Z One Story, Two Continents

One Story, Two Continents, Many Lives

Photographs Nick Sidle, Words and artwork: Students of Bal Vikas School, Panipat, India

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘Reading’

A significant number of the photographic assignments I have done over the years have been in association with the UK organisation Heartstone. In some ways the organisation itself and the book from which it takes its name, ‘The Heartstone Odyssey’, can be said to have arisen from a documentary project I did with the Indian dancer Sitakumari exploring the classical form of Bharatanatyam and her own individual choreography and style of performing and storytelling that she developed from its foundations. Our work together was funded by The Arts Council of Great Britain, The Greater London Arts Association and the GLC. Heartstone has asked me to help showcase some work from a Heartstone group in India at the Bal Vikas School, Panipat in the state of Haryana. So, together with some images from that dance documentary, here is a collection of work by the students that represents one fragment of what came next.

Nick Sidle

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘Krishna with ball’

The Heartstone Odyssey

I have really enjoyed reading this novel as I got introduced to some people with great honour like Chandra, the great dancer, Hugbundle the cutest and the most loving one. I am 10 years old. After my school hours I like to go to park daily in the evening and spend my time with my friends and family. My hobbies are drawing and painting, I love to dance just like Chandra. Reading story books and different novels is one of my hobbies too. I would like to tell Chandra and Hugbundle that both of them are my favourite characters .1 think that this novel ‘The Heartstone Odyssey’ is a beautiful novel which can enchant the readers with its interesting chapters. I thank Arvan Kumar from the bottom of my heart for giving us such an amazing story.

Aanya 5 D

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘Naga, Snake’

THE HEARTSTONE ODYSSEY

This incredible story really touched my heart. The adventures of Chandra and the mice family were actually really fun to read. I love to dance and I can imagine the pain of Chandra where they said no Indian dance tonight but how Hugbundle and the mice family calmed the situation was so adorable. Myself Siya from v b I am a 10 years old girl. I love to explore new places and I too love to read story books and lastly I like to make paintings as well. recently I made a painting on our Panipat in which I showed the thermal plant, Devi Mandir. Battles of Panipat, Salarganj gate and handlooms which are quite famous in our city according to me these few major things which each and everyone needs to know. hence I the story by Arvan Kumar was wonderful and joyful.

SIYA

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘Pride’

THE HEARTSTONE OSYSSEY

This is about an awesome story named “The Heartstone Odyssey” Myself Molly. I read in fifth standard. My hobbies are dancing, singing, reading books. By the way I am good at dancing and reading books but not so nice at singing, Ohh! I forget to tell you my age I am 10. I am sure that Chandra and the mice will be interested to listen about our city. I Live in Panipat. Panipat is an industrial town. Panipat is famous for it’s Handlooms. I really Love my city. Till now in this novel there are so many mice but my favourite mice is hug bundle. I Love her because I too have dark eyes also that cute polite voice melted my heart. I also want to be like Chandra because she is a brave and intelligent girl.

By: – Molly

V-B

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘Ketu, the comet’

The Heartstone Odyssey

I have really enjoyed reading this novel because I have met some people with great honour and courage like Chandra, Hugbundle, the mice family and many more characters. I am 11 years old. When I am not in school, I like to do adventure sports like the mice or go to the park or spend time with my family. I listen to music which makes me feel calm and relaxed. My hobbies are dancing, drawing and reading novels and story books. I think that Chandra and the mice would like to know that I have drawn a beautiful sketch of both of them. Ultimately, I think that ‘The Heartstone Odyssey,’ is a shining example of a novel which can enable readers to look at their environment, and the people in it, with a new mindset. I thank Arvan Kumar with my heart for giving us such a beautiful story.

By: Pavki (V-C)

Photograph – ‘Sitakumari ‘Vishnu’

The Heartstone Odyssey

I have really enjoyed reading this novel because I have met some people with great honor and courage like Chandra, Hugbundle, Snuggletoes, the mice family and many more characters. I am 10 years old. When I am not in school, I like adventures, and sports like the mice or go to the park or spend time with my family and last but not the least I listen to music which makes me feel calm and relaxed. My hobbies are to play field games like cricket, football etc. and to read novels and storybooks. Ultimately, I think that “THE HEARTSTONE ODYSSEY” is a shining example of a novel which can enable readers to look at their environment, and the people in it, with a new mindset. I am happy to have the opportunity to get acquainted to Chandra and the mice.

Written by

NAKSH

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘Why?’

I am Khushi of class V. I enjoyed reading this novel because I felt at home while reading it, My favourite character Chandra belongs to our nation, India. She also loves to dance like me so I can associate myself with the wonder girl, Chandra. I really love the way you expressed yourself with the hand movements. I love to read books and spend my spare time in gardening. Plants are like my friends. Last but not the least I am deeply impressed by this exciting adventure story by Arvan Kumar with lots of love.

Khushi

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘Playing Veena’

The Heartstone Odyssey

I love this novel because of the way it’s been presented by the author. In the novel we came across quite a few courageous and enterprising people such as Chandra, Hugbundle and Professor Watchmoon. I am Gargi from Panipat. I love dancing like Chandra, skygazing like Professor Watchmoon and reading books. I am so fascinated with the characters that I narrate about them and the story to my friends and family whenever I get a chance. I have a younger brother whose name is Devansh. I have been narrating the story to him and he listens to me attentively. He waits for me to return from school and says, “My sister, tell me more about the story.” It is a pleasure to be a part of such a fabulous and interesting journey. I want to thank the author for such a mesmerising experience and Sita Ma’am for opening a new world of talking mice, a dancer and what not.

Gargi

Class 5C

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘Pure Dance’

The Heartstone Odyssey

I am really very happy to read this novel named “The Heartstone odyssey” written by Arvan Kumar. In this story I read about Chandra a dancer girl and adventurous mice.

I, Elakshi of class V likes to dance like Chandra . When I was 5 years old I started dancing. My hobbies are swimming, drawing, watching TV and listening to music. Music makes me calm and relaxes me. Dancing is my passion as it represents as I pour out my heart into it. I think that Chandra would like to know about my dance. I would like to thank the writer for this wonderful story which gave me a chance to know more about girl, Chandra with whom I can identify myself.

Elakshi

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘Nataraja, God of Dance’

The Heartstone Odyssey

I have really enjoyed reading this novel because I have met some people with great honour and courage like Chandra, Hugbundle, the mice family and many more characters. I am 9 years old. I like to do adventurous things like the mice. I love to go to the park, play with friends and listen to music which makes me calm. I want to dance like Chandra, read books and play badminton. I love learning about new things because it improves my knowledge a lot. I think Chandra and the mice would like to know about our city Panipat. Panipat is known as the textile hub of our country. Looms are epitomising the business in Panipat. Panipat is also famous for its historical significance.

I think that the Heartstone Odyssey is a shining example of a novel which can enable readers to look at their environment and the people in it with a new mind set. I think I want to thanks Arvan Kumar with my heart to give us such a beautiful story.

Jiana V ‘E’

Photograph – Sitakumari ‘King’

The Heartstone Odyssey

While reading the story of Chandra and Hugbundle Mouse, I became so involved that I started assuming myself as one of the characters in the novel. I am Maira. I am 10 years old girl. I am very social and l wish to meet people especially who love to go to such adventurous situations and places like the observatory. I want to see myself in challenging situations so that l keep running like Chandra and Hugbundle. I stay in a small city of Haryana state in India, Panipat. I wish to do more work towards environment because of the industrial units. My city is polluted. I wish to grow many trees here and watch them grow. I thank my teachers and school for introducing me to Chandra and mice family and many other characters. I really enjoyed reading about them.

Thanks.

Maira

(V-E)