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Reclaiming the Mind: Why Student Wellness Depends on Mastering the Machine

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By Indranil Mukherjee

National Teacher Awardee 2025

In the modern classroom, we are witnessing a profound “Digital Paradox.” While technology is an undeniable pillar of contemporary education, its pervasive misuse is quietly eroding the cognitive and physical faculties of our youth. As an educator honored with the National Teachers’ Award, I have observed that the boundary between digital utility and deadly addiction has vanished. To safeguard our future, we must champion a new psychological breakthrough: the “I CAN SWITCH OFF MY MOBILE PHONE” movement.

The Crisis of Creativity

The shift from technological mastery to technological slavery is driven by the blind imitation of digital trends. When a student’s world is reduced to a five-inch screen, their capacity for original thought shrinks. My campaign seeks to shift this paradigm. The goal is not total abstinence from technology, but the reclamation of autonomy. We must teach students to be the controllers of the machine, ensuring that their creativity is not a casualty of the “scroll.”

The Biological Toll

Digital addiction is not merely a behavioral issue; it is a physiological crisis. Excessive mobile use disrupts the “biological clock” (circadian rhythm), leading to a cascade of health complications:

Mental Health: Late-night screen exposure is a primary trigger for adolescent insomnia, which frequently spirals into anxiety and depression.

Physical Imbalance: The blue light from screens, coupled with an irregular lifestyle, causes serious hormonal shifts and early-onset vision impairment.

The Strategy for Recovery: Books and Playgrounds

The roadmap for recovery lies in returning to the “Book Page.” Unlike the fast-paced, fragmented nature of social media “reels,” traditional reading fosters deep imagination and critical thinking. By promoting a balance between the reading table and the playground, we provide students with the physical activity and dedicated study environments necessary to rebuild their health and focus.

A Social Responsibility

This movement is more than a local initiative; it is a vital social intervention. For a country to be truly self-reliant and developed, its next generation must be healthy and free from digital dependency. This is a collective mission. Every parent, teacher, and policymaker must join this call to action to ensure our students remain masters of their tools, rather than slaves to their screens.

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Book Review | Broken Hearts by Anuki

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There is a quiet honesty to Broken Hearts that does not demand attention, it earns it. In her debut chapbook, Anuki transforms private pain into lyrical reflection, offering readers twenty-seven poems that trace the fragile yet resilient journey of a woman negotiating identity, love, and freedom within the tight frames of social expectation.

What begins as a personal preface soon unfolds into something collective. Anuki writes not only for herself but for countless women raised with invisible boundaries, taught sacrifice before selfhood, endurance before expression. Her verses move through girlhood, marriage, emotional neglect, and eventual awakening with a simplicity that feels intimate rather than ornamental. There are no grand metaphors or heavy abstractions. Instead, the language is direct, almost conversational, which makes the emotions land with greater force.

At the centre of the collection lies a marriage that appears tender on the surface yet slowly fractures under deceit, silence, and psychological distance. The poems document this erosion with restraint. Rather than anger, we see observation; rather than accusation, clarity. This tonal control is one of the book’s strengths. Anuki resists melodrama and instead allows small details, unanswered calls, lonely evenings, dismissed truths, to speak for themselves.

Yet Broken Hearts is not a chronicle of suffering. Its real triumph is recovery. The later poems shift gently toward self-reclamation: education, work, independence, and the rediscovery of inner worth. The “broken hearts” of the title become symbols not of defeat but of survival, cracks through which light enters.

Stylistically, the collection feels like journal entries turned into poetry. Some pieces read like confessions, others like letters never sent. This diary-like authenticity gives the chapbook warmth and relatability. Readers may find themselves underlining lines that echo their own unspoken thoughts.

In an era where poetry often leans toward complexity, Anuki chooses accessibility, and that choice makes her voice powerful. Broken Hearts speaks softly but stays with you long after the last page.

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Book Review | Love’s Little Melodies by Dr. Satish Reddy Chadeve

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In an age of fast-moving headlines and fleeting attention spans, Love’s Little Melodies by Dr. Satish Reddy Chadeve invites readers to slow down and listen, not to noise, but to the quiet music of everyday life.

This collection of 30 poems stands out for its unique structure. Each poem is crafted into exactly 13 lines, a deliberate choice that mirrors the brief yet meaningful nature of the moments the poet captures. The discipline of the form adds rhythm, while the language remains gentle and accessible.

The author draws inspiration from simple human experiences, the blush of a high school crush, the innocence of teenage romance, the scent of soil in a garden, and the calm labour of farming. These are not dramatic or grand events. Instead, they are moments that often pass unnoticed. Yet in his hands, they become lyrical reflections on memory, love, and time.

One of the most touching aspects of the book is its emotional range. A poem about the loyal companionship of a pet dog carries warmth and gratitude. A reflection on a quiet summer afternoon feels almost cinematic in its stillness. Particularly striking is the portrayal of a solitary shepherd, where loneliness is not shown as sorrow, but as a space for dignity and depth, a “greatness” that comes from being alone with one’s thoughts.

The poet’s strength lies in observation. He notices what others overlook, the rhythm of daily work, the silent understanding between humans and animals, the soft ache of growing up. His verses are tender without being sentimental, thoughtful without being complex.

The language is clear and musical, making the collection accessible to a wide audience. Readers do not need to be poetry scholars to appreciate these works. Instead, they are invited to connect with their own memories and emotions.

Love’s Little Melodies is not a loud or dramatic collection. It does not demand attention; it earns it quietly. Through its structured simplicity and heartfelt themes, the book reminds us that life’s grand symphony is built from small, almost hidden notes.

For readers seeking poetry that feels personal, reflective, and rooted in everyday beauty, Dr. Satish Reddy Chadeve’s latest offering is a gentle and rewarding read.

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Book Review | The Forged Flame: The Flames of Aryavarta – II by Lokesh Bhardwaj

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In The Forged Flame: The Flames of Aryavarta – II, author Lokesh Bhardwaj delivers a powerful continuation of his epic saga set in the mythical land of Aryavarta. The novel blends mythology, fantasy, emotion and war into a story that feels both grand and deeply personal.

The story follows Trivikrama, once known as Avyakta, a wounded soul marked by betrayal and hunted by destiny. From the very beginning, readers are drawn into his painful journey of transformation. He is not born a hero. He is shaped by loss, struggle and harsh truths. The title itself, The Forged Flame, reflects this journey: a flame not simply lit, but created through suffering, strength and survival.

The novel moves between dramatic landscapes. In the frozen Himalayas, a warrior rises again from the ashes of his past. In the burning sands of Velikara, a queen learns to silence her heart and lead with steel-like resolve. These parallel stories add depth to the narrative and show how different characters are shaped by their own battles. The author paints vivid pictures of snow-covered peaks and scorching deserts, making the setting feel alive and intense.

One of the strongest elements of the book is its emotional core. Love is not shown as soft or simple, it is fragile and sometimes tragic. Faith is questioned. Trust is broken. The characters are constantly pushed to choose between duty and desire. This makes the story relatable even within its epic scale.

The awakening of the ancient Ashnaras and the breaking of kingdoms raise the stakes higher. Prophecies long forgotten begin to reveal their meaning. As tensions grow, the world stands on the edge of destruction. Yet the story does not rely only on battles and spectacle. It focuses on the inner fire of its characters. When the flame awakens, as the book says, it does not burn, it remembers. This line captures the heart of the novel. The flame represents identity, truth and destiny returning to claim its place.

Lokesh Bhardwaj’s writing style is rich yet accessible. He balances action with reflection, giving readers moments to breathe between intense scenes. The pace remains steady, building suspense toward powerful turning points.

As the second part of The Flames of Aryavarta series, this book expands the world and deepens the emotional stakes. It is ideal for readers who enjoy epic fantasy rooted in Indian mythology, with strong characters and high drama.

Overall, The Forged Flame is a gripping and emotional journey about rebirth, sacrifice and the courage to face one’s destiny. It reminds us that true strength is not inherited, it is forged.

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