What Is COVID-19?

A coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in your nose, sinuses, or upper throat. Most coronaviruses aren’t dangerous.In early 2020, after a December 2019 outbreak in China, the World Health Organization identified SARS-CoV-2 as a new type of coronavirus. The outbreak quickly spread around the world.ADVERTISEMENTCOVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that can trigger what doctors call a respiratory tract infection. It can affect your upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) or lower respiratory tract (windpipe and lungs).It spreads the same way other coronaviruses do, mainly through person-to-person contact. Infections range from mild to deadly.SARS-CoV-2 is one of seven types of coronavirus, including the ones that cause severe diseases like Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The other coronaviruses cause most of the colds that affect us during the year but aren’t a serious threat for otherwise healthy people.Is there more than one strain of SARS-CoV-2?An early Chinese study of 103 COVID-19 cases found two strains, which they named L and S. The S type is older, but the L type was more common in early stages of the outbreak. They think one may cause more cases of the disease than the other, but they’re still working on what it all means. It is also normal for a virus to change, or mutate, as it infects people and this virus has done so. There are several variants which have been named for the regions they were first discovered but they have now spread to other areas and countries, some proving to be more contageous as well as more deadly. How long will the coronavirus last?There’s no way to tell how long the pandemic will continue. There are many factors, including the public’s efforts to slow the spread, researchers’ work to learn more about the virus, their search for a treatment, and the success of the vaccines.Symptoms of COVID-19

The main symptoms include:

Fever Coughing Shortness of breath Trouble breathing Fatigue Chills,sometimes with shaking Body aches Headache Sore throat Congestion/runny nose Loss of smell or taste Nausea Diarrhea The virus can lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure, heart problems, liver problems, septic shock, and death. Many COVID-19 complications may be caused by a condition known as cytokine release syndrome or a cytokine storm. This is when an infection triggers your immune system to flood your bloodstream with inflammatory proteins called cyt okines. They can kill tissue and damage your organs.

You look dull, why don’t you try some eyeliner and lipstick! I promise it work wonders!You are getting fat! Increase your exercise hours, control your diet, drink extra water!Look at all those facial and body hair! Why don’t you do something about it?You are so fat/ you are thin like a stick!You have such a manly voice/ I can’t hear you!You look like a man/ you look too feminine!You speak so much/ why don’t you speak!Oh my god! Who wear heels and dress on a regular college day!?Who wears comfy sneakers and jeans in a party!?She is such a wierdo!She look like an African with that tan! Can’t she just cover her face?Oh god! I can’t breathe in this mask!From waxed face, waxed hands to trimmed nose hair!Perfect eyebrows, perfect (fake) eyelashes!Belly fat, thigh fat, wrong cheeks bitch!Perfect eyeliner, perfect lipstick!Blue eyes, cherry lips Perfect height, perfect hips!Perfect skin, perfect Hair Perfect legs for a perfect stare!Sharing memes with a new born baby, saying “jl gaya bechara!”Want a glowing, fair, hairless skin?Here are some fairness and hair removal creams!And of course, dadi ka nuskha, nani ka nuskha, YouTube wali aunty aur parlour wali didi ka nuskha!Afterall no one wants to marry a girl with dark skin and a moustache, right? But it’s just a joke! Isn’t everything??Doesn’t everything starts with a stupid joke until it starts haunting that person in their dreams?? And then....Self hatred, fucked up self confidence, long lost smile, SH (Self Harm), OCD (Obsessed Compulsive Disorder), BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder), attempted suicide !

Aunty: Waah beta! Itni jldi itna weight lose? Kya raaz hai zara hme bhi to batao? Them: pata nahi aunty, khud hi ho gaya!Mummy: na ji! Exercise ki hai ldki ne bahut.Inner them: umm! Does anxiety and depression count??? Is anyone gonna notice my fucked up skin and hair loss??

~pragyashakya

I witnessed a Supernova yesterday,It woke me up from a dreamy slumber And placed me against a big white ball of fire,
Was it real? Or was it my slumber?
Perhaps; I’m just a pathological liar.
But on the offchance that I ain’t one,
Let me describe to you a vivid recreation,
Of my bright, burning experience.

The supernova was extremely bright yet equally silent,I watched in amazement & terror,And wondered if the sun would ever unleash such horror,To get rid of our big blue ball of error.A guest interrupted this glorious
moment : My mind :Said to me that it was time to revisit the significance of my insecurities;
And that they were tiny & irrelevant in a universe so grand.Whose fate was already plotted by a superior being,
Who spun the wheel of time when he saw fit.

The world could not believe me that i witnessed a supernova .And it’s memories wouldn’t relieve me.I saw a crescent moon hidden in the nova’s shadow,
Hiding secrets unbeknownst to mankind,
Well, who am I judge?
After all I’ve seen only half it’s side.

Questions arise in the aftermath of what I’ve witnessed,
The wait for answers is but a futile one,
Since none believe in the existence of my story.I write this story as a last hope,To do justice to the great starburst;Witness me, oh great audience!As I explode into mystery & light,Going home to my supernova
Beyond reach,Beyond sight……

~~~~
Idea behind my story 😐
The stars have the most violent beginning and the most violent ends .The war is never really over for them, not when they’re constantly burning in order to survive; hydrogen atoms colliding haphazardly and repeatedly to create the energy that keeps it shining bright, they say people throw rocks at things that shine. But stars do this to themselves–self-destruction as a means of survival, they eventually run out of fuel and then, blow themselves apart to create an SUPERNOVA seen across the UNIVERSE that will eventually fade away.It’s only once the burning has stopped that a star truly, completely dies, they never asked to live this way.

#supernova #concept

ARTICLE ON OBESITY:

INTRODUCTION:
Obesity has been defined as an ‘abnormal and excessive fat accumulation that may impair health’. In practice, obesity is diagnosed by body mass index (BMI), which is taken as a surrogate of percentage fat mass.

CONTENT:
Obesity is serious because it is associated with poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Obesity is also associated with the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.

   ADVANTAGES OF BEING OBESE:

*Stores energy, Fat serves an important role for storing energy.

 *Good for vitamins. Our fat-soluble vitamins — A, E, D and K — are absorbed in the body's fat tissue. 

 *Keeps us warm. 
 *In bone-chilling weather, the overweight dude has the advantage over the thin guy.  

 *Protects the body from trauma.

DISADVANTAGES OF OBESITY:
*Being obese can also increase your risk of developing many potentially serious health conditions, including:

*  type 2 diabetes.
 * high blood pressure.
 * high cholesterol and atherosclerosis (where fatty deposits narrow your arteries), which can lead to coronary heart disease and stroke.
   *Asthma.

SOCIAL IMPACTS OF OBESITY:
* Obesity stigma hits children especially hard.

    * When children and youth are bullied or victimized because of their weight by peers, family and friends, it can trigger feelings of shame and lead to depression, low self-esteem, poor body image and even suicide.

TYPES OF OBESITY:
            6 Types of Obesity
                        *Food Obesity.
                        *Thickness due to Nervous Stomach.
                         *Gluten diet.
                          *Genetic metabolic Obesity.
                            *Venous Circulation Obesity.

MAIN CAUSES OF OBESITY:
              Obesity is generally caused by eating too much and moving too little. If you consume high amounts of energy, particularly fat and sugars, but do not burn off the energy through exercise and physical activity, much of the surplus energy will be stored by the body as fat.

 Does depression cause obesity?
                 Depression and anxiety can both be associated with overeating, poor food choices, and a more sedentary lifestyle. Over time, weight gain may eventually lead to obesity. About 43 percent of adults with depression are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CONCLUSION:
Obesity is a choice. It takes work and effort to stay in shape, but it can be fun. You must eat healthy, stay active, and make good life choices. But healthy foods can be delicious, there are plenty of activities to do that are so much fun, and making good life choices can be rewarding in multiple ways.

“EAT PLENTY OF DIETARY FIBRE”

Advertisements have brought about a tremendous amount of wants by the customers. Sometimes, products are wanted by the customers because of their advertising potential and the brand ambassadors being added in-order to promote the brand and it’s new products and services in the market, and not because of the want for the product by the customers. More often, a product is wanted more frequently and repetitively only because of the liking and attractiveness towards the brand by it’s potential customers. It has often led to huge spending on brand promotion and is unlikely to capture the customers every time it advertises. It is because of the advertisements that products are often sold so rapidly that they become out of stock and the limited quantities produced by the seller often makes the price of the product higher and makes customers wait for the product for days and weeks. Advertisements have become very competitive and nowadays, every advertisement has become unethical to an extent where there are similar products and brands being compared in the advertisement shown on television,etc. Example, an advertisement for laptop, there have been videos made on why one should prefer Mac over PC though their pricing strategy follows a a way where their products are always priced high since the company’s existence. Infact, Apple Macs v/s PCs has had negative impact on the PCs being sold as they have thought to be non-durable. Intense competition has arisen in advertisements, competitive products like Pepsi and Coke have been advertising and promoting their brands at every occasion be it any festivals, happy occasions, the Indian Premier League have sponsored Pepsi before. Due to advertisements, every local product now has become global and demand for their products and services are always high. Customers have started changing their preferences to having a product of only known brands because of their advertisement appeal and the way they market the product’s features and services and discounts offered with different debit and credit cards on purchase.

A simple example of how advertisements have influenced the customers to buy a product is the Bingo chips packets. It’s advertisement is more often described to be the most funny and eye-catching. It has a brand resonance value, ie, customers will surely remember the brand name because of the advertisements it shows on TVs, Cinema halls, etc. The most popular advertisement of bingo being the packet of bingo mad angles, through which it started gaining popularity and started to compete against Lays, Pringles, etc. Another example of advertising and it’s influence is the way OnePlus phone company advertises each of it’s mobile phone and other product it launches in their launch events.

Advertisements has also made impact on the way we percept our belief on high and low priced articles. High priced articles need no advertising as they are already being sold enough at the market only because it is of higher vlue and prestige is the assumption amongst the customers. Low priced articles which give the same quality are thought to be of less quality and standards and thus, not given much preference to.

To conclude, one can say that advertisements has the power to influence on it’s customers and the target market and thus, has power.

Covishield and Covaxin are the two major words that is parading the tongues of Indian at the moment. With the vaccination drives going on around the country, many people are energetic to be vaccinated to fight this “Mahamari”. Nearly 24 crore people have been vaccinated in India and still there is a long way to go.

Some sort of hesitation can be seen among people about taking the vaccination and are blindfolded due to some sort of prejudice. There is a case scenario where they see these vaccination camps as a sort of public socialization and are meeting their friends and family in the vaccination camps. Who could blame them? They have been locked up in their houses since March 2020 and its been more than a year since they can go out. And with the doses being of shortage and people moving from one camp to another only increases the chances of being contracted with the virus. Now, can we blame the officials for not controlling the public’s movements in the public places? The answer is yes and no. There are some corrupt officials about whom there need not be further discussion but there ARE some officials who work hard, putting their families and themselves at risk, creating awareness, fining the rule breakers and finding creative and harmless ways to punish the lockdown violators and needless to say, get trending in social media.

Believe it or not, social media is really helpful in this way. Recently, there were a group of women police constables who danced to latest hits with their own twist in the lyrics about safety against the virus. Now, coming back to the vaccination drives, why are people hesitant? There may be several reasons. One might be not aware of the positive effects of the vaccination. There is no end to the gossip circle that goes around in our country and sometimes it can be so ridiculous that the topic would have strayed far away from the original topic of discussion. So, this might the second reason, because we have to accept that all bodies are different, some people react negatively to the vaccination and this one in a thousand story stops our people from getting vaccinated.

They think they might get affected too BECAUSE of the vaccine and not vice versa. Another category of people might think that they are safe enough and stay at home all the time, adhering to all the government polices and that the virus cannot affect them. They sometimes forget that the government also insists on getting vaccinated. But these reasons have slowed down recently as more and more people have started getting vaccinated but keeping in mind the population of our country, we still have a long way to go until each and every one of us get vaccinated.

We need to remember that a vaccination is only one way of fighting this virus and we cannot sit back and let our guard down after getting vaccinated. We still need to wear masks, maintain social distancing and stay at home. As our Hon’ble Prime Minister says, we need to stick together (not literally!!) and fight this virus.

Yet another academic year begins today. This time too on a subdued note due to the Covid pandemic. Last year when classes took the online method due to the Covid first wave, entire process was experimental. With no experience of conducting or learning from virtual classes, students, teachers and parents went along.

However Covid brought many changes to the world. The general education department has organized several activities aimed at welcoming the tiny students joining class 1. As part of this new students and their parents will be contacted by authorities. Since classes are confined to homes, the department has come up with different programs within home. Students are provided with decorative items like balloons, stickers along with their textbooks to decorate.

As for the teaching-learning process, the department has come up with a strategy that will see students reaping maximum benefit from lessons. As classes are conducted through online there are different bviews on condicting examination for the promotion of plus one students to plus two. A report comprising various factors in this regard had been submitted. As the first step, during the first week, there would be bridging classes to connect with what happened in the last academic year to ensure seamless continuity in the digital mode. This time there will be more interactive classes with the teachers coming live from their classrooms and there will be sessions which would give the students a real classroom feel. All the classes was held in the digital mode last year and the same would happen this time too.

Let us hope that next year onwards we can restart our offline classes so that our students will be more happy and tension free. Let us pray to erase the entire pandemic from the world, so that bee can step out from the four boundaries of our home and can see the colours of the outside world.

Electronic mail Or shortly e-mail is a modern method of instant delivery of letters without the involvement of a postman. In this system of mailing, messages are sent with the help of a computer. In the electronic mail or e-mail system, a letter or any other document is typed and edited on a computer. It is then sent to the address through a computer network in the form of electronic signals. The address may be anywhere in the world but the person should also have a computer or mobile with am electronic mail system.

Electronic mail has ushered in a revolution in the transmission system of written documents across the world. With the help of electronic mail system, typed matters can be transmitted instantaneously to any part of the world. Copies can also be sent simultaneously to as many destinations as desired. All that is needed is a device likes computer with telecommunication network facilities through satellites.

E-mail is very fast and saves time and paper work. While a letter mailed through post takes several days to reach, for an e-mail it is just a matter of a few seconds only. It has become very popular in our country and a time would soon come when every household would make use of this electronic facility.

In this article, the importance of 31 May is presented by highlighting two events- One International and one National (India). One is ‘World No Tobacco Day’ and another is from our country (India) completion of Dakshineswar Kali Temple (31 May 1855) situated near the bank of the Hooghly River, West Bengal.

1)      World No Tobacco Day: Tobacco is not good for health as it contains Nicotine. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year, more than 8 million people die because of tobacco consumption. Also according to WHO, most tobacco-related deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries.  It is unfortunate to mention here that those who stay nearby smokers are also affected. In this regard, WHO may be quoted, “Tobacco can also be deadly for non-smokers. Second-hand smoke exposure has also been implicated in adverse health outcomes, causing 1.2 million deaths annually. Nearly half of all children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke and 65 000 children die each year due to illnesses related to second-hand smoke. Smoking while pregnant can lead to several life-long health conditions for babies”. It is pertinent to mention that, “The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be “a world no-smoking day.” In 1988, Resolution WHA 42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May”, (who.int/campaigns/world-no-tobacco-day). The campaign theme of World No Tobacco Day 2021 is “Commit to Quit” and in this regard WHO desires that pledge should be taken by signing in the campa. Although in 1988 resolution has been passed as “a world no- smoking day” but in the Sikhism, tobacco is totally banned that is, in general Sikh people should not smoke as religious practice.

2)      Dakshineswar Kali Temple:  The temple situated near the bank of Hooghly River was constructed on 31 May 1855 by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devotee of Kali (Hindu Goddess). At the tender age of 11, Rashmoni was married to Babu Rajchandra Das of JanBazar of Calcutta. Babu Rajchandra was non Brahmin,  a member of a wealthy zamindar family (zamindar means colossal landlord). It is observed from various publications that in the year 1847, Rani Rashmoni prepared to go on a long pilgrimage to visit Kashi  ( presently known as Varanasi). Rani was supposed to travel in 24 boats, carrying relatives, helpers and essential goods. It is believed that the night before the pilgrimage, she had a dream and in the dream the Divine Mother Goddess Kali reportedly said, “There is no need to go to Banaras. Install my statue in a temple on the banks of the Ganges River and arrange my worship there”.  And thus on 31 May 1855 the Temple was completed. She patronized Shri Ramkrishna Paramhangsha as the priest of the Dakkhineshwar temple. Her other development  works  inter alia were the construction of a road from Subarnarekha River to Puri for the pilgrims, Babughat (also known as Babu Rajchandra Das Ghat), Ahiritola Ghat and Nimtala ghat for the everyday bathing at the Ganges by the common people. She also offered considerable charity to the Imperial Library (now the National Library of India), the Hindu College etc. For her outstanding, development, social and spiritual works, people called her Rani i.e. the Queen.

The following websites have been consulted while writing the article: 

1. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-no-tobacco-day
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibitions_in_Sikhism#
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakshineswar_Kali_Temple
4. http://www.dakshineswarkalitemple.org/rashmoni.html
5. http://www.dakshineswarkalitemple.org/rashmoni.html

Many of us might remember having a personal diary when we were teenagers. But with time, most of us also got over that habit, until recently when journaling has made a comeback and people are recognising the various physical and mental health benefits journaling has to offer. Journaling is simple, it has no set rules but is just a written record of our feelings and thoughts. It is how we track our everyday life and helps create a meaningful relationship with ourselves. Apart from just helping us de-stress, journaling every day does have numerous health benefits – both physical and mental. So if you keep wondering how exactly can maintaining a journal help you with your health – here’s a list of a few of the incredible things journaling can do for you!

1. No more bottled-up emotions – We always long for a friend when we feel distressed, but admit it sometimes we might not always be comfortable and open to share. For these days, journaling does come to your rescue. It helps you vent out your feelings and thoughts, with no judgement coming your way. Writing your thoughts down helps you unwind and feel lighter. So the next time you’re very stressed or emotional, grab your diary and start journaling – it will help you feel a lot better.
2. Managing anxiety – Journaling helps you take control of your emotions. When you are anxious, you are caught in the vicious cycle of overthinking. Journaling helps you break the cycle. You can write down your feelings, re-read them and look at situations from a different perspective. Maintaining a journal is highly recommended for stress management. Journaling also helps increase well-being.
3. Helps you sleep better – Journaling can also include writing down a do-to list of the agenda for the next day, or even unfinished tasks. It then helps you feel asleep without worries and better. Writing about other positive events before bedtime also helps you sleep better as it redirects you from the negative thoughts and worries. Next time when you are tossing and turning while trying to fall asleep – consider journaling!
4. Journaling improves memory – We all take notes while attending lectures because writing down makes it easier for us to remember stuff. Journaling also works similarly, it improves your ability to remember things. It is also great to remember certain important dates and events of your life. The physical act of writing brings information centerstage and lets your brain know it should pay close attention. The physical act of writing is a way to let the brain know to pay more attention to the information we’re giving it!
5. Strengthens our immune system – Psychologist James Pennebaker says that journaling strengthens immune cells called T-lymphocytes. Writing gives structure to your feelings and helps you get past them, another researcher said. Though venting into a journal isn’t enough, new studies have shown that journaling does offer physical health benefits like increasing our immunity and also help people with serious health diseases cope up with their symptoms better.

                POPULATION EXPLOSION

Meaning of Population Explosion

It refers to the rapid increase in the population of an area among human beings. Furthermore, it is a situation where the economy is not capable of coping with the increasing demand of its population.

It is a major issue for developing countries. Also, the government is not taking proper measures to control this problem. Besides, it generates many issues in the country that cause many problems for people.

Causes of Population Explosion

The cause of the population explosion includes many factors and reasons. These include:

Increase in the birth rate- Due to lack of control on delivery and unawareness of people the birth rate is increasing rapidly. In addition, the gap between death and birth has gone way wider than what we can think of. Furthermore, the birth rate has increased many folds in comparison to the death rate.

A decrease in infant mortality rate- Mortality rate refers to the number of death of infants below the age of 6 months. Due to science and technology, we are able to minimize this rate and now only a few cases of death are known per thousand deaths.

The life expectancy growth- Earlier the life expectancy of people was around 55-60 years. But due to better and improved medical facilities, we are now able to increase the life expectancy of people. Now the average age of a person increased to 70-75 years.

Besides, these better living conditions, good quality food, better nutrition, and better sanitation facilities also helped in increasing life expectancy.

Effects of Population Explosion

The population explosion affects natural resources and many sectors of the economy in many ways:

Unemployment- Due to the increase in the population the demand for jobs and employment also increases. But, due to a lack of resources and employment opportunities, there are millions of jobless people in India.

In addition, the condition of unemployment is growing day by day. To face this problem most the people is either migrating to other countries for better job opportunities.

Poverty- Due to the large population there a large number of people who belong to below the poverty line and they do not have adequate knowledge of the overpopulation of the country. Also, they are the major contributor to a high birth rate.

Prevention of population explosion

There are various methods by which we can prevent a population explosion. The government can take measures to aware of the population about the various methods that can help in controlling the population. Also, it should implement some strong campaign for family planning and birth control.

High level of illiteracy- The literacy level of women is one of the biggest problems of family planning. In India, people pay very little importance to women’s education and marry them at an early age. That’s why they do not have knowledge about birth control methods and the use of contraceptives.

To sum it up, the population explosion has caused huge pressure on the surface of the earth. Also, we can control many issues of the earth by controlling population growth. Besides, many problems like food insecurity, illiteracy, poverty, and unemployment can be minimized by controlling the population.

Covid- 19 or corona virus disease is an infectious disease caused by a new virus called coronavirus. Those who are affected by this virus will experience symptoms like cough, cold, headache, fever etc. The virus is mainly transmitted from a person to another through fluids generated when an infected person coughs, inhales or sneezes. The virus can get inside through breathing if we are within close proximity with anyone who is Covid positive or by touching contaminated places and then to your eyes, mouth and nose. To stay safe from these virus we must wear mask, maintain social distancing and must be well aware about the ongoing circumstances.