Web 3.0 : Financial Service Industry

How will the evolution of the web have an effect on Financial Services? This is a question that puts many financial institutions in peril but is it really something that will put banks out of business? 

What is Web 3.0?

Web 3.0 is a new evolution phase that is coming into reality. The web as we know, is evolving into something more secure with more opportunities and various features. A lot of people don’t understand Web 3.0 and are scared of it. This will be a massive change on how we see the internet and how we will use it. It is going to be a decentralized platform and it will be individualized wherein you can customize your internet browsing experience. 

The Royal Bank of Canada is utilizing millions of data points to train its own AI, resulting in fewer client calls and faster application delivery. Meanwhile, BNY Mellon, the world’s largest cross-border payments service provider, improved its fraud prediction accuracy by 20%. By researching real-time market data within nanoseconds, AI and high-performance computing (HPC) are combining to provide better and faster trading intelligence.

What does this mean for Financial Services?

Web 3.0 is transforming the finance sphere slowly into a decentralized place. Basically, you don’t need a financial institution governing your transaction or authorizing them. The transaction will only be initiated by you and reaches the receiver, in a matter of moments, without any middlemen. Using cryptocurrency, you can make transactions over blockchain that eliminates that bank server from between. Cryptos are digital assets that let users transact directly without a payment service provider in the intermediary, which means that they enable new forms of capital. Although Bitcoin remains comparatively low now, it still may provide effective money governance by preserving and protecting the data or memory of what our money represents. Then there is the unparalleled manipulation of fiat money. We can observe how central banks have significantly extended their balance sheets since the GFC and the ongoing pandemic COVID-19. 

DeFi

DeFi is short for decentralized finance where there are no middlemen between you and the receiver. The transaction will be on the blockchain where the transaction time is reduced from time of hours/days, to moments that you can count on your hands. With DeFi, you can perform all transactions and services that are offered by traditional banks, without the bank in between. Now, you might wait for your transaction to be passed through because your bank should allow it and then it has to pass through the bank’s server. 

DeFi uses cryptocurrency as the main currency because they are programmed using blockchain technology. There is a huge difference between CeFi and DeFi. 

Effect on Financial Services

Undoubtedly, Web 3.0 has opened its doors for infinite opportunities and many FinTechs are utilizing them while traditional institutions are being left behind. These organizations are investing in their technology and its improvement in this rapidly changing market. These FinTechs’ major part of investment is into AI which are being programmed to understand the different problems faced by people and able to give out the solutions in a matter of seconds. This dependance on AIs is being constantly improved which are learning from their own errors and giving better and more efficient solutions. A survey by NVIDIA , according to it, nearly 83% of finance service professionals say that AI is essential for the companies’ success. It is also said that AI can improve company growth by 20%.

Conclusion

Web 3.0 is bringing so many opportunities while improving the present technology and organizations that are utilizing it will not be taking rest anytime soon. This technology is just going to become better and better. Every single day that we see this technology step up just shows that we are not done with technology, it can be better and more efficient and these companies are proving that to use everyday. Web 3.0 is showing more freedom of speech and thoughts than the present restricted web 2.0, decentralization is going to put back the control back in the hand of the User.

“Where there is life, there is growth

Where there is age, there is evolution.”

~Charles Darwin

Thank you so much for reading this article. I have added information from different websites and I thank them for their view on this topic. Do leave comments on different aspects of Web 3.0 that you think will change us.

The links to pages that helped me understand Web 3.0 better:

Financialit.net: How web 3.0 is transforming the financial services industry?

https://www.finextra.com/the-long-read/231/how-ai-is-powering-the-future-of-financial-services

https://n26.com/en-eu/blog/what-is-defi#:~:text=How%20does%20DeFi%20work%3F,are%20secured%20through%20blockchain%20technology.

Destructive Habits: Bias

There are many habits that destroy your mental peace, happiness and mostly you. Some of them are usually with different addictions or because of people but what destroys you as a person depends on how you view things and people around you. Your environment is what shapes you but to be different, you have to do it by yourself. 

The most common habits have become common because we are more focused elsewhere than ourselves. To be a better version of yourself, you need to view your flaws and work on them.

  1. Spotlight Effect: We overestimate how much attention people give to our words and appearance. Imagine you said something but it felt wrong after it came out. In reality, everyone only remembers it for the moment and immediately moves to the next topic. We ponder over it for days, forgetting that others don’t care as much as we do about it.

Example: “The red shoes don’t match the outfit at all! I guess the guys are laughing because of it”

*Red shoes matched the outfit better than you imagined*

Truth: No one cares about you as much as your loved ones do. Everyone is just a temporary traveler in your life and you have to be okay with it. Dress how you want and be how you want to be. 

  1. Status Quo Bias: We prefer for things to be the same; usually change is viewed as a negative aspect of life. If you adopt a new habit that cuts out something from your life, you immediately feel guilty of not being able to manage it, so you quit your new habit for the old one because it feels more comfortable.

Example: “I like to paint, but the classes are on Friday, I won’t be able to party! I can always paint later so let’s party now!”

*Proceeds to miss out on an amazing experience*

Truth: Change is hard. To adapt to a new routine and new place is always difficult and your mind is stuck on the old routine, but only then do you learn more about yourself. You may like to paint now, but when you explore it, you may not want to put the brush down! You need to explore that change for a while to know more about yourself.

  1. Zeigarnik Effect: We focus more on the incomplete tasks than the ones that have been completed. Sometimes, we forget to see that we have accomplished many things on the way, and we focus on the ones that we have not accomplished yet. It pushes you to feel bad that you are not able to do anything. 

Example: “Bro I lost the Table-Tennis Pan-India Semi-finals! I feel so like I can’t do it anymore”

*Came so far by winning championships and tournaments*

Truth: You have to see where you are today. Look behind you and see the different hurdles you had to come across. You didn’t cross them just to go back did you? It does feel bad to not achieve something the first time you try it, but when you achieve it, after toiling for some time, the fruit is incomparable.

  1. Pessimism Bias: We tend to overestimate the possibility of negative outcomes. We always have a small part of your mind that searches for a negative outcome. What you see and ask for, is what you get and have. You will increase the chance of losing the opportunity if all you see is losing it.

Example: “I feel like I will lose this chance to be head of department, there are so many others who are way more qualified.”

*Loses opportunity because it messed with your confidence and screwed your interview*

Truth: What energy you put out, is what you usually get. Sometimes, you lose opportunities, but don’t dwell on the wrong aspects. You may not have the necessary qualifications but the way you portray yourself is what gets you opportunities.

  1. Sunken-Cost Fallacy: We invest more in things that have cost us something, even if we have negative outcomes. We feel that if we invest more, the difference can be recovered with just a little gain.

Example: “My portfolio is down by 25%! I will invest 50% of it so with a 25% gain, I can recover the loss”

*Proceeds to lose more because the stock market is in a bear phase*

  1. Self-serving Bias: Our failures are situational but our success is our hardwork’s result. We view that our failures are determined by external factors and our success is because of us. It is also difficult to ascertain what caused success or failure on the spot so we divide it based on the result.

Example: “I lost the game because the opponent was too strong. I got the best player of the match because I practiced well”

*Opponent won because of your overconfidence in your practice*

“The eyes sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.”

~Robertson Davies

Sometimes, we see these habits recurring but we don’t want to change because we feel it will make others dislike us. By changing, you are not making your friends feel bad but giving them a chance to understand that it’s time to improve. It’s time to make yourself the person you always wanted to be. Everyday is a learning step and only then can you improve. These habits of biasing situations have a lot of effect on where you are and where  you want to be.

This post has been inspired by Ankur Warikoo. You can check his post on LinkedIn here!

This was a delight to write about. I hope you have found this article interesting and let me know about your thoughts on this. Keep on smiling!

Personal Habits: Exercising

Everyone from India has heard the phrase, “ If you get up by 6 in the morning, everything will set in order.” It is a common phrase made for Millennials and Gen-Z. We hear it so often and tried a few times but it didn’t suit your routine. Did you ever wonder why you weren’t able to adopt it? After reading this, do let me know about your thoughts on this.

Exercising in the Morning

Of course, the most common habit among people. Exercising a few hours after you get up is beneficial to your health. It increases blood flow in you as well as trains your muscles. It increases alertness and also energizes you for the day. It’s common to do cardio in the morning with lifting weights before your first breakfast. This helps in burning fat as well as developing your muscle endurance. But why can’t you do it?

Jogging in the Morning increases blood flow and improves body endurance.

The most common reasons are:

  • Sleeping Late: You may have slept late. Even if you have slept around 11PM, if you need 8 hours of sleep then you will get up at 7AM. Your body needs sufficient sleep to get up or it will keep you tired the entire day. You have to plan your sleep schedule in a way you don’t compromise your sleep.
  • Exhausted: If you had a backbreaking day and you are completely exhausted of your energy, then you may not get up the next day at your set time. If this is your regular routine, you may want to change the time you want to get up.
  • Jam-packed daily routine: If your schedule is full on an everyday basis, you need to start prioritizing your work. It may be tough to change your routine but by doing this, you can improve the amount of time you can give to yourself and your new habits.
  • Feeling awkward where you exercise: Am I doing it well? Is my form right? Is my shirt torn? Am I sweating too much? Am I disturbing someone? Are they looking at how bad I am? Are they judging me? It is okay to feel these when you workout. Everyone goes through this and it’s okay. At the beginning it does feel weird to do a workout but we all started as beginners and we also have made mistakes. The only thing that you can do is ask a friend, family or trainer to help you. They may also point out other mistakes that you may have made which you can correct.
  • You don’t want to: Most of the time when you try to build a habit, there is a feeling that says, “This isn’t worth the trouble we are going through” but sometimes, you just don’t want to. You might want to do it to show others or of the stereotypical “healthy person”. If you think clearly by separating your external ideas/thoughts, you will understand why you want to do it.

How can you tackle these problems?

At first, these hurdles feel the hardest to jump over but unless you jump over them, you cannot reach your goal. There will be hurdles along the way and you are the solution to them. You will become better when you start crossing hurdles. Every hurdle you face is a step that you need to conquer and move forward.

  1. Set a Convenient time: 5 AM may be easy for others but it may be difficult for you. It may not agree with your sleep routine, or with your work routine so you quit. Rather, just change the time. If you get up around 7 AM and have to go to work by 10 AM. Make a slot of 1 hour for your workout and complete your morning routine! If you can’t make a slot of 1 hour, carry it to the evening when you come home. 1 hour before dinner, exercise to your heart’s content! 
  1. Change your workout: If you are the ‘No pain, No Gain’ person, sometimes, you may get too sore from your workout which leads to quitting. Rather than quitting, change your workout a bit. You don’t need to change weight, just change what you do. It is very helpful to have a 10-minute cardio session at the end. Not high intensity but something like walking on a treadmill or yoga, will help you recover efficiently.
  1. Get a workout partner: “Sometimes, the fruit tastes better when it’s shared” Get a partner! A friend who wants to workout or a family member who is bored of being alone in the gym, work together at the gym! When you have someone to look out for you, you get more confident and work better. It will also help in improving your form! If you workout with a partner you are comfortable with, you will be able to focus more on your workout than others.
  1. Take Pictures of yourself: When you take pictures of yourself after you workout, you can see the amount of progress that you are accomplishing over time. This way you get to see how far you have come. Every day that you work is a step forward. You and your partner could record each other’s workout and see where you could improve.
  1. 20% of the work gets you 80% of the way: Some days, you don’t feel like working out, you don’t feel like going to the gym but by showing up and doing 10% of your workout makes you feel happy that you came. Just by showing up and starting your workout sets the wheels in motion. By the time you take off your headset, you are halfway through.
  1. Take cheat days/rest days: When you exercise, it’s important to rest so your muscles recover and become stronger. By not taking rest, you are prone to burning out. If the gym is tiring you out way beyond it should, then you need a rest day. Hitting the gym after your rest day feels better because you will feel stronger and work more.

This article is my personal opinion that I have used when I workout and it has worked well for me. Experiment with your workout routines and I am sure you can find something that works well for you. To become better tomorrow, you have to work today. This way, you will become a better version of yourself. All the Best! 

Photography 101: Equipment

Photos are memories that you can visit every time you look at them. It could be on your phone, in a frame, or on your camera itself. With the advance in technology, we are able to take photos in mobiles at par with traditional DSLRs. The technology doesn’t stop evolving and it is amazing to see the quality of photos improve over time. But you want to take photos better, better composition and with a better angle. So what kind of equipment can enhance your photography to the next level?

1: A Camera

Of course, you cannot buy camera gear if you don’t have a camera. You don’t need to invest heavily into the camera but don’t cheap out on it either. Instead, buy a decent camera that you can use without worrying about the price. A camera is great around the house with family or with friends when out on a trip. It captures various memories for you to relish after your trips. It is an investment for your hobby. Of course, don’t buy a camera that is too advanced because it will be expensive as well as very hard to handle.

Click here to check out Beginner Cameras! 

2:  Tripod

Now a tripod is an investment. You need a sturdy tripod to shoot clear and sharp pictures. It also helps you with taking photos of places if you can’t hold it steady. If you want to improve your photography level, a tripod helps a lot. If you want to shoot a cinematic scene or take a long time lapse of sunrise/sunset/full moon nights or any shot that requires a long time for the camera to be held steady, a tripod enhances the stillness. There are many tripods in the market and Amazon also became one of the tripod sellers with their own brand.

Different Tripod sizes

3:  Memory Cards

Buying a memory card is essential for a DSLR camera. The camera uses the memory card to load photos onto. This memory card holds your memories until you pass it onto your computer. It is the delivery guy for your treasure. Due to its petite size, hold it carefully and store it with caution. You get memory card boxes for a few bucks that hold them carefully for you to transfer.

Now you know your way around your camera. You can switch from different modes and know when to change your ISO, shutter speed and also your aperture. You take beautiful shots and amazing photos but you want to improve your video shots and take them with more precision and cinematically. 

4: Lens

You keep taking photos but you don’t feel the spark or the connection you had with your shots, you have reached the end with your current lens. No matter how many shots you can take with your kit lens ( The lens that comes with the camera), there’s only so much you can do. It’s time to take a new lens to explore more with your camera. Your lens has more to do with the shots you want to take than with which lens you have to purchase. As a beginner, it’s always appreciated to ask your mentor or a friend who has been in photography a long time for advice on new lenses.

 Check this page out for more information on lenses

5: Basic Accessories

Now, you have all the equipment but if you don’t have the basic accessories, then how do you move the equipment from your home to the different places? Checklist these all items with the above ones so you don’t damage your equipment and carry them safely without any worries.

  • Camera Bag: You can purchase the camera bag while purchasing your camera and it’s pretty standard. You can carry your camera with your kit lens and it’s a nice place to hold your memory cards too.
  • Lens Cleaner: A lens cleaner is an absolute necessity if you are carrying around multiple lenses. It includes a lens cleaning liquid, a microfiber cloth and a small brush. Clean the dust with the brush, then apply the liquid and finish it up with the microfiber cloth
  • Sensor Cleaner: A sensor cleaner is also needed because you will be changing lenses on the camera when you are out and about. If the sensor has dust on, use the sensor cleaner to clean it and get it ready for the next shot.

Congratulations! You have the basic camera gear and the necessary skills to improve your Photography and Videography game! Remember, you don’t become the best instantly. Keep taking photos, keep taking shots, they may not always work but you will improve over time. Take your time, and don’t stop clicking!

The Green Revolution in India

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The great increase in production of food grains(like rice and wheat) due to the introduction of high yielding varieties,to the use of pesticides, and to bettter management techniques is known as the Green Revolution in India.
A part of a larger initiative by Norman Borlaug, green revolution in India was founded by M.S Swaminathan. The aim was to increase agricultural productivity in the developing world with the use of technology and agricultural research. The Green Revolution started in 1965 with the first introduction of High yielding variety(HYV)seeds in Indian agriculture. The end result of the Green Revolution was to make India self sufficient when it came to food grains. The Green Revolution in India was first introduced in Punjab in the late 1960s as a part of a development program issued by international donor agencies and the government of India. During the British Raj, India’s grain economy hinged on a unilateral relation of exploitation. The Green Revolution resulted in increased production of food grains (especially wheatand rice) and was in large part due to the introduction into developing countries of new, high-yielding varieties, beginning in the mid-20th century with Borlaug’s work. Borlaug developed a short-stemmed (“dwarf”) strain of wheat that increased crop yields. Previously, taller wheat varieties would break under the weight of the heads if production was increased by chemical fertilizers. Borlaug’s short-stemmed wheat could withstand the increased weight of fertilized heads.Wheat production in Mexico multiplied threefold owing to this and other varieties.Following Borlaug’s success in Mexico, the Indian and Pakistani goverments requested his assistance. Borlaug began his agricultural revolution in Asia. With India and Pakistan facing food shortages due to rapid population growth, the importation of Borlaug’s dwarf wheat in the mid-1960s was a key element if Green Revolution in India and helped the country to become agriculturally self sufficient.

What are the main features of Green Revolution?
1) Introduction of new and high yielding variety of seeds
2) Increased use of fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides to reduce agricultural losses.
3) Increased application of fertilisers to enhance agricultural productivity.
4) Use of latest agricultural machinery like tractors, threshers and harvesters etc.
5) Use of disease resistant varieties so that production will enhance.

Pros and cons of Green Revolution
Pros:
1) increase in agricultural production
2) reduction in import of food grains
3) increase quality of food
4) increase tolerance to pests, diseases and weeds
5) prosperity of farmers and helps in rural employment
Cons:
1) expensive seeds
2) ecological problems like soil erosion, waterlogging, desertification etc.
3) creates lack of biodiversity
4) health impacts from increased pesticides and fertilisers
5) deforestation

The White Revolution in India

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The revolution associated with a sharp increase in milk production in the country is called the White Revolution in India also known as Operation Flood. White revolution period intended to make India a self-dependent nation in milk production.
Verghese Kurien ,the founder of Amul introduced White revolution in India. He is known as the father of white revolution in India.
Operation Flood started the White Revolution in India and made our country self-sufficient in milk and this was achieved entirely through the cooperative structure.One of the largest of its kind, the programme objective was to create a nationwide milk grid. It resulted in making India one of the largest producers of milk and milk products, and hence is also called the White Revolution of India. It also helped reduce malpractices by milk traders and merchants. The White Revolution in India was successful in transforming the country from a milk deficient nation to a world leader in milk production. It helped dairy-farming become India’s largest self-sustaining industry and also, India’s largest rural employment provider.

Advantages and disadvantages of white revolution
Advantage:
1) ended imports of milk solids in India.
2) India started exporting milk powder to many foreign nations.
3) dairy industries and infrastructures modernised and expanded.
4) more employment in the field of dairy farming.
5) dairy needs are met locally.
Disadvantage:
1) since livestock are prone to many diseases, milk obtained from them during such conditions leads to disease spreading.
2) adulteration of milk and dairy products.

What is Cyberbullying and how to deal with it?

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Cyberbullying is a form of online harassment or bullying using electronic means.  It has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else 
The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

• Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram etc.

• Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices

• Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit

• Email

• Online gaming communities

How we can stop or prevent cyberbullying?
1) Don’t respond to any emails, app messages, or text messages sent by cyberbullies.
2) Don’t be an accomplice by forwarding any of the messages to others kids.
3) Take screeshots as proof and evidence of cyberbullying.
4) If you are being bullied, tell an adult to get help solving the problem.

Bangladesh War 1971- One of the shortest wars in History

In 1971, India won the war against Pakistan that resulted in the birth of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan).
Pakistan lost half its country, its forces in the East, and had to publicly surrender to India. It was also the largest military surrender after World War II. 

So what happened during 1970s an internal crisis occured in Pakistan. So what happwned is when the 1st general elections took place a split occured between West Pakistan and East Pakistan. In West Pakistan , Zulfikar Ali Bhutto won the elections and in East Pakistan, the Awami league leaded by Sheikh Mujibur Rehman won . Now the bengali population that was in east Pakistan, they voted for Awami league because they were protesting against the dominance of West Pakistan and they were being treated as 3rd class citizens. But the Pakistan rulers in West and East Pakistan were not ready to accept this demovratic verdict.In 1971, Pakistani Army began to commit the genocide on innocent Bengali population, particularly in East Pakistan. So former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to take action against Pakistan at the same time by give refuge to civilians from other side of the border. Throughout 1971, India had to bear the burden of some 80 lakh refugees who fled from East Pakistan and took shelter in India. After months of diplomatic tension and military build up a full scale war broke out between India and Pakistan on dec 1971. The war lasted 13 days and was one of shortest wars in history. The war ended after the Chief of Pakistani forces general AAK Niazi along with his troopes surrendered to Indian Army and Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini.
General AAK Niazi signed the instrument of surrender in Dhaka marking the formation of East Pakistan as new nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan also lost half its territory after formation of Bangladesh.  On august 1972 India signed Shimla agreement with Pakistan under which the former agreed to release all the 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war.

What is Cyber Crime?


Cyber crime is any criminal related activity done by a person using a computer or network. It can also be defined as any illegal activity done via the internet. Offences that are committed against individuals or group of individuals with a criminal motive to imtentionally harm the reputation of the victim or cause physical or mental harm using modern telecommunication networks such as Internet (e – mails, chat rooms, etc) and mobile phones(bluetooth, sms, mms) is termed as cyber crime.

Listed below are some ways to prevent Cyber Crime:

1)Strong password

Passwords should be of eight characters (including a combination of letters, numbers and symbols).

2) Ensure your software is up-to-date

3) Don’t fall for pop-ups

If an email or pop-up window asks you to enter username or password, don’t do it. Instead, open your browser and visit the site directly.

4) Secure your internet network with a strong encryption passwoed and a VPN

5) Educate yoir children about internet risks

Communicate with them and assure them that they can come to you if they face any stalking, bullying or online harassment.

6) Protect your financial data

Remember this: Legitimate banks or companies will never ask for any personal details or ask you to transfer money into an account.

7) If you fall victim to Cyber crime, then:

a) contact the banks or companies where the fraud occured.

b) place fraud alerts and get your credit reports

c) register complaint with cyber cell or local police station



The negative impact of Television and Internet on Children

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Children are being negatively impacted because of exposure to tv and internet. Today kids spend more time watching tv or on phone which tends to slow down thier metabolism rate. Infact browsing stuffs online to playing games all day can make  them dull and unproductive. Spending insignificant amount of time on tv and internet can make children suffer from lack of sleep and cause serious health problems. Henceforth, a healthy balance and strict timetable needs to be devised by parents which should restrict the amount of time a child spends on tv and internet. For instance, a child can watch educational videos on youtube which can help them to understand their lessons better or can watch news on tv to get equipped with current affairs apart from just playing games or watching cartoons. Limiting the amount of time being spent on tv and internet, parents can involve their children in other healthy activities such as practising yoga or taking up a sport or say learning a new musical instrument. That way a child can do better not only in his academics but can also excel in other creative artforms

A state in India that is free of patriarchy

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Meghalaya – a state in northeastern India has always been a far cry from the rest of India.The state is home to the Khasi and the Garo people, two of the few tribes to follow a matriarchal structure of society.

In a country like India, where the status of women is considered to be lower to that of men, where daughters of the household are treated as paraya dhan who are supposed to get married one day and go to her husband’s family , and the patriarchal system that subjugates women, oppresses women and tells them that they are not up to the mark and not as important as men,the fact that there are societies with a culture of dominant women is a wonder in itself! Unlike many places in India, where the birth of a girl is accompanied by reactions ranging from subdued acceptance to outright rage, the birth of a girl in places like Shillong is celebrated with mirth and laughter.There is no disparity in the treatment of women in urban and rural households of the Khasis and the Garos.In Khasi marriages, the men go and live with the wife and her family which is in stark contrast to most other communities in India, which see tearful goodbyes between the woman’s family.
An interesting and little known fact is that Khasi children take the title of their mother and her clan. This effectively means there are no illegitimate children among them.
It is refreshing to know that such a rare scene exists in our own country. For a nation plagued by a mindset of misogyny, the culture and traditions found in Meghalaya serves as a beacon of hope and change.

The empowering story of BTS Leader RM

BTS recently stood up for the Asian community and spoke to the US presidant about Anti-Asian hate. RM, the leader of BTS and a global icon was himself a victim of hate and negativity. He was ridiculed for his looks and the negativity was so intense that he even started to hate himself too. At the age of 16, RM left his family, his good grades, and his more secured future to become a K-pop Idol. But, unlike other trainees, he didn’t have an experience with dancing and even after practising for longer hours and pushing his limits, he would still make a lot of mistakes. He started to blame himself for not being as good as others and even almost quit being a trainee. Luckily, his fellow member J- hope and his dance teachers encouraged him to stay and the rest was history, BTS succeeded. RM thought everything would be better once he debuted but it only made things worse for him. When BTS was starting, netizens called RM ugly and talentless and even asked him to leave the group. We live in a world where beauty, money and perfection are the standards of success. And those of us who fall short in comparison turn to self-hate and RM too fell into that trap. So, how did RM with so much strong self-hate and negativity around him lead the biggest boyband in the world? First, he used his insecurities to fuel his passion for music. Then he apologised for his mistakes and strived to be better. All of this taught him to stand up for himself, stand up for BTS and stand up for the Asian Community. RM chose to be defined by his hard work and passion rather than his faults and limitations. He learned to accept the imperfect. His empowering journey with self love has been changing the world. He inspires his bandmates to make music about the importance of accepting oneself. He inspires their fans, the Army’s to find beauty in their imperfections and just recently, his self love became so powerful that it created a movememt for people to love others as well.

The world’s most important living animal

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This animal has got 5 eyes, lays upto 3000 eggs every single day and has wings that flaps over 11,000 times per minute. It has co existed with dinosaurs for atleast 35 million years and it is the 2nd most scientifically studied creature after humans. We humans call this creature as “bees.”
Here are some lesser known facts about bees and why we humans need them to survive-

1) 70 percent of the world’s agriculture depends on bees.
2) If we didn’t have bees to pollinate our plants, then plants will not produce and henceforth, there wouldn’t be enough food for the almost 8 billion people in the world.
3) Honey bees are responsible for every one out of three food bites that we take
4) No bees = No pollination and hence,
No plants = No food for livestock animals
Which further means no dairy products and hence no food for humans.
5) Most of our clothes are made up of cotton and if we don’t have bees, there will be no cotton plants.
6) Honey-bee is the only insect in the world that produces food humans can consume. It spends it’s lifetime producing only 1/12th teaspoon of honey.
7) Honey bees are smart too and they are trained by humans to detect bombs by sticking their tongues out when they sniff the aroma from explosives.
8) They can also detect illnesses in humans. They do so by smelling the illness on the breath in under 10 mins.

Bees, in many ways save humans and yet the most underrated being on planet earth but certainly the most important one.

Top foods that can boost your haemoglobin naturally

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Haemoglobin is an iron-rich protein found in our red blood cells, responsible for  carrying oxygen and transporting it to all parts of our body. A drop in level of haemoglobin can make it difficult for the body to get suffecient oxygen and one might exeperiemce dizziness, fatugue, pale skin, etc.
Listed below are some foods that can help maintain the level of haemoglobin in blood –

1) Beetroot
Beetroot is enriched with natural iron, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 and C and can be consumed in either raw form or cooked. It helps in regeneration of red blood cells.

2) Green leafy vegetables
Green vegetables like spinach, celery, and ​ broccoli are rich vegetarian sources of iron and including them in your staole diet can help you increase your level of haemoglobin. They can also help you in weight loss and improve digestion.

3) Dates and raisins
Dates and raisins are packed with iron and vitamin C. Consuming a handful of raisins and two or three dates in the morning can provide you with instant energy and improve your hemoglobin levels.

4) Sesame seeds
Eating black sesame seeds is another great way of increasing your iron intake as they are loaded with iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, selenium and vitamin B6, E and folate

5) Take vitamin-C rich fruits
Vitamin C absorb iron more efficiently. Including oranges, lemon, sweet lime, strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, grapefruits, berries in your dietary plan will help in boosting haemoglobin levels.

Arrival of Dutch in India

The Dutch are the people of Holland (now the Netherlands). The Dutch arrived in India shortly after the Portuguese. The Dutch have long been experts in sea trading. The Dutch government granted the United East India Company of the Netherlands license to trade in the East Indies, including India, in 1602. Dutch India was more of a geographical location than a political authority. In comparison to the Portuguese and the English, the Dutch had the shortest presence in India of all the European colonial powers.

Dutch history in India
The Dutch East India Company was founded in 1602 and signified the Dutch entrance in India. They arrived in Andhra Pradesh’s Masulipatam (now Machilipatnam). From 1605 to 1825, they occupied the Indian subcontinent. Given the growing demand for Indian spices from Asia in Europe, the Dutch arrived to India with the intention of trading. The establishment of the Dutch East India Company marked the beginning of the modern multinational company (MNC). Following a pact between the Zamorin of Calicut and the Dutch chief, Steven Van der Hagen, Dutch trading in India began on November 11, 1604. The goal was to force the Portuguese off the Malabar Coast, but this was never achieved. The Dutch, on the other hand, soon built commercial facilities in various parts of India and traded cotton, textiles, silk, Indigo, and Golconda diamonds. In 1661, the Dutch conquered the Portuguese and took control of all of Malabar. They had now mastered the pepper trade and made tremendous profits selling pepper, which was known in Europe as “Black Gold.” In the 17th century, nothing could stop the Dutch from capturing Pondicherry from the French in 1693. In the East Indies, the Dutch became a large producer of sugar and coffee, as well as a big exporter of spices and textiles. During their time in India, the Dutch tried their hand at currency manufacture as well. They established mints in Cochin, Masulipatam, Nagapatam Pondicherry, and Pulicat as their trade grew. Furthermore, the Pulicat mint issued a gold pagoda with an image of Lord Venkateswara (god Vishnu). The Dutch minted coins that were all based on local coinages.

The Decline of Dutch power The Dutch East India Company began to fade in the mid-eighteenth century. It was characterised by poor corporate practices, corruption, and political upheaval. Martanda Verma, the formidable monarch of Travancore, defeated the Dutch in 1741 and reclaimed control of Malabar. The fourth Anglo-Dutch war, in which the British navy sunk Dutch ships and seized trading ports, resulted to their bankruptcy in 1799. Finally, the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1825 ended the Dutch dominance in India by transferring all Dutch assets to the British.