This is the case study of a group of 7 women who converted 80 rupees into a 1600 crore rupees of business empire.The women belong to none other than “Shree Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Pappad ” group.This group expanded to 67 branches and as of now it employees more than 42000 people .So let’s get started ……

The business started 62 years ago back in 1950s when there were not a lot of people who could afford the luxury of being educated .The situation was difficult for women but this group of 7 women converted this difficulty into opportunity.

The group first started giving the lijjat Pappad to local stores and they were given the first capital of 80 rupees by a social worker.Due to the deliciousness of the pappads,other local stores also started buying the pappads from these group of womens.The goal of the group was not to make money ,but was to empower the women and provide the source of livelihood to the women.

The group used the concept of collective ownership.So regardless of which religion or caste you belonged to ,u could always get a small part/ownership in the company and hence collectively share the profits and losses amongst themselves.Even “Starbucks” uses the concept of collective ownership.It helps to keep the company employees motivated and encourages them to work hard as if one of them is not performing well and one of them faces a loss,then everybody will be at the loss.

The pappads which they made were cost effective,had quality production and was suitable for the homemakers.They used to prepare the pappads at their own houses to avoid the expenditure initially.

The most important reason behind the success of this group was that they always sticked to their mission and visions .Even a company like apple started failing when the company started moving away from their missions and visions.In the last 62 years, the group has never deviated from their missions and visions and have always followed the mission of “Sarvodhya” which literally means progress for all .Today we live in such a world that even billion dollar companies don’t think twice before asking their employees to leave the company and thus putting the lives of the employees as well as their families at risk .But this group has always stuck to their core values of inclusive progress for all and has from so many years not removed any of its employees from the service whether they suffered profits k losses.The group also makes sure that the children of their employees get proper education regardless of their age,caste,religion,sex,creed or color.

Despite the fact that this group was a group formed from uneducated womens, ,had a really small capital to start with ,,they stuck to their core values and is truely a motivating example for all of us .

Thank you!!

• 

I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We’ve created life in our own image.

Stephen Hawking

Cyber Security the word itself defines it. Security means providing protection or defending something from attackers while cyber means crime that involves computers, mobile phones or other digital things. Hence the proper definition of the word Cyber Security is defending computers, mobile devices or other devices from malicious data. It is also known as electronic information security. As we are advancing day by day the technology too gets advanced and somewhere it creates the small tiny loopholes which hackers find easily and they get into your data. Then the hackers start blackmailing for ransom and start  threatening about leaking personal photos or files in public so to stop this wrong deed cyber security helps one.

Cyber Threat:-

More than 7.9 billion records have been exposed by data breaches in the first nine months of 2019 alone. This figure is more than double (112%) the number of records exposed in the same period in 2018. Medical services, retailers and public entities experienced the most breaches, with malicious criminals responsible for most incidents. Some sectors are more appealing to cybercriminals because they collect financial and medical data. The International Data Corporation predicts that worldwide spending on cyber-security solutions will reach a massive $133.7 billion by 2022. Governments across the globe have responded to the rising cyber threat with guidance to help organizations implement effective cyber security practices. In Australia, TheAustralian Cyber Security Centre regularly publishes guidance on how organizations can counter the latest cyber threats.

Malware:-

Malware is one of the common cyber threats. Malware word means malicious software. The software which might destroy one’s computer. It is formed by either hackers or cybercriminals for the purpose of damage. It can enter in one’s computer by many ways which include sharing files from one pc to other, through emails, through apps downloaded from unsecured websites. Different types of malware includes:-

1. Virus:- A programme that attaches itself to a clean file and spreads throughout a computer system, infecting files with malicious code.
2. Spyware:-A programme that secretly records what a user does in order for cybercriminals to profit from it. Spyware, for example, could record credit card information.
3. Adware:-Advertising software which can be used to spread malware. 
4. Ransomware:-Malware that encrypts a user’s files and data and threatens to delete it unless a ransom is paid.
5. Trojans:-A type of malware that masquerades as genuine software. Users are duped into downloading Trojans onto their computers, which then cause damage or collect data.

To stop this cyber threats here are some solutions which may help ones:-

1. CHECK IF YOU’VE ALREADY BEEN INVOLVED IN A DATA BREACH

  Change those passwords for any accounts that it suggests may have been compromised.

2. CHECK THE STRENGTH OF YOUR PASSWORDS

 (use something similar to your original password to test its strength).

When choosing a password, remember: the longer it is, the stronger it is. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and hard to guess.

Using a sentence is a great way to create a long password that you’ll never forget.

3. AVOID THESE PASSWORDS

The following passwords are considered the most common and easiest to crack – so if you’ve got any of these or similar variations, you should seriously consider changing them – quickly!

• 123456 (or any chronologically-ordered numbers)
• 987654321
• 123123
• QWERTY
• 111111
• password

WHICH GENERATION IS MOST GUILTY OF USING INEFFECTIVE PASSWORDS?

4. TRUST NO ONE (ON EMAILS)

This may sound a bit extreme – but always be on the lookout for deceitful emails and compromised web pages (spam and phishing). Interacting with these puts your information at risk and can download viruses. Remember:

• don’t open email from unknown email addresses.
• trash attachments in unexpected emails.
• avoid risky clicks – instead type the address into your browser.

5. SECURE YOUR DEVICE

If your mobile device is unsecured, lost or stolen, it could be used to access your info, your money or steal your identity and irreplaceable data like photos or messages. Secure your devices by:

a) Installing anti-virus software.

      b)  Setting a password, gesture or fingerprint that must be entered to unlock.

c) Setting the device to require a password before applications are installed.

d) Leaving Bluetooth hidden when not in use and disabling automatic connection to    networks.

e) Enabling remote locking and/or wiping functions, if your device supports them.

• 

Hackers:-

A hacker is an individual who uses computers, networking or other skills to overcome a technical problem. The term also refers to those who use their abilities to commit crimes in order to gain access to systems or networks for illegal purposes. A hacker may steal information to hurt people via identity theft. The term hacker was first used in the 1960s to describe a programmer who could increase efficiency by removing excess machine code instructions from a program. It has evolved over the years to refer to someone with an advanced understanding of computers, networking, programming or hardware. The term is also commonly applied to individuals who use this skill for illegal or unethical purposes.

There are different type of Hackers according to their work:-

1) Ethical Hackers:- Previously known as white hat hackers, these individuals try to act in the public’s best interests rather than wreaking havoc. Many ethical hackers who operate in the field of pen testing were recruited to break into the company’s networks in order to identify and disclose security flaws. The security businesses then assist their customers in resolving security vulnerabilities before they are exploited by criminal hackers.

2) Threat Hackers:- Previously known as black hat hackers, these intentionally gain unauthorized access to networks and systems with malicious intent. Threat actors are criminals by definition because they violate laws against accessing systems without authorization. They may also engage in other illegal activity, including corporate espionage, identity theft and DDoS attacks.

3)Grey hat hackers:- The gray hat hackers are more likely than ethical hackers to access systems without authorization. They may offer to fix vulnerabilities they have discovered through their own unauthorized activities, rather than exploit them for illegal profit. The group’s motives may be similar to those of ethical hackers and threat actors.

4)Red hat hackers:- Similar to ethical hackers, they are sometimes known as eagle-eyed or vigilante hackers. Red hat hackers want to deter threat actors from launching unethical assaults. While red hat hackers may have the same goal as ethical hackers, their methods differ in that red hat hackers may employ illegal or extreme methods. Red hat hackers frequently use cyber assaults against threat actors’ systems.

5)Blue hat hackers:- Hackers that use hacking as a social weapon are known as spiteful hackers. It is frequently employed as a form of retaliation against a person, employer, or other entity. Blue hat hackers post personal and sensitive info online to harm people’s reputations or try to obtain illegal access to email and social media accounts.

6)Red hat hackers:- Script kiddies are unskilled or amateur hackers who attempt to hack using pre-written scripts. Often, these are inexperienced hackers that inflict minimal harm.

At last I would say that ”Be Active and don’t hesitate to ask for help from Cyberwarrior.”

Long back, a Roman philosopher Cicero had accepted and proclaimed this immortal concept that in the soul and the heart of every home there resides the books with its enticing and alluring aroma spread all over the apartment.

Years after this historic event, Roald Dahl one of the most prolific of modern writers in English vehemently echoed the aforesaid judgement with a different declaration.  He recommended to uninstall the television set and opined to install a bookshelf in the drawing room or Living room, even though it welcomes the anger of ‘children’s association’.

“Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
                                                 Ignoring all the dirty looks,”           ……Television (1960)

Technological and social advancement has given birth to stylised apartments in the posh societies. Rooms are bedecked with various paints, curtains, designs, furniture as well as glittering combinations of expensive electronic gadgets. Every item of luxury gives a particular identity to specific corner of a room which parallelly promotes ones social and economic status besides boasting the standard of life.

Presence of a bookshelf in the room adds a different glamour in its very beauty. Decent book sets of short stories, novel, drama, fiction and non-fiction together flaunt a distinguished admirable presence in the rack. They all are the true store house of treasure. They are our best friends in all thick and thin of life.

Someone has rightly said, “A person, who is in habit of reading, never feels lonely.”

In the vast ocean of books, there are different waves or topics on which every person can find books that suits one’s test. The living room if accommodates books of one’s own choice, not only works very strongly against all negativity but also ensures a life time insurance against multiple threatening forces.

Milton has rightly said, “A good book is the precious life blood of a master spirit treasured and embalmed in its pages for ages and ages.”

Books are our holy guide in all circumstances and they are very constant in forwarding their intimation and sweet commands in our life management system years after years.

They never fight or answer back ruthlessly to give us mental pain and emotional agony but work like silent companion with enlightened, soothing and motivating ideas. They carry this tradition from one generation to another and leave their deep imprint on the minds of even our younger ones.

Writers, essayists, and philosophers of modern era are not excited by the so-called progress and development of the human race. They are saddened to see that today’s children do not any longer read books as ardently as they used to. Books in all cases help in the tremendous growth of the brain of a child and boost their creativity by booming their knowledge store.

The actual development of children’s emotional, psychological, fictional and pedagogical development depends on reading of books and this is only possible if the room houses a bookshelf full of books from all the different subjects’ background.

Reading books soothes our nerves, formats our fluctuating mood, saves us from frequent depressive waves, guards us from sucking insomnia, bestows love and compassion towards one and all and opens many doors of opportunities by congregating and counselling our true potential towards the higher goals of life. It saves us from unnecessary quarrel and turmoil of day-to-day life, eventually adds humanity within ourselves.

The way when soul moves away from the body, our body surrenders and become non-living; absence of books takes away the essence of life from a living room and leaves it with the label of “The Haunted” one. The house without books stands there like a lifeless, powerless and non-energetic four walls of bricks.

The Internet of things (IoT) is associate scheme of associated physical gadgets/objects that square measure out there through the online. IoT is a meeting of interconnected gadgets, advanced things, articles, people or creatures that square measure given novel identifiers (UIDs) and therefore the capability to maneuver data over a corporation while not requiring any human collaboration. the chance of this text is to provide a review concerning IoT building squares and find down on however physics HW and Embedded code assume a vital half in IoT.

IoT design may be a structure of various components. In straightforward words, IoT design has 5 major parts. they’re represented as follows:

*IoT device

*IoT entree

*Network

*Cloud

*Applications

Wearables
The introduction of IoT in wearable technology on the massive stage started with the Samsung Gear watch. However, not solely has wearable technology grownup far more subtle however additionally developed variety of more applications.

Health
While wearable technology permits patients to self monitor their health in period, the sensors and variants utilized in the aid trade square measure considerably additional subtle. As sensors’ accuracy and exactitude supported IoT will increase, the share of manual errors in taking medical readings can decrease.

Agriculture
One of the 3 basic human wants is food. to satisfy the necessity for food, we have a tendency to do farming. However, now, because the population of the planet is increasing, the agricultural trade is facing several challenges. Also, changes in climate and climate vastly impact the agricultural trade. to fulfill the rising demand for food, the trade has therefore adopted technology to extend productivity. It includes the employment of exactitude farming, agricultural drones, and good farming applications.

Future Scope of IoT
Internet of Things has emerged as a number one technology round the world. it’s gained heaps of recognition in lesser time. Also, the advancements in AI and Machine Learning have created the automation of IoT devices straightforward. Basically, AI and millilitre programs square measure combined with IoT devices to provide them correct automation. because of this, IoT has additionally expanded its space of application in numerous sectors. Here, during this section, we’ll discuss the applications and therefore the future scope of IoT in aid, automotive, and agriculture industries.

Jobs in IoT
As Republic of India may be a developing country, it’s a good IoT scope. in keeping with Naukri.com, the long run scope of IoT in Republic of India is extremely high as there square measure 117,114 job openings for associate IoT Developer here. On the opposite hand, within the us, the demand for associate IoT Developer has jumped over three hundred %.

As we all know that these days each device comes with associate put in IoT system, there’s a bright future scope of IoT. allow us to examine the below graph to grasp the stats of jobs that has been out there for associate IoT Developer over the years.

Are IoT devices secure?
A basic and crucial question that everybody gets in their mind square measure all the IoT devices we have a tendency to square measure victimization is safe and secure? however individuals still currently didn’t realize an honest deal for securing the web of Things devices.

Cisco, one in all the most important networking company, told the worldwide IoT device offer chain that needs the foremost powerful and better vigilance concerning internal control. because of the shortage of correct rules, laws, and IoT security standards attributable to that the IoT and IoT application hacks became quite usual and dangerous.

In future, there’ll be intelligent applications for smarter homes and offices, smarter transportation systems, smarter hospitals, smarter enterprises and factories. IOT will give many benefits in Retail and provide chain management (SCM) operations

Over the last 50 years, Dubai has developed from a sand pit into a swarming city of wealth and extravagance. Dubai, built on the edge of the dessert in United Arab Emirates, is home to over 200 skyscrapers, with 18 taller than 300 metres.

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1900s : Fishing Village

The city started of as a humble fishing village where fishing, pearl diving were common activities. This was Dubai before its enormous wealth today. The city also served as trading port for gold and spices. These markets still thrive today and attract many tourists who seek to get a taste of the city’s authentic history. The markets are known as souks.

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1960s : Economic Crackdown

Dubai’s trading activities with its neighbouring countries brought in stable income for the village. Since it is situated in the Arabian Gulf, Dubai functioned as a trading port and the economy relied a lot on its fishing and pearl diving professions. Things turned out bad when Japan invented artificial pearls and the economy suffered a blow. Things were about to change for the fishing village as they struck their future in 1966.

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1966 : Striking Oil

The moment they struck oil in 1966, Dubai’s economy exploded with wealth and the local fishing village grew into a busy metropolis and grew into a commercial hub for business. The enormous wealth grew the aspirations of the rulers to build a city that would set the bar for architecture and landscape designs across the world.

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1971 : Joining the UAE

During the year 1971, the country United Arab Emirates was formed when Dubai along with its six neighbouring cities, were combined. This combination of the seven Emirate states increased the country’s oil revenue massively and the rulers of UAE came together to focus on the immense development of their country.

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1985 : Emirates Airlines

The establishment of the Emirates Airline was a million dollar idea fo Dubai’s most profitable sources of income over the years. The Dubai International Airport serves as a hub for connecting flights around the world. The airlines flies to 85 countries across the world promoting Dubai’s tourism.

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1999 : Burj Al Arab

This seven star hotel is extremely luxurious. The suites offered by the hotel are really posh and the luxury status is well beyond the standard rating scale.

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2006 : Palm Jumeirah

These man-made islands are centre for tourist attractions. The islands have luxurious hotels, apartment towers, upmarket global restaurants, built on it. The city shows of its creativity and wealth to the world. In order to build the island tons of rock and sand were poured onto the sea over a period of six years.

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2010 : Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building with a record height of a staggering 828 meters, with 160 stories. Another way to boast creativity and wealth.

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2013 : The World’s Largest Flower Garden

Dubai designed the world’s largest flower garden, Dubai Miracle Garden, with over 100 million flowers brought in from around the globe. Emirates Airlines teamed up with Dubai Miracle Garden to build a lifesize version of its A380 covered with flowers.

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The city draws in many tourists from across the globe for its relaxing leisure and lifestyle. Incredible health care and education are offered attracting a global community to emigrate there. Business is aso held in this lavish city and moreover the boon of working in Dubai is, it offers a tax free salary.

You want to endorse and promote your brand and products on a large scale. What is the best method you will use nowadays?

Digital marketing is the component of marketing that utilizes the internet and online-based digital technologies such as desktop computers, mobile phones, and other digital media and platforms to promote products and services. Its development during the 1990s and 2000s changed the way brands and businesses use technology for marketing. As digital platforms became increasingly incorporated into marketing plans and everyday life, and as people increasingly use digital devices instead of visiting physical shops, digital marketing campaigns have become prevalent, employing combinations of search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), content marketing, influencer marketing, content automation, campaign marketing, data-driven marketing, e-commerce marketing, social media marketing, social media optimization, e-mail direct marketing, display advertising, e-books, and optical disks and games have become commonplace. Digital marketing extends to non-Internet channels that provide digital media, such as television, mobile phones (SMS and MMS), callback, and on-hold mobile ring tones. The extension to non-Internet channels differentiates digital marketing from online marketing.

At a high level, digital marketing refers to advertising delivered through digital channels such as search engines, websites, social media, email, and mobile apps. Using these online media channels, digital marketing is the method by which companies endorse goods, services, and brands. Consumers heavily rely on digital means to research products. For example, Think with Google marketing insights found that 48% of consumers start their inquiries on search engines, while 33% look to brand websites and 26% search within mobile applications.

PROBLEMS THAT DIGITAL MARKETING MIGHT SOLVE

• Problem: I don’t know my audience well enough to get started. Getting to know your audience takes time, and while your marketing team may have developed audience personas that can be of use, consumers actively spending time online may not behave in the way you’d expect. You’ll need to test different language with different targets, keeping in mind that certain descriptors will appeal to different people and their place in the buying cycle. Attune yourself to your audience and you’ll build credibility that will set you apart from the competition. 
  
• Problem: I haven’t optimized my channels for SEO. Regardless of your position in the marketing process, it’s important to have an understanding of SEO best practices. In addition to improving search engine ranking, SEO can reinforce and support your campaign testing and optimization to ensure you’re delivering high quality, valuable content that your potential customers want. 
  
• Problem: I don’t have a social media strategy. Regardless of whether you want to develop an organic social media strategy, a paid social media strategy, or a blend of the two, it’s important to have some form of social marketing in place. While social media is excellent for branding and engagement, it can also be a useful channel for digital marketing advertisement. Find a niche and a consistent voice, be patient, and as your following increases, the impact of your ads will increase as well.
  
• Problem: My marketing teams are siloed. It’s important to break out of silos to create nimble, fluid structures. Your customers aren’t sequestered in one channel waiting for ads, so your marketing efforts must deploy cross-channel functionality with teams that bring multiple skill sets to the table to engage customers where they are. Each social network and channel includes different audiences and expectations, so marketing efforts may look completely different for each. This includes tone, imagery, offers, and even the time of day you post.
  
• Problem: I’m under pressure from my CMO to report on metrics that support the bottom line. Digital marketing supports a vast universe of metrics that can be utilized to determine the effectiveness of your marketing efforts, but these metrics should be chosen with care. Each case will depend upon your audience makeup and focus on each channel. Keeping this in mind, start by determining your goals for each channel and set metrics your CMO will want to see the most.

COMPONENTS OF DIGITAL MARKETING

• Paid search. Paid search, or pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, typically refers to the sponsored result on the top or side of a search engine results page (SERP). These ads charge you for every click and they can be tailored to appear when certain search terms are entered, so your ads are being targeted to audiences seeking something in particular. These ads can be extremely effective, as they rely on data gleaned from individuals’ online behavior and are used to boost website traffic by delivering relevant ads to the right people at the right time. These ads also involve retargeting, meaning that depending on the customers’ actions, marketing automation tools can craft unique, personal cross-platform ads.
• Search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is the process of optimizing the content, technical setup, and reach of your website, so that your pages appear at the top of a search engine result for a specific set of keyword terms. Using SEO can drive visitors to your site when they display behavior implying that they’re searching for relevant products, which can be a game changer considering that 90% of people searching haven’t formed an opinion about a brand yet (Status Labs, 2018). While PPC and retargeting have their place, organic online traffic earned through search engine optimization has enormous influence on search rankings and, by extension, organic site traffic. By using keywords and phrases, you can use SEO to massively increase visibility and begin a lasting customer relationship. SEO is defined as increasing a website’s rank in online search results, and thus its organic site traffic, by using popular keywords and phrases. Strong SEO strategies are hugely influential in digital marketing campaigns since visibility is the first step to a lasting customer relationship.  
• Content marketing. Effective content marketing is not outwardly promotional in nature, but rather serves to educate and inspire consumers who are seeking information. When you offer content that is relevant to your audience, it can secure you as a thought leader and a trustworthy source of information, making it less likely that your other marketing efforts will be lost in the static. In the age of the self-directed buyer, content marketing gets three times more leads than paid search advertising, so it’s well worth the additional effort.
• Social media marketing. The key to effective social media marketing goes far beyond simply having active social media accounts. You must also be weaving social elements into every aspect of your marketing efforts to create as many peer-to-peer sharing opportunities as possible. The more your audience is inspired to engage with your content, the more likely they are to share it, potentially inspiring their peers to become customers as well.
• Email marketing. After more than two decades, email is still the quickest and most direct way to reach customers with critical information. Today, successful email campaigns must be incredibly engaging, relevant, informative, and entertaining to not get buried in your customer’s inbox. To succeed, your marketing emails should satisfy five core attributes. They must be trustworthy, relevant, conversational, coordinated across channels, and strategic.   
• Mobile marketing. Mobile devices are kept in our pockets, sit next to our beds, and are checked constantly throughout the day. This makes marketing on mobile incredibly important—two-thirds of consumers can recall a specific brand they have seen advertised on mobile in the last week—but mobile is also very nuanced considering its intimate nature. SMS, MMS, and in-app marketing are all options to reach your customers on their devices, but beyond that, you must consider the coordination of your marketing efforts across your other digital marketing channels.
• Marketing automation. Marketing automation is an integral platform that ties all of your digital marketing together. In fact, companies that automate lead management see a 10% or more bump in revenue in six to nine months’ time. Without it, your campaigns will look like an unfinished puzzle with a crucial missing piece. Marketing automation software streamlines and automates marketing tasks and workflow, measures results, and calculates the return on investment (ROI) of your digital campaigns, helping you to grow revenue faster. Marketing automation can help you gain valuable insight into which programs are working and which aren’t, and it will provide metrics to allow you to speak to digital marketing’s efforts on your company’s bottom line.

Perspective is a cathartic thing. We all have it, knowingly or unknowingly. It is like a background process that keeps running no matter what. Now what is it exactly? In my view, it’s sometimes nothing more than a preconceived notion.

It seems to be the thin line between sanity and insanity. What’s correct in my perspective might not be correct in yours. 

I am a person who believes that anything that doesn’t touch you from the inside, that doesn’t make you think can’t hurt you physically and mentally. The greatest thoughts are the ones which we have when we are silent because that’s the time when we introspect. We keep analyzing everything. That’s my perspective.

Perspective, perspective, perspective…everything you do is either right or wrong in someone’s perspective, including you. All these are notions that are influenced by our cultural background, the people around us and our inner thoughts. All these notions make us jump to conclusions that are often false.

Considering your perspective as the only right one is where we mess up. If I have a notion that dark skinned people aren’t beautiful, then how am I ever going to admire the smile of a dark skinned child? How can I admire the minute details of beauty that nature has bestowed upon us? How will I be able to walk barefoot on rain-soaked grass and enjoy it?

The best thing that we can do is to understand there is beauty in everything and everyone. That will put so many things into place and make this a world for everyone to truly live in and not jst survive. Analyze things, think about them, try to look at the bright side. Understand why you love or hate something. Do not let these notions take control of your thoughts.

Empty your mind before you start something because it helps to not have a pre-conceived notion about something. Allow yourself to see more than just what your eyes want to show you.

1) India is a poor country:

So there’s people who live in huts, walk barefoot, dress in rags, and beg for money, that doesn’t make the entire country poor. Have you been to Harlem lately? The country has positioned itself as one of the world’s leading emerging economic powers, churning out an impressive number of billionaires. Stop believing the skewed images of the media and take a look for yourself. Are you seriously going to generalize about 1.3 billion people based on a few photos you’ve seen in books or on TV. Poverty is one part of India; it doesn’t define the entire country. Visiting DLF Emporio, Delhi’s answer to LA’s Rodeo Drive might give you a whole new perspective.

2) Traveling in India is dangerous:

But so is Compton, but that doesn’t make the entire U.S. dangerous. Yes, parts of India should be toured with caution, such as the volatile Kashmir region, but for the most part, India is just as dangerous as you make it. If you exercise common sense, you’ll be able to overcome the perils of the country.

3) If you’ve seen the Taj Mahal, you’ve seen India:

 You couldn’t be more wrong. Yes, the Taj Mahal is beautiful, and it’s the face of India to many. But as the world’s 7th largest country with a history that spans thousands of years, there can’t possibly be only one site worth visiting. Check out the country’s dynamic urban culture, beaches, mountains, deserts, and the endless forts and palaces, and then say you’ve seen India. Even then, that’s pushing it. 

4) All Indians run around trees, singing and dancing:

 Good job, Bollywood. 

5) Everyone in India engages in spirituality, meditation, and yoga:

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone in India is a yoga guru.

6) Indians don’t speak English:

Sure, their accent is different, and maybe not the most pleasant-sounding, but it’s still English. English is actually one of the country’s official languages. It’s the language of the law. It’s also the primary language used in universities. 

7) Indian is a language: 

There are hundreds of languages spoken in India, none of which include Indian. Indian is not a language, it’s a demonym that describes people from the country of India.

8) Everyone in India has an arranged marriage: 

That would be a false statement. Arranged marriages are still common with many rural and traditional minds, but progressive thought has certainly permeated its way through urban India. Dating may not be as common as the Western world, but it definitely is a lot more common than you may think.

9) India is the land of snake-charmers: 

This is probably one of the most photographed scenarios in India, maybe second to the Taj Mahal. In fact, when you see them, mostly in the state of Rajasthan, it’s more of a tourist scene, inspired by this very myth.

10) All Indians are vegetarians:

If that were true, why is chicken tikka masala one of the most famous dishes? It’s probably much easier to find a vegetarian joint in India than the Western world, but yummy dishes with chicken, fish, lamb, and the likes have found fans in many Indians.

11) Hinduism is the only religion in India:

There is a majority culture of Hindus, most definitely. But there are also many Muslims, Christians, Catholics, Jews, etc. represented. Not everyone you meet will be a Hindu. In fact, even Atheism is on the rise.

12) The extent of Indian food is curry:

 There are many different types of curry-based dishes, but the Indian cuisine is so much more than that. The cuisine is extremely diverse, and in fact, the dishes commonly eaten in the North are not the ones eaten in the South. Try the masala dosa in the South. And not all Indian food is spicy.

13) India is located in the Middle East:

  Quick geography lesson: India is in Asia, south Asia to be precise. Again, you have been informed.

14) The climate of India is extremely hot and humid:

 Yes, in parts of the country. But there are many areas, such as the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal where the weather is pleasantly temperate, and sometimes freezing, depending on how close you get to the Himalayas.

Conclusion: India is a beautiful country, with its varying set of strengths and weaknesses, just like any other country. Don’t believe what you see in the media, and make judgements only after you’ve visited the country yourself.