Month: July 2021

pH SCALE

All the aqueous solutions may contain hydrogen and hydroxyl ions due to self-ionisation of water. In addition to this ionisation, substances dissolved in water also may produce hydrogen ions or hydroxyl ions. The concentration of these ions decides whether the solution is acidic or basic. pH scale is a scale for measuring the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. The ‘p’ in pH stands for ‘Potenz’ in German meaning ‘power’. pH notation was devised by the Danish biochemist Sorensen in 1909. pH scale is a set of numbers from 0 to 14 which is used to indicate whether a solution is acidic, basic or neutral.

✓Acids have pH less than 7
✓Bases have pH greater than 7
✓A neutral solution has pH equal to 7

The pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration
i.e pH = −log [H+]

We can measure the pH of a given solution using pH paper

The pH of a solution can be determined by using a universal indicator. It contains a mixture of dyes. It comes in the form of a solution or a pH paper.

A more common method of measuring pH in a school laboratory is by using the pH paper. A pH paper contains a mixture of indicators. It shows a specific colour at a given pH. A colour guide is provided with the bottle of the indicator or the strips of paper impregnated with it, which are called pH paper strips. The test solution is tested with a drop of the universal indicator, or a drop of the test solution is put on the pH paper. The colour of the solution on the pH paper is compared with the colour chart and the pH value is read from it. The pH values thus obtained are only approximate values.

Role of pH in Everyday Life

Plants and animals are pH sensitive

Our body works within the pH range of 7.0 to 7.8. Living organisms can survive only in a narrow range of pH change. Different body fluids have different pH values. For example, pH of blood is ranging from 7.35 to 7.45. Any increase or decrease in this value leads to diseases. The ideal pH for blood is 7.4.

pH in our digestive system

It is very interesting to note that our stomach produces hydrochloric acid. It helps in the digestion of food without harming the stomach. During indigestion the stomach produces too much acid and this causes pain and irrigation. pH of the stomach fluid is approximately 2.0.

pH changes as the cause of tooth decay

pH of the saliva normally ranges between 6.5 to 7.5. White enamel coating of our teeth is calcium phosphate, the hardest substance in our body. When the pH of the mouth saliva falls below 5.5, the enamel gets weathered. Toothpastes, which are generally basic are used for cleaning the teeth that can neutralise the excess acid and prevent tooth decay.

pH of soil

In agriculture, the pH of the soil is very important. Citrus fruits require slightly alkaline soil, while rice requires acidic soil and sugarcane requires neutral soil.

pH of rain water

The pH of rain water is approximately 7, which means that it is neutral and also represents its high purity. If the atmospheric air is polluted with oxide gases of sulphur and nitrogen, they get dissolved in the rain water and make its pH less than 7. Thus, if the pH of rain water is less than 7, then it is called acid rain. When acid rain flows into the rivers it lowers the pH of the river water also.

Environment Protection Act -1986

The constitution of India clearly states that it is the duty of the state to “protect & improve the environment and to safeguard the forests & wildlife of the country”. The department of environment was established in India in 1980. this later became the Ministry of environment & forests in 1985. The EPA (Environment Protection Act), 1986 came into force soon after the Bhopal gas tragedy & is considered an umbrella legislation as it fills many gaps in the existing laws. Thereafter a large number of laws came into existence as the problems began arising, or example, handling and management of hazardous waste rule in 1989.

An Act to provide for the protection and improvement of Environment. Whereas the decisions were taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, to take appropriate steps for the protection & improvement of human environment.

Objective

  • Providing for the protection & improvement of the environment.
  • Preventing environmental pollution in all its forms.
  • To tackle specific environmental problems that are peculiar to different parts of the country.
  • To co- ordinate the activities of the various regulatory agencies already in existence.
  • To appoint environment officers to check environmental pollution.
  • To improve the quality of life by protection of environment.
  • Establishing environmental laboratories. To protect the forests & wildlife in the country.

SCHEME OF THE ACT

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has 26 Sections & it has been divided into four chapters relating to, 1.Preliminary 2.General Powers of the central Government. 3.Prevention, Control, & Abatement of Environmental Pollution. 4.Miscellaneous.

PRELIMINARY : •Short Title, Extended & Commencement. •Definitions

Short Title, Extended & Commencement

The environmental protection act (1986) enacted under article 253 of the Indian constitution. To protect & improve environmental quality, control & reduce pollution from all sources. 1.This act may be called the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. 2.It extends to the whole of India.

IMPORTATNT DEFINATIONS

  1. Environment
  2. Environmental Pollutant
  3. Environmental Pollution
  4. Handling
  5. Hazardous Substance
  6. Occupier

GENERAL POWERS OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

  • Planning and execution of a nation-wide program for the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution.
  • Restriction of areas in which any industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards.
  • Laying down procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances
  • Examination of such manufacturing processes, materials and substances as are likely to cause environmental pollution.
  • Carrying out and sponsoring investigations and research relating to problems of environmental pollution.
  • Establishment or recognition of environmental laboratories and institutes to carry out the functions entrusted to such environmental laboratories and institutes under this Act.

RULES TO REGULATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

  1. The standards of quality of air, water or soil for various areas and purposes
  2. The maximum allowable limits of concentration of various environmental pollutants (including noise) for different areas
  3. The procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances
  4. The prohibition and restrictions on the handling of hazardous substances in different areas
  5. The prohibition and restriction on the location of industries and the carrying on process and operations in different areas
  6. The procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may •cause environmental pollution and for providing for remedial measures for •such accidents.

PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND ABATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

  • Persons carrying on industry operation, etc., not to allow emission or discharge of environmental pollutants in excess of the standards.
  • Persons handling hazardous substances to comply with procedural safeguards
  • Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies in certain cases
  • Powers of entry and inspection
  • Power to take sample and procedure

PUNISHMENTS

One of the objective of EPA is provide for deterrent punishment to those who endanger human environment safety & health. Section 15 of EPA provides that any person who fails to comply or contrivance any provision or rule or act he shall be punishable. With a fine  of 1 lakh. with imprisonment for term for 5 years. or both

JOURNALISM

The journalism is the largest growing professionals in the world with the growing numbers in the communication channels the number of audience have also increased at a large rate. It is the activity of gathering assessing creating and presenting news and information journalism can be distinguished from other activities and products by certain identifiable characteristics and practices. It is also the product of their activities the elements not only seperate . JOURNALISM from other forms of communication history reveals that the more democratic society the more news and information it tends to have . Journalism is the production And distribution of reports on current events based on facts and supported with proof and evidence concepts of the appropriate role for journalism varied between countries.

The word journalism applies to the occupation as well as collaborative media gather and publish information based on facts and supported with proof and evidence in others the news media independent of the government but instead acted as private industry in some Nations the news media all controlled by government intervention and are not fully independent. Journalistic media include print television radio internet and in the past news reels. New organisations at challenge fully monetize the digital wing as well as improvise on the context in which they published in print. The proliferation off the internet smartphones has created a shift in the conception of print media channels as people increasing consume news through E- reader smart phones and other personal electronic devices. Newspapers have seen print revenues sink at a faster pale then the rate of growth for Digital revenue. Journalistic convention very by country. Bloggers are often regarded as journalist who also receive promotional gifts this intended to eliminate conflict of interest and protect consumers.

Many credible news organisations are their employees often belong to and abide by the ethics of professional organisation and crafting new stories regardless of the medium fairness and are issues of concern to journalist. In a traditional print newspaper and its online iteration informations is organised based on facts and an opinion breakdown. Healthy journalism in an democratic country must provide all opinions of people in power opinion pieces are generally written by regular columnist for appear in a section titled. While features stories breaking news and hard news stories typically make efforts to remove opinion from the copy. The ability to render a subjects complex and fluid narrative with sufficient accuracy is sometimes challenged by the time available to spend which subject there are several forms of journalism which diverse audience namely, Access journalism advocacy journalism who are voluntarily cease speaking about issues writing to advocate particular viewpoints practice journalism writing return or spoken journalism for radio business journalism tricky reports interpreter business data journalism main use data to support their reporting drone journalism with this drone to capture footage and interactive journalism investigative journalism political journalism sensor journalism global journalism.

Journalism does not a universal code of conduct individuals are not really obliged to follow certain set of rules. The third claims is the claim of humanity which states that journalists are writing for a global and therefore must serve factor. In 28 century the increasing organisation of working journalism specialised education for journalism the growing literature dealing with journalism history problem increasing sense of social responsibility.

Malnutrition: Under-nutrition and Over-nutrition

Malnutrition is a condition that outcomes from eating an eating routine which doesn’t gracefully a sound measure of at least one nutrients. This incorporates abstains from food that have too little nutrients or so numerous that the eating regimen messes wellbeing up. The supplements included can incorporate calories, protein, starches, fat, nutrients or minerals. An absence of supplements is called undernutrition or undernourishment while an overflow of supplements cases over-nutrition. Hunger is regularly used to allude to undernutrition – when an individual isn’t getting enough calories, protein, or micronutrients. On the off chance that undernutrition happens during pregnancy, or before two years old, it might bring about lasting issues with physical and mental turn of events. Extraordinary undernourishment, known as starvation or ongoing craving, may have indications that include: a short tallness, slender body, helpless energy levels, and swollen legs and mid-region. The individuals who are malnourished regularly get diseases and are habitually cold. The side effects of micronutrient inadequacies rely upon the micronutrient that is inadequate. Undernourishment is regularly because of an absence of great food which is accessible to eat. This is regularly identified with high food costs and neediness. An absence of breastfeeding may add to undernourishment.

Irresistible infections, for example, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, jungle fever, and measles, which increment supplement necessities, can likewise cause hunger. Regular micronutrient insufficiencies incorporate an absence of iron, iodine, and vitamin A. Lacks may turn out to be more normal during pregnancy, because of the body’s expanded need of supplements. In some non-industrial nations, overnutrition as corpulence is introducing inside similar networks as undernutrition. This is on the grounds that the food that is frequently accessible isn’t solid. Different reasons for lack of healthy sustenance incorporate anorexia nervosa and bariatric medical procedure. Lack of healthy sustenance expands the danger of contamination and irresistible sickness, and moderate hunger debilitates all aspects of the invulnerable framework. For instance, it is a significant danger factor in the beginning of dynamic tuberculosis. Protein and energy lack of healthy sustenance and insufficiencies of explicit micronutrients (counting iron, zinc, and nutrients) increment powerlessness to contamination. Ailing health influences HIV transmission by expanding the danger of transmission from mother to kid and furthermore expanding replication of the infection. In people group or regions that need admittance to safe drinking water, these extra wellbeing hazards present a basic issue.

TYPES OF MALNUTRITION

It can lead to serious health issues, including stunted growth, eye problems, diabetes and heart disease. It basically is of two types:

• Under-nutrition
This kind of Malnutrition results from not getting enough protein, calories or micronutrients. Undernutrition is caused fundamentally by a lacking admission of dietary energy, whether or not some other explicit nutrients is a restricting element.
Undernutrition ordinarily results from not getting enough supplements in your eating routine. This can cause Weight loss, Loss of fat and bulk, Hollow cheeks and indented eyes, A swollen stomach, Dry hair and skin, Delayed injury mending, Fatigue, Difficulty concentrating, Irritability, Depression and uneasiness. Individuals with undernutrition may have one or a few of these indications. A few sorts of undernutrition have signature impacts.

Kwashiorkor, a serious protein insufficiency, causes liquid maintenance and a projecting midsection. Then again, the condition marasmus, which results from serious calorie lack, prompts squandering and critical fat and muscle misfortune.

Undernutrition can likewise bring about micronutrient inadequacies. The absolute most regular lacks and their indications include:

  • Vitamin A: Dry eyes, night visual deficiency, expanded danger of contamination.
  • Zinc: Loss of hunger, hindered development, postponed mending of wounds, balding, looseness of the bowels.
  • Iron: Impaired cerebrum work, issues with managing internal heat level, stomach issues.
  • Iodine: Enlarged thyroid organs (goiter), diminished creation of thyroid hormone, development and improvement issues. Since undernutrition prompts genuine actual issues and medical issues, it can expand your danger of death. It’s assessed that hindering, squandering and zinc and Vitamin A lacks added to up to 45% of all kid passings in 2011.

• Over-nutrition
Overconsumption of specific nutrients, for example, protein, calories or fat, can likewise prompt hunger. This normally brings about overweight or heftiness. The primary indications of overnutrition are overweight and heftiness, however it can likewise prompt nutrient lacks. Research shows that individuals who are overweight or large are bound to have lacking admissions and low blood levels of specific nutrients and minerals contrasted with the individuals who are at a typical weight.
One investigation in 285 youths found that blood levels of Vitamin A and E in large individuals were 2–10% lower than those of typical weight members.
This is likely in light of the fact that overweight and obesity can result from an overconsumption of quick and prepared nourishments that are high in calories and fat yet low in different nutrients.

An investigation in more than 17,000 grown-ups and kids found that the individuals who ate inexpensive food had altogether lower intake of vitamin A and C and unhealthy, fat and sodium utilisation than the individuals who kept away from this kind of food.

COMMON CAUSES OF MALNUTRITION 

Common causes of malnutrition include:

  • Food insecurity or a lack of access to sufficient and affordable food: Studies link food insecurityin both developing and developed nations to malnutrition.
  • Digestive problems and issues with nutrient absorption: Conditions that cause malabsorption,such as Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease and bacterial overgrowth in the intestines, can causemalnutrition.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption: Heavy alcohol use can lead to inadequate intake of protein,calories and micronutrients.
  • Mental health disorders: Depression and other mental health conditions can increasemalnutrition risk. One study found that the prevalence of malnutrition was 4% higher in peoplewith depression compared to healthy individuals.
  • Inability to obtain and prepare foods: Studies have identified being frail, having poor mobilityand lacking muscle strength as risk factors for malnutrition. These issues impair food preparation skills.

ICT and Education During Covid-19 in India

When the whole world is facing a pandemic situation and it affected every single sector of the world. And it has impacted the educational sector tremendously. Every single educational institutions is closed and we don’t have a choice. As a result globally, over 1.2 billion children were out of the classroom. In India, according to a UNICEF report, “School closures have impacted 247 million children enrolled in elementary and secondary education and 28 million children enrolled in pre-schools and Anganwadi centers. This is in addition to the more than 6 million girls and boys who were already out of school before the COVID-19 crisis”, the report mentioned. ICT appears as a bridge to break the distance and survive the learning i.e, the gap which was created by lockdown between teachers and learners has been filled with the help of ICT.

Due to this Covid-19, every educational institution and pandemic forced the sector to shift to a virtual and blended mode of learning. Because this was the only way to continue the education. Initially some problems were faced by students as well as teachers. Because suddenly they have to shift in a totally different situation than earlier and many teachers and institutions were not trained and equipped adequately to shift to online teaching. Hence, they give their best and learn new skills in such difficult times. And gradually they adopted and teaching-learning process continued.

ICT initiatives for continuing the Learning Process

In the era of digitalization ICT is necessary in every aspects of life. It stands for Information, Communication and Technology. These three words have different meaning but collectively ICT becomes a part and parcel of human being. With the help of ICT Educational Institutions have been using various platforms like Google Classrooms, Microsoft Team, Zoom, Google Meeting and many more to continue the process of learning for students amid pandemics. Techers also provide e-content to students for better learning.

National level ICT initiatives

To address the challenges of learning, the Ministry of Education has undertaken several initiatives to assist students and educators. Some initiatives used which already exists digital platform like DIKSHA(Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing), e-Pathshala, NROER(National Repository of Open Educational Resources). These were used extensively for supporting the learners and teachers across the country with educational resources and relevant trainings. ICT tools like T.V( Swayam Prabha TV channels), Radio(All India Radio) helped the government to reach a larger number of target audiences. Various states also adapted initiatives to provide the necessary resources. For example

Chhattisgarh’ Education at Your Doorstep(Padhai Tuhar Duar) Initiative:– It is a portal to tackle the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the education sector. It aimed to provide the platform to connect the teachers and learners by providing access to good quality educational content from comfort of their homes. It has a mix resources like Live classes, Offline Video Lectures, Animations, Podcasts etc.

Kerala- KITE Initiatives:- The state government launched virtual classes through Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education which was launched in 2005. During the difficult times of Covid-19, the state has been effectively using technology to ensure continuous learning and embodied their slogans “Physical Distance and Social Utility into Practice.” and many more initiatives by central and state government.

Individual Initiatives

Initiatives by various profit, non-profit organizations, and individuals have been incredible force behind the effort to use technology to make learning possible to many learners. Some initiatives in India like Smarter ED Platform(it is an initiative by Lenevo in collaboration with Vidayalaya(a non-profit organization) that connects volunteer teachers and learners.) and Digital Daan. Individual efforts of teacher to reach every student to continue their learning has been also incredible during this pandemic situation. One such teacher is Ritika Tomar from Sonbhadra ,UP has come up with the solution to provide necessary information to her students. she divides her students into two groups one having smartphones and other having simple cell phones. she used WhatsApp and message services to reach out tob both groups respectively. Her efforts helped the available ICT iniciatives to reach her students in the best possible way. Few teachers in rural areas teaches their students following the protocols of social distancing using Loudspeakers. In this way lot of teachers have explored and used ICT tools to teach their students in the pandemic.

Thus it can be said that ICT has proved itself as a boon to education in the pandemic situation . Education sector has been impacted tremendously especially in India. technological innovation in the sector have made it possible to overcome the situation due to the crisis. The importance of e-learning has been realized and it has been acknowledged by educational communities. We can say that the era of e-learning has been started due to this pandemic. In post pandemic world to this ICT can be used in blended mode of learning.

Internship : is it really important?

Internship is compulsory in about every colleges out there. But the most important question is why it is so important that our teachers keep telling us to do an internship and also what we will learn from this? During the college years, students are extremely busy with their academical activities and doing an internship after all that is like a headache. But trust me, there are so many benefits of doing an internship like you can increase your communication skills, interactive skills, leadership skills, and many more. Some students will say why waste time, money and energy on this, one should just focus on academics but I would like to tell them that a successful paid or unpaid internship is similar to earning good grades in college. The experience that they gained during their internship will genuinely help them to get a good job. It will help you to boost your confidence, your creative thinking and most important is your team work because after your studies you will look for a full time jobs where these thinks are really vital.
Its not really important that students are bound to do internships in the respective field, you can choose any field of your interest and just focus on learning new things.

Dr. KARL PAULNACK :

🎵🎼🎵Hailed by the Roston Globe as “a firecracker of a pianist” and “master of his instrument” Karl paulnack has partnered vocal and instrumental soloists, chamber groups,orchestras, conductors and opera companies in nearly a thousand concerts throughout North America, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Macedonia, Norway, Romania and Russia. Engagements of recent and current seasons include the festivals of Bard College, Madeline Island, Round Top, Royaumont, Sonic Boom and Tangle wood, as well as the Bridge, Noe Valley, Stillwater, Walker Museum, Williams College, UC Davis, UT Austin and University of Oregon concert series. He has appeared in concert at Alice Tully, CAMI, Carnegie, Merkin and Weil recital halls, and also at Tangle Wood’s Ozawa Hall,the Library of Congress and the Hollywood Bowl. His regular recital partners include violinist Jorja Fleezanis, soprano Lucy Shelton and numerous chamber ensemble. A frequent performer of new music, Paulnack has been privileged to work closely with many of the important composers of our time including John Adams ,Elliott Carter George crumb ,Karel Husa, steva Reich and Joan Tower in preparating performance s of their works. In describing the Tangle wood premiere of Elliott Carter’s “of Of Challenge and of Love” with Lucy Shelton,the Boston Globe’s Richard Dyar cited Paulnack’s “commanding” performance as “a standard to aspire to”. Paulnack has appeared as a featured guest on such public radio programs a St. Paul Sunday, Performance Today, and Morning Pro Musica ,as well as on Minnesota Public Radio and BBC Television.

🎵🎼🎵Recording of his performance may be found on the Koch, Seamus, Innova and Capstone Labels. Early in his career, Paulnack served as rehearsal pianist and musical assistant to conductors Sir Charles Grove, Christopher Hogwood, Kurt Masur, Sriji Ozawa, Otto Werner Mueller and Michael Tilson Thomas. With the Los Angeles Opera Theater, he was assistant/cover conductor for his mentor Henry Holt, and served on the opera coaching and conducting staff of University of Southern California (USC) and the los Angeles Philiharmonic Institute. His work in opera includes conduction and coaching position at several universities as well as the Tangle wood Music Center,Where he was a member of the team responsible for the historic 50th anniversary performance of Peter Grimes, an event marking Tangle Wood’s renewed commitment to opera in it’s Fellowship programs. Committed to a diverse comprehensive practice of collaborative musicianship as an artist teacher for more than two decades, Paulnack has served as music division director of The Boston Conservatory since 2002. He also serves as music director and conductor of the contemporary opera Lab of Winnipeg and chef de chant of the Orchestra de Picardie in Amiens, France. He co-chaired the highly acclaimed accompanying and coaching department of the University of Southern California, Ithaca College and Music Academy of the West. He holds an undergraduate degree in solo piano from Eastman and completed theM.M. and D.M.A. degree at USC , where his teachers included Gwendolyn Kolofsky and Brooks Smith.

🎵🎼🎵As an advocate for music and the arts, Dr. Paulnack is increasingly in demand as keynote speaker and lecture. His speech “Why Music Matters” ,has been translated into six languages and appeared on nearly 50,000 web pages, in print publications such as the Christian Science Monitor, and in the program books of numerous symphony orchestras and concerts series around the world. In spring 2009, Linda Ronstadt quoted his speech during her official testimony to the United States Congress on behalf of funding for the arts.

Religion in 21st Century: Survival or Revival

Ever Since the history of mankind religion existed although their purposes differ in many ways. The first religion that came into existence as of known today is the Hinduism, we understand this from different Vedas which were said to existent from around the 5th CE. From the very beginning of religion, there was a structured system keeping different people at different levels giving them no space to breath or escape. This system was widely prevalent and as communications and technologies grew more people started to adopt it, keeping the structure rigid to cross. Not just Hinduism but religions such as Islamism, Christianity, Judaism and the list is exhaustive in terms of their structural and rigid norms which only favors a certain category of people. 

The question here we have to ask is that, what has changed so much in religion that now everyone and anyone is following it? How the human beings who believed in Science could believe in religion after all these decades? The answers to these questions are very simple and unbelievable. “Not much” is the best answer to the first question. Religion has remained the same across times, across thousands of years even when human beings evolved and became better and best versions of themselves. Even when human beings could fly, they choose to believe in religion, Why?

Answering these questions would need us to go through lots of facts and understanding of not just how religion have adapted and changed mankind but also about human behaviors too. Human beings are creatures with a mind which cannot always be rational. Even though we outsmart the whole animal kingdom with our brain, it is the very thing which makes us lose our rational and believe in things which might not even have any sources or valid resources to back with. 

Human beings simply were taught to believe in a divine power which will save them through prayers, donations and disturbing sacrifices. These people were groomed from a very young age to believe in it, that even when we don’t know we unintentionally call out god’s name, like it was stuck to our tongues. Dogmatic beings wrote scriptures which have no valid evidence or sustainable outcome to begin with, and these were forced upon children from a very young age, not giving them the choice of becoming who they want to be devoid of their religious identity so much that even before someone could find their own selves, they learn their religious identity completely nullifying who we actually are. 

People chose to believe in lies when truths are bitter, this can be deciphering the fact that people need someone to always save them, to always cry for help, to always turn for beliefs and if one day someone argues that this is not real with evidence or facts resonating their statements, human beings won’t believe it as such or their rationality won’t be a match to their savior who they haven’t seen or which science have no answer too. 

These patterns in human behavior’s make it impossible for religion to fade away from peoples lives. Although this cannot be said for everyone. Recently there has been a decline in the number of people actively following religion, people have come to grasps with certain loopholes in them and calling them out for more people to come out of the trances they were forced to believe in. Most of who are actively calling them out are women who were forced into always being the submissive gender throughout all the religions across the world. The sufferers were always women, wailing women depicted across pictures stereotyping their roles as potential nurturers and never letting them out of their cycle. Women were forced into crowd control actively pursued by these religions, always putting the burden on women. 

Different Feminist movements took into terms these issues and addressed them in various waves, making people and specifically women of their rights. This led to a downfall in the religious followers of many religions across the globe. Added to this was the problem with many religions believing in law of the nature and condemning homosexual relations. This put many religions at a potential risk of losing their followers. Religion wasn’t ready to let their walls down and accommodate people and factions into them. They held their walls so high that it choked its own people and these people turned against each other, questioning the viability of the religion.

DR B R AMBEDKAR- FATHER OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. His childhood name was Bhimrao. His fathers’ name was Ramji Sakpal and his mothers’ name was Bhimabai Sakpal. His father was a Subhedar in the British Army. In those days the government ensured that all the Army Personel and their children were educated and they ran special schools for this purpose. Born in a Dalit family in those times, when the Dalits were considered to be the “untouchables” and were denied from almost everything, Dr. B R Ambedkar was lucky to get good education from the Army Personel Schools.

After his retirement, Bhimrao’s father settled in Satara, Maharashtra where Bhimrao was enrolled in a local school. He was an intelligent and hardworking student but there he had to face a lot of caste discrimination because he was born as “Shudras” meaning “untouchables”. In school he had to sit on the floor in one corner of the classroom. He was always made fun of by his classmates and even discriminated by his teachers who would not touch his notebooks. Upper caste students would not talk, study or even play with him. He was not even allowed to drink water from the vessel used by the upper caste students. Despite all the humiliations and difficulties he faced, young Bhimrao never lost his faith. By the quality of his hard work, determination and commitment he earned several scholarships to support his education. His teachers gave him the surname “Ambedkar” in school records.

In 1906, when he was just 15 years old got married to Ramabai who was just 9 years old at that time. Bhimrao continued his studies and passed his matriculation exam from Bombay University with flying colors in 1908. He joined the Elphistone College for further education. In 1912, he graduated in Political Science and Economics from Bombay University and got a job in Baroda. During a public ceremony, Dada Keluskar gifted him Biography of Buddha. In 1913, Bhimrao Ambedkar lost his father. In the same year Maharaja of Baroda awarded him a scholarship and sent him to America for his further studies. Bhimrao reached New York in July 1913. For the first time in his life, Bhimrao was not demeaned for being a Mahar. This kept him motivated to bring a change in the society for the way Dalits were being treated and so he immersed himself in studies and received a degree in Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Columbia University in 1916 for his thesis “National Dividend for India: A Historical and Analytical study”. On his returning back to India, The Maharaja of Baroda appointed Dr. Ambedkar as his political secretary. Unfortunately, no one took orders from him because he was a Mahar, saying that a lower caste person cannot give orders to the upper caste ones. Bhimrao Ambedkar returned to Bombay in November 1917. With the help of Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur he started a fortnightly newspaper- The “MOOKNAYAK” on January 31,1920. The Maharaja also organized many meetings and conferences of the “untouchables” which was addressed by Bhimrao.

In September 1920, after accumulating sufficient funds Ambedkar went back to London to complete his studies. He became a Barrister and got a Doctorate in science while practicing law in the Bombay High court he tried to promote education to “untouchables” and uplift them. In 1927, Babasaheb Ambedkar decided to launch active movements against untouchability- to open up public drinking water resources, that led to a Satyagrah in Mahad. He attended all the three round table conferences in London and argued for the welfare of the “untouchables”. In 1937, Dr. Ambedkar introduced a bill to abolish the “KHOTI” system of land tenure in Konkan region and the Mahar “WATAN” system of working for the government as slaves. In 1947, when India became independent the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru invited him, as he had been elected as a member of the Constituent Assembly from Bengal to join his Cabinet as a Law Minister. He was appointed as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee.

PANGONG LAKE

Pangong Lake also known as Pangong Tso is a beautiful endorheic lake situated in the Himalayas and is 134 km long, extending from India to China. Pangong Lake is situated at a height of 4350 m and is one of the biggest tourist attractions of the country. The beauty and allure of this lake has attracted people from all over the country and beyond. The lake is said to be in the process of being identified as a wetland with international significance under the Ramsar Convention and if everything goes as expected then the Pangong Lake will be the first in South Asia to be a trans-boundary wetland and that too under this convention.

The one factor that makes this Lake so popular is the fact that it keeps changing colors. Situated in the Himalayan range it is approximately 140 km from Leh in Jammu and Kashmir. The name of the lake Pangong was got from a Tibetan word Banggong Co that means a narrow and enchanted lake. And now you know that the lake has got its name rightfully. You will know this when you visit the beautiful lake of Pangong. You are sure to be enchanted by the charm. And because the lake is a long stretch, one third area of the lake lies within our country and the other two third portion lies with Tibet and is controlled by China.

What is Body Positivity?

Hardly, anyone can say these days they love themselves the way they are or they love their bodies. Everyone now wants a flawless body. Every time a woman saw another woman walking on the street back then, she would walk away. But now ever time a woman sees another woman, all they notice is whether she is slim or fat. Realizing a woman has slimmer body, you question your size and beauty because that’s what society thinks is an acceptable size for a woman. This idea of being socially accepted through disregard for overweight bodies is what lead to body shaming, also known as Fat Shaming. This action of humiliating not only one’s appearance but other people’s appearance as well resulted in damaging people’s perception about self-love irrespective of size, shape or color. Sadly, women are not the only victims of body shaming. Men go through this emotional trauma as well.

Over the years, people have been emotionally struggling. They have been too hard on themselves to look perfect. They thought the only way they could be accepted by the society is if they lose weight and maintain unrealistic body standards. To challenge this society’s view on bodies and promotion of acceptance of all body sizes, Body Positivity had emanated.

The history of Body Positivity dates back to 1960’s. It emerged with the Fat Rights Movement. A man from New York was unhappy with the way people treated his wife because she was overweight. He handed out copies of an article he had right about a man who had been going through the same problem. Soon, he gathered people and created an association for fat Americans. It’s focus was to address the culture of people discriminating on the basis of their size and shape. In 2012, Body Positivity had gained . But, this time it was supported by people across the world through social media. The message of this movement now focused on ‘all bodies are beautiful’.

Social media played a pivotal role in increasing the popularity of body positivity. It helped people from various parts of the world to share their stories and be part of this movement. The concept of body positivity was foreign to most of the people. There were people who were severely affected by the constant criticism. Body Positivity Movement gave them a voice they were looking for.

However, body positivity has always been misunderstood by the people. It is limited to not one definition. It can mean accepting yourself they way you are or loving and feeling confident in your body. Though, body positivity strives to change people’s perspective about certain bodies, it focuses on self-acceptance and self-love. Embrace your flaws and love yourself unconditionally.

How do I a start journey of self-love?

  1. Think positively about your body. Do not let anybody tell you are fat. Speak for yourself.

2. Exercise not to be thin but to adopt a healthy lifestyle. It is not about the size, but about your mental and physical health.

3. Be around positive people. The more you are with negative people, the more negative vibes you get. Avoid negative self-talk.

4. Focus on yourself. Think about the things you love and are passionate about.

5. Always love yourself and embrace your true beauty.

Rowlatt act

Rowlatt Acts, (February 1919), legislation passed by the Imperial Legislative Council, the legislature of British India. The acts allowed certain political cases to be tried without juries and permitted internment of suspects without trial. Their object was to replace the repressive provisions of the wartime Defence of India Act (1915) by a permanent law. They were based on the report of Justice S.A.T. Rowlatt’s committee of 1918.

The Rowlatt Acts were much resented by an aroused Indian public. All nonofficial Indian members of the council (i.e., those who were not officials in the colonial government) voted against the acts. Mahatma Gandhi organized a protest movement that led directly to the Massacre of Amritsar (April 1919) and subsequently to his noncooperation movement (1920–22). The acts were never actually implemented.

The purpose of bringing this Act in effect was to abolish revolt and remove any conspiracy theories against the British from India. Under this act, people who indulged in rebellion against the British could be sent to jail for up to 2 years without trial. Any suspect could be nabbed without a warrant and could be detained for an extended period. The act also gave the government power to muzzle the press’s voice if they wanted to probe the reasons behind it with the evidence.

Consequently, they prohibited public gatherings of any cultural or religious sort. To revoke this act, Mahatma Gandhi and the other leaders called for a Hartal (suspended all activities) to make them view the rejection by Indians with this rule. Many freedom fighters and nationalists were arrested after protesting against it.

The Imperial Legislative Council cleared the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act (the official name of the Rowlatt Act) irrespective of the united opposition from the Indian members of the council. All of them resigned while the protest was on. The bills were called “black laws”.These consisted of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Madan Mohan Malviya and Mazhar Ul Haq. Two prominent Congress leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew were arrested on April 10. The protest was grisly when the government implemented the act, and the army was called in Punjab to control the situation.Gandhiji called for a nationwide hartal on April 6 in response to the act. It was known as the Rowlatt Satyagraha. Many places such as Bombay, Ahmadabad, Nadiad, and Punjab saw an ugly turn leading to riots and violence. The movement was suspended by Gandhiji when the rioting took place in some provinces, especially in Punjab, where the situation was not acceptable.

Without Natural resources life itself is impossible

Man lives in nature and depends on the resources of nature.The progress of mankind depends upon the exploitation of different resources.The utilization of soil,water,coal, electricity,oil,gas and nuclear energy is very important for the development of a Nation.These resources have changed the living standards of man.

The world is facing an ecological crisis and is degrading her natural resources day by day,due to over exploitation.Food, shelter and clothing are the primary requirements of man.Early human society has used natural resources, relatively in much less quantity to cover it’s wants.

Natural resources

The word ‘resource’ means a source of supply or support that is generally held in reserve.The natural resources are the components of lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.They include energy,air,water,soil,minerals,plant and animals.For man resources are those materials and sources of energy which are needed for survival and comforts.The nature of resources varies from society to society.

Types of natural resources

Natural resources are classified in different ways.i.e.,on the basis of chemical composition, availability and distribution.

⭐ Natural resources are of three types on the basis of their chemical composition

1) Inorganic resources.eg.air,water and minerals

2) Organic resources.eg.plants, animals, microorganisms and fossil fuels

3) Mixture of inorganic and organic resources.eg.soil

⭐ Natural resources are of two types depending upon their availability and abundance.

1) Inexhaustible resources

They are not likely to be exhausted by man’s use.They are air,clay,sand,tidal energy etc., Although the air is available in exhaustible quantity,it can be degraded,if it’s pollution is not checked.

2) Exhaustible resources

They are likely to be exhausted by human use.They are further of two types-renewable and non-renewable.

a) Renewable resources

They have inherent capacity to reappear or replenish themselves by quick recycling,reproduction and replacement within a reasonable time.Soil and living organisms are the main renewable resources.

b) Non-renewable resources

They lack the ability for recycling and replacement.The substances with a very long recycling time are also regarded as non renewable resources e.g.fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and Natural gas and minerals.

It is important to note that underground water,forests and wild life are regarded renewable resources but become non-renewable,if they are not properly.

KOLKATA:THE CITY OF JOY

Kolkata previously Calcutta (the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the city is approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) west of the border with Bangladesh .It is the primary business, commercial, and financial hub of Eastern India and the main port of communication for North-East India. According to the 2011 Indian census, Kolkata is the seventh-most populous city in India, with a population of 1.49 crores. Spread roughly north–south along the east bank of the Hooghly River, Kolkata sits within the lower Ganges Delta of eastern India approximately 75 km (47 mi) west of the international border with Bangladesh; the city’s elevation is 1.5–9 m (5–30 ft).Much of the city was originally a wetland that was reclaimed over the decades to accommodate a burgeoning population .The remaining undeveloped areas, known as the East Kolkata Wetlands, were designated a “wetland of international importance” by the Ramsar Convention (1975). As with most of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the soil and water are predominantly alluvial in origin. Kolkata is located over the “Bengal basin”, a pericratonic tertiary basin. Bengal basin comprises three structural units: shelf or platform in the west; central hinge or shelf/slope break; and deep basinal part in the east and southeast. Kolkata is located atop the western part of the hinge zone which is about 25 km (16 mi) wide at a depth of about 45,000 m (148,000 ft) below the surface. The shelf and hinge zones have many faults, among them some are active. Total thickness of sediment below Kolkata is nearly 7,500 m (24,600 ft) above the crystalline basement; of these the top 350–450 m (1,150–1,480 ft) is Quaternary, followed by 4,500–5,500 m (14,760–18,040 ft) of Tertiary sediments, 500–700 m (1,640–2,300 ft) trap wash of Cretaceous trap and 600–800 m (1,970–2,620 ft) Permian-Carboniferous Gondwana rocks. The quaternary sediments consist of clay, silt and several grades of sand and gravel. These sediments are sandwiched between two clay beds: the lower one at a depth of 250–650 m (820–2,130 ft); the upper one 10–40 m (30–130 ft) in thickness. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, on a scale ranging from I to V in order of increasing susceptibility to earthquakes, the city lies inside seismic zone III.

ORIGIN

The word Kolkata is derives from Kalikata/ Kolikata,the Bengali name of one of three villages that predated the arrival of the British, in the area where the city was eventually established; the other two villages were Sutanuti and Govindapur.

In the late 17th century, the three villages that predated Calcutta were ruled by the Nawab of Bengal under Mughal suzerainty. After the Nawab granted the East India Company a trading licence in 1690,the area was developed by the Company into an increasingly fortified trading post. Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah occupied Calcutta in 1756, and the East India Company retook it the following year. In 1793 the East India company was strong enough to abolish rule, and assumed full sovereignty of the region. Under the company rule and later under the British Raj, Calcutta served as the capital of British-held territories in India until 1911, when its perceived geographical disadvantages, combined with growing nationalism in Bengal, led to a shift of the capital to New Delhi. Calcutta was the centre for the Indian independence movement. Following independence in 1947, Kolkata, which was once the centre of Indian commerce, culture, and politics, suffered many decades of political violence and economic stagnation.

A demographically diverse city, the culture of Kolkata features idiosyncrasies that include distinctively close-knit neighbourhoods (paras) and freestyle conversations (adda). Kolkata is home to West Bengal’s film industry Tollywood, and cultural institutions, such as the Academy of Fine Arts, the Victoria Memorial, the Asiatic Society, the Indian Museum and the National Library of India. Among scientific institutions, Kolkata hosts the Agri Horticultural Society of India, the Geological Survey of India, the Botanical Survey of India, the Calcutta Mathematical Society, the Indian Science Congress Association, the Zoological Survey of India, the Institution of Engineers, the Anthropological Survey of India and the Indian Public Health Association. Four Nobel laureates and two Nobel Memorial Prize winners are associated with the city.Though home to major cricketing venues and franchises, Kolkata differs from other Indian cities by focusing on association football and other sports.

WANT TO KNOW HOW BILL GATES NEGOTIATES ?

1. Be Less Emotional:-

Once Gates told he is successful in negotiations when the other party is emotional because he is “kind of less emotional.” The fact that Gates said he is less emotional rather than unemotional reveals an important distinction. “He obviously knows that feelings are important when dealing with other people, especially in a negotiation

How to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence for Business

2. Listen, then give your  perspective:-

Gates is known for his negotiation skills , which years ago he showed off during a tense encounter with Apple Founder Steve Jobs. Just before launching Windows, Jobs and Gates were butting heads. Jobs claimed Windows was a copy of Apple’s operating system. The wrinkle though was that Apple had “liberally borrowed” programming from Xerox.

The two founders needed to come to an understanding about the provenance of their competing operating systems. Gates went to Apple’s headquarters and Jobs lambasted him in front of Apple executives. In one of his infamous emotional outbursts, Jobs yelled, “You’re ripping us off. I trusted you, and now you’re stealing from us!”

That’s when Gates grabbed the upper hand. Instead of screaming back at Jobs, Gates gave his perspective in a tranquil manner: “I think it’s more like we both had this rich neighbor named Xerox, and I broke into his house to steal the TV set and found out you had already stolen it,” he said.

Gates tapped into a key tenet of emotional intelligence: He stayed poised in a high pressure situation. His calm demeanour helped to placate Jobs, and the two men hashed things out.