Books – the elite partner

Who would not relish reading a book with a cup of coffee / tea? If you are a person who is not fond of reading books then you might be missing a great part of life even. Some may find it boring and consider it as of no use or waste of energy. But the fact provided by reading books is just a contrast to your mindset. The love towards reading books can protect you even from hazardous diseases of life. But for many reading books in their spare time is like a great craving. Nevertheless it is not like the other leisure time activities that we do to pass time. We are benefitted by books beyond what we think. It benefits both the physical and mental health and the benefits are enduring, lasts lifelong. It increases our creative thinking, imagination and molds us into better person. It aids us to formulate a better roadmap for our career. Books exposes us to new things which we might have failed to notice in our past times, renders more information, and fosters us to handle strenuous situations and provides us innovative ways to solve them and thus gives us a great exploration. It leads us to the other part life which is peaceful and gets you tension free apart from your regular hectic work. Reading good books widens our mind and uplifts our way of thinking.

Books can be referred to as the man’s best companion which is the power house of information and ingenuity. Even in the early times, writing system was invented and people used stones, clays, tree and different things that can be carved as a writing material. Fortunately today we have newspapers, magazines and books. We would have come across several books over the years. In our childhood we were fond of story books which would be flooded with pictures to fascinate little children and for the better understanding of the younger ones. And then as we grow up we would be interested in different genre of books like history, literature, science fiction, crime, fantasy, inspirational, adventure, horror, comics, detective, biographies and so on. All books are either nonfiction or fiction. Nonfiction books contain biographies, history books and contain factual information . Fiction books contain a story which is framed by the author. Technical books gives you technical insight, novels distracts you from the monotonous world and stimulates your imagination level. Comics is meant for enjoyment and relaxes you from your repetitive work. As writing is an art, so is reading and it an excellent habit. It should be inculcated in all from an early stage. The cognitive abilities of kids who read books regularly seem to be improved. It helps us on a larger scale to improve the vocabulary , communication skills, writing skills. As we read books we come know about the various fields engaged around us and it boosts the confidence & self esteem and helps us to become highly efficient and excel in various activities. It increases our concentration level and makes it elastic to grasp things quickly and easily.

With the gradual advancement in technology people are getting fascinated by the idea of e-books. E-books – It is the digital representation of a book publication on platforms like computers, smartphones etc. and provides an easy access to the readers. They are more flexible than paper books. It has many perks like we can enlarge the font size to make the reading more pleasurable and it is easy on the eyes. They are portable and handy making it easy to carry around. E books can be purchased through internet and also some are available for free of cost. E-books have a large scope for further developments and universal acceptability.

Paper and electronic books , both provide an effective way of reading . Paper books allow more precise reading and e books are quicker and more convenient. Books are like fellow mates with no demands and no anticipations, rather we could anticipate many stuffs from books. It gives us a kind of inner happiness and gives us an optimistic feel which enhances our knowledge and wisdom.

The 7 Best Books I’ve Ever Read About Writing

Writing has helped me to become better at thinking, speaking, and making decisions. And I’ve used books about writing to improve myself.

I firmly believe that anything worthwhile in your career should start with writing.

From creating resumes to business plans. If you don’t start with writing, you often lack clarity in your messaging.

And that was also the story of my life. In fact, it still is. Most people never think about it, but it’s damned hard to express yourself. Do you have a clear answer to questions like:

  • What’s the number one priority in your career?
  • Why did you apply for this job?
  • What does your business exactly do?

Often, we just come up with the first thing that pops up in our mind.

And after a barrage of meaningless words, we think, “what on earth did I just say?”

I’ve made a list of the best books I’ve read on writing. I must say that I don’t consider myself a writer first. Above everything else, I’m an entrepreneur. I like to share stories.

That’s why this list is more geared towards people who want to write better blogs, non-fiction, emails, cover letters, about pages, etc. Not people who want to write the next The Great Gatsby. I hope you find a book that’s relevant to you.

1. On Writing by Stephen King

Stephen King is one hell of a thinker and writer. And the man churns out books like it’s nothing. Only that fact makes you want to read more about how his mind works.

If you write, and you haven’t read On Writing, it’s time to stop everything you do and get that book. My favorite Stephen King quote?

Probably this:

“The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.”

If you want to do something, don’t be such a weasel. Just start already.

2. On Writing Well by William Zinsser

A solid book with solid advice about writing non-fiction. When you start reading this book, you immediately can tell the man knows his business. And he knows it well.

Zinsser, a respected writer, and teacher, talks about the principles and methods of writing in this book. But he also shares tips about different writing forms such as memoirs, sports, business, and humor.

This is a valuable book for all people who want to improve their writing and messaging.

3. The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White

I like the simplicity of this book. It’s short, simple, and to the point. This is more of a technical book with style suggestions about the English language.

In this little book, Strunk and White do a great job of demonstrating the most common style errors.

Style is such a complicated thing that I try to refer to this book often. One of my favorite pieces of advice from this book is this:

“Write in a way that comes naturally.”

4. Ernest Hemingway on Writing by Larry W. Phillips

There’s no point in denying it; Hemingway was one of the best writers in modern history.

And this little book is a collection of letters he sent to his editor, friends, and other authors.

He didn’t want them to be published initially. Hemingway believed that there’s no pride in writing about writing.

This book is not only packed with writing advice. It also shows Hemingway’s character. He was a funny guy who took satisfaction in what he did.

5. Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit by Steven Pressfield

Pressfield is one of my favorite writers. The War Of Art is a classic.

In this book, he talks about why no one cares about your shit. If you’re trying to write and no one’s reading it, read this book.

Pressfield has a background in advertising. And you can tell. He knows how to sell his shit without being annoying.

We live in a world where everyone is trying to sell us all kinds of things. And it’s annoying. This book is essential if you want to stand out in an information-flooded world.

6. The Writers Journey by Christopher Vogler

The Writers Journey is the most in-depth book on this list. It’s also the most comprehensive book I’ve read on storytelling. It’s also a very practical book.

It’s more like a textbook that you want to take notes on. Vogler, a story consultant for major Hollywood film companies, talks about the relationship between mythology and storytelling in this book.

It’s a classic for screenwriters and playwrights. After reading this book, you’ll truly understand the art of storytelling.

However, putting this stuff into practice is another story. That takes a lot of practice.

7. Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy

I think too many people romanticize writing. But I don’t like to like to look at writing from a starving artist’s point of view.

In life, everything is business. And so is writing. If you don’t know how to sell your writing, no one will ever read it.

And one of the best books you can read about copywriting, selling, and advertising is Confessions Of An Advertising Man. Ogilvy doesn’t need an introduction.

The man is a legend. And this book is definitely worth your time.

Studying vs. Doing

I hope you pick up one of these books and read them, or maybe reread them. However, never read too much about writing.

Because writing is not something you study, it’s something you do.

Aim High and Do Everything In Your Control to Become Your Best Self

The world is full of paradoxes. One of the biggest is the tradeoff between having high and low expectations. It’s a prerequisite to becoming your best self.

On the one hand, we need to expect to win at life, otherwise; what’s the point of even trying? But on the other hand, we can’t be discouraged when we lose.

The two different concepts are perfectly explained by the following two quotes.

  1. “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” — Zig Ziglar
  2. “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”― Alexander Pope

The first quote says we should expect to win, the second one says we shouldn’t expect to win. So which attitude do you pick?

This is a hard concept to wrap your head around. It took me years to find a balance that worked for me.

The Importance Of A Positive Attitude

You need a positive attitude if you want to win. All kinds of successful people from different fields will tell you that.

There’s no point in “trying.” When you do something, you must do it well, and expect to win. I think that’s the attitude many winners share.

But you and I both know that your attitude is only one part of the equation. Without putting in the work, you must realize that you will not win. You can have all the talent in the world, if you don’t put it to work, you will never reach your full potential.

Winning, becoming good at your job, getting recognition — it all requires a lot of work. To reach our full potential, we must prioritize learning over pleasure.

That means we can’t become great and go out every weekend, watch movies every night, play video games, go shopping, and just hang out on the couch.

The Danger Of Low Expectations

But expecting to win can also be harmful if you’re not mentally strong. I’ve always been an optimistic person. That attitude has helped me a lot in life.

However, in my early twenties, I almost got discouraged to reach for my goals. Time and time again, I was disappointed by failure. Especially when I got out of college, I tried to start many different businesses. And everything failed except for the business I started with my dad.

Naturally, I felt like I couldn’t do it on my own. Look back, it was too early for me. But those high expectations almost made me give up. I’m glad I kept going and stayed positive.

The problem is not whether you fail or not. It’s about this: What do you want to do about it?

Cry and moan and say, “Why does this happen!!” We all know that’s not helpful. Instead, we must be indifferent to outcomes.

But still, I do think we must expect to win at everything in life: Your career, relationships, and money. Aim high and do everything in your control to become your best self. That’s the most useful way to spend your time.

Compare Yourself To Who You Were Yesterday

I like this idea from Jordan Peterson, who talks about comparing yourself to who you were yesterday, in his book 12 Rules For Life.

When you focus on yourself, there’s no disappointment about external factors.

You do everything you can, and if you lose, you will do better next time. Nothing can destroy you.

And if you fail? So what? Being sad or disappointed when things don’t turn out the way you expected is completely normal. I still don’t like to fail. But what’s not normal is blaming others or yourself.

Here’s the thing: Don’t take yourself nor life too seriously. We all know that blaming others is what fools do. You only create resentment and hatred by blaming other people for your losses in life.

But sadly, many honest, self-aware, and positive people blame themselves. And that’s also wrong.

Expect The Best From Yourself — Not From “The World”

In short, this is what I’ve learned about high and low expectations:

  • Have high expectations from yourself. Put in the work. Aim for becoming your best self.
  • Have zero expectations from “the world.” Don’t expect other people to hand you anything.
  • Understand that you don’t control externals. Never blame yourself for bad outcomes.
  • But do blame yourself for not giving it your all. That’s something you control.

There are always people who say, “But what about this or that?” And I often say that I don’t know. Because it’s naïve to say you have the answers.

We’re all trying to make sense out of our careers, relationships, and most importantly: Our own actions.

It’s a never-ending process. We do. We fail. We learn. But we never give up.

SLEEP DISORDERS

Sleep disorders are a set of conditions that affect the ability to sleep well on a regular basis. Whether they are caused by a health problem or by too much stress, sleep disorders are becoming increasingly common in the world today. The pandemic didn’t make this study better instead it worsened it for many youngsters and adults. In fact, more than one third of the adults report getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. More than 70% of high school students report getting fewer than 8 hours of sleep on weeknights.

Most people experience problems with their sleep due to various reasons such as stress, depression, hectic schedules, and so on. However, if these problems turn into practices it will develop certain sleep disorders. If proper sleep isn’t achieved then it may affect the performance at work, strains relationships and bring health problems your way.

TYPES OF SLEEP DISORDERS

Some well known sleep disorders that are common among people are,

INSOMNIA

Insomnia refers to the inability to fall asleep. It may be caused due to stress, digestive problems, anxiety,and being jet lagged.

Insomnia can be problematic for your overall health and quality of life, potentially causing:

  • depression
  • difficulty concentrating
  • irritability
  • weight gain
  • impaired work or school performance

Unfortunately, insomnia is extremely common. Up to 50% of adults experience it at some point in their lives.

It is usually classified into 3 types,

  1. Chronic – insomnia happens on a regular basis.
  2. Intermittent – insomnia occurs periodically.
  3. Transient – insomnia occurs just for few nights.

SLEEP APNIA

Sleep Apnia is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. This is a major health condition that causes the body to intake less oxygen. It can wake you up during night very frequently.

Ther are 2 types,

  1. Obstructive SA – The flow of air stops because the airway space is very narrow.
  2. Central SA – A problem in the connection between the brain and the muscles that control your breath.

PARASOMNIA

A sleep disorder that cause abnormal movements and behaviors during sleep, such as,

  1. Sleep walking
  2. Sleep talking
  3. Nightmares
  4. groaning
  5. kicking
  6. teeth ginding

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME

RLS is the need to move the legs. As these symptoms causally occur during the day, they are very prevalent during the night. This is often associate with health conditions, including ADHD and Parkinson’s disease, but the exact cause isn’t always known.

NARCOLEPSI

These are the sudden need of sleep out of nowhere. Instant falling asleep at unexpected events. The disorder can also cause sleep paralysis, which may make you physically unable to move right after waking up. Although narcolepsy may occur on its own, it is also associated with certain neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms differ depending on the disorder and severity of the disorder. Some highly noticed disorders are,

  • difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • daytime fatigue
  • strong urge to take naps during the day
  • unusual breathing patterns
  • unusual or unpleasant urges to move while falling asleep
  • unusual movement or other experiences while asleep
  • unintentional changes to your sleep/wake schedule
  • irritability or anxiety
  • impaired performance at work or school
  • lack of concentration
  • depression
  • weight gain

CAUSES

In many cases, sleep disorders develop as a result of an underlying health problem. Some of them can be listed as,

  1. Allergies and Respiratory problems
  2. urinating frequently
  3. Stress and Anxiety
  4. Chronic Pain

DIAGNOSIS

First, the doctores will perform certain tests or exams and learn about your health history, later they will proceed with the diagnosis. These tests can be crucial in determining the right course of treatment for sleep disorders.

  1. Polysomnography – This is a lab sleep study that evaluates oxygen levels, body movements, and brain waves to determine how they disrupt sleep.
  2. Electroencephalogram – This is a test that assesses electrical activity in the brain and detects any potential problems associated with this activity.
  3. Multiple Sleep Latency Test – This daytime napping study is used in conjunction with a PSG at night to help diagnose narcolepsy.

TREATMENT

There are various methods to treat sleep disorders but most used once are based on medical treatment and lifestyle changes.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

It includes,

  • sleeping pills
  • melatonin supplements
  • allergy or cold medication
  • medications for any underlying health issues
  • breathing device or surgery (usually for sleep apnea)
  • a dental guard (usually for teeth grinding)

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Changing our daily routine or lifestyle can help the patient get rid of the disorders super fast. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can also significantly improve your sleep quality.

  • incorporating more vegetables and fish into your diet, and reducing sugar intake
  • reducing stress and anxiety by exercising and stretching
  • creating and sticking to a regular sleeping schedule
  • drinking less water before bedtime
  • limiting your caffeine intake, especially in the late afternoon or evening
  • decreasing tobacco and alcohol use
  • eating smaller low carbohydrate meals before bedtime
  • maintaining a healthy weight based on your doctor’s recommendations

Article by : Haniah Mirza

 

Portugal Shock Defeat From Euro 2020

Belgium knocked defending champions Portugal out of Euro 2020 with a 1-0 victory in the last 16 on Sunday.

The match was the end of the road for Cristiano Ronaldo and a Portugal team who had triumphed in Paris five years ago.

Belgium is considered as another favorite national club in the tournament.

Despite having star players, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota, Joao Felix, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, from biggest clubs and leagues in Europe, including superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal left the tournament so early.

Ronaldo bowed out with five goals from four games, and is currently the tournament’s top scorer.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Science, technology and innovation each represent a successively larger category of activities which are highly interdependent but distinct. Science contributes to technology in at least six ways: (1) new knowledge which serves as a direct source of ideas for new technological possibilities; (2) source of tools and techniques for more efficient engineering design and a knowledge base for evaluation of feasibility of designs; (3) research instrumentation, laboratory techniques and analytical methods used in research that eventually find their way into design or industrial practices, often through intermediate disciplines; (4) practice of research as a source for development and assimilation of new human skills and capabilities eventually useful for technology; (5) creation of a knowledge base that becomes increasingly important in the assessment of technology in terms of its wider social and environmental impacts; (6) knowledge base that enables more efficient strategies of applied research, development, and refinement of new technologies.

The converse impact of technology on science is of at least equal importance: (1) through providing a fertile source of novel scientific questions and thereby also helping to justify the allocation of resources needed to address these questions in an efficient and timely manner, extending the agenda of science; (2) as a source of otherwise unavailable instrumentation and techniques needed to address novel and more difficult scientific questions more efficiently.

Specific examples of each of these two-way interactions are discussed. Because of many indirect as well as direct connections between science and technology, the research portfolio of potential social benefit is much broader and more diverse than would be suggested by looking only at the direct connections between science and technology.

Geneva gear mechanism

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Geneva Gear Mechanism The main component of this machine will be the Geneva mechanism (or Maltese Cross). The Geneva drive or Maltese cross is a gear mechanism that translates a continuous rotation into an intermittent rotary motion. Geneva mechanism, also called Geneva Stop, is one of the most commonly used devices for producing intermittent rotary motion, characterized by alternate periods of motion and rest with no reversal in direction. Geneva Mechanisms are widely used in motion picture film projectors to intermittently advance film through a film gate having a projection aperture.

Geneva wheels having the form of the driven wheel were also used in mechanical watches , but not in a drive, rather to limit the tension of the spring , such that it would operate only in the range where its elastic force is nearly linear. If one of the slots of the driven wheel is occluded, the number of rotations the drive wheel can make is limited. In watches, the “drive” wheel is the one that winds up the spring, and the Geneva wheel with four or five spokes and one closed slot prevents overwinding (and also complete unwinding) of the spring. This so-called Geneva stop or “Geneva stop work” was the invention of 17th or 18th century watchmakers.

Other applications of the Geneva drive include the pen change mechanism in plotters , automated sampling devices, banknote counting machines, and many forms of indexable equipment used in manufacturing (such as the tool changers in CNC machines; the turrets of turret lathes , screw machines , and turret drills; some kinds of indexing heads and rotary tables ; and so on). The Iron Ring Clock uses a Geneva mechanism to provide intermittent motion to one of its rings.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_drive&ved=2ahUKEwjk-4-A8cTxAhUBzTgGHYauAmIQFjAWegQINhAC&usg=AOvVaw3mUfN64GEwu-zOLehlQRKm

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/Geneva-mechanism&ved=2ahUKEwjk-4-A8cTxAhUBzTgGHYauAmIQFjAbegQIJRAC&usg=AOvVaw2E6FO5PKeRc-rRWb_BW9wi

Procrastination

Ah! I’ll do it later.

If there is one habit that can easily be regarded as a “disease” it would have to be our habit of procrastination. Procrastination is a habit wherein a person keeps delaying a task that should be a priority and focus on the tasks that are clearly not that important.

It is often believed that a person delays the task because he/she is lazy but that is not the case. Laziness involves unwillingness to do the task but procrastinating has a larger scope. We often procrastinate when we feel we do not have the potential to complete the said task on time or at all. There is a little voice inside us that often says that we are not up for it so let’s delay it. I am sure everyone can relate to this. We often find ourselves putting off assignments that require a lot of time and effort. In fact we delay it so much that after a certain point it starts to feel more like a burden and that is the time we think we would have been better off if we just did the task on the first day. This feeling does not go away until the task the completed. The reason I called it a disease is because it is hard to cure. You procrastinate in doing one task and the next thing you know you have a list of tasks to do in the end moment.

Dr. Piers Steel, a professor of motivational psychology at the University of Calgary and the author of “The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done.” has accurately said that procrastination is “Self-harm”. If you think that delaying stuff only affects your time management skills then you are wrong. Procrastination has adverse effects on your mood, your potential and of course your ability to complete anything on time let alone the important tasks. The more you put off doing things the more you start to doubt your potential. You develop the fear of failure. You have the constant fear that you won’t be able to it and so you keep on delaying until a time comes when you have to do it in a hurry and half-heartedly, which is definitely a blow to your potential abilities. And so you do it more because you don’t trust your capabilities.

Your emotions are also take a giant hit in the process. You are constantly irritated and everything around you makes you unhappy. We humans always focus about having a good mood for a short period of time rather than thinking about long term. So we slowly start to procrastinate until we are in a good mood without thinking of the long term consequences. The worst part about this is the self blame that is followed by low self-esteem. This not only has an impact on your emotions and your brain but your entire body suffers.

Procrastination might sound like a normal thing involving putting off tasks but it has a deeper impact which is clearly not healthy. You know you are gonna have to do the task so why not just start with doing it. If you feel low in the middle just switch to easier tasks but don’t give up on the important ones. Once you start prioritizing you will feel your schedule changing and you will feel lighter in the long run. So, next time you feel like procrastinating just think about the consequences and that would be enough to get you started and with time you will get over it completely.

The Maruthu Brothers (Periya Maruthu &Chinna Maruthu)(1748-1753)

Maruthu Brothers

Periya Maruthu or Vella Maruthu (1748-1801) and his younger brother Chinna Maruthu (1753-1801)were able generals of Muthu Vadugar of sivagangai.After Muthu Vadugar’s death in the Kalaiyar Kovil battle Maruthu brothers assisted in restoring the throne to velunachiyar .In the last year’s of the eighteenth century Maruthu Brothers organised resistance against the British.After the death of Kattabomman,they worked along with his brother Oomathurai.They plunded the granaries of the Nawab and caused damage and destruction to company troops.

Rebellion of Maruthu Brothers (1800-1801)

Despite the suppression of Kattabomman’s revolt in 1799, rebellion broke out again in 1800.In the British records it is referred to as the second palayakkarar war.It was directed by a confederacy consisting of Maruthu Pandyan of Sivagangai,Gopala Nayak of Dindugal,Kerala Verma of Malabar and Krishnaappa Nayak and Dhoondaji of Mysore .In April 1800 they meet at Virupachi and decided to organise an uprising against the company.The uprising,which broke out in Coimbatore in June 1800,soon spread to Ramanathapuram and Madurai.The company got wind of it and declared  war on Krishnaappa Nayak of Mysore ,Kerala Varma of Malabar and othres.The Palayakkarars of Coimbatore,Sathyamangalam and Tarapuram were caught and hanged.In February 1801 the two brothers of Kattabomman,Oomathurai and Sevathaiah , escaped from the palayamkottai prison to Kamudhi,from where Chinna Maruthu took them to Siruvayal his Capital.The fort at Panchalamkurichi was reconstructed in record time.The British troops under Colin Macaulay retook the fort in April and the Maruthu brothers sought shelter in Sivagangai.The English demanded that the Maruthu pandyars hand over the fugitives (Oomathurai and Sevathaiah).But they refused.Colonel Agnew and Colonel Inners marched pandyars issued a Proclamation of Independence which is called Tiruchirappalli proclamation.

Proclamation of 1801

The proclamation of 1801 was an early call to the Indians to unite against the British, cutting across region ,caste ,creed and religion.The Proclamation was pasted on the walls of the Nawab’s palace in Tiruchirappalli fort and on the walls of the Srirangam temple .Many Palayakkarars of Tamil country rallied together to fight against the English.China Maruthu collected neraly 20,000 men to challenge the English army.British reinforcement were rushed from Bengal,Ceylon and Malaya .The rajas of Pudukottai, Ettayapuram and Thanjavur stood by the English split the forces of the palayakkarars soon.

Periya Maruthu &Chinna Maruthu

Fall of sivagangai

In May 1801,the English attacked the rebels in Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli .The rebels went to Piranmalai and Kalayarkoil.They were again defeated by the forces of the English.In the end the superior military strength and the able commanders of the English company prevailed.The rebellion failed and Sivagangai was annexed in 1801.The Maruthu brothers were executed in the fort of Tirupathur near Ramanathapuram on 24 October 1801.Oomathurai and Sevathaiah were captured and beheaded at Panchalamkurichi on 16 November 1801.Seventy -three rebels were exiled to Penang in Malaya.Though the Palayakkarars fell to the English,their exploits and sacrifices inspired later genarations .Thus the rebellion of Maruthu brothers,whish is called South Indian Rebellion,is a landmark event in the history of Tamilnadu.

Carnatic Treaty,1801

The suppression of the palayakkarars rebellions of 1799 and 1801-1801 resulted in the liquidation of all the local chieftains of Tamilnadu.Under the terms of the Carnatic Treaty of 31 July 1801,the British aasumed direct control over Tamilagam and the palayakkarar system came to an end with the demolition of all forts and disbandment of their army.

ROADS IN INDIA

India has one of the largest road networks in the world, aggregating to about 54.7 lakh km. The growing importance of road transport over rail transport is mentioned below:

  1. The construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines.
  2. Roads can cover more geographically harder locations that cannot be done by the railways.
  3. Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and can be easily built-in traverse mountains such as the Himalayas.
  4. Road transport is economical.
  5. It also provides door-to-door service
  6. Road transport provides links between railway stations, air and seaports.

In India, roads are classified in the following six classes according to their capacity.

Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways

Golden Quadrilateral is a network of Highways connecting India’s four top metropolitan cities, namely Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai. These highway projects are being implemented by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

National Highways

The National highways are a network of trunk roads that are laid and maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The historical Sher-Shah Suri Marg is called National Highway No.1, between Delhi and Amritsar.

State Highways

Roads linking a state capital with different district headquarters are known as State Highways. These roads are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works Department (PWD).

District Roads

These roads connect the district headquarters with other places of the district. These roads are maintained by the Zila Parishad.

Other Roads

Rural roads, which link rural areas and villages with towns, are classified under this category. These roads received special impetus under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana.

Border Roads

Border Roads Organisation constructs and maintains roads in the bordering areas of the country. This organisation was established in 1960 for the development of the roads of strategic importance in the northern and north-eastern border areas.

Roads can also be classified on the basis of the type of material used for their construction such as:

  • Metalled roads may be made of cement, concrete or even bitumen of coal. These are all-weather roads.
  • Unmetalled roads go out of use in the rainy season.

Common Man’s Woes During Monsoons.

Monsoons play an important role in our lives and they play a very crucial role in life of farmers. Without monsoons crops will not get sufficient water and hence, the agricultural sector will be badly hit.

Only wet regions may become wetter as climate changes – Physics World

But for the common man, monsoon can become a serious menace at times. Especially, since the recent floods in many metropolitans cities have revealed the lack of effort on part of authorities to solve the problem. The drains overflowed and laid bare the claims of civic societies about their preparedness. They claimed to have cleaned the drains way before the monsoons had hit but the truth is that they failed miserably. One of the causes behind this chaos is lack of strict laws and accountability of officials and the Ministries responsible for tackling the floods. The Government formulate, pass and implement strict laws regarding accountability for the projects launched to relieve people of their distress.

The poor and common man have to face the consequences of their responsibility. At times, car’s engine stop working due to flooding of water on roads. Also, the government should take an initiative to vigil these societies, so that from next season onwards, the problems are resolved and the common man get some relief.

Bathukamma festival

Hello guys !!!

Iam going to write about bathukamma festival today.

This festival takes place in Telangana,and some parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Bathukamma is a floral festival celebrated every year.It is gloriously celebrated for nine days starting from bhadrapada pournami.

The 9-day festivities will wind up on “Saddula Bathukamma” or “Pedda Bathukamma” festival on Ashwayuja Navami, popularly known as Durgashtami which is two days before Dussehra.

Bathukamma festival is also called the festival of life ,celebrated to thank Goddess Parvati for her blessings for the crop harvest and income she helped generate this current year and again ask her blessing for the next year also.

Women dress up in sarees and girls dress up in lehanga,half saree .They wear various types of accessories and jewelry .

People of all ages come together and enjoy this festival merrily.They make various prashads(sweet)daily during this 9 day period and attain puja.

Flowers from each region are used in making the floral stack and the women gather around these stacks and sing songs and dance happily.

The folk songs sung here are very special and the graceful and cheerful dances uplifts the whole atmosphere and participating in this festival will always leave you with beautiful memories.

They enjoy this festival together with everyone which brings people closer to each other and brightens the mood and vibe of the whole place.

From telanganatourism.gov.in

Each day has a special and unique bathukamma which are listed below:

  • Day 1: Angili pula Bhathukamma
  • Day 2: Attukula Bhathukamma
  • Day 3: Muddappappu Bhathukamma
  • Day 4: Nanbiyyam Bhathukamma
  • Day 5: Atla Bhathukamma
  • Day 6: Aligina Bhathukamma (alaka Bhathukamma)
  • Day 7: Vepakayala Bhathukamma
  • Day 8: Venna muddala Bhathukamma
  • Day 9: Saddula Bhathukamma brothers bring flowers to mother and sisters to do bathukamma. – wikipedia

This festival depicts our culture and tradition.This festival reminds to us that we should never forget our roots ,our culture, our traditions and reminds us of the beauty of our culture.

Thankyou^^

Featured pic taken from:
https://bhoopalapally.telangana.gov.in/festival/bathukamma/

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic disease. It is caused by the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The virus attacks the immune system, causing a potential life threat. Initially, the infected person may not show any or negligible symptoms like dry cough, chills, nausea, fever, body aches, and loss of appetite. A prolonged period with no symptoms may make it seem normal, but over time, the virus interferes more with the immune system, which makes the body much vulnerable to infections and results in tumors and tuberculosis. Such symptoms which show up later are said to be Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Abnormal weight loss can be seen in this stage.

Causes of AIDS

The cause of AIDS is HIV infection. The virus copies its RNA into the host cell’s DNA, altering the genetics of the body. This ability of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) makes it a retrovirus. HIV targets and destroys the White Blood Cells (WBCs). The white blood cells are known as the immunity cells as they fight against any foreign bodies such as viruses, bacteria, fungus, or any other infections and diseases. As the WBCs weaken, the overall immune system gets disturbed and weak, resulting in the inability of the body to fight against any disease.

How Does the Virus Transmit?

HIV is mainly transmitted from unprotected sexual intercourse through genital, oral, or rectal parts. The body fluids released during sexual activity transmit the virus from one infected body to the healthy body. Other than that, it can also transmit through pre-natal and blood.

In the case of blood, using the same needles as used on HIV positive person on a healthy person can easily infect the person. Even, transfusion of blood of an HIV-infected person into the body of a healthy person transmits the virus.
In pre-natal transmission, the virus is transmitted through the mother to the baby during pregnancy, during delivery, or through breastfeeding.

Treatment

AIDS is a lifelong disease that neither has a cure nor vaccine. But it can be treated and prevented. People have the misconception that HIV can even spread with minimum touch or contact with the infected person, without any sexual contact necessarily. It is important to have protected sex to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. After all, prevention is better than cure.

It is advised to have safe sex and wear condoms by any of the partners, be it male or female. It not only prevents unplanned pregnancy but also safeguards against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
It is better to get tested for HIV routinely and to have a restricted number of partners to have sex with.

Stigma Related to AIDS

Many people still have the misconception that AIDS is contagious and often maintain a distance from people with AIDS. There have been various instances where people with AIDS are not accepted socially. They are often not offered jobs or terminated from their jobs after finding their disease.

Many cultures and religions discourage the use of condoms as they believe it is a barrier to the natural process. Such ill practices contribute to the spread of such diseases.

Conclusion

HIV is not a contagious disease; however, it is life-threatening. Being bullied or secluded by people makes it much tougher for HIV patients to survive. They are already suffering, and discrimination against them makes them mentally suffer more than they are already suffering physically due to the underlying disease.

HIV-positive patients can lead healthy and normal life with proper treatment, love, and affection. It is important to create awareness among people regarding AIDS. Educating them about the fatality and the importance of getting tested on a regular basis for HIV is crucial.

MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY (AMENDMENT) BILL 2021

Context: Recently, the Rajya Sabha passed the Medical Termination Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

● The Bill seeks to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.

● This Act covers abortions in India. It had been amended in 1975 and 2002.

●This is an important Bill that seeks to enhance the reproductive rights of women in india .

● Before the enactment of this legislation, abortion was prohibited under Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code.

According to this MTP Act, 1971, a pregnancy may be medically terminated by a registered medical practitioner:

  1. Where the length of the pregnancy does not exceed twelve weeks (for this, the opinion of one doctor was required).
  2. Where the length of the pregnancy has exceeded twelve weeks but does not exceed 20 weeks. In this case, for the abortion to take place, two doctors must be of the opinion that the continuation of the pregnancy would impair the mental and/or physical health of the mother, and/or that if the child were to be born, it would suffer from serious physical or mental abnormalities causing it to be handicapped.
  3. The law also required minor pregnant women to get written consent from the guardian for the abortion to be allowed.

Provisions:

Termination due to Failure of Contraceptive Method

Under the Act, a pregnancy may be terminated up to 20 weeks by a married woman in the case of failure of contraceptive method or device. The Bill allows unmarried women to also terminate a pregnancy for this reason.

Opinion Needed for Termination of Pregnancy:

• Opinion of one registered medical practitioner (instead of two or more) for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation.

• Opinion of two registered medical practitioners for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.

• Opinion of the State-level medical board is essential for a pregnancy to be terminated after 24 weeks in case of substantial foetal abnormalities.

Medical Boards:

Every state government is required to constitute a Medical board

These Medical Boards will consist of the 5 members:

(i) a gynaecologist

(ii) a paediatrician

(iii) a radiologist or sonologist

(iv) any other number of members, as may be notified by the state government.

Upper Gestation Limit for Special Categories:

It enhances the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women which will be defined in the amendments to the MTP Rules and would include survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, minors) etc.

Confidentiality:

The “name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed”, except to a person authorised in any law that is currently in force.

Benefits:

Termination in Case of Anomaly:

A number of foetus abnormalities are detected after the 20th week, often turning a wanted pregnancy into an unwanted one.

Helps Special Category Women:

The law will help the rape victims, ill and under-age women to nd unde terminate the unwanted pregnancy lawfully.

Beneficial for Unmarried Women:

The Bill also applies to unmarried women and therefore, relaxes one of the regressive clauses of the 1971 Act, i.e., single women couldn’t cite contraceptive failure as a reason for seeking an abortion.

Allowing unmarried women to medically terminate pregnancies and a provision to protect the privacy of the person seeking an abortion will bestow reproductive rights to the women.

Abortion laws across the world:

Abortion laws vary across the world. It is learnt that around 60 countries prescribe gestational limits.

• 52 % including France, the UK, Austria, Ethiopia, Italy, Spain, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and even Nepal, allow for termination beyond 20 weeks on the diagnosis of foetal abnormalities.

● Some countries go beyond even these limits with laws in 23 countries-Canada, Germany, Vietnam, Denmark, Ghana, and Zambia-allowing for abortion at any time during the pregnancy on the request of the mother.

●Recently, Argentina became both the largest Latin American country and the third South American country to legalize abortion.

Challenges:

Viability of the Foetus:

● A key aspect of the legality governing abortions has always been the ‘viability’ of the foetus.

● Viability implies the period from which a foetus is capable of living outside the womb.

● As technology improves, with infrastructure up-gradation, and with skilful professionals driving medical care, this ‘viability’ naturally improves.

• Currently, viability is usually placed at about seven months (28 weeks) but may occur earlier, even at 24 weeks.

Thus, late termination of pregnancy may get in conflict with the viability of the foetus.

Preference for a Male Child:

The preference for a male child keeps sex determination centres in bussiness in spite of their illegal status. There are concerns that a more liberal abortion law can aggravate this state-of-affairs.

Change of Choice:

The current Bill does not consider factors such as personal choice, a sudden change in circumstances (due to separation from or eath of a partner), and domestic violence

Medical Boards:

●The present healthcare budgetary allocation makes setting up a board across the country, both financially and practically impossible.

● Access to the board by pregnant women in remote areas of the state is a matter of concern.

●No time limit set to respond to the requests.

● The board will subject women to multiple examinations before allowing her to terminate her pregnancy. This is a violation of right to privacy and right to live with dignity.

Way Forward

●Though Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) bill 2021 is a step in the right direction, the government needs to ensure that all norms and standardised protocols in clinical practice to facilitate abortions are followed in health care institutions across the country.

●Along with that, the question of abortion needs to be decided on the basis of human rights, the principles of solid science, and in step with advancements in technology.

FAILURES: REGRESSIVE OR PROGRESSIVE ?

“The only difference between success and failure is ability to take action.”….. Alexander Graham Bell

WHAT IS A FAILURE?

According to Wikipedia, “FAILURE is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as opposite of success.”

In another definition of “ FAILURE is the act of falling short of a goal of a person, who hasn’t achieved what they set out to. It is a cessation of proper functioning or performance or rather a decline in strength or effectiveness.”

HOW IS IT DIFFER WITH SUCCESS?

Your action in your field of work, in your niche, in your desired goal of life, actually work like a decisive factor. If you feel harassed, defeated, exhausted, and give up pursuing, your efforts are bound to hang in the hands of destiny. These things leave you to procrastinate. Start moving away from the active zone and surrender to a gloomy laziness and here begins your downfall.

Now if you see this entire act in opposite train, you are able to penetrate and grip the reason of failure. You reschedule and reprogram your activity. You put more organised, alive and determined endeavour and keep faith within yourself, you are bound to hug success.

FAILURES ARE OUR BEST TEACHERS.

They are stepping stones to success, or to put it in other Words, they are the pillars of success. Since failures teach us to introspect or peep within, they make us think of our weaknesses and flaws and learn lessons from them and vow not to repeat these mistakes again in life. In this way they are a mirror to our real personality and provide scope for upgrading ourselves. Failures may discourage, depress, or demoralize. Most do shake a person’s confidence at least for some time but nor for ever. The real strength of a man comes out only when he faces the ups and downs of life with patience and perseverance.

BE OPTIMISTIC

Men of courage face each rejection courageously and come out unharmed and unblemished. Failures and sufferings bring out the best of human beings. They learn that life is not a bed of roses only; it is full of challenges, obstacles and obstructions which can be set aside with persistent hard work and repeated efforts. To achieve anything in life one has to be aggressive, as nothing is achieved by being passive or pessimistic. Fear of failure may be a hindrance for some people, but to any daring person, it is just an illusion. You may think something is standing in your way, but there is nothing there.

You have an opportunity to do your best and conquer success. If it turns out that your best was not good enough, you’ll just have to look back and say, maybe I was too afraid to try, it was not good enough. There is nothing wrong with that, but nevertheless, a great eye-opener.

HOW DOES IT WORK LIKE A PROPELLING FACTOR?

Failure always made me try harder the next time. Think positive. and find fuel in failure’ is a sound advice. Failure will surely get you closer to where you want to be. The greatest discoverers had to face hundreds of failures before the final answers were found. The inventors, researchers and pathfinders had to encounter manifold hardships and opposition. But were they deterred by failures? Many often could not taste success but left great legacy to be followed by others to seek inspiration and take up their half-finished work. The world would not have progressed and the march to civilization would have halted if failures could dampen the spirit of the people. It is, therefore, advisable not to be discouraged by failures but to develop positive attitude to life, that obstacles are bound to be there. Only commitment to your mission must be steadfast.

SO…..NEVER GIVE UP

Therefore, when failures appear awfully incontrollable and life appears miserable, one has to remember “The end part of every night is the darkest one and then comes the dawn.” Thus, when nothing appears to work out in the desired way and all roads seems to lead to failures, one has to just remember the advent of the dawn. Therefore, we shouldn’t drop hope but keep on trying till we achieve. No one knows, that the final round exertion may declare one a champion.