In this issue

Dear friends,
A very happy New Year to you all!
Last week, I was asked to judge the national level finals for a
story-telling competition. Out of the three lakh children who had
participated, only 24 had made it to the finals. It was both a
moment of pride and pressure for the kids as they stepped on
stage to perform.
Every participant had worked hard on their piece—I could tell from
the surety in their voice and the confidence in their poise. Some of
them narrated folk and mythological tales that had meanings and
morals. A few recounted incidents from history that were meant to
inspire, while others shared vivid, imaginative stories that stood
firmly in the realm of the bizarre. There were costumes on display
and elaborate props at the ready. Truly, it was a dazzling show.
And yet, the child who won the first place used neither costumes nor
props. Her story gave us neither morals nor inspiration. It was simply
her experience of how she spent an evening alone at home without
her parents and got really spooked! The simplicity of the story and
the ease with which it was told made it relatable to each and every
one of us. More importantly, it rang true.
The dreams we have for our future too are like these stories. With
every passing year, our ideas about what we want to do in life
change. Our parents say one thing, our teachers another and our
friends still another! It becomes difficult to tell if our dreams are truly
ours or if they belong to our friends, parents and teachers.
But there is one way to find out if your dream rings true. Ask, are you
being honest with yourself? Is this what you really want? Your gut will
know. And if the answer is a resounding yes, then I guarantee that no
matter what comes in your way, you will always emerge a winner.
Dream big, dream small, dream either way!

TINKLE DIGEST Magazine Description:

Tinkle Digest is committed to bringing children the funniest and the most thrilling stories. Filled with the most recognizable Indian comic characters, from Suppandi to Shikari Shambu, from Kalia the Crow to the Defective Detectives, Tinkle Digest also features new work by some of India's most exciting writers and artists for children. And that's not all! Each issue comes with loads of knowledge pages, facts and value education. The perfect size to read anywhere, Tinkle Digest will never disappoint.