International Mother Language Day on Feb 21 Sun-drenched pages and the scent of spring: A February journal

Sun-drenched pages and the scent of spring: A February journal

By TINA KHATRI

The Indian spring has arrived with a quiet intensity. Outside, the gulmohar trees are beginning to blush—a stark contrast to the sharp, focused energy of exam season. It’s that surreal time of year where our study desks are covered in highlighters and half-finished tea, while the world outside wakes up in vibrant colour. As we approach February 21st, International Mother Language Day, it feels like the perfect moment to remember that before we learned the periodic table or quadratic equations, we learned the songs and stories of our mother tongue. Today, we’re letting that heritage breathe. We’re taking a break from the frantic pace of revision to bake something nostalgic, witness a bit of chemical magic, and sculpt our native scripts into art.

Take a deep breath of that spring air, clear a spot on your desk, and let’s create something that balances the stress of the season with the beauty of our roots.

Nankhatai: The crumbly dialect of sweets

Nothing anchors a wandering "exam brain" quite like the earthy, sweet aroma of roasting cardamom. These biscuits are the ultimate spring study snack—light, crumbly, and deeply comforting.

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup Maida (All-purpose flour)
• 1/2 cup Besan (Gram flour) & 2 tbsp Sooji (Semolina)
• 1/2 cup Ghee (Solidified, like a soft paste)
• 1/2 cup Powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder

The process:

• The Cloud Phase: In a bowl, whisk ghee and sugar together until it becomes a pale, airy cloud.
• The Earth Phase: Sift in flours and cardamom. Gently bring it together into a dough.
• The Sculpting: Roll into small spheres. Press a single pistachio or a strand of saffron into the centre.
• The Fire: Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes until the edges turn a soft gold.
• The Wait: Let them cool completely on the tray to set.

Puffer fish experiment: A burst of chemical energy

When your head feels heavy with formulas, this experiment is a perfect "reset." It’s a literal representation of how a small spark can lead to a massive expansion of ideas.

What you’ll need:

• A bright balloon
• 3 spoons of Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup of Vinegar
• An empty plastic bottle

The process:

• Loading up: Carefully funnel your baking soda into the balloon.
• The Vessel: Fill the bottle with vinegar—the acidic catalyst for our spring expansion.
• The Seal: Fix the balloon over the bottle’s mouth. Let the soda-filled part hang limp.
• The Release: Lift the balloon and let the powder tumble into the liquid.
• The Magic: Watch the CO2 gas inflate the balloon into a round puffer fish instantly.

Topographic typography: Scripted in stone

Amidst the sea of English textbooks, let’s give your mother tongue a physical presence on your desk. Turn a language you speak into something you can touch.

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups Flour & 1 cup Salt
• 1 cup Warm water
• Acrylic paints (Bright yellows or deep heritage blues)

The process:

• Kneading: Mix flour, salt, and water. Knead until smooth and resilient.
• Carving: Pick a character from your native script. Sculpt it into a thick, 3D form.
• Hardening: Bake at 120°C for two hours until it transforms into a permanent monument.
• Painting: Once cool, paint it a sunny yellow to match the spring blooms.

Native Proverbs for Your Sculpture

• Hindi: Vidya sabse bada dhan hai (Knowledge is the greatest wealth).
• Bengali: Sobar upore manus sotyo, tahar upore nai (Above all is humanity, nothing beyond that).
• Tamil: Katradhu Kaimannalavu, Kallaadhadhu Ulagalavu (What we have learned is a handful of sand; what we haven't learned is the world).
• Marathi: Pahile पाऊल महत्त्वाचे असते (The first step is the most important).