THE BALSHREE AWARD - An Unforgettable Experience
Barkha Prashant Naik
Std. VIII B


My journey to the prestigious Balshree Award of the Government of India began last year in the month of June when our Headmistress suggested to me that I should fill the form for the Award. Though I did not know much about the competition, my parents quickly gathered all the relevant details and I sent in my application in the Creative Performance (Drama) category.

Bharakha Naik of Std VII receives the prestigious Balshree award at the hands of President A P J Abdul Kalam


I comfortably cleared the first stage at the South Zone selection round at Ponda though, honestly, I was not very clear in my mind about how best to prepare for this contest. However, for the State level selection, I learnt about different folk forms of drama and the history of Goan theatre. I was asked to perform a monologue, present an item in Hindi and improvise upon a given topic. I guess the judges were happy with my performance, because, a few days later, I received the news that I was selected for the Zonal level in Vadodara.

This time I really worked hard. So did my parents. Shri Madhusudan Joshi, my uncle Shri Prasad Lolyekar and Shri Inacio Fernances gave me valuable training in inputs in the domain of theatre and music. At the Vadodara selection round I was asked to introduce myself and the land to which I belonged, in a very creative way. I also performed a monologue on child labour and even sang ‘kantaras’ during camp fire. It was a memorable experience and our joy knew no bounds when, immediately after Diwali, we received the news that I had topped the West Zone level!

Now I had finally made it to the National level and I had to work even harder. So I did. Again, Shri Madhusudan Joshi, Shri Prasad Lolyekar and Shri Sanjay Talwadkar provided me with valuable insights into the finer aspects of creative performance. I learnt poems, new monologues and mimes. My dance teacher taught me how to express the Navrasas through dance. I also learnt to play the ‘Ghumat’.

The national level round held in New Delhi was an experience in itself. I was pitted against the best performers from across the nation. I had to give it my best. First I had to introduce myself with minimum use of language, perform a monologue and then dance to the beat of the music played. We were also given a puppet and asked to perform an act on a given topic. Then we were divided into groups and each group had to perform a drama. Finally, I also got an opportunity to play the ‘Ghumat’, which every one enjoyed. In fact, all participants started to dance to the tune of the Ghumat and I felt really thrilled.

All the hard work I had put in during the previous six months was rewarded when we received the news that I had been awarded the Balshree Award. I was even more thrilled because I would be receiving the Award at the hands of none other than our beloved President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. 

The Awards ceremony was scheduled on 1st June 2007. It was a special day in my life. I was one of the few privileged children in our country to be present in the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhavan. After a short cultural programme, the Awards ceremony began. Oh! It was such a pleasure to receive the Award from our highly learned and respected President! It was a special day not just for me but also for my parents whose unstinted support and encouragement was crucial to my success.

The Balshree Award Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan is an occasion that I will cherish for a lifetime. I will also cherish the message that our beloved President gave all the Awardees:

Success is powered by mission in life, and the mission is powered by three great actions: acquisition of knowledge, hard work and perseverance. Acquisition of knowledge is powered by great teachers and great books; hard work is powered by good habits; and perseverance is powered by will power.

Let all of us engrave these golden words on our minds, act accordingly and achieve success in our life.

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LEARNING ABOUT MOTHER NATURE AT COTIGAO 
Rukmi Pai Raiker & Risha Milind Hegde
Std. VII


The Nature Club of our school organized an overnight camp in association with WWF Goa Chapter. For the 24 of us who attended the camp, it was a great learning experience in the soothing lap of mother nature.

The Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary was very much soaked in rain when we arrived there on a Saturday morning. The thick jungle did not allow the occasional sunrays to reach the ground. It appeared dark, gloomy and depressing, till sir Nitin Sawant, the Director of Goa Chapter of WWF, and his team of dedicated and enthusiastic colleagues showed us how to enjoy amidst the nature.

Nature Club members playing 'nature games'


We were taken deep into the jungle and made to climb a treetop with a watch tower. Most of us were scared but once we were at the top and watched the beautiful and enchanting rain forest in its full natural splendour, we at once felt one with the nature. Our fear had disappeared; instead we were eager to know more about the forest.

After lunch and brief rest, we were held spellbound by an inspirational talk by sir Paresh Parab, the Range Forest Officer at the sanctuary. He made a skilful presentation on the importance of forests and water bodies and how nature sustains human activity. He also talked about the threat posed by human activity, and the dangerous consequences of diverting waters of Mhadei river. Later, we were shown a film on man-eating tigers. The film was disturbing and most of us were upset to see how human encroachment is destroying animal habitats.

Later that night we went for a night trail amidst fearful sounds of different animals and insects. This was a thrilling first-time experience. In pitch darkness the jungle came alive with the sparkling fireflies and croaking of jungle frogs. Paresh sir taught us how to remain absolutely silent in the jungle and to listen to the different type of sounds produced by birds and insects. At the end of an eventful day we were so tired that we dropped off to sleep almost immediately after we hit the bed, unmindful of the screeching sounds produced by jungle insects.

The next day we woke up early and went out for bird watching. We could spot a few sun birds, flower peckers, kingfishers, bulbuls and drongos. Later, Nitin sir also explained to us the ecosystem of the forest.

All this was a great learning experience for us. We had a practical orientation on the importance of the forests and wildlife. We also appreciated how human beings destroy nature for their short-term benefits. As we returned to Margao after a heavy meal, there was no doubt in our minds that we were returning with a new vision.

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NOISE POLLUTION
Siddhant Phadte
Std. VI A

Noise pollution is a type of pollution. Noise pollution is more in cities than in villages. The cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore etc. are highly noisy. In the category of vehicles, main noise polluters are aero plains, diesel trains and sporty motorbikes and cars. Work in industries is one of the biggest problems in noise pollution. The workers have problems in listening. Noise is measured by a unit called ‘decibel’. Its symbol is ‘db’. The range of noise in the day (6 am to 10 pm) should be 50 to 55 db. Some cities have noise more than 75 db. Here are some cities and their noise levels. 1. New Delhi: - 74 db 2. Chennai: - 80 db 3. Mumbai: - 81 db 4. Bangalore: - 81 db 5. Kolkata: - 90 db From above observations we see that noisiest major city in India is Kolkata. For protection of ears, workers use ear-protectors. They decrease the noise by 15 db. Noise pollution can cause diabetes, heart stroke, brain stroke, muscle disease. In last some years, one to one and half million people have been troubled by these diseases. For prevention of noise pollution, the government should take strict actions. There should be objection on widening of the mouth of silencers in motor-bikes and motor vehicles. top