Author: Reshma

I am a passionate writer. I love reading, learning and trying new things.

Sex Education

Indian wisdom holds Kama, love or desire of sensual enjoyment as one of the four ends of life. These are religion(dharma), wealth(artha), sex(kama) and liberation(moksha). India has dealt with the matter of sex most objectively and scientifically which is why there are temples of Khajuraho, Konark and Puri and a treatise like Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra. And yet sex has become a taboo now. Many parents, teachers and others find it embarrassing to talk of sex before children and students. In these days of much scientific, technological and industrial development, there still persist many superstitions, myths and much ignorance about sex in India. Because of this lack of scientific understanding of the procreation and it’s physical aspects, the adolescents and children suffer the most. Consequently, they are not able to develop healthy attitude towards sex and suffer from many sex related misconceptions. In the absence of right knowledge and healthy attitude towards sex they often become victims of sex abuses and suffer the ills mutely. In these days Web series, Western movies and liberal morals, the Indian children feel sexually excited and stimulated but cannot properly cope with the situation for want of sex education and start suffering from various sex related complexes. As such they commit many mistakes which often put them on wrong tracks and ruin their life.

The rapid increase in the cases of AIDS, HIV positive etc. are the direct result of this total ignorance about sex and the reproductive process. There is an urgent need to remove misconceptions about it by introduction of sex education on a wide scale in schools and colleges on scientific lines. It has become all the more important as coeducation is becoming more popular arid there is free and liberal coming together of the opposite sexes at schools, colleges, universities and social levels. Children are scolded or discouraged when found discussing sex. Then they try to obtain knowledge about sex from doubtful, ill informed sources, friends and books. This gives rise to obscene books, pornographic literature, blue films and such other trash material. Even many married couple suffer from sex guilt and think love making as something asocial, obscene and undesirable to be indulged into the darkness of their bedrooms at night. This unscientific and unhealthy attitude towards sex has been largely responsible for such evils as gender bias, sex abuse, prostitution, rape, homosexuality, unnatural sex and undesired pregnancy.

If the children are taught sex scientifically, naturally and as one of the school subjects many of the evils and complexes related with sex can be removed. Many of the diseases like syphilis, AIDS, STD etc can be prevented if sex education is imparted to the children by their teachers and parents with the help of models, charts, illustrations, slides etc. When properly informed, they would be better armed to guard against sex abuses and exploitations. Many young men and women become victims of evil sensual designs because of poor or unscientific sex knowledge. Consequently, there are many cases of unwanted mothers, children and pregnancies. No doubt, it is a very sensitive subject and needs to be handled very carefully and cautiously or else it may create another type of serious problems as is happening in many western countries where free love and sex prevails.

The content, quality and method of sex education should be proven standard. The men and women entrusted with giving sex education to children should be really well qualified mentally, psychologically and educationally. There cannot be any ad hoc or half baked things. Sex education should be suggestive, imaginative but of practical value based on scientific studies and attitudes. Such an explosive subject cannot be taken lightly nor can it be ignored. Children cannot be any longer brought up in ignorance of facts which so intimately concern them. Their questions, curiosity and doubts about the subject should be fully answered and removed. They should be encouraged to know more about it like any other subject. In the formative years of childhood and adolescence, it is very essential that they are well informed about sex. A lack of sex education or faulty education at this stage may result in various forms of sexual deviations and abnormalities later in adulthood.

Knowledge is Power

The English philosophy-essayist Francis Bacon rightly said, “knowledge itself is power”. Knowledge and power go together. You cannot think of power without knowledge. He who increases knowledge increases power. It is the only instrument of production and success which is not subject to diminishing returns. On the other hand ignorance is a curse and darkness. It brings superstitions, defeat, decadence, failures and frustration in its wake. Knowledge is enlightenment and light. It is freedom, liberation and realisation. Only a knowledgeable person can think big and high. For him nothing is impossible, no obstacle is great or insurmountable.

Knowledge makes you brave, bold, dashing and commanding. All great, successful and eminent persons in the history of the world have been very powerful. They have been so because they possessed the inexhaustible treasure of knowledge. There is no power so strong as knowledge and a person armed with knowledge and power cannot be stopped from achieving success and crowing glory in life. For him even the sky is not the limit. Knowledge lends self confidence, perseverance, hope, courage to face challenges, steadfastness and dedication to a purpose. God is god only because he is all knowledge. Knowledge reigns supreme and unchallenged.

It is knowledge which lends power to man to control and rule over forces of nature. Today the countries have come much closer to one another and the world has become a global village because of power of knowledge. Science, technology, success, advancement etc. are the other names and terms of knowledge. In the pre historic past man was ignorant, weak, helpless and puny. He lived in caves and jungles and suffered from many fatal diseases. He was never sure of food, security, shelter and safety because he had no knowledge and today he is most powerful creature. He is the master of all that he surveys. The moon is not beyond his reach nor the knowledge of the sun, the planets, the stars and galaxies. He is ready to set his foot on the Mars.

The history of human progress, civilization and evolution has been actually the history of advancement of knowledge. Ever since the dawn of civilization and history, it is the brain which has been more powerful than anything else. Knowledge rules supreme. The pen has been mightier than the sword. Behind the powers of kings and emperors was the brain of the learned men. It was Chanakya who guided the destiny of Maurya empire. History is the witness of the success, survival and victory of the races who were really intellectual and therefore, powerful.

Mao-Tse-Tung was wrong when he said that power grows on the barrel of a gun. He forgot the age old and time tested saying that those who live by the sword will perish by the sword. A sword can never be mightier than the pen. Pen represents learning, wisdom , knowledge, secrets of success and the sword, mere physical and material power. It is the brain or mind which is more important than matter. Mind has always ruled over matter and will continue to do so forever. The achievements of minds have always been marvellous. They have been eternal, without limits of time and space.

Pen is mightier than sword

Behind all genuine and lasting power, is knowledge. Genuine power is that which springs from knowledge and wisdom and the rest is brute force, fragile, momentary and like a bubble in the water of eternity. Knowledge is indeed power, it reigns supreme.

11th July – World Population Day

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled the new population policy today, saying increasing population is the root of major problems, including inequality prevailing in the society.

“Population control is the primary condition for the establishment of an advanced society. Let us, on this ‘World Population Day’, take a pledge to make ourselves and the society aware of the problems arising from the increasing population”

Yogi Adityanath tweeted

Population Explosion in India

Baby boom or population explosion is one of the major problems being faced by India. India is an overpopulated country, the second largest in the world after China. Thanks to the progress of medical science, the mortality rate has appreciably declined and the life expectancy increased. These have resulted in rapid growth in the population of children, youngsters and those above sixty years of age. These population trends have further complicated the matters and there is heavy pressure on the country’s economic and natural resources. The baby boom has very adversely affected our economy, planning and development.

According to 2010 census, India’s population stood at 12.5 billion. It means India is the land of 20% of the world’s population with just 2.42 percent of the earth area. The average density in terms of population is 350 persons per sq. km. Which varies from place to place and state to state. At the present rate of growth in our population it is feared that in the coming years India would beat China behind . The increasing number of babies has set alarm bells ringing. The problem has created many other serious difficulties like unemployment, food scarcity, poverty, illiteracy, starvation, shelterlessness, insanitation, pollution and so on.

More than 5,500 new mouths are there every day to be fed. Over 1.3 million people are added to our population every year. It means India’s population would double within the next few years. The number of people is multiplying very fast and there seems no effective check on it. This explosion in population has nullified all our economic and developmental achievements. The planners, policy makers, economists and leaders feel on the horns of the dilemma. In these circumstances, it has become almost impossible to improve the quality of life and living standard to an appreciable level. It has neutralized all efforts of poverty alleviation and obtaining of sustainable food security. The enormity of the problem has been realised but matching and commensurate measures to check the baby boom and control the rise in the population have not been taken.

The fertility in Indian women is very high. Here a girl of 15-16 years of age is mature enough to conceive and deliver a baby, if married. The tropical climate has further aggravated the situation. Most of the people in village, towns and slums are totally unaware of the family planning methods and measures. They still believe children to be the gift of gods and regard them as divine ornaments of a woman. Small and marginal farmers, daily labourers, mill workers etc. have large families and refuse to plan their families. The backward and most populated States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh etc. have abnormally high rate of population growth. In these States the use of contraceptives like condoms, copper Ts etc. has declined in recent years. We are still groping in the dark as far as population stabilisation is concerned. We have to stabilise the population in relation to our resources.

In spite of 60 years of independence there has been no national policy on population. Experts believe that we are decades behind in population stabilisation in comparison to China. They opine that as long as elementary education and primary health care are neglected nothing concrete and palpable can be achieved in this matter. What is needed is emulation of Kerala’s demographic transformation but is seems rather impossible unless the same literacy rate prevails in other States as it does in Kerala. Economic and literary backwardness are major factors of baby boom in India as is evident from the demographic figures in such backward States as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan etc. Lack of common civil code is another stumbling block in strictly adhering to the 2 children family norm. Our leaders should rise to the occasion and realise the urgency to check the baby boom. They should come forward with a firm, specific and result-oriented national policy on population and family planning.

UP’s Growth Rate 3.1 Against National Rate of 2.7, ‘Hum Do Hamare Do’ Must be Followed

– Yogi Adityanath on the occasion of World Population Day, 2021

Child – Labour in India

India is a democratic country and a welfare State and it’s children have no security and safety. The sons and daughters of the millions of Indians living under the poverty line in the age group of 5 and 14 are forced to spend a very miserable existence. There is no social security for them as their parents cannot afford to send them to schools. They are subject to various types of exploitations and abuses.

There are estimated to be over 11 million child workers. They are forced to labour hard and for long hours in mills, factories, fields, farms and houses as domestic servants. They have to work in very trying, unhealthy and sometimes dangerous conditions. They belong to the age group of 5 and 14 years and hardly know what is childhood and boyhood and its fun and enjoyments.

These children, who have only one childhood, are obliged to work as labourers in match, knit-wear, silk, carpet, sports goods, construction, fireworks, bangles and such other labour intensive industries. They are also engaged as bidi-rollers, brick kiln workers, shop servants and domestic helps against their wishes and abilities. The figure of 11 million child workers is far too low than the actual number of child labours because the Child Labour Act covers only the 15 percent of the employed children and the rest comprising 85 percent working in unorganised sector have been ignored. There is utter lack of social awareness and accountability in the matter. The children of the weaker sections of the society are being exploited openly and blatantly. There is no effective forum to voice their grievance and protect them against this wide spread exploitation.

The international code of conduct on minimum labour standards is not being implemented in our country. Actually every person under 18 years of age unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier, is a child. According to the Convention of Rights of the Child of 1990, every child has the right to an adequate standard of living and social security. He or she has the right to education. They have the right of protection against any kind of exploitation. They are entitled to protection from involvement in illicit production, trafficking and use of narcotic drugs, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. But these rights are on papers and the reality is very shocking. They have no opportunity of going to school and develop their skills and abilities. Half the total population of children in India is estimated to be out of schools. Without provision of compulsory, free and universal elementary education, the evil of child labour in India cannot be checked and eradicated. The emancipatory value of education, specially primary education, is very significant.

Social groups, voluntary organisations, reform societies and parents should create public awareness against child labour and make the masses demand free, universal, primary education. Right to education on the elementary level should be one of the fundamental rights. The percentage of allocation on primary education is very low in India. The aim of providing education to all the children is not an easy one. It requires most sincere and concentrated efforts on the part of all concerned. The country cannot afford to neglect it any longer.

The problem of child labour is directly linked with the problem of literacy and poverty alleviation. The poor parents cannot afford to let their children not to work. Unless there is significant improvement in the quality of life and living standards, the eradication of child labour will remain a pipe dream. Children should be respected, their rights restored and their voices heard. They should be rescued from all types of labour and exploitation. Boycott of goods produced with child labour can be one of the effective weapons of fight against child labour. Apart from the government, individuals, organisations, companies and business firms should come forward and adopt poor children and see that those children are given education in a healthy and conducive environment. To stop dropouts, there can be financial and other incentives to children as well as to parents.

Is India ready for the third wave of Covid-19?

We’ve been through this pandemic since 2019. It’s only in January 2020 we came to know about it, too late to take any precautions as such. The nation started to witness a huge number deaths and got to understand the severity of this virus. The only option left for the government was a nationwide lock down. On the evening of March 24, 2020, the government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, i.e till 14th April 2020, but was extended further for months.

This affected the nation in a drastic manner with the downfall in the economy of the country, rise in unemployment, poverty, theft and robbery. Everything brought into the nation a complete chaos. It not only affected the country economically but also the mental health of the people. The suicide rate during the pandemic has increased drastically. We humans need companions. Maintaining social distance and not to talk and meet anyone in person is really difficult for a normal human. It’s just that we are not use to, though it has become a new normal now.

The education system collapsed completely during this pandemic. Online mode of education can never replace the offline mode, no matter how much technically capable we become. Never in the history had matriculation and intermediate examination be cancelled. Now as it has, students have taken things so lightly that examination don’t fear them anymore. Children now, are the future of our country. What will these students grow up and do? How will our country develop further? Will our country be safe in their hands? We don’t have an answer to these. This pandemic no matter how soon we wish to end, is going to have a long term effect on everybody’s life.

‘COVID third wave to hit India in August’

A research report has predicted that India may witness the third wave of COVID-19 in mid-August 2021, raising the alarm bells for policymakers and citizens. The research claims that the COVID third wave peak will arrive in the month of September 2021. According to the SBI report, the global data shows that on average, peak COVID-19 cases reached during the third wave are nearly twice or 1.7 times those from the second wave of the pandemic.

Are we ready for the next wave to hit? Everything that’s happening to happen once again?

No, right? The people of our country are not at all, though the government is arranging for beds, oxygen and all other necessities. The people on the other hand are planning trips and vacations. Just a month ago, people were struggling to get oxygen and a bed at the hospital. Now the same people are struggling to get rooms at a resort in Manali.

India registered 43,393 new COVID-19 cases today from peak of 4 lakhs in the 3rd week of May. 44,459 recoveries, and 911 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the latest update by the Health Ministry this morning. As per the data shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), there has been been a slowdown in the downward trend of daily COVID infections and a slight increase in the positivity rate. Yet, third wave is knocking the door. Beware!

Vaccination

The only way you can be a little safe during the third wave is through vaccination. Though it’s very difficult to get your slots booked, try and vaccinate yourself as soon as possible. Vaccination too cannot protect you from the virus completely. Go out only if necessary and wear masks properly. It’s better to stay away from crowded places to avoid being caught by the virus.

Get yourself vaccinated and stay home!

Captain Cool turned 40 yesterday!

Captain Cool turns 40!

Can any Indian forget Ravi Shastri’s words from the commentry box?

“Dhoni finishes off in style. Magnificent strike into the crowd. India lifts the World Cup after 28 years.”

– Ravi Shastri, World Cup 2011

These are words that will remain engraved in our hearts and minds forever. MS Dhoni smashed the winning six to help India defeat Sri lanka and win World cup 2011 at Wankhade stadium. This World Cup winning moment is still cherished by every Indian cricket fan. Not only did Dhoni give millions of Indians a memory worth revisiting throughout their lives, but also transformed himself into a formidable “finisher”, one with ice in his veins.

The player with the most captaincy caps in international cricket, Dhoni is the only skipper in history with all 3 ICC titles (excluding WTC as it started after his retirement). He played 90 Tests, 350 ODIs and 98 T20Is before quitting international cricket in August 2020. He had quit the longest format in December 2014. India’s semi-final exit in the 2019 World Cup, a heartbreak against New Zealand, turned out to be Dhoni’s last appearance in the blue jersey. Dhoni, almost a year ago, drew curtains on an illustrious international career. He announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on 15 August 2020. Dhoni, however, is yet to contemplate retirement from franchise cricket. He will be seen in action when CSK battles for yet another title in the remainder of IPL 2021 this year. Amid growing calls over not-so-young Dhoni’s ability to deliver with the bat, all we can say is — “Enjoy It While It Lasts”. 

The “Captain Cool”, India’s beloved skipper who has won all major cricketing accolades that one can achieve during his playing stint, and is still a fan favourite amongst all age group celebrated his 40th birthday yesterday with his family and friends.

Since the former India captain lives a private life and doesn’t make public appearances, the fans hadn’t been able to get a glimpse of their favourite player on his birthday. Dhoni lives a private life in Ranchi with his wife, daughter and parents. Dhoni also stays away from social media and the fans have to wait for Sakshi’s posts to get a glimpse of the icon. Dhoni has a staggering social media following but he hardly uses any of the platforms.

A fan managed to get his pic which has now gone viral on social media. The India legend can be seen holding a placard, which has a birthday wish for him. Dhoni is sporting his latest moustache look, a bold army one.

The former Indian Captain – who holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army — would like to spend more time with his unit in the Army now after his retirement, said the news agency PTI.

“One thing is for sure, he will be spending more time with the Army. He will also give time to his commercial ventures and other commitments. We will sit down soon and decide the way forward.”

Mahendra Singh Dhoni to the news agency

As our beloved Mahi turned 40, wishing him a great year ahead with lot more success in every step he takes. Hope his retirement life be brighter than the one before.

Wishing you a belated birthday Sir. Hope your smile never fades. It affects a million Indian hearts.

A smile which make millions smile. Stay cool, Captain Cool

Football as an emerging sport and a career option in India

Sports, in India has highly been underrated since ages. It has always been considered as a leisure and just a means of recreation but not at all a career option. People do love seeing sports on the television but never did they motivate someone to go into that field. They had their own reasons for it. First of all, sports was never a promising career in the ancient India. They thought it as out of reach and therefore it became underrated. Cricket was the only sport which successfully gathered a huge number of fans India. This happened highly after the Indian premier league was introduced. It became the talk of the town and was something which almost everyone would emotionally connect to.

Football which has always been one of the most interesting sports but was meandering around with no defined path to follow, so it never came into light. But now it has risen above the threshold of a mere game and has become a way of life. India, which was once a sleeping football giant, has woken up with a bang.

ATK Mohun Bagan’s Sumit Rathi Keen to Use ISL as ‘Launchpad’ to Play Abroad

The rise of football in India had began long ago when a club named Mohul Bagan estd around 1890s became the first team to win IFA shield before independence. Later in the year 2013, with the establishment of Indian Super league, football gained a drastic craze among the youngsters in the similar manner as IPL did. People started to connect emotionally. They sprawled near the ticket counters to get the tickets to the atches of their favourites. This growing trend since then hasn’t slowed down yet. ISL became a sudden hit and our players got high recognition through this. Youngsters now have started considering football too as a promising career in India. Every year there are many youngsters getting selected to prove their calibre and are reaching heights of fame all around the world. ISL has led people to watch and love football to a level that nobody could have ever thought. It is through this, that Indian football team has started getting support from their own people. ISL in partnership with Reliance Industries has come a long way and has achieved many milestones. The growing popularity of football in India has prompted foreign leagues to engage Indian enthusiasts through customised training and outreach.

For the first time 2017 Fifa U-17 World Cup, broke previous attendance records with over 1.3 million spectators. As a reult India won the hosting rights of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2020. India who had never earlier got to play FIFA qualifiers is now capable enough for it and it is not too far when we the people of India will see our country play FIFA.

The Classical Age

Introduction

Following the Restoration, in 1660, of the King Charles the second, to the throne of England the manners of the seventeenth century became quite coarse, politics scandalously corrupt and the general tone of the society brutal. But people soon grew sick of this and therefore the 18th century witnessed a resolute attempt in the direction of moral regeneration.

This desire for improvement, was feature of the literature of this age, and particularly of the literature that was created by the middle class writers who were most strongly influenced by the moral considerations. But the people of this age were quite as hostile and thus, though England began to regain lost ground morally, she did not recover the high passion or the spiritual fervour of the Elizabethan age. ‘Good sense’ became the idol of the time, and by ‘good sense’ was meant a love of the reasonable and useful and a hatred of the extravagant, the mystical and the visionary.

In this literature, spontaneity and simplicity are sacrificed to the dominant for elegance and correctness. This is true even of poetry, which seldom travelled beyond the interests of that narrow world of the ‘Town’ by which men’s outlook was commonly circumscribed and finding it’s publicity in the coffee houses and the drawing rooms, drew for its substance upon the politics and the discussion of the hour; and the couplet was its accepted mode. Such poetry however clever, was necessarily fugitive, it lacked the depth and grasp of essential things in literature. And the quest for refinement in style resulted too often in stilted affections.

The Classical Age Or The Augustan Age

The period covering the age of Dryden as well as that of Pope is sometimes called the Classical or the Augustan Age of English literature. The poets and critics of this age believed that the work of the writers of classical antiquity, especially those of the Latin writers presented the best models and the ultimate standards of literary taste. Secondly, in a more general way, like the Latin writers, they had little or no faith in the guidance of individual genius, but they had much faith in laws and rules imposed by the authorities of the past.

“The best of the modern poets in all languages are those that have nearest copied the ancients.”

By Walsh, In 1706


This expressed concisely the principles of classicism. Pope also reiterated this principle in the lines of his ‘Essay on Criticism’

“Tis more to guide … To copy Nature is to copy them.”

Lines from the Essay on Criticism

In imitating the models set by the ancients in the following the rules and laws laid by them, the poets of this period thought that they themselves were producing work which would be called classic or first rate. But the fact is that they only followed their rules mechanically and imitated the ancient classic writers so far as the form or technique of their work goes; otherwise they lacked their genius. For this reason, this age is also called the age of false or pseudo-classicism.

The Age of Prose and Satire

The 18th century, Classical Age was the Age of Reasons and Satire. The writers of the age laid down the foundation of real prose style in English literature. They tried to prevent the absurd extravagances of metaphysical poetry of comparing two lovers to a the two legs of a compass. They brought order and harmony both in poetry and prose. Their poetry devoid as it was of imaginative quality, the prose of Steele and Addison, the novels of Defoe and the work of Swift are things of which every age will be proud of.

This was also the Age of Satire as the social and political conditions of the time were just suitable for the development of satire. The fashionable society of the time was immoral and corrupt and was infested with numerous vices and follies. Pope could not fail to see the emptiness of life around him and by nature being a satirist, he didn’t fail to ridicule it.

The literature of this period, therefore became mostly of satires as almost all the works of Pope are satires. The heroic couplet was the chief medium for poetry that time and suited the best for Satires. We can surely say that this Age created a lot of masterpieces, though not much in poetry but in prose. This age made a direct contribution to English literature rather than merely repeating the tendencies of the preceding ages.

Mental Health among students

What is Mental Health?

Mental health refers to the behavioural and emotional well being. It is all about how people think, feel and behave. Mental health may effect daily life, relationships and physical health. This may also happen the other way. Our daily living, interpersonal relationships and physical health might also cause our mental health to degrade, if not taken proper care. People use the term mental health in order to mean the absence of a mental disorder.

“Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

According to the World Health Organisation(WHO)

The WHO stress that mental health is “more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.” Peak mental health is about not only avoiding active conditions but also looking after ongoing wellness and happiness. Taking good care of mental health can restore and preserve a person’s joy and happiness and bring their life back to track. Stress, anxiety, pressure etc. can lead to mental disorders. Doctors say that most of the psychological disorders have physical roots.

Risk factors of mental illness:-

Mental illness can effect people of all age groups, no matter their sex, religion, caste or income. Few factors that may cause mental illness among students are mentioned below:

Ragging – Far from being harmless, induction and fun, ragging can have serious impact on student’s mental health. Nearly 4 out of 100 students pursuing higher education experience ragging.

Financial problems – Many students belong to a not so financially stable background, therefore has to stop studying or take loans to continue. Our society promotes the idea of immediately entering colleges right after schooling and start a career. Unfortunately that creates pressure and causes mental illness.

Pressure to succeed – Constant worry over career choices, chooseing wrong major, ending up in an unsatisfied college, not knowing what to do with the degree and struggle to fit in can pile up on them.

Excessive use of social media – Even social media posts can harm a person’s self esteem nowadays by causing them to compare themselves to others’ seemingly perfect lives.

There are many other reasons for mental health disruption. Above mentioned were a few which causes uneasiness in students mental health.

Common Mental Disorders:-

Anxiety disorders – People with these conditions have severe fear or anxiety, which relates to certain objects or situations. Most people with an anxiety disorder will try to avoid exposure to whatever triggers their anxiety.

Mood disorders – People with these conditions have significant changes in mood, generally involving either mania, which is a period of high energy and elation, or depression.

Schizophrenia disorder – Signs of schizophrenia typically develop between the ages of 16 and 30 years, according to the NIMH. The individual will have thoughts that appear fragmented, and they may also find it hard to process information.

Consequences of neglecting mental illness:-

Physical Health – The mind copes with stress in different ways. Living with a mental illness isn’t easy. It increases the risk of strokes, heart attack and obesity. While mental illness might be in your brain, it affects your entire body.

Quality of Life – Student life is the best to be enjoyed. Mental illness can make it difficult to cope with every day life. Severe depression makes it difficult to get out of bed, let alone get dressed and out of the house to school.

Academic Achievement – Mental health problems can affect a student’s energy level, concentration, dependability, mental ability, and optimism, hindering performance. Depression has also been linked to students dropping out of schools and colleges.

Use of drugs and Social isolation – Poor mental health creates a negative impact on relationships with family and friends. Smoking and consumption of drugs and alcohols helps them isolate further away from the society.

Suicide – Untreated mental illness clouds your judgment, making you believe that there is no way out. This results in self harm or suicide.

Treatment

There are various methods for managing mental health problems. Treatment is highly individual, and what works for one person may not work for another. The society we live in is too narrow minded to accept these issues as a disorder which needs a treatment. One should keep away this mentality and seek treatment at the stage itself. The treatments include:-

Psychotherapy / Talking therapy – his type of treatment takes a psychological approach. The therapist talks to the person suffering and tries to get to the roots and solves the issue.

Medication – Some people take prescribed medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytic drugs.

Self help – Self help should always be along, no matter whatever treatment you seek. The one facing difficulty should try and improve their lifestyle. Such changes might include reducing alcohol intake, sleeping more and eating a balanced diet.

We all know mental health is just as important as one’s physical health. The word mental health is considered a taboo in our society in the eyes of elderly. Many of us never seek help which leads to more serious health issues. The worst thing is that most of the students are suicide baited and bullied so relentlessly they are convinced that e only way to end their misery is to end their lives. At last, I would like to conclude by pointing out that counselling, therapy or seeking out professional help for yourself isn’t bad. It doesn’t signify that you re weak. Schools and colleges should have resident therapist in their campus. A broken bone may heal in 8-10 weeks but if a person is emotionally broken, it can take years to heal.

Never ignore your mental health

Same Sex Marriage, A Taboo?

•The NRI, Amit Shah and Aditya Madiraju tied knot in New Jersey America • Anuja Ankola and Andrienne Rochetti a homosexual couple tied knot

Should gay marriages be considered a taboo?

Same sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, meaning marrying within the same sex, i.e. between two men or two women. In most of the country, the legal and the social responses have ranged from celebration on one hand to criminalization on the other. Marrying within the same sex has yet not been legalised in India. They don’t get certain rights enjoyed by the other lot of people. Same sex marriage does have it’s own pros and cons like every other thing in existence. Still, to talk about it should never be frowned upon. This world is for everyone to live, the LGBTQs are no exceptions.

The Gay, Pride flag

Same Sex marriage – Pros and Cons

Every human in this world has the rights live their life. An Indian citizen has the rights to enjoy their own life in whatever way they wish.

Marriage is a sacred union between two people. Everyone should be given rights to choose their own partner. Gender shouldn’t be a barrier to choose a person with whom one is going to spend their entire life with. It should completely be their own choice. It’s them who has to deal them all. It is quite possible, one may feel attracted to a person of the same gender. If the other person feels the same, there shouldn’t be another thought if they wish to marry and live together for the rest of their lives. It is often said that the people of the same gender understands each other better. Then it may be quite possible that they live a better life indeed. All we need is love, care, support and a partner who understands you like no one else. If that really gets fulfilled, no doubt, same sex marriages will be a great success. But does it really get fulfilled?

A man and a woman is said to complete each other. No, they aren’t equal. Things a man can do, women can’t and vice versa. Both men and women are the two wheels of the society. One needs another to grow. Man by nature is physically stronger, bold, a little arrogant and pride runs in his blood whereas a woman is mentally stronger, calm, and able to handle situations with ease. Men and women together create a balance in the society. The biological process, the process of reproduction, men can’t give birth and women too can’t give birth alone. She needs a man for it. If reproduction doesn’t happen, how will the generation move forward? That’s a serious question indeed, and the society fears the same. Several of the holy books as well is in opposition to gay marriage. Yet, there are countries like Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003), Spain (2005), Norway (2009), Sweden (2009), Portugal (2010), Iceland (2010), Denmark (2012), France (2013), the United Kingdom (2013), Luxembourg (2015), Ireland (2015), Finland (2017), Malta (2017), Germany (2017), and Austria (2019) which legalized day sex marriage.

According to the 2020 survey

Legalization of same sex marriage celebration in foreign countries

To conclude the same, all I would like to say that the people who wish to marry within the same gender should be allowed to. Not everyone will. Therefore, the generations won’t stop moving further. It’s true to legalise this act is a tough decision indeed. A lot needs to be surveyed and evaluated. One wrong decision may lead to a disaster in the end.

Is India ready to legalise same sex marriage?

Marriage – A woman’s perspective

Is marriage considered a new beginning?

What exactly marriage is?

Marriage, often called matrimony or wedlock is a sacred union usually between a man and a woman regulated by all laws and customs. It is true we all need a true companion to live our lives with. No matter how independent and financially stable one becomes, nothing can replace a partner in life be it a man or a woman.

We are all well aware that a woman’s life takes a drastic turn when she gets married. Women are born with an adjusting and caring nature. She is suppose to leave her house and get adjusted in a new surrounding and serve her in laws there. That is what our culture says and we shouldn’t question. But nowhere does our culture says to torture her to the extreme, though tolerance runs in her blood. Why can’t we simply make her life beautiful at the new place? Nowadays, women work. Not all in laws permit this. Even if they do, she is to do all her house chores and then leave the house and return as soon as possible and again do the house chores. Why can’t men lend a hand? There are no gender roles assigned. Both can share their chores so that life gets a little easy.

Husband and wife sharing house chores for a better lifestyle

Women do have dreams of a married life

When a woman gets married, all she prays is to be happy thereafter. She dreams a beautiful life. If she is a working woman, she’ll surely wish to continue to it. Marriage should never be an obstacle. With all the sacrifices, a little she wishes is to be happy. Marriage means union. When the two unite, they must live together and grow together. A supportive husband is all she need. A woman after marriage faces a lot of issues. From sacrifices to challenges, she has to bear it all.

Sacrifices

A woman leaves her house and family where with whom she had lived till then. One fine day she is to move out and serve another family then on. She may also have to resign her job and leave her studies mid way. She may not be able to follow her passion and hobbies in her new place. She loses almost everything which made her happy. Is it not right for her to wish for happiness at least?

Challenges

A married woman has to face a lot of challenges in life. She has to run a family, surely not an easy task. One wrong decision by her may break down the family into bits and pieces. A newly wed bride may have to face severe dowry tortures. That is another big challenge in a woman’s life.

Do watch out – A 24 year old girl harassed to death for dowry. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/woman-found-dead-at-in-laws-house-dowry-harassment-suspected-7369770/

Expectations

A woman expects just happiness. A supportive husband and the in laws who loves and cares as their own daughter. What better position could she ever get? She strives to achieve that post from the very first day. That’s what she craves. Just happiness and acceptance.

To conclude, this was all a woman’s perspective of marriage. Men too no doubt face a lot of challenges after marriage. To feed a family by custom becomes a man’s responsibility and till date, it does not differ. It is a tough job indeed. But what a woman percieves and expects out of a marriage should be brought to light. Talking for a woman nowadays is unnecessarily and rebelliously termed as feminism, when it is actually not.

The Faults in our Education System

Why exactly are we educated? Just for the sake of it? No, right? We are suppose to learn everything from basic manners to how to earn a living. At the end of our learnings, we are all supposed earn our own breads and fulfill our desires. It is for this, we are all trained right from the age of 3.

Do we really need to start so early? I’m not so sure about. Still, parents for sure cannot keep calm seeing the rapid increase in the competition these days. I agree. High competitions have ruined the childhood of kids these days by burdening them with homework pressures and stuffs. They don’t even know why are they to study. Innocent kids living in their own fantasy world are being dragged to reality so soon. Pathetic!

Apart from teachers at school and parents at home, there’s another trend to send a 3 year old to tution centres nowadays, where they get far more tortured and this is going unnoticed in this busy world. Tutions for atleast primary school children should be shut. Kids at this age only require a mother’s guidance I believe.

Being a grown up student, I do sit back and realise the faulty education system which have been the same all these years and nobody bothered to change or raise questions. I wonder, am I the only one facing troubles now due to the education system we have had so far. It paid a lot of attention to the little details which did help me at times during my school days. But we need a lot more than all those science and maths. Basics of computer is so necessary in every field, I hardly knew unless I had to make powerpoint presentations and work on spreadsheets in my college days. We were taught these around std.4. And what were we suppose do learning those back then? It is during the late highschool days we found it necessary when we almost forgot the basic concepts. Had we been taught those during the later years of schooling, it would have been far more helpful I suppose.

Another major issue lies that only students who wish to take up commerce gets to know something about bank stuffs, loan procedures, share markets and everything money related. Aren’t the science and the arts students suppose to know such necessites of life? They too live in the same society and earn for their living. Each one of us needs to have certain practical knowledge other than bookish ones. Those projects and assignments we are burdened up with are certainly of no use. No student does it sincerely. We all know our hardwork is going to be dumped somewhere later. That is what exactly happens.

If not schools, at least colleges should educate students on saving and investing money, several bank procedures, loan applications and certain benifits every citizen of India posses. That is what a complete education means. Where will people end up not knowing where and how to invest their earnings? What should they do not knowing the privileges they own? Literate people somehow get to know it from somewhere or the other. But everyone in the country are not literate enough to know things on their own. They too earn for their living but are unaware of investments they can make. There should be schemes to educate such people as well. Only then will our country grow. You won’t believe, there are still more than a thousands of people who exist even whithout an identity card. What proof do they posses of their existence? Is this how we dream of a developed country?

Education system not just mean educating students at school. It means to educate the country, to help people grow. Only bookish knowledge can never be relied upon to live a life. Practical knowledge about what life exactly is and how it should be lived must be taught.

Happy Doctor’s Day

A heart felt gratitude to all the super heroes around!

What exactly is National Doctor’s Day?

Doctor’s day is celebrated around the nation on 1st July every year marking the birth and death anniversary of a renowned physician and former chief minister of West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. Doctors, the real life heroes are not just to be remembered on this day. We should be conscious of their job throughout. Doctor’s day is just meant to celebrate their contribution to each of our lives.

Who doesn’t fear for their life? – The Doctors

Doctors? Are they not angels sent from heaven to protect God’s creation from all the fatal diseases and accidents? They dedicate their lives to serve people, save life. Truly no less than a super hero. They compromise with their own health but makes sure that every patient they treat return to their families all fit and fine. The doctors, don’t they have a family waiting for them back home? They do, right? Doctors at work are also a son/daughter, husband/wife, father/mother. They too have people waiting for them to have dinner together. How strong would they have to be when they know he/she might be fighting for someone’s life forgetting about their own. Are they not equal to the other batch of heroes fighting for our country at the borders? They are indeed.

This pandemic which started last year has yet not been over. The death toll is soon going to hit 4 lakhs in India. Not just a number, they are people whom we lost. Among which around 800 doctors lost their lives in just the second wave of covid. They too had a family which got shattered at their deaths. This pandemic would have destroyed the world completely if they cared about their own life and sat home in fear. Life inside a PPE kit is not at all easy. People can’t even wear masks properly. Have you all even thought of being inside a PPE kit for hours serving people whom you don’t even know? That’s humanity! At such crucial time, when common people need strict rules and fines to stay home and wear masks to protect themselves, there are people inside the PPE kits in such humid climate, fighting to save lives of those careless people.

Doctors are humans too. They’ve been seeing such devastated condition of the nation for more than a year now. So many people dying, their families crying. It’s a humane instinct to cry along seeing others cry. They are helpless, can’t even put their arms around to hug and console them. How heartbreaking would each day be for them at the hospital. They try their best to make them live a little longer. Still, when they’re gone it seems to them as a failure. They failed to make them live. Is it so easy to live with a feeling of failure everyday a thousand times for more than a year now? One needs to be strong to see people lose their life in front of them.

Above all, they are constantly being criticised by several of them for not doing their jobs and killing their patients purposely. Are these false allegations so easily bearable? Have you ever wondered what if all the doctors around the world go on strikes in this situation? You’ll beg for them to return. That’s the position they hold among us.

On the occasion of National Doctor’s Day, I would like to thank all the doctors and physicians for their care and support not just during this pandemic but for all the crucial times when we needed them. They are no less a hero to this world. I wish they pay no heed to the critiques. They are doing a wonderful job serving us and I trust our doctors, they’ll bring everything back to normalcy soon. This world has become a better and healthier place to live in with doctors bringing the joy of health and goodness to our lives. Happy Doctor’s Day.

The nation can’t thank you enough!
Stay strong, Stay safe! Jai Hind!

Are heart breaks a catalyst for success?

Do heartbreaks really lead to success? Read further to know more..

Heartbreaks are more of a blessing than a curse! Are every sort of heartbreaks the same? ‘Every sort’? Yes! Not just break ups causes heartbreak.. when your loved one dies or moves apart, when you lose your job, when you lose your property, these are all reasons for a heartbreak. Does it really lead to success? Or to depression?

Heartbreak builds a bridge between failure and success. It is completely your choice either to fall into the pit or to walk over the bridge and attain success.

Walk towards success!

Heartbreaks are not an end, sometimes it is just a beginning to something beautiful. It is rightly said that success comes from pain. When you go through a heartbreak, you wish certain things. You want to move on, you want yourself to stand on your own feet which acts as a fuel to become successful.

“Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success. I’ve met people who don’t want to try for fear of failing.”

– J K Rowling

Rowling’s words have inspired us to overcome failure, to use failure to become successful. Heartbreaks can surely be a motivation to fulfil our dreams and aims. Therefore, recognising failure is a stepping stone towards success.

The world of art would never have been interesting if it didn’t come from a broken heart. If you notice, most of the playwrights, actors, authors, philosopher, singers etc. that are a successful bore from the heart. Everyone had that struggle in life. Life completely takes a turn after it. Either downwards or to heights you could have ever imagined.

“Success is the best revenge.”
“You need pain to succeed in life.”

– Bo Sanchez

The pain revives certain inner qualities you posses. It somehow automatically creates a mood to follow your passion. Heartbreak comes with wisdom and knowledge. So let heartbreak be a burning fuel within, which motivates you to success.

Heartbreaks not only motivates you to be a better version of yourself, it allows your mind to be an effective judge. You gain emotional intelligence as well. You can no longer be easily fooled or trapped. You learn to control and handle emotions well. Emotional intelligence is no doubt a crucial skill to success.

Heartbreak is a failure which your heart faces. If you are experiencing any such issues. Face it and learn from it. It makes us stronger, better and successful.

Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelly

One of the best gothic fiction ever read!

“Frankenstein Or, The Modern Prometheus” (1818) was written by an eighteen-year old Mary Shelley. The way it came into being is a tale as good as the novel itself. Once Lord Byron suggested his friends that each write a ghost story. Shelley’s attempt brought into the world of literature a true masterpiece indeed. It tells the story of a monster created by a scientist and explores the themes of death and man versus nature. Frankenstein’s monster is by instinct good, but the violent rejection by humans make him ruthless, carrying the message that it is through the upbringing and socialisation, humans become monstrous and full of prejudice towards others different to themselves. The theme of loneliness and struggle depicted in Shelly’s Frankenstein through the life of a monster may be on a personal level as her life was a tragedy. She lost her mother at a very young age and grew up under the constant pressure of making her father proud. Shelly was highly educated. She is best known for the widely acclaimed gothic novel “Frankenstein, Or The Modern Prometheus”(1818), which considered the first true science fiction story.

Shelley’s beautifully written novel begins at the bleak of North Pole on a ship, Captain Robert Walton writing to his sister Margaret Saville. He later meets Victor Frankenstein in an emaciated form. Then on Victor narrates the story of his life and his creation which forms the major crux of this novel. Victor Frankenstein was deep into science and philosophy and had created a monster out of the dead.

“I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.”

Chapter 5, Frankenstein

There born the most important monster in all of literature. One with an amazing speed and strength and eight feet tall. As the story further takes pace, the monster takes over the narration and narrates his life to Victor. This novel is basically a story within a story. The monster was never even given a name. Victor called him from demon to ogre to wretch. He was shunned and despised by the society and was left alone. The loneliness in him built up anger for his creator, he was never to be blamed as he never wished to be born. Victor being the creator of the monster was a failure. He brought him into life but was incapable of taking care of him. He managed to somehow get literate through books. There’s a reference to the book ‘Paradise Lost’ through which he gains knowledge of what and who a creator is and realises how Victor Frankenstein had failed as a creator. He demands him of a female companion as a solution to his loneliness to which Victor initially agrees and later disagrees. The monster then starts to take revenge for all that he was suffering. Towards the end of the novel, the narration returns to where the novel had begun, to Walton writing to his sister. He mentions that Victor dis dead and for the one last time, the monster comes to see him.

The monster’s last visit to his creator.

“He is dead who called me into being; and when I shall be no more, the very remembrance of us both will speedily vanish.”

He bids farewell and was never seen again. There ends the tale of both the creator and the creation.

“He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance.”

Chapter 24, Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein’s obsession with science and knowledge cost him the lives of his dear ones. Too much knowledge not always brings up good. Not everybody can become God, He is called so for a reason.

I like the way Shelley carries away her readers to sympathize with the monster. We indeed get carried away by her choice of words and style. Something that she nowhere clears out is that how far should we go with knowledge? This novel gained almost 200 years long victory. The world has shivered and quaked under the nightmares of an imaginative 18 years old. Mary Shelley’s monster just may be immortal. It is one among the best classics to be read.