Month: June 2020

Recovery rate of COVID-19 improves to 56.70 per cent in country

Government today said that the recovery rate of COVID-19 has improved to 56.70 per cent in the country and 2,58, 685 people have been cured so far.

During the last 24 hours, 10,495 people have recovered from Covid-19.

Presently, the total number of active corona cases in the country is 1,83,022.

Health and Family Welfare Ministry said 15,968 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases to 4,56,183.

Meanwhile, Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR said that 2,15,195 tests were conducted by the various laboratories for coronavirus  in the country in the last 24 hours.

This is the highest number of tests conducted by  laboratories in one day.

Terror financing watchdog FATF decides to continue Pakistan in Grey List

In a setback for Pakistan, the global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided to keep Pakistan in the Grey List’ for terror financing. The decision has been taken as Pakistan has failed to check flow of money to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
 
The decision was taken at the Financial Action Task Force’s third and final plenary held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The plenary was held under the Chinese Presidency of Xiangmin Liu. Now, Pakistan will continue to remain in the Grey List till FATF’s next meeting to be held in October. Now, it will be difficult for Pakistan to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the nation which is in a precarious financial situation.
 
If Pakistan fails to comply with the FATF directive by October, there is every possibility that the global body may put the country in the ‘Black List’ along with North Korea and Iran. A strong Indian delegation with experts on money laundering and terror financing participated in the half-day FATF plenary.
 
India has been maintaining that Pakistan extends regular support to terror groups like LeT, JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen, whose prime target is India, and has urged FATF to take action against Islamabad. The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organizations — the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council.

CBDT extends last date for filing income tax return for 2019-20 till 30th November

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended time limit for filing of original as well as revised income-tax returns for 2018-19 till 31st July, this year. It has also extended the due date for filing income tax return for 2019-20 till 30th November of this year. The decision has been taken considering the difficulties faced by applicants due to the COVID pandemic.
 
In order to provide relief to small and middle class taxpayers, CBDT has also extended the due date for payment of self assessment tax upto the limit of 1 lakh rupees, till 30th November of this year.
 
The due-date for making various investments and payments for claiming deduction under section 80C of the Income Tax Act has also been extended till 31st of July for the financial year 2019-20. CBDT has also extended the date for linking of Aadhaar with PAN till 31 March next year.

West Bengal govt extends lockdown till 31st July, spike in covid -19 cases

West Bengal Government has decided to extend the ongoing lockdown in the state till 31st of July this year. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced this after an all party meeting convened yesterday to discuss the COVID situation in the State. Ms. Banerjee said, the decision has been taken in view of continuous rise of COVID cases in the State. She said that the lockdown will be extended with more relaxations.
 
She said that Educational Institutions in the state will be closed till 31st July. Ms. Banerjee said that Private Nursing Homes have been directed for cost effective COVID treatment. The all party meeting has also decided to form a Committee for preparing a resolution on “Amphan” grants which will be sent to the Central Government. Referring to the opposition party’s allegations, Ms. Banerjee said that she has directed the Administration for smooth distribution of relief materials to the needy without seeing any party colour. 

Railways to generate 8 lakh man days of employment for migrant workers in next 125 days

Railways will generate eight lakh man days of employment opportunity for migrants and others in infrastructure projects worth 1800 crore rupees in the next 125 days. Ministry of Railways has reviewed the progress of Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan with Zonal Railways and Railway PSUs through video conference meeting.
 
The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan is in operation in 116 identified districts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand. Chairman Railway Board, Vinod Kumar Yadav took a video conference meeting with General Managers, Divisional Railway Mangers and Managing Directors of PSUs regarding the progress of Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan.
 
The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan of 125 days will involve focused implementation of 25 categories of works and activities in 116 districts. Each of these districts has a large concentration of returnee migrant workers. Public works to be undertaken during this campaign will have a resource envelope of 50 thousand crore rupees. The Abhiyaan will be a convergent effort between 12 different Ministries and Departments, including Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Road Transport and Highways, Telecom and Agriculture.
 
It will expedite implementation of 25 public infrastructure works and works relating to augmentation of livelihood opportunities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Abhiyan on 20th June to empower and provide livelihood opportunities in areas witnessing large number of returnee migrant workers affected by the COVID pandemic. 

PM Modi says Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund will boost farmers income, give fillip to sectoral infrastructure

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Cabinet has taken landmark decisions to accelerate economic growth, our strides in space as well as assisting the farmers, villages and small businesses. In a series of tweets, Mr Modi said, crores of Indians will gain from these decisions. He said, the reform trajectory continues and the Union Cabinet’s approval to reforms in the space sector is yet another step towards making the nation self-reliant and technologically advanced. He said, the reforms will boost private sector participation as well.
 
The Prime Minister said, setting up of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund augurs well for the sector. He said, it will boost the income of the hardworking farmers and investment and sectorial infrastructure, especially in dairies will get an impetus. Mr. Modi said, the Government is committed to a vibrant MSME Sector. He said, the Cabinet approved an interest subvention scheme for Shishu loan accounts under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and the scheme would provide valuable support and stability to small businesses.
 
On the decision of granting international status to Kushinagar Airport, the Prime Minister said, it is a great news for Uttar Pradesh, tourism and those inspired by the noble thoughts of Lord Buddha. He said, connectivity will improve significantly. Mr Modi said, more tourists and pilgrims will also mean better opportunities for local population.

If You Commit to Nothing, You’ll Be Distracted By Everything


In the northeastern hills outside Kyoto, Japan there is a mountain known as Mount Hiei. That mountain is littered with unmarked graves.

Those graves mark the final resting place of the Tendai Buddhist monks who have failed to complete a quest known as the Kaihogyo.

What is this quest that kills so many of the monks? And what can you and I learn from it?

Keep reading and I’ll tell you.

The Marathon Monks


The Tendai monks believe that enlightenment can be achieved during your current life, but only through extreme self–denial.

For the Tendai, the ultimate act of self–denial — and the route to enlightenment — is a physical challenge known as the Kaihogyo. Because of this challenge, the Tendai are often called the “Marathon Monks.”

But the Kaihogyo is much more than a marathon.

The Kaihogyo


The Kaihogyo is a 1,000 day challenge that takes place over seven years.

If a monk chooses to undertake this challenge, this is what awaits him…

During Year 1, the monk must run 30 km per day (about 18 miles) for 100 straight days.

During Year 2, the monk must again run 30 km per day for 100 straight days.

During Year 3, the monk must once more run 30 km per day for 100 straight days.

During Year 4, the monk must run 30 km per day. This time for 200 straight days.

During Year 5, the monk must again run 30 km per day for 200 straight days. After completing the fifth year of running, the monk must go consecutive days without food, water, or rest. Two monks stand beside him at all times to ensure that he does not fall asleep.

During Year 6, the monk must run 60 km (about 37 miles) per day for 100 straight days.

During the monk must run 84 km (about 52 miles) per day for 100 straight days. (52 miles per day!) And then, he must run 30 km per day for the final 100 days.

The sheer volume of running is incredible, of course, but there is one final challenge that makes The Kaihogyo unlike any other feat…

Day 101
During the first 100 days of running, the monk is allowed to withdraw from the Kaihogyo.

However, from Day 101 onwards, there is no withdrawal. The monk must either complete the Kaihogyo … or take his own life.

Because of this, the monks carry a length of rope and a short sword at all times on their journey.

In the last 400+ years, only 46 men have completed the challenge. Many others can be found by their unmarked graves on the hills of Mount Hiei.

3 Lessons on Mental Toughness and Commitment


The mental toughness of the Marathon Monks is incredible and their feats are unlike most challenges that you and I will face. But, there are still many lessons we can learn from them.

1. “Complete or Kill.”

The Marathon Monks are an extreme version of the “complete or kill” mentality. But you can take the same approach to your goals, projects, and work.

If something is important to you, complete it. If not, kill it.

If you’re anything like me, then you probably have a bunch of half–finished, half–completed projects and ideas. You don’t need all of those loose ends.

Either something is important enough to you to complete, or it’s time to kill it. Fill your life with goals that are worth finishing and eliminate the rest.

2. If you commit to nothing, you’re distracted by everything.

Most of us never face a challenge with the true possibility of death, but we can learn a lot from the monk’s sense of commitment and conviction. They have clarified exactly what they are working toward and for seven years they organize their life around the goal of completing the Kaihogyo. Every possible distraction is rendered unimportant.

Do you think the monks get distracted by TV, movies, the internet, celebrity gossip, or any of the other things that we so often waste time on? Of course not.

If you choose, you can make a similar decision in your life. Sure, your daily goals may not carry the same sense of urgency as the Kaihogyo, but that doesn’t mean you can’t approach them with the same sense of conviction.

We all have things that we say are important to us. You might say that you want to lose weight or be a better parent or create work that matters or build a successful business or write a book — but do you make time for these goals above all else? Do your organize your day around accomplishing them?

If you commit to nothing, then you’ll find that it’s easy to be distracted by everything.

3. It doesn’t matter how long your goal will take, just get started.

On Day 101, the Tendai monks are thousands of miles and 900 days from their goal. They are setting out on a journey that is so long and so arduous that it’s almost impossible for you and I to imagine. And yet, they still accept the full challenge. Day after day, year after year, they work.

And seven years later, they finish.

Don’t let the length of your goals prevent you from starting on them.

Never give up on a dream just because of the length of time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
—H. Jackson Brown

What Makes You Different From the Marathon Monks


There is one very fortunate difference between you and the Tendai monks. You won’t die if you don’t reach your goal!

In the words of Seth Godin, you literally have the “privilege of being wrong.” You won’t die if you fail, you’ll only learn.

Furthermore, you can always change your mind. If you commit to a goal, work on it for a year, and decide that this isn’t actually what you wanted … guess what? You’re free to choose something else.

This should take a burden off of your shoulders! You don’t have to worry about committing to the right thing. If you’re debating between choices, just choose one. You can always adjust later on.

You have the opportunity to choose a goal that is important to you and the privilege of failing with very little consequence. Don’t waste that privilege.

Where to Go From Here


The biggest lesson that the Tendai monks offer for everyday people like you and me is the lesson of commitment and conviction.

Imagine the sense of commitment that the monk feels on Day 101. Imagine what it feels like to embrace the final 900 days of that challenge. Imagine what it feels like to accept a goal that is so important to you that you tell yourself, “I’m going to finish this or I will die trying.”

If you have something that is important to you, then eliminate the unrelated and unimportant tasks, get started no matter how big the challenge, and commit to your goal.

Every big challenge has a turning point. Today could be your Day 101. Today could be your Day of Commitment.

The Citrus Family

Lemon and Lime

Many of us don’t know the difference between Lime and Lemon and are often confused if a lemon is also called lime or vice versa.
They both are citrus fruits and do have a lot in common but also differ in some properties.

Here are some points that makes lime and lemon different from each other.

  • Lemon

  1. The scientific name of Lemon is Citrus limon.
  2. The colour of a lemon is pure yellow.
  3. Lemons are oval in shape
  4. Lemons have a thick skin.
  5. They are less sour as compared to lime.
  6. Lemon is less acidic than lime due to slightly higher pH value.
  7. The pH range of lemon lies between 2.00 and 2.60, respectively.
  8. Lemons can be stored in the refrigerator or without the refrigerator at room temperature for about two months.
  9. Lemon is healthier due to presence of more vitamin C.

  • Lime

  1. The scientific name of lime is Citrus aurantifolia.
  2. Lime is green in colour.
  3. Lime is round in shape.
  4. They have a thin skin.
  5. They are more sour as compared to lemon.
  6. Lime is more acidic than lemon due to slightly lower pH value.
  7. The pH range of lime lies between 2.00 and 2.35 respectively.
  8. Lime must be stored in the refrigerator at constant temperature of +4 degrees for not more than two weeks.
  9. Lime is not as healthy as lemon due to less vitamin C.

Does this question “is lemon a fruit or a vegetable?“ ever cross your mind?

The answer to this question is that, lemon is a fruit.
Lemon has seeds inside it and as any edible item has seeds inside or outside it, it falls under the category of fruits.
Anything that doesn’t have a seed and forms the other parts of a plant like leaves, stem, roots are called as vegetables. The characteristics of lemon do not support the terminology of being amongst the vegetable group.


Oranges

Orange has various types
The scientific name of the fruit orange is Citrus sinensis, which is also called as sweet orange.
The bitter orange in known as Citrus aurantium.

The other varieties are

  • Navel oranges

Navel oranges are the most common variety of oranges.
There name is due to the second fruit that it protrudes at the apex which resembles the human navel.
They have a thick skin and are easy to consume. They are less juicy and more bitter than the other varieties of oranges to consume.

  • Blood red orange

These oranges have a tart yet sweet flavour. They are most aromatic among all the other varieties of oranges.
Their name is due to their appearance which is rich and ruby, almost blood red coloured. They have thick flesh when peeled. They are very juicy and prove to be good for garnishing dur to their appearance.


Madarin Orange

Mandarin oranges are smaller than the normal oranges and have similar taste. They have loose skin, sweet taste and less acidity.

Tangerine

Tangerines are smaller in size. They have a sweeter taste as compared to typical oranges. Their skin is soft and thin hence, they are easier to peel.

Clementine

Clementines are small in size and also seedless. They are branded as ‘Cuties’ in U.S. Their skin is thin and glossy. Their apex is flat due to which they have an oval shape, unlike blood red and naval oranges.


Grapefruit


The scientific name of grapefruit is Citrus paradisi.
The taste of the fruit ranges from sour to semi-sweet and a little bitter.
The interior flesh of the fruit varies in colors like white, yellow, red and pink.
It was once named as ‘ forbidden fruit ‘.



Citron

The scientific name of Citron is Citrus medica. It is one the citrus fruits from which many hybrids developed.
It is ovate and oblong in shape and is narrow towards styler end.
The shape of the fruit is variable as it contains large quantity of albedo which depends on the position of the fruit on the twig.
The inner portion is quite thick, wide and hard while the outer portion is thin and fragrant.

The color varies from green when unripe, yellow when ripe and yellow – orange when over ripe.



The fruits of the citrus family have many benefits and are used for various purposes.

Nepotism in Bollywood.

Nepotism in bollywood has reached another level of toxicity. Ever since the demise of the bollywood star sushant singh rajput there is anger among the fans and audience as to why did sushant singh rajput kill himself and the fingers have been ultimately raised towards the industry on why on the first place was the star in depression which was the major cause of his death. It was reported that sushant singh rajput was not invited to any of the big parties and was ultimately ignored by the bollywood industry. One of sushant singh rajput’s friend wrote on instagram describing the star saying that he hated fake friends,phone calls and small talk. He didnt need a campus, he had his own kingdom. She also added that his friend was a fighter and made his own place in the industry. He was an outsider and never cared about being an insider as he had life beyond films. She was left in sorrow as she added that her friend was a fighter. Sushant singh rajput told that he used to be back ground dancer and it shows how much the person had struggled.

The focus has shifted to the topic that how talented actors are made to struggle in the industry where as the starkids are being launched just because of nepotism. The fingers are mainly being raised on the director karan johar who was called as the flag bearer of nepotism by kangana ranaut on his own show of coffee with karan. Karan has launched some of the star kids like alia bhatt and varun dhawan. Lets see what some of the star kids think of nepotism.

1- Alia bhatt

As some of the star kids admit there’s nepotism, some deny it. Alia Bhatt, daughter of famous film director Mahesh Bhatt, once said she feels like punching people who talk about nepotism. Having made her debut with Karan Johar’s Student of The Year in 2012, Alia has established herself as an accomplished actress.

“I want to punch all those people who say that star kids have it easy because it makes no sense. The way the world is today, either you have it or you don’t.”

2- Tiger shroff

Tiger Shroff, son of popular actor Jackie Shroff and known for his dance moves and action stunts, told GQ Magazine revealed he would have never made it to acting, if he had to go through an audition. Sajid Nadiadwala happened to ‘find’ him.

“Had there been one, I wouldn’t have got it anyway.”

3- Sara Ali khan

Sara Ali Khan, daughter of Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan, has acknowledged that nepotism exists in Bollywood. However, she believes that one can stay in the business only if they work hard. This is what she had to say on nepotism to India Today.

“I definitely believe that knowing people in the industry does help. That’s not a fact that I can run away from. I’ve often admitted to the fact that the biggest advantage of nepotism is the fact that we have easy access to people. I can call up Karan Johar without doing any film. I can go to Rohit Shetty’s office. So these are privileges I’m well aware of.”

4 – Ananya pandey

Ananya Pandey, daughter of actor Chunky Pandey, debuted with Karan Johar’s Student of The Year 2 and has defended nepotism on several occasions. She was badly trolled as well.

When people hate on me for nepotism, I’m not going to shy away that I’m Chunky Pandey’s daughter. My Dad has worked really hard and he’s still working. My Dad never did a Dharma film, my Dad never went on Koffee with Karan. It isn’t as easy people say it is. Everyone has their own journey.”

The movie Om shanti Om which starred the famous Bollywood King khan Sharukh khan had unknowingly shown the product of nepotism as when Shahrukh khan had tried to act with the same set of skills when he was born in a poor family he failed. But with the same set of skills when the star was reborn as a star kid he was launched easily.

Xiaomi’s Laptop Launch in India

Xiaomi is a very young tech company in the mobile business compared to most other players of the industry. Mobile phones themselves are not very old technology. Commercial Mobile telephony started in mid-90s. So, it was only natural that the first companies came from other background. The first companies like Nokia, Motorola, Sony, Panasonic and even the Samsung, Apple were already a tech company. Mobile telephony was not their first business. So, when Xiaomi jumped straight into mobile phone manufacturing in 2010 it was one of the first companies to do so.

Launched in 2010 in Beijing, China; Xiaomi made roads to India after just 4 years. In 2014, Xiaomi launched in India and its India journey that we are going to focus today. Xiaomi launched in India on 100% online platform. Armed with cheap Chinese manufacturing and policies, the phones appealed the consumers instantly. So much that the websites crashed on the first day itself. They made it to number one selling smartphone brand in 2017, within just 3-years. They were one of the factors pushing 4G penetration in India. The Ecosystem on the consumer side was a big factor which delayed launch of 4G services in India for many years despite licenses being sold. Xiaomi was a leader in supplying cheap 4G phones. Which lead to faster 4G penetration in India. Xiaomi has built offline sales capacity as well since then. Even today more than half of Xiaomi’s sale comes from online platform.

Xiaomi has not been beyond controversy. In 2014, they faced temporary ban by High Court of Delhi due to a complaint filed by Ericsson. Xiaomi has also faced concerns regarding privacy and data thefts. Based out of China, the lack of transparency brings such concerns naturally. But cheap products with reasonable quality has been warding off the privacy and security concerns of price conscious Indian customers.

Since 2014, Xiaomi has launched several mobile phones. Slowly they have ventured into other home appliances also. They are selling Air Purifiers, Water Filters, Smart Televisions, Fitness bands to count a few. They have been expanding their categories continuously. So, it was only a matter of time before Xiaomi started selling laptops.

Xiaomi is set to launch their first laptops next week in India. Powered by Intel i5 and i7, they are priced between 40,000 and 55,000. They come with Solid State Drives, Great graphics cards and fast charging. The sale will start on online platforms- Amazon and Mi website. With the current ongoing lockdown and the Corona pandemic, the Work-From-Home culture is on the rise. And WFH requires personal laptops so the demand of the laptops is going to rise. So, a quality laptop reasonably priced should sale like hot cakes.

However, there has been an increase in tension at India China border. China is being the aggressive oppressive bully. They have destroyed Tiber, they are destroying Hongkong and not to say anything about the human rights issues within their country, and now they want to grab Indian territories. And all this is happening when the world is facing a life-threatening pandemic which incidentally has been gifted by China. Naturally, Indian consumers want to boycott Chinese products. But unfortunately, Indian consumers do not have much money and/or options to be choosy. We will have to see how much Indian consumers are able to resist something they know they want to avoid.

Wise Device: Cellphone

Earlier people had to wait to send and receive a message where was a chance of losing the cognitive and emotional connect, which has now reduced to zero with the invention of mobile phone.  Apart from enhancing social connection, mobile phones are widely used in industry work that saves time and money as well.  But today, Men have come a long way in technological advancement with time that has affected our life and has changed it in many ways.  World has become a global village where many things seems to be just a click away. Life has become more convenient and easy with it and undoubtedly one of the major being invention of mobile phone.  Anytime-any place, is what defines a cell phone as it is one of the portable and fast medium of communication. Or in other words it can be said as, one of the major invention that has become the lifeline of the masses. It has brought communication revolution around the world and changed the way people connect to each other. Previously it was just a device used to receive and send a message but with the evolution of internet it has become a multitasking device used for various purposes making it more impactful in both good and bad sense. Earlier people had to wait to send and receive a message where was a chance of losing the cognitive and emotional connect, which has now reduced to zero with the invention of mobile phone.  Apart from enhancing social connection, mobile phones are widely used in industry work that saves time and money as well.

Previously it was just a device used to receive and send a message but with the evolution of internet it has become a multitasking device used for various purposes making it more impactful in both good and bad sense.

Be it information, entertainment, education, mobile phones have now become a portable computer that can perform many task in one go. It is best device to boost up knowledge on any particular topic be it a subject-related or any issues and happening around the world. Nothing can be a better choice for social gathering than mobile phone these days as its makes people more approachable amid friends and relatives. It’s a best device to socialize anytime soon. Life seems little less complex with the invention of mobile phone.

But as the coins have the other side- mobile phone too has its demerits. Easy access on internet has also made it a device for isolation. Teenagers and adults can be witnessed frequently messaging, gaming, posting updates, clicking pictures or else watching videos and listening music.  According to a survey on the most popular smart phone activities in India 2017 almost 50 percent of the respondent accessed social media via mobile. India recorded the world’s highest number of selfie death, accounting more than any other countries in the world.

High use of mobile phone is leading to health issues as well.  People who tend to use mobile phone on bed seem to have interrupted health and sleep disorders.  Children are becoming more dependent on search engines rather than being creative. It is affecting their creative skill making them dependent on internet. Frequent use of mobile phone is killing absorption as frequent notification, messaging is emerging as a disturbing agent and is killing concentration of the people. Mobile has its impact of people life style and living habit as people have become more fake and cunning.  Like any other technology, mobile phones too can be a choice to lead a good life but as said excess of everything is bad.

TALENT vs ROOTS

Over the past few months a lot has been said about Bollywood and, sadly, none of it has been positive. The film industry has been labelled corrupt, misogynistic, incestuous, corrosive and operating like the mafia.

Some may argue that trashing Bollywood is not new and has been going on since the first movies hit the screens, but the recent controversy is a low point for all of us and completely unwarranted.

 Bollywood no doubt in the last few years has taken itself to a totally different level. The craze for a Bollywood movie all across the globe is insane and as Indians we are really proud. The status bollywood industry has today is unparalleled, but there is a downside to it, something which has crippled it and grown its roots in the last 20 years and has been a hot topic of debate. This is the topic of nepotism.

It is indeed the bitter truth of Bollywood that the seeds of nepotism have now really grown into big trees.

The very famous movie Om Shanti om starring Shah Rukh Khan stated that the fact outsider Om Prakash was a struggling actor and had to die and take birth in the family of superstar to make it big says a lot about nepotism in bollywood.We cant deny the fact that there’s nepotism and favoritism existing in Bollywood.

Nepotism or not, star kids have always been a part of Bollywood. Some of those who made an entry riding on family names made a quick exit, while others like Alia, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Kajol, Hritik Roshan, have carved a niche for themselves without depending on their star parents.

The question is, should those using their lineage for a foothold in the industry stop pursuing acting as a career? Or should the ‘outsiders’ give up so easily, despite having oodles of talent?

It would be wrong to say and put all actors in the same plate and target them with bullets of nepotism and say that they don’t deserve their status as an actor. There are certain actors despite coming from privileged families of Bollywood  who have proved themselves worthy with their acting skills.

But yes they definitely had an upper hand over the people not coming from so called star families and they already got a kick start due to their connections.

credits- First Post

The debate of talent Vs privilege has been a contentious one

 If countless outsiders spend years slogging it out in small films, is it fair that star kids in their early twenties get to start their careers with lead roles in plum projects irrespective of their skills?The difference between star kids getting a movie as compared to an outsider is that they have to constantly struggle to prove themselves again and again to survive in this industry and these people literally have to thrive hard to be casted by good directors.

We cannot deny the fact that there are a lot of leading actor and actresses who doesn’t really have a Bollywood background but have still managed to make their way and have foot hold in this industry.

But the thing which has outraged a lot of people right now is why has privilege surpassed talent these days in b-town? Why actors who are really deserving doesn’t get those bright chances and on the contrary there is an entire PR machinery planning and executing  tricks and crores are been spent on an average star kid’s launch. Post launch, if the kid fails, there are the options of relaunch and re-relaunch. There are industry kids who are yet to score a single major hit even after over half a decade, but they still bag projects thanks to familial contacts, one such example is Arjun Kapoor. They always have something on their plate only because they belong to a privileged btown families.

The late Sridevi’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor’s half-brother Ishan Khatter in Dhadak, and Salman Khan’s brother-in-law Ayush Sharma in LoveYatri, were other blue-blood launches last year besides Sara. Although these films were forgettable, each debutant saw ample publicity boost.

last year Karan Johar, big daddy of B-Town nepotism, geared to introduce Chunky Pandey’s daughter Ananya in Student Of The Year 2 and is all set Sanjay Kapoor’s daughter Shanaya in an untitled project. Sunny Deol directs son Karan’s debut flick Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas. Sajid Nadiadwala shoulders responsibility of launching Suniel Shetty’s son Ahaan.

Be it when actor Kangana Ranaut called director-producer Karan Johar the ‘flag bearer of nepotism’ on his own show Koffee With Karan or the time when young Ananya Pandey ‘complained’ about it and debutant Siddhant Chaturvedi ‘silenced’ her, nepotism has and will always be one of the burning topics in the Hindi film industry. 

Being an outsider we really don’t know the reality going inside this industry but for sure this industry does have a dark side that directly or indirectly affects a lot of people who are struggling to be a part of this concept of pure art form and not a money making business scheme.

An interesting case of forgery

Art heists, we see them countless times in movies as well as read about them in newspapers. They can be daring swiping of art works or plain robbing them outright. One such type of thieving is forgery. Forgery is a white-collar crime that generally refers to the false making or material alteration of a legal instrument with the specific intent to defraud anyone. Forgery in itself requires a lot of skill and mental acumen to pull-off. And as all crimes go once caught, one must prove their innocence in court to live freely. However, one case in Holland which included forgery was a little different, here the accuse pleaded guilty and tried to convince the court of his guilt. This was the case of  Han Van Meegeren in 1947.

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Like the cliché which goes with art forgers, Meegeren was an artist whose original works failed to bring him renown so he set put to make fools of those who shut the door to the art world on him. Like it was stated this kind of thievery requires a lot of skill and practice. Meegeren worked for nearly 6 years, studying all about the old masters, their styles, their biographies, their techniques and their materials.  He chose a baroque painter from the 17th century by the name of Johannes Vermeer, a rather difficult choice given that Vermeer is celebrated throughout the art world for his technical brilliance in portraying domestic scenes. He carefully made meticulous practice pieces, going as far as to making his own brushes, and paint from his knowledge of Vermeer’s time. He was partly successful in his forgeries due to the fact that the sophisticated means of testing that are available now weren’t as advanced or widespread then. The other factor was his planning, the originality of the art work being tested depends on the art specialist reviewing them, and their popularity which is subjective. From his research he knew that the leading expert on Vermeer believed that he had an early fixation on religious painting and as there was no proof of this theory, Vermeer decided to provide one. Even thought it had some inconsistencies, as it was considered an early piece, it got the stamp of approval and he sold his fake for an equivalent of $4 million dollars. The success prompted him to make and sell more forgeries.  However, his triumph was to be short lived, soon Nazi Germany occupied holland, and Hitler’s top general Herman Goring wanted a Vermeer painting for his collection. And Van Meegeren was more than happy to sell his fake. However, when the allies won the world war, Meegeren was tried for his “treasonous” act and was to be sentenced to the electric chair for selling a Dutch “masterpiece”. Thus, began Meegeren’s trial and his fight to prove that it wasn’t an original. To prove this, he explained step by step how he had forged it. However, he faced an ironical obstacle, the very man he had used to dupe the world, now came forward to take him down. The very expert who had enabled him to do the scam, now fought to protect his own reputation. Thus, to prove his innocence Meegeren made another fake and submitted to the court and was thus acquitted for collaborating with the Nazis, but sentenced to one-year imprisonment for fraud. Thus, he went from the scum who collaborated with Nazis to the folk hero who managed to swindle them. Due to his notoriety his works became valuable is his own right. Later down the line even his son forged his father’s paintings to gain money.

Thus, his “lack of talent” in his peer’s eyes was actually the fuel that unlocked his real talent in his eye for detail and dealing the art.

Dealing with Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is one of the most common anxiety disorders. It is a chronic mental condition where people have  intense fear of social interactions, making it hard to go out, make friends, or interact with others. People with social anxiety tend to fear and avoid social situations. They are very concerned that they will do something embarrassing, or that others will judge them. It is normal to feel anxious in social situations from time to time. For example, most people feel anxious when they have to speak in front of a large group. Social anxiety becomes a problem when it becomes quite distressing and starts getting in the way of your ability to function and enjoy life. Trivial tasks such as filling in a form with people around and eating in public places or with friends may become highly stressful for somebody with social anxiety.

Social anxiety can affect daily tasks, including school life, work, and other activities. Behavioral and emotional signs and symptoms include : fear of situations in which you may be judged, worrying about embarrassing or humiliating yourself, intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers, fear that others will notice that you look anxious, fear of physical symptoms that may cause you embarrassment, such as blushing, sweating, trembling or having a shaky voice, avoiding doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment, avoiding situations where you might be the center of attention, having anxiety in anticipation of a feared activity or event, enduring a social situation with intense fear or anxiety, spending time after a social situation analyzing your performance and identifying flaws in your interactions, expecting the worst possible consequences from a negative experience during a social situation etc. The physical symptoms include: trembling, sweating , feeling nauseous , trouble catching your breath, avoiding eye contact, feeling dizzy , weeping, tantrums, clinging to parents, or isolation in children

In order to deal with social anxiety, we need to change the way we think, and change what we do. Methods to overcome social anxiety include:

  1. Social anxiety becomes a medical condition when everyday social interactions cause excessive fear, self-consciousness, and embarrassment. Anxiety can be harder to treat if you wait. Hence its important to get help. Medications and psychotherapy can help us gain confidence and improve our ability to interact with others.
  2. An important first step in learning to manage social anxiety involves better understanding your social anxiety. Take a couple of weeks to notice which situations cause you anxiety and what you experience physically when you are in those situations. Keep a journal or a list to keep track. It is a lot easier to manage your anxiety when you have a better understanding .
  3. When we’re in a social situation with a group of people, our focus of attention becomes totally caught up in our own thoughts and feeling. Hence, it is important to learn how to change our focus of attention and take more control over how we react to thoughts . We can learn to just notice the thoughts, acknowledge them, then let them pass and turn your focus of attention to something else.

Music As An Art Form

We all need entertainment. Entertainment is a crucial part of our lives. It is an absolute need for today’s world as we all are busy within our lives. Kids are busy with school and homework, adults are busy with work and other life stresses, so all of us need some entertainment from time to time. This entertainment we all need comes in various forms, while some might enjoy movies, some enjoy sports and many more. But sometimes we can not afford to take a break long enough to watch a movie or talk to someone or play a sport. One of the entertainment sources which fit that very important gap of being portable, easily accessible as well as quick is music. Music can be listened to on the go. Whether you are in a train or a bus, if you are working and need a short break, or you need some entertainment to push you through a task like working out of data entering, music is perfect for it. Some good music of your liking can fill up the mood bar and get you back on full throttle. And not just for entertainment, music is an allrounder, it is used all over the world as a healing method, music therapy is used to cure various mental illnesses and even helps easing physical pain. Apart from a medical standpoint, music can also be a great source of motivation and upliftment. 

Music has also given a lot of people an open environment and space to freely express themselves and spread a message. Music is not just a source of entertainment, it is an artform which is capable of many deeds.

One of the best attributes of music is that it is for everybody. There exists a type of music for everyone to listen to.there are many many genres of music form. While some or more expressive and informative some have a very electronic upbeat vibe to them. 

Music is also a great hobby because of its wide range. You can adopt music as a hobby in various forms. You can choose to be a singer or a songwriter or an instrument player or even a mixer. There are also a wide range of musical instruments to choose from like guitar, piano, flute , violin etc. the same with singing and writing, it may be jazz, rap, upbeat, slow etc. studies show that people who have adopted music as a hobby in their lives tend to be happier as it is also a stress reliever.

Music is also one of the oldest art forms as well. From the ancient times humans used to play music via drums and dance to celebrate. It has evolved and evolved to an extent where today every person in the world listens to some sort of music. It has also given various artists a creative career in life. Music industry today is worth billions and is growing by the minute.

Music is one of the best arm forms to exist and everyone should incorporate in their lives.