Month: June 2021

EXAMINATION

INTRODUCTION

Examination is a test of a person’s capacity, knowledge, and ability. It proves what standard of learning a person has acquired during a specific period of time in a specific syllabus. It is the most hated and most shunned things for some students who never like to indulge in it with pleasure until they have a charm of acquiring a degree. Otherwise, they compare it with a nightmare.

EDUCATION SYSTEM AND EXAMS

The system of education of mostly examination ridden which aims at the test of achievement and success. The examination is the center of studies and hard work. It is a motivating force to work.

Its importance and efficacy have been called in question. The most important point is that examinations are not the real test of knowledge and understanding. They are the test of ignorance or cramming. Still, we can say that examinations are necessary evil which cannot be avoided.

USES OF EXAMINATION

1) Difference between genius and dunce

Examinations have many uses. They help us find the most efficient individual among many. we can distinguish between the scholar and the dullard, the genius and the dunce. In this way, they help us discriminate between the genuine gold and the sparkling brass.

2)Compel to work hard

Secondly, the examinations compel us to work hard. the careless students become serious near the examinations. They buy books they had no intention to buy and gird up their loins.It is a fact that many students read for the sake of examinations. Thus, examinations are a very effective way of goading students to read.

3)Fitness for promotion to a higher grade/class

Thirdly, examinations are proof and guarantee of man’s efficiency. They provide us a proof of the fitness of the student for promotion to a higher grade/class. An employer can safely entrust a job to the degree holder. Without a degree, no one will higher his services. The factories, industries or mills cannot allow the person to perform a technical task without a specific degree/course.

4)Way to attain degrees / diplomas

Similarly, we do not ask everyone to prescribe medicine for us. Only the person holding a degree enjoys the right to operate upon our body. Hence, if we abolish examinations, we shall have to abolish degrees or diplomas.

ABUSES OF EXAMINATION

Examinations have certain abuses as well. Many students consider it a curse. They consider them to be a game of chance. The students are never sure of their success. There are always doubts in their minds. Success does not depend upon preparation. Even a student with selected studies may pass and the student with thorough preparation may fail.

1)Uncertainty of success

Some students keep studying the whole session but fail. On the other hand, many others who buy help books and cheap notes near the examinations and cram a few questions, pass. Such examinations are a curse for the shining students.

2)Test of memory

The examinations are a test of nerves. All examinations have a limit of time and place. A student is tested at a bad place and in a bad manner. The question arises how a student’s hard work and worth for a semester or full one year is judged in a short time. They are never a foolproof test of one’s ability. They are the test of one’s memory and writing/typing speed.

3)Use of unfair means

Some students try to use unfair means to pass out the examinations. The innocent, hardworking and intelligent remain in the background.

CONCLUSION

But in spite of all this, we cannot say that there should be no examinations. There must be some proper way of judging the real worth of the students. So proper changes are required to avoid the abuses and increase the usefulness of the examinations. The assessment criteria of the examinations must be improved in such a way that all the students can show their abilities and can pass them without any fear.

PUNCTUALITY

INTRODUCTION

Punctuality refers to the habit of a human being completing their tasks on time. We can say that punctuality is a great habit which surely results in success. All the leaders have punctuality in common as the habit is such. In other words, when you are on time, you will maintain the discipline and order in your life. It will, in turn, help you achieve your goals faster within a set time period.

Moreover, it also makes you a man of habit. This creates a very good impression in front of others. Punctuality is an etiquette which encourages us to complete our work in a timely fashion. It also makes us realize the importance of time. A person who is punctual will always know how to respect their time and others as well.

IMPORTANCE OF PUNCTUALITY

Punctuality is of great importance, it is truly underestimated and must be given utmost importance. When a person becomes punctual, everything else falls into place. You get discipline in life and also earn the respect of the others.

Subsequently, a punctual person works on time without any hindrance. The people who are employed in armies and navies are given rigorous training to become disciplined and punctual. They pay no heed to any circumstances be it rain or thunder, they care about their punctuality.

Furthermore, punctuality pushes the person to achieve success at faster rates than others. We must develop this quality in children from an early age which will make it easy for everyone to lead a better life. When a person is punctual, they get utmost respect and admiration by society and reach greater heights than an unpunctual person.

DOOR TO SUCCESS

It is evident that Punctuality is one of the key aspects to attain success in life. One who understands and values time can easily become a Punctual individual and in lieu become successful. It helps one to understand the value of time. And as we all know time is the most precious thing in our life. Time once lost, can never come back. We cannot make and get back to the lost time. It is the habit of punctuality which makes us understand and learns us to respect the value of Time. Becoming a successful person in life implies achieving ones’ goals in time with proper planning and dedication, which can again only be attained by being punctual in life. Knowing the value of time-aware an individual to utilize the time in the best way. And to utilize time in the best way is the definition of being punctual.

PUNCTUALITY IN STUDENT’S LIFE

For a student, punctuality is the stepping stone towards discipline and being sincere. It is utmost important for a student to be punctual to attain success during his/her school life. It is the base on which the student’s life during school and afterward shapes up. A student being punctual is considered having one of the noblest virtue. It helps them to cultivate the habit of completing their tasks in due time. Punctuality proves the great saying, “A stitch in time, saves nine” meaning completing ones’ task in due time and avoiding troublesome.

It is the virtue of punctuality which makes the students more discipline and responsibility. A sense of responsibility is attained by the virtue of punctuality. Being punctual a student can always be at the right time whether be it in school, in the lab, in class, at home, in the examination hall, at the playground, etc. The teachers and parents of other students highly appreciate the students who are punctual.

ADVANTAGE OF PUNCTUALITY

Punctuality leads to a happy mind. It is a key to happiness and having a healthy mind. Therefore, any person having this quality would always feel comfortable while doing his/her work. He/She wakes up early in the morning and always feel energetic to do more tasks. Punctuality brings positivity in our mind and heart. One is clear about his/her thoughts, plan and activities, which is also an essential element to move forward in life.

CONCLUSION

Punctuality is not being practiced only by human beings but also the nature around us. Every day, the sun rises in the morning, sets in the evening. After the day, comes the night. Each of the seasons follows their timeline. All these natural phenomena encourage us to be punctual in our life to attain a goal and have a peaceful mind. Thus, Punctuality is the essence of life. It is very important for us to develop such quality from a very young age and lead ourselves and our country to a greater high. The rate of growth of the Human Development Index is bettered in a country where everyone knows and understands the value of time by being punctual. It ultimately helps in the growth of the country. Therefore, punctuality is not only a key to success for an individual but also for the entire community, nation, globe.

Relevance of non-alignment movement (nam) in 21st century

In the contemporary international circumstances non-alignment or to put it more precisely its
role and usefulness in general has become a highly controversial issue, certainly more so than
earlier. Thus, the movement is passing through a critical period in its life. It finds itself today
at the crossroad and seems to be finding it difficult to comprehend the path it has to rake. It is
trying to find its identity, reorient its perception and endeavor to determine the role it has
to play in the changed context of international relations. This has resulted in a heated debate
about the validity and contemporary relevance of NAM and non-alignment as foreign policy
behavior in this post cold war “unipolar world”.
According to the critics, NAM is no longer relevant because of the changed international
environment. It is engaged that the policy of Non-alignment had some utility in the period of
cold war bipolarity, because it was child of cold war in the reaction of certain countries to the
cold war. The two main contenders for political ascendancy had almost reached the point of
extermination. It was the desire to preserve independence as distinct from merely formal
sovereignty, which led some nation to resist absorption into one or the other power blocks.
Presently the international system is no longer bipolar and the cold war is over, so what is its
relevance today is a great question.
In spite all the above statements regarding its irrelevance, the relevance of NAM in
international affairs is unquestionable. As a matter of fact, the policy of Non-Alignment was
not wholly related to a bipolar world and the cold war between the two super powers and the
block they lead. It just happened that the Non-Alignment flowered in the immediate post-world
war. Therefore, whatever the world is bi-polar or multipolar or unipolar, non-alignment as a
foreign policy choice option of the small Third World countries will remain valid. In other
words the policy will last as long as the sovereign nation system last.
The declaration of the Jakarta Summit conference 1992 assured, NAM has contributed to the
ending of bipolar in the world and to the elimination of the cold war. These new developments
have in fact fully vindicated the validity and relevance of Non-Alignment. They affirmed NAM’s
role is ensuring” its full participation in the building of the new world order”. No wonder,
then that the membership of the NAM has more than quadrupled from about 25 states in 1961 to
120 today.
The relevance of NAM continues as it looks after the interest of all Third World countries for
which the movement was created. The beginning of the Non-Alignment can be traced to
Afro-Asian resurgence as a reaction against European colonial systems and prior to that in the
struggle of underdeveloped countries against the hegemony of great European powers since the
birth of nation state system. Just when these countries begin to gain independence, they found
themselves in bipolar worlds. Seeking membership of either block meant compromised on
newly owned freedom by sovereign states, as well as an increased in international tensions,
which is turned threatened the prospects of development- socio-economic and political.
Although the term Third World has lost currency since the 1970s when other terms, such as
‘underdeveloped countries’, ‘developing countries’, and ‘South’ or ‘Global South’, became more
widely used, revisiting the term conveys a sense of the conceptual foundations on which non￾alignment rests.
As Nehru’s brainchild, in essence non-alignment means the pursuit of equality in world
affairs through pooling the diplomatic resources of Third World states in international
forums. Equality should here be understood in political-economic terms.NAM was a front of
political solidarity by supporting liberation struggles and making abstinence from military
pacts or alliances a criterion of membership.
Nevertheless, NAM together with the Group of 77 (G77–largely made up of NAM members)
succeeded to keep Third World issues on the agenda in most UN forums and agencies due to
their numerical strength. In the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO), NAM and the G77 promoted the New World Information and Communication
Order (NWICO) to rectify the perceived imbalances in information and communication
flows between the North and the South.
The end of the cold war has ended a period of strategic confrontations but an era of stable
global peace is yet to be created. In fact the cold war is dead but not the regional conflicts and
crises. The East-West conflict has dissolved but intense economic and technological
competition is emerging among several strong nations. The Non-Alignment countries have to
learn to maneuver among them and to successfully face the menace of new colonialism that is
sought to be imposed through various WTO rounds. Thus, the NAM continues to be
relevant so long as there is exploitation, war, hunger, poverty and disease on the earth.
The uniqueness of NAM lies in the fact that its goals do not merely serve the national interest of
member state but it stand to promote the cause humanity. They are universalistic in nature. It
would not be an exaggeration to say that recent positive developments on international scene
reflect the spirit of NAM.
NAM is progressively putting more emphasis on economic independence. The Non￾Alignment nations have been demanding for a legitimate share in world trades. The determination of the quality and quantity of foreign aid from developed to developing countries is also task for the Non-Alignment nation. Economic cooperation between developed and developing states forms part of the threefold strategy advocated by the NAM. These stands are:
reliance on their resources, promotion of cooperation among non-alignment states
themselves, fostering cooperation with the advanced states, with the subjects of promoting
self reliance as would restrict exploitation and contribute towards resolution of the problems of
world economy as a whole.
The fundamental concern of NAM has always been with global question of decolonization and
consolidation of freedom, disarmament and development of economies through mutual
cooperation as well as through a more equitable and just new international economic order. All
these are interrelated and to make the package of peace and prosperity for humanity.
Perhaps the most important role for NAM today lies in framing a concrete economic agenda
for a just and fair international economic order. The globalization and liberalization trends
worldwide have generated complex economic problems. The rich-poor divide has widened. The
WTO rules and procedures have failed to provide adequate economic gains to the Third World.
WTO summits have failed to reach a consensus on many issues. Its role in WTO negotiations to
advance and protect the trading rights and opportunities of developing countries and in muscling
up their negotiating position and skills would be the chief concerns. It should strive to reform
and reorient the globalization process through a strong developmental agenda. NAM has an
effective role to play in this regard provided member countries try to see the benefits from a
unified angle without any partisan considerations.
In 2007, Rejecting the US contention that Non-Aligned Movement has “lost its meaning”,
India quickly asserted that its relevance continues in promoting democratization of the
international system and New Delhi was committed to its ideals. External Affairs Ministry said
India’s “firm and abiding commitment” to non-alignment could not be questioned. “The Non￾Aligned Movement played a significant role in ending apartheid and colonialism. Today, itsrelevance continues in promoting South-South cooperation and democratization of the international system.
NAM must play the positive role in making the globalization inclusive and must strive to
achieve a faire, just international economic order.

CASTE SYSTEM OF INDIA

India’s caste system is among the world’s oldest forms of surviving social stratification. The BBC explains its complexities. The system which divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work) and dharma (the Hindi word for religion, but here it means duty) is generally accepted to be more than 3,000 years old.

ORIGIN OF CASTE SYSTEM

Manusmriti is widely regarded to be the most important and authoritative book on Hindu law and dating back to at least 1,000 years before Christ was born, “acknowledges and justifies the caste system as the basis of order and regularity of society”. The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation.

At the top of the hierarchy were the Brahmins who were mainly teachers and intellectuals and are believed to have come from Brahma’s head. Then came the Kshatriyas, or the warriors and rulers, supposedly from his arms. The third slot went to the Vaishyas, or the traders, who were created from his thighs. At the bottom of the heap were the Shudras, who came from Brahma’s feet and did all the menial jobs.

The main castes were further divided into about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their specific occupation. Outside of this Hindu caste system were the achhoots – the Dalits or the untouchables.

WORKING OF CASTE SYSTEM

For centuries, caste has dictated almost every aspect of Hindu religious and social life, with each group occupying a specific place in this complex hierarchy. Rural communities have long been arranged on the basis of castes – the upper and lower castes almost always lived in segregated colonies, the water wells were not shared, Brahmins would not accept food or drink from the Shudras, and one could marry only within one’s caste.

The system bestowed many privileges on the upper castes while sanctioning repression of the lower castes by privileged groups. Often criticised for being unjust and regressive, it remained virtually unchanged for centuries, trapping people into fixed social orders from which it was impossible to escape. Despite the obstacles, however, some Dalits and other low-caste Indians, such as BR Ambedkar who authored the Indian constitution, and KR Narayanan who became the nation’s first Dalit president, have risen to hold prestigious positions in the country.

Historians, though, say that until the 18th Century, the formal distinctions of caste were of limited importance to Indians, social identities were much more flexible and people could move easily from one caste to another. New research shows that hard boundaries were set by British colonial rulers who made caste India’s defining social feature when they used censuses to simplify the system, primarily to create a single society with a common law that could be easily governed.

EVIL FACES OF THIS SYSTEM

UNTOUCHABILITY

Many villages are separated by caste and they may not cross the line dividing them from the higher castes. They also may not use the same wells or drink in the same tea stalls as higher castes.

DISCRIMINATION

They often do not have the facility to electricity, sanitation facilities or water pumps in lower caste neighbourhoods. Access to better education, housing and medical facilities than that of the higher castes is denied.

DIVISION OF LABOUR

They are restricted to certain occupations like sanitation work, plantation work, leather works, cleaning streets, etc.

SLAVERY

They are subjected to exploitation in the name of debt, tradition, etc., to work as labourers or perform menial tasks for generations together.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

The Indian Government has enacted laws to remove untouchability and has also brought in many reforms to improve the quality of life for the weaker sections of society. Few among them are: Constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights

Abolition of ‘ untouchability’ in 1950

Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

Provision of reservation in places like educational institutions, for employment opportunities etc.

Establishing social welfare departments and national commissions for the welfare of scheduled castes and tribes

These measures adopted by the government have brought some relief to the weaker sections of society. The urban areas have shown good amount of impact and some improvement. However, people in rural areas and villages still face extreme discrimination. We indeed have a long way to go in achieving the objectives set to eradicate and abolish discrimination, on the basis of caste and creed. It now depends on our efforts and a change in our mindset is sure to see a perpetual change, bringing about equality for all.

CASTE POLITICS

Many political parties in India have indulged in caste-based votebank politics. Parties such as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Samajwadi Party and the Janata Dal claim that they are representing the backward castes, and rely on OBC support, often in alliance with Dalit and Muslim support, to win elections.

Sustainable development and its pillars

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs….The concept of sustainable development was introduced in early 1980’s (in particular through the publication of the World Conservation Strategy by IUCN, UNEP and WWF, 1980), in order to reconcile conservation and development objectives.

Sustainable development consists of a long-term, integrated approach to developing and achieving a healthy community by jointly addressing economic, environmental, and social issues, whilst avoiding the over consumption of key natural resources.

The 3 pillars of sustainable development is
Social development, economic development,environmental protection.

Economic Development
It requires that a business or country uses its resources efficiently and responsibly so that it can operate in a sustainable manner to consistently produce an operational profit.

Social Sustainability Social sustainability is the ability of society, or any social system, to persistently achieve a good social well being. Achieving social sustainability ensures that the social well being of a country, an organisation, or a community can be maintained in the long term.

Environmental Sustainability Environmental sustainability means that we are living within the means of our natural resources.To live in true environmental sustainability, we need to ensure that we are consuming our natural resources, such as materials, energy fuels, land, water…etc, at a sustainable rate. Some resources are more abundant than others and therefore we need to consider material scarcity, the damage to environment from extraction of these materials and if the resource can be kept within Circular Economy principles.

Music: what’s your thing?

Allegory of Music, by François Boucher, 1764

Music is the art of arranging sounds in time to produce a composition through the elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre. It is one of the universal cultural aspects of all human societies. General definitions of music include common elements such as pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics (loudness and softness), and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture (which are sometimes termed the “color” of a musical sound). Different styles or types of music may emphasize, de-emphasize or omit some of these elements.

Okay! So in simple words music gives us a thrilling experience, it lowers down our stress and gives us a reliefable experience. Many of us might have different-different artists. Different types, different tastes, but I love all the types of music. Depending upon the mood but you know we all have a phase where we do need a motivational song, Which motivates us, which gives us a idea that where we are and where do we have to go. Sometimes we need a song which make us feel good after a breakthrough it might be when you fought with your best friend may be your partner may be your siblings your parents, from those who mean alot to you.

And there are a lot of types of music it may be:

1. EDMs.

2. Motivational songs.

3. Romantic songs.

4. A breakthrough song.

5. Rock music.

6. A whole mood song. Which gives you a thrill and makes your legs move. That song will let you dance. It happened with me I was once travelling in the metro and I was using my earbuds and suddenly that song came and I was like ‘yea it’s a whole vibe’.

And etc etc there are many types of songs but yes for sure it depends upon our mood

So my moto to write an article on this topic was that if you’re angry sit alone listen to music if you’re happy listen to the music if you can’t handle things listen to the music if you’re in a phase you can’t tell anyone please listen to the music. It just lower down the stress and music is the only thing you’ll listen to at that time this is my experience.

Ordinance Making Power of the President

One of the important provisions in the Constitution of India is regarding the ordinance making power of the executive. The nature of the Indian Constitution can be called exhaustive citing the example of the above provision. The President is the Head of the State acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers. He can exercise the executive powers allotted to him either himself or through subordinates. The legislative power to promulgate ordinances is granted to the President under Article 123. The Indian Constitution clearly differentiates the powers and functions of the Parliament and the State Legislatures, providing no room for each to encroach upon the powers and functions of the other, in accordance with the theory of separation of power. To achieve the separation of power, the government is divided into three branches, namely The Legislative, The Executive, and The Judiciary. The powers and functions of these organs are sufficiently differentiated. The motive is to ensure a fair democracy through checks and balances.   

     The President is empowered to pass ordinances when the circumstances make it necessary. It is passed by the President to deal with emergency situations or unforeseen circumstances. These have the same legal status as that of laws passed by the Parliament. This power helps the government in urgent times. For example, the recent   Epidemic Act 1897 (Amendment) Act Ordinance, 2020. Any attack or abetment of violence against healthcare workers was made an offence. This paper explores the nature of ordinance making power, whether it is subject to judicial review, its usage over the years, its limitations and trends in promulgation of ordinances. This paper aims to critically analyse the power of ordinance promulgation granted to the executive by the Constitution.

Ordinance Making Power of the President

The ordinance making power of the President is explained under Article 123. Though India follows the theory of separation of powers and powers and functions are sufficiently differentiated, it is not incorporated in its strictest sense. The ordinance making power can be seen as an overlapping of executive and legislative. Article 123 explains the ordinance making power as follows:

(1) If at any time, except when both Houses of Parliament are in session, the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action, he may promulgate such Ordinance as the circumstances appear to him to require

(2) An Ordinance promulgated under this article shall have the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament, but every such Ordinance

(a) shall be laid before both House of Parliament and shall cease to operate at the expiration of six weeks from the reassemble of Parliament, or, if before the expiration of that period resolutions disapproving it are passed by both Houses, upon the passing of the second of those resolutions; and

(b) may be withdrawn at any time by the President Explanation Where the Houses of Parliament are summoned to reassemble on different dates, the period of six weeks shall be reckoned from the later of those dates for the purposes of this clause

(3) If and so far as an Ordinance under this article makes any provision which Parliament would not under this Constitution be competent to enact, it shall be void.

This allows the President to promulgate ordinances during an emergency when the Parliament is not in session. The President can pass ordinances if one house is not in session. The nature of the ordinances is temporary. These ordinances have the legal force similar to any law passed by the legislation. Similarly, the Governor of an Indian state is empowered to pass laws under Article 213. Article 213 deals with the law making powers of the Governor of a state. These laws can be promulgated only when the legislative assembly is not in session and are temporary in nature. In the cases of states following bicameral form of legislature, the Governor can pass an ordinance if any one house is not in session. According to the Constitution, the ordinance may have a retrospective effect and may be passed to repeal other acts and ordinances. This power, however, cannot be used to amend the Constitution. This granting of legislative power was seen as a necessity during the drafting of the Constitution and the opinion is shared by many other experts and jurists. The ordinance making power of the President was justified by Dr. Ambedkar in the constituent assembly. 

“It is not difficult to imagine cases where the powers conferred by the ordinary law existing at any particular moment may be deficient to deal with a situation which may suddenly and immediately arise, what is the executive to do. The executive has got a new situation arisen, which it must deal with. Ex hypothesi it has not got the power to deal with that in the existing code of law. The emergency must be dealt with and it seems to me that the only solution is to confer upon the President the power to promulgate a law which will enable the executive to deal with that particular situation because it cannot resort to the ordinary process of law because, again ex hypothesi , the legislature is not in session. Therefore it seems to me that fundamentally there is no objection to the provisions contained in article 102.” 

To this, B. N. Rau observed that:

“The ordinance-making power has been the subject of greater criticism under the present Constitution. It must, however, be pointed out that the circumstances may exist where the immediate promulgation of a law is absolutely necessary and there is no time in which to summon the Union Parliament. . . .The President who is elected by the two Houses of Parliament and who was normally to act on the advice of ministers responsible to Parliament is not at all likely to abuse any ordinance-making power with which he may be invested.”

The article concerning ordinance making power drew inspiration from the previous The Government of India Act, 1935. Another appropriate could not be thought of at that time.

The Government of India Act, 1935 had two provisions dealing with the ordinance making power of the Governor General. According to Section 42 of this act, the Governor General had the power to introduce ordinances when the legislature was not in function. The Governor General could promulgate ordinances on his own or by following the advice of the ministers. The consultation with ministers was mandatory. According to Section 43 of this act, the Governor General could issue ordinances to carry out his functions or under the act which required him to act in his discretion. This can be seen as a parallel legislative power with a lifespan of only six months. The lifespan could be extended with the consent of the Crown. This act was also a source for the ordinance making power provided in the Indian constitution. In India, this provision has been met with mixed response. While some have supported the power citing emergency as a reason, others opposing the provision have reasoned that the power is undemocratic and an encroachment upon the legislative. 

The power vested in the executive is not without limitations. The president is empowered to pass legislation only in certain scenarios. He can pass legislations only when the Parliament is not in session. He can pass legislations even if one house is not in session. The President is allowed to legislation only when situation demands immediate action. Another necessary element, according to the Constitution, is that the President should be satisfied as to the circumstances that necessitate action. The legislation thus passed has to be approved within the prescribed time limit of six weeks after the reassembling of the Houses of the Parliament.  

Loosing Someone

Attachment- a word that means something is attached. Obviously, a human can make attachment with anything either with the toy or a person. It can only form if love is there. If we love someone then we won’t never want to lose it but it’s a game of destiny. If it meant to be gone then it will. We are unable to prevent destiny to taking next steps of our life. It’s very disheartening to lose someone whom to we genuinely love and made bond of love. When a person or animal, whomever that we loved so much, went away from our life, only memories remain of them with us. It’s depend upon ourselves to ruin our life after going that one or make it better in which way that person wanted. The every bit of life reminds us of them. It’s very difficult to live without them. But we have to live without them. Thats a real warrior do. Sometimes we cry like a infant if we think about a moment that we lived together, some antics that made you annoyed, some silly things that made them more irritable. But now , after that person gone, all you want to say them please irritable us like before as you did. Living with memories of peoples that don’t exist anymore, shows a gratitude and love towards them.

Body positivity

Body positivity means accepting your body despite its flaws. Feeling confident about your body, accepting yourself the way you are and loving yourself immensely is the essence of the concept. Body positivity is accepting the body you have as well as the changes in shape, size, and ability it may undergo due to nature or age throughout your lifetime. It’s about breaking the stereotypes created by the society.

Society has shaped us in many ways, possibly more than we realize. Since our childhood we see our people including our parents and friends criticizing and making comments on our weight because of which many of us become insecure and conscious. Media has set an idealized beauty look by featuring ultra-thin and fair tone models in magazines which leads to lower self-esteem and depression. Social media users choose to share the best parts of their life with world, they cover their flaws by filters and beauty editor apps. People compare themselves with others and begin to feel that they are not good enough. There is no such thing as a perfect body, the concept of perfection is in itself a flawed concept. Real beauty comes from within, the most beautiful people in the world are those who have a good heart. It’s a high time for body-positive initiatives. One’s self-esteem should never be dependent on one’s appearance. Appearances aren’t everything. Characters, values, skills are attributes one must seek to acquire and develop. Don’t try and emulate someone else’s looks or personality. Be authentic, that’s what will make you stand out.

Body positivity also aims to help people understand how popular media messages contribute to the relationship that people have with their bodies, including how they feel about food, exercise, clothing, health, identity, and self-care. By better understanding the effect that such influences have, the hope is that people can develop a healthier and more realistic relationship with their bodies.

The first steps against body positivity tend to start at home. Women are told from young ages that being pretty will help them thrive, they are to act feminine, and that how much they weigh will be a constant presence in their life. Teenage girls and boys are constantly bombarded with images of celebrities who are skinny and have Eurocentric features. The message is clear: this is what success is supposed to look like. It is skinny, but not too skinny, girls, who have perfect hair and makeup, or extremely masculine boys without any hint of low self-esteem. Despite this, the past years have shown body positivity movements and campaigns that have grown, as well as efforts for more diverse model spectrums that have made strides in society.

As individuals we need to stop pressuring ourselves to change the way we look to fit society’s standards on how we should appear. We need to appreciate ourselves and our bodies. Everyone is born to be different and that means not being perfect. We shouldn’t change ourselves to fit in society’s expectations of our appearance. We are beautiful, we are special, we are unique and we shouldn’t let anyone else tell us otherwise. Let’s break the idealized beauty standers and the stereotypes created by the society. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and what matters is the inside beauty and not the outer appearance.

Serum institute to begin novavax covid vaccine trials for kids in july

Pune-based Serum Institute of India said that clinical trials on children will begin from the month of July.

Amidst fears of the third wave of Coronavirus vaccine on children from July onwards. Pune – based SII, which is also manufacturing the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab known as Covishield in India, is hoping to introduce the Novavax vaccine, to be known as Covavax in the country, by September.

In the midst of vaccine shortage across the country, Novavax vaccine got a shot in the arm as the clinical trials were conducted across 119 locations in the United States and Mexico and proved efficacy of the vaccine. The development comes just days after Novavax Inc announced that its vaccine had turned out to be more than 90 percent effective in trials, including against a number of coronavirus variants of concern, in a large, late-stage clinical trial conducted in the United States. It was said that the trial was done on nearly 30,000 volunteers in the US and Mexico. According to the company, it is likely to apply for emergency use authorization in the US and other countries in the third quarter of this year.

Soon after the news broke out about the excellent clinical trial results, Dr VK Paul who is the head of India Covid-19 task force urged Serum Institute to begin clinical trials of the vaccine on children without any delay. While terming the vaccine clinical trials result as a positive development, Dr Paul had also said the vaccine was very relevant as it would be indigenously produced in the country and groundwork for the manufacturing of the vaccine has also been completed by SII.

As per the study, the vaccine candidate was found to be 93 percent effective against COVID-19 variants that are more easily transmissible and predominant. According to Novavax, the vaccine is generally well tolerated. Its side effects seen during the trial include mild headache, fatigue and muscle pain. According to the company, it is expecting to produce 100 million doses per month by the end of the third quarter of 2021 and 150 million doses per month in the fourth quarter of 2021. What makes the Covavax vaccine critical in the country’s Covid-19 immunisation programme is the fact that the government expects about 20 crore doses of the vaccine to be available between August and December. Also, the vaccine can be stored at a temperature between 2 and 8 Celsius which makes it highly suitable for Indian conditions where logistics and storage bottlenecks in far flung areas hamper efficient inoculation.

After the completion of clinical trials and regulatory approval to the vaccine, India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive will pick pace with three indigenously manufactured vaccines namely- Serum’s Covishield and Covavax and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. 

World Test Championship – NZ squad analysis

Oops!! Lot’s of expectations and lot’s of predictions. But no game today. Don’t worry, we have 5 days left. Yes, 5 days. The reserve day, June 23 is available to compensate any loss in time occured in the pre-scheduled dates. In this blog, we will discuss the squad of New Zealand for the World Test Championship Final 2021.

Let’s see the squad of New Zealand first. Kane Williamson (C), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling and Will Young.

Batting analysis:

Openers would be Tom Latham and Devon Conway. Conway recently scored a double century against England in the away soil. He will definitely be a big threat to face. Then comes the captain Kane Williamson at no.3. As everyone know, he is the current best Test cricketer around the world. The stability and balance he provides for his team is remarkable and will be a crucial factor influencing the result of the game. Taylor comes at No.4 after him for support and uphold the innings. Both Williamson and Taylor are always calm and composed and scores boundaries in regular intervals. Breaking their partnership will be a definite tough task for the Indian bowlers. Then comes Henry Nicholls/BJ Watling at no.5.

“Kane and BJ have certainly benefitted from their week of rest and rehabilitation and we expect them to be fit and available for the final,” Stead said at a press conference after the team’s arrival

According to his statement, there is a possibility for the experienced contender BJ Watling to get a chance in the playing 11. Then comes their Wicket-Keeper batsman Tom Blundell at no.6. At no.7, the definite pick would be their all-rounder Kyle Jamieson.

So as batting is concerned, they have no boxes to fill. Every peice fits perfect. The result depends completely on their execution in the field.

Bowling analysis:

When it comes to bowling, we can’t exclude the three giants, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Niel Wagner. Kyle Jamieson will be their 4th fast bowling option. This may be the best Test bowling attack that New Zealand have ever had. Each 4 of them are wicket-takers and can bring the confidence up for the team from any situation of the game. At last, one position is vacant for Colin de Grandhomme/Matt Henry/Ajaz Patel. Selection of one among the three would be dependent on the conditions of play. If there is overcast cloud, then Henry would be a better pick since he can bowl in the new ball. If they consider for variety, Ajaz Patel may come in. He performed well against England last week. If the pitch gets rough on day 4 or day 5, he could turn the ball then. That would be an advantage. If they need an all-rounder who can bat at no.8 and still can bowl 12 to 15 overs per day, then Grandhomme would be a choice. All these would be talked about in their team analysis.

We hope tomorrow we’ll watch fabulous cricket from home. Stay safe!!

Are Romantic Movies Damaging Real Relationships???

Let us be honest.

To start with, like everything, romantic movies too affect in both positive and negative ways. Talking about positive effects of romantic movies that shows the love relationships between two individuals, irrespective of their age, sex, caste, country and religion affects and in a way broadens the concept of love between two. If we see the earlier and even today’s version of a country like India, we are very well known by the fact that the only love that was considered dignified and pure was that of between two individuals of different sex, same caste, same religion and same age group that also needed to happen between two after marriage only. Love before marriage, love between same sexes, love between individuals of different caste and religion was not at all accepted in earlier India. But now, as we see India is changing bit by bit. There are many who accepts and encourages love that has no boundaries of sex, marriage, caste etc. And for this change, two things are responsible : 1- Education and 2- Romantic movies. Its film industry and the films that younger generations learn from and try to follow. And when these younger generations become older, they allow their next generations to love before marriage and all sort of things. In some cases, old generations also try not to enforce the laws and boundations that were earlier enforced on them in their young ages that didn’t allowed them to love freely and in a way forced them to suppress their desires. That’s how films normalised and even today trying to normalize the love of different kinds that knows no boundaries  at all. Films taught people that its nothing wrong in it if they are falling for someone of the same sex or different age group. Off course, only if the other person is also into it equally. Also, romantic movies presents the feelings and situations of both individuals equally and that helps people to understand their partner better. We cannot deny the fact that every person is different in nature and might have different feelings and circumstances that made her/him but anyhow, by  presenting love relationships, it gives a sight into other person’s psyche. Or we can say, romantic movies makes us to think beyond ourselves.

Now coming to the negative effects of romantic movies we may say that such movies also develops a particular image of love, what our partner should behave like, or what many times we address it like “Sapno ka Rajkumar” / “Sapno ki Rani”. Its not the dreams that we see about our would be partner but the effect of these romantic movies that we start imagining our partner to be identical to this or that character, which is not at all good. We know every person is different from the other and different circumstances and experiences are the things that makes up the individual into who they are today. So it would be wrong to expect someone to act in a way you want, or a character of a romantic movie you like. On one hand people keep saying that they want a real person who doesn’t act fake to look perfect and on the other its the same people who fancy about a character in a movie and rejects a real person saying that they are not the person they’re looking for. People imagine to have a movie like relation in real life and if things don’t go that way, they simply want to come out of it. That is actually the effect of romantic movies people see and they don’t even realise that their relation can’t work like the cooked up ones in those ENTIRE WORKS OF FICTION.

UNTOUCHABILITY

MEANING

Untouchability is the practice of discriminating various individuals and groups based on their cast and the jobs done by them. Untouchability is practiced for a very long time. It works on the Indian caste system hierarchy. The untouchables usually bear inhuman treatment because they belong to the lower caste. They have been going through various kinds of discrimination in almost all places.

HISTORY OF UNTOUCHABILITY IN INDIA

The term Dalit for the untouchables is derived from the Sanskrit which means broken or downtrodden. Some people believe that the system of untouchability only prevails in India but it is also prevalent in other countries such as Japan, Tibet, and Korea.

The castes have been derived from Vedic texts which divide people into four major groups: Brahmans – Priests and elite people, Kshatriyas – Warriors, Vaishyas – Small Businessmen and Merchants, Shudras –Sanitary workers. Thus, these differences in the people of ancient India were mostly based on caste and profession of the people

STRUGGLES FOR THE ABOLISHMENT OF UNTOUCHABILITY

After fighting for years against exercising dominance over the oppressed class, the practice of untouchability still has its marks in many societies around us. Even educated people follow these practices.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi were among the prominent leaders who fought very hard for the abolition of the practice of untouchability. Thus, the hard work of such people gave a rightful chance to the Dalits to prove themselves and enhance the chance of equality, harmony, and brotherhood in the society.

EVIL EFFECTS OF UNTOUCHABILITY

Untouchability leads to social discrimination. It damages social harmony. It has created wide social distance between the two groups, touchable and untouchables. Untouchability perpetuates inequality. It cannot support the development of healthy democratic tradition. Untouchability has damaged the self-image and prestige of the scheduled castes. It has developed a sense of inferiority among the scheduled castes. The practice of untouchability has brought down the image of the Indians in the eyes of the foreigners. Untouchability has provided the scope for religious conversions.

AMENDMENTS IN THE CONSTITUTION

After several movements and struggles to abolish the practice of untouchability, laws were made in the constitution to accommodate the interests of the oppressed classes. Article 17 of the Indian Constitution abolished untouchability and declared it as a punishable act.  According to this, no one can restrict the Dalits or Harijans from entering temples, streets, buses, etc. They are free to use all public services with respect and dignity. Also, no one can refuse from selling anything to the Dalit people.

The government also gives reservation to these castes. Reservation means that a certain percentage of places in government colleges and jobs are reserved for the people from lower classes. It, therefore, ensures that their oppression in the past does not affect the progress of their present and their future. The reservation also aims at providing them a fair chance of education which is beneficial for them along with their families and generations to come.

TODAY’S SCENARIO OF UNTOUCHABILITY

Today the view of untouchability is different from ancient India. People are becoming more aware and are adapting to rational thinking. In spite of the constitutional amendments; untouchability, and caste discrimination still prevail in society. The politicians use this to increase their vote bank and gain power in the government.

The Dalits living in the cities are less vulnerable to this practice of discrimination as compared to those living in rural areas. People living in rural areas prefer to stick to their traditional beliefs, practices and refuse to accept the changes made for the betterment of society.

CONCLUSION

All people are equal in the eyes of law. We shall not discriminate and dominate others on the basis of their caste. We should teach our children about the importance of sensibility, generosity, and equality with all people.  The Dalits face discrimination majorly because of their jobs such as cleaning public areas etc. Basically, we shall respect them the most as they keep our society clean and healthy. Therefore, the young generation should take charge and fight for its complete abolition.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

INTRODUCTION

Sleep deprivation or sleeplessness, is the condition of not having adequate duration and/or quality of sleep to support decent alertness, performance, and health. It can be either chronic or acute and may vary widely in severity. Acute sleep deprivation is when an individual does not sleep at all for a short period of time – usually lasting one to two days. Chronic sleep deprivation means when an individual routinely sleeps less than an optimal amount for ideal functioning. 

CAUSES OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Stress. Concerns about work, school, health, finances or family can keep your mind active at night, making it difficult to sleep. Stressful life events or trauma — such as the death or illness of a loved one, divorce, or a job loss — also may lead to insomnia.

Travel or work schedule. Your circadian rhythms act as an internal clock, guiding such things as your sleep-wake cycle, metabolism and body temperature. Disrupting your body’s circadian rhythms can lead to insomnia. Causes include jet lag from traveling across multiple time zones, working a late or early shift, or frequently changing shifts.

Poor sleep habits. Poor sleep habits include an irregular bedtime schedule, naps, stimulating activities before bed, an uncomfortable sleep environment, and using your bed for work, eating or watching TV. Computers, TVs, video games, smartphones or other screens just before bed can interfere with your sleep cycle.

Eating too much late in the evening. Having a light snack before bedtime is OK, but eating too much may cause you to feel physically uncomfortable while lying down. Many people also experience heartburn, a backflow of acid and food from the stomach into the esophagus after eating, which may keep you awake.

Mental health disorders. Anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, may disrupt your sleep. Awakening too early can be a sign of depression. Insomnia often occurs with other mental health disorders as well.

Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Coffee, tea, cola and other caffeinated drinks are stimulants. Drinking them in the late afternoon or evening can keep you from falling asleep at night. Nicotine in tobacco products is another stimulant that can interfere with sleep. Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it prevents deeper stages of sleep and often causes awakening in the middle of the night.

Sleep-related disorders. Sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing periodically throughout the night, interrupting your sleep. Restless legs syndrome causes unpleasant sensations in your legs and an almost irresistible desire to move them, which may prevent you from falling asleep.

SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

You may be sleep deprived if you:

Feel tired, irritable, and fatigued during the day; yawn frequently.

Have to take a nap during the day.

Fall asleep on the couch in the evening.

Have experienced mood changes, including feeling depressed, anxious, stressed, paranoid, or suicidal.

Find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, need an alarm clock to wake up on time, or repeatedly hit the snooze button.

CONSEQUENCES OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Changes in energy. Feeling fatigued, lethargic, and lacking motivation in your work, school, and home life. You may crave sugar, caffeine, or naps throughout the day.

Mental health problems. Sleep deprivation can cause moodiness and irritability, increase your risk of depression and anxiety, and affect your ability to cope with stress or manage difficult emotions. In extreme cases, sleep deprivation can even cause hallucinations and delirium.

Impaired brain activity, including learning, concentration, and memory problems. Lack of sleep can reduce creativity and problem-solving skills, and affect your judgment, coordination, and reaction times. In fact, sleep deprivation can impair your motor skills just as much as being drunk, increasing your risk for accidents.

Impacting the cardiovascular system. Missing out on sleep can trigger harmful inflammation and raise your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, increasing your risk for heart disease.

Relationship problems. Increased moodiness and anger issues can trigger arguments, while sleep deprivation can also decrease your sex drive, even reduce the production of hormones and cause problems with fertility.

Changes in appearance, including premature skin aging and weight gain.

Increased risk of serious health problems including stroke, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain cancers.

MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Medical treatment for sleep disturbances might include any of the following:

Sleeping pills

melatonin supplements

allergy or cold medication

medications for any underlying health issues

breathing device or surgery (usually for sleep apnea)

a dental guard (usually for teeth grinding)

PREVENTION OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Create and stick to a regular and consistent sleeping schedule. Maintain a strict time to go to bed and wake up to develop a routine.

Avoid taking naps during the day because naps make you less sleepy at night.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine within 8 hours of bedtime

Limit the use of electronic appliances (television, laptop, & mobile) 1 hour before bed. These devices emit light and disrupt your body’s biological clock.

Try not to exercise three hours before the time you go to sleep. Regular exercising in the day, however, is beneficial.

Meditate to improve your focus, mindfulness, relieve stress and reduce anxiety stress.

How our screen time affects our lives?

Screen time is the amount of time we spend on any device with a screen like a mobile, TV, or laptop. Experts say that less than 2 hours of screen time outside work is the ideal screen time.

The pandemic has made us more addicted to our devices increasing our screen time. Don’t get me wrong I do appreciate technology. Our economies wouldn’t be functioning in the pandemic if it weren’t for technology. Most of our work became virtual and so did our lives.

Now, we know what the ideal time for our screen is but, it is hard for us to stick to that. Our screens provide us with endless entertainment whether it is binge-watching a series, playing a game on console, or scrolling through social media.

But, what we fail to recognize is how much it affects our lives. Let’s begin with health problems.

Many people have trouble having a good night’s sleep and we all know how important that is for our body. When we can’t sleep we tend to go on our screens.

Did you know that is the reason why we can’t fall asleep?

Digital screens emit blue light which interferes with the production of the sleep hormone melatonin in our body making it harder for us to sleep at night. People who tend to have a high screen time also usually suffer from headaches and eye strains. It also affects our posture.

Let’s move on to how it affects our mental health.

We use technology as a source of entertainment, but we forget where to put a stop to it, and that’s when the problem arises. We slowly fall into this cycle of using technology excessively and, forget that we have a life outside it. Human beings are curious by nature. We learn new things and want to change from time to time. So, we start to feel anxious and depressed when all we do is stare at our screens all day. Excessive screen time also means less time to do other activities like interacting with people which further leads to low social skills.

Yes, sitting at home and using our screen is the easy thing to do. We get entertained and it is in our comfort zone. We don’t have to meet people and do physical activities. But, just because it feels right doesn’t mean it is good for us.

We think that we are just passing time by using our devices. But what we don’t realize is that we are wasting our time doing things we won’t even remember in the future. Are you going to remember the memes you have liked, or the people that you stalk, or the number of games that you have won on your console?

No right? So why are we doing it?

 Let’s go down memory lane. Think of your favorite memories. Does any of the memories involve you using your screen? I don’t think so.

So, let’s all start doing things that we will remember in the future. Let’s talk to people around us. So many times we come across situations where we are surrounded by our loved ones but all we do is stare at our screens.

 We all know that “time is precious”. So why is our screen time more than what it should be?