WINTER THOUGHS + INSPIRATION + CULTURE + RECONNECT +THINK

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2 Messages

3 Cogito Ergo Sum

6 Inspiration

9 Reconnect

11 Inspire

13 Think

Director’s Message 2President’s Message 2Sachin’s Thoughts 2

Poonam’s winter thoughts 3Sahil’s winter thoughts 4Radhika’s winter thoughts 5

With Hena Ahsan 9

Winter Jazz 12Book review - The Argumentative Indian by Amartya Sen 13

Think Ridle 14Bear Advetures 14Discussion and Announcments 14

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SACHIN’S THOUGHTSWhat can I understand about a cup of coffee?

You would think you know what a cup of coffee looks like when you see it. But, would you? Would you be seeing the cup for what it actualy is or how you think you see it? Click on the Tree to find out:

It’s that time again to dust off the scarf, wrap up warm and brace for the winter season. More noticeable are those second thoughts that cross your mind before you leave your house and brace the cold, dodging puddles on the pavement just to have water splashed onto you by a passing car. Jostling in the mornings at the bus stop to hustle for a seat next to the con-densation masked, algae bordered window.

My winter thought this year is clear: it’s not just how hard you work, but how smartly you work. This edition is how to find smart relaxation time in winter.

Winter challenges one’s morale. It’s there-fore important to keep spirits high and trea-sure hidden the gems that help you relax while you work. How do we make the most of these moments? Where do the smart stu-dents go to relax in their spare time? What do they do to relax? Who do they relax with and why? Many thanks to Radhika, Sahil and Poonam for sharing their winter thoughts.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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DIRECTORS’S MESSAGE

Dear Students, as you are all indulged in re-vision and assignments at this time of the year, it’s important to look after yourself.

Treat your ID - For every 40 minutes of study time, take a 5-10 minute break and in that time treat your ID. This can range from food, facebook/MSN and loud music!

Be co-operative instead of competitive - Sometimes revision can become a competi-tion – who stayed up the latest, who worked for the most time, who’s worrying the most. Rather – create a team of ‘study buddies’ to muse with, learn from and develop with.

Think Positive - You’ve all come a long way, since the first time you walking into your first Star Plus Session. All our students have grown in a different and wonderful way. Hence you’ve enlarged your consciousness in your own way and I would encourage you to continue to do so. Create a positive environ-ment to study in that stimulates your senses.

The IGC team would like to wish you all a hap-py New Year!

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Poonam Palan graduated from the Star Plus Level Two Programme last year. She is cur-rently studying the classics in the Star Plus Level Three Programme. Poonam studies the International Baccalaureate at Queen Elizabeth College. As she works hard study-ing for career in medicine, she shares her secrets of how to relax in winter:

Taking a break from your daily routine and relaxing is important regardless of how busy or stressed you are. Although, speaking from personal experience, it is easier said than done. However, I am sure you have your own unique way of winding down from a hard day’s work. Even throughout your day, a well-earned break is necessary.

Personally, I believe that a complete change of environment always helps me to relax. Between periods of studying hard at college, I find that a walk through Victoria Park (the nicer part near De Montfort Hall) is always refreshing. Occasionally, walking under the picturesque amber trees down New Walk is a good end to a long day at college.

As it begins to get colder and darker though, finding a place to relax and keep warm is the prior-ity. Gone are the days when long walks in the park were a pleasure. Now, a hot chocolate with friends at the new Starbucks in the Leicester University Student Union is the preferred option. Spending time with friends talking about everything and anything other than work can be a good laugh and as the saying goes, ‘laughter is the best medicine’. At the weekend, I tend to study in the Leicester University library, which in itself is quite peaceful, but during my study breaks, I like to explore the surrounding area.

I also believe that creative activities can be quite relaxing. Although, I am not a very creative person, whenever I can, I like to cook. The process is quite fun and it gives me a great sense of achievement at the end. I enjoy reading too, as a well-written book can completely draw me into its exciting world. These activities are a break from my normal routine and so once I have done something different, I usually feel more motivated and inspired to carry on with studying. There-fore, relaxing and providing a change to your routine is just as important as working hard.

Ultimately, in these chilly days, cuddling up with a warm blanket and a warm drink at home never to fails to succeed!

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Sahil Patel graduated from the Star Plus Level Two Pro-gramme in 2009. He is currently studying the classics in the Star Plus Level Three Programme. Sahil aspires to pursue a career in medicine. In between his hard stud-ies, Sahil knows how to relax. He shares his personal method of relaxation below:

Busy, hectic schedules leave us with little time for ourselves. Many of our lives are filled to the brim and are overflowing with revision for those tests that seem to come one after another. No wonder we are stressed. What can you do at the end of a busy hectic day to help you unwind, release mental and emotional stress? Pull out the STOP sign! Put on your “I need to take care of myself” brakes and do just that!

During those long winter days, school seems to drag, so as you get home shed your school clothes and put on something more comfortable. You are off the clock and ready for “me” time, it is time to relax. Simple tasks such as taking a shower, or even doing absolutely nothing for the first 10-20 minutes can be reenergizing.

Home should be a sanctuary or safe haven for you; your “I can let my hair down and relax.” But, make sure you are able to get some all important work done. We have all been through it. Most of us enjoy tucking into bed with school books and working through the day, but consider alternative areas where you may get some work done. For me the Leicester University Library has been a gateway to enhance my studies. With both quite areas to work and social areas to unwind (during a break) the library is a hidden gem.

Remember you must work to your potential, however to get there a few breaks are acceptable. Being active is a great way to relax from studies. Simple things like taking the dog on a walk or more energetic activities such as American Football or other sports are ways to relive pressure. Not only do they make an enormous addition to personal statements but they help with your social skills.

Days are starting to get shorter, but this just means you have less time to get stuff done. Whether playing sports is in your blood or being an exceptional musician is your gift, never give up what makes you tick. Learning to take care of your self is a process. Your work, family and friends will always demand more, no matter how much you give. So pull out your STOP sign, relax and take charge of yourself! Then you can carry on with whatever you need to do with a smile.

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Radhika Tailor graduated from the Star Plus Level Two Programme in 2009. She is also on the Star Plus Level Three Programme. Radhika aspires to study Economics and management at university. She gives her take on how relax in winter: As the sun light hours shorten, the winter brings us the star lit skies. Okay so it’s Leicester so not always the stars, but at least we have the lights of a vibrant city which illuminates for the upcoming and forgone festivals. So how do we make best of this winter?

With January exams not so far away, it’s quite difficult to escape the joys of a working lifestyle. Sometimes, however those books deserve the rest as much as you do. For me the motivation to stay committed to working stems from the time I spend away from work.

During the periods between studying, I make a conscious effort to do something I enjoy. Close friends play a very important part in this. Being around and having random conversations with them fills me with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. The energy that they provide is what seeps through as concentration and focus whilst I work. As hard as it is to avoid the rainy days, the grey clouds, and the over packed buses, frequent laughter and jokes makes them quickly unimportant. Against the winter winds and the grey days, I tend to find solace in good company.

Quite recently I have started to manage my time differently. As op-posed to last year, I now do all my studying at the Leicester University library. This leaves home life for pure relaxation. I love the silence of the working atmosphere at the library and from the third floor; the oc-casional glare out the window of the night sky is beautiful. Sometimes last year it felt like my work and home life were so integrated that I couldn’t make them apart. Differentiating locations between tasks and hobbies is far more effective I find. After the books I prefer Star-bucks, or to unwind at a good friends’ house. Give it a go; the smallest changes can make the biggest differences!

Often we get bogged down with daily routines and being forced to grow up, we forget the youth inside us is quite quickly. A note I’m go-ing to keep in mind this winter is: Instead of complaining about the

biting cold weather, embrace the warmth of my home and friendships. Let the grey days and dark evenings be the opportunity to find new ways of unwinding!

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Lydford Gorge, Tavistock, Devon 2007

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Portwrinkle, Torpoint, Cornwall 2009

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ECT HENA AHSAN

Hena Ahsan graduated from the Star Plus Programme in 2006. She has recently finished her Masters in Is-lamic studies at the University of Warwick. Hena’s ambition is to become a professional journalist for the BBC. Currently, she is active in the local Muslim community working on projects for a charity which she set up with her friends a couple of years ago. She

is also part-managing the HPD magazine (Human Potential Development), which is an ‘aspirational’ graduate magazine produced by IGC for the Russell Group universities. Hena is a young woman with drive. At the same time she is bubbly and has a quirky sense of humour. I recently interviewed her and it’s clear that she lives a very interesting life.

Why did you choose to study Islam in contemporary society?

After the September 11th attacks I witnessed the political world view towards Islam change, along with it the attitudes of others towards me as a young Muslim. I very quickly understood the power of the media and its ability to shape one’s mentality. I saw firsthand the growing accep-tance of certain misconceptions around Islam to the extent that it soon became commonplace for Islam to be spoken negatively.

All of a sudden it was not the irrational actions of a few that was reprimanded or blamed for terrorist behaviour, but the religion of Islam itself. I saw the many media reports all about Islam nearly every day each one more and more negative and distorted. The language of the media became clinical and upheld this black and while divide between ‘the axis of evil’ which impacted hugely on the Muslim community. This caused the essence of Islam to be ignored causing the po-litical to become religious. This gradual change in views towards Islam fuelled my want and need to present Islam for what it really is and not how it had been misconstrued, distorted and used as a symbol of injustice. This is why I undertook this Masters as I felt I needed to understand the secular view of Islam and how it fit in with my own religious understanding. I felt a strong need for this as it is my faith which governs my everyday living and forms a huge part of my identity and belonging. Ultimately, I felt it was necessary for me to understand both the secular and the religious spheres to acquire a holistic understanding of Islam and the world around me in order to connect with others and make a stronger journalist.

You’ve got your MA from one of the best universities in the country, what do you intend to do next?

At the moment I work at IGC on the HPD (Human Potential Development) Magazine. My primary role is to find funding for the magazine and help build a sales team. As an added bonus, I get to write articles for the magazine myself. Working on the HPD magazine provides me with valuable corporate experience and the general exposure to media and journalism. Speaking of which, I in-tend to apply for the BBC Traineeship and become a fully trained journalist. Meanwhile, I intend to keep up relations with the BBC by continuing to present the occasional ‘thoughts of the day’ on radio five live.

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Why do you value journalism?

I value journalism because I believe writing is one of the best ways to push one’s ability to think. Personally, I find it challenging to write articles about abstract ideas however I love the experience difficult topic. I also enjoy writing about controversial topics, precisely because I love to create discussion and make readers think.

Why do you prefer writing over other forms of expression and how does this tie in to HPD?

Writing is important to me as I believe it provides me with a platform where I can express my thoughts most clearly. I feel that words are an important tool of communication be-cause they hold the power to create strong links between people. It can eradicate preju-dice yet cause controversy, it can inspire and influence. This job with HPD is important to me as its fantastic experi-ence for my future endeavours.

What has been your experience of social life during University?

During my life as an undergraduate, I was heavily involved in the Islamic Society at the University of Leicester. I was in charge of coordinating events and keeping on top of admin. I also started a charity organisation called YOUTHINK which in its initial stages aimed to help the homeless. Three years on it has grown into a social enterprise aiming to help the wider community. While at university, we helped fellow students by tutoring, holding drugs awareness campaigns, initiating community debates, projects around the value of parents, community cohesion and numerous charity fundraisers.

What was your biggest achievement and how did you manage to achieve it?

One of my biggest achievements whilst at university was being asked to go to Oxford Uni-versity as part of the Young Muslim Leadership Programme. I was asked to present a work-shop on community radio and local media. Throughout my whole time at both college and University I participated in local media and wrote for different newspapers and maga-zines.

If there were any three piece of advice you could give to current Star Plus students applying to University what would they be?

1) Make the most of your University experience by getting involved with societies and use your time wisely. However, be careful not to lose focus on your studies by constantly reflecting on how you’re spending your time. It’s easier to say this in hindsight but remember that your time is precious, don’t waste it!

2) Keep a good circle of friends who values their studies as much as you do. Do not waste your time on constant nights out, you may find your circle of friends growing but you’ll also feel the effects of a much lighter wallet and less time for essays! The friends you keep whilst at university may seem like trivial advice but if you are moving away from family, the friends you make at University indeed become like family.

3) The University package comes with an independent style of learning. It is up to you to build a good rapport with your tutors and keep asking them questions no matter how silly you feel. This is how you learn and ensure you’re get-ting the maximum guidance. Tutors are usually very busy but they do give their time to hard working students who make the effort to get help and advice on their studies. Good luck and work hard!

Students wanting to get in touch with Hena can contact me on kamal@globalchange.org.uk.

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When gems of summer look tired and sad, we clean up reluctantly;

When autumn colours replace summer’s jewels, it happens gradually.

By the time summer’s packed and put away, warm russets and reds catch our eye;

Crimson and gold step softly in and we haven’t had time to spy.

When we watch flocks of geese flying south, suddenly all is clear;

The seasons have changed in the blink of an eye - the fall of the year is here.

When we take a deep breath of crisp winter air, it’s a tonic and a relief,

And we know we have secretly waited for this - the season that’s hallowed, but brief.

Stately spruce, green balsam and pine accentuate amber and cream;

And when coloured leaves float silently down they’re a blanket on which we can dream

Of pumpkin and spice, and family, gathered around the fire,

Mesmerized by the emerging frosty coat on treasures that lie,

Pleasing to the eye is all that a heart could desire.

Adapted from Joan Adams Burchell’s Autumn Thoughts

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Is it just me that feels dissatisfied with contemporary pop music?It’s like air! It’s everywhere but has no substance. Recently, I’ve been exploring different sounds and come across all sorts of weird and wonderful music. Personally, I prefer smoother music when it comes to relax-ing. Not the same for everyone; some relax to drum and bass, rock and dubstep – I haven’t understood how this would work for me. On the other hand, I can’t get into the heavy classical stuff yet because I’m not 40. So it leaves me to meander past the mainstream into the random quarters of underground.

It’s not all that bad, in fact it’s better- I’ve stumbled across music that isn’t necessarily categorised as one particular type but it’s sometimes described as ‘new-jazz’ or ‘neo-soul’. This new Jazz seems to deliver that smooth, deeper sound. It resonates with one’s emotions, really moves you, warms you and for some reason just makes you feel good.Soul and Jazz is returning with a new sound, fresh and deep! It’s exiting. Ahead of its time, it’s the perfect thing to relax you this winter.

Check out the playlist I’ve created for you. Most of the songs are on youtube:

1. Jose James- Love2. Robert Glasper - All matter3. The Five Corners Quintet - Lighthouse 4. Maurice Brown - Fly By Night 5. Terry Callier - Love Theme from Spartacus6. Jose james – winter wind 7. Nicola Conte featuring Jose James - Like Leaves in the Wind8. Tigran Hamasyan- Forgotten World 9. Miguel Atwood Ferguson & Carlos Niño - Fall In Love10. Jose James- Desire11. Sade - By your Side (Neptunes) Sub Español 12. Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae - River Live on Abbey Road 13. Norah Jones - Don’t Know Why 14. kit downes trio - skip james 15. Quadron - Average Fruit 16. Jazzanova featuring Jose James - Little Bird 17. Andreya Triana - Lost Where I Belong 18. Lisa Shaw - Tomorrow 19. Corrine Bailey Rae - Trouble Sleeping20. Middlewood Sessions - Fall Back 21. Jose James - Black Magic 22. Sven Weisemann - Ojui 23. Nicola Conte - Awakening

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THE ARGUMENTATIVE INDIAN

BY AMARTYA SEN

The ‘Argumentative Indian’ is a collection of essays on Indian culture, history and Identity written by Amartya Sen. These es-says attempt to explore “the argumentative tradition”, a tradi-tion which Sen believes to have contributed to India’s prosper-ity and a solution to its current problems. The term argument is described as being a form of discussion rather than a heated dispute as it is most commonly used. This discussion is mostly depicted as being the expression of two opposing points of view, the culmination of which is greater than its individual parts as new ideas and perspectives are born.

Sen gives a strong insight into India’s rich cultural history, with references to iconic figures such as Akbar, Ary-abhata and Rabindranath Tagore, all of whom are shown to have contributed to the argumentative tradition, suggesting that it has roots within India’s past but whether there is a causal link between the argumentative nature and India’s prosperity remains unanswered.

It is of no doubt that Sen has a liberal outlook, which can often be of benefit to the reader in that they are given a new “lens” from which to view the various aspects of Indian society. However this can at times be a hindrance because he often diverges away from the argumentative tradition in order to critique the policies of more right wing groups, a fallacy which ultimately leaves a lack of depth to many of the points that are explored. Although events in India’s past do seem to support the existence of the ‘argumentative Indian’, the repetitive use of them implies that there is a lack of evidence for the idea.

Overall you can expect the book to give the reader a good insight into the structure of both modern day and ancient India. The book leaves us with an intriguing question- can whatever brought about the ‘golden age’ of India’s past help the nation thrive again today?

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DISCUSSIONTuition fees and graduate tax: What’s the difference?

Have a look at the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11946585

ANNOUNCMENTSBook reading every Wednesday 9am-11am meet at Clock Tower, currently reading Plato’s ‘The Republic’.

Kamal is delivering a crash course on Politics, Philosophy and Economics every Wednesday at 2pm at the Orange Tree cafe in town. Join the ‘Politics, Philosophy and Economics Crash Course’ group on facebook for more informa-tion.

‘Why are 2008 ten pound notes worth more than 2007 ten pound notes?’

Answer to last edition’s riddle:It’s cheaper to take two friends at the same time. In this case, you would only be buying three tickets,

whereas if you take the same friend twice you are buying four tickets.

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CREDITS

Cogito Ergo Sum- Poonam Palan, Sahil Patel, Radhika Tailor. Inspiration- Danny Gohil. Reconnect- Hena Ahsan. Culture- Kamal Nandha, Minesh Patel, Vikesh Keshwala. Think-

Amit Visana, Srikant Varadaraj Creative Design Team - Kamal Nandha, Vikesh Patel.

2 Vantage Park, Hamilton, Leicester LE4 9LJ

www.gobalchange.org.uk/alumni.htm

Email: starplus@globalchange.org.uk | Telephone: 0116 2766663