Dowry- A curse

Dowry originated to give stress to women and made up of sthreedhanam ( Stree means woman and dhan means wealth) consisting of money,property,or gifts given solely to women by her parents in marriage in the form of dowry. But the abuse of this custom started when it became a price tag for groom. The groom demands dowry consisting of a large sum of money,furniture and other luxury things.

The price of Indian groom has increased based on his qualifications,profession and income. It is the ritual that doctors,chartered Accountants and Engineers expect a handsome dowry. Dowry has reduced the status of women in our society. The grooms have also become a saleable commodity available at such a price,earning so many amounts. Even the rate of dowry has been fixed by doctors ,bank officers,govt officers and businessmen.

In case marriage takes place where dowry is less than a new chapter of mental and physical violence takes place against the bride in order to extract more dowry. The violence started from one day taunting by inlaws and then domestic violnce by husbands.The practice of dowry has been still rising in India badly.The most severe case is when bride is burning in regard to less dowry and these incidents are given shape of accidental burns in kitchen or disguised as suicide.In india every 20 woman die as result of harassment over dowry,either murdered by their husbands or compelled to commit suicide.dowry death rose from about 19 per day to 20 per day in 2020. And many reports of dowry death are unreported in police stations. Taking or giving dowry is practice from 1961. And still now it is a significant part of Indian marriage and falling women empowerment.

In some cases,to escape from punishmenet the husband and family not only kill woman directly but harass them mentally and physically too commit suicide.We are in 2020 and still this system is prevailing. The reason for that is our old customs and patriarchal society that values men over women. The stronghold of gender inequality makes them give dowry that is too wrong . The second reason is this practice is so rooted in the Indian culture that it is seen as normal and unchangeable.Even today people get to know that they are taking dowry they use to ignore them and take it as cultural tradition. If a woman’s marriage requires dowry in return for a safe,happy life then this world is unsafe and discriminatory for women. And where women are not treated with equity then that country can’t become developed. This is a ahrsh reality that women sacrifice their life because of this single small stupid thing. Nothing is above than life.

The need of the hour is the social awareness at least among females to stand up against wrong and right. More stringent laws,more awareness ,more education is required to girls for their independence and a social awakening can curb this ever increasing evil.

Factors determining job satisfaction of employee

Job satisfaction is defined as the level of contentment employees feel with their job. This goes beyond their daily duties to cover satisfaction with team members/managers, satisfaction with organizational policies, and the impact of their job on employees’ personal lives.

Satisfaction with:

▪︎Compensation and benefits

▪︎work environment

▪︎team members and managers

▪︎ job impact on personal life

What is job satisfaction ?

Job satisfaction, an unquantifiable metric, is defined as a positive emotional response you experience when doing your job or when you are present at work. Leading organizations are now trying to measure this feeling, with job satisfaction surveys becoming a staple at most workplaces. It’s important to remember that job satisfaction varies from employee to employee. In the same workplace under the same conditions, the factors that help one employee feel good about their job may not apply to another employee. For this reason, it is essential to have a multidimensional approach to employee satisfaction, covering the following areas:

▪︎ The challenging nature of work , pushing employees to new heights

▪︎A level of convenience (short commute, access to the right digital tools and flexible hours)

▪︎competitive pay, which employees maintain a good quality of life

▪︎The promise of career progression in sync with employees’ personal growth targets

▪︎ Regular appreciation by the immediate management and the organisation as a whole

Factors determining job satisfaction of employee:

There’s no one definition of job satisfaction, and factors contributing to it will depend on the nature of your workplace. For example, a satisfied employee in the manufacturing sector looks different from a satisfied software developer. However, there are ten traits that every workplace geared toward employee well-being and satisfaction will have in common.

▪︎Does your company are about its employees ?

Remember, it’s not enough to only care – communicate this care regularly to employees through newsletters, rewards, informal recognition, paid incentives, and other forms of communication. Companies with a high job satisfaction level, such as Google and Starbucks, also feature employee happiness and satisfaction stories as part of their communication strategy.

▪︎Does the workplace have room for employees to engage in their hobbies?

Today, most of us spend a significant part of the week at work, but this doesn’t mean we want to ignore our hobbies or personal interests. A workplace where employees have enough free time to read a book, catch up on the news, have a pleasant meal, for example – and where such behaviors are not considered slacking off – will better enable job satisfaction.

▪︎Do employees feel respected from their peers?

A workplace where employees feel regularly criticized or under some type of scrutiny is ripe for dissatisfaction. You can detect their dissatisfaction via one-on-one conversations with employees, or through anonymized data collected via employee satisfaction surveys and take appropriate measures to improve their experience in this area.

▪︎ Is there a culture of two way feedback?

Employees need regular feedback (both positive and constructive) to know that they are on the right track. Also, they want to share their opinions with managers/HR/senior management to guide the future of the company. This culture of two-way feedback is essential to maintaining employee satisfaction. It is doubly necessary for you to act on the feedback you receive.

▪︎Where do you stand on the issue of work life balance?

Companies must try to build a non-toxic culture of high performance, where productivity isn’t prioritized over well-being. Positive work-life balance is integral to this. As per the 2019 Workplace Happiness Report by udemy, work-life balance adds meaning to the job for 37% of professionals. Mandatory work-from-home days, paid time off, and flexible working benefits are great ways to help employees achieve this.

▪︎Do employees feel secure about their role ?

Job security is now a major concern as technology upends existing processes, and automation threatens legacy models of working. As a future-focused employer, you must clearly explain how an employee’s role will transform over the years and equip them for this change. Apart from basics such as compensation, employee benefits, and workplace amenities, these ten factors go a long way in either improving or negatively impacting employee satisfaction. And here’s why you can’t afford to have dissatisfied employees.

▪︎Does your organisation follow fair and inclusive policies?

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace have a positive impact on the business bottom line, while also improving a company’s culture and work environment. By ensuring fairness toward all your employees, regardless of age, gender, or disability, you can increase the average level of satisfaction across the company. In other words, job satisfaction shouldn’t be limited to a select few – everyone, across the company, should experience the same level of well-being.

▪︎How do employees rate their relationship with their reporting heads?

We have all heard the axiom that employees don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses. And this is confirmed by studies – a poll by Gallup found that 75% of voluntary attrition can be attributed to the behavior of immediate supervisors and not the job itself.

5 reasons why job satisfaction is so important

By actively working on satisfaction in the workplace, you end up with employees who are more engaged, involved, and eager to go the extra mile. This benefits your company in several ways.

1- satisfied employees translate into satisfied customers :

If employees are unhappy at work, the chances are that this will reflect in their interactions with the customer. Contact centers, specifically, cannot afford to have dissatisfied employees – this is sure to show in every word they say and every campaign they work on.

2- Voluntory turnover will come down:

Sometimes, turnover can be good for business, as it brings fresh talent into the organization. But voluntary turnover looks different – you risk losing top talent you have carefully trained over the years. Also, this talent takes with it tribal knowledge once it leaves the company, which could toughen up the competition for your products and service offerings. On the other hand, a satisfied workforce is less likely to quit.

3- You increase the chance of referral:

Employee referrals are the most effective method of recruitment, none. A report by Jobvite found that referrals make up 7% of all applications but an overwhelming 40% of all hires. An employee satisfied with the work conditions and the pay scale is far more likely to recommend their friends than a dissatisfied employee.

4- Satisfaction is directly linked to your productivity:

In a positive work environment, employees are more likely to bring their best to work every day. For example , research by the social market foundation and the university of Warwick’s centre of competitive advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE) found that happy employees are 20% more productive than unhappy employees on average.

There’s also a secondary reason for this – high-satisfaction workplaces prioritize employee wellness. Therefore, they are more likely to look after themselves, and address stress/burnout/health issues, before it impacts work.

5- In the long term, you can dramatically reduce HR costs:

Typically, you need to plan for both fixed and variable costs as part of your HR budget. Low satisfaction could significantly dent the variable aspect of this equation – dissatisfied employees require targeted surveys, specialized learning and development, additional career assistance, and ultimately may lead to rehiring and retraining costs in the case of turnover. All of this needs you to invest more than you had expected.

By making job satisfaction a priority at your company, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure that there are no unprecedented issues arising due to low satisfaction.

Driven by these benefits, more and more organizations are investing in job satisfaction initiatives. And this has had a marked impact on job satisfaction, as seen in the following statistics.

Poverty and Pollution

“Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.” – Aristotle

Poverty, as Aristotle defines- may lead to revolution as we have seen innumerably be it civil wars of 1980’s or mass movement of Indian freedom struggle. The second genesis of poverty as per Aristotle’s definition, is significant in present context- “Crime”. Be it crime committed by poor thieves to feed their family or crime of polluting environment, we all commit- both are polluting and consequential.

Poverty and pollution are the two most normal issues keeping the world from achieving its objective of manageable turn of events. By and large we accept that it is fortune which makes all the issues identified with ecological corruption causing contamination, environmental change and so on. In spite of the fact that it is consistent with a specific degree we can’t overlook a more profound interrelationship which exists among neediness and contamination. The poor are progressively inclined to the contamination issues and it is destitution which is somehow identified with contamination.

The interrelationship among destitution and poor can be concentrated through different measurements; first, we’ll take a gander at the practices followed by individuals in helpless networks which lead to contamination. We accept that the majority of the ecological related issues like contamination are brought about by well-to-do segments of the general public due to their ways of life. They are the significant employments of vitality assets, vehicles and record for a significant lump of private utilization consumption which is answerable for ecological corruption. Despite the fact that it is consistent with a specific degree we can’t overlook the commitment of more unfortunate areas the general public in issues identified with condition. Needy individuals for the most part rely upon kindling and dairy animals fertilizer for their cooking rehearses which thus produces a great deal of contamination. Kindling is gathered by felling trees which weakens the dirt condition causing soil contamination. Soil contamination will have negative ramifications on horticultural works on causing a decrease in food assets. Also, there is an absence of mindfulness among helpless networks with respect to natural issues. Inadvertently, their day by day practices, for example, open sanitation, ill-advised waste removal, unhygienic environmental factors and so forth can contribute towards contamination. Another issue relating to air contamination is open agrarian waste consuming. Notwithstanding constant updates from the state governments and even punishment estimates requested by the Supreme Court helpless ranchers are persistently consuming their agrarian squanders in open fields seriously decaying air quality. Absence of some other moderate methods and particularly mindfulness is the underlying driver of this issue.

Pollution as an issue involves genuine worry for the whole world. So as to guarantee practical advancement whole planet has held hands to expel neediness from the world. In any case, some of the time strategies used to expel destitution can likewise prompt ecological issues. We need monetary development and advancement to beat neediness. All the creating nations are moving towards industrialization for accomplishing monetary success. These advancement exercises are expanding the carbon impression on the planet. In the quest for expelling neediness through improvement we are hurting our condition. Structures, ventures, apparatus, foundation ventures and so on all contribute towards contamination. A ton of e-squander from created nations is being dumped into creating nations for removal. For the most part it is the destitute individuals who handle its removal and are probably going to experience the ill effects of its outcomes as they in its nearby region. So as to dispose of one issue we are making another.

The following connection among destitution and contamination is worried about its belongings. Who are generally influenced by contamination? It is the needy individuals who are getting the brunt of contamination. According to a Harvard study directed in the late 90’s future is low in helpless nations when contrasted with wealthier networks and the significant explanation for this is ecological contamination. Destitute individuals don’t have the privilege to appreciate characteristic assets as much the wealthy do. The best model is water. The majority of the individuals living in India despite everything don’t approach perfect and safe drinking water and they are for the most part from helpless foundations. All the modern and electronic waste is dumped into the streams which influence the lives of individuals living in those regions. Air quality is seriously debasing in our nation. Needy individuals who burn through the greater part of their occasions on roads are increasingly inclined to experience the ill effects of its outcomes. Neither they have cash nor the assets to keep themselves from these issues. Medical issues brought about by contamination will have extensive effect on destitute individuals. Absence of sustenance, social insurance and in particular mindfulness will additionally add to their issues.

We need a synergistic way to deal with conquer the twin issues of neediness and contamination. At the same time we need to remember the entomb connection between the two and must be incredibly careful in discovering arrangements as one issue’s answer can turn into the reason for another. The fundamental need is to make mindfulness and spread training among the helpless masses with respect to contamination; its circumstances and end results. Government ought to give cooking ovens and gas associations with the destitute individuals so they don’t need to rely upon kindling and different assets for their cooking prerequisites. Government activity of requesting that individuals surrender their LPG appropriations to give LPG to the poor is excellent. Sufficient measures ought to be received to save woodlands on which numerous neighborhood networks are needy. Works on prompting deforestation ought to be debilitated. Government needs to give elective wellsprings of occupation to such helpless networks. Individuals ought to be debilitated from receiving practices, for example, inappropriate waste removal, open sanitation, consuming of agrarian waste which prompts ecological contamination. Open specialists need to assume a significant job in this. They need to take endeavors to make mindfulness among individuals, screen such destructive practices which can contribute towards contamination, instruct individuals about the unsafe impacts of contamination and attempt vital measures for restorative activity. We need to guarantee that while creating helpless nations we are not trading off our condition. So as to have economical advancement we have to dispose of destitution without making any damage the earth and guaranteeing social equity. No decent can be accomplished by hurting others. Neediness and contamination, both are dire worldwide issues that ought not be dealt with independently as one is well on the way to affect another.

Burdens of online classes

I have just been promoted to the second year of my postgraduate course and our dean was very much proactive in launching the online platform by buying a Zoom subscription, providing access to the online private library and even bought subscriptions to buy e-books. A necessary amount of fees was also reduced although there is no reimbursement of the internet or Wi-Fi charges. Around 2-4 classes of duration 90 minutes are usually scheduled each day, with a couple of days off each week. Faculties usually provide assignments with deadlines and we have to prepare presentations almost every week. Everything which one usually does in a MBA college, we are doing everything and even the faculties are trying to replicate the entire offline model of MBA into an online model. Truth to be spoken, they have been successful in their endeavours, but to what extent?

With each passing day, such online classes are becoming more of a burden. Attending classes every day, for such long hours as well as trying to grasp new topics is becoming increasingly difficult. Even though the faculties are trying to make things easy, there is something about this online platform that makes the entire teaching process a mile less effective. Recent trends suggest that the attention span of a normal 25 years old human being ranges from 10 to 20 minutes. This trend is well observed when we are studying a class environment, usually surrounded by friends who help us getting through the class. But coming to the online mode, what usually happens is our attention span gets drastically reduced and since there is no check with the reality, we often drift away from what exactly is happening in the class. What spikes our frustration is the absence of non-verbal cues during the class activities or during presentation. In classes, we can see our audience and change ourselves accordingly, but in online mode, it seems like a one way communication – we only speak without any response from the opposite end. And to add to that, we always face a fear of losing internet connection in the middle of class. And God forbid, the days when that happens, we have no other options but to succumb to our own senses to try and to understand what we have missed.

But that is not all. Post graduate study is so designed that group work is more of necessity which reduces time and increases effectiveness of our study. Studying solo in our rooms is making things harder, and this is piling up day by day.

But what is more frightening and despairing is that unlike the corporate, schools and colleges does not have any mental wellness programs. Hours of online classes with studying solo in our rooms is creating a mental challenge coupled with anxiety and stress. What actually is happening now is that students are trying to cram everything but what is the effectiveness? Are we really being able to retain anything at the end of the day? There is no doubt that the faculties are trying their best, but somewhere they have failed to consider the mental challenge that we are facing in the meantime.

Online class is perfectly fine for those curriculum which have been designed in that way. It does not work, or at least we are not ready to embrace this form as a substitute of offline mode of classes.

Source – Self

Village Life

A lot of people think that it is just impossible to live in some under-developed rural areas while modern city life can provide a person with almost everything that one could only imagine. However, such active and bustling way of life is not for everyone. There are a lot of people who do not pursue a crazy success and luxury and just want their life to be simple and plain. A village is a perfect place to live if you are in search of harmony with nature. People have everything for their minimum requirements of life. Villagers are just satisfied with the necessities of their living. They are always provided with fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, water, and clear air. It is the simplicity, natural beauty, and tranquility that make the rural life unique and special. Moreover, living in a concrete jungle can be quite stressful and it can make you more vulnerable to depression.

Villages preserve our national customs and traditions. The village people usually hold various festivals and fairs where they represent the wealth of our culture. Villagers think in the terms of religion and God. The village temple is the divine place where people draw inspiration for their further work and pray for their families and themselves. There is a unique closeness between the elder and younger generations. Young people treat their parents and grandparents with great respect and follow their valuable advice.

In spite of everything good that the village can give us, there are a lot of important things that rural areas lack. Peasants lack the utilities and convenience a more developed area can offer, such as hospitals, stores, police stations, firefighters, public health, mass education, proper cell phone coverage, and internet access. So, there should be some progress in rural areas in order to make such places more pleasant and comfortable to live.
Conclusion
A lot of philosophers and great thinkers admired the rural life because the country people are able to gain a sense of well-being from the purposefulness of a simple country existence. You can easily find a certain spiritual serenity and enjoy the pleasures of meaningful time among the magnificent rural landscapes. There may come a time when you just want to escape from everyday stresses and complexities of city life. At village you can feel the time and make your life move slower.

Farming and agriculture are one of the most difficult jobs. The Indian farmer, in particular, is a hardworking and diligent man. The land and the crops need close attention and efforts day and night for a successful harvest. Life in an Indian village is not a walk in the park by any means.

The farmer will usually start his day before sunup and work throughout the whole day. It involves a lot of manual labor and persistence. They plow the land, sow the seeds, harvest the crops, etc. And a lot of the farmers do not enjoy the luxury of machines or tractors and have to rely on intense manual labor. Rain or shine, they can never take a day off.

Invites for the Frontline COVID Warriors: A special feature of the I-Day 2020 celebrations in India this year

Ministry of Home Affairs | MyGov.in

INTRODUCTION

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued the guidelines for the Independence Day celebrations that will take place amid the cloud of novel coronavirus pandemic. Due to this unfortunate and extraordinary situation the Independence Day celebrations on the 15th August will be subdued and low key.

THE LETTER

Joint Secretary Anuj Sharma has written a letter to all States and Union Territories sharing with them how the celebrations should be carried out in these testing times. In the letter preventive measures like social distancing, wearing of masks that are absolutely imperative have been mentioned in order to make sure that the celebrations are carried out without any collateral damage.

“In view of the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, while organizing various programmes or activities for the Independence Day celebrations, it is imperative to follow certain preventive measures such as maintaining social distancing, wearing of masks, proper sanitization, avoiding large congregations, protecting vulnerable persons, etc.; and follow all guidelines related to Covid-19 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health a Family Welfare,” the letter read. Hence one can assume and infer that all the functions organised countrywide will be deprived of large gatherings.

Happy 74th Independence Day Wishes India | 15th August 2020

CELEBRATIONS AT THE LAL QILA

The Ceremony at Red Fort consisting of the presentation of a Guard of Honour by the Armed Forces and the Delhi Police to the Prime Minister (Pradhan Mantri), unfurling of the National Flag accompanied by playing of the National Anthem and firing of 21-gun salute, speech by the Prime Minister, singing of the National Anthem immediately after PM’s speech, and release of tricoloured balloons at the end. This will be followed by “At Home” reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan. As regards holding of “At Home” reception at Raj Bhawan /Raj Niwas by the Governor/Lt. Governor on the Independence Day, the matter is left to the discretion of Governors/Lt. Governors.

CELEBRATIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL

A ceremony in the morning (after 9.00 AM) in the State/Union Territory Capitals consisting of unfurling of the National Flag by the Chief Minister; playing of the National Anthem; presentation of Guard of Honour by the Police including Para-Military Forces, Home Guards, NCC, Scouts, etc; speech by the Chief Minister; and singing of the National Anthem.

In view of Covid-19 pandemic, large congregation in the ceremony be avoided. It is imperative that social distancing norms, wearing masks, etc., are followed. It would also be appropriate that Covid-19 warriors like doctors, health workers, sanitation workers, etc., are invited in the ceremony as a recognition of their noble service in fight against Covid-19 Pandemic. Some persons cured from Covid-19 infection may also be invited.

CELEBRATIONS AT THE DISTRICTS, SUB DIVISIONAL BLOCS AND PANCHAYAT HEADQUARTERS

The Districts, Sub Divisional blocs, Panchayat headquarters will have to follow similar protocols as the states. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, preventive measures such as maintaining social distancing, wearing of masks, proper sanitization, avoiding large congregations, protecting vulnerable groups, etc., and other measures as prescribed and recommended by the Ministry of Health a Family Welfare, are to be followed. It would be appropriate that frontline warriors and workers like the doctors, health workers, sanitation workers, etc., are invited in the ceremony as recognition for their noble service in fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic. Some persons who have been cured from the infection may also be invited.

Performance of Police/Military bands may be recorded at places of historic importance associated with the Independence movement; and recorded versions thereof may be displayed through large screens/digital media, during public functions and on social media.

Other functions of the day may include activities like planting of trees; inter-school/inter-college debates on digital platforms; online quiz contests/patriotic essay writing and poetry competitions; launching of any important scheme, singing patriotic songs/delivering patriotic talks by selected boys/girls on the social media; illumination of Government Buildings/State Bhawans, etc; thematic webinars; online campaign by NSS and NYKS centered around patriotic themes; or any other activity deemed appropriate by the State Government/Union Territory Administration befitting the occasion. Other innovative ways of celebrating Independence Day may be considered like propagating patriotic or national integration messages/songs through digital and social media platforms, sound shows/lighting of important public buildings, waving of National Flags by people at rooftops/balconies, etc.

“It would be appropriate that the theme of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” is suitably spread and publicized amongst the masses through various activities/messages in the functions and on social media during Independence Day celebrations,” the letter signed off with.

WEBSITES REFERRED

  1. https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/IndependenceDay_24072020.pdf

2. https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/independence-day-celebrations-guidelines-covid-19-coronavirus-new-guidelines-mha-636649

3. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/74th-independence-day-covid-warriors-to-be-invited-on-independence-day-government-to-states-2268156#:~:text=Prime%20Minister%20Narendra%20Modi%20will,Independence%20Day%20on%20August%2015

4. https://secure.mygov.in/group/ministry-home-affairs/

5. https://www.jaborejob.com/happy-74th-independence-day-wishes-india-15th-august-2020/

WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding. World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and galvanise action on themes related to breastfeeding. The 2020 theme is “Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet”. Breastfeeding promotes better health for mothers and children alike.

BREASTMILK

  • It is the best gift a mother can give her baby ever.
  • It contains all the nutrients for normal growth and development of a baby from the time of birth to the first 6 months of life.
  • Ensuring exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months has a potential to reduce under-5 mortality rate by 13% and it assures maximum benefits of the breastfeeding.
Nutritional Superiority

Breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs for normal growth and development, in an optimum proportion and in a form that is easily digested and absorbed.

Carbohydrates

Lactose is in a high concentration (6-7 g/ dL) in breast milk. It helps in absorption of calcium and enhances the growth of lactobacilli, the good bacteria, in the intestine.

Proteins

The protein content of breast milk is low (0.9-1.1 g/dL) compared to animal milk. Human milk contains amino acids like taurine and cysteine which are necessary for neuro-transmission and neuromodulation. These are lacking in cow milk and formula.

Fats

Breast milk is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, necessary for the myelination of the nervous system.

Vitamins and Minerals

The quantity and bioavailability of vitamins and minerals is sufficient to the needs of the baby in the first 6 months of life.

Water and Electrolytes

Breast milk has a water content of 88% and hence a breastfed baby does not require any additional water in the first few months of life even during summer months.

Immunological Superiority

A breastfed baby is 14 times less likely to die of diarrhea and almost four times less likely to die of respiratory infection.

Protection against other illnesses

Breastfed babies have a lower risk of allergy, ear infections, orthodontic problems, diabetes, heart disease and lymphoma in later life.

Mental Growth

Studies have shown that babies who were breastfed had a higher IQ than those babies who were given other forms of milk.

Benefits to Mother

Not only the baby, the mother will also have number of benefits by breastfeeding.

  1. Breastfeeding soon after birth helps uterine involution, reducing chances of postpartum hemorrhage.
  2. It provides protection against pregnancy due to lactational amenorrhea.
  3. It reduces the risk of cancer of breast and ovary.
  4. Breast-feeding is the most effective way of shedding extra weight that mother has gained during pregnancy.
  5. More than everything, it gives a satisfied feel of motherhood and improves the emotional bonding between the mother and the baby

Technique of Breastfeeding.

Women becoming mothers for the first time require substantial assistance to learn the technique of breastfeeding. With correct technique, breastfeeding is natural and a pleasurable experience for the mother.

Position of the Mother

The mother can assume any position that is comfortable to her and the baby.

She can sit or lie down.

Her back should be well supported and she should not be leaning on her baby.

Position of the Baby

Make sure that baby is wrapped properly in a cloth.

  • Baby’s whole body is supported not just neck or shoulders.
  • Baby’s head and body are in one line without any twist in the neck.
  • Baby’s body turned towards the mother (abdomens of the baby and the mother touching each other).
  • Baby’s nose is at the level of the nipple.

Attachment

  • After proper positioning, the baby’s cheek is touched and that initiates rooting reflex.
  • Allow the baby to open his mouth widely and at that point, the baby should be latched onto the breast ensuring that the nipple and most of the areola are within baby’s mouth.
  • It is important that the baby is brought on the mother’s breast and mother should not lean onto baby.

Signs of good attachment 

  • The baby’s mouth is wide open.
  • Most of the nipple and areola in the mouth, only upper areola visible, not the lower one.
  • The baby’s chin touches the breast.
  • The baby’s lower lip is everted.

Effective Suckling

  • Baby suckles slowly and pauses in between to swallow (suck, suck, suck.. and swallow).
  • One may see throat cartilage and muscles moving and hear the gulping sounds of milk being swallowed.
  • Baby’s cheeks are full and not hollow or retracting during sucking.

This is some information about the breastfeeding to create awareness among the general public.

“Spirits can never be conquered”Book Review: Living Courageously


The book “living courageously” written by Lipa Rath; an angel therapist, a true healer is a self-help
book which helps the reader to discover the true meaning of life. Author Lipa Rath, did not believe in
God until she was shaken up by the sudden death of her elder sister and her broken marriage which
lead her to the discovery of spiritual path which gave her the strength to tackle life’s numerous
problems. “Living Courageously” has come from the author’s heart. “Going through a long, dark
tunnel makes you wonder if you are ever going to see light.” Her crisis became so severe that she
thought of killing herself at one point. But eventually, she came out of darkness. Lipa suffers from no
hatred. “Today,” she says, “I feel very proud of the sufferings that I bravely suffered.”
As Lipa retraces her path with us in this journey, she shines bright throughout the end. Love and
forgiveness, surrender to God, deep devotion, power of the mind, fear and negativity, health and
happiness, will power, introspection, health, healing, affirmation, karma, spirit within, desires, death.
A proper disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, Lipa covers every aspect of life with a rare candor.

Memories can never be replaced. Book review: “Million Memories”


The book Million Memories written by Pallavi Kodan is a narrative of 3 best friends which makes the
reader dwell into memories and relate it on every aspect. It is a story of three friends and their journey
of life. Aashima, Karishma and Siddhant, from classes to tuitions, they grew up together. Higher
education made them drift apart and they left with promises to stay in touch. Karishma who was the
misfit among the valued Siddhant and Aashima, had a great deal of ups and downs, fallings and
heartbreaks, she ignored her old friends for the new found fun but returned back to them, every time
with the guilt that proved her wrong. Being madly in love with her, Siddhant always found her in her
heart while the all forgiving Aashima was always more than a friend who cared. Siddharth finds the
way to make a profession out of his passion but somewhere there are distractions that don’t let him
live. Ashima falls in love but is confused about the right time. Time takes it’s leaps and Karishma’s
series of misfortunate adventures don’t seem to end.
The story is full of roller coaster ride and will make the reader fill up with multiple emotions at
various stages. This book is the wonderful combination of various emotions and experiences.

Amazing health benefits of Corn.

You will find the reason very easily during the monsoon days. In this era of coronavirus epidemic, if you are missing out for a snack in the evening then you can consume it. It is used for eating even after roasting it at home and it also provides excellent benefits for health.During the monsoon days, we often feel like eating spicy foods. Especially in the rain, there is more to eat these dishes. Right now the coronavirus epidemic has imprisoned people in their homes during this period, so it is better to avoid eating outside things. At the same time, corn is consumed the most in this season.

You will find it very easily at the vegetable shop. You can also roast it at home and consume it. Corn intake will not only change your test, but it also provides many good benefits to your health. Let us tell you below, what are the benefits of consuming corn to your body.

Correct digestion Those who are struggling with digestive problems or their food is not digested properly, then such people should definitely consume corn. The amount of fiber present in corn actively acts to correct digestion.

Beneficial for the eyes Corn intake can also prove beneficial for good eye care. The amount of vitamin-A present in it maintains the eye’s ability to see. Along with this, the amount of carotenoids present in it is also considered very beneficial for the eyes.
Beneficial for the skin The amount of antioxidants present in it works to improve the skin. The risk of skin pigmentation is also reduced manifold due to the number of antioxidants.

Boost immunity Corn intake is also considered to be the most effective for maintaining immunity. According to a scientific study, the special properties present in corn have the potential to strengthen immune cells. For this reason, if you consume corn, your immunity can also be strong.

Strengthen bones Foods rich in calcium nutrients should be consumed to make bones strong. This nutrient is also found in corn. So if you want to keep your bones strong, then eating corn can also prove to be a portion of good food.

CANCER: LIFE ALTERING, NOT DEFINING

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Cancer is a very complicated disease characterized by uncontrolled, unregulated cell growth. 

Cancer is what happens when one of the cells in the body “forgets” that it’s supposed to be part of a multicellular organism, and starts acting like one of its single cell organism ancestors instead. Rather than performing a specific role that benefits the organism as a whole, it acts selfishly, evolving to produce as many offspring as it possibly can, and undergoing mutation and natural selection to evade the body’s attempts to eliminate the disease.

The process starts when a cell picks up a mutation in a gene that controls cell division. The cell passes the mutation on to all its progeny; more mutations start to accumulate as the cells divide faster and faster. The group of tumour cells behave and evolve like a colony of bacteria, or other single cell organisms; the forces of natural selection allow the cells best able to survive the body’s attempts to control them to predominate.

The cells that can divide the most often produce the most “offspring”; some cells in the tumour mass develop the ability to escape their location and colonize new environments around the body; some cells develop resistance to drugs, or to the body’s immune system. It really is just like a bacterial infection within the body, except that the “bacteria” are the body’s own cells – similar enough to normal cells that it’s incredibly difficult to kill the cancer cells without killing normal cells, but different enough that they can overcome and kill the entire organism. This is why it’s so difficult to treat, especially once the cells have started to spread around the body.

The formation of a cancer tissue can be roughly classified into 5 stages that are tightly controlled: 1. the birth of a cancer cell; 2. a game of survival; 3. a game of hanging on: colonization into a cell clump; 4. winning out and the formation of a malignant tumor; 5. the final blow: metastasis.

1. The birth of a cancer cell: the first step onto this long, ominous journey is genetic mutations.

Of a total of ~ 20,000 genes in our body, ~ 100 genes are known to directly affect the birth of a cancer cell. Overall, it requires at least two independent mutations in two classes of these 100 genes to make a cancer cell: one in the category called proto-oncogenes (Oncogene), whose mutations enhance the transition from a normal cell to a cancerous one; the other mutation in the category called tumor suppressor genes (Tumor suppressor gene).

So you can see the cancer cell as an anomaly caused by an aberrant core (genes).

There are three main ways that result in aberrant genes:

a. hereditary, in which the faulty genes are passed from one’s ancestors. A relatively well-known example is the BRCA mutations involved in breast cancer.

b. spontaneous mutations caused by the built-in mechanisms through which our DNA is replicated each time a cell divides. This happens much more often than one expects. In fact, it is estimated that in every cell of the new generation ~ 60 new mutations (called somatic mutations, Mutation rate) will happen in a cell’s genome.

However, the vast majority of such mutations are harmless — only the very rare ones that affect the activities of the oncogenes will result in the birth of the cancer cells.

c. “catalyzed” mutations caused by environmental factors such as radiation (UV, X-ray, and others), toxic chemicals such as tobacco and pollutions, and certain viruses.

All those external risk factors do one thing in terms of carcinogenesis, which is to greatly enhance the mutation rates during cell replication. In the case of a virus such as a human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer, the mutation rates in oncogenes are drastically increased.

Overall, a double-hit in the categories of oncogenes is the most important determinant factor that results in the birth of a cancer cell, although not necessarily the sole one. As described above, the birth of a single cancer cell happens much more often than one might expect. However, by no means does it have an easy life to live, and the chance of its winning out is still very, very slim at this stage (under normal circumstances).

2. A game of survival

Now in an ocean of normal cells and other natural defenders in the body, there is a lonely cancer cell that needs to first hang on for its life. Although the genetic mutations give it more power in terms of lifespan and proliferation, they also bring other significant obstacles for its life.

Believe it or not, the beginning of a cancer cell’s life is rather tough. Just like all natural ecological systems, in the human tissue environment this abnormal cell has to compete for nutrients, adapt to an environment that may not favor its survival, and evade the natural killer — the immune system.

As a result, the vast majority of newborn cancer cells die before they even have a chance to reproduce.

Correspondingly, many internal and external factors kick in at this step in terms of cancer development, which could be affected by one’s life style, further decreasing the chance of carcinogenesis.

Examples include: a. natural body metabolism and integrity. The more healthy and robust of one’s normal cells, the less likely a cancer cell will be able to survive, simply because of the power-imbalance. b. the surrounding micro-environment that could be affected by metabolism, cell-cell interactions, human microbiota (Microbiota), etc. For example, the cancer cell may prefer a different PH, or oxygen concentration, etc. Thus keeping a healthy microbe population is also beneficial for fighting against cancer. c. The killing machine, the immune system.

3. A game of hanging on

Once a cancer cell beats all the odds and survives, it will employ its most powerful weapon – fast replication – and starts proliferating.

However, at this step, the cancer cells are still outnumbered. In addition, since there are only a few of them, they are still trying to adapt to an unfavorable environment rather than building their own fortress. It’s still weak, and all the factors described in 2. (A game of surviving) could still eradicate them.

Thus it’s never too late to adopt a healthy habit, such as quitting smoking, starting to boost immunity, adapt to a more healthy diet, etc. By doing so you may just give your body the extra power it needs to get rid of those budding malignant cells.

4. The winning out phase

Only at this phase cancer cells really become dangerous. Now that the cancer cells have defeated a number of obstacles and outcompeted the normal cells, they start to proliferate at a crazy rate. In addition, since there are a large number of them, they start to connect to each other and change the micro-environment to their favor.

At this step one’s own defense system is not enough to handle the insults. But still, since the cancer cells just build one solid foundation in one area, they are still prone to be defeated by additional reinforcement, such as surgery and a series cancer therapies. That is why the earlier they are detected, the easier it is to destroy.

5. The final blow: metastasis

This is the final tipping point beyond which there is less hope of returning. The final blow of a cancer tissue is its migration. By doing so the most robust and devastating malignant cells are starting building their fortresses in other areas of the body, which are typically vital organs.

Yet even in this step there are still ways to deal with them. The most powerful weapon is still one’s own immune system, which is what the recent highly promising immunotherapy is based on.

In all, the majority of a cancer cell’s (tough) journey is just like that. Despite the notorious name it has, there are really numerous steps that it can be beaten. And the first step always starts with a balanced healthy life style.

treatment options

  • Surgery: The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer or as much of the cancer as possible.
  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
  • Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to kill cancer cells. Radiation treatment can come from a machine outside your body (external beam radiation), or it can be placed inside your body (brachytherapy).
  • Bone marrow transplant: Your bone marrow is the material inside your bones that makes blood cells from blood stem cells. A bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant, can use your own bone marrow stem cells or those from a donor.A bone marrow transplant allows your doctor to use higher doses of chemotherapy to treat your cancer. It may also be used to replace diseased bone marrow.
  • Immuno therapy: Immuno therapy, also known as biological therapy, uses your body’s immune system to fight cancer. Cancer can survive unchecked in your body because your immune system doesn’t recognize it as an intruder. Immunotherapy can help your immune system “see” the cancer and attack it.
  • Hormone therapy: Some types of cancer are fueled by your body’s hormones. Examples include breast cancer and prostate cancer. Removing those hormones from the body or blocking their effects may cause the cancer cells to stop growing.
  • Targeted drug therapy: Targeted drug treatment focuses on specific abnormalities within cancer cells that allow them to survive.
  • Cryoablation: This treatment kills cancer cells with cold. During cryoablation, a thin, wandlike needle (cryoprobe) is inserted through your skin and directly into the cancerous tumor. A gas is pumped into the cryoprobe in order to freeze the tissue. Then the tissue is allowed to thaw. The freezing and thawing process is repeated several times during the same treatment session in order to kill the cancer cells.
  • Radio frequency ablation: This treatment uses electrical energy to heat cancer cells, causing them to die. During radio frequency ablation, a doctor guides a thin needle through the skin or through an incision and into the cancer tissue. High-frequency energy passes through the needle and causes the surrounding tissue to heat up, killing the nearby cells. 

Since there are many aspects for causes of cancer all we can do is leading a healthy and disciplined lifestyle with a positive attitude is the best way to deal with cancer.

10 Unhealthy food items one should avoid.

Just like it is important to know about the foods that enhance good health, it is equally important to give attention and have knowledge about the top foods that are unhealthy for the body and should be avoided as much as possible. The foods mentioned below are not only unhealthy but also hampers with the regular functions of the body making you more prone to diseases and health problems.

Candy Bars
Candy bars are loaded with sugar. They cause cavities in teeth, which can lead to tooth loss over a period of a time. Candy bars also cause insatiable hunger and can up your sugar glucose levels. They also cause liver failure and excess weight gain. They are one of the factors that cause insulin resistance in the body.

Ice Cream
Ice creams are irresistible foods for both adults and kids alike. However, these sugar loaded desserts are high on carbohydrates and can cause several health issues. They cause diabetes, weight gain and even teeth sensitivity issues. They also increase the blood triglycerides in the body.

Fast Food
In the modern era, people prefer something that is quick and tasty. Fast foods are the most eaten food across the world. These are extremely dangerous to health, as they can cause excessive weight gain. They also cause depression due to the presence of harmful chemicals. Studies show that fast foods are also responsible for dementia.

Coffee Drinks
Intake of coffee must be restricted to no more than 2 cups per days, as it can increase caffeine levels in the body. It can cause restlessness, stomach disorders, vomitings, nausea, acidity and irregular functioning of heart. It is always better to limit your coffee intake per day.

Processed Foods
Processed foods may be easy to consume, but they are extremely harmful to health. They are loaded with sugar and fructose corn syrup. These have very little amounts of nutrition and fill body with empty calories. This causes increases heart diseases, obesity and sudden deaths in people.

Pasta
White pasta of any form or shape is one of the unhealthiest foods that one should stay away from. There are no vitamins and minerals that are provided to the body and a minimum amount of fiber which is not even significant. The only thing it has is empty carbs. The unhealthy fat is only an add on in most of the cases.

Soda
Aerated drinks are another of the unhealthy foods that totally deserves to be in this list. Soda is only a hundred percent calories without any nutrient or health gains for a person. It also has high levels of sugar that affects the body in a negative way. It damages the teeth; weaken the bones and leads to cavities.

White Bread
White bread is just another form of pasta and one that provides no nutrients to the body and only empty calories. White flour based products are unhealthy snacks and you can always adhere to healthier substitutes like brown bread.

Tomato Ketchup
Tomato ketchup is full of preservatives and high levels of sugar. It is one of the processed foods that bring only bad health to the body. Make sure you stay away from this unhealthy food as much as possible.

Processed Cheese
Have you ever seen the slice of cheese in hamburgers? These are nothing but processed cheese and something highly unhealthy and full of saturated fats. There is nothing else in this food apart from calories and the way to obesity.

Chaloung Sukapha in the light of a recent controversy

Chaolung Sukapha, the founder of Ahom kingdom, was recently referred to as a “Chinese invader”. The name-calling broke media as it showed the illiteracy of knowing his/her own history and culture. To know of Chaolung Sukapha is the least we can do to pay a tribute.

This 13th-century ruler founded the Ahom kingdom that went on to reign over Assam for six centuries.

The contemporary scholars have traced his roots which evidentially belong to Myanmar. He is also widely referred to as the architect of Assam that is recalled as “Bor Asom” or “Greater Assam”. This shows the gratitude given by the indigenous people towards his successful efforts to assimilate so many different communities and tribes that make today a dignified society.

As the state today is fighting with floods, it is the best time to commemorate Sukapha and his rule, which Assam celebrates as “Asom Divas” on the 2nd of December every year.

The Ahom Kingdom ruled from 1228 to 1824. In the 13th century, the Ahoms migrated from the regions of present-day Myanmar to the Brahmaputra valley.

In 1253, this tributary ruler established his capital at Charaidau, Assam. They recognized new states by suppressing the older political systems of the landlords locally called as Bhuiyas. The same was done in 1523 by conquering one of the powerful kingdoms of those times, the Chhutiyas and in 1581 the Koch-Hajo. By the 16th century, Sukapha had subjugated different tribes into their community.

These unpopular kingdoms faced many invasions from the south-western areas of the Indian subcontinent on a repetitive basis and remained under as shackles as they were finally defeated by the Mughals in 1662.

The Burmese invasion of Assam ended the dynasty of this kingdom and later the subsequent annexation was done by the British East India Company which followed the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826.

The Administration of Ahom society was then divided into clans or khels.  A khel in turn was often in control of several villages. A census was done and the people were transferred from the more populated to the less populated areas.

By the beginning of the 17th century, the administration transformed into almost a centralised version.

The administration involved labourers called ‘paiks’, system of forced labour prevalent in the Ahom kingdoms, who in the name of economic structure were sent and received from each village by rotation.

The Men of the kingdoms were mostly involved in agriculture, construction of dams and other similar public works. During the times of wars, the men also served in the armies. There were also employed in different home manufacturers and cottage industries.

Inclusive of this, the State impressively saw flourishment as the agriculture thrived. It saw many new methods of rice cultivation which were developed by the Ahoms.

The Culture of the Ahoms was originally the worshipping of their tribal gods. But gradually with other developments, Hinduism became a predominant religion during the mid-eighteenth century due to the rule of Hindu kings. However, the entire community of the Ahoms did not adopt Hinduism completely.

Various arts and literature also had a separate culture in the Ahom kingdoms. The Poets and Scholars were specifically given land grants on their valuable performances. Theatre was encouraged thoroughly as well.

The translation works carried out from Sanskrit into the local languages with time. It involved the historical works, known as Buranjis, to be written and converted into first the Ahom language and then in Assamese language.

The technology in the Ahom Kingdoms as the usages of firearms suggest even in the 1530s reflect advancement. The kingdom began to make gunpowder and cannons by 1660s.

The kingdom may not be highlighted by bright colors but their reflection is very well noticed in the developments of the State and importantly, the country as a whole. To be giving them terms without proper knowledge only reflects signs of disrespect towards our own country.

Podcasts I Love

“Journalists have linked this online podcasting boom to the ubiquity of smartphones, time spent in transit, and online music services. Others attribute it to the brain-stimulating and addictive effects of audio learning, or the multitasking potential of listening. The beauty is in the overlap.”

Jeff Desjardins, Editor-in-Chief of Visual Capitalist

The Seen and Unseen:

Amit Verma.

Writer, Journalist, and Podcaster.

“The Seen and the Unseen is a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma. It takes its title from Frédéric Bastiat’s famous essay, ‘That which is seen and that which is unseen’. In his essay, Bastiat uses the example of what later came to be known as the “Broken Window Fallacy”, and pointed out that to evaluate the consequences of any action, we need to look at both its seen effects, which are often the rationale behind the action, and its unseen effects, which include unintended consequences and ripple effects.

The Seen and the Seen started off looking at the unintended consequences of public policies, and then evolved into a deep-dive interview podcast. It has tackled subjects such as the life and thought of Mahatma Gandhi, the Emergency, Hindutva, cricket, Demonetization, the Bangladesh War, Plato, Venezuela, the Harappans and the Me-Too Movement. Its guests have included Ram Guha, Srinath Raghavan, Steven Pinker, Matt Ridley, Tyler Cowen, Shashi Tharoor, Tony Joseph, Aakar Patel and Harsha Bhogle.

The Seen and the Unseen is supported by the Takshashila Institution, an independent centre for research and education in public policy.

The Seen and the Unseen is owned and produced by Amit Varma. It releases every Monday.”

I Weigh:

Jameela Jamil.

Actress, Model, Writer, and Activist.

“What started with a social media post has become a movement, and now a podcast. On I Weigh, Jameela Jamil challenges society’s definition of worth through weight by asking different thought-leaders, performers, activists, influencers, and friends about how they are working through their past shames to find where their value truly lies. With hilarious and vulnerable conversations, I Weigh will amplify and empower diverse voices in an accessible way to celebrate progress, not perfection.”

Ted Talks Daily:

“TEDx is a grassroots initiative, created in the spirit of TED’s overall mission to research and discover “ideas worth spreading.” TEDx brings the spirit of TED to local communities around the globe through TEDx events. These events are organized by passionate individuals who seek to uncover new ideas and to share the latest research in their local areas that spark conversations in their communities. TEDx events include live speakers and recorded TED Talks, and are organized independently under a free license granted by TED. These events are not controlled by TED, but event organizers agree to abide by our format, and are offered guidelines for curation, speaker coaching, event organizing and more. They learn from us and from each other. More than 3000 events are now held annually.”

Work in Progress:

Sophia Bush.

Actress, Director, Producer, and Activist.

“Work in Progress with Sophia Bush features frank, funny, personal, professional, and sometimes even political conversations with people who inspire Sophia about how they’ve gotten to where they are, and where they think they’re still going. These discussions stem from her “aha” moment of realizing you are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously.”

BBC Global News Podcast:

“We’re impartial and independent, and every day we create distinctive, world-class programmes and content which inform, educate and entertain millions of people in the UK and around the world.

The day’s top stories from BBC News. Delivered twice a day on weekdays, daily at weekends”

Daily Dose:

News Laundary.

News Channel.

“News Laundry is a news, current affairs and media analysis organisation. We value independence and transparency and believe the two are integral to democracy and a healthy society. This applies to news media too, often referred to as the fourth pillar of democracy. You can read about our mission here and see our ownership structure here.

We will question established ways and models that get too comfortable and cozy. No one should be above scrutiny: Not politics, industry, civil society, and certainly not the media. Not them, not you, not us – no one.”

“City of Girls” by Elizabeth Gilbert: Book Review

You may have heard of Eat, Pray, Love, the memoir that spent 199 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List thanks to the writing of American author Elizabeth Gilbert. Similarly, the most recent book of Gilbert’s, City of Girls, has thus far met quite satisfactory reviews and is a New York Times bestseller itself. In addition to this, the book is a winner of the 2020 Audie Award for fiction because of its jazzy style, sexy characters, and indisputable New York glamour.

Book Summary

Vivian Morris is a nineteen-year-old girl who is rich, beautiful, and second-to-last in grades out of every single student at Vassar college. When she inevitably flunks out, her parents don’t know what to do with her, so they decide to send her to New York. There, she will live with her estranged Aunt Peg and assist her with the old, decrepit live theater she owns, which Vivian comes to know fondly as the Lily Playhouse.

When she arrives, Vivian is aghast at the fiery glamour of the Big Apple. She’s swept up in it, in fact, so much so that this rather innocent girl becomes a late-night lock-the-door partygoer, romping along with her new showgirl and actress friends from the Lily Playhouse as they put on their first hit show: City of Girls. Vivian describes her adventures, and does so in a chatty, fun tone—even when she comes to the part in the story where a regretful sexual encounter leaves her as almost nothing more than a piece of gossip in the tabloids, she keeps up her high-spirited style.

Because of the ruckus that said sexual encounter caused, Vivian, now twenty, decides to leave New York out of guilt and shame. She comes back a few years later out of necessity—Aunt Peg needs her help putting shows on for the soldiers of the second World War—but in the time that she’s back with her parents, she still has her adventures, one of them being narrowly escaping an engagement. When she finally arrives back in New York, Vivian sews costumes for the political skits that Aunt Peg and her secretary, Olive, put on, and she’s happy to be home at last.

In the last leg of the book, Vivian talks about the aftereffects of the war and the destruction it caused, the death of her brother being an example of that. One day, Vivian meets a soldier named Frank who knew her brother—and although the pair do share a small but terribly unpleasant piece of history involving why Vivian left New York, they gradually move past it and become the best of friends. As the pair grow older and Vivian settles down, becoming a happy, independent seamstress, she recounts all the wild events of her past and allows them to flow into the much calmer events of her present, graciously allowing readers to join her in the process.

Review

In my humble opinion, I think City of Girls lives up to its expectation in every way. It’s an effervescent, witty, and sexy adventure that reintroduces us to colloquial things we thought we forgot, giving readers insight and wisdom along the way. As a story of a young girl growing up and discovering the real world, it has its share of heartache, but never fails to swing back into the shameless you-only-live-once style that Vivian never quite grows out of.

My favorite thing about City of Girls was probably the characters—each one more unique and interesting than the last, you’ve got girls that sound like boys and boys that look like girls and playwrights that respond to “Good morning!” with “I fail to see your argument.” Elizabeth Gilbert spared no expense in giving even the smallest characters a trait unique to them, and that kind of patience is admirable among authors.