one of the main rooms, there was a big Swastika mark, indicating that this was the exact room and place where Gandhiji was born. We saw a flight of steep wooden steps and we climbed up with the help of a rope which was meant to hold and climb up. There were wooden doors with beautiful carvings and designs on them. There was also a shop within the main house premises. This shop sold many items including books and key chains which could be purchased as a memoir of the visit. I liked a book on Gandhiji’s life and requested my parents to purchase it for me. We also purchased a few key chains which had pictures of Gandhiji when he was young and when he had gone to South Africa. We felt we could gift these to some of our family members. We took permission and we were allowed to take pictures inside Gandhiji’s house. It was a very beautiful and memorable experience. Suhana Joshi - 5B

Hogsmeade Shopping Trip Gringotts Wizarding Bank is a well-known financial institution in all of the Wizarding

world of Harry Potter. It is well known, even amongst muggles, that the Wizarding

economy is run on the Galleon where currency

code for Wizarding Galleons is WZG.

The currency consists of galleons (g), sickles (s)

and knuts (k)

1 gold galleon is equal to 17 silver sickles

1 silver sickle is equal to 29 knuts.

Trivia Time

1. Hermione has 2 sickles, how many Chocolate

Frogs can she buy? How much change will she

have?

2. Hermione and Ron decide to buy Harry some

Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Beans, they have 13 knuts between them, How many packets size can they

buy?

3. Neville Longbottom wants to buy some Levitating Sherbet Balls. In his pocket he has 2 sickles and 9

knuts. How many can he buy?

4. How much would it cost for 2 Blood Flavoured Lollies, 2 Ice Mice, 1 Large bottle of Acid Pop and a small

packet of Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Beans?

5. How many packets of Droobles Best Blowing Gum can you buy with 17 knuts?

Science Club students of Vissanji Academy became a part of the Historic Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the ‘Moon Landing Day’.

July 20, 2019 marked the golden jubilee of the historic day when a small step

for man became a giant leap for mankind. It was on this day 50 years ago

that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin successfully landed on moon paving a

way for other nations to send scientists

on moon to study more about this

heavenly object and unravel the

mysteries of the universe. To commemorate and celebrate this historic

event, many events were held worldwide by the scientific community.

38 students who are members of the science club and 2 teachers from

our very own Vissanji Academy had the g ood fortune to attend one such

event conducted by the Nehru Science Centre. These active science club members and teachers attended

the Moon Landing Day Celebration organized by Nehru Science Centre on 20th July, 2019.

These students watched the fantastic film named ‘First Man’ in which the Oscar-winning

Director Damien Chazelle and Hollywood star Ryan Gosling came together

to bring on the silver screen, the riveting story behind the first manned

mission to the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the historic Apollo 11

flight, Courtesy; US Consulate General, Mumbai. The students also

witnessed the Science On a Sphere show and enjoyed a show in The Science

Odyssey section of NSC. Ms Parneet Kaur of 8 A attended the workshop in

which the basicic science of propelling a rocket into space was being

demonstrated using a simple yet effective hands-on activity.

The students thus had an eventful day and came back with a lot of memories to be cherished for a lifetime.

10 GREATEST INVENTIONS BY NIKOLA TESLA

Great inventor Nikola Tesla was born on 10th July 1856 in the Austrian Empire, now known as Croatia.

1) Alternating current: His discovery of the rotating magnetic field and its

application to the generation, transmission and utilization of polyphase alternating currents for power and light brought electrification to the world. Every high-tension tower and transmission line bisecting the world's country-sides are lasting monuments to Nikola Tesla's genius

2) Tele automation: in 1898 Nikola Tesla presented at Madison Square

Garden’s first Electrical Exhibition a new invention that he called a “tele automaton”. The invention was the first ever radio controlled device in the form of a miniature boat. He had two devices one that could be remote controlled above water and another that had a hidden loop antenna and could be controlled under water.

3) The induction motor: Nikola Tesla invented the induction motor with rotating magnetic field that made

unit drives for machines feasible and made AC power transmission an economic necessity. 4) The Adam’s power plant transmitter house: In 1892, George Forbes was hired as a technical consultant

and in May 1893 he convinced the company to build a hydroelectric system based on polyphase alternating current. Westinghouse Electric was subcontracted to build 5,000 horsepower (3,700 kW) 25 Hz AC generators, based on the work of Nikola Tesla and Benjamin G. Lamme,

5) Neon lamps: Tesla didn’t invent the neon light or fluorescent lights but he did improve them. He created

the first neon sign and at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair he gave a demonstration of neon light signs. 6) Radio: Tesla suggested a system of radio communications employing synchronized aerial-ground

elements at the transmitting and receiving stations. 7) Shadow graphs: Tesla was the first to point out the clinical benefits of using the x-ray. He noticed that

the positions of foreign bodies and the presence of lung ailments were easy to see with his rays; denser substances were more opaque in the images.

8) Electromechanical oscillator: Tesla developed the reciprocating electro-mechanical oscillator as a source of frequency stable or isochronous alternating electric current used in conjunction with both wireless transmitting and receiving apparatus. This circuit element was applied in the same manner as quartz crystal oscillators are now. He also proposed the use of this device for geophysical exploration by means of seismology—a technique that he called telegeodynamics.

9) The magnifying transmitter: It is a high power harmonic oscillator that Nikola Tesla intended for the

wireless transmission of electrical energy. In his autobiography, Tesla stated that ". . . I feel certain that of all my inventions, the Magnifying Transmitter will prove most important and valuable to future generations.” The magnifying transmitter is an air-core, multiple-resonant transformer that can generate very high voltages.

10) The Tesla coil: The Tesla coil is one of Nikola Tesla's most famous inventions. Tesla coils are unique in the

fact that they create extremely powerful electrical fields. Large coils have been known to wirelessly light up fluorescent bulbs up to 50 feet away, and because of the fact that it is an electric field that goes directly into the bulb, even burned-out fluorescent lights glow.

Middle School Inter House Fair-re-tell Competition where Fairy tales were narrated with a twist was held

on 11th July 2019. Ms. Diya Choudhary – 6C from Jokang House bagged the First Place and Mrs. Shazmecka

Nair – 7B from Sera House bagged the Second Place.

Science Fest was held on 17th July 2019 in the School Auditorium. It showcased Science and Technology

creativity of our students of Class 8 and 9. Dr. Rustagi from the Nehru Science Centre was the main judge of

this event. The winning team project was on ‘Making Moringa gel for relieving joint pain’ by Ms. Tapasya

Narvekar, Ms. Nafisa Kanpurwala, Ms. Sia Lad and Ms. Arwa Rajkotwala

Vissanji MUN: Model United Nations was organised in Vissanji Academy in July, where our students performed a role of the delegates of United Nations. It was an education simulation for our students to develop a deeper understanding to the current world issues.

Folk Dance expresses joy and adds to the richness of Indian Culture. Juniors Inter House Folk Dance competition was held on 18th July. It was a visual treat to all. Jokang House bagged the First Place.

Water, Water, Everywhere but Not a Drop to Drink

The headlines of almost all the leading dailies read that ‘Heavy Rains Lashed Out in Mumbai’. Parts of Mumbai flooded, inundated, Landslides, flights were diverted and after a week, in the midst of the heavy rains, we are cautioned that parts of Mumbai (Andheri) would be experiencing water shortage. It was a consternating thought that boggled my mind. We have become so tuned to the words ‘water conservation’ ‘water harvesting’ and so on that we seldom give importance to the meaning they deserve. Why are we facing the problem of water crisis when we experience flooding? Are we still not prepared to conserve the raindrops that could wipe away the teardrops of the many in the coming years? When heavy rains lash out, have we ever given a thought of the grave

problem of the gallons of water flooding the streets just being wasted? Even after years of educating the public about saving water, how many of us have taken the initiative to conserve water for the future? What we sow, we reap. The thinning of our rivers as a result of the encroachments stand testimony to the fact that our apathy towards the need of the hour intensifies the gravity of the situation. We will have to face situations as captioned in the title. As educators, our role in materializing water conservation programmes through our children should be dealt with seriousness as our children are our future. The need of the hour is to practice than to preach. When it rains, it pours and it’s free. We have to value the free resources giving its due dignity. How can we lend our hand in conserving water as we enjoy the monsoons? We can have rain barrels which is a cost effective method to save water. With bore wells being more in use, the ground water is getting depleted. Hence, to tackle this issue, we can have a recharge pit which could be used for recharging groundwater. Our fellow Marathwada farmers, who faced acute water shortage, are making use of the torrential rains by harvesting rainwater in pond-like pockets leading to groundwater recharge. Experience makes a man perfect. Every year we experience rains but how well are we perfected in saving water?

We need to leap forward than taking baby steps in conserving water as time and tide wait for no man. We can initiate various water conservation programmes which are cost effective at an individual level rather than waiting for the government to implement it. Let us make our world a better place to live as we owe a lot to our Mother Earth.

In August…. Seniors Inter House Solo & Group Singing Competition – 2nd August

Sub Juniors Collage & Juniors Inter House Poster/Slogan Writing Competition - 8th August

Inter Class English Skit Competition – Class 6 to 9 – 8th August

First Summative Assessment Begins -19th August

First Summative Assessment Ends - 30th August

All rights reserved! Vissanji Academy, Dr. Radhakrishnan Marg, Off Old Nagardas Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400 069. Email : info@vissanjiacademy.com

Sub Juniors Inter Class Poems come Alive Competition was held on 25th July where our students brought different poems to life. 1B, 2A and 3C won the First Prize.