They do not use mobile phones, but read books, bring laurels

They have many things in common. They are girls. They all read books voraciously. They have taken a cue from their parents and inculcated the habit of reading. They don’t use mobile phones. This has kept their creative mind alive and they won Oxford Big Read Competition at Asia level where their ability of thought process also was tested.

The competition was organised by Oxford University Press. It was regarding writing review of book. The competition was conducted in three categories-- at primary level where students were supposed to draw picture apart from writing 2-3 lines review, at middle and higher level or senior category where they are expected to write review on A4 page. Neha Chhajed and Sama Jahagirdar from Bhavan’s Civil Lines stood first and second at senior level in Asia.

Ananya Sheorey of CDS School and Saara Sen from Centre Point School, Wardhman Nagar secured first and second spot at middle level. They chose books like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, The Three Muskateers by Alexander Dumas. Did they ever think of writing such reviews or did they practice it in the past? Saara Sen, a Class VII girl replied, “I am habitual of discussing about the books but I have never wrote review. But I did write poems and stories. In fact my poem was published in ‘The Hitavada Twinkle Star Magazine’. I was in Class VI when I appeared in the competition.” “It was an Asia level competition and I was confident. But I was not expecting that I would win the competition.

I really liked the review I wrote and satisfied about my performance. I enjoyed the whole exercise. I chose book Jane Eyre and wrote the review. Actually I wanted write on Great Expectations but I did not find my copy,” said Saara. Saara’s father is Lt.Col Sujoy Sen SM and posted at Kamptee while her mother Dr Ritu Sen is doctor. Both her parents are fantastic readers and Saara too picked up the habit of reading from them. Now Saara shifted to Ami Public school in Kamptee but during competition last year she represented Centre Point School, Wardhman Nagar. Neha Chhajed, daughter of doctor couple chose two books for reading but wrote review on Jane Eyre. Her parents Dr Neelam Chhajed - Gynaecologist, Dr Hemant Chhajed- Laparascopic Surgeon works in Wockhardt both encouraged Neha to read books, though both don’t read extra-curricular ones.

They both kept themselves updated in their profession. “I read quite a books. Only two books were new for me-- Jane Eyre and The Moon Stone by Collins. Book review is a creative writing. What I liked about the book Jane Eyre is, the idea of book, the characters. The book was set in old times. It was showing me the way. How a young girl grows. I have not written any review. We had to write it on paper to Oxford Press India. This handwritten copy was full of one A4 size.

They had given a form. I was not sure that I would win. It was a shock like for me. Parents were happy. My parents have encouraged me to read books and that helped me at all levels,” Neha expressed her gratitude towards her parents. Ananya Sheorey, daughter of Sadanand and Sarika wrote review on ‘The Three Musketeers’. For Ananya, it was nice experience. Mostly her mother used to take her to book stores to buy books. Her mother Sarika say, Ananya is bookworm. Her parents helped her in preparations to stand in the competition. “I did not think I would win. I just wrote the review and left it for the judges to decide. During preparation my parents taught me how to write review.

They showed me the reviews written at the back of the books,” said Ananya. Ananya was in Class V when she appeared in the competition last year. Whole family always discuss about books. All read books at home so naturally Ananya too started reading books when she knew how to read. Sama Jahagirdar wrote review of ‘Great Expectations’. Daughter of Sachin, a businessman and Utkarsha, teacher of English at Bhavans Civil Lines faced some initial problems regarding vocabulary while writing review. But after completing writing she was fully satisfied.

Of course she did not expect becoming winner. She has inherited habit of reading from her parents. Her father in fact run book club. “The review was based on two questions-- why we liked book and what is there that we could have changed. It gave me different experience. I am thankful to my school that encouraged me,” said Sama. Kausar Hussain, the teacher-in-charge at Bhavans Civil Lines pointed out. “We got 150 entries in our school and we had to select 15 with five in each category. We gave some guidance. They have to write on what influenced them after reading, why that particular story was selected? what was the outcome of the story? It should have been creative. The moment we tell students to write they take help of internet. Here there was no scope using internet. Two things were tested --- creativity and good English. It should not be copy. It helped them.”