Food : The Life Preserver

Article by – Shishir Tripathi
Intern at Hariyali Foundation
In collaboration with
Educational News

When an individual studies economics during the higher studies, they are told about different types of goods including the normal goods, inferior goods, luxurious goods and the essential goods. Energy is required by every organism to survive on the planet earth. Energy is gained in various forms like heat energy from consuming food. Whether a person is rich or poor, tall or short, fat or skinny, or just any other person and all other organisms need food and making it as an essential commodity required by all.


After a tiring day at the office, after an exhausting day with scorching sun on the farm, after a day with extra classes in the school, after a day with endless house chores, every other person of different age groups performing different roles in the economy need food at the end of the day. A Thali with 2 Chapattis and veggie, some pulse and rice will make the day of such an individual after a tiring day.


Fine, but the question arises that whether the availability of food is there for every person in the country? Is there any family or a person who sleeps without food? Does every family which is affording food is using it for filling their tummies or a part of food is wasted too in a country like India? Let’s move ahead to get answers to these questions.


India has been placed at 103 out of 119 countries surveyed for the World Global Hunger Index (GHI) by two credible international NGOs based on the indicators of undernourishment and under-5 child wasting, child stunting and child mortality. Its score is 31.1 in the GHI, among the worst in the world, and below close neighbourers Bangladesh and Nepal in the SAARC region.


At least 20 crore Indians go to bed hungry daily.


Yes, a country with a lot of resources, vegetation, a country which is amongst the biggest exporters of food grains faces the problem of hunger for its 20 – 25 million population. A person who didn’t had food for days from him; one can understand that what pain is. When one takes a fast, they know that how body agonizes without water and food for the whole day. So staying hungry for days is so bad and tremendous.


According to a Report, India wastes INR 244 Crore worth of Food per Day. At the same time, one should notice that approximately 20 million people go hungry in nation where food is wasted in such a high quantity every day. In every Indian wedding, food is the most important part and the most wasted too! In India, statistics related to food wastage at weddings have been quite shocking, given the fact that it is the same country where countless number of people have to survive without the basic necessity of two meals a day. Around 100,000 weddings and social events are held in India every day. Food wasted each day at weddings and family functions in the metro cities alone would be enough to feed the vast slum population sleeping hungry at night without food. About one-fifth of the food served at weddings and social gatherings is discarded. The prodigious waste that follows has horrified many in a country where food prices are skyrocketing and tens of millions of young children are malnourished.


About 58 per cent of people in the country are food insecure, says the findings of the National Nutritional Survey (NNS) 2011. The country has enough food to feed its people but that poor cannot afford even two-square meals a day.


No government scheme will work unless and until the people who have food on their table will realize the actual demand of food from their stomach and their tongue. Those who fill their bellies till esophagus at the table or the silly ones who just don’t know that what food they like and waste a whole plate at the function, they must try to know the importance of food and stop wasting it.

Stop food wastage, give it to a hungry person and the be the reason for someone’s filled tummy.

face.

Find happiness in little things!..

In a small village, there lived a family of a farmer. The farmer had two kids, a boy named Gana and a girl Meena. Both mother and father used to go to farm daily for work. Gana and Meena used to go to school at that time. Their school was handled by an NGO which offered quality education to the unprivileged children. Both the kids used to study well. The younger one Meena always had a fascination towards the mall. She used to watch it in the cinemas and had a great fantasy about it. They never got a chance to visit the city, so they never saw a mall which added into their fantasy. Meena used to always talk about the mall. The shops, the lighting, the food courts, Meena was fascinated by all this. She always asked Gana to take her to the mall. Gana loved his sister very much. But he also knew their financial condition, so he kept on avoiding her demand. But secretly he was saving some money every day so that he could take her to the mall one day.
Few days passed and now Gana had enough amount of money to buy and eat something from the mall. But he didn’t tell anything to Meena. All the farmers of the village used to sell their vegetables in the city. Then one day, they got an order from Jordan mall of the city. When Meena got to know about it, she rushed towards her brother and pleaded him to take her to the mall. Firstly he acts like resisting but later agreed to take her to the city. Both Gana and Meena went with the truck to the mall. They only had time until they unload the vegetables and receive the payment. When Meena reached the mall, she was very happy. She was literally dancing with joy. Gana also felt good watching her happy. The lighting, the shops, everything made them feel that they’ve come to a different world. Meena they took him to a garments shop. But by looking at their cloth, the shopkeeper didn’t allow them to come in. This thing happened with a few more shops. Both Gana and Meena felt very bad. Then finally one shopkeeper allowed them to come in. Meena purchased a dress for her there. She was looking pretty in the new dress. Now after wandering over the mall, both of them were very hungry. So they went to the food court and ordered a burger and pizza to eat. They were eating it for the first time in their lives. Till then, they didn’t even know that a food item costs this much. When they had their first bite, they hated it totally. Both of them missed their mommy made roti chatni badly. By the time they could finish it, driver uncle called them back. Now it was time to return.
They were travelling back home. Gana was trying to talk to Meena, but she wasn’t speaking much. Gana got that she must be thinking something. When they got home, Gana made her sit and asked her what happened. She hugged him and said,” Sorry Bhaiyya! I unnecessarily forced you to take me to the mall”. It looked so fascinating on the TV but it wasn’t in reality. Shopkeepers there looked at us with hatred. They didn’t even allow us to come in. They asked for money before we buy to eat anything. It made me feel so bad and poor. Our world is way better than the mall world. Here, shopkeeper chacha takes me to his shop, make me select whichever dress I want and don’t even ask for money, cause he believe us that we’ll pay for sure. The hotel owner uncle let me eat my favourite dishes. When I return, he hands over chocolates to me, each time. He also never asked for money. I always felt like a family there. But when I went to the mall, I got to know this side of the world. Our world is the happiest Bhaiyaa, I’m very much happy here, she said. Listening to her words, tears rolled down by Gana’s cheeks.

Public and Private Administration

These are a few terms we have familiarized in the past years. Administration means ‘to administer’ , derived from a Latin word ‘ad’ and ‘ministrare’, it means to serve or manage. We all do know the difference in the meaning of Public and Private.

Administration came as a activity from the times of men and women but as a discipline it emerged only a century and decade ago. In order to live together harmoniously there was a need for a system of control and rules. A leader was much needed to make amendments and negotiations.

As this became a discipline there was a need to categorize it and so the two broad categories of Public and Private administration emerged.

Public Administration can be briefly said as implementation of public policy, as laid down by a competent authority, economically and efficiently for the benefit of the people.

Private Administration refers to the implementation of policy and management of private property or administration.

The following are the similarities between Private and Public Administration

  • Skills

No matter which sector you work for, private or public the usage of your skill is the same. The skills and techniques adopted by both the sector are the same. The work of an engineer or a teacher is the same in both private and public sector.

  • Influence

There has been a profound influence on each other. Public corporations are set up as an idea to import the private administration into it. Likewise big and private firms have taken up policies like welfare and insurance too.

  • Administrative set up

The administrative set up is the same for both the administration. There is a certain level of hierarchy existing in both. And people are recognized according to it. The work is divided on this basis of this structure.

  • Public Relations

Both of the administrations make sure to have contact with the masses. Even though private administration work on their self-interest, they work according to the needs of the people too. Public administration is for the people. Many private industries are taken up by the government too and vice versa. This proves the how much alike they are.

  • Research and Improvement

No matter how far both the industries have come, they always improve and make alternative changes. They constantly try to bring innovations and changes according to time.

Differences between Public and Private Administration.

  • Prestige

Prestige for public administration is very much important. Public administration works for the people and what people think about the government is very Important for them and hence there are a wide range of opportunities available to the public.

  • Political direction

Sometimes public administration is pushed according to the party’s needs. There is can be a bias due to the influence of a particular party, after all it’s the party which wins the election.

  • Profit motive

Private administration run on the basis of profit and their own self- interest, while public administration is for public welfare. There is no other motive like private administration, their duty is to serve people.

  • Uniformity of treatment

Public administration is bound by certain laws and regulations, there is equality of treatment for everyone, No one is treated indifferently. But the same cannot be said for private administration, there is a chance of personal bias in it.

  • Monopolistic

Some services of the public administration are monopolistic, the government does not allow a second party to invest or make business out of it, this is done for the welfare of the people of the nation.

  • Responsibility to Public

Public administration is made for the people and so it is accountable to the law and its people. It owes a certain amount of responsibility to the government.

These are the similarities and differences of private and public administration. Both of these are necessary for a nation of succeed

NEET Examination 2020

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Examination (NEET) is the entrance examination in India that provides admission into Under Graduate courses MBBS, BDS. The NEET examination is currently conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) which provides results to the Directorate General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

There will be total 180 questions asked in the exam, 45 questions each from Physics and Chemistry, 90 questions from Biology. The questions are Multiple Choice. Each correct response gets 4 marks and there will be -1 negative marking for incorrect response. The exam is for 720 marks and duration is 3hrs (180 mins).

Here are the fee details of NEET Application as of 2020:

GeneralRs.1500/- (INR)
General-EWS/OBC(NCL)Rs.1400/- (INR)
SC/ST/PwD/TransgenderRs.800/- (INR)

After filing several petitions by students, Politicians to postpone engineering, medicine entrance examinations due to COVID—19 ,the High court after ensuring if all the safety measurements taken by the managements of both the departments are good enough, had made a clear statement that there will be no further postpones of entrance examinations as that  would have a major effect on students’ career. At last, it was decided that the medical entrance examination NEET will be conducted on Sunday, 13th September, 2020.

Usually till now the students are informed to take their admit card, aadhar card and not anything like pen, plank, water bottle, rough papers as those will be provided by the authorities at the examination center. But in 2020, in order to ensure the safety of the students, the rules at the examination centers are changed by NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (NTA) due to COVID-19.

Those are:

  • The body checking will be with with metal detectors instead of manual checking.
  • Students are strictly ordered to throw their masks which they carried from their home to the examination center and should go into the hall with the mask given by the authorities.
  • Students are allowed to take their own water bottles and sanitizers.
  • Students are not allowed to take their admit card out from the hall but have to show it to the authorities and throw it in the dustbin there itself.
  • Students are required to sign a declaration form with their photograph stating that they are not the victims of corona virus.
  • The gates will be closed before half an hour of exam time.
  • Five A4 size sheets will be kept at each candidate desk for rough work. if additional sheets are required for rough work by the candidate, the same shall  be made available on demand.
  • Before each shift starts seating area will be thoroughly sanitized-monitor, keyboard, mouse, webcam, desk and the chair. Candidates can further sanitize with sanitizers bought with them.
  • Candidates are required to paste a photograph and sign the attendance sheet only after sanitizing their hands.
  • On completion of a shift, the candidates will be permitted to move in an orderly manner one candidate at a time.
  • Candidates must drop the Admit Card and rough sheets in the advised boxes after displaying to the staff available next to the drop box. If any candidate misses to drop Admit Card or Rough sheets in boxes, action which also includes disqualification from the exam can be taken against him/her.

The results would be declared on the Second week of October, 2020.

for any further information visit the official website www.ntaneet.nic.in

TIGERTAIL (2020) MOVIE REVIEW

Tigertail (2020) is about a young Taiwanese man, Pin-Jui (Tzi Ma) who leaves his homeland and the woman he loves to look for better opportunities in America. Many years of monotonous work and a marriage devoid of any love affect him deeply. He isn’t able to sympathise with his daughter and he must reconnect with his past in order to finally build a life that he always dreamed of having.

 

I loved this movie. After watching a lot of heavy and intense films this week, Tigertail was a warm and breezy peek into the life of this lonely man. All of you would relate to him a little bit. Alan Yang who’s the co creator of Master of None, and Parks and Recreation has crafted a poignant tale about love, regret and passion. A lot of it is based on his father’s experience of adjusting in America after moving from Taiwan.

 

The writing is what you’d expect from him, it’s sharp, and I loved the mellow and soft atmosphere that he’s gone for. The pacing is meditative and it’s perfect, it hits you right in the feels and gives you time to process what you’re seeing. The meditativeness also creates a soothing mood perfectly.

 

I loved Tzi Ma in The Farewell and here also he’s given a brilliant performance. He plays this stern but soft man. Alan Yang has told the story from an empathetic lens, so you empathise with him and you understand why he is the way he is.

 

A few nitpicks I had are that some characters aren’t that well fleshed out, and the script       does seem a LITTLE undercooked at some places.

 

Apart from these minor nitpicks, Tigertail is a brilliant movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. Do check it out if you want to watch something light and breezy.

CLASSIC MOVIE RECOMMENDATION – ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows (Ascenseur pour l’échafaud) (1958) is about Julien Tavernier (Maurice Ronet) who kills his lover, Florence’s(Jeanne Moreau) husband in his office because Julien plans on eloping with her, but while he’s leaving the office building he gets stuck in the elevator. While he’s stuck, his car is stolen by two juvenile delinquents. All this starts a chain of events that may turn out to be bad for Julien and Florence.

I loved the writing, it checks all the boxes for crafting a film noir. The script is very well measured, no detail is wasted. All the little plot details thrown throughout are tied together really smartly. Louis Malle has used mostly natural lighting, setting a new example for French cinema during that period. One remarkable scene is this stunning sequence in which Jeanne Morreau is walking around rainy Paris at night searching for Julien. Her face is lit by the street lamps. French films used a lot of artificial lighting to light up their actors, so this usage of natural light was new for that time.

Miles Davis’ incredible jazzy score creates a lonely and gloomy atmosphere. Henri Decai’s cinematography is bleak and his camera work sucks you in. This film is directed by the legend, Louis Malle and I was surprised to discover that this was his first feature. The way he’s told a noirish story with some elements of the French New Wave is outstanding. We can see the influence of Hitchcock and Welles in this, but he’s still managed to keep it very unique.

Elevator to the Gallows is a stylish noir that gave the French New Wave a head start and it’s one of the most influential films ever made. It’s perfect, go check it out.

I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS (2020) MOVIE REVIEW

Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020) is about a young lady who travels with her new boyfriend to his parent’s secluded farm. Even though this plot sounds very simple, this existential art house drama is WAY WAY WAY more complex.

This is a film that is going to polarise a lot of people, because the film is not straight forward at all, and I absolutely loved it. This is one of the weirdest films to have come out in a very long time. A lot of things happen that’ll make you go what the fuck. It’ll make you think super hard when you try to make sense of it. Throughout the movie you’ll be puzzled, and you’ll ask questions like, “ Why is this character behaving like this?” “How is this character important to the story?” “What is this scene supposed to mean?” And it’s totally okay to be confused. Charlie Kaufman has deliberately not told the story in a straight forward way. There are many clues throughout the film so you have to pay 100 per cent attention to it. It’s not an easy watch by any means, you have to absorb each and every dialogue. Every word coming out of the character’s mouth is important in order to decipher the plot details.

Of course there is Charlie Kaufman’s signature flavour throughout. Both the characters are existential and cynical- always talking about philosophical stuff. The film is also heavy on literature references and the way Kaufman’s used them is super meta. They play a part in the story in some way or the other. The performances are top notch, Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, David Thewlis are all excellent. Most of the film involves super long conversations. This is a film that you won’t fully understand, so you are just supposed to enjoy this ride. I like these kinds of films, this film will make you think for days and will evoke conversations amongst cinephiles. It’s hard to talk about the film without getting into spoilers but I’ll just say that broadly it’s about dreams, memories, fantasies and time. One of the things it makes us question is, “Does time pass through us? Or do we pass through time?”

I’m Thinking of Endings Things is an art house movie that I would only recommend if you’re a fan of this genre. It may get frustrating if you are not used to watching these kinds of films, because most of the film is ambiguous and would take a lot of effort to fully decipher. It is a masterfully crafted arthouse drama and it’s another example of the genius of Charlie Kaufman.

IoT : Inter-connecting of Things

The fourth industrial revolution introduced Industry 4.0, which comprises of several disruptive technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Internet-of-Things, Blockchain, Cloud Computing and 3D printing. Technological advancements today have made it possible to easily access and connect with one another. It is this very interconnected technology that has helped combat the Corona virus pandemic and stabilize our lives. Thanks to these novel applications, along with several others, this ubiquitous technology has garnered generous attention from experts around the world.

Broadly speaking, Internet-of-Things comprises of a giant network of devices interconnected over internet, thus allowing people to collect and share data, without dealing with inadequacies of space, cost and time. IoT has made it possible to effectively monitor and share live data in field of healthcare, education, IT, defense and agriculture. Here’s a look at how IoT is aiding in advancing several domains:

  1. Interconnecting in Healthcare – IoT has enabled efficient monitoring of health issues like diabetes, sugar levels, pulse rate etc, and is also helping in treatment of diseases. An example to this can be seen in a cancer study presented at ASCO Annual Meeting in 2018, wherein it was found that those response to treatments were regularly monitored, showed drop in severity of symptoms. Apple watch to monitor depression, Bluetooth enabled technology to check blood clot levels etc are examples of use cases where IoT is being used.
  2. Interconnecting in Agriculture – IoT enabled smart agriculture has helped millions in growing healthy crops at minimum cost levels. Frequent monitoring of water levels, soil acidity levels, weather conditions etc. are examples how agriculture has benefited from this.
  3. Interconnecting in Manufacturing – Sensors provide great deal of ways in which smooth manufacturing can take place, by continuously monitoring machines for repairs and any other damage, otherwise invisible to naked eye.
  4. Interconnecting in Energy – IoT has also helped in judicial use of natural resources, as demands can be predicted, and suitable alternated can be figured out.
  5. Interconnecting in Education – Smart classrooms has been effective in

Sexism in India

What is sexism?

Sexism is defined as discrimination against a person solely on the basis of their sex or gender. This may lead to constraints on a certain gender in social, economic, cultural and political spheres. People tend to be prejudiced against women because they perceive them as inferior to men or believe that they should be prevented or oppressed from occupying the position they deserve in society. A product of society and its culture is gender roles which means assigning certain tasks or roles to genders which they are expected to fulfil. For instance, a widely popular gender role is that women belong inside households and the outer world is only for men. 

History of sexism in India

For centuries, gender bias has been prevalent in India. From the earliest times, the Indian society has followed patriarchy, a system in which men are seen as superior and as authority figures whereas women are forced to take a backseat. In the Vedic period, any political rights that they earlier had were taken away and practices such as child marriage became popular. This started a long history of gendered bias against women marked by dislike towards the birth of daughters to such an extent that female infanticide and foeticide were and are in practice even today. The social structure developed in such a way that women came to be seen as assets that men had to protect. Men were taught that their duty was to protect their two possessions- ‘zan and zamin’, women and land. Moreover, Brahmanical texts which laid down the laws did not give women equal rights. Women were expected to devote their lives to their husband and children, whereas polygamy among men was not uncommon. Women did not possess the right to property or inheritance, the only wealth they could own was ‘stridhan’, the money they received as a gift at their wedding. Moreover, Manusmriti advised women to not be greedy and use this money after their husband’s permission. During the British rule as well, the social customs did not change. However, there was a rise in demand for women empowerment. It was in the post Independence era that positive changes were observed but equality has not yet been achieved. 

There remain many sexist issues that women have to overcome. Many female students still do not have access to education as reflected by the high elementary drop out rate and the low rate of women pursuing higher education. Apart from this, women are restricted by their families or taunted by society for wearing clothes that are not ‘acceptable’ whereas men feel free to urinate on the street or walk around in their underpants. 

The minimum age of marriage is not gender-neutral in our country. When women get married, they are burdened with the responsibility of taking care of a new family along with giving up their identity by changing their surname. 

Growing up in a society which places them on a pedestal, men often develop a feeling of entitlement over women. The bias towards men is clearly visible and we have to work till women are given equal status in the society. 

Let’s shatter the patriarchy together. 

TOUCH OF EVIL MOVIE REVIEW

In TOUCH OF EVIL (1958), Mexico’s chief narcotics officer, Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston) is in a border town with his American wife. Soon he’s supposed to testify against a local drug lord, Grandi whose brother and family are tailing him and hoping to frighten his wife to back him off the case. When a car bomb kills a rich US developer, Vargas involves himself in the investigation. After Vargas catches the local legendary US cop, Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles) planting evidence against a suspect, Quinlan joins forces with the Grandi family to challenge Vargas’ character.

The film opens with one of the most beautiful shots in movie history. It’s a three minute long tracking shot as we see a stick of dynamite being planted in a car and the car being driven around a crowded street, while we also see Vargas hanging out with his wife. This shot captures so much and gives you a feel as to what you’re in for. And it’s suspenseful as you know the bomb is gonna go off but you don’t know when. It’s framed and choreographed in a very compelling way.

I liked how energetic this whole movie is, it’s just lively and the music also adds to the liveliness. Orson Welles is phenomenal as this unpleasant detective, Quinlan. While the first half may seem like a police procedural, the second half is more about the rivalry between Vargas and Quinlan. The rivalry between these two characters is insanely well done. The film shows till what lengths one would go to protect their wrongdoings from getting exposed, and how having a good reputation often blinds the people from seeing what’s actually true.

Orson Welles’ has made the film with such finesse, every shot is worth remembering. He makes it look easy. I loved his use of low angles, tracking shots, and wide angle shots. The way he’s used symbolism is also just amazing. The plot is intricate and nuanced. I also liked the slightly nihilistic ending.

Overall, Touch of Evil is one of the greatest noirs ever made. It’s a very well made examination of the relationship between law and justice.

What is content writing?

content writing in today’s world is an emerging field, people are earning by writing so take a look at what is content writing all about

Content writing is a form of online writing which is closely linked to web marketing campaigns. This means creating the writing which appears on websites that are designed to sell or promote a specific product.

This type of writing requires good writing and language skills.Basically content writing can be any kind of writing that is read on internet like website writing, SEO copy writing, SEO writing and blogging etc. The piece of writing must be genuine and authentic with no particular format but the style counts a lot. The content must be informative that adds to knowledge of the viewer which demands practice and deep knowledge which can only be gained by experience. A content writer is a person with good learning skills who can get a good grip on the object he/she is describing.He must be simple and concise in his writing with a goal set to get people to read.

Content writing like any other form of writing requires in depth knowledge and great skill. In order for an article to be successful,the written content must be original and valuable. There are a few general principals followed by writers.

• Focus on the customer: The website will gain acceptance among its viewers only if it has something to offer them.
• It should be informative.
• Should immediately convey the main theme at the beginning itself.
• Choose a simple, impersonal style
• Keep a maximum of “15 seconds” to grab the visitor’s
attention.

Now lets understand the Importance Of Content Writing


Websites have turned from the stage of popularity to the stage of necessity. Most of the population in the present generation is depending on internet to get their products and services, anywhere and anytime. Internet has become their most favorite marketplace to find their favorite shops, blogs, and source of trusted information. So it is a must for every website owners to keep their websites attractive and informative at same time.
Good contents in a website are the paths to gain more traffic. Content writing is one of the most effective and easiest method to keep your website informative and updated than any other online tools.

SKILLS OF A SUCCESSFUL CONTENT WRITER

  • Successful content writers must master different writing
    styles.
  • Understand the audience. If you know who your readers are,
    you can write what they want to read. You write for your
    audience, not for yourself, not for your company, not for your
    brand.
  • Perform keyword research
  • be more creative.

content writing is an art in itself it requires an writers perspective and imagination to write on a particular topic if one enjoys writing then it automatically comes. Happy writing!.

Book Review: The Alchemist

“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho is an inspirational story of Santiago, a youthful Spanish shepherd in the rolling hills of Andalusia. The boy has deep attachment with his flock but realizing that they are devoid of aesthetic sense and appreciation for nature which he beholds, loves and admires, the course of his life changes. His parents’ life is associated with struggle in a country which people from far away fantasize and romanticize but for them it’s not a place of dream and charm. Story starts with a dream followed by a series of adventures ultimately leads to resolution. His time is consumed in herding, reading and dreaming of travelling far-off places. He keeps getting same dream that there is treasure lying underneath the Egyptian pyramids. His encounter with a gypsy woman for consulting his dream gives story a new turn. He gets to know from her to follow omens. As the story moves the events get connected impeccably. Santiago’s quest for treasure, soon his lucky encounter with old King who strengthens his beliefs about living his destiny, coming across mishaps and encounter with Fatima, a desert girl; all this leads him to personal legend that converges the idea of ‘conspiring universe’. Personal legend is the key to living a successful and satisfying life as it is the destiny which one dreams of. He receives assistance from an alchemist who helps him understand his quest for accomplishing his dream. By time his belief grows and satisfaction nourishes as he is on right path. He comes to know “when you want something all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”. Story deals with an internal conflict between his love and personal dreams but this novel ends up showing love as a supporting tool for achieving his dream. This is a beautiful idea that true love can prove to be a great stimulus when time comes. According to Coelho dreams have a price but not living your dreams has even a bigger price. The idea of seeking dreams is marvelous. Pursuing your dream and commiting to it makes the whole universe conspiring to give you what you want. One of the dangerous hindrance described in the novel is fear. The fear of failure which stops us living our destiny. Overcoming this is a great victory as Coelho quoted “tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of dreams because every second of the search is a second encounter with God and with eternity”. When Santiago is in desert he comes to know that he can turn base metals into gold. (Although the idea is not true in reality). It is also a bit overrated when alchemist turns lead into gold. It is not necessary that you agree each and every thing which Coelho has put into the novel. Instead your reason and rationale may oppose many things. But one has to have the ability to read between the lines. In spite of being very unreal it is a beautiful fable which has delighted millions around the world because of its thought provoking ideas of spirituality and destiny. Santiago while travelling understands the relation between man and nature. His quest and how he overcomes the obstacles of violence, confusion and despair is an encouraging pleasure for reader. The setting of novel is real but events are magical. Some may find it a good piece to escape reality and some to understand reality. I highly recommend it to young readers as its conclusions directs it solves the purpose to make reader understand having faith in destiny which ultimately leads to achieving it.

Are Flat-Earthers Being Serious?

Members of the Flat Earth Society claim to believe the Earth is flat. Walking around on the planet’s surface, it looks and feels flat, so they deem all evidence to the contrary, such as satellite photos of Earth as a sphere, to be fabrications of a “round Earth conspiracy” orchestrated by NASA and other government agencies.

The belief that the Earth is flat has been described as the ultimate conspiracy theory. According to the Flat Earth Society’s leadership, its ranks have grown by 200 people (mostly Americans and Britons) per year since 2009. Judging by the exhaustive effort flat-earthers have invested in fleshing out the theory on their website, as well as the staunch defenses of their views they offer in media interviews and on Twitter, it would seem that these peoplegenuinely believe the Earth is flat.

But in the 21st century, can they be serious? And if so, how is this psychologically possible?

Through a flat-earther’s eyes

First, a brief tour of the worldview of a flat-earther: While writing off buckets of concrete evidence that Earth is spherical, they readily accept a laundry list of propositions that some would call ludicrous. The leading flat-earther theory holds that Earth is a disc with the Arctic Circle in the center and Antarctica, a 150-foot-tall wall of ice, around the rim. NASA employees, they say, guard this ice wall to prevent people from climbing over and falling off the disc. (In keeping with their skepticism of NASA, known flat-earther conspiracy theorist Nathan Thompson recently approached a man he said was a NASA employee in a Starbucks in mid-May 2017. In a YouTube video of the exchange, Thompson, founder of the Official Flat Earth and Globe Discussion page, shouted that he had proof the Earth is flat — apparently saying an astronaut drowning was that proof — and that NASA is “lying.”)

Earth’s day and night cycle is explained by positing that the sun and moon are spheres measuring 32 miles (51 kilometers) that move in circles 3,000 miles (4,828 km) above the plane of the Earth. (Stars, they say, move in a plane 3,100 miles up.) Like spotlights, these celestial spheres illuminate different portions of the planet in a 24-hour cycle. Flat-earthers believe there must also be an invisible “antimoon” that obscures the moon during lunar eclipses.