Scholar-Journalist of the Week: ‘We are pedalling towards a cleaner and greener India’

Class 8 students of Apeejay School, Model Town in Jalandhar, the talented twins Aarnav Chaudhary and Aanya Chaudhary, like to involve themselves in many sports and co-curricular activities. Beyond the classroom, they follow a fitness-oriented and busy schedule. While the former is interested in computers and gaming, the latter likes to paint and draw. Recently, the duo took up a new initiative to pedal to school every day. Why so? Read On:

Please tell us more about your write-up and choice of subject.

Aarnav: Aanya and I feel strongly about the environment. And so, we wrote about our experience of cycling to school every day. We started this recently and our school teacher, Ms. Maninder encouraged us. Our father, Mr. Rajat Chaudhary is a businessman dealing in Computers. He also welcomed the change. Our mother, Ms. Kavita, a school teacher in Delhi, too, loves to work towards conserving the environment.

Why do you think the initiative is important?

Aanya: It is our way to protect the environment. In doing so, we are also attempting to stay fit. It takes us about 20 minutes each way from home to school and vice versa. There is a lot of traffic in the city as well but we enjoy our rides. Jalandhar, the city, is also getting polluted these days, and this needs to be controlled. If we can motivate others to adopt the same habit, we feel that our city would become greener and cleaner in the coming years.

Aarnav: Most of the pollution is created by the autos and buses in the city. For shorter distances, we feel, people must use cycles.  

After your initiative, did your school mates feel inspired?

Aarnav: One of my friends really liked the idea. She comes to the school on a cycle now.  

Your experience at Apeejay School, Model Town?

Aanya: The teachers are excellent. They encourage and enlighten us.

What is your career aspiration?

Aarnav: I wish to become a software engineer.  

Aanya: My focus is towards art. So, I want to become an artist.  

What is your vision for India?

Aanya: We must plant more trees. Our father often takes us to parks and other places in the city to plant saplings. This is just a small step we have taken as citizens of the country.

Aarnav: I would say that we must not litter. This is the biggest change we can create as citizens.

Any writing tips for fellow students?

Aanya: Observe issues around you and try to write about them.