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Back to Artwork Back to Sections Juliana Silva By Juliana Silva Volume 3 Issue 1

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Tales Through Time: Mai Bhago; The Saint Warrior Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Medium.com Early Life Mai Bhago was born in 1666 in the Punjab village of Chabal Kalan, India. It is today known as the Tarn Taran district. She was raised in a Sikh household with religious views and values. She lived with four other family members: her grandpa, father, and two brothers. Her mother was said to have died while she was little. Her father, Malo Shah, was a soldier in Guru Hargobind's (Sikhs' 6th Guru) army, and she also braved to be taught in weaponry (Shastar Vidya). Her great grandpa, Bhai Pero Shah, was converted to Sikhism with his consent during the reign of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (the 5th Guru of Sikhs). Mai Bhago was born “Bhag Bhari” which means “fortunate” or “one who is full of good fortune.” After being blessed with Amrit (like baptism), she was named Bhag Kaur. Her family was highly associated with the Sikh Gurus, and she was severely moved by Guru Arjan Dev's (5th Guru) martyrdom, Guru Hargobind's (6th Guru) warfare, and the Mughal army's injustice to the Sikhs. She made two visits to Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Guru) and went to Anandpur with her father in 1699, when Guru Gobind Singh (10th Guru) established the Khalsa. Her father brought her back despite her wish to join the Sikh army because no women were serving in the Sikh army at the time. Mai Bhago continued studying combat and horseback riding from her father. She then practiced piercing trees with her spear and quickly became a devoted soldier. A couple of years later she married Bhai Nidhan Singh of Patti village near Amritsar. The Mughals The Mughals dominated the majority of India and Pakistan at the time. Aurangzeb controlled the Mughals, yet he was neither peaceful nor understanding. He was especially hostile against Sikhs, partially for religious reasons and partly because Sikhs were opposed to the caste system. In truth, the Sikhs were generally egalitarian and saw women as equal to males. Liberated Sikhs (Chali Mukte) Aurangzeb, the expansionist Mughal Emperor, attacked Sikh territory with an army of 16,000 warriors in 1704-05 and surrounded the Sikh capital of Anandpur Sahib. During this time, 40 Singhs made the decision to leave Anandpur Sahib and return home. They signed a Bedava (document of dissent) declaring that they were no longer Sikhs under Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. This group included Mai Bhago's spouse and two of her brothers. Outraged by this betrayal, Mai Bhago left home with her own horse, armor, and weapons to seek down the deserters. Mai Bhago is reported to have dressed in traditional "male" attire and collected up the deserters. She went to their houses and urged their wives not to provide refuge for their husbands. Mai Bhago and the other women accused them of being cowards and lacking trust. Some of the women armed themselves and joined Mai Bhago, vowing to fight for the Guru if their husbands refused. Shaken by this, the 40 deserters consented to return to Mai Bhago's service. Battle Of Mukatsar When Mai Bhago's band arrived at Khidrana, they fought against Mughal soldiers in what became known as the Battle of Muktsar. So, despite the fact that they were certainly going to die, the forty (chali) men, along with Mai Bhago, charged headlong into the Muslim forces (around 10,000 soldiers) and inflicted so much damage that the Muslims were forced to abandon their attack and retreat. In the end, all 40 men died, but Mai Bhago and Guru Gobind Singh ji survived. Chali Mukte, or the 40 Liberated Ones, was the name given by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to the dead soldiers. Guru Gobind Singh praised the martyred Sikhs, tore the Bedava paper, and re-established relations with the Sikhs who had deserted him here. Mai Bhag kaur was a celebrated Sikh woman and was the first woman in Punjabi history to fight on a battlefield. Aftermath Guru Gobind Singh Ji was proud of Mai Bhago and fulfilled her ambition to be a true saint-warrior by becoming the Guru’s bodyguard until his death. She later settled in Jinvara and practiced Sikhism until her last breath. Her Legacy Her life demonstrated that, while sexism exists in this world, it is not encouraged by the Gurus. Her beautiful journey continues to inspire countless people today. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Zainab- Kimberly Shrestha Kimberly Shrestha February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Mustapha By Gilana Etame March 28, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 5

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Cool Creatures Episode 1: Water Bears By Matteo Somma Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by Forbes Water Bears, or tardigrades, are microscopic water-dwelling animals with over 900 species. However, they all have something in common: they are indestructible. Water bears can survive 10 days (about 1.5 weeks) in outer space, major radiation, and extreme weather. They are complex creatures that many people do not know exist. Water bears, about as large as bacteria, are so complex for just a tiny living organism. With four to six claws on each foot, water bears make quick work of climbing plants, their main food source. They can suck out the nutrients with their mouths. Although eating would give them important nutrients, if it came down to it, they would be able to survive without food for 30 years. Like bears, water bears can go into a state of inactivity. However, water bears can push all water, nutrients, and materials out of their bodies before entering that state in order to survive in dry environments. A common grizzly or black bear doesn’t do this. Rather, they stuff their bodies up with nutrients before they hibernate, a process called “cryptobiosis.” Water bears have been known to survive up to 32 years frozen in ice, and they can be revived from it. They are also some of the most heat-tolerant animals and can survive temperatures up to 302 degrees Fahrenheit. Water bears can even survive in space, without any special equipment! From temperatures that would easily kill humans, to severe textures* and pressure, this may lead one to ask the question: are tardigrades the toughest organism to ever exist? Though scientists are not 100% sure, they do have a rather good understanding of the complexity and toughness of these creatures. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Fun vs. Responsibility By Alanna Tieschmaker Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by Inc Magazine I open my eyes to see a pitch-black room. I rub the sleep out of them wondering if the blackness is just spots in my eyes, but the room stays dark. I slowly move up from the cold, hard surface I had been lying on. What am I even on? When I look down, there is nothing underneath me except more darkness. Feeling my heartbeat thump, I reach my foot out and slowly lower it down, expecting to lose my footing. Instead, I see my shoe land above the void, slightly below my perch. Slowly, I shift my weight on it, half-expecting it to give way beneath me. Nothing happens. Even slower, I bring my other foot to rest next my first one, ready to jump back to where I hope the platform still is. When nothing happens, I slowly take another step into the void, then another. After I feel confident I won’t fall, I decide to head off in a direction. I'll find something eventually…right? I have been walking for what feels like hours. I am beginning to doubt I will ever find anything. Would I be forever stuck in a black void? No friends and no one to talk to? I'm not sure if I could stand it. Finally, I see a faint light in front of me. Elated to finally see something besides darkness, I break out into a sprint. I hope it is a path out of this suffocating black that has surrounded me. As I get closer, the light seems to morph. Instead of being straight in front of me, it splits in two opposite directions. Additionally, there seems to be two figures looming in the distance. I hesitate as I grow nearer, intimated by the figures. Wait, why should I be scared? I can handle anything this place throws at me. Feeling more confident, I get closer and see that the intimidating figures are actually a pair of very tall signposts. How strange. Who leaves signposts in an empty void? I crane my neck to read each one. " F..u..n, Fun?" I mumble to myself. "Responsibility? That’s a lot of i's." I ponder as I turn back to look at the 'Fun' sign again. It is" responded a male voice. "But it’s also what is needed in life. "Woah!" I shout, jumping backwards and away from the voice that popped up out of nowhere. I spin around to see a tall middle-aged man. He has black hair, which is barely visible in the room (Am I even in a room? Does a black void count as a room?), and brown eyes. He's wearing what I assume is a very expensive business suit and holding a briefcase. "Responsibility is the key to a successful life. You need to be responsible for things in your life. For example, you have a paper due in a few days. Why aren't you finishing it? You know your grades are very important" the man scolds. Without good grades, how will you get into a good college? Without a good college, how will you get a respectable and well-paying job? Without a respectable and well-paying job, how will you survive in life?" The man looks down at me, and I suddenly feel ashamed of my own procrastinating attitude. I need to finish my paper instead of wasting so much time. I start to trudge down the 'responsibility' path, but before I get very far, I hear a different, higher pitched voice call out. "Hey, wait a minute!" I turn around to see a girl that looks about my age standing by the other signpost. She's about my height, which is a relief. Looming people are kinda scary. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. She's also very easy to notice due to the bright pink and blue clothing she wears. "Where are you going?" she questions. "I have work to do" I respond, but my feet have already stopped moving. "Why should you follow him ?" she cries. "There's no fun in responsibility. If you go with him, then how will you have fun? You'll just sit around at a desk job and be boring all day" she whines. "Instead of him, you should come with me!" she exclaims. " We would have so much fun together! We could play all your favorite video games and try new games that you've wanted to try for the longest time and eat new foods and run around in the park and just have so much fun!" She seemed to run out of breath after that. I am surprised that she didn't run out before. That was a very long sentence. She seems to be a very energetic person, kind of like me when I'm doing something I love. Her offer is also very tempting. I long to let go of any worries and instead play games. I wait for months to play my newly-installed moded game. I start to amble towards her and her signpost. Once I get to the midpoint, all h-e-double hockey sticks breaks loose. "Now where are you going?! Do you not remember how much you have to do? All the responsibilities you have?" the older man remarks. "She's coming with me , to have fun and relax" replies the girl, glaring at the man with fury. "And what about the paper that is due?" "She can do that later." "Later can end up as never with you." Their voices begin to get louder as they become angrier with each other. "Well, at least I know how to relax! And I can show her how to as well!" "Your 'relaxing' will end up ruining her life! She still has so much left to do! She has a test tomorrow to study for!" "She doesn't need to study! She just needs to relax, and she'll do fine!" The man lets out an angry huff and turns to speak with me. "I demand you come with me this instant! You will not ruin your life with this nonsense!" He bends down to grab my hand and starts to pull me away, towards his sign. "Oh no you don't!" the girl shouts, grabbing my other hand. "She's coming with me! I won't let her waste away like you want her to!" she starts to pull me in the other direction, towards her sign. I am being tugged between the both of them like a piece of rope in a game of tug of war. I don't know who to choose! I need to finish my paper and that test will be on me any day now. Yet, I want to forget about those issues and just have fun instead. There's still so much I want to do and try with my friends. Which way should I go? Which way would you choose? BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Art Guild Back to Sections Devils Throughout Time By Gilana Etame November 24, 2020 Acrylic Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Emily Rung - Portrait - 1 By Emily Rung January 20, 2021 Graphite Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections Masooma Zaidi - Prism By Masooma Zaidi November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Netania Muhammad - Memory Project - 2 By Netania Muhammad March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6