JOURNEY TO SANITY – SUNSHINE 🌤️

Sun is something we have seen almost everyday of our lives, yet many of us aren’t aware of it’s health benefits except for the fact that it provides Vitamin D to the body.
We all know that Earth revolves around the Sun, but little do we know that so does our mood. A healthy amount of sunlight is considered to promote the production of a hormone called serotonin in the kidney and liver that helps to boost one’s mood, providing more peace and focus. A healthy dose of serotonin helps to balance the amount of a hormone called melatonin that promotes sleep at night and helps one in maintaining a balanced routine. It also helps to promote the metabolism process and even prevent weight gain.

Scientifically speaking, a 15-30mins of sun exposure between 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. few times a week helps to promote enough melatonin to boost one’s mood and reduce the effects of Depression and Anxiety. This form of exercise is called light therapy or phototherapy in clinical terms.
The UV-B rays in the Sunlight are responsible for the production of Vitamin D in a human body. Vitamin D is beneficial for a healthy eye sight and promoting strong bone health. It is Scientifically proven that Sun Radiations helps in fighting certain Cancer cells and cures various skin diseases like eczema, acne, etc. However, the effects might differ from body to body so it’s advisable to consult with a dermatologist.
Just like the universe, our body work on the law of balance. Excess of anything might do more harm than good. Similarly, excess of sun exposure might have harmful eyes on the eyes, skin and even lead to cancer at times.

Do not forget to read more from the series :

JOURNEY TO SANITY – ACCEPTANCE

JOURNEY TO SANITY – MINDFULNESS

JOURNEY TO SANITY -JOURNALING

4000 year old settlement found due to excavation in odisha

News

• Archaeological wing,Odisha discovered a 4,000-year-old settlement and ancient
artifacts in Balasore.
 Traces of three cultural phases:
 Chalcolithic period (2000 to 1000 BC.)
 Iron Age (1000 to 400 BC)
 Early Historic Period (400 to 200 BC).

Human colonization in India

• Two broad periods – prehistoric and historic.
 Prehistoric – divided into stone, bronze and iron ages.
 Stone age: divided into palaeolithic, mesolithic
and neolithic periods.

• Neolithic period: a settled, food-producing way of life.

• Introduction of Copper – the chalcolithic period.

Image Source: https://www.ias.ac.in/

Neolithic and Chalcolithic period

• India – Neolithic period and Chalcolithic period flourished simultaneously – 4th to 2nd millennia B.C.
 Represents farming based, settled village way of life.

• Neolithic culture – restricted distribution.
 Kashmir valley, northern Vindhyas, middle Ganga
valley, and eastern, north-eastern and south India.

• Chalcolithic cultures – wider distribution.
 Entire Ganga valley, eastern RJ, Malwa or western MP, some parts of GJ, western MH, and the northern Vindhyas.

Differences

• Mainly regarding distribution pattern,
technology, architecture and ceramics.
 Marked increase in the number of settlements.
 Introduction of copper-bronze – tools, weapons and ornaments etc.
 Improvement in architecture.
 Introduction of wheel-made pottery.
 Diversification of wares.
 Decoration of vessels by painted and incised designs.

India’s Important chalcolithic cultures

  1. Ochre-coloured pottery (OCP) culture:
     Indo-Gangetic Divide and upper Ganga-Yamuna
    Doab.
     Named after a ceramic type – extremely rolled
    and fragile – wash of red ochre which is easily
    washed off.
     First recognised by B.B. Lal in 1951 in a small
    excavation at Bisauli and Rajpur Parsu (U.P).
  2. Ahar culture or Banas culture:
     Mewar region of Rajasthan.
     Among the earliest Chalcolithic cultures of India.
     Type site – Ahar, in District Udaipur, Rajasthan – excavated in1961-62.
  3. Kayatha and Malwa cultures:
     Malwa region of western MP.  Kayatha site in Ujjain dist., MP.  Malwa culture – most predominant
    chalcolithic culture of central India.
  4. Malwa and Jorwe cultures – western
    Maharashtra.
     Jorwe – important and characteristic
    chalcolithic culture of Maharashtra –
    extend all over except the coastal
    strip on the west and Vidarbha.
     Jorwe site in Ahmadnagar district,
    Gujrat – discovered in 1950.
  5. Narhan culture and variants – northern
    Vindhyas and the middle and lower Ganga
    valley.
     Narhan village situated at the left bank
    of Ghaghara river – Gorakhpur, Uttar
    Pradesh.
     Pre-iron Phase Chalcolithic culture with
    the principal ceramic assemblages of
    white painted Black-and-Red Ware.

CARNATIC MUSIC

Does Art Have a Caste? A Debate on Carnatic Music | Economic and Political  Weekly

Carnatic Music is one of the Oldest Music that originated from India. The Music was popularly practiced in the states of : Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka. Carnatic Music is one of the subgenres of Classical Music of India. Saraswati : Hindu God of music .

Carnatic Music | RajRAS

 

The 4 basic elements that make the Carnatic Music are:

  • The mode of Music (Raga)
  • The Musical Pitch (Sruthi)
  • The Musical Sound of a Note (Swara)
  • The Rhythmic Cycles (Tala)

Raga is Melodic system/Musical personality .“That which colors the mind.”. No Western equivalent Definition . A collection of notes, a scale, intonation, ornaments, resting tones. It has particular musical characteristics and phrases that give it a distinct recognizable identity. Connected with human emotions . 9 traditional rasa – “flavors” Love, anger, sadness, fear, disgust, wonder, heroism, laughter, religious devotion (peacefulness) . Can be very powerful- magical properties Causing rain, auspiciousness, charm snakes . Can be associated with deities, seasons, time of day

Tala is Organization of time in music . regularly recurring metric cycle . Spectrum of time in Indian thought . Fraction of a second . Yugahs – goelogical time period . Theoretically there are hundreds of tala . Four dominate today . Most tala can be performed at a fast, medium or slow tempo .

Generally Carnatic Music is sung as Compositions. The Compositions are called Kirti (Kirtanam). This is done for making learning and teaching of Carnatic Music easier. Carnatic Music is basically meant to be sung. The main singer of Carnatic Music is called a vocalist.  Carnatic Music can be played in musical instruments. The music while played on musical instruments should follow the singing style. While singing Carnatic Music, it can be accompanied by many musical instruments mainly violin and also Tambura, Mirudangam, Ghatam, Kanjira, Veena and many more.

Unlike Modern music or Western Music, Carnatic Music is known for the melodious feeling it gives to the audience. Carnatic musical can be performed either just musical or also musical dramatic. Carnatic Music is the major part of the Indian Cultural Dances. Most of the Indian Classical Dances can be performed with the help of Carnatic Music only.

Carnatic Music is filled with rasas and the porridge of Godhead narratives with rich values, every vocal is beautiful in its ain manner. With diverse substitutions and combinations each raga therefore formed and disposed wordss blended, sprouts out significances. Vedas say that carnatic music is a tract to the Godhead. 

Carnatic Music is considered as one of the symbols of our culture and tradition. People respect musicians who are well versed in Carnatic. Carnatic Music is still performed in cultural festivals and big events of our country and “Music Season” (Largest Cultural Event in the world) is conducted in this place. Chennai (located in Tamil Nadu) is known as the Locus for Carnatic Music. The artists who perform Carnatic Music should be well experienced and qualified since Carnatic Music cannot be sung so easily and perfectly by normal people.

LIFE AND HAPPINESS :)

IT IS SAID THAT HAPPINESS SHARED IS HAPPINESS DOUBLED. BUT IN TODAY’S TIME, WHEN WE ALL ARE STUCK IN THE PANDEMIC, WHEREIN A LOT OF US HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES, SOME ARE FACING FINANCIAL SHORTAGE AND SOME ARE DEPRIVING OF FOOD $ WATER ; HAPPINESS HAS GONE REALLY FAR AWAY FROM US.

BUT, LIFE NEEDS TO CONTINUE. NEITHER CAN WE STOP OURSELVES NOR CAN WE STOP THE TIME. WHAT CAN WE DO THEN? TRULY SPEAKING, WHEN IM WRITING THIS, I MYSELF AM DOUBTING MY WORDS. BUT THIS IS THE REALITY. THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

LIFE IS LIKE A MOVIE WHICH COMPRISES OF ALL THE GENRES, THERE ARE DAYS WHEN WE FEEL OVERWHELMED, THERE ARE DAYS WE DOUBT OURSELVES, THERE ARE DAYS WE FEEL BAD, AND SO ON!

HAPPINESS WONT COME TO US IF WE DONT ATTRACT IT. HOW TO ATTRACT HAPPINESS ? SIT AROUND WITH YOURSELF, QUESTION YOURSELF ” WHAT BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES HAS MY LIFE GIVEN ME ? “. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND, THAT THIS BAD TIME TOO SHALL PASS.

SMILE, LAUGH, TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS/ LOVED ONES, WHO UNDERSTAND YOU. SHARE YOUR GOOD MEMORIES, ASK THEM TO DO SO TOO.

LAUGHING AND SMILING WOULD RADIATE POSITIVITY AROUND YOU, IT WILL BEAUTIFY YOUR AURA. THIS WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

KEEP SMILING ALWAYS!

THANK THE ALMIGHT/ UNIVERSE FOR BLESSING US WITH UNIMAGINABLE BEAUTIES.

New Social Media Laws in India

Introduction

In the year 2020, the deadly covid 19 pandemics brought a technological revolution in the world. The digital and social media were reborn as the people shifted from the real world to a virtual world. The digital space has become a new world by itself. Every human activity is performed through the internet be it shopping, learning, working as well as parties and events.

As the world shifted from the real to a digital world, regulation of social media platforms became even more important. As the pandemic arrived, the use of social media increased along with its users. India became the only country to put a foot forward in regulating the social media platforms with its new social media laws. In order to operate in India, the tech giants Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and LinkedIn are required to abide by the new IT laws set up by the Indian government.

The social media intermediaries should follow a set of guidelines when it comes to doing business in India. The new guidelines say that they should comply to take down any content posted on its platform if the government finds it unlawful. They should also assist the government in tracking down the originator of that unlawful content. The intermediaries should also set up a grievance redressal mechanism where the users are free to lodge a complaint against any unlawful activity taking place on the social media site.

The new laws aim to incorporate law and order in the digital space

Just like our cities, states and country, the digital space should also have law and order in place. Law and order are essential in a community to maintain discipline and accountability of the people. It also keeps a check on crime. The new laws would help in preventing the spread of fake news, sexually explicit content as well as violent, inciteful, abusive content. The government can ask the intermediaries to put down such content that can cause public disorder or harm the honor and reputation of an individual. Therefore, the social media platforms would be under check and deter people from misusing it.

The laws are meant to make social media platforms a safe and secure place to be in

Majority of the people in the country are on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. These platforms are highly populated with people of various age groups across the states. They are a community beyond geographic, cultural, socio-economical and political boundaries. People from all walks of life come together in a community like Facebook. In such a populated space security of each and every person is a major concern. Previously, people used to hesitate in posting pictures on these platforms in fear of their images getting morphed and distorted and misused unlawfully. The new laws are meant to cut down such fears. People can easily make a complaint if any such cyber crime takes place and their complains are meant to be heard and acted upon by the intermediaries.

Help in detecting cyber crimes

The grievance redressal mechanism would bring more illegal activities taking place in the cyber space to the notice of the government via the intermediaries. The complains of the people would help in understanding the nature and frequency of the crimes. More such illegal practices would come to the forefront which are not found out before. This is the first major step taken to fight cybercrimes in India.

Make the tech giants do responsible business in the country

Big tech companies like Facebook and Twitter are doing business in India for quite a long period of time. Till now they were mere intermediaries through which people expressed their thoughts and opinions and connected with people across the globe. However, with the increase in the ways the social medias are misused, the intermediaries should take up responsibility for what is happening on their platform. The new IT laws of India would facilitate them to be more than mere intermediaries and become responsible for the security and well-being of the people.

The laws are in place. Now it all comes down to its proper enforcement

A law cannot bear its effect and fulfill its objectives if it are not implemented properly. The responsibility of the government does not end with the passing of the laws. They are also responsible for their enforcement. The grievance officer, compliance officer and nodal officer should perform their duties with honesty and diligence. The government should never fail to keep a check on them.

The global nature of social media can act as a limitation to these new reforms

The IT laws are effective only in India. This contradicts the fact that social media platforms are global platforms. People from across the globe are connected through them. Indian laws have no way of stopping the people from other countries posting provocative, extremist and pornographic contents which could affect the people of our country. In my opinion, the IT laws should be declared as international laws and all the countries should follow them. The United Nations should look into this matter and create and operate social media laws with the consent of all the nations across the globe.

Educational and academic news and updates

Educational news and updates

1. IGNOU TEE June 2021 Exam Dates Announced, Details Here:-

IGNOU June TEE 2021: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has announced June 2021 Term End Examination (TEE) dates.
IGNOU June TEE 2021 Exam Dates Announced, Details Here
IGNOU June TEE 2021: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has announced June 2021 Term End Examination (TEE) dates. For undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) final year students, the exams will be conducted from August 3, along with exams for backlogs.
Similarly, postgraduate diploma (PGD), diploma, postgraduate certificate and certificate exams will also begin on August 3. Detailed date sheets will be released soon on the official website of the university.
“The Term-end Examination (TEE) June 2021 of the University will be conducted from 3rd August 2021 for the final year students of Under Graduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) programmes along with their backlogs, if any. The examination of Post Graduate Diploma, Diploma, Post Graduate Certificate and Certificate Programmes will also be held from 3rd August 2021. The Date-Sheet and other details will be notified shortly,” IGNOU said in a statement.

2. Online Classes Keep Students In Maharashtra’s Slums Far From Studies:-

Several parents expressed their hardship over the ordeal of not being able to provide their children with smart phones that have become an essential article of possession.
Online Classes Keep Students In Maharashtra's Slums Far From Studies
Nagpur: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent restrictions, students living in Nagpur’s Danteshwari Nagar slum are reeling under the effects of technological inaccessibility that has deprived them of the opportunity to attend online classes.
Several parents expressed their hardship over the ordeal of not being able to provide their children with smart phones that have become an essential article of possession.
“Since the time schools have closed, the lives of students have been severely affected. As we are labourers, we are not able to keep a check on our children. When they were going to school, we were assured that they were studying. We do not have the ability to provide them mobile phones with internet access,” said a parent.
Many other parents who live these slums echoed the same misery.
Nand Kumar Verma said, “We cannot afford smartphones. We have one phone which we need to carry to work. We do not earn so much to afford a smart phone for them. Studying from schools is a more convenient option for our children. Online classes have made things difficult. We are daily labourers and cannot look after their studies.”
His wife Rajini Verma stressed over her fear that her children will end up becoming labourers like themselves.
“Some of their teachers come and tell us to give mobile phones to children. This is not possible as our contractor calls us to give work during the day, and we need to keep it with us. Since they are not studying, we are afraid of how they will get admission for higher studies. We fear they will become labourers like us,” she said.
Students residing in the slum area are well aware of the issue. Laxmi Verma told ANI that she has four brothers and sisters. “It is difficult for all of us to study with one phone. Internet pack is also costly and sometimes there are network issues too,” she said.
Sonia Sahu, another student, said that due to network issues, she could not complete her online examination.
“Sometimes, when we are not able to recharge our phones, we miss out on our classes,” she added.
Jayshree Chikane, a teacher at a nearby government school said, “Students do face issues, especially the young kids. At least 50 per cent of our students do not have smart phone access. We try to send them notes over WhatsApp and tell them to call if they have doubts. Most of the kids in our school live in the slums. I am afraid that when they will rejoin, we will have to start from the very basics. Since they belong to lower-economic sections of society, their parents do not pay attention to them. Small children need their parents’ help to study.”

3. AKTU Even Semester Exams Will Be Held Online, Confirms University:-

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) even semester exams for the 2021-22 academic session will be conducted online and students will be able to take their exams from a place of their convenience. The exams will begin in August.
AKTU Even Semester Exams Will Be Held Online, Confirms University
New Delhi: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) even semester exams for the 2021-22 academic session will be conducted online and students will be able to take their exams from a place of their convenience. The exams will begin in August.
Requesting students not to believe in rumours related to exams, the university tweeted: “All the exams of even semester 2020-21 will be conducted in online mode only and students will be able to give their exams from anywhere. Please do not pay attention to any rumours in this regard. In case of any confusion, visit the University website. Best wishes to all the students.”
All the exams of Even Semester 2020-21 will be conducted in online mode only and students will be able to give their exams from anywhere.
Please do not pay attention to any rumours regarding this. In case of any confusion, visit the University website.
Best wishes to all the students.
examination controller
@AktuAcoe— AKTU (@AKTU_Lucknow) July 3, 2021
AKTU in June released the term-end examinations schedule, except final semester. Exams will held in online mode where students will be required to answer objective type questions, the university had said.

4. AKTU To Use UPCET 2021 Scores For MBA Admission:-

According to a statement from the NTA, many students were unable to take CMAT 2021 and therefore UPCET 2021 will also be considered as an eligibility test for AKTU MBA admissions.
AKTU To Use UPCET 2021 Scores For MBA Admission
New Delhi: In addition to the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT), Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), Uttar Pradesh, will use the Uttar Pradesh Common Entrance Test (UPCET) 2021 for admitting students to the MBA programme, for the 2021-22 academic year. Both the exams are conducted by the National Testing Agency. While results of CMAT 2021 have been announced, UPCET 2021 is yet to be conducted.
According to a statement from the NTA, many students were unable to take CMAT 2021 and therefore UPCET 2021 will also be considered as an eligibility test for AKTU MBA admissions.
“To ensure larger participation and to provide relief to aspirants who could not appear in CMAT 2021, it has now been decided by AKTU that Uttar Pradesh Common Entrance Test (UPCET)- 2021 score will also be used for admission to the MBA programme of AKTU,” an official statement said.
Candidates with any one of the two exam scores –CMAT 2021 or UPCET 2021 – will be eligible to apply for MBA admission at AKTU, it added.
Registration for UPCET 2021 is going on. Students can submit their forms at upcet.nta.nic.in up to July 6, 2021.
Apart from MBA, the university will also use UPCET scores for MCA and some other undergraduate-level professional courses.
For admission to other postgraduate programmes – MTech, MPharm, MArch, MURP, and MDes – the university conducts its own entrance exam – APEE.
Registration for APEE 2021 is going on. The last date to apply is July 15.

5. Education Minister To Launch CBSE’s ‘Innovation Ambassador Programme’:-

The Innovation Ambassador Programme is a collaboration between the CBSE, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education.
Education Minister To Launch CBSE’s ‘Innovation Ambassador Programme’
New Delhi: Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ will launch the Innovation Ambassador – Online Training Programme for CBSE teachers on July 16, 2021, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said.
The Innovation Ambassador Programme is a collaboration between the CBSE, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education.
The programme aims to strengthen the mentoring capacity of teachers for nurturing innovative ideas from students.
Schools can register for the programme up to July 10 at mic.gov.in/sia. Each school can nominate up to five teachers to participate in the programme. Training will be provided on a first come, first served basis.
Through this programme, the CBSE aims to train 50,000 teachers – two or three teachers per school – from all affiliated schools as ‘Innovation Ambassadors’. Teachers will be shortlisted from nominations submitted by schools.
Teachers will be trained in four modules – design thinking and innovation, idea generation and ideal hand-holding, intellectual property rights, product/prototype development.
“The first batch of the first module of the first Programme, viz. Design Thinking & Innovation, will start from 20th July 2021,” an official statement said.
The trained teachers, or ‘Innovation Ambassadors’, will help in creating the culture of innovation in their schools, mentor other teachers, students, and provide support to other schools as resource persons, the CBSE had said.
They will also act as evaluators for national-level idea competitions, and act as mentors for the national level programme on innovation and related activities, the board had earlier said.

6. JMI Admissions 2021 UG, PG application deadline extended:-

Jamia Millia Islamia UG, PG and diploma programme applications will be accepted till July 10 at the official website jmicoe.in. “The Vice-Chancellors, JMI on the request of the aspirants has approved the extension in the last date of filing of admission forms for all undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma programmes, etc for the academic session 2021-22 till July 1,” said the official notification read.
Jamia Millia Islamia application forms were released on May 17. Earlier, the last date to fill the application form was June 30.

New departments in Jamia Millia Islamia

The varsity has started new departments, including — Department of Design and Innovation, the Department of Hospital Management and Hospice Studies, the Department of Foreign Languages and the Department of Environmental Sciences.
Information about the new courses and departments can be accessed on the university’s website — jmi.ac.in and portal of the controller of examinations jmicoe.in.

7. CBSE releases important update on Class 12 evaluation:-

CBSE has released an important update regarding the Class 12 evaluation process for students who changed their subjects and for absentee students.
Cbse, cbse notification, class 12 evaluation, evaluation formula, board exam, cbse updates, cbse news, Cbse evaluation
CBSE released a notification on Thursday providing certain key updates on the Class 12 evaluation process for students who changed their subjects and for absentee students.
blob:https://www.indiatoday.in/cfd34ea4-595b-4cf8-a984-466fab4ca449

8. UP Board Class 10, Class 12 Results 2021 declaration date not decided yet: All you need to know:-

Here’s when UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 Results 2021 will be declared by the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad, UPMSP.
UP Board Class 10, Class 12 Results 2021 declaration date not decided yet, says official (Image source: PTI)
UP Board Results 2021: The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad, UPMSP is expected to declare the Class 10 and Class 12 board results 2021 soon. All the candidates are advised to keep a close check on the official website of UP Board for latest updates on UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 Results 2021.

9. CBSE invites schools to send in teacher nominations for Innovation Ambassador Programme:-

CBSE has invited affiliated schools to send in teacher nominations for the Innovation Ambassador Programme which was jointly launched with AICTE to train teachers.
Cbse, aicte, train teachers, teacher training, mou, skill development, innovation ambassador programme
CBSE and AICTE joined hands in mid-June to launch the Innovation Ambassador Programme to train teachers. The programme will be launched on July 16 and CBSE schools can now nominate a maximum of five teachers each for this programme.
The recent CBSE notification said the training for the same will be carried out on a first-come-first-serve basis. CBSE schools can register their teachers within July 10 through the website mic.gov.in/sia.
The detailed guidelines, portal user manual and the registration process are available on the above link.
Schools who have already registered their teachers will need to log in at the above link with the registered email ID of an SPOC (Single Point of Contact). As per CBSE’s notification, the password has been emailed to this e-mail ID.
The first batch of the first module of the first Innovation Ambassador Programme will be on Design Thinking and Innovation. It will begin in July 20.

About the Innovation Ambassador Programme

To strengthen the mentoring capacity of teachers, CBSE, in collaboration with the Innovation Cell, AICTE, Ministry of Education, launched the ‘Innovation Ambassador Programme’ in which the teachers from affiliated schools shall be trained on the following five modules:

10. 3 scholarship and fellowship programmes at IIT, JNU and others you can apply for in July 2021:-

Here are 3 major scholarship and fellowship programmes in India you can apply to in July 2021.
Scholarship, scholarship programmes, scholarships in India
chool and college students pursuing graduation can benefit much from ace scholarship programmes. These can build confidence, increase exposure, and give a better idea about what to expect in the job industry after passing certain courses.
Getting through a scholarship programme in reputed institutes such as IIT, JNU, etc. can change the career trajectory of young students. In such programmes, you will get to work beside the top students and faculty of India.
Check out these three major scholarship and fellowship programmes in India you can apply to by July 2021:

(i). Jawaharlal Nehru University School of Environmental Sciences Research Associateship 2021

Jawaharlal Nehru University School of Environmental Sciences (SES) Junior Research Fellowship 2021 is an opportunity offered by JNU, New Delhi to MSc degree holders.
The selected candidate will be working on the project entitled ‘Estimating Mass Balance of Glaciers in the Bhaga Basin, Western Himalaya using GPR and Remote Sensing Methods’.

Eligibility

  • The fellowship is open for candidates who hold an MSc degree in any branch of Environmental Sciences/ Physical Sciences/Geology/Applied Geology/Chemistry/Biogeochemistry.
  • They must have research experience in Glaciology, Remote sensing, and GIS with glacier field experience and field data collection and analysis.
Prizes and rewards: As per rules of JNU and MOESADVERTISEMENT
Last date to apply: 15-07-2021
Application mode: Via email only
Url: https://www.jnu.ac.in/career

(ii). IIT Gandhinagar Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2021

IIT Gandhinagar Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2021 is for MA and PhD degree holders. The fellowship is meant for the project titled, ‘Western Indian Glass: Mapping Kapadvanj’.

Eligibility

  • The fellowship is open for candidates below 35 years of age who hold an MA and PhD degree in Cultural Anthropology/Archaeology, with a good publication record.
  • They are expected to be proficient in Field research, Data acquisition, and critical analysis alongside having excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • The candidates must have specialisation in Ethnoarchaeology, Ancient Crafts, Pyro-technology, Ethnohistorical Methods, and Early Historic Medieval Archaeology.
  • Besides, they must have independent fieldwork experience and good knowledge in Gujarati and Isotope Analysis.
Prizes and rewards: Up to INR 35,000 to 45,000 per month plus other benefits
Last date to apply: 15-07-2021
Application mode: Via email only
Url: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k1XiEH0VvAucaVZTk3OET9ViRP3D22eW/view

(iii). Digital Bharati Covid Scholarship 2021-22

Digital Bharati Covid Scholarship invites applications from children who are left vulnerable with very little or no financial support for their further education owing to a Covid-led crisis in their family.ADVERTISEMENT

Students who have lost either or both of their parents during the Covid-19 pandemic can apply.

Eligibility

  • The scholarship is open for Indian students from Classes 1 to 12. Students who have lost one or both of their parents since January 2020.
Prizes and rewards: Vouchers to get educational subscriptions of leading ed-tech companies and access to tablets/laptops
Last date to apply: 31-07-2021
Application mode: Online applications only
Url: www.b4s.in/it/DBCS1

2. academic news and updates:-

1. Deep tech holds extreme relevance for management students too: Lakshmi Narayanan, Emeritus Vice Chairman, Cognizant:-

Narayanan classified space and aviation, renewable energy, nuclear power and fusion power as high-growth sectors. While explaining about the managerial and business potential lying in these high-growth sectors, he also shared with the students that the highest degree of innovation in these sectors, highest R&D spends, and highest investments globally convinced him and other economists of these being the high-growth sectors globally.
The notion that deep technology is of interest only science and technology scholars is false as it holds extreme relevance to management students as well, said Lakshmi Narayanan, Former CEO, Emeritus Vice Chairman, Cognizant and Chairman, ICT Academy while sharing his thoughts on Deep Technology Management in high-growth sectors as part of the Great Lakes’ Term Zero – CXO Interaction series.
He said he believes that business professionals are expected to deliver benefits to humanity while the scholars pursue knowledge.
Narayanan classified space and aviation, renewable energy, nuclear power and fusion power as high-growth sectors. While explaining about the managerial and business potential lying in these high-growth sectors, he also shared with the students that the highest degree of innovation in these sectors, highest R&D spends, and highest investments globally convinced him and other economists of these being the high-growth sectors globally.
He also spoke about renewable energy streams and the challenges posed by the discoveries of science and technology on the field. As he elaborated on the four sectors that are growing faster than any other industries, globally; he shared critical insights for management and business professional to tap into those high-growth sectors and create a new world order that is free of high carbon emission and allows aversion of the climate crisis that the world is headed towards.

2. Delhi govt schools will conduct physical PTMs from Jul 19-31: Manish Sisodia:-

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia stated on Wednesday that Delhi government schools will hold physical Parent Teacher Meetings (PTMs) for all classes from July 19 to July 31 to discuss kids’ progress in the new normal.
Delhi government schools will conduct physical Parent Teacher Meetings (PTMs) for all classes from July 19 to 31 to discuss the progress of students amid the new normal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Wednesday. Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister of Delhi, said special PTMs will be conducted for students of class 6 who have joined the government schools this year from municipal schools.
“The schools have been closed in Delhi since March last year. They were briefly opened for senior classes earlier this year but again had to be closed due to the Covid-19 situation and there is no possibility of reopening schools anytime soon right now. However, the online classes are going on as per the schedule of the session,” Sisodia said during an online press conference.
“The meetings will be conducted following all Covid protocols and will be held over a period of two weeks to avoid crowd on a particular day,” he said.
Sisodia said there will be special focus on class 6 students whose PTMs will be conducted jointly by teachers of Delhi government schools and MCD schools.
Every year, nearly 1.7 lakh students from municipal schools join those run by the Delhi government in class 6.
“I have emphasised earlier too that there is a need to increase collaboration between municipal and Delhi government teachers for smooth transition of students in Class 6 from MCD schools to those run by the city government,” he said.
“In order to facilitate this, special PTMs will be conducted for them jointly by Delhi government school teachers and those from MCD schools,” he added.

3. Have some authority to certify if candidate can’t take CA exams due to COVID issues: SC to ICAI:-

The CA exams, conducted by the ICAI in May, were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are scheduled to be held from July 5-20. A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar said this after it was told that this would be the last opportunity for candidates under the old syllabus and the benefit of opt-out option would be given only to those who would produce positive RT-PCR report.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to look into “all angles” and consider having a competent authority to certify that a candidate of CA examinations scheduled in July is unable to appear due to COVID-19 related issues. Observing that having a negative RT-PCR report may not reflect the fitness of a person as the effects of coronavirus may be felt for months, the apex court said that ICAI should look into all the aspects as the matter relates ..
The CA exams, conducted by the ICAI in May, were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are scheduled to be held from July 5-20.
A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar said this after it was told that this would be the last opportunity for candidates under the old syllabus and the benefit of opt-out option would be given only to those who would produce positive RT-PCR report.
“This condition of positive RT-PCR, which is pointed out, may be very difficult. Persons who have recovered from COVID may still be shown as positive. Those who have recovered may have long term problems. These are different situations,” said the bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Aniruddha Bose.
The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking different reliefs including an opt-out option for the candidates, postponement of the exam, and increase in number of centres this year.
During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing, the bench observed there are instances where the RT-PCR test may be negative but the person shows symptoms of COVID.
“We are asking you to consider evolving a policy and identify a competent authority which can certify that a candidat ..

4. Schools can’t deny admission on ground that child has declared name of one parent: Manish Sisodia:-

This assumes significance from the point of view of children who have lost one or both parents to Covid.
No school in Delhi can deny admission to a child on the ground of declaring the name of just one parent, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Monday.
This assumes significance from the point of view of children who have lost one or both parents to Covid.
“No student in Delhi shall deny admission to a child on grounds that the child is declaring name of his or her single parent only,” Sisodia tweeted.

5. Conducive time to hold CA exams as COVID-19 spread substantially low: ICAI to SC:-

The ICAI said the CA exams are normally scheduled to be held in May, but owing to the high number of cases at that time it postponed them, and after evaluating all factors, has now decided to hold the exams this month when the number of COVID-19 cases is comparatively low.
ICAI told the Supreme Court on Monday that it is the most conducive time to hold CA exams as the COVID-19 spread is now at a substantially low level, offering an opportune moment for chartered accountants to further their professional career. The CA examinations which are conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in May, were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are now scheduled to be held from July 5-20.
ICAI told the top court that as on date, the numbers of COVID-19 cases are comparatively low and thus it would be in the best interests of the candidates if the examinations are held as per the schedule and not cancelled or postponed.
A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Aniruddha Bose said that since it has not received the ICAI note, it will hear the matter on Tuesday.
The top court is hearing a batch of pleas seeking different reliefs including an opt-out option for the candidates, postponement of the exam, and increase in number of centres this year.
At the outset, senior advocate Ramji Srinivasan, appearing for ICAI, said that they have circulated a note which if taken into consideration deals with some of the issues raised in the petitions.
Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, appearing for one of the petitioners, said that they are not seeking deferment but want more centres to be given as many of them have been unilaterally closed by ICAI.
The bench said it will hear the matter on Tuesday and asked Srinivasan to take instruction on the contention raised by Arora.
In the note, ICAI has said the “chartered accountant exams are professional examinations and ought not to be equated with CBSE or other State Board Examinations for Class 10 or 12”, and it is in the interest of the candidates to start their “professional lives and earn livelihoods”.
It said the ICAI has no vested interest in holding the exams but to safeguard the interest of the aspiring CAs, ensuring that the exams are held at the most appropriate and conducive time.
The ICAI further told the top court that whenever the risk has been minimum this court has allowed exams to be held, like Class 12 exams in Kerala and Bihar which were held in April, 2021 and February, 2021 respectively.
“Further, the 3rd wave of COVID-19 cases is expected only by September-October. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India and the Institute of Cost Accountants of India are scheduled to hold examinations in August-September, 2021.
“Many candidates appear for 2 or more of these exams, hence the three Institutes hold the exams in a manner that the same do not overlap. Therefore, since COVID is dynamic in nature, the ICAI has got this very narrow window to hold the exam in July, 2021,” it said.
The ICAI said the CA exams are normally scheduled to be held in May, but owing to the high number of cases at that time it postponed them, and after evaluating all factors, has now decided to hold the exams this month when the number of COVID-19 cases is comparatively low.
It said that the present COVID situation in the country is similar to when this court had allowed ICAI to hold examinations in November, 2020 and there is no reason to believe that it will not take adequate precautions.
About the arrangements, it said that the average number of examinees in an examination room will be 12 and in any case not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the room.
It said there will be 10,820 exam rooms in 847 centres and the total number of examinees will be 3,74,230.
It further added that of these 580 centres have less than 200 candidates, 208 centres have 201-250 candidates, 58 centres have 251-300 candidates and one centre has more than 500 candidates.
It said that candidates are eager to appear in the examination, as out of 3,74,230 candidates, as on June 27, more than 2, 82, 000 candidates have downloaded their admit cards.
“It is understandable that some of the candidates would have inhibitions in appearing for the exams, but that cannot be allowed to jeopardize the aspirations of a majority of the candidates,” it said. MNL ABA SJK SA

6. BMC to start IB board schools in future: Aditya Thackeray:-

Thackeray said BMC would also start one CBSE and one ICSE school in each of the 24 administrative wards under it.
BMC schools, Schools in mumbai
Maharashtra Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray on Friday said International Baccalaureate (IB) board schools would be started by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the future and students would be provided free education in such facilities.
Thackeray, MLA from Worli and guardian minister of Mumbai suburban district, also said BMC would start one CBSE and one ICSE school in each of the 24 administrative wards under it.
Thackeray on Friday inaugurated the BMC’s new school, with a capacity of 400 students, under the CBSE board in Aziz Baug in the eastern part of the metropolis.
Among those who were present at the function were state minority affairs minister Nawab Malik, Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale, and Mayor Kishori Pednekar.
Thackeray said the opening of this school was a dream come true for him, adding that over 2,000 applications have been received for the 400 seats it has.
Speaking on the occasion, Malik said he is the product of a BMC school, adding that there was need to instill confidence among people about civic-run educational institutions.

7. HP TET 2021: Check admit card release date, last minute revision tips:-

The HP TET 2021 admit card will be released four days before the exam i.e., on July 5, 2021. The exam is scheduled to commence on July 9, 2021.
HPTET 2021, HPTET, HPTET tips
Himachal Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (HPBOSE) is going to conduct the HP TET 2021 exam from July 9 to 12, as per the official schedule announced by the board. The offline exam is scheduled to be conducted on four consecutive days while the admit card is all set to release soon, now that HP TET 2021 registrations are over. 
Although HPBOSE has not specified any exact date of release of the HP TET admit card 2021, as per official notification on the website hpbose.org, the admit cards are set to release four days before the exam. With the offline exam scheduled to commence from July 9, 2021, the HP TET admit card for this year’s exam will therefore be released online on July 5, 2021. Once released, registered candidates will be able to download the admit card by logging in with the application number and date of birth. 
Assuming that aspirants have already covered the HP TET syllabus since the exam was notified back in April 2021, the last few days before the exam must be focused on refining preparations by practice and revisions. It is not recommended that candidates start studying entirely new concepts. Instead, one must go back to short notes and revision modules to ensure that whatever they have already learned can be confidently applied in answering the HP TET question paper. 
It goes without saying that revisions must form a significant part of one’s preparation during the last few days before the HP TET exam. However, revision does not necessarily require reading the same concepts over and over again without any goal. Questions from topics like child development and pedagogy etc can be of diverse variety. One must go back to the HP TET previous year question papers to know the type and pattern of questions that are most frequently asked in this exam. 
An important advantage of referring to past year papers is that candidates get the opportunity to identify the high marks yielding topics in the HP TET question paper. During the last few days, candidates must focus their study strategy on revising and practising the highest marks yielding topics. Aspirants can solve mock tests for the exam and practice solving sample question papers during the last few days before the exam. 
While starting to learn an entirely new topic during the last few days is not recommended, candidates may need to go back to the basics if there is any confusion in understanding subject-specific topics. One must aim to be well-versed with important topics including child psychology, pedagogy etc. At the same time, candidates must also be similarly well versed with subject-specific topics. 
One last but very important study strategy to improve the HP TET 2021 final score is to study and revise general awareness and current affairs based topics. These are common topics for all types of teacher eligibility tests covered under HP TET and hence candidates must aim to secure the maximum number of good attempts in these sections. 

8. NEET-MDS exam: SC seeks response from Centre on plea regarding early counselling for admissions:-

The plea came up for hearing before a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah which agreed to hear it and issued notices to the Centre and others, including Dental Council of India.
Supreme Court on MDS, NEET-MDS,
The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and others on a plea filed by nine BDS doctors seeking a direction to the medical counselling committee (MCC) to release counselling dates at the earliest for the NEET-MDS admissions. The exams were held on December 16 last year.
The dental doctors, having a bachelor in dental surgery (BDS) degree, had appeared in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-MDS conducted on December 16 last year by the National Board of Examination (NBE) for admission to the master in dental surgery (MDS) course.
The plea came up for hearing before a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and M R Shah which agreed to hear it and issued notices to the Centre and others, including Dental Council of India.
The apex court has posted the plea for hearing on July 12.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh appeared for the petitioners in the matter and said there is no update on counselling. The plea, filed through lawyer Tanvi Dubey, said that these doctors are challenging the unjust and infinite delay caused by the MCC in announcing the counselling schedule for NEET-MDS, 2021.
“Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction…to direct Respondent No.1 (MCC) to release the counselling date at the earliest, but in any event, not later than three weeks,” the plea said.
The plea also sought a direction to the MCC to conduct separate counselling for the NEET-MDS 2021.
The results for admissions in PG courses for BDS candidates were also declared on the scheduled date, which is on December 31, 2020.
“However, after the declaration of the result, i.e., on 31.12.2020 until today i.e. 23.06.2021, there is no update regarding the counselling. It is most respectfully submitted that umpteen efforts were made by the Petitioners to get in touch with the Respondents in order to get an idea about the schedule of the counselling. However, there has been no update about the date of the commencement of the counselling,” the plea said.
It said the dentists, who are also registered with state Dental Council, have obtained provisional or permanent registration and have also undergone compulsory rotatory internship of a year in an approved or recognised dental college.
“That around 30,000 BDS (dental) graduates appeared for the NEET-MDS conducted for admission to over 6,500 seats in the country and till date there has been no update for admissions in PG courses,” it said. 

9. IIT-Guwahati and NESAC to jointly offer joint internships, degree programmes:-

Through this partnership, the institutes will follow a multidisciplinary approach to study disasters as northeast India is prone to flood, earthquake, landslide, and riverbank erosions.
iit, iit guwahati, iit courses, unique courses, BTech courses, online courses, integrated online, iit news, education news
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati and North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC) will jointly carry out several initiatives to create a mass of skilled professionals in the field.
Some of the initiatives that would be taken up under this partnership include internship programmes, joint degree programmes, short-term training programmes, student exchange programmes and joint projects, among others.
TG Sitharam, Director, IIT Guwahati, said, “Joint certificate programmes, visiting professorship for teaching few suitable courses along with IITG faculty are few of the initiatives that both institutes could take forward.”
Since northeast India is prone to various disasters such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, and riverbank erosions, among others, the institutes will study these disasters and find suitable solutions.
PLN Raju, Director, North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC), said, “The signing of MoU with IIT Guwahati and specifically with CDMR (Centre for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction) at IIT-G focusing on training education and Research will further enhance NESAC in strengthening capacity building, training and research in this region.”
Recently, COVID-19 pandemic has been a learning lesson, which showed that any form of disaster can affect a country’s growth. To work in this direction, recently, IIT Guwahati has established a new Centre for Disaster Management and Research (CDMR).

10. Mumbai University’s IDOL to launch MMS course through distance learning mode:-

The MMS course is a two-year course and is divided into four semesters. IDOL will conduct a separate entrance test for admission to the course.
Mumbai University, MU, mms course through distance, MMS, Idol
The Mumbai University‘s Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL) will soon launch a Master of Management Studies (MMS) course through distance education. The university’s academic council has approved the course to be offered through IDOL. This course will begin after the approval of the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The MMS course is a two-year programme divided into four semesters. The syllabus of MMS offered through regular college and IDOL will be the same.
The proposal will now be sent to the UGC for further approval. After getting their approval, it is our intention to start this MMS course through distance education from the next academic year 2022-23, said the director of Idol, said Prakash Mahanwar, director of IDOL, Mumbai University.
The study material of this MMS course will be prepared in due course of time. There will also be assignments and projects for MMS distance learning students. Direct guidance and demonstrations will be conducted for these students from various study centres. Students will also be given online guidance.
For this, teachers will be appointed for the MMS course in Idol. IDOL will conduct a separate entrance test for admission to the two-year MMS course.
“Many universities in India offer MBA courses in management through distance learning. There was a demand from the University of Mumbai to start distance learning courses as well. This will fulfil the dream of many students to pursue MMS education. This course will be run in a quality manner,” said Suhas Pednekar, VC, Mumbai University.

Reference Links:

Educational news and updates:

https://www.ndtv.com/topic/education-news
https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today

academic news and updates:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education
https://indianexpress.com/section/education/

Gaslighting : The doom of Mental Health

What’s the fuss about Gaslighting?

Talking about ‘GASLIGHTING’, I got acquainted to this term in 2020 when I was reading a book called ‘Milkman’ by Anna Burns, the storyline revolves around the people of an unnamed town invalidating the protagonist’s feelings through hearsay and gossips. The prose of Milkman suffocated me because of excruciating gaslighting and strangling circumstances.

Gaslighting is an emotional abuse, where the abuser make a victim feel like ‘Everything is happening inside their head’, Gaslighting invalidates your emotions, manipulate your feelings. Sometimes, you might gaslight yourself in the journals. Journaling might feel therapeutic to some, few might not feel comfortable with journaling their thoughts, and that’s completely okay! However, There come times when you try journaling to feel calm but instead of feeling calm, journaling just made you anxious! that happens because you are constantly gaslighting yourself in your journals.

Self- gaslighting in journals

You are invalidating your thoughts, your feelings and emotions, you write as if your emotions are insignificant, but every emotion of yours is valid. You relentlessly repeat what others feel about you in your journals. ‘May be that is who I am’, ‘She/he is right’, I’m not supposed to feel this way’, ‘I’m overthinking a lot like how my friends are accusing, ‘I should not feel overwhelmed’

If you are journaling like this, you are definitely doing it wrong. Remember, journals won’t judge, you don’t have to please your journals. Don’t ever invalidate your emotions. Write whatever you feel in your journal, not what others feel about you! Whatever pain it is that you experience, remember, the poison leaves bit by bit. Be patient, you’re healing. The more we fight our pain, the longer it remains within us. If ignored, you’ll find yourself feeling irritated often, having angry outbursts or crying at small things.

How do I overcome it?

Even when sometimes it feels like there is nothing but emptiness, nothing to continue for, or the fire you once had within you has gone out, don’t give into the thought that you will feel this way forever. Thoughts pass, feelings change, hearts mend & perspectives gain clarity – it just takes a little trust, hope and meeting yourself halfway.⁣⁣
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Especially now while we have the gift of time, reflect on how you were living before lockdown, analyze the people you spend time with, the environments you spend your time in, the food and drinks you consume, the job that you do, the conversations you have, the TV/music/reading materials that you invest your time in – observe them – are they helping you or are they harming you? ⁣⁣Read more about how spending time on good things plays a massive role here.


⁣⁣Everything you engage in today will have an impact on your tomorrow. ⁣⁣We’re so busy telling the world to be kind, yet we have such little compassion for ourselves. If you do one thing for yourself today – give yourself a break.

Comment down below if you have any suggestions or just feel the need to be heard. We’re here for you.
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Marriage – A woman’s perspective

Is marriage considered a new beginning?

What exactly marriage is?

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

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

Husband and wife sharing house chores for a better lifestyle

Women do have dreams of a married life

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

Sacrifices

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

Challenges

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

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

Expectations

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

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

Top Reads for Teenagers!

Bare Necessities: How To Live A Zero-Waste Life by Mansoor and Riddler

This insightful read introduces and guides you towards inculcating positive steps that benefit both – the planet and us.  It’s a complete guide to a zero waste lifestyle. Being more mindful about our consumption and striking a healthy balance between what’s good for the environment, what’s good for us and a harmonious co-existence with all other living beings would be the takeaway!

This essential book is authored by 2 passionate sustainability enthusiasts – Sahar Mansoor and Tim de Riddler who draw inspiration and illustrate their personal stories to strengthen their case. I have been wanting to move towards a more sustainable  lifestyle for a while now so the tips mentioned in the book were pretty helpful and challenged my take on certain topics which helped me realise my standpoint and where I need to be headed.

Take it slow, read every chapter which is topic-specific, reflect and start by implementing at least one or two if you’re just starting out or a few new ones if you’re already begun your sustainability journey. Every little deed towards a greener lifestyle goes a long way and if every little choice we make is rooted in respecting the diversity of our incredible nature , we’d be making this world much better place to live in. 

When the Universe Gives You a Kick: How to Rise and Shine by Mandakini Tomar

This is a compelling, positive, comforting and outstanding book by Mandakini Tomar  which aims at raising our consciousness and uplifting our souls by getting us back in touch with our spiritual roots. It helps the reader think a little more clearly about the power of choices, defining the right values, importance of self-awareness, necessity for self-transformation and most importantly to align yourself spiritually and emotionally! With a pragmatic approach this book is remarkably transformative yet simple. Turn it over to any page and you’d be inspired!

I loved how inclusive and diverse the author has been in laying out facts and drawing wisdom from, whilst covering the entire spectrum of realizing our inner power! It’s an extremely insightful ,remarkably inspiring and lucid read that helps you in a holistic way and elaborates on many topics such as love, intuition, ego, flexibility and merged within some fascinating lines in inspirational crafted approaches! The book has a trinity approach : STOP, START & LEARN, and it has a rich compelling prose, poetries, dialogues that helps us to understand every detail and soak in the main concepts way clearly.

Comment down below your favorite books of the season!

Bollywood and Fashion

Bollywood and fashion go hand in hand. Come to think of it, they both have massively influenced each other. Fashion has always given the characters of Bollywood a distinguished definition, and Bollywood has inspired many fashion trends; be it wedding attires or casual outfits and has been doing so since forever. The audiences have looked up to actors for fashion and personal inspirations. While certain fashion trends are evergreen, the other tends to repeat itself every 10 years, which is why Anarkalis are still an ongoing trend. The trendsetters often visit the past to revive the old idea with a little modern twist.

Bollywood has been influencing fashion since its early days. While the 50s was about the dapper suits and sarees with pearl necklaces, the 60s was about vibrant colors, winked eyeliners and fringes. 

1. Mughal-E-Azam:

One of the most iconic movies of all times gave us one of the most iconic trends which seem is here to stay. Mughal-E-Azam, the epic Indian historical love story between the price and court dancer gave the fashion industry the most iconic ethnic wear. Anarkali (Madhubala), the talented dancer, wore the outfit in the song Jab Pyaar Kiya toh Darna Kya justifying the name of the outfit after the character.

2. Waqt: 

Sadhana’s hugging Churidar in the movie got popular amongst the young generation and is praised till date. Ladies enjoy wearing the evergreen Churidar of all the colors flaunting their body curves, and why not?

3. Brahmachari:

The one and only Mumtaz inspire the great retro look that we create for parties. In her song Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar Ke, she transformed the way of wrapping saree and creating her fashion. The song and the saree were sensational and unstoppable.

4. Hare Rama Hare Krishna:

Zeenat Aman is known in Bollywood for her boldness. So there would have been no better than her to introduce the hippie culture and bell bottom pants to the industry. Hare Rama Hare Krishna, directed and starring Dev Anand, is a story about brother-sister duo and a tale of a modern family. Zeenat Aman’s character Jasbir is grown by in Montreal, hence bringing the western look in Indian cinema and breaking the stereotype.

5. Bobby:

Polka Dots are one of those evergreen trends that can be pulled off at every occasion. However, it would be difficult to pin down, how polka dots came into the limelight. It was through Dimple Kapadia and Rishi Kapoor’s Bobby, a modern-day Romeo Juliet with a twist and a different ending. Unlike the 60s, the 70s was more about crop tops and miniskirts, and we have Dimple Kapadia to thank for that. Her polka dots top and skirt were trendy then and are trendy now!

6. Shaan:

Parveen Babi brought glitter to fashion with her stunning outfit in Pyaar Karne wale from Shaan. In the title track, she wore shimmer gown, which immediately became the light of every party.

7. Chandni:

Sridevi and her exemplary style in Chandni won hearts all over the country. It was her who brought in the love for chiffon sarees and continued the same in Mr. India as well. Chandni was an epic love story of sacrifice which resonated with masses as did Sridevi’s style. After the movie, the demand for chiffon sarees was at the peak and seen around a lot.

8. Maine Pyaar Kiya:

The brought back the polka dots as Bhagyashree wore it as a skirt. The famous “Friends” cap and the leather jacket worn by Salman Khan got accessible from the movie.

9. Hum Aapke Hai Kaun:

The very stylish Madhuri Dixit wore the backless blouse in the film with a saree. Alongside her, starring Salman Khan, who not only did wore the suspenders differently but the three-piece suit caught everyone’s attention as well. The pair set a revolution in motion in terms of fashion and dance.

10. Rangeela:

The 90s college girls were solely inspired by Urmila’s fashion in Rangeela. Her Denim shirts with skirts or colorful pants created a sporty look for the girls to be comfortable in. Rangeela had an impact on the crowd, storywise as well as fashion-wise. The fashion trend set by the movie was hard to beat.

11. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai:

Jumpsuits, Bob cuts, body tight polo t-shirts, and colorful friendship bands are to name a few trends that were seen being adopted by masses after the movie. KKHH was a sensational movie that connected with the audience so much that the country replicated every fashion possible from the film.

12. Mohabbatein:

The dynamic duo of very talented Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan were paired in the movie. SRK, the trendsetter who is a professor in the film, has a nerdy look. The high-neck polo sweaters over the shirts with specks made the girls go gaga! While beautiful Aishwarya brought back the chiffon sarees in pastel colors. A pastel version of Chandni, perhaps?

13. Dil Chahta Hai:

Dil Chahta Hai did not only highlight the Goa trip we all want to go on with our friends, but also made Leather pants a hype. The movie inspired the crazy party clothing for the clubs in early 2000. It was all about the urban chic fashion and contemporary art, which was the highlight of the 2000s.

14. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham:

Pooh’s backless or Pooja’s Sharara, take a pick! K3G, was a classic family drama movie with so many fashion tips. The traditional heavy Sarees or the Band Gala suit worn by Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan in the movie caught everyone’s eyes. We all know, magic happens when Manish and Karan work together. 

15. Bunty Aur Babli:

Do a collared kurta, Patiala and a jhola ring a bell? Well, it should! Rani Mukherjee, in her mischievous love story with Abhishek Bachchan, wore the attire only so every single girl could adopt it. Her non-dupatta look got famous real quick real soon.

16. Parineeta:

Vidya Balan’s very first movie was one of the classiest trendsetters. Based on the novel written in 1914, Parineeta had picked up a few fashion trends from the era and created a beautiful fusion with modern fashion. Sticking to the authenticity, Balan wore full-selves blouses and suits which were later adopted by the ladies keeping it simple and beautiful.

17. Jab We Met (2007): T-shirts with Patiala salwar pants:

This was not long ago when Kareena’s dialogues got famous as well as her Patiala Salwar pants with Tshirts. The casual attire got so prominent that every college girl was seen wearing one. Moreover, Kareena’s outfit in the song, Nagada was another traditional hit. She was the first to wear, a suit-salwar with no matching color combinations, which was a fashion statement of its own.

18. Dostana:

Karan Johar’s magic is visible in the movie even though he just produced the movie. Dostana, the romantic comedy movie was way ahead of its time and trying to break the stereotypes. The film was excellent in terms of fashion. Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s no jewelry look was iconic and hard not to follow, but more than that, the song ‘Desi Girl’ got the low-waist golden saree the appreciation it deserved. One of the highlights of the 2000s fashion.

19. Wake up Sid:

Laidback lazy Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Sid was probably the most relatable character for any college going student. His fashion resonated with the audience so much that everyone made an extra effort to look for perfect graphic t-shirts to wear to college.

20. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani:

One of the best onscreen pair is undoubtedly Ranbir and Deepika. In the movie, they followed different styles, given the film leaps forward a few years. In the first half of the movie yeh jawaani hai deewani, Ranbir’s Leather Jacket caught everyone’s attention. And during the second half, Deepika’s dark blue chiffon Saree became a party trend.

The Henna Artist – Book Review

The Henna Artist is Alka Joshi‘s debut novel that was published in early 2020. It instantly became a NY best seller, a Reese Witherspoon book club pick and currently being developed into a TV series. Furthermore, it was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.

Why may The Henna Artist be worth your time?

The Henna Artist is a captivating, engrossing and beautifully written historical fiction set in India in the 1950s.

The story follows Lakshmi, a strong-willed and decisive young woman who ran away from her marriage and family to the pink city Jaipur to become the talk of the town henna artist, herbalist and confidante for the elite circle of Jaipur ladies. Lakshmi’s talent, together with her determination and focus, rewarded her with the security, freedom and independence she strived for. A major life event takes place in Lakshmi’s personal life that forces on her new circumstances requiring tough decisions. Later on, we realize that this turning point was actually the catalyst for Lakshmi to reevaluate her priorities, free herself from the limitation of attachments and become closer to her true self and her real purpose.

Shedding light on social issues

This is a story abouy struggle, freedom, women’s choices, prostitution, abortion, ethical codes, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, perseverance, resilience, self-worth and forgiveness. It is a story about womanhood.

The Henna Artist is a compelling story with vivid rich descriptions that has the power of transporting the reader to that era written in a way that triggers all senses to truly enable the reader to picture the events and feel with the characters. The book is packed with cultural details such as henna art, natural and herbal medicine, Indian cuisine and family customs and traditions.

Closure

I truly enjoyed reading this novel and it made me think a lot more about my roots. Moreover, I am eagerly looking forward to reading the recently published sequel ‘The Secret Keeper of Jaipur’.

Comment down below your review of the book or suggestions for my next read!

Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen

BOOK REVIEW

Honestly, I am always tempted to define this novel as “The love story of Pride and Prejudice.”, but I’m afraid this does not do justice to it’s universality. Read further to know why.

The book was written by Jane Austen (1775-1817) and published in 1813. Austen is majorly known for her commentary upon the landed gentry towards the end of 18th century England in her novels. The prominent themes of her novel revolve around women and their dependence on marriage in pursuit of better life. The opening line “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”, establishes marriage motif of the novel. The story revolves around the character development of Elizabeth Bennet- the second daughter of Bennet family. We learn the repercussions of hasty judgements through Elizabeth in the mean course of novel.

The setting and language give proper English feel. The obligation of girls in general to marry in a wealthy family as described in the novel, regardless of love gives the taste of realism. Realism however comes with the twist of romance. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingely who are wealthy and socially respectable figures, fall in love with girls from lower gentry and a series of events takes place. Although the novel was majorly predictable, it was a sort of catchy. Writing style can be one of the main reasons for the same. One must note Jane Austen is the first female writer to write in the genre of comedy; in addition to the wit, the writing becomes all the more interesting.

The words pride and prejudice however must not be made limited as the metaphors for the main characters Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth because every character in the novel possess these traits to some degree.

My personal favorite is Mr. Bennet, the head of Bennet family, a middle aged landed gentleman. He was different from the rest of the family members; quiet, witty, sarcastic and broad minded. His taking Elizabeth’s side for not marrying someone she did not approve of made him stand out from rest of the people. He liked Elizabeth the most because of her different temperament.

“Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic
humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of
three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his
wife understand his character.”

The whole novel is centered around family, prestige, vanity, society and wealth. Being more inclined towards the modern and post-modern novels these themes feel mundane but surprisingly this book proved to be relaxing; like watching K-drama!

History Of C Language

There are many programming languages in use today, one of which is C. There are many offshoots of the C programming language, including Objective-C, C++, and C#. None of these are the same language.
THE BEGINNING:
The C programming language came out of Bell Labs in the early 1970s. According to the Bell Labs paper The Development of the C Language by Dennis Ritchie, “The C programming language was devised in the early 1970s as a system implementation language for the nascent Unix operating system. Derived from the typeless language BCPL, it evolved a type structure; created on a tiny machine as a tool to improve a meager programming environment.” Originally, Ken Thompson, a Bell Labs employee, desired to make a programming language for the new Unix platform. Thompson modified the BCPL system language and created B. However, not many utilities were ever written in B due to its slow nature and inability to take advantage of PDP-11 features in the operating system. This led to Ritchie improving on B, and thus creating C.

The development of C was to become the basis for Unix. According to the Bell Labs paper, “By early 1973, the essentials of modern C were complete. The language and compiler were strong enough to permit us to rewrite the Unix kernel for the PDP-11 in C during the summer of the year.” This now meant that C was becoming a strong language that could, and would be, implemented across many systems. By the middle of the 1970s, the C-based Unix was used in many projects within the Bell System as well as “a small group of research-oriented industrial, academic, and government organizations outside [Bell Labs]”. In 1978, Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie published The C Programming Language, which would serve as the language reference until a formal standard was adopted. Five years later, the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) formed the committee, X3J11, to establish the formal standard of C. The C standard was ratified as ANSI X3.159-1989 “Programming Language C”. This was the first formal standard of C. Currently, we are on the fourth standard of C, known as C18 as it was published in June of 2018

Over time, C began to be used in personal computers for developing software applications and other purposes.
The first change (even if only a little) came when the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) formed a committee in 1983 to standardize C. After a review of the language, they modified it a little so that it was also compatible with other programs that preceded C. So the new ANSI standard came into being in 1989, and is known as ANSI C or C89. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has also contributed to the standardization of C.
Over time, C has evolved as it has added some significant features like memory management, functions, classes and libraries to its rich feature set. C is being used in some of the biggest and most prominent projects and products in the world.
C has also influenced the development of numerous languages such as AMPL, AWK, csh, C++, C–, C#, Objective-C, Bit C, D, Go, Java, JavaScript, Julia, Limbo, LPC, Perl, PHP, Pike, Processing, Python, Rust, Seed7, Vala and Verilog.
USES TODAY :
According to Toptal, UNIX operating systems are written in C and most of Linux is also in C. Also databases such as Oracle Database, MySQL, MS SQL Server, and PostgresSQL are at least partially written in C. C is the basis of many system kernels. Other programming languages, like Python and Perl, use compilers or interpreters that are written in C.
C has changed over the years and is still a common language to use in lower level programs, like kernels. But it is also used for many applications ranging from device drivers to other programming languages’ compilers or interpreters. The language also made way for C++, Objective-C, C#, and many more C-based languages that each have their own speciality.

The Eastern Ghats

Unlike Western Ghats,Eastern Ghats is a discontinuous and irregular one.It is dissected at many places by the rivers,which drain into the Bay of Bengal.Its height ranges from 1,100 to 1,600 m.These hills separate the Kalrayan,Kollimalai and Pachamalai are the major hills of the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu and are located in Northern districts of the state.

Javadhu Hills

Javadhu Hills are an extension of the Eastern Ghats spread across parts of Vellore and Tirunelveli districts and seprates these two districts.Many peaks with the height of 1,100-1,150metres are located in this range.Melapattu is its highest peak.The Vainu Bappu Observatory(VBO) Kavalur,which began operationa in 1967,is located on theses hills.Many parts of this range are covered with bluish grey granites.It is noted for its fruit bearing trees,medicinal herbs and Sandalwoods.Due to illegal logging, Sandalwood trees are disappeared now.

Kalvarayan Hills

The name ‘Kalvarayan’ comes from the word ‘Karalar’,the ancient name of the present tribes .It is another major range of hills in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu.This range ,along with the Pachamalai,Aralvaimalai,Javadhu and Servarayan hills,Seprates the river basins of cauvery and palar.The height of this hill range from 600 to 1,220 metres.These hills have two sections.The northern section is referred as the chinna Kalvarayan and the southern one the Periya Kalvarayan. The average height of Chinna Kalvarayan is 825 metres and the Periya Kalvarayan is 1,220 metres.

Servarayan Hills

Major hills in Tamil Nadu(Districts and hills)

  1. Coimbatore-Maruthamalai,Velliangiri and Anaimalai
  2. Dharmapuri-Theertha malai,Chitteri and Vathamalai
  3. Dindigul-Pazhamalai and Kodaikanal
  4. Erode- Chennai hills and Sivan hills
  5. Vellore- Javadhu,Yelagiri and Rathinamalai hills
  6. Namakkal-kolli hills
  7. Salem-Servarayan ,Kanjamalai and Chalk hills
  8. Villupuram-Kalvarayan and Gingee hils
  9. Perambalur-pachaimalai
  10. Kanyakumari-Marunthuvazhmalai
  11. Tirunelveli-Mahendragiri and Agasthiyamalai
  12. The Niligris-Nilgiri hills

It is a mountain range located nera the Salem city the height ranging from 1,200 to 1,620 metres. The name of the range comes from a local deity , Servarayan.The highest peak in the Southern part of the Eastern Ghats is located in this range. The peak is Solaikaradu and its height is 1,620 metres.The hill Station Yercaud,which is known as poor man’s Ooty,is located on this range.Servarayan temple is it’s highest point(1623m).

Kolli Hills

It is a small mountain range located in Namakkal district.It covers an area of about 2,800 sq.km.It rises up to 1300 metres.This is a mountain range that runs almost parallel to the east coast of South India.Arpaleeswarar temple located on this range is an important pilgrim centre.It has the largest cover of evergreen or shola forest when compared to other parts of the Eastern Ghats.Several coffee plantations, fruits,flowers and silver-oak estates are found in this region

Pachaimalai

It is the lowest hill range,spreads over the districts of Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli and Salem.In Tamil Language,Pachai means green.The vegetation in this range is greener than the vegetative cover of the other hills in this region.Hence it is named as ‘pachai malai’.Jackfruit is a popular seasonal agricultural product of this hills.

ONE FINE DAY

You’re my dictionary,defining me….

My eyes are not willing to close. The clock needle seems fixed. No the time is not running. Oh my god, earth please start your ride. I want my tomorrow. Hello sleep take me. Yes… Still 8 hrs, oh come on please tomorrow come on. My heart says oh my boy I can’t leave you to take sleep,go go go a deep visit in your past.

Yes I remember, she says it happens in a day and that day is tomorrow. Fine I’ll paste my eyes and set time on alarm. Very good night to meet a welcoming tomorrow. Yes! Hurray the day has come, it’s today. Ufff, now I have to get up like a men. My god where’s my another socks, it’s ok to go without socks. Bye my house! You believe it’s today……

I have parked my bike under a orange flavoured tree and take a look on my watch. Suddenly a violin plays, my nose gets sense with a smell, awww a chill breeze, when I take my head up…. Yes she is, it’s her. My girl. Oh man what a kerala saree l, how can God sends angels down here. My mouth gets shuttered. Words affixed in my tongue. My girl starts, hello da nice to meet you. You’re looking great in this shirt. My mind voice be thanks to the man who tailored this pretty one.

My eyes never blinked off her. She sat near me and takes my hand. Hey, you’re my love and you’re my life, you’re my heart and you’re my beat in it. I want you wholeheartedly. Will you take me with you….? My heart stops suddenly and tears filled in my eyes. For the first time my mouth opens. Baby I don’t believe that gods can talk but right now I believe God can even come with us. You’re love of my life, I never promised in my life but today I’m giving you a word, I don’t know about your past but I assure you that your future will be lovely with me. There are about millions andmillions of people in the earth,thanks for choosing me. She slowly take an advantage and draw a sign on his cheeks through his lips.we both talked and laughed in a beautiful red sunset .

Sun secretly hears us baby !!!!

Tring tring!!!!! Alarm beeps. I just open my eyes and got shocked oh god that was a beautiful dream I ever gone through. Please make my day as ditto as yesterday . With full of confidence he dressed like her man and leaves his home to see her. Whatever it was, the day came and it was his ONE FINE DAY.