Author: Muskan Dorjee

Space Travel – Worth It??

With the rapid increase in technology and science, we are just inch away from low earth orbit tourism. In the matter of few years we will be able to tour not the whole world but the space too. People will have the opportunity to see the beautiful curvature of Earth. SpaceX, Axiom space and Boeing , are some of the projects , that are focusing on making space tourism possible in early 2022. All these developments seems so surreal and out of fantasy. Who would not like to see the Earth from up above??

Billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson has already successfully toured the space in their own built spacecraft,this year. With this, they have created the history in the era of space travel. Richard Branson’s company Virgin Galactic is also offering tourism tickets and so far 600 tickets have been sold. The list of people flying next year includes big celebrities like Tom Hunks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.It is worth to know that the cost to travel is around $250000. Thus , only 0.1% of the richest shall have the privilege to travel.

Idea of travelling space is very fascinating but the cost ( not just the price) is equally disturbing. The amount of environmental damage ot will do is unfathomable.The amount of heat generates while launching these rockets is so large that it creates a pool of ozone layer on ground, which is dangerously harmful for every living being. Virgin Galactic spacecraft produces 12kg of CO2 each mile which is 60 times greater than normal flight, also the Nitrous Oxide released from these rockets are depleting the Ozone layer in atmosphere.While only the richest will be able to afford space tourism, the rest will have to bear its negative effects. So is it worth it??

After his space tour, Jeff Bezos said, “You can’t imagine how thin the atmosphere is when you see it from above”, this is very ironic. He also hinted on moving all the polluting industries into space. All these ideas are fantastic and appreciable but it is also true that execution of such ideas will take more than 10 to 20 years and by then space tourism will be on full swing.

Many climate activists are criticizing these three billionaire ( Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Richard Branson ) for their space race. Every climate activists are working so hard to reduce pollution and in this scenario inclusion of space tourism seems not so good idea for them.

The BooK Thief

The book thief is a historical fiction novel written by Australian author Markus Zusak . It was published on 2005 and soon after became an international bestseller

It is one the most heartbreaking story I have ever read. Markus Zusak has dine amazing job of presenting the sorrows of Germans especially Jews during the Nazi rule. The story follows a young girl Liesal Meminger , who is a thief . Well , don’t get me wrong, she is a book thief. Well this nothing , the story is unique in its own way because the story is told by the death itself . “When death has a story to tell , you listen”.

This book is a whole journey of laughter , love, pain , sorrow and friendship.

Bhagat Singh

We don’t need occasion to celebrate heroes and Bhagat Singh is one of the greatest hero India has ever seen. He was born in 1907 in the family of freedom fighters . His almost all the family members were active in politics. From his grandfather Arjun Singh to his uncles Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh, all had served the country once in their lifetime. Thus, the spirit of freedom was embedded in his heart from very childhood.

Bhagat Singh was not a great supporter of non violence , yet, he was also not a firm believer of violence. He took the path of violence out of helplessness and to protect his homeland. Just as the former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wrote about him ,”Bhagat Singh did not become popular because of his act of terrorism but because he seemed to vindicate for the moment, the honour of Lala Lajpat Rai, and through him of the nation , he became a symbol ; his act was forgotten , the symbol remained , and within a few months each town and village of the Punjab and to lesser extent in the rest of Northern India, resounded with his name .”

Bhagat Singh at the age of 12 went to Jallianwala Bagh hours after thousands of unarmed people gathered at the public meeting and had been killed. At the age of 14 he was amongst the villagers who welcomed protesters against the killing of a large number of unarmed people at Gurudwara Nankana Singh on 20 February 1921. He stated the act of bravery from the very young age but his real struggle of freedom began when he joined Young Revolutionary Movement.

He joined National College in Lahore in 1923. In 1926 he founded Indian Socialist Youth Organization ” Naujawan Bharat Sabha”. He also joined the Hindustan Republic Association in 1924.

He was so devoted to the freedom that he ran away from his home when his father arranged his marriage. He wrote in a letter — “My life has been dedicated to the noblest cause, that of the freedom of the country. Therefore , there is no rest or worldly desire that can lure me now”.

In December 1928 Bhagat Singh along with his companion Shivaram Rajguru, shot British officer, John Saunders . They had mistaken Saunders for James Scott, whom they had originally planned to assassinate. They were agitated due to the death of Lala Lajpat Rai and believed that James Scott was responsible for it. They fled away from the crime scene and were not caught for many months

In April 1929 Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt was arrested for bombing Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi. It was during this trial that Saunders’ case reopened.The police found some evidence regarding Saunders and thus Bhagat Singh was convicted and hanged in March 1931, at the mere age of 23 ( Many that believes that Bhagat Singh was not given a fair trial, thus, it is suggested to read “The Trial of Bhagt Singh” by AG Noorani, as it gives the detailed account of the case)

The life of Bhagat Singh inspires many till now. He fought for what was right. He became famous not for his violent act but for his strong opinion regarding justice and freedom. He was brave and courageous man who prioritised freedom above anything else.

Thousand Splendid Suns

If you are looking for heart breaking , yet fulfilling novel to read, then its the right time to pick up “Thousand Splendid Suns”.It is heart wrenching story of Mariam written by Khaled Hosseini. The book was published in 2007 and many loved it.

This book follows a story of a girl from Herat village , who was forced to marry a shoe maker at very young age. As the time passes , she learns many things, she grows accustomed to her husband’s behaviors and learns to compromise in life but her life completely alters when her husband marries for the 2nd time to a young, brave and educated girl , Laila

Here you will see unimaginable bond of two girls, both coming from different background, having different personalities , yet they have so many similarities to relate with. This book also gives details of Taliban rule in Afghanistan. The way women were treated and tortured. The hardships women had to suffer and the pain they endured. It shows the devastated life of civilians when the war outbreaks. It shows how this war intertwined the fate of two unfortunate girls.

This is a story of bravery, love , happiness and Mariam. If you are ready to cry your eyes out, then this it .

Visiting Places

Looking at the computer desktop , burning your eyes , sitting on the chair for too long and attending clients could be so tiring sometimes.Some of the simple task that we perform everyday, like even cooking could be so exhausting and doing such work everyday single day can take toll on us.

Yes, we set some time apart for our relaxation , we read books, watch anime or any other work that helps us relaxing. But is it enough?? Can it detox all mental junks that we have storing, for God knows how many years. Yes, it is for sure that doing something that we love really boost our mind and prepare us for the day , but it is also true that it is just not enough. We can easily slide back to our mental depression or pressure once we resume our daily activities

So here is what we need to do . A long trip. Taking a trip once or maybe twice a year can be very therapeutic. Expert says that we should atleast take 8 – 14 days off and do something exhilarating like “trip”. Well, we all can agree that there is something in wilderness and nature that calms and soothes our otherwise disturbed mind.

Exploring and visiting broadens our mindset and prepare us for fighting another silent battle with life. Not only that people should go on a vacation for real life educational purpose too. The knowledge that we gain just by exploring is beyond what a book can provide us.

All people should try to choose different destination everytime they plan a trip. This helps in knowing about different cultures and customs. It help a person to become more accepting and acknowledging. It also helps a person to embrace difference

Planning adventurous trip like sky diving or bungee jumping etc can also be very beneficial. It sounds scary , but this scariness is what drives a person to embrace life. Such trips are ” realisation experience” for everyone. It makes us realise how tiny little being we as compared to the world. Gives us the reason to be happy about this life.

Travelling also boosts a person’s confidence. Usually travelling is packed with many hurdles , just the activity of packing could be burdening at times . Travelling unknown and completely different place let alone is such hurdle. This gives more confidence . Facing all this hurdles downsizes daily problems almost to zero.

There are many other benefits of travelling like moral boosting ,improvement in communication skills , enhancement of creativity and the list goes on.

Remember we all are humans , not working robots. We need some time off , to clear the negative thoughts from our brain. We all need time to reset ourselves. At times small small task seems overwhelming. So next time if you feel burdened and your chest tightens due to suffocation, if you get tired of doing the same work every single day , then grab your bag, pack some nice clothes and get lost on the foreign land , let mother nature heal you

Being Healthy

A standard definition of being healthy according to World Health Organization (WHO) is , ” complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely absence of disease or infirmity”. This definition clearly expresses that just because you are disease free , it does not mean you are healthy. So, keeping that definition in mind , do you think you are healthy??

Health is a major concern for almost all the people living in this world. As we are growing with time, most people are being ‘health conscious’ , they plan diet , go to gym, practice yoga and what not. But what we actually need to know is that health is not just about being physically fit. It is a combination of three element – being physically well, mentally stable and socially fit. There are many person who are physically fit but are mentally depressed. So are they actually healthy?? The answer is plain ‘No’. Similarly if someone is physically as well as mentally well but finds difficulty in socially interacting or communicating or do not contribute to the society , is not actually healthy.

So what it needs to be healthy?? If you physically fit, happy with your mental state ( do not worry about little stress , it is completely okay to be little stressed out) and doing socially great then you can conclude that you are healthy.

So , next time when you think about your health, do not just count your health. And if you think you are not healthy, here are some tips to improve ( most of the are about mental health):

1) Plan your diet – This is the first step that almost everyone takes to be healthy . And of course it is necessary . Planning your diet not only improves your physical health but also keeps you mentally satisfied.

2) Exercise, Yoga or anything – Do anything that includes labour works. Try to sweat . It will definitely lift your health.

3) Listen to music – Experts says music can be a great way to boost your mood and improve signs of depression.

4) Gratitude – At the end of the day, always try to write at least three things you are grateful for. It is always beneficial to count your blessings.

5) Relax – Don’t forget to relax. Always take some time out for yourself. Do something that you love to do. Paint, dance, read or anything that makes you happy.

6) Books – Books are great way of escaping reality. Feeling depressed or lonely? Grab a book, sit comfortably, make some coffee and read. It will teleport you to a different world. Certainly you will feel better. Try reading atleast 15 mins a day. It will also improve your creativity.

7) Friends and Family – Spend quality times with your loved ones. Create memories and cherish them. Do not forget , no matter what, you are always loved.

8) Friendliness – Be good and kind to everyone – your neighbors , mates, kid you see in a subway , everyone. Do charitable works. It will always give satisfaction in the end, no matter how much you suffer.

Most Controversial Figure : Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar commonly known as Swatanryaveer or simply Veer Savarkar was born on 28 May, 1883 and died on 26th February 1966. He was an Indian independence activist, historian , poet, novelist , politician who formed the Hindu Nationalist philosophy of Hindutva. He was a leading personality in Hindu Mahasabha

Vinayak Savarkar is highly controversial figure in India because of his mercy petition he wrote to British Government when he was imprisoned in Andaman and Nicobar. But what many fails to understand is the mentality behind the mercy petition. Prisoners in Kaala Paani ( Andaman and Nicobar) were treated horribly and brutally. They were tortured to death . They were neither given good food nor good living condition. To save himself from such inhumane torture Vinayak Savarkar appealed for mercy. He was barrister and he knew his rights well. He knew sitting inside jail he will not be able to serve his country and so tried to get out by writing mercy petition.

But before judging and throwing him into the light of black or white , it is important to know why some hate him and others remark him as a patriot

Why he is loved :

1) He went to Gray’s Inn Law college in London and stayed at famous India House. At that time , India House was a hub of student politics . Savarkar founded the Free India Society to mobilise youth against the colonial rule in India

2) He burnt all foreign goods and propagated the idea of ‘Swadeshi’

3) He plotted armed revolt against the Morley- Minto reform but was arrested for it

4) He established a temple called ‘ Patit Pawan Mandir’ in Maharashtra , where people from every caste were welcomed

5) His book ‘The Indian war of Indian Independence 1857’ inspired many freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh , Chandra Shekhar Azad , Subash Chandra Bose .

6) Savarkar was one of the first writers to call for India’s first war for Independence against British. He asked for poorna swaraj ( Total independence) when people were settling for less

7) After his release from jail , he worked on the abolishment of untouchability in Ratnagiri

8) He wrote mercy petitions not only for himself but for other prisoners too.

Why He is Hated:

1) When Savarkar was 12 years old , he lead a march with his schoolmates to vandalise a mosque in order to take revenge against atrocities committed against Hindus by Muslims.

2) He was fierce critic of Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi.

3) He opposed the ‘Quit India Movement and later objected to INC’s acceptance to the Indian partition

4) For his mercy petition written to British Government.

Over the years many facts have beem destroyed and twisted, so no one can ever say if Vinayak was a hero or villain. It is well known fact that there is no person with zero flaws. There is some good in evil and some evil in good.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harpee Lee

Nelle Harper Lee popularly known as Harper Lee was born in April 25 1926. She was an American novelist and known for her classic novel “To kill a Mockingbird”

To Kill a Mockingbird gives a picture of 1930’s fictional town Maycomb, Alabama. The book deals with various topics that was prevalent at that time , from hypocrisy to racism. Though the topic of book is very serious, author has written it in very light tone which makes book less depressing and more fun to read

There are really some interesting characters in the book , my favorite being Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch and her fathet Atticus Finch. Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch , popularly known as Scout is loud and intelligent girl. She is not afraid of saying what she thinks and deeply resent the idea of ‘Proper lady like behaviour’. She usually gets irritated when her aunt tries to teach her ‘ how a lady should behave’. She is just a girl who wants to live her life like just a regular kid. The whole book is written through her perspective and shows the various encounters she faces in three years of her life from being age 6 years old to 9 years old.

Atticus Finch is a widowed father of Scout and Jem Finch ( elder brother of Scout). He is a lawyer whose life gets changed drastically when he gets the case of black man being accused of raping white woman. Since it was 1930s there was a major racism at that time. So when Atticus takes up the case , almost all the people starts to hate him and his children. Though providing sufficient evidence that black man was falsely accused , he fails to save him from allegation. This shows how at that time black people were wrong in whatever they did and whites were always seemed as correct , no matter what. Atticus is shown as a father who does not have a great relationship with his children but never fails give right lesson and value to them.

One of the most interesting and mysterious character in the book is Arthur Radley , famously known among children as “Boo Radley”. He lives in the same area as of Finch family. There are many rumours surrounding why he is socially reclusive and almost all the people of fears him. Ironically, in the end he saves the lives of Scout and her brother. This book does a really great job in showing how people are often misjudged because of their looks and behavior

Apart from this people there are other characters named Nathan Radley ( brother of Arthur Radley) , Dill Harris ( best friend of Jem and Scout). The first half of book revolves around the life of children ( Scout , Jem and Dill) but the later half proceeds toward a serious note when Atticus takes the case. This book will surely give readers a good laugh and insight of 1930’s hypocrite and racist world.

Depression And Self care

The term depression is quite common these days which is a serious matter of concern. To know the cure we must know what depression is .In simple words depression is mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It can range from mild depression to chronic depression.

According to data published in times of India — 43% of Indians are suffering from depression. Just to think that almost half of the nation is scary and terrifying. This rate is increasing ever since the Covid 19. The feeling of being trapped and difficulty to cope with the situation is pushing people to fall into the pit of depression. Not only this India also accounts for 36.6 % of suicides globally and suicide has surpassed maternal mortality as the leading cause of death is among women and teenage girls aged 15-19 years. It should be noted that depression may not always lead to suicide or suicidal thoughts.

Anyone can be a prey of depression , so it very important to know how to cope up with this overwhelmingly gloomy feeling. So here is certain tips—

1) Journaling – experts say that journaling and writing down your feeling can lift up your mood.

2) Set attainable goods – Instead of trying to do whole work altogether , your should divide your work into small chunks. This will save you from being overwhelmed by the work

3) Creating routine – Having routine set for the next day always helps to control the day you want. This way you will not feel as if everything is out of your hand

4) Listening to music – Research shows music can be a great way to boost your mood and improve symptoms of depression. It may also help to strengthen your reception of positive emotion

5) Being true to your feelings – Always be true to your feelings , never try to deny it. If you feel like seeking the help of expert , go for it, don’t hesitate.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa or eating disorder is a topic which is not discussed often but is worth knowing about. It is a mental condition in which person fears of being overweight or underweight.However it can effect people differently.

A person with anorexia nervosa will intentionally restrict their food intake as way to help them to cope up emotional challenges.This mental condition is said to be the result of excessive mental trauma where person fears of being not accepted due to obesity. Dietary restrictions can lead to nutritional deficiencies which can severely affect overall mental health and result in potentially life threatening complication.

The emotional and psychological challenges of anorexia nervosa can be hard for a person to overcome. Therapy includes counseling , nutritional advice and medical care. Some people may even need treatment. There are many myths about eating disorder. This can lead to false assumptions and affect person’s chances of seeking and getting help

Dree Festival

Today that is ,on 5th July 2021 , Arunachal Pradesh is celebrating three day festival called Dree. It is said to be most auspicious festival of Apatani tribe ( of the tribe that resided in Arunachal Pradesh). Dree is celebrated in order to bring a bountiful harvest season, hence Apatani offers prayers to four Gods they follow — Tamu, Harmiang, Metti and Danyi. This three day long festival is joyously celebrated with traditional clothes worn by women and children.

The reason behind the celebration of Dree is just as sacred as the festival itself. It is believed that two person i.e. Aane Donw and Abba Lwba when first set for the journey of cultivation they had to face many challenges and hurdles. Not only they had difficulty in finding the right seed, they also had to fight a Demon called Pyokun Pembo Pyoyi Tadu . This demon was eliminated with great efforts but their struggle was far from over. From the stomach of demon emerged swarms of insects and pest and rice birds. They attacked the crops in the field which led to poor harvest and subsequent hunger and famine. It was in order to alleviate the impending hunger and famine that a series of rituals were observed in the month of Dree

Thus this festival is celebrated to have good harvest. It is celebrated with such enthusiasm and exuberance that whoever visits Ziro ( place in Lower Subansiri district , where most Apatani Tribe resides) at this time could feel the radiance of happiness and joy. Throughout this festival games and sports are actively partaken that make the festival more interesting and entertaining.

Trying To Fit In or Self Harm??

“Social media is taking toll on this generation”. We are living in a era where happiness is associated with perfect pictures, perfect dresses, perfect body , perfect skin etc . To enter into this world of perfection and to fit in many people start to fake. This can create a huge emotional turmoil in person’s mind.

People are constantly comparing themselves with others which can lead to lowering of self esteem. Generally comparing and competing is said to be good thing as it helps us to do better than others but we need to realize that it can also lead to huge blow on self confidence. We drag ourselves to fit in and sometimes go to a extreme level to gain people’s acceptance. According to study published in the ‘Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology’ there is a casual link between the use of social media and negative effect on well being , primarily depression and loneliness

To save ourselves from such harm ‘Social Media Detox’ has become very much important.Social Media Detox is conscious elimination of social media use and consumption for a set period of time . Spending time on yourself and self care can be the key for happy and self satisfied life.

Think Before You Eat

Can our eating habits effect our environment? What we today will be responsible for tomorrow’s destruction? Is there a relation between between global warming and food we eat? Answer to all these questions is a big “YES”

The relation between food and environment can be understood through chain of carbon foot print. ‘Carbon footprint’ is amount of greenhouse gases that emits due to human activities which obviously includes ‘eating habits’. Almost every food we consume emits carbon gases in certain amount. But consumption of meat releases highest carbon gases as compared to other food products. The carbon hierarchy within meat is as follows-

Beef > lamb > pork> poultry.

According to Agriculture Organisation of United Nations (FAO) emission from global live stocks is estimated at 7.1 gigatons of carbon dioxide each year. Not only consumption but also food that we waste emits carbon gases. Decomposition of waste food is a long process and throughout this process certain amount of green house gases is released , thus, deteriorating the condition of our planet. According to FAO around 1.3 billion tons of food produced for human consumption are either lost or wasted every year.

So the question arises, how can we save our planet from further destruction ? Answer is quite simple — changing our diet. Planning our diet in a careful manner may create a huge impact not only globally but also in our individual health. Eating more leafy vegetables and cutting down meat consumption will surely contribute to a noble cause. We often ignore the food choices we make and try our best to satisfy our tummy. So next time before consuming food lets ask one question, is it good for my planet and my health? This simple question may change our future.

Discrimination- Still a social issue

Discrimination is such a social issue that is prevalent in India from a long time. Though Indian Law describes discrimination as punishable crime under Civil Right Act 1964, we often see many cases of it. Why is this so?? Why even after so many years of evolution and development we see such social issues?? All the answers to these questions lies in our foundation and environment that we grow in. 

From the very start of growth many children are not taught the difference between “leg pulling” and discrimination. Many young as well as elderly people discriminate people and remark it as a “joke.” For instance calling someone “black” just for fun seems funny but in reality it is a huge social drawback. This shows how much we lack education. Recent incident of “youtuber Paras Singh calling Arunachal Pradesh a Chinese Territory” proves the fact. Though he apologized and realized his mistakes , no one can neglect the fact that this incident would not have occurred if we were more cautious and educated. 

There is a huge hole in our mindset and its needed to be filled before it eat us all. A discriminated person faces huge mental trauma and may have a severe impact. We need to be more sensitive while dealing with such topics. Educating children from the young age  as well as educating ourselves on such topic may bring a huge change in near future. It is well known that discrimination have a long history and it will not eradicate instantly. But taking small steps today will bring major change in near future