Author: Aashna Parekh

Ways To Reduce Stress

Many individuals nowadays have lost sight of their hobbies, interests, and passions as a result of their stressful lives. As a consequence, individuals suffer from stress as a result of overwork and weariness. 

Stress is really intense. It could have a detrimental influence on both your physical and emotional health. Whenever you think, your mind is in continual contact with your body. Your ideas generate feelings and emotions, which can be impacted by environmental stresses. This demonstrates how intimately the mind and body are linked, making it critical to identify the role stress tends to play in your daily lives.

Sadly, despite the evident negative impacts of stress, many individuals continue to ignore it. Nevertheless, properly combating stress requires prioritising your own needs. It’s time for action if you’d like to reclaim your rhythm after being stressed out. 

While it is difficult to escape stress in life, you can learn how to manage it efficiently. There seem to be measures you could do to help you cope with daily pressures more effectively so you can get back into your flow easily.

1. Recognize The Sources Of Stress 

One of the primary causes of stress is a hectic and unhealthy lifestyle, however this varies from person to person. Make a list of the things in your life that are giving you stress. Is it effective? Is it a personal issue? This is the first and most important step in properly combating stress. The more you understand what causes your anxiety or concern, the better you will be able to handle or combat stress.

2. Cultivate Mindfulness

When you are worried, your brain and body’s normal reaction is to fight or flee. Meditation and breathing techniques, on the other hand, have also been shown to perform marvels in terms of stress relief and perhaps even improvement in mental health. Find a few periods of solace each day when you can relax and make some time for yourself to get through your concerns and cleanse your thoughts.

3. Prioritize self-care

Why aren’t you taking care of yourself the same way you take care of your house with regular upgrades or your car with planned maintenance? Among the most essential realisations is that no one can take more care of you than yourself. Ignoring oneself makes you increasingly vulnerable towards the dangers of stress. While scheduling time for self-care, keep the following in mind:

  • While it may seem self-evident, it bears repeating: eat well, exercise frequently, and get enough sleep. Many individuals do not realise this, yet it may have an impact on how you felt during the day. If you eat poorly and don’t get enough sleep, it’s simple to notice indications of stress in your body.
  • Many individuals feel uneasy about investing money on self-care items or services. If you have troublesome skin, arrange for a consultation with an expert who can help you clean your skin. If crystals provide you a burst of mental and physical vitality, purchase that citrine bracelet and make yourself happy

4. Rise Up and Begin Moving

Getting up and moving about is among the best methods to combat stress and feel better. Although it may be tough to find opportunities for proper exercise once you have a career and a home to look after, you should make an attempt if you’d like to regain your flow. Endorphins are hormones that make us feel good while you workout. You will feel much better on the inside if you feel happy about your physique.

5. Align Yourself with Positive People

Understand that you are not alone in your battle against stress. You should surround yourself with individuals who can help you manage your stress levels in check so it doesn’t spiral out of control. Stress may cause feelings of loneliness, so make an effort to spend more time with your loved ones. 

Seek comfort and guidance from reliable loved ones. There are also several support systems available, so if you don’t feel at ease approaching anybody about your stress issues, you can always join any of them just for added help. Spend time around individuals who make you happy and do activities which bring you joy.

It can also be difficult to determine where to start when attempting to combat stress. Although stress is a normal part of life, it may sometimes become excessive and cause physical and mental issues. Joy and comfort are within your grasp—try either of these tactics and you’ll see that you can definitely battle stress and reclaim your flow!

The Impact Of Haruki Murakami On The World Of Literature

Fish dropping from the sky and human-animal hybrids are only a few of the “common” happenings in Haruki Murakami’s stories. The famous Japanese author has millions of admirers across the globe, with his best-selling novels translated into over 50 languages.

Haruki Murakami’s widespread fame signals the twenty-first century’s progress to a much more interconnected society, one where origin has no bearing on impact and everyone is a descendant of the diverse communities that happened to come before. Murakami’s huge reach stems in large part from the scope of his own preferences and capabilities. He not only has made many western readers acquainted with some of the East’s modern written achievements, but he’s also translated several  works of English authors like Raymond Carver, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and J.D. Salinger to Japanese, giving Japanese readers exposure to some of  these works for the very first time.

Murakami is heavily inspired by Western writers, finding inspiration in authors ranging from Franz Kafka to Kurt Vonnegut. He now admires the novelists Kazuo Ishiguro and Cormac McCarthy. He became particularly captivated to American culture as a young child, devouring any relics he would discover, whether jazz albums, dollar store paperback books, or Hollywood films.

Murakami’s life has been influenced by jazz music. Several of his novels, like Norwegian Wood (from the same Beatles song) as well as Tsukuru Tazaki, depend heavily on the music of Franz Liszt. 

When it pertains to Haruki Murakami, there seems to be an odd synchronicity between his supporters and his detractors. Everybody thinks that he’s often humorous, especially in his dialogue. His protagonists, who are frequently drawn into detective storylines without the need for a “FOR HIRE” notice in their windows, and who doesn’t love a detective? 

Cats, mundane kitchen activities, dingy barrooms, pop and/or classical theme tunes are always be present in the books, set against a surreal, Manichaean danger zone into which the modest yet progressively resilient protagonist must descend in quest as to what he’s missing, most likely to find something else instead. The hero may also stay a bit of time at the bottom of a well or in another dark and solitary place.

His thoughts and emotions will be torn between yearning for an otherworldly, spiritual lady (typically the one who has vanished) and desire towards a feisty, sensual, down-to-earth woman (who may at first just seem more like his sidekick on the journey but may just turn out to be just what he needed all along).  

Murakami has been writing many versions on similar themes for almost 40 years, and he admits about his tendency of reusing certain types of ideas in several interviews. Some people consider his repeats to be a detriment to him. But what divides his detractors is whether they will accommodate his logical leaps and propensity to build dreamworlds which defy consistency and appear to live irrespective of any writer-imposed constraints.

Although the Kyoto-born novelist might not be the first Japanese author to achieve international recognition, Murakami has dramatically changed the perception of Japanese literature throughout the globe, resulting in a high demand for Japanese books to be translated. 

What Is Causing Punjab’s Severe Electricity Crisis?

As temperature levels are on the rise in Punjab, where paddy transplantation is also in full swing, the state is experiencing a severe power outage. Even when the farm sector has still not received the guaranteed eight-hour electricity supply residential consumers have now been forced to suffer as a result of extended electricity outages

Furthermore, the state-owned power company PSPCL has enforced a two-day mandatory reduction on high-consumption industries in order to redirect electricity to farms and the household sector There is also a restriction on operating air conditioning units in government offices, as their hours have been reduced from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. due to the shortages

The requirement for electricity has reached 14,225 MW as temperatures have risen and it is the peak season for paddy transplanting. The electricity providers, though, have only been able to deliver 12,800 MW. The 1,425 MW shortfall has resulted in power outages lasting up to 14 hours in the residential sector. Now, businesses have been closed down for two days to guarantee that the farming industry receives adequate supplies and also that the critical window for paddy transplanting is not missed. Farmers and residential customers took to the streets in protest a few days earlier. Industry groups are protesting that this was the last thing they wanted in the midst of a pandemic that has devastated all businesses.

What may have caused the state’s electricity problem?

The shutting down of the government-run thermal plant in Bathinda and two units of yet another government thermal plant in Ropar, with a total capacity of 880 MW, was one of the first actions taken by the current Congress administration in Punjab. There were no backup plans in place to compensate for the loss of output once these factories were closed.

Furthermore, in 2018, the government rejected PSPCL’s intention to build a 100-MW solar facility at the Bathinda thermal plant, which could have been operational within a year. A PSPCL request to upgrade a Bathinda thermal facility to utilize biomass fuel from paddy straw was also denied.

In addition, a unit of the private TSPL Power Plant located in Talwandi Sabo has been shut down since March 8 due to a lack of repairs. The plant generates 660 MW. According to former PSPCL chairman Baldev Singh Sra, the plant had to be closed down due to defective Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Why is it that Punjab seems unable to purchase electricity then?

PSPCL is experiencing financial difficulties. The state owes it Rs 5,000 crore for agricultural subsidies, while government institutions owe PSPCL Rs 2,000 crore. During one latest power meeting held, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh instructed the finance department of the state to provide Rs 500 crore towards the usability for power purchase. Furthermore, even if it purchased additional electricity, the state of Punjab has a transmission capacity of 13,000 MW only.

What has the Punjab government said?

A. Venu Prasad, CMD of PSPCL, blamed the power outage on the collapse of the Talwandi Sabo power plant. He also stated that the hailstorm that occurred between June 10 and 15 contributed to the problem and that it took them many days to fix the plant. Because the destruction was so extensive, several areas are still being repaired.

Prasad also stated that the state’s water table was dropping and that more electricity was needed to extract water from the ground bore wells. He stated that the administration was dedicated to delivering electricity and that they had already begun acquiring power from other sources to hold them over till the situation passed. He said that the issue is now under order.

Why Diet Pills, Fat Burners, And Herbal Tea Harm Are Harmful To Our Health?

Excessive weight gain is known for causing a great deal of stress in so many individuals. It restricts your capacity to appreciate life’s joys in the same manner which others do. Excess weight restricts breathing and movement, increases tiredness, and is very harmful to the heart.

There’s also the difficulty of getting clothing that fits you properly. To maintain the body in shape, health specialists recommend a healthy weight control regimen. They advise you to consume less portions of specific foods and to exercise to burn calories and extra body fat. And when this isn’t possible through diet and exercise, many people turn to diet pills, fat burners and herbal tea to help them lose weight. 

Weight loss pills are frequently labelled as ‘organic’ or ‘herbal.’ It doesn’t mean they’re safe to consume in large quantities. Furthermore, nutritional supplements and weight reduction medications are not required to go through stringent quality and safety review processes by appropriate regulatory bodies.

These products can be easily sold despite the fact that they lack solid scientific data from well-designed clinical control studies to demonstrate its efficacy and safety. Herbal slimming tea, detox juices, morning smoothies, and meal replacements are all common weight loss aids.

According to Allied Market Research, the weight loss and weight management diet market was valued at $192.2 billion in 2019 and is expected to touch $295 billion by 2027.

What exactly do these supplements consist of?

Meal replacement smoothies, fat burners, diet pills, processed soups, weight loss tea, and other weight reduction products are made by mixing several ‘natural’ substances. These are especially popular with young people who are health enthusiasts, busy corporate professionals, and many others who might not have the time to prepare meals, eat healthily, or exercise.

Meal replacement shakes, among the most common weight reduction products, contain heavily processed ingredients like protein isolates, sweeteners, and artificial flavours. Artificial sweeteners account for around 40% of the calories for each portion of these smoothies. 

Major health issues you should look out for

These fat burners and weight reduction pills have been linked to a variety of side effects, including liver damage, hypertension, and anxiousness. There have been numerous instances of persons taking weight reduction pills suffering from immediate, clinically obvious liver damage.

A 2007 Israeli research identified 12 incidences of liver damage in individuals who used a ‘herbal’ dietary supplement, including one case each of stage I primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis B. Another 2010 research looked into three instances from Canada and the United States who used two popular weight loss pills. According to the investigators, all three patients’ liver biopsies revealed results consistent with drug-induced acute liver damage. All of these are red flags. Often, a temporary fix might result in long-term harm.

Many of the chemicals in fat burner tablets or powders have been linked to increased hypertension. Substances that stimulate the central nervous system (CNS) to regulate hunger, such as phenylpropanolamine, fenfluramine, and ephedrine, can raise blood pressure. Bitter orange extract, caffeine, and yohimbe supplements can cause a headache as well as anxiety.

Caffeine is a prevalent component in many  fat burners and is frequently present in high concentrations. Caffeine in excess might have a negative impact on your heart. If you have a history of cardiac problems, it is best to avoid highly caffeinated fat burners.

Many weight-loss medications/pills suppress hunger by generating an anorectic effect on the human body, which can lead to distress and diarrhoea. Nausea and vomiting may occur while using fat burners including guar gum, carnitine, green tea extract, chromium, or chitosan.

It is important to consult a healthcare expert before beginning any dietary supplement to reduce weight. Individuals who have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, or other medical problems should be especially cautious. It is always better to attempt to lose weight healthily and gradually by including a calorie-restricted diet, regular exercise, yoga, meditation, 7 to 8 hours of good rest, and good mental health into your life.

Sustainability In India

Pollution is not just an undesirable outcome that causes environmental deterioration in India; it is also a major roadblock to growth and development in the country. It would have a negative effect on economic growth if it is not addressed properly and managed.

This resulted in a major shift in people’s attitudes and political will. Significant advances in clean energy technologies have opened the path for commercial possibilities arising from the ‘green economy transformation.’ Clean technology will be in high demand. Countries that adequately upskill and establish industry sectors to manufacture it stand to benefit greatly. They may earn profit from clean technology exports and earn access to global markets.

While India already is trying to make tremendous progress in the field of sustainability, there seems to be an imperative need to involve our country’s youth in order to fulfil our sustainable development goals.

Sustainability became one of the most defining terms of the twenty-first century, and for valid reason: the contemporary world is now struggling with the consequences of unrestricted consumption and production tendencies. Simply stated, even as our population grows and technology advances at a breakneck pace, our quality of life is progressively deteriorating. India, which is on the verge of a new age of growth, is at an important crossroads in terms of its approach to sustainability. While our nation has some of the lowest per-capita emissions in the world, we are the third-largest emitter globally. The two most significant hurdles to our approach to sustainability are our population and the swift pace of our economic progress.

India, though, has made significant progress as an aspiring change-maker in addressing climate change and developing development plans which are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, that were implemented in September 2015 and encapsulate the social, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability, as well as the abolition of all forms of poverty.

To that aim, attempts have been made to include all stakeholders – public and private – in the development of successful guidelines, implementation methods, and best practises. For example, in February 2018, a nationwide seminar on capacity building was organised with the objective of localising the SDGs. In December 2018, the NITI Aayog released the SDG India Index — Baseline Report 2018 to monitor the progress the  states and union territories have made on the strategies and initiatives launched by the central government.

The country was also a significant participant in formulating the Paris Agreement and has implemented a variety of energy-efficiency initiatives. Sustainability is also an important aspect of Indian culture, thought, and beliefs. Rural areas, which accounted for about 70% of the nation’s population in 2011, maintain a modest and inexpensive way of living. According to Greendex, an international study on sustainable living which analyses how individuals respond to environmental issues in their housing, transportation, food, and products choices, India ranks first among 18 countries, including China and the United States.

India has also  had one of the most effective programmes in terms of eliminating single-use plastic and promoting the Swachh Bharat campaign, an initiative launched by the central government. This has aided in increasing awareness beginning in primary school, with children asking their parents about their right to cleanliness.

That being said, as the economy develops and grows, there is a noticeable change in socio-economic patterns. The nation still has to confront several  significant environmental challenges, particularly in terms of building sustainable communities.

Being one of the world’s youngest countries — 42% of India’s population is between the ages of 15 and 35, and this estimate is expected to rise to 55% in the coming 30 years — the youth in our country should be encouraged to develop environmentally friendly economic solutions.

What Is Survivor’s Guilt?

Some of us thank our lucky stars when tragedy happens, those we cherish while we remain unharmed, while others feel guilty. “Why should I be the only one? “What could I have done differently to avoid this?” we wonder. ” These are the defining characteristics of survivor guilt, an unofficial but very real condition.

Survivor guilt occurs when a person believes they have done something wrong by surviving a catastrophic incident in which others have died or otherwise succumbed. It can take many forms, ranging from bittersweet emotions to outright sadness. It is most frequently associated with large-scale disasters (such as combat casualties or plane accidents), but it can also manifest itself in unexpected ways.

The term “survivors’ guilt,” according to experts, has its origins in the Holocaust. There are people, for example, who refuse to forget and  instead feel obliged to ‘remember’ by an inner sense of responsibility; they purposefully deny and refuse themselves any happiness in living. Some wish to erase the memories but are unable to do so.

Most psychologists agree that survivors’ guilt is not a medically diagnosable syndrome, but it appears emotionally and physically in those who survive a terrible incident; guilt has traditionally been associated with war veterans, survivors of natural disasters, catastrophes, and sicknesses.

Survivor’s Guilt often falls into one of the the three overarching themes:

  1. Feeling guilty over one’s survival – When we think about survivor guilt, we usually think of this: if you were unharmed while others have been injured, you may believe you didn’t deserve to be protected and should’ve been hurt as well. You doubt the world’s fairness and justice.
  1. Feeling guilty over what you could have done – You’re regretful that you didn’t go above and beyond. You should’ve known better, and you should’ve tried harder. Perhaps you attempted but failed to save someone. There’s an exaggerated feeling of disappointment or blame: “If only I’d done things differently.”
  1. Feeling guilty over what you had done – You could also feel bad about something you did, such as shoving people out of the way to flee an armed gunman or abandoning your family for greater chances abroad. Alternatively, you may experience a great deal of guilt over things that happened by chance.

HOW TO COPE WITH SURVIVOR’S GUILT

  1. Embrace and let yourself feel the emotions – Survivor’s guilt is a known response to trauma, even if it is not particularly rational. Embrace and allow yourself to feel the emotions that emerge. Allow yourself time to absorb the feelings of guilt, sadness, anxiety, and sadness that often come with a traumatic incident and the death of a loved one. It is critical to get treatment if these feelings become overpowering or do not become more tolerable with time.
  1. Build relationships with others – Share your emotions with your loved ones. Search for an appropriate support group if loved ones are not able to comprehend your feelings. Survivors may interact with others, vent emotions, and offer advice in both face-to-face support groups and online forums.
  1. Make use of mindfulness exercises – People who have experienced tragedy may benefit from mindfulness, particularly amid flashbacks or moments of strong and unpleasant emotions. Focusing on the breathing, touching close fabrics, and hearing sounds both within and outside the space are some grounding strategies to try.
  1. Practicing self-care – It is terrifying and upsetting to see a loss or potential loss of life. Survivors can benefit from engaging in pleasurable activities. It is also critical for a person to get adequate sleep, maintain a well-balanced diet, and start exercising on a regular basis.
  1. Do something good towards others – Survivors of traumatic incidents might feel much better if they help others in some manner.

According to studies, some individuals experiencing survivor’s guilt and other symptoms  get better without therapy during the first year of the occurrence. Yet, at least one-third of individuals will experience the symptoms for three years or more. If an individual feels they would be unable to manage on their own, or if the symptoms are getting worse or becoming persistent, then it is critical to seek help.

Books Written By Women For Women

Women are capable of accomplishing anything. Create great ideas, build businesses, and make a great difference in the world. Nonetheless, we don’t see enough of this message in mainstream media. However, the realm of literature has provided us with many incredible stories of women’s perseverance, knowledge, wit, boldness, and drive.As such, here are some excellent novels written by women authors for women.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The caged bird attempting to escape has long been a symbol of resistance to injustice. Maya Angelou employs this sign to express her desire to leave a life of strife, racism, and misogyny. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiographical novel about Angelou’s childhood in the 1930s. 

We encounter prejudice, rape, and rejection from her community, even from her own mother, as we follow this impoverished, disenfranchised black girl. Maya Angelou discovers as an adult how her own strong spirit, compassion, and generosity to others is the greatest way to be free. The book is a strong and beautiful storey of courage and breaking free from one’s captivity.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

We Should All Be Feminists is an interesting piece on women’s rights and equality. This book-length article discusses how the term “feminism” is sometimes connected with misunderstandings and prejudices like brainwashing.

To counterbalance this, Chimamanda Ngozi Aidchie provides the reader with a simplistic yet compelling description of feminism: equality for women in social, political, and economic terms. She confronts common feminist misconceptions front on. Even after her own friends called her a terrorist supporter, Aidchie continued to clarify that the term “feminist” has little to do with hostile, resentful, and men-hating women. The central theme of this novel is a narrative of a life-long battle to achieve equality between the sexes. 

According to the author, feminism is important since it helps to tackle women’s silence and exploitation.By how successive generations educate their children, the concepts of gender equality and feminism continue to struggle with all these terms.

The Terrible by Yrsa Daley-Ward

The Terrible is a novel about a lady attempting to manage her life on her own. Yrsa Daley-Ward recounts personal aspects of her childhood without her father and the terrible facts she had to discover in this stunning piece of painfully honest prose.

These realities are referred to as “the terrible.” As a young lady, the writer couldn’t comprehend the mental strain of having encountered tremendous pessimism and tribulations so early on in life. Having grown up as the only kid of colour in a white area, she was educated by a family of radical Christians, and witnessed her mother being devastated by several bad relationships.

Later in the book, the book relates Daley-Ward’s life as an adult, when she, too, had to deal with “the terrible.” She discovered it was continually expanding and having a much more huge psychological strain on her as she became hooked to narcotics and experienced repeated mental breakdowns.

The author reaches the climax and confronts “the terrible” after suffering all of the negative stuff that has occurred to her. She can only break free and recover if she recognises the consequences of her trauma and embraces her self-sustaining positivity.

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

The title of this novel hints at the main character. The tale of Adunni, a young Nigerian girl who aspires to acquire an education but ends up in an arranged marriage, is told in “The Girl with the Loud Voice.” As she escapes her violent husband and her native town, her resolve to attend school, which her mother encouraged Adunni to accomplish, triumphs.

The plot follows Adunni on her trip, which is packed with perilous, life-changing, and remarkable experiences. On her journey, she gains access to literature such as English dictionaries when she finds herself working as a maid in Lagos. Eventually, she comes upon an opportunity to learn. Her irrepressible attitude and perseverance drive her on the path to the “louding voice,” making this book a fantastic piece of how battling for your ambitions will be rewarded.

Notwithstanding the many difficulties in her journey, she never quits on her aim of escaping poverty. The end result reminds readers of the author’s message: pursue your goals, and you might just bring about change.

Wow, No Thank you: Essays by Samantha Irby

Wow, No Thank You is an essay collection in which Samanth Irby describes her life as a married woman in her forties. She compiles a fantastic series of stories in which she finds herself in situations that many people can relate to. All throughout the novel, humour is a recurring motif, as Irby makes amusing comments on her own behaviour and life choices.

The author’s inner voice, however, is at the heart of the book, pushing us to be more sensitive to things. That discourse also enables us to notice these things that no one else notices, which frequently results in pretty funny circumstances. Irby demonstrates how her internal thoughts influences her clothing and footwear, food preferences, cleansing items, and so much more.

India’s Poverty Challenge

The virus struck India at a time when the country was experiencing its worst economic development in over a decade. The weakening economy had adversely harmed rural areas, which house the bulk of the country’s citizens.

Even in the lack of official data, one might detect an increase in rural poverty. High unemployment, consumption expenditure was continually decreasing, and public development investment was stagnating. These three variables, taken combined, determine an economy’s health.

For more than a year, rural Indians — mainly an informal workforce and impoverished by any recognised measure — have been living with sporadic work. Anecdotal reports of risky survival are coming in. People are cutting back on food purchases; many have ceased eating staples such as lentils as food prices have risen.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is no longer sufficient to hold employment expectations. Most people are depleting their small savings. Mostly with the pandemic’s second wave wreaking havoc, it’s a desperate scenario. One may say that the economy for the poorest and the moderately well-off has come to an end.

A pre-Covid economic downturn, coupled with the pandemic’s economic shock, is believed to have reversed any poverty-reduction advances, resulting in a significant increase in poverty.

Using World Bank statistics, Pew Research Center projected that the number of poor in India (those with an earnings of $2 a day or below in purchasing power parity) has increased to 134 million from 60 million within only a year as a result of the pandemic-induced recession. It means that, after 45 years, India has once again become  a “country of widespread poverty.”

Since 2011, India has not counted the impoverished. However, the United Nations projected that 364 million people were impoverished in the nation in 2019, accounting for 28% of the population. This does not include the projected new impoverished as a result of the outbreak. According to estimates, millions of people in major cities have also fallen below the poverty line. According to the Pew Center, the middle class has decreased by one-third. Despite population and geographical divisions, millions of Indians have gotten worse, remained poor, or are on the verge of becoming impoverished.

For a huge population like India, where millions of lives are at stake, the need to create a system that maps the areas and homes that are in desperate need for some help from the government. Public services are seen as the most realistic means of lifting the most vulnerable people from poverty.

To bring about change in anti-poverty initiatives, the government should use scientific methods and analyses. Moreover, there is a need for a long-term plan to combat poverty, which may be accomplished by enabling the most disadvantaged section of society self-sufficient by providing them with some type of skill set.

Local authorities can play a significant role in this issue because they are more familiar with the underlying causes of the crises. Strengthening them via technical and technological support as well as an enhanced monitoring system will help to reduce poverty at the grass roots. It is critical to provide food assistance and enough cash to such families in order to keep them from falling further into impoverishment.

When compared to the time it was at its peak, the number of Covid 19 cases has decreased, but many individuals have been trapped in a vicious circle of exacerbating the situation, economic decline, and unemployment. There is still some hope that along with long-term solutions, we can not only overcome the crisis, but also use it to raise people out of poverty, which is feasible for a nation that has decreased poverty at the highest pace in history.

Dowry Continues To Remain A Menace In Indian Society

Despite the fact that dowry has been banned in India since 1961, a research found that it is still being given on a regular basis, with over 95% of weddings including the exchange of money.

Dowry is correctly represented as a societal evil since it is the practise of paying and accepting articles of worth (such as clothes, jewellery, furniture, cash, and other items) between two households. Typically, the bride’s family is obligated to pay these items to the groom’s family.

The World Bank carried out the study, which examined almost 40,000 marriages that occurred between 1960 and 2008 in 17 Indian states that account for 96% of the nation’s population.

Researchers calculated “net dowry” to study the difference as to what was paid by the bride’s family to the groom’s family and vice versa, and the results revealed that, in the vast majority of instances, it was the bride’s family who paid more compared to the groom’s family, rather than the other way around.

According to the estimated amount confessed by families, a groom’s family spends Rs. 5,000 on presents to the bride’s family on average. The bride’s family, on the other hand, pays about Rs. 32,000 on presents and other monetary contributions to the groom’s family, taking the net dowry to roughly Rs. 27,000.

It has also been noticed that the dowry value is typically 14 percent of the annual income and includes a significant portion of the family’s savings.

While much has started to change since 2008, experts think the tendency of dowry is still highly prominent in India, since the notion is quite widespread in all major religious groups, with Christians and Sikhs exhibiting a “dramatic increase in dowry.”

Dowry inflation was seen in certain states, including Kerala, Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat, with Kerala having the highest average dowry in recent years. On the other side, average dowry decreased in states such as Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.

This venom affects people of all castes and socioeconomic classes. Neither the husband’s nor the wife’s educational background protects them from dowry harassment. Currently, dowry-related fatalities in Kerala have been documented, with the majority of victims coming from the upper strata of society. The culprits come from well-educated and wealthy families, and the victims are also well-educated. If this is the situation of women in a culture that was matriarchal a few decades earlier and claims of high social indicators in women empowerment, it’s anybody’s imagination how it will be in many Indian states that have numerous social indicators that are much worse than those of war-torn Syria or Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the NCRB study, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar top the list of dowry-related deaths, accounting for roughly 30 percent.

It is time to reform these retrograde societal standards in 2021. Receiving dowry should be considered a societal shame, and all generations should be taught. Young people should also make a stand. Women should explicitly refuse to pay dowry as part of a marriage , and men should also refuse to accept it in any way. Why should brides’ parents be obliged to give pricey “gifts” that are essentially a dowry by another name? 

The wider background for dowry is women’s low labor-force participation and, as a result, their lack of financial independence. Women should be encouraged to work and earn their own money.

Discrimination is present in all parts of life. To combat gender inequality, States should examine gender-disaggregated statistics across the life cycle — birth, early childhood, schooling, nourishment, employment, healthcare access, and so on. Teachers and textbooks shape students’ views and values. Children should be routinely educated on the fundamental ideal of gender equality.

Breaking The Cycle Of Generational Trauma

We do not simply just inherit our parents’ skin complexion, eye colour, or height. We can also acquire our parents’ stories, narratives, and perspectives on life. There is a piece of them that lives on in us, whether we are conscious of it or not. While carrying on our family’s tradition is a good thing to do, there may be unaddressed tension and trauma to sift through and tidy up.

WHAT IS GENERATIONAL TRAUMA?

Generational trauma is exactly what the name implies: trauma that is passed down from one generation to the next. It can be subtle, hidden, and ambiguous, emerging via nuances and unwittingly taught or suggested throughout someone’s life from infancy onward. 

Families with a record of unresolved trauma, depression, anxiety, and addiction can pass on ineffective coping techniques and suspicious views of life to subsequent generations. In this way, one might perpetuate the same behaviours and attitudes of previous generations, even if they’re healthy.

While generational trauma can impact anybody, individuals who have suffered major kinds of abuse, abandonment, torture, discrimination, and racial inequalities are at the greatest risk. Generational trauma has been studied in relation to Holocaust survivors, the Khmer Rouge atrocities in Cambodia, the Rwandan genocide, the relocation of American Indians, and the slavery of African Americans, among other things. While the evidence on how trauma manifests itself is varied, several studies have found increased rates of anxiety, sadness, and PTSD among trauma survivors and their offspring.

Trauma can cause poverty, poor parenting, decreased bonding, psychological distress, and insecure living conditions, all of which have a significant influence on children ’s development.

WAYS IN WHICH GENERATIONAL TRAUMA CAN AFFECT FAMILIES

  1. Emotions could become a point of conflict across generations – Regardless of how the trauma is coped with, elder generations within a family set the tone for how traumatic events must be (and frequently are) dealt with. Unfortunately, the trauma is passed down through generations since those who needed assistance never received it. In some situations, the traumatised family member may even pass on bad feelings to others in the family.
  1. Trauma can have an impact on the parent-child relationship – Individuals who have not gotten assistance and support for their trauma may establish unhealthy connections with their kid or grandchild. Emotional, psychological, or verbal abuse can all be signs of an unhealthy relationship. Abuse can be sexual or physical in severe situations.
  1. Unaddressed mental issues could cause relationship conflict – It is well known that older people do not believe in seeking the assistance of mental health specialists. Members of the family suffering from mental health issues (depression, anxiety, psychotic symptoms, etc.) genuinely require assistance because untreated psychiatric symptoms can lead to more trauma and emotional instability within one’s family.
  1. Younger generations may become “satisfied” with the way things are – If avoiding and denying ,and even embracing, the trauma becomes “normal” for the family, future generations will adopt this manner of “survival” and imitate the behaviours. People who avoid, downplay, or suppress family trauma exacerbate the situation for younger family members. We learn a lot about how to cope with stressful experiences.

HOW TO HEAL FROM GENERATIONAL TRAUMA

Many people do not realize their dysfunctional behavior because they are simply applying what they have learnt in the best way they know how to.  The key to change is awareness. There can be no change unless you acknowledge that something is wrong in your family unit.

  1. The first step is to recognise the patterns. Some are much more visible than others, such as domestic violence, abuse, anxiety, and gender norms. 
  1. The second stage is to become more conscious of what causes you to fall into these established patterns. Is it shouting, contempt, feeling undervalued, physical violence, or witnessing others bully? The list could go on and on. 
  1. The third stage is to become conscious of how you respond to triggers once you are aware of them. Do you shut down, get furious, get aggressive, or yell?
  1. The fourth stage is to understand how to create constraints in such behaviors. Creating a trigger word or phrase that will assist you detect when you are following a pattern. Creating a support network in order to be held accountable. 
  1. Giving yourself love and time to heal is the fifth stage. These are behaviors which have been ingrained in us for a long time. Generational trauma doesn’t really heal in a day or a week. It takes some time.

In order to enhance these processes, enlisting the assistance of a professional is a wonderful choice. Sometimes when the trauma you experienced is so deeply ingrained in you that you need additional assistance. 

Good Food, Good Mood

What we eat doesn’t simply influence our physical health: it could also influence our mental health and wellbeing.

The relation between food and mood originates from the direct connection between your brain and your gastrointestinal tract, which is sometimes referred to as the “second brain.” Billions of bacteria live in your GI tract, influencing the creation of neurotransmitters, which are chemical compounds that continually transport messages from the stomach to the brain. (Two common examples are dopamine and serotonin.)

Eating nutritious foods encourages the growth of “good” bacteria, which has a favourable effect on neurotransmitter synthesis. A consistent diet of junk food, on the other hand, might promote inflammation, which can stifle output. When your brain’s neurotransmitter production is in excellent health, it gets these positive messages loud and clear, and your emotions reflect it.

A Mediterranean-style diet (rich in vegetables, seafood, fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil, cereal, and grains) combined with fish oil helps alleviate depressive symptoms. On the other hand, there are two types of foods that are harmful to the brain: those that trick the brain into releasing chemicals that we may be missing, temporarily influencing our mood (for example, caffeine and chocolate), and those that discourage the conversion of other foods into nutrients which the brain requires (for example, saturated fat such as butter, lard and palm oil).

THREE WAYS YOUR DIET AFFECTS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

  1. It is essential for brain development – When we eat healthy food, it transforms into protein-building blocks, enzymes, brain tissue, and neurotransmitters, which transport information and impulses across different regions of the brain and body.
  1. It shifts the brain into growth mode – Some nutrients and dietary habits are associated with alterations in a brain protein that aids in the formation of new synapses between brain cells. A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and zinc raises levels of this chemical. A diet heavy in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, on the other hand, has a significant detrimental influence on brain proteins.
  1. It fills up the gut with beneficial bacteria – The gut contains trillions of beneficial microorganisms. They keep harmful bacteria at bay and your immune system in check, which means they assist to control inflammation in the body. Some gut bacteria even aid in the production of brain-boosting B vitamins.

FOODS THAT PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH

  1. Whole foods – Preservatives, food colouring, and other chemicals have been linked to hyperactivity and depression in certain studies. So, if you only remember one thing, remember to consume real food, which is food which has been minimally processed and has a few nutritious components. Consider eating fresh fruits and veggies.
  1. Fiber – Plant-based meals are high in fibre, which helps your body digest glucose – or food sugars – more slowly, avoiding sugar highs and lows. Fruits and vegetables, as well as nutrient-dense carbohydrates like whole grains and legumes, are high in fibre.
  1. Antioxidants – These anti-inflammatory compounds are abundant in berries, leafy green vegetables, turmeric, and foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and black chia seeds. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants as well.
  1. Vitamin D – Vitamin D aids in the synthesis of serotonin and is often obtained by exposure to sunshine. However, mushrooms, particularly reishi, cordycep, and maitake, are an excellent source. If you are vitamin D deficient, your doctor may also advise you to take a supplement.
  1. Magnesium – This important mineral aids in everything from nerve and muscle function to maintaining a regular pulse. However, it is also critical to the food-mood relation: A mineral shortage can harm your gut microbes and produce anxiety-like symptoms. Natural sources include dark chocolate, cacao nibs, almonds, and cashews, spinach and other dark leafy greens, bananas, and beans.
  1. Fermented foods – Fermented foods are high in probiotics, which are living microorganisms that are beneficial to the digestive tract. Sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh, and the fermented drink kombucha are a few examples. These items are also rich in sodium, so eat them in limit or avoid them entirely if you have hypertension.

Begin to pay attention to how different meals make you feel – not only in the moment, but also the day after. For two to three weeks, try eating a “healthy” diet, which includes avoiding all refined carbohydrates and sweets. Take note of how you feel. Then, one by one, gradually reintroduce items into your diet to observe how you feel. When some individuals “go clean,” they can’t believe how much healthier they feel, both mentally and physically, and how much worse they feel when they reintroduce items known to increase inflammation.

Why China Wants To Choose The Next Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama and Tibet’s spiritual leader, will turn 86 years old on July 6, 2021. As the Tibetan spiritual leader becomes older, doubts about his succession resurface. China recently released a white paper demanding that the next Dalai Lama be chosen with Chinese official permission, claiming historical practices.

The Dalai Lama, one of Buddhism’s most known faces, is a significant aspect in disseminating Buddhist teachings to the international population. Senior monastic disciples have historically recognised the Dalai Lama’s successor, relying on spiritual indications and visions. However, the Chinese foreign ministry announced in 2011 that only the Chinese government can choose the next Dalai Lama, and that no other candidate ought to be acknowledged.

CHINESE OPPRESSION AND TIBETAN UNREST

Even after six decades of occupation in Tibet, the Chinese government has failed terribly in its attempts to win the hearts and minds of Tibetans. Tibetans have never used violence in the course of their resistance, no matter what they’ve done.  The selection procedure for the next Dalai Lama is now in limbo. China’s communist regime annexed Tibet in 1950, claiming that it has always belonged to China. The Dalai Lama escaped in 1959 and established an exile administration.

Presently, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is one of the world’s most well-established democratic exile governments. Many refer to it as a “bonsai democracy.” In reality, such an exile setup isn’t really a low-hanging fruit. It was envisaged by Tibet’s Dalai Lama and yielded fruition after six decades.

When he was six years old, the Chinese government arrested the Dalai Lama’s candidate for the 10th Panchen Lama’s successor, Gendun Choeki Nyima, in the year 1995. China has remained tight-lipped regarding his location since then. When the freshly elected 11th Panchen Lama was arrested, the Tibetan people revolted. In response, the Chinese government appointed its own Panchen Lama, the son of a Chinese security officer. Historically, the panchen lamas and dalai lamas have played important roles in identifying each other’s upcoming incarnations.

OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Because of the Chinese threat, the 14th Dalai Lama has made a series of remarks that would make a Chinese-appointed 15th Dalai Lama difficult to regard as genuine.

For instance, he has said that the institution of the Dalai Lama may no longer be required. However, he has also stated that it is up to the people to preserve this part of Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama lineage. Another possibility offered by the Dalai Lama is to announce his future reincarnation before he dies. In this situation, the Dalai Lama will pass on his spiritual enlightenment to the next Dalai Lama.

Tenzin Gyatso has also stated that if he dies outside of Tibet and the Panchen Lama remains absent, his reincarnation would be found elsewhere, probably in India.Lastly, he has suggested the idea of reincarnating as a woman — although he added in 2015 and 2019 interviews that he’d have to be an extremely attractive lady. After this remark drew considerable criticism in 2019, his staff issued an apology and expression of remorse for the harm he had caused.

The Dalai Lama is certain that no one would accept the Chinese government’s choice. As he has stated, the Tibetan population will never recognize a Chinese-appointed Dalai Lama.

INDIA’S STAKES IN TIBET

The Tibetan elite tended to view the  world through the lens of India, and thousands of Tibetans fled to India as refugees in 1959. Today, India is home to the world’s biggest Tibetan community, with over 75,000 individuals.

Today, India’s land boundaries with China are largely those which exist between India and Tibet. China’s views on India are impacted in many ways by its Tibet policy. If a puppet Dalai Lama emerges from China, India could face significant geopolitical issues. Not only India, but also the entire Himalayan area. It is very likely that China would utilise the ‘Dalai Lama Institution’ as a political tool to encroach on these areas. China is skilled at fabricating tales that even history cannot follow. 

To discourage China’s politicisation of the Dalai Lama and leadership in Buddhism, New Delhi must give the  Dalai Lama more realistic attention, similar to US legislation on Tibet, which explicitly says that China must not intervene in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. So far, India has opted not to intervene in the matter.

What Is Zen Buddhism?

Zen Buddhism is a Japanese school of philosophy that is said to have evolved from Mahayana Buddhism. It is more centred on meditation and intuition, and it is seen as a lifestyle rather than a fixed form of prayer or religion. 

The term “Zen” is the Japanese rendering of the Chinese word “Ch’an,” which means “meditation.” Around the eighth century, Ch’an arrived in Japan and became known as “Zen.” Though Zen Buddhism made its way to Japan via China, but it’s true home is India. Today, the term “Zen” is more often used in the West.

For many individuals from East Asian cultures, Zen is particularly essential in helping families show their continuing love and respect for their ancestors—departed family members who are in the afterlife awaiting rebirth.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ZEN BUDDHISM

Zen Buddhism is a simple, determined, uncompromising, to-the-point, meditation-based Buddhism that is uninterested in theological subtleties. Zen, which does not rely on scripture, dogma, or ritual, is validated by personal experience and is passed down ineffably from teacher to pupil, hand in hand, via rigorous, intimate practice.

Though Zen accepts – at least in part – the legitimacy of traditional Buddhist scriptures, it has developed its own writings over time. Much of ancient Zen literature is based on legendary stories of the great masters, and is liberally flavoured with Taoism, Confucianism, and Chinese poetry, as well as written in casual language studded with Chinese folk sayings and street slang. 

One of the most key characteristics of Zen Buddhism is Zazen or Zen meditation. Zen meditation’s objective is to control one’s attention. It is also referred to as a technique of “thinking about not thinking.” In zazen, practitioners sit on a cushion in a structured pose with a straight back, eyes half open, and legs crossed onto the opposite thigh in what is known as the full-lotus position.

HOW TO PRACTICE ZEN MEDITATION 

  1. Keeping an eye on one’s breath – During zazen (sitting meditation), meditators should adopt a comfortable position such as the Burmese, half-lotus, or Seiza pose. Sitting on a cushioned mat or cushion is preferable, although sitting in a chair is also fine. The focus of awareness focuses on a specific object of meditation, most commonly the breath and how it travels in and out of the abdominal area. 
  1. Stillness of mind – This type of meditation does not rely on a single point of focus, such as the breath. Meditation students are taught to let thoughts pass through their brains without judgement or rejection. This is known as shikantaza, or “simply sitting” in Japanese. This Zen Buddhist meditation technique is performed without the need of an object of concentration, attachments, or contents.
  1. Intensive group meditation – Committed meditators conduct intensive group meditation on a regular basis in meditation centres or temples. This is known as sesshin in Japanese. During this stage of intense meditation, practitioners dedicate the majority of their time seated. Each class lasts approximately 30 to 50 minutes and is interspersed with walking meditation, brief breaks, and meals. 

Finally, Zen Buddhism provides practitioners with means to mend their minds and hearts while also connecting with the world. Many practitioners nowadays turn to Zen in search of mental clarity and peacefulness through meditation. Zen, like other schools of Buddhism, begins with the recognition that humans suffer, and it offers a remedy to this suffering by realising the interconnection of all creatures and learning to live in accordance with this reality.  

India’s Afghanistan Challenge

As the United States of America continues to pull out its troops out of Afghanistan, there has been wide discussions as to who would fill that vacuum

Biden’s decision to remove all US soldiers from Afghanistan has fueled domestic unrest in the nation, where violence is on the rise as the Taliban scores more combat successes against the Afghan government and foreign forces disengage. However, Washington’s decision to withdraw has prompted a regional struggle for power, with many parties ranging from China to Turkey, Russia to India, trying to capitalise on the diplomatic power vacuum in Afghanistan.

India, which has long provided diplomatic and financial assistance to the Afghan government, has allegedly altered its long-held policy of not interacting with the Taliban and is now engaging in direct discussions with the rebel group’s leadership. However, India’s presence in Afghanistan has long been balanced by the presence of the one nation that, whether it wants to or not, will have to pick up the majority of the pieces America leaves behind: Pakistan. 

India is engaging with the Taliban because the Taliban are winning. Conservative, largely rural, and illiterate Afghans defeated the Soviet Union at its peak as the Mujahideen. They achieved it with enormous support from the United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, and others. The same group has now vanquished the world’s sole superpower. They’ve done it with only Pakistan’s aid. 

Before delving into the risks and advantages of dealing with the Taliban, it is important to reaffirm the primary objective of India’s Afghanistan policy, which is to maintain a strategic balance between Kabul and Islamabad. Despite the disparity of strength between two nations, India wants to guarantee that nationalist Afghan thought, which is critical of Pakistan’s interventionism, stays active and aggressive. This is why New Delhi has maintained its support for a “Afghan-owned, Afghan-led” peace process. Engaging with the Taliban is an exercise in averting harm to India’s interests as it is in determining the extent of the group’s nationalism.

The advantages of this successful outreach are obvious. The Taliban recognises India’s beneficial role in Afghanistan and does not want its diplomatic presence to be reduced.The outreach in Doha has given Indian authorities cautious hope that the Taliban will not be openly antagonistic and may even want deeper ties in the medium term. 

However, the outreach is not without danger. One possibility is that the Taliban would break its pledges and, with a shove from Pakistan, will strike Indian interests. If this does not happen, the Taliban interlocutors with whom India is negotiating may be marginalised, or worse, replaced by pro-Pakistan supporters such as the Haqqanis. Second, reaching out to the Taliban might hasten the fall of Kabul while complicating India’s ties with existing allies.

Despite these concerns, India has solid reasons to engage the Taliban. For one thing, these worries would persist regardless of India’s approach. If nothing else, undoubtedly India’s absence from the Taliban’s calculus makes it much more vulnerable if the Islamic republic falls apart. For India, the only way to achieve long-term peace in Afghanistan is for there to be peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan, which will need aligning the interests of everybody, both inside and outside that country.

The Rise Of Hallyu

The Korean Wave or as it is more popularly known the ‘Hallyu Wave’ is the rise in the popularity of South Korean culture globally. 

The word ‘Hallyu’ finds its origin in the chinese word Hanryu meaning “Korean wave”. The Korean wave refers to a global awareness of several aspects of South Korean culture, such as television and film (especially “K-dramas”), K-pop, manhwa, the Korean language, and Korean food. 

Hallyu first started gaining prominence in the 1990s and was originally only limited to Japan and China. That all changed with one movie. Released in 1999, ‘Swiri’ is a North Korea/South Korea espionage film. The film was not only popular in China and Japan but soon gained popularity in several South East Asian countries as well. This momentum was carried forward with dramas such as ‘Autumn In My Heart’ and ‘Winter Sonata’ and films like ‘My Sassy Girl’. The popularity of these entertainment products generated a lot of hype about Korean culture’s exploding prominence. 

The Korean government’s decision to relax the prohibition on Koreans travelling abroad in the early 1990s was perhaps the most crucial element that ultimately paved the way for Hallyu. This allowed a number of Koreans to go to the western world, primarily the United States and Europe. These western-educated Koreans carried with them new business approaches, new nuances and interpretations of art, movies, and music, as well as new means of expression. This resulted in a massive pool of young, energetic, and highly competent people eager to explore prospects in Korea. 

At the same time when the restrictions were repealed, Asia (including Korea) was experiencing the terrible Asian financial crisis of 1997-98. The Asian financial crisis was a perfect storm of bad debt, lender anxiety, and regional economic difficulties.Because many worldwide stakeholders still felt Korea was in terrible health after the crisis, the nation lost foreign direct investments, tourism, and faced global mistrust. To address the issue, the then newly elected president Kim Dae-Jung and the Korean head of global PR agency Edelman co-authored a book geared towards foreign investors titled “Korea: On Course – and Open for Business.”

Since the 2000s, the Korean Wave has seen a steady increase in popularity but that all changed with the growing use of the internet and social media. Hallyu has been spreading for over 20 years, but K-pop in particular has grown more visible to worldwide audiences in the last five to ten years. K-pop is a noticeable and distinct addition to the domain of pop music for three reasons: very high-quality performance (particularly dancing), an exceedingly perfected aesthetic, and a “in-house” technique of studio production. The international breakthrough of “Gangnam Style” was followed by a boom of K-Pop idol groups such as Big Bang, Girls’ Generation, 2PM, EXO, Wanna One, BTS, Twice and Blackpink.

Korean films and filmmakers have increasingly piqued the curiosity of international cinema communities. Train to Busan, has gained international acclaim as a must-see Korean film due to its intriguing subject matter and good narrative structure.Films such as ‘Parasite’ and ‘Minari’ have won several accolades worldwide. 

Korean skincare products have also grown in popularity throughout Asia. Amorepacific and LG Household & Health Care have risen to the top of the Asia-Pacific beauty industry. K-dramas and K-pop boosted exposure of Korean beauty goods and brands, which increased demand among Indian women, resulting in the establishment of several specialist e-commerce businesses. Korean consumer brands are expected to be in great demand in India by 2020, with items ranging from food to cosmetics and toys, in addition to household gadgets. 

The Korean Wave’s budding global surge has not only boosted South Korea’s economy but also enhanced its soft power and cultural diplomacy. People all over the world are interested in the Korean Wave’s future because the continued flourishing of a local culture in global cultural marketplaces might send an inspirational message of acceptance and inclusiveness. The Korean Wave’s rise may also be an indication of changing relations between Western and non-Western cultures.