Digital Study Hall is running a “Girl Empowerment Program” in Naxal-infested Sonebhadra district, considered one of the most backward districts in India. The collective voice of the girls from KGBV Chopan depicts how fundamental freedom is still a dream for some adolescents who feel pinned in a corner in a remote village after sunset.

Collective creation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Chopan, Sonbhadra

सीमित दायरा 

दर्पण(कविता )

Rajul Bhatnagar

A transparent future assures us that the TIME of women is arriving.  In many countries it has already arrived.  In some States of India, its drum beat can already be heard.  A time when this transient veil of despondency vapourises and women and daughters of our great country are WANTED, are SAFE and are more than EQUAL.

“This century is the best time to be born as woman”, said Hillary Clinton, a couple of years ago.  When President Obama visited India, our Foreign Secretary (Ms. Nirupma Rao) and our ambassador to the U.S. (Ms. Shankar) jointly hosted him and Michelle Obama for being introduced to Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the largest ruling political party, Ms. Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the opposition, thereafter to the speaker of the Lok Sabha, Ms. Meera Kumar and finally to the country’s President, Mrs. Pratibha Patil. “Awesome” Obama would have thought. Ladies already ahead in India as compared to the U.S.!  The fact that our Socio-Political fabric mirrors countless women leaders, owes its origin to Mahatma Gandhi’s active inclusion of women in our freedom struggle.

In fact, women have always been leading.  In the past it was behind the scene, behind the kingdoms, behind the home and hearth and now it will all be out in the open.  Be it political or social leadership, C.E.O.’s of large and small MNC’s or units, Educationists, Financial or Developmental sector, you can’t miss the drum-beats.  The future belongs to women.  They have taken over.  It is said that when the time is ripe for an idea, no one can stop it.  The TIME has come.

Anjana
Teacher, Study Hall School

Today ,the morning newspapers arrive as misshapen birds of ill- omen, sedition murder and barbaric acts of rape. Difficult to believe but child marriage, female infanticide is still around for some inexplicable reason. As responsible citizens we must all contribute to keep crime under control. Court should take serious cases for trial immediately .We need to make tough laws against gangsters and implement them ruthlessly. I am happy that our school is voicing against crime instead of helplessly being swept away by the fear wave.

Depali Tripathi
Teacher, Prerna Girls School

मेरा  अंश

सब कुछ सहूंगी  मैं ,

पर यह कैसे  कहूँगी    मैं ,

कि वो मेरा ही अंश है ,

जिसने एक मासूम को बदनाम किया ,

उसका ही नहीं तूने ,

मेरा भी अपमान किया ,

इससे तो अच्छा था ,

हे ईश्वर ,

इस कोख को ‘ बाझ बना  देता तू ,

एक आततायी की माँ कहलाने के ,

लांछन से बचा लेता तू

सारे दुखो के साथ सह लेती ,

मैं  एक और दंश

पर अब मैं  कैसे कहू कि तू मेरा ही है अंश ,

ये अब मैं कैसे सहूँ

कि तू मेरा ही है अंश ,

Chetna
Teacher, Prerna Girls School

घरौंदा

सोचती हूँ ,
एक घरौंदा बनाऊँगी मैं ,
एक छोटी गुड़िया लाऊँगी मैं
उसकी खिलखिलाहट पर मुस्कुराऊँगी  मैं
खिली हुई धूप में उसका डगमगाते कदमो से चलना ,
जमीन पर  लोट कर उसका खिलौने के लिए
जिद करना
उसकी हर नटखट अदा पर वारी जाऊँगी मैं
लेकिन बिना मेरी ऊँगली पकड़ कर चलना
भी उसे बताऊँगी मैं ,
परियो के साथ जीवन के कटु सत्य की
कहानियां भी सुनाऊँगी मैं ,
सब कुछ सिखलाऊंगी मैं ,
पर उसे खुद से थोड़ा अलग बनाऊँगी मैं ,
अपने भावों को सिर्फ कागजों पर नहीं
समाज के सामने भी अभिव्यक्त करना सिखाऊगी मैं।

Chaitanya Pandey    XI -D

Is it just?

That a girl gets killed

Was it a must?

And the reaction, Government really knows how to adjust

It’s rage, it’s fire

Look what this country has turned into from a land of gold and sapphire

I am young, my life has just begun

And I demand an explanation for this horrific phenomenon

Why?? I Ask

Is it a very difficult task?

Why are the officials hiding behind a mask?

Is it the end, is this phrase the last?

FIRE!! Fire is everywhere

Politics, sports, country…In every sphere

It’s rage, it’s fire

And my government is filled with liars

Am I the only kite flyer?

Peace is what I admire

I want to fly a little more high

From where I could watch on my country and take a relaxing sigh

I demand an answer,

It is a horrendous encounter,

It is a terrible situation

I demand an answer to what is happening in this nation.

I am young but,

I am old enough to know

I demand the answers

And I ask the notorious monsters to not to make it slow

Crime and grime everywhere,

Not a Ganges to wash away the sins.

I seek the pursuit of peace,

And I guess it will come with a lightening beam.

I ask why?

Please do not deny

I have the right to know

About the way how the wind will blow

I will ask until I survive

Because I have a reason

And reason is to bring my country back to life

I want to know, I demand the answers or I will strike

It is rage, it is fire,

Let us get together and turn India back to sapphire.

Let us free the country of strife,

And flood it with harmony and truth.

Chaitanya Pandey
XI-D, Study Hall School

Once upon a time

There was a country which I assumed to be mine

But, now its racked up with filthy swines

I went through so much agony that I could barely feel my intestines

I wanted to just rise and shine

But, they dint even let my life be mine

They had no limit, they just crossed the line

A rod on the back and there cracked my spine

They behaved as if they were the kings

And me, not even a human being

My pure body now stinks

And people say that if elected, equality is what I shall bring

More than a hundred people and I was under their glare

None helped they just stared

My body was bleeding and bare

None even had a simple shall to share

Yes I felt unequal, I felt unwanted

I was astonished by the society in which I landed

Unsafe?  oh yes, they blame It on destiny

But,  justice? Where and when will that be?

They brought up all these monster

Who heinously rape

I ask why you stare

They tell me the reason is the clothes you wear

It is an appeal, it is a request

Please save your mothers, sisters, daughters and nieces

Or they would also turn up like me being in pieces

No offence but they do need leashes

Could we get a change?

is their anyone I could trust?

Can one get me justice?

And see that the world doesn’t turn into ashes ?