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P liticia
Look at the tiny seedlings which
slowly push multiple layers of soil
every day and night to sprout off
the dirt and breathe the open air
till the plant survives and cele-
brates freedom.
Politicia exists to encourage and
celebrate this freedom.P liticia Changing Minds, not the Climate
Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
#Issue XIII
Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Naman Kapoor
Creative Editor
Khatwang Gupta
Senior Editors
Shaurya Poddar
Devraj Singhania
CONTENTS
Aarav Upadhayaya Editorial..................................................................5
The Echo of Silence...........................................6-7
Editors US-China Trade War.............................................8
Ujjwal Goenka Air India..................................................................9
Rajesh Bhandari
Kartik Tripathi Ted Talk................................................10
JNU.......................................................................11
Correspondents Area 51................................................................12
Harsh Vikram The Case that saved Indian Democracy..........13
Mrinank Chandar How Mahatma Gandhi would have handled
Shubhankar Dhulia
today’s challenges........................................14-15
Staff Editor Britain’s Last Lap with Europe......................16-17
Ms Kiran Tripathi Is your phone tainted by the misery of the
35,000 children in Congo’s mines?..................18
Special Thanks Amber Heard Censorship..................................19
Aaryan Mahipal
Saanidhya Agarwal Are the Bricks Strong Enough.....................20-21
Shreyansh Jindal Greening a Business..........................................22
The climate is changing, so should you.....23-27
Publication Incharge This Day, That Year........................................28-29
Mr Justin Burrett The ‘Maha’ Drama.........................................28-29
Printed By
Mr Rahul Sridhar
Mr Puneet Pandit
Mr Girish Prasad
Write to Us at
politicia@welhamboys.org
Published By
Dr(Ms.) Gunmeet Bindra
Principal, Welham Boys’ School
The views in the Magazine are
of the contributors and do not
necessarily represent the views of
the magazine and the School.
Reproduction in whole or in part
without permission is strictly
prohibited
Copyright: Politicia 2019
All Rights Reserved
4 | PoliticiaWelham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
EDITORIAL
As the entire embedded with seeds. We hope and
country expect each of you to plant this paper
expelled the in pots or your gardens back at home.
darkness from As individuals, we too can initiate plans
their homes to tackle the issue. I have chosen to be
and celebrated ‘weekday-veg’, which means, having meat
Diwali with only on weekends. Nearly one-fifth of global
the festive greenhouse gas emissions are attributed
fervour and to the livestock industry, which is more
by bursting than cars, planes, and trains combined and
firecrackers, being weekday vegetarian reduces my
a fuse was meat consumption by almost 70%. Making
melting in my smaller changes can often lead to larger
conscience, ones. Thus in our large populations, if such a
and a public initiative for voluntarily reducing the
different sort consumption of meat is taken, it considerably
of consciousness about the world was saves up significant share of resources. So
seeping in. On the occasion of Diwali, turning weekday-vegetarian is not only
which symbolises the victory of good good for our bodies but also lighter on the
over evil, was my 18th birthday, and I was environment as well. If we ever manage
catapulted from being a passive citizen to to halt climate change and conserve land,
being an active one. An ‘adult’, a rational, water and other resources, not to mention
law-abiding citizen, who would go on to reduce animal suffering, we would celebrate
become the future of the country. All of Earth Day every day - at every meal.
these thoughts, needless to say, kept me Great power, comes with great
preoccupied through the entire day behind responsibilities. Similarly, with great
all the gratuitous smiles and good wishes responsibilities come great expectations. I
that had become the convention. I started am of the opinion that if you do what you
thinking about my responsibilities as an love and you love what you do, you will do
ideal, well-informed citizen. It gave me food great work and that will suffice to fulfil the
for thought, leaving me to introspect, how I great expectations that you are seemingly
was going through a process of momentous burdened under. Thus, throughout my
change. The decisions made by me a stint, I’ve tried to do the work which I
day ago would have had many different sincerely love to do. During this time, I did
consequences than that of the decisions not keep in mind expectations that I have
made by me now. For me, everything had to meet but rather focused on working
changed, but ironically, nothing really had. earnestly and in the pursuit of that at
On an increasingly crowded planet, times, even exceeded most expectations.
humanity faces many threats but none is
greater than climate change. It magnifies We owe it to this planet, to the life it’s giving
every hazard and tension of our existence. birth,
The cover story of this issue deals with the we owe it to the billions, to be born upon this
impending doom of climate change. It
comprises of the various facets of climate
change; its drivers, its wider implications
on society and potential solutions. Politicia
is taking an unprecedented initiative at the
school level through which we contribute
in our own little way to solve the global Without Wax
problem of climate change. The cover of Earth.
Naman Kapoor
the magazine is a pull-out ‘Beej Kapas’ or
seed paper which is a handmade paper Editor-in-Chief
Politicia | 5Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
The primetime
debates and
communalisation
the
of
The Echo of Naturally, this autonomy
distanced
and Kashmir
Jammu
from
silence
politics has drowned the intelligence and
the voices of Kashmiris. security apparatuses
After the scrapping of India, causing
of Article 370, the Pakistan to fill the
emotions are mixed. vacuum by sponsoring
Yet again, the general anti-India elements.
public find themselves Pakistan’s de facto
in the crossfire of first line of defense is
curfews and curbs. Politicia cuts through the a troubled Kashmir. A restive Kashmir
noise and brings you our take on Kashmir. has strategic importance for Pakistan.
Therefore, it engages in the form of proxy
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation warfare in Kashmir by enthusiastically
Bill created has left the entire nation supporting non-state actors that harbor
fumbling for words. It was so sudden that and propagate anti-India sentiments. The
India’s neighbors are more shocked than removal of Article 370 and the better
she herself is. The scrapping of Article 370 integration of Jammu and Kashmir into the
by a Presidential Order has dissolved all Indian mainland could translate to stability
special provisions for the erstwhile state in the region, economic prosperity, and
of Jammu and Kashmir. It resulted in the better vigil. This could mean trouble for
bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Pakistan in terms of exporting terrorism
Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and to the Valley. A separate Rule of Law
Ladakh. The state earlier had the power to in the Valley echoed that exchange of
make laws on every matter except defense, information was not necessarily smooth
foreign affairs, and communication. All between the state and the Centre. This
bills passed by the Parliament had to be was one of the factors that really helped
ratified by the State Assembly before they Pakistan foster almost an industry of
were implemented in the state. Thus, the terrorism and divisiveness in the Valley.
people living in Jammu and Kashmir were
subject to a completely different set of laws. This does not go on to say that the
Indian leadership has been a champion
in upholding human rights and has
implemented measures that are disruptive
to public life. When the NDA government
came to power, communication
and internet blackouts
become almost
draconian. The rate of
internet blackouts
in Kashmir is at
power with those
in disturbed and
failing states like
Iraq, Afghanistan,
and Somalia.
These blackouts
drudge along for
6 | PoliticiaWelham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
months sometimes. It is the worst form power results in systemic minority abuse.
of punishment someone could be put
through in the 21st century. Not only are Coming back to Article 370, Pakistani
the schools and colleges shut, but to add premier Imran Khan addressed the UN
to that, internet services are shut down. General Assembly some time ago. His
Something that has to be understood speech was significant because after all
by the leadership is that such stringent that he talked about, climate change,
measures generate their fair share of debt, etc., he spoke at length about the
resentment, only to add to the already issue of Kashmir. Where he was one step
simmering cauldron of insurgency. away from directly inciting the people
Also, the Armed Forces Special Powers of Kashmir on the streets. He talked
Act or AFSPA has resulted in some gross about a “bloodbath” in Kashmir when
human rights violations. The intention the curfews were lifted. He went to give
is not to undermine the integrity of the nuclear threats to India on an international
work ethics of the army. But the granting forum that was established to prevent
of such sweeping powers by the state to further military conflicts. And in a befitting
the executive where they virtually have reply to the Pakistani premier, an Indian
immunity from prosecution. Numerous diplomat Vidisha Maitra, raised a Right to
independent reports, human rights Reply and said that his threats qualified as
groups and NGOs call foul the draconian “brinksmanship and not statesmanship.”
skills that the armed forces possess She rightfully called out Pakistan’s open call
from time to time. Obviously, if we have to arms as reflecting a “medieval mindset.”
a system where we shield our officers
from prosecution is undemocratic the In the end, I would just like to say that the
corrupt official will getaway. This can be above all the people of Kashmir deserve
compared to the concept of “qualified a life. A life free from the politicization
immunity” in the United States. It shields of their problems and a life free from
government officials from being sued for militancy and up till this time point; they
discretionary actions performed within have failed by every single one of us.
their official capacity unless their actions
violated “clearly established” federal law Aarav Upadhyaya
or constitutional rights. The United States Grade X
is plagued by police brutality against the
colored communities, especially African
Americans. Numerous cases of shootings
happen each year, where a white police
officer usually shoots down unarmed
black people as he evaluates them as
“potential threats” or their movement
seems “hostile.” This entire pattern seems
the common denominator in every
such scenario. And the perpetrating
police officers rarely undergo legal
proceedings because they are protected
by a constitutional provision that grants
them unspecified power. The frequency
of such shootings has only increased. This
was to give a global backdrop to how
constitutionally guaranteeing unchecked
Politicia | 7Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
US - CHINA
The US-China trade war high-priced. So far, the
is a subject that needs US has imposed tariffs
no introduction. It has of more than $360bn
been one of the most (£296bn) on Chinese
widely conferred issues goods. China has hit back
TRADE WAR
over the past year. This with tariffs on more than
war does not consist of $110bn on US products.
bloodshed and armies Both the countries have
clashing with each other threatened each other
but is based on the clash with new tariffs and hikes
of economies of US to existing products in
and China. The leaders of these megalithic the coming months. There are three possible
financial systems have been subjected outcomes to this rising problem. Firstly,
to considerable scrutiny. They have been escalating tariff and non-tariff barriers will
blamed for the beginning of this trade war. make it impossible for Chinese firms to do
business in the US and vice versa. Secondly,
What are the components of the Chinese Trump and Xi could agree to end trade
economy? China built its economic hostilities and agree to bilateral talks. Finally,
growth on low-cost exports of machinery China and the US strike a new trade deal, with
and equipment. Substantial government concessions negotiated on both sides. With
spending went into state-owned companies. Presidential election around the corner in the
They include the three largest state-owned US, a lot will depend on its outcome too.
companies: PetroChina, Sinopec, and How has this catastrophe affected the world?
China National Offshore Oil Corporation. It All the effects till now have been adverse
launched the One Belt, One Road Initiative,- and have caused damage worth millions of
the largest global infrastructure project in dollars. By and large, there are three ways
history. China will spend $150 billion a year to in which this war can affect the globe. First
link 68 countries along the old Silk Road with of all, if tariffs expand to cover all U.S.-China
Europe. It plans to make a China-dominated trade, and markets slump in response, global
Eurasia an economic rival to the American- GDP will take a $600 billion hit in 2021,
dominated transatlantic trading area. In 2018, the year of peak impact. It is unlikely that
China shipped 18% of its exports to the United the world economy can recover from such
States. That contributed to a $419 billion colossal damage. Another observation by
trade deficit. China’s trade with Hong Kong, economists is that escalation in the trade war
at 14%, was almost as much. China primarily reduces foreign capital inflows into the US. It
exports electrical equipment and other types would provide a short-term boost to GDP as
of machinery. It includes computers and data domestic households would pick up the slack
processing equipment as well as optical and and provide more labor, but GDP will fall in the
medical equipment. China is the world’s long-run. Finally, most US companies will also
second-largest importer. China imports raw see their global competitiveness erode with
commodities from Latin America and Africa. the tariff war. In the coming months, will there
These include oil and other fuels, metal ores, be a solution, or will the trade war continue to
and plastics. damage the world economy? Only time will
What led to the beginning of this war? What tell.
are the possible solutions to this problem?
These are the questions that instantly come to Kartik Tripathi
our mind when someone refers to this topic. Grade XI
USA and China are two of the world’s biggest
economies in the present world. Both these
countries are locked in a bitter trade war.
Over the past year, they have imposed tariffs
on billions of dollars’ worth of one another’s
goods. US President Donald Trump has
accused China of unfair trading practices and
intellectual property theft. According to the
Chinese government, USA is trying to limit
the growth of the Chinese economy. What
tariffs have been imposed? Mr. Trump’s tariff
plans aim to encourage all consumers to buy
and use American made products. He aspires
to do this by making the imported goods
8 | PoliticiaWelham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
The debt of the Indian national carrier idea of selling assets to pay for current
having surmounted 58,351 crores rupees obligations is the apparent reason that the
this year, and the government having process cannot go on forever. At some point,
delayed the release of the expression of the list of assets available for sale will run
interest document from October end to out. Now keeping this in mind, the current
early November, the future of this Indian economic condition of an average Indian is
steel-bird still lays in darkness. Privatization coherent to say that the economic conditions
has been a recent phenomenon during the demand that the government should spend
tenure of the Modi government. Although more on sectors like these. A foreign buyer
privatization of the loss-making business can of the company would further siphon
be deemed to be logical as a government, off the capital from the country. Hence,
the responsibility of social welfare drives it to the carrier’s owner should be an Indian.
invest in these areas. The wave of privatization
entered into various fields, and with the It seems that disapproval against the plan
Modi government reducing the corporate comes from the Hindu nationalists itself-
taxes, the government has taken the rightist the RSS. Bhagwat’s speech is a sign thereof.
route for their economic development Soon after, June witnessed the appearance
plans. Although privatization does have of news that an organization called Swadeshi
its benefits in a humongous economy like Jagaran Manch (SJM) has voiced its
India, would this shift be sustainable is the opposition to Air India’s privatization. Just like
question which needs to be answered? the BJP, the SJM is a part of the RSS, which
makes all this look like a fight within one
BJP’s own proponent RSS leader Mohan ideological family. In 2018, the government
Bhagwat last year’s speech said that the had decided to retain 24% of its stake in
idea of privatization of Air India should be the airlines, but now it has reaffirmed that it
taken forward by the Modi government. The would sell its entire stake to attract buyers.
economic view of the free market coexisting
with a nationalisation policy within the same The bidding process of the airlines is
party seems to attract attention. Air India’s planned to begin in early November. Alarms
take-offs and landings have been shaky since have been raised by notices released from
the 1990s, and the company has not yielded public oil companies about cutting fuel
a net profit since 2006. It carries a massive supply of the fliers. Air India has been facing
debt on its wings, and by now has lost most headwinds for the past few years. The airline
of its market to private competition. has had a stagnating business. Its impulsive
This debate about carrying out money spending has brought the company
privatization is headlong into the water. In 2006-07, Indian
inescapable. Airlines placed orders for more than 40
This debate Airbus aircraft while Air India ordered 50
brings both jets from Boeing. No passenger survey was
perspectives in an done before this massive purchase. The
equally compelling government’s earlier attempt to divest the
manner. The airlines had failed in 2018. Still, the Modi
taxpayers’ money government seems adamant to sell the airline
being spent into to pull itself out of the loss-making business.
leverage the Not only has the privatization process been
liabilities of initiated for Air India but also for the Indian
the public Railways. However, the ramifications of this
sectors approach would divulge in due time. Only
seem to be the most accurate analysis would resolve this
impertinent, conflict of adopting the idea of privatization.
and bringing
the private players
would solve this Harsh Vikram
problem. The Grade XI
Politicia | 9Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
Two years ago, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson graced the TEDWomen stage
with a moving talk about why climate change is not only a threat to our environment, but
also a threat to the human rights of many poor and marginalized people around the world.
She told stories of the people she met in her work with the United Nations and later on in her
foundation work. When explaining the challenges they faced, she said they kept repeating
the same pervasive sentence: “Oh, but things are so much worse now, things are so much
worse.” She came to realize that they were talking about the same phenomenon — climate
shocks and changes in the weather that were threatening their crops, their livelihood and
their survival.
In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in the United States, and extreme monsoons in
South Asia, I reached out to Mary to get an update on her work and where things stand now
in terms of climate justice and the global fight to curb climate change. Despite a busy week
attending this week’s United Nations General Assembly and other events, she took the time
to answer my questions via email.
Horrific hurricanes like Harvey, Irma and now Maria are bringing the
issue of climate change to the doorsteps of a country that recently
dropped out of the Paris Climate agreement. What would you say to
Americans about climate change and the actions of their government
*Scan this QR Code to watch the full video
10 | PoliticiaWelham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
When Mohammad Ali Chagla, a well-
JNU students to leave the campus, even
known jurist and education minister in the with his deteriorating health. Sadly,
Jawaharlal Nehru government, presented the university’s Teachers’ Union
his concept of a university in the Rajya Sabha has not spoken of these incidents.
in 1965, did he know that decades later, A handful of students are holding the
it would be in the news for all the wrongs? university to sabotage and vandalize the
He envisioned it as a model institution with administrative offices on campus. The slogans
an environment of independent thinking. on the walls reflect the mindset that has been
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is carrying out a vicious campaign to discredit
a significant teaching and research the university under the guise of protesting
centre ranked by the National the fee hike. A statue of Swami Vivekananda
Assessment and Accreditation Council. was not only desecrated by agitating students,
Government grants per student are but insulting language was written around it.
among the highest, and many members Democracy gives us freedom and liberty,
of faculty and research scholars have won emphasizing not only our right to speak
prestigious national and international but also being responsible for public
awards for their academic work. If one property and following the rules. In the
compares the hostel fees of major central past, students had also protested against
universities, JNU charges room fares and the implementation of Visakha guidelines,
disturbances! Also, most students in JNU forming an Internal Complaints Committee
are beneficiaries of scholarship schemes. against sexual harassment.
Is the protest a cause, or is it a conspiracy?
The Delhi High Court gave strict instructions
The students accused the administration of in 2017 against demonstrations or protests
taking a significant step without consulting within 100 meters of the JNU administrative
the Students’ Union. Many outside the block. The students were not only detained
institution are not aware that the Union does in the administrative building, but they also
not have a locus standi because it was not vandalized the office of the Vice-Chancellor
elected according to the recommendations in contempt of court. The mindset of
of the Lyngdoh Committee, which was defying the mandatory guidelines for
mandatory for each state-funded university. every state-funded university increases
The Associate Dean was not allowed to the hard-earned academic credibility of
interact with the chosen hostel representatives many faculty members and researchers.
on the hostel manual. An associate dean was Left-backed student organizations have been
held hostage for 36 hours in a class, harassed at the forefront of much of the campus’s
and harassed by students who demanded agitations and controversies. Marching in
that he withdraw the hike or resign. Parliament on the first day of the session
A dean was not allowed by the agitating without any prior permission was a political
gimmick to attract attention and
portray widespread student unrest.
Also, police blamed the Left
parties for instigating the students.
Student activism is critical in
university culture because students
have the opportunity to discuss
and discuss politics, culture and
social challenges in a stimulating,
free environment.
Ishmaan Kohli
Grade X
Politicia | 11Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
Area 51 refers to a map location and is crashed in Roswell in 1947. There have
the popular name for a United States Air been rumors about the disk, which has been
Force(USAF) base. It is located at the Groom described as a Russian spy plane. A 1945
Lake, which is a dry lake bed in the Nevada report on aircraft designed by Germany’s
Desert, 85 miles north of the extravagant Horten brothers included a photograph
Las Vegas. According to the CIA, the name of an unusually shaped parabolic aircraft.
Area 51 comes from its map description. Secondly, a man named Bob Lazar claims to
It was previously referred to as “Paradise have worked at Area 51 for some time at a
Ranch” to make the facility sound more secret military base at S-4, which he said is
attractive to those that would be working several miles south of Area 51. According to
there. Other nicknames include “Watertown” Lazar’s claims, he saw flying saucers that were
and “Dreamland.” It has been under the powered by Element 115, years before it was
spotlight for numerous conspiracy theories discovered by man. Both the third and the
concerning aliens and UFOs, though its only fourth theories are interrelated to each other.
confirmed use is as a flight testing facility. Both the conspiracies propose the discovery
of unearthly beings. In combination with the
What information do we have about this alien spacecraft that conspiracy logicians
conspicuous area? We do not have enough believe are at Area 51, extra-terrestrials are
concrete data about Area 51. It is restricted to also believed to be located there, including
the masses and has armed sentinels guarding ones that are supposedly held hostage.
its boundary. It is also unmanageable to enter These theorists also believe that following
the airspace above without permission from the supposed extra-terrestrial spacecraft that
the air traffic control. The U.S. government’s crashed in Roswell in 1947, the dead bodies
official name for Area 51 is the Nevada Test of the aliens aboard were taken to Area 51
and Training Range, which is a unit of the and dissected. The final conspiracy states
Nellis Air Force Base. Today it is used as an that Area 51 is home to the government’s
open training range for the U.S. Air Force and mysterious black helicopters. These
for developing cutting-edge aircraft. The area helicopters are commonly associated with
was created during the Cold War between cattle mutilation, toxic chemical releases over
the U.S. and the Soviet Union as a testing various neighborhoods, and other supposed
and development facility for aircrafts such as activities conducted by the U.S. government.
the U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance
planes. About 1,500 people are believed to To sum up, it can be concluded that Area 51
work there. It is uncertain what the base is has been through many scrutinies along with
used for these days. The secrecy has led to a many controversial discussions. The area has
great deal of public speculation and, in turn, come under the radar time and time again.
conspiracy theories — especially those relating Will the U.S. government provide answers to
to extra-terrestrial organisms and space. the questions asked by the general public,
or will the war of words carry on between
What is a conspiracy theory? In simple words, them? What does the future hold for this eye-
a conspiracy theory is a belief that some covert catching area? Only time will tell.
but influential organization is responsible for
an unexplained event. There have been many Kartik Tripathi
such theories in the past. What are some Grade XI
of the top conspiracy theories associated
with Area 51? There are quite a few. Firstly,
it is believed that an extra-terrestrial ship
crashed in Roswell (New Mexico) and was
then transported here. The UFO speculation
kicked off when a disc-shaped aircraft
12 | PoliticiaWelham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
The Case that Saved
INDIAN DEMOCRACY
Keshavanand Bharti v/s the State of Kerela
The case of Keshavanand Bharti vs. the State people that questioned the power of
of Kerala is one of the most important and Parliament to amend the constitution under
significant cases to date in the history of article 368. After the judgment came into his
Indian law. It is said to be the case that has favor with a ratio of 7:6, it was observed that
saved Indian democracy. The hearing of the under section 368, the Parliament cannot
trial started on 31 October 1972 and ended alter ‘the basic structure of the constitution.‘
on 23rd March 1973 in the apex court. A
constitution bench of judges(13 judges), After the victory of Keshavanand Bharti, in
which included the former honorable Chief this case, the government tried to reverse
Justice of India Sarva Mittra Sikri, gave the the judgment by declaring an emergency.
judgment of this crucial case on 24 April 1973. During this time, Justice AN Ray became
Chief Justice of India, skipping three other
A series of the event took place before this senior judges and also for reviewing, 8
case under the government, then headed new judges were included to the bench.
by Mrs. Indra Gandhi. The first one was the This bench included 13 judges, and they
Golaknath case against the state of Punjab, heard the review case for 2 days from 10
which confirmed the power of Parliament to November 1975 to 12 November 1975, after
amend all parts of a constitution judgment which Chief Justice Ray dissolved the bench
was reviewed after this case. Secondly, the as the request for review was not made
government nationalized 14 major banks. through legal procedures; instead, it was
Lastly, the government abolished the Privy done orally which made it inappropriate.
Purses, which was promised to kings and
royal families as they ruled kingdoms before Somewhere in my heart, a big credit goes to
the formation of India like The Scindias as aall our honorable judges of India and Shri
compensation. The strange thing was that all Keshavananad Bharti. I feel that the kind of
petitions against them were struck down by democracy India is today is partly because
the Supreme Court of India due to the series of the success of this case. Thereby proving
of amendments made by the government. its significance in the long-standing history
of India, the account which is a tale as old as
One of them was the Kerala Land Reform time itself. Somehow, this case has ensured
act of 1963, which was challenged by that under circumstances of a similar
Keshavanand Bharti, who was the religious situation, the case of Shri Keshavnand Bharti
head of Edneer Matt of Kerala and also owned will be acting as a precedent.
some mining and coal companies. The land
owned by matt was taken away for the “socio- Harkirt Singh
economic reasons” given by the government. Grade XI
He filed six writ petitions through different
Politicia | 13Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
The most influential leaders of the past of the modern world highly hazardous
have been designated a large share of our is, globalization and the world is highly
history books because of their success and connected. Technological advancements
merit in addressing and acting upon the have helped humans by making different
issue that posed the threat of the highest parts of the world connected and allowed
degree to their surroundings. The greater them to engage in trade that runs their
the danger they save people from, the economy. In the 20th century, most of the
higher the respect they continue to hold in significant issues were mostly a nationalist
the time that follows. Abraham Lincoln freed agenda that could be solved within the
the citizens of his nation from ills of slavery country. A particular religious group being
more than a century ago; nevertheless, denied certain rights in India had little
students continue to learn about his work effects on anyone sitting in the Americasor
and life because they know that their living Europe. Now, the world faces significant
conditions would have issues t h a t pose a threat to not
likely been just the people of
different had he the country where
not done what he the problem
did. Lincoln had initially arose
critically but to the
assessed
what the most international
profound need of community as a
his people was. He whole. By being a
fought against the great leader and
suppressors and the financially influential o n e of high significance, it is
people so that his people could live a life imperative that the leader rationally thinks
that they wanted to. Closer home, a tribute as to what issue is harming people, either
to the man who was less debatably one of directly or indirectly. In people’s opinions,
the greatest leaders and influencers of his issues such as terrorism and religious
times, needs to be paid. Mahatma Gandhi, conflicts might be the sole and the cruelest
the man who spent almost all of his life in of problems that the world today faces.
fighting for the oppressed and equality,
was given the honor of being called ‘ Father In the status quo, a large number of lives are
of the Nation’ because he gave the people under threat due to acts of terrorism and
what they needed the most - freedom. religious conflicts. Still, an exponentially
more significant amount of lives are in
Back then, a single cause, which was the danger due to the advent of climate
lack of freedom, was giving rise to multiple change. Problems such as these might at
problems like unequal treatment and first seem to be of less importance, and
labor exploitation. In the modern world, some might say ‘ not a reality.’ The carbon
however, we have been struck by numerous emissions by Germany are not only affecting
significant global challenges, and the Germans but have an impact on the people
biggest problem apart from the trials living in the slums of India. Under such
themselves is the fact that these challenges circumstances, we need to realize that the
are not as easily recognizable and require ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, like collectively
an in-depth analysis of the socio-economic bringing a change and that of appealing
factors that contribute to its existence. to the conscience of the wrongdoers,
Another factor that makes the problems should be effectively used on a mass scale.
14 | PoliticiaWelham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
Mahatma Gandhi used Non- cooperation broaden the horizon of participation and
as a means to showcase public disapproval include members of all sectors
towards a particular institution or issue. An who could act together and
influential personality like Gandhi would make a difference. A century has
have used his skills to explain to the passed since Mahatma Gandhi
ordinary people the impact of climate drove India into achieving
change and how this issue could be freedom, and now is the time
the reason why their children would for his metaphorical rebirth
not have clean water to drink or on Earth to protect it from
fresh air to breathe. Mahatma turning inhabitable (to
Gandhi was able to extend what currently does
his influence to the masses not seem a very
because he targeted the distant reality). Let us
ordinary people who form a all go back to using
majority of the population. products that do not
The leaders of today only cause much harm
seek to raise awareness to our environment
and lay importance to (swadeshi if
the community in the you may wish
urban areas. A leader like to) and protect
Mahatma Gandhi would the interests
seek to gain support from and lives of the
the middle and the lower generations to
classes first, who would be come. The leaders
most willing to participate of the modern
in protests considering world carry huge
that they will be affected responsibilities on
by the effects of Climate their shoulders;
Change. He would think for this time, the
on spending a reasonable negative effect
amount of time to explain would not be a
to these people why it is so continuation of
essential for them to participate imperialism but giving
and how their participation as a away the planet’s life.
mass could help in curbing down the
level of harm that would be caused
by this mostly man-made disaster. Shreyansh Jindal
Grade XI
Being a global issue, Mahatma Gandhi
would also gather the attention of
people from around the world and
call for an intentional strike against
the perpetrators and ask the workers
in factories that emit gases as they are
principal pollutants of the environment
to refuse to go to work. Using these
methods could significantly bring
about a change in the status quo.
Initiatives like ‘Fridays for Future’
and other climate change strikes are
necessary. Still, there is an urgent need to
Politicia | 15Welham Boys’ School
brita
July 13, 2016
Home Secretary There-
sa May becomes Prime
last la
eur
Minister of the United
Kingdom. 22 September, 2017
The PM set out the UK’s
position on how to
move Brexit talks for-
ward.
June 9, 2017 15 December, 2017
The Conservative Party los- The EU agrees to move
es its majority in a shocking on to the second phase of
vote that leaves the U.K. negotiations after an agree-
with a hung Parliament. ment is reached on the July 8, 2018
Brexit “divorce bill”. David Davis resigns as
Brexit secretary and
Boris Johnson resigns
as foreign secretary.
Both were supporters
of a hard Brexit.
17 January, 2017
May gives her first speech set- 8 December 2017
ting out the type of Brexit deal The U.K. and EU reach
she will be pursuing when nego- a last-minute “break-
tiations begin. through” deal on the
first phase of Brexit
26 June, 2017 negotiations.
March 2, 2018
Formal negotiations on with- Theresa May outlines
drawal begin between the her economic vision
UK and the EU. for the U.K.’s departure
from the EU.
16 | PoliticiaFounder’s 2019
ain’s
ap with
rope 12 March, 2019
The Government held its sec-
ond ‘meaningful vote’ on the
withdrawal agreement which
was defeated.
March 29, 2019
May 24, 2019
Theresa May announced
that she will resign as
prime minister.
17 October 2019
Jan. 15, 2019 May’s Brexit deal is defeat- The final scheduled
May’s Brexit deal is defeated in the ed for a third time in a 344- summit of EU leaders
House of Commons by a historic 286 vote. begins in Brussels.
202 to 432 margin.
March 27, 2019 24 July 2019
12 July, 2018 May tells Conservative Boris Johnson
The Government pub- MPs that she’ll step succeeds The-
lished its Brexit White down after “a smooth resa May as the
Paper, outlining the and orderly” Brexit. UK’s 55th Prime
Government’s approach Minister.
to managing the coun-
try’s withdrawal from the October 28, 2019
EU. April 1, 2019
The EU agrees to ex-
Jan. 29, 2019 The House of Commons
tend Brexit until Jan.
Parliament votes to rejects all four alterna-
31, 2020.
support May’s effort to tives to May’s Brexit deal
find “alternative arrange- for the second time.
ments” with the EU on
the Irish backstop.
Kartik Tripathi
Grade XI
Politicia | 17Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
Is your Phone Tainted by the Misery of
the 35,000 Children in Congo's Mines?
Swedish chemist, Georg Brandt, discovered and two dollars a day and that too without
cobalt in 1739. It is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray the most basic protective equipment such as
metal that is extracted as a by-product when gloves, work clothes or facemasks to protect
mining nickel and copper. Besides serving as them from lung or skin diseases.
a cathode material of many Li-ion batteries, Children are forced to pay bribes to the local
cobalt is also used to fashion superalloys to government functionaries who are supposed
manufacture powerful magnets, high-speed to ensure no children are working at the mining
cutting tools, and high-strength alloys for jet sites. Miners working in these mines face the
engines and gas turbines. Cobalt compounds risk of long-term health damage and a high
have been employed for centuries to color risk of fatal accidents. At least 80 artisanal
porcelain, glass, pottery, tile, and enamel; it miners died underground in southern DRC
is also essential in human nutrition as part of between September 2014 and December
vitamin B12. 2015 alone. The actual figure is unknown as
many accidents go unrecorded, and bodies
This industrial form is not cherished for its are left buried in the rubble. While significant
complexion on a palette, but its ubiquity consumer electronic and automobile brands
across modern life. More than 60% of the state, they do not tolerate child labor in their
world’s supply of cobalt is mined in the supply chains. None of them have invested
“copper belt” of the south-eastern provinces enough resources or time into ensuring that
of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The they can adequately address the human
country is so rich in minerals that large rights abuses. They have consistently shifted
deposits can be found just meters below the responsibility for human rights abuses in the
surface. However, the story has a dark side Congo on to their Chinese suppliers.
to it. “20% of this supply is mined by locals In the absence of full accountability, suffering
called cruisers. This cobalt is smeared in can run riot. It is high time. Now, if the
misery and blood of children as young as Multinational companies have chosen to
six who are among those risking their lives ignore the situation that is growing worse
amid toxic dust to mine cobalt for the world’s day by day, it is up to the zee generation to
big electronics firms. The latest research by do something about it.
the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
estimates that 40,000 children are working We need to realize that children younger to
in DRC mines. “Rising demand in the last us are toiling day in and day out in the cobalt
several years has already led to increases mines while we sit comfortably complaining
in cobalt production, drawing more people about the petty “problems” that we face.
- including children - into the sector,” said We need to realize the gravity of the situation
Siddharth Kara, an author on modern slavery and work towards improving it by doing
who has recently visited DRC. whatever little we can do-day by day-one
thing at a time.
The work is hard enough for an adult man,
but it is unthinkable for a child. Children Meet Banni
work for up to 12 hours a day in the mines, Grade IX
carrying heavy loads to earn between one
18 | PoliticiaWelham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
Amber Heard Censorship
The world has been a witness of countless
events where the equality of men and
amberheard women has been questioned. Gender
discrimination is not a new issue that has
suddenly surfaced. It had been a bone of
contention in the past as well as in recent
times. The problem invariably surfaces
itself in different manifestations. Amber
Heard, an American actress, mocked
one of the world’s top social media sites
Instagram for being a discriminator on
gender. The actress posted a photograph
of herself in September, which Instagram
deleted as it showcased nudity. Amber
Heard responded to this action of
Instagram by posting Jason Mamoa’s very
same image. She posted an edited image
of her and Momoa in the same picture
with her bare chest superimposed over
his. Instagram has not deleted the post
yet. The actress categorized this event
as a clear act of gender discrimination.
Although it seems that this issue has
attracted the spotlight, the old archetypal
question arises, ‘Should a woman be
equal to a man in every aspect or whether
some aspects should be reserved for
both the genders separately?
There needs to be a distinction between
the validity of the contention that arises
when a woman posts an undressed picture
of herself and when a man does the same.
The subjective nature of this problem has
rendered it almost impossible. It’s not for
Liked by iamnamankapoor and 345344 others me to decide who is on the wrong side,
In honor of IG’s rigorous and equitable Community
but it’s very clear that Instagram has lost a
Guidelines against showing the Female nipple ..and since lot on the terms of gender discrimination.
mine enjoyed the brief privilege that’s afforded to my male Will these dubious questions remain
counterparts.. I decided to pay homage by replacing it with unanswered or be added to the long
a picture that DID meet IG’s strict nudity guidelines and book of cases similar to this about which
such careful gender policies.
we debate today and forget tomorrow?
See my stories to vote on which edit you prefer the most Could it be a classic example of a woman
..and thank you IG, here’s to 2019! using as a weapon the very law that was
made to protect her?
Shiv Singh
Grade XII
Politicia | 19Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
Are the Bricks
Strong Enough?
The Ram Mandir – Babri Masjid dispute is a to be a Muslim entity. Such aftermaths have
matter with redundant controversies. It is an further widened the rift between the Hindu-
issue that has been subjected to high decibel Muslim community. The Mumbai riots alone,
pretentious narratives by self-observing which occurred in December 1992 and
politicians as well as rhetorical articulations January 1993 that incorporated a significant
by the press. This dispute has interwoven involvement of Shiv Sena, caused the
the masses of Hindus and Muslims to an death of around 900 people and estimated
unimaginable extent, where neither can property damage of about Rs.9000 crores
speak about it without inciting feelings of .The demolition and the ensuing riots
extremist bigotry towards specific religion, were among the significant factors behind
a matter that raises a question on one’s the 1993 Mumbai bombings and many
ethics, one’s religion, and one’s morals. successive riots in the coming decade.
The case has transformed itself into something
The two communities have disputed over much more than just an example. On
a plot of land in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, December 16, 1992, the Central government-
believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama appointed the Justice Liberhan Commission
by the Hindus, thereby disregarding the fact to investigate the Babri Masjid demolition.
that it also the place where the Babri Masjid The committee gave its report to the INC
was built, centuries ago by the Muslims. government in 2009, blaming several leaders
This conflict has persisted for nearly half a from the BJP, especially its top leadership
millennium, through the ages of the Mughals and the UP government led by Kalyan
and the British. Still, to be genuinely just Singh. After 16 years of court proceedings,
towards this issue and to hold an unbiased the commission had recorded statements
opinion, it is essential for one to know whether of various politicians, holding 68 people
or not, a Hindu temple was demolished guilty, who were all BJP members back then.
in the first place to build the Masjid. It is said that they are primarily responsible
for the destruction of the mosque and that
The Hindus, who regard Ayodhya as Ram they could have prevented the assault.
Janmabhoomi, believe that Babur’s general,
Mir Baqi, had demolished a Ram Mandir to When we come to think of it, as young avid
build a Masjid in 1528, which was named thinkers, finding solutions to such crises is
after Babur himself. Later, in 1992, the quite simple if we introspect rationally. Still,
Babri Masjid was devastated by about 2 the two religious communities have such
lakh Karsevaks, which was accompanied by rigid ideologies and communal differences
communal riots all across India. This event that it becomes nearly impractical. To
had triggered the culmination of a historic solve this dispute, we need to put aside
schism. Thus, after the Masjid was destroyed, our sectarian differences, uplift our
the country saw an array of turmoil, extreme senses from superstitions, and reason.
violence on the grounds of religion, and It is time we stop the blame game and
also the action taken by jihadists. In 2002, outright violence on the name of religion.
volunteers from Ayodhya traveling by train
were killed by an unknown entity, believed In my opinion, instead of creating these
20 | PoliticiaWelham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
domestic walls on grounds of religion, it
is essential for the people to be reminded
of that day in history where Hindus and
Muslims had become inseparable -16
August 1905 – where the people of the two
communities tied Rakhis on each other’s
hands and established a Community
Hall to mark the unity of the two cities,
thereby defining their brotherhood.
VERDICT
1. The Supreme Court has granted
the complete 2.77 acres of disputed
land in Ayodhya to deity Ram Lalla.
2. It has also directed the Centre and Uttar
Pradesh government to give an alternative deity is one of the litigants of this case, has
5-acre estate to the Muslims at a prominent been a part of this enormous issue, which has
location for the construction of a mosque. now come to an end. The verdict has closed
3. The Court has requested the Centre the case, which had overturned the social
to consider granting some kind of equilibrium of the country. Although people
representation to Nirmohi Akhara in criticize the decision to be tainted with the
setting up a trust. Nirmohi Akhara was majoritarian element, the verdict being
the intermediary in the Ayodhya dispute. a unanimous decision by the bench was
4. The Supreme Court terminated the appeal based on the claims of both sides involved
of Nirmohi Akhara, which was looking for in the case. From a legal standpoint, the
the governance of the entire disputed land, Muslim team was not able to establish
saying they are the guardian of the property. their application to the land, and hence the
5. The Court has directed the Union verdict stands justified. Now, it is time to look
government to set up a trust in 3 months for the forward to the future rather than to ponder
creation of the Ram Mandir at the disputed site the bitter past. The positives that arise from
where the Babri Masjid was wrecked in 1992. the decision overshadow the negatives.
6.The Supreme Court said that the fundamental The other land given to the Muslims for the
structure below the disputed site at Ayodhya building of the mosque has retained the
was not Islamic, but the ASI (Archaeological fabric of secularism and the inclusive nature
Survey of India) has not proven whether a of the Indian legal and political system.
temple was demolished to build a mosque. People feel delighted to see the BJP and the
7. The Court also said that the Hindus consider Congress on the same side. It has been a
the disputed site as the birthplace of Lord Ram. long time since we saw most Indian political
8. The Court also noted that the belief parties and social organizations speaking
of the Hindus that Lord Ram was born at in one voice. Till now, the response to the
the disputed site where the Babri Masjid verdict is muted, this cannot be ascertained
once mounted cannot be challenged. whether it is due to generational shift or
9. The Supreme Court also said that the due to the lop-sidedness of power between
1992 annihilation of the 16th century Babri Hindus and Muslims or whether this decision
Masjid mosque was a desecration of law. is in the light that this dispute deserves.
10. While reading out its decision, the Since the announcement, there has been no
Supreme Court noted that the UP Sunni violence. All sides have publicly accepted the
Central Waqf Board has botched to establish verdict, the sign of a mature democracy. Law
its case in Ayodhya dispute case, and the has been an advocate of the team that has
Hindus have built their claim that they managed to prove its claim with reason. The
owned outer courtyard of the disputed site. Supreme Court has now sealed this historical
case with yet another exemplary verdict for
CONCLUSION similar disputes in the future.
Ram Lalla has emerged victorious in the Aryan Mahipal & Harsh Vikram Singh
long-disputed case of the Babri Masjid. The Grade XI
Politicia | 21Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
Greening a Business
Is it possible to run an intensive commercial economy while keeping its effects within safe
ecological margins? The fact that the present day leading industrial economic system is
unmaintainable is not in doubt. It has added to the penetration of several ecological bound-
aries, in relation to climate change, biodiversity loss and nutrient enrichment. At the same
time capitalism is also leading to growing disparity, in turn creating social pressures that
make the society fragile. How do we differentiate between capitalism and eco- capitalism?
Let’s have a look as to how big MNCs have made a difference.
Walmart
CEO- Doug McMillon
Walmart has operated in an efficient way and has produced significant environmen-
tal value. The efficiency of its fleet of trucks has doubled within a decade. The com-
pany has now converted 28 percent of the energy sources powering its stores
and operations globally to renewables. The company diverted 78 percent of
its global waste from landfills, instead found ways to recycle, reuse or even sell
the garbage. Its goal is to eventually get to 50 percent renewables and to
generate zero waste in Canada, Ja- pan, the U.K. and U.S. by 2025.
Apple
Volkswagen CEO- Tim Cook
CEO- Herbert Diess The company has contrib-
In order to protect the envi- uted significantly in saving
ronment and implement the the environment. The 100
political guidelines, Volk- percent recycled aluminium
swagen is consistently fo- inclusions of the new Mac-
cusing on electro mobil- Book Air and Mac mini
ity. By 2050, at the latest, are as long-last-
the entire ing and
Volk- stunning
s w a - as one would
gen Group will be a expect. Apple engineered
CO2-neutral company. Its a totally new alloy that can
highest principles include be recycled over and over
integrity, the observance of again. The fuse in the main
rules and laws, the safety of motherboard of the iPhone
its customers as well as the is made with 100 percent
openly dealing with errors in recycled tin that performs
order to remedy and avoid as well as newly mined tin.
them in the future. The com- More than 40 components
pany has actively assumed in iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
the responsibility for the and iPhone XR contain re-
society. It conducts its busi- processed plastic
ness in a socially responsible
manner, based on clear val-
ues.
Berkshire Hathaway
CEO- Warren Buffet
Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s primary principle of Environmental RESPECT (Responsibil-
ity, Efficiency, Stewardship, Performance, Evaluation, Communication and Training) high-
lights the importance of decreasing the effects on the environment. As of December 31,
2018, Berkshire Hathaway’s businesses have had increasing investments in wind, solar,
geothermal and biomass generating facilities of nearly $25 billion. The company has
plans to spend an additional $6 billion on the construction of wind-powered generating
facilities, repowering certain existing wind-powered generating facilities and funding
wind tax equity investments through 2021.
Kartik Tripathi
Grade XI
22 | PoliticiaTHE CLIMATE IS CHANGING,
SO SHOULD YOU...Welham Boys’ School Founder’s 2019
The world often holds the opinion that happening around them. Another flaw in us
climate change is a mere environmental humans – we do not act on a problem until
problem, forgetting the fact that climate and unless it becomes extremely necessary,
change can have wide implications, taking or until it directly concerns us. Nevertheless,
with it, under its umbrella, an evasive salinity intrusion in Bangladesh is making it
humanitarian facet. We tend to overlook difficult for farmers to continue cultivating
the disastrous long-term effects climate rice. Flooding in Kenya is killing livestock
change can have just because people don’t and destroying crops. In tons of other
feel much of a difference in the climate cases, it is climate stressors that have been
from one day? threatening people’s livelihoods. Punitive
This is a flaw that finds its root in common living conditions and natural disasters have
public fickleness, wherein people only led to floods, droughts and desertification
believe in what they see, but the only of areas due to lack or exploitation of
regret is they don’t seem to act on the hints resources. This in turn promotes violence
left by nature. A renowned philosopher amongst farmers and other poverty struck
once said,” Impending disaster casts its people, which leads to another major
shadow beforehand”. There could not be a global problem – ‘Climate Migration’. There
time that could relate to this line more than is absolutely no head and tail to this vicious
now – at a global scale. The good thing cycle of climate change, but there will be a
is that all of this has ushered in the Era of time, when the cycle will end. Conditions
Responsibility, a generation where there is would change – but for the worse, and
awareness, a generation which realizes its would only be inclined to the demise of
moral obligation towards this Earth and the this forever lasting Earth.
future generations.
To begin with, climate change isn’t a
The public is inclined to argue, snag that can be postponed. It
saying that there are is to be accepted, here and
no hints dropped by now. I agree that it is not
nature in this regard, a single handed job
but the public that can be achieved
is also absent- with hair-shirt self-
minded, as they abnegation, but
are not aware of it is also not
what is something that
c a n
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