Why China Wants To Choose The Next Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama and Tibet’s spiritual leader, will turn 86 years old on July 6, 2021. As the Tibetan spiritual leader becomes older, doubts about his succession resurface. China recently released a white paper demanding that the next Dalai Lama be chosen with Chinese official permission, claiming historical practices.

The Dalai Lama, one of Buddhism’s most known faces, is a significant aspect in disseminating Buddhist teachings to the international population. Senior monastic disciples have historically recognised the Dalai Lama’s successor, relying on spiritual indications and visions. However, the Chinese foreign ministry announced in 2011 that only the Chinese government can choose the next Dalai Lama, and that no other candidate ought to be acknowledged.

CHINESE OPPRESSION AND TIBETAN UNREST

Even after six decades of occupation in Tibet, the Chinese government has failed terribly in its attempts to win the hearts and minds of Tibetans. Tibetans have never used violence in the course of their resistance, no matter what they’ve done.  The selection procedure for the next Dalai Lama is now in limbo. China’s communist regime annexed Tibet in 1950, claiming that it has always belonged to China. The Dalai Lama escaped in 1959 and established an exile administration.

Presently, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is one of the world’s most well-established democratic exile governments. Many refer to it as a “bonsai democracy.” In reality, such an exile setup isn’t really a low-hanging fruit. It was envisaged by Tibet’s Dalai Lama and yielded fruition after six decades.

When he was six years old, the Chinese government arrested the Dalai Lama’s candidate for the 10th Panchen Lama’s successor, Gendun Choeki Nyima, in the year 1995. China has remained tight-lipped regarding his location since then. When the freshly elected 11th Panchen Lama was arrested, the Tibetan people revolted. In response, the Chinese government appointed its own Panchen Lama, the son of a Chinese security officer. Historically, the panchen lamas and dalai lamas have played important roles in identifying each other’s upcoming incarnations.

OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Because of the Chinese threat, the 14th Dalai Lama has made a series of remarks that would make a Chinese-appointed 15th Dalai Lama difficult to regard as genuine.

For instance, he has said that the institution of the Dalai Lama may no longer be required. However, he has also stated that it is up to the people to preserve this part of Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama lineage. Another possibility offered by the Dalai Lama is to announce his future reincarnation before he dies. In this situation, the Dalai Lama will pass on his spiritual enlightenment to the next Dalai Lama.

Tenzin Gyatso has also stated that if he dies outside of Tibet and the Panchen Lama remains absent, his reincarnation would be found elsewhere, probably in India.Lastly, he has suggested the idea of reincarnating as a woman — although he added in 2015 and 2019 interviews that he’d have to be an extremely attractive lady. After this remark drew considerable criticism in 2019, his staff issued an apology and expression of remorse for the harm he had caused.

The Dalai Lama is certain that no one would accept the Chinese government’s choice. As he has stated, the Tibetan population will never recognize a Chinese-appointed Dalai Lama.

INDIA’S STAKES IN TIBET

The Tibetan elite tended to view the  world through the lens of India, and thousands of Tibetans fled to India as refugees in 1959. Today, India is home to the world’s biggest Tibetan community, with over 75,000 individuals.

Today, India’s land boundaries with China are largely those which exist between India and Tibet. China’s views on India are impacted in many ways by its Tibet policy. If a puppet Dalai Lama emerges from China, India could face significant geopolitical issues. Not only India, but also the entire Himalayan area. It is very likely that China would utilise the ‘Dalai Lama Institution’ as a political tool to encroach on these areas. China is skilled at fabricating tales that even history cannot follow. 

To discourage China’s politicisation of the Dalai Lama and leadership in Buddhism, New Delhi must give the  Dalai Lama more realistic attention, similar to US legislation on Tibet, which explicitly says that China must not intervene in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. So far, India has opted not to intervene in the matter.

Is the defeat in wtc acceptable? Questions arises over virat’s captaincy.

The final of the WTC(2019-2021) was played from 18 to 23 June 2021 at the Rose Bowl Southampton, England, between India and New Zealand. It was initially scheduled for five days, but time lost during the game to rain interruptions so there was a sixth day reserved for outcome of results. And as expected  the planned reserve day was used .New Zealand won the match by eight wickets to be crowned as the winners of the ICC World Test Championship                                           

  • Newzealand captions kane Williamson & Ross Taylor returning after playing winning knock in WTC(2019-2021) final

After the defeat of the Indian team, the captain comes first on target . The news about the outraged  Indian fans , annoyed cricket expert and WhatsApp memes start circulating over the internet. The netizens and twitterati starts demanding that the captain should leave the capticancy. But the question arises that is it right time to take back his captaincy? Or if he is removed from the captaincy then do we have any good option for his replacement? But before making any conclusions , let’s have a look over virat’s captaincy record.

  • Indian captain virat kholi after the defeat in wtc final.

Virat has captained 61 test with a winning percentage of 59.01% , which includes 36 wins ,15 losses and 10draws . He is having second best winning percentage as a captain among all current playing captains. When talked about oneday cricked , virat has a win percentage of about 70% , which includes 65 wins. His win percentage in T20 cricket is 65.1% which includes 27 wins. It’s just unfortunate that virat has lost couple of icc trophies even with sach a fantastic record in mordern day cricket .

What’s the experts view?

“The decision of making and removing someone from captaincy cannot be taken emotionally. If someone asks to remove virat from captaincy then can we remove him on the basis of single match? When talked about the record, virat has won 36 matches . I personally feel that just because of loosing single match we should not overreact. There was our mistakes, batting mistake , team management mistake . If we actually talk about the captaincy debate then it is quite clear that it will happen in T20 cricket. But even it’s not right time to discuss over T20 cricket now because world cup commencing and if we continue these debate then cricket would be harmed the most. I feel that virat is captain and the world cup plan is designed with him . If the india looses the World cup then it’s sure that Rohit would be made captain of T20 format.” Said the cricketing expert Vikrant Gupta.

“Do we have any alternative for captaincy? Is there any better option for virat’s replacement? Is there anyone who can score runs consistently and can do captiancy like him in a pressure situation. I don’t think that it’s right time to remove him from his captiancy.” Said the indian sport journalist vijay Lokapally.

☝️Visit these link to know about other cricketing expert view on wtc final.

Mars- The Red Planet

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, being larger than only Mercury. Mars is often referred to as the “Red Planet ”, which refers to the effect of the iron oxide prevalent on Mars’s surface, which gives it a reddish appearance distinctive among the objects visible to the naked eye.Its apparent magnitude reaches −2.94, which is surpassed only by Venus, the Moon and the Sun.

Some facts about Mars

Diameter-  6,780km

Orbital period-  1.88yrs

Length of a Day-   24hr, 37min

Axis tilt-  25 degrees

Distance from the Sun- 228 million kilometer ( 1.52AU )

Moons- Phobos and deimos

Special features

 Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, with surface features reminiscent of the impact craters of the Moon and the valleys, deserts and polar ice caps of Earth. The days and seasons are comparable to those of Earth, because the rotational period as well as the tilt of the rotational axis relative to the ecliptic plane are similar. Mars is the site of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano and highest known mountain on any planet in the Solar System, and of Valles Marineris, one of the largest canyons in the Solar System. The smooth Borealis basin in the Northern Hemisphere covers 40% of the planet and may be a giant impact feature. Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are small and irregularly shaped. 

Exploration

Mars has been explored by several uncrewed spacecraft. Mariner 4 was the first spacecraft to visit Mars; launched by NASA on 28 November 1964, it made its closest approach to the planet on 15 July 1965. The Soviet Mars 3 mission included a lander, which achieved a soft landing in December 1971; however, contact was lost seconds after touchdown. On 20 July 1976, Viking 1 performed the first successful landing on the Martian surface. On 4 July 1997, the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft landed on Mars and on 5 July released its rover, Sojourner, the first robotic rover to operate on Mars. The Mars Express orbiter, the first European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft to visit Mars, arrived in orbit on 25 December 2003. In January 2004, NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers, named Spirit and Opportunity, both landed on Mars. NASA landed its Curiosity rover on August 6, 2012, as a part of its Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission to investigate Martian climate and geology. On 24 September 2014, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) became the fourth space agency to visit Mars when its maiden interplanetary mission, the Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft, arrived in orbit.  China National Space Administration (CNSA)’s Tianwen-1 spacecraft arrived in Martian orbit on 10 February 2021. NASA’s Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter successfully landed on Mars on 18 February 2021. On 14 May 2021, CNSA’s Tianwen-1 lander and Zhurong rover successfully landed on Mars. The Zhurong rover was successfully deployed on 22 May 2021, which makes China the second country to successfully deploy a rover on Mars, after the United States. 

Phobos and Deimos

Phobos has a diameter of 22.2 km (13.8 mi) and a mass of 1.08×1016 kg, while Deimos measures 12.6 km (7.8 mi) across, with a mass of 2.0×1015 kg. Phobos orbits closer to Mars, with a semi-major axis of 9,377 km (5,827 mi) and an orbital period of 7.66 hours; the semi-major axis of Deimos’s orbit is 23,460 km (14,580 mi), with an orbital period of 30.35 hours.

Atmosphere

Mars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago, possibly because of numerous asteroid strikes, so the solar wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere, lowering the atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer layer. The atmosphere of Mars consists of about 96% carbon dioxide, 1.93% argon and 1.89% nitrogen along with traces of oxygen and water. The atmosphere is quite dusty, containing particulates about 1.5 µm in diameter which give the Martian sky a tawny color when seen from the surface. It may take on a pink hue due to iron oxide particles suspended in it.

See the source image

Structure

Mars has a dense core at its center between 930 and 1,300 miles (1,500 to 2,100 kilometers) in radius. It’s made of iron, nickel, and sulfur. Surrounding the core is a rocky mantle between 770 and 1,170 miles (1,240 to 1,880 kilometers) thick, and above that, a crust made of iron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, and potassium.

Mars – Wikipedia
In Depth | Mars – NASA Solar System Exploration

DOCTOR’S DAY

See the source image

The shield to our Health, the protector of our families, we grandly celebrate  Doctors Day in India to honor every doctor’s relentless hard work in securing our nation in every possible way. We graciously thank all the doctors, physicians for their dedicated hours in contributing to our country. The difficult times amid COVID-19 have once again reminded us about the contributions and sacrifices made by doctors and the healthcare staff around the globe daily. In honor of this noble profession, Doctor’s Day is celebrated on different dates across the world. This year is once again dedicated to all those doctors and healthcare professionals who are serving in these trying times by risking their lives either in primary as well as secondary care setups or in dedicated COVID care facilities.

Doctor’s Day in India

Doctors Day in India is celebrated on July 1st every year.  The aim of observing National Doctor’s Day is to draw attention to the role and duties of medical professionals in saving lives. The purpose of the day is to recognize their roles and responsibilities. During the Covid-19 outbreak, when the number of cases rose tremendously, doctors have been working around the clock, risking their lives in order to save as many lives as possible. Instead of worrying about their own and their families safety, they decided to serve the country. They worked tirelessly in the hour of crisis.

History

National Doctors’ Day is celebrated on July 1, in India, to mark the birth and honor the contributions of renowned physician and former West Bengal chief minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. The first National Doctors’ Day was celebrated in the year 1991. He was instrumental in establishing institutions like Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, among others. He was awarded with the Bharat Ratna on February 4, 1961.

Doctor’s Day 2021

The Doctors Day 2021 will be all about the critical role of health care professionals in combating pandemics together. We are looking to celebrate this venerable day with zeal and embrace the success in fighting the COVID-19 till now. In his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address on the last Sunday of June 27th, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminded the nation of the contributions made by doctors and corona warriors during the Coronavirus pandemic. He said that the nation “must pay its tributes to the the doctors who ensured that India did not succumb to the challenges posed by Covid-19.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “On Doctors Day, my greetings to all doctors. India’s strides in the world of medicine are commendable and have contributed to making our planet healthier.” PM Modi, in his Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday, remembered Dr BC Roy and said, “We must pay tribute to our doctors who ensured that India did not succumb to the challenges posed by Covid-19.”

For all of us, the current pandemic that the world is undergoing is perhaps the most difficult time we are ever facing in our lives. It is even more difficult for the doctors who are working tirelessly to ensure that all those that are infected are provided with proper medical facilities. Their contributions and hard work deserve our gratitude each and every day and not only on any particular day. Their contribution to the healthcare industry is incomparable.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON CARBON EMISSIONS

Peoples in India can see the Himalayas with naked eyes for the first time in ‘decades

The unprecedented global disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic is likely causing a sharp, brief drop in carbon emissions. 

  • Due to global lockdown ‘s impact on transport, demand for oil has fallen at an unprecedented scale. 
  • Gas demand falls less than oil or coal. 
  • The country’s CO² emission fell down by 15% during March and fell 30%in April. 
  • According to Daily data from the national grid. Coal – fired power generation fell 15% in March and 31% in April. 
  • Renewable energy generation increased by 6.4% in March. 
  • Due to reduced power generation, Industrial activity and transport volume. Thus, it has reduced fossil – related and cement – induced CO² emission. 

China is  the first country where the virus’s impact on carbon emissions  became visible

Carbon dioxide emission in China

According to China Emissions Accounts and Datasets(CEADs) :

  • Reduction of 257.7 Mt. (11%) over Q1 2019
  • Secondary industry contributed 186.8Mt.(72.5%) CO² to the total reduction (largely due to lower coal consumption and cement production). 
  • Hubei contributed 40.6Mt. reduction (due to decrease of 48.2%in secondary industry).
  • Transportation significantly contributes 65.1Mt. With a change of – 22.3% in freight transport and – 59.1% in passenger transport compared with Q1 2019.

      Globally :

  • Aviation decreased by 75%.
  • Surface Transport by 50%.
  • Power generation by 15%.
  • Industry – uncertain but~35%.
  • Small increase in residential buildings of 5%.

     Fossil Fuel:

  • Drop 8% in 3 month and peak drop 17% unprecedented 
  • Emissions in individual countries decreased by ~27%.
  • Emission from surface transport accounted for 43% of decrease, industry and power together accounted 43% and aviation. 
  • Drop in CO² Emissions had no detectable impact on atmospheric CO² or Climate change 
  • It is extremely small compared to the emission accumulated. 

Carbon dioxide emissions in India 

  • As lower power demand growth and competition from renewables weakened the demand for thermal power generation through the last 1 year. 
  • CO² emission fell by an estimated 15% during March and 30% in April. 
  • The fiscal year ending March, coal sales by main coal producer Coal India Ltd. Fell by 4.3%.

Coal import increased by3.2%

Total coal delivery fell by 2%

  • In March, coal output increased 6.5%. 

     Oil Demand :

  • Oil consumption slow down since early 2019.
  • During national lockdown, oil consumption fell 18% on March 2020.
  • Crude oil production in India decrease 5.9% compared to last financial year.

Thus, CO² emissions fell by 30mt.(1.4%) in fiscal year ending March. 

Environmental health due to Carbon Emission during Global lockdown

  • The positive effect of lockdown is to decrease the CO2 emission by −17% (−11 to −25%) by 7th April 2020 with respect to the mean level of emission in 2019.
  •  Air quality index (AQI) is the assessment of air quality. The lower the AQI value, the better is the air. The normal air quality index range is (100−200) and presently it is in the satisfactory range (50–100) category as reported by Gurfam being a scientist at SAFAR. 
  • Zambrano-Monserrate et al. (2020) reported that the air quality index (AQI) has decreased by 44%, 33%, 29%, 15% and 32% in north, south, east, central and western India respectively. 
  • The same study also shows that from March 16th to April 14th, 2020, 22 cities of India show the reduction of PM10 (Particulate matter), PM2.5, CO, NO2, by 43, 31, 10 and 18%. During the quarantine period in COVID-19, the amount of NO2 was decreased by 22.8 μg/m3 and 12.9 μg/m3 in Wuhan and China respectively. 
  • In 367 cities, the PM2.5 fell by 18.9 μg/m3. As per the report of CAMS 2020 reduction of 20–30% of PM2.5 is observed in a wide area of China.
  •  Mahato et al.investigated that after three weeks of lockdown period from 24th March 2020, pollution of the Delhi, India, has experienced a noticeable reduction of different air pollution causing materials in the following Table

Comparison between different pollutants present in air before and after lockdown.

Reduction in carbon emission also lead to Ozone layer recovery over Antarctica:

  • The ozone layer is found in the upper atmosphere called the stratosphere between 10 and 50 km from the earth. 
  • The ozone layer acts as a natural sunscreen and plays a very important function by absorbing the harmful U—V rays from the sun. 
  • Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are gases such as chlorine and/or bromine which breaks the ozone layer in the stratosphere. Various ODS are present in the environment are chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFCs), Methyl chloride and various halones.
  •  By the reaction with UV sunlight, these gases form chlorine and bromine and they are responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer. 
  • The international community signed the Montreal Protocol on substances about the depletion of the ozone layer, 30 years ago.
    •  According to the protocol, the consumption and production of ozone-depleting compounds should be regulated.
    •  By banning chlorine-containing synthetic compounds the rate of depletion declined and scientists expect to recover back to the 1980 level up to 2070.
    •  As per the scientific data of 2018, the stratosphere recovered at the rate of 1–3% per decade since 2000.
  •  After the lockdown began on Jan 23, the particulate matter pollution decreased by an average of 35% and NO2 decreased by an average of 60%. 
  • At the same period, scientists found the average surface ozone concentration increased by a factor of 1.5–2. 
  • Emission of ozone-depleting substances is also natural or man-made.
  •  All man-made emission is controlled because of lockdown during COVID-19. 
  • Production and consumption of ODS are also reduced. The World meteorological Organization (WMO) states that economic activity has been limited during COVID-19 which results in a decline in CO2 emission.
  •  In 2019, As per NASA and NOAA reported that the south pole region of Antarctica has warm temperature in the upper atmosphere which caused a small ozone hole since it was first seen in 1982 . 
  • On 23rd April 2020 Copernicus, atmospheric monitoring services (CAMS) announced that the largest hole was ever seen in the ozone layer over the arctic has been closed.
  •  Although lockdown is surely showing the prominent sign of nature, balance restoration of the ozone layer .
The map of holes in the ozone layer over Antarctica (a) 23rd May, 2020  (b) September 08, 2019

Impact of COVID 19 on Energy resources

The breakout of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) toward the end of 2019 and its culminating transformation into a global pandemic sent shockwaves across the nations. Not only people lost their lives to it, but also numerous industries and governments as a whole succumbed to its impacts. To prevent the spread of the disease, many countries have resorted to observing country-wide lockdowns, damaging the normalcy of their economy. The world economy has seen new lows by trillions of dollars during this period, giving rise to times of constant anxiety about the future. The renewable energy sector, which has always been one of the leading areas to promote sustainability in terms of the environment, too is not spared from being affected by the pandemic. An amalgamation of the effects of the pandemic on the global economy and fluctuating oil prices resulting from country-wide lockdowns across the world further triggered its impact on the renewable energy industry. This work highlights the extensive impacts of COVID-19 on the renewable energy sector of India, a country that has proved itself to be proactive and progressive when it comes to solutions toward sustainable development. It showcases the present impacts of the pandemic on the sector and highlights future projections of the way it may continue to affect this sector as the world continues to struggle with the pandemic. The authors have brought up a set of their opined regulations that the administration and policymakers of the renewable energy sector of India can adopt to avert or reduce the extensivity of the impact of COVID-19 on their sector.

SHIVA TRILOGY BY AMISH TRIPATHI

“WHOLE UNIVERSE BOWS TO LORD SHIVA, I BOWS TO LORD SHIVA”

BOOK 1: THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA- One of the most fascinating book when it comes to read through mythological genre. The dream to see Shiva as a human comes into reality. A mixture of thriller, romance, action, and comedy. An complete package to know deeply the cultural roots of India. Exploring and defining the minute details to paint the most imaginative of landscapes, structures and people gives him the upper hand over the contemporary writings in India. he language used makes certain that the story could reach to the average Indian and besides a few instances, there is very little that you’ll have to concentrate hard on to understand. It proves to be the best starting of journey closer to Lord Shiva.

BOOK 2: THE SECRETS OF NAGAS- It reveals many mystries still some are left, the entry of Ganesh and Kali, the real faces of nagas are discovered. The journey of Kartik growing up, much secrets of pasts everything seems to fit as a perfect piece on the puzzle. The secrets of secrets is exposed! Many thrillers and suspense are beautifully presented. More curiosity had risen in minds of people. The book will definitely fulfill your expectations of the sequel book. It’s also the acceptance of the books, which nonetheless invades the privacy of religious monotone scriptures, but at the same time, shines a torch on it, proves the plot strength of our religious books and shows the readiness of people to help grow the literary scene of our country.

BOOK 3: THE OATH OF VAYUPUTRAS- Amish had done a great sum up of the story. The evil is exposed and many hidden secrets had come into light. Shiva takes it upon himself to fight against the fiercest of warriors, thereby leading the people away from what they believed to be good. And then, well, you can guess how it all ends! The journey is well depicted even at the end. Ending is not marked as great as one expect but it shows the real life destiny of one’s life. Indeed the book proved to be a nice conclusive one. It also brings to light certain key topics like loyalty, companionship and the battle to banish evil from our minds.

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER(OCD)

Diagram chart of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder .

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life . It occurs when an individual gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions . It can be said that person with OCD are plagued by constant thoughts of fears that cause them to perform rituals or routines . The disturbing thoughts are called obsessions and rituals are called compulsions .

In simple words , OCD is a type of mental of disorder that causes repeated unwanted thoughts . To get rid of the unwanted thoughts , he/she performs the same task/activity again and again . For example, a person may fear that everything he/she touches has germs on it . So , to get rid of that fear he/she washes his/her hands again and again . Persons suffering from OCD might understand that their obsessions are unreasonable , but trying to stop or ignore them causes anxiety and stress . There are some symptoms of OCD , which may range from mild to severe . Some of the obsession and compulsions are mentioned below.

Main obsessions

  • A fear of harm to yourself or loved one .
  • A fear of contamination by germs .
  • A forceful or driving need to perform things perfectly or correctly .
  • Having excessive doubt on any individual .
  • A fear of being embarrassed .
  • A fear of getting dirty .
  • A fear of making mistakes.

Main compulsions

  • Repeating things or always moving items to keep them in exact order .
  • Bathing or washing hands several times.
  • Checking things over and over again.
  • Repeating specific words.
  • Hoarding .
  • Constant praying.

Causes of OCD

The exact cause of obsessive compulsive disorder is still unknown . Research studies suggest that there may be a problem with the way one part of the brain sends information to another part . Serotonin is the chemical in the brain that sends messages from one part to another . Insufficiency of serotonin may help in causing OCD . Stress and anxiety do not cause OCD but they may worsen the symptoms of OCD.

Recent studies have indicated that there may be considerable genetic basis for OCD. Depression is also thought to be the cause of OCD but the experts’ opinion is split .

🌳Forests of India🌳:

Types of Forest

Natural Evergreen Forest🌳:

Natural vegetation refers to a plant community un affected by man either directly or indirectly.

Topic Evergreen Forest 🌳:

🌟These Forests are found in areas with 200 cm or more annual rainfall.
🌟The annual temperature is more than 22°C and the advantage annual humidity exceeds 70 percent.
🌟Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Karnataka Kerala,Andhaman-Nicobar Islands, Assam, West Bengal,Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya states have this type of Forest.
🌟The most important tress are rubber, mahogany, ebony rosewood etc.,

Tropical Deciduous Forest🌳 :

🌟These are found in the areas with 100 to 200 cm annual rainfall. These are called “Monsoon Forests “.
🌟The meann annual temperature of this region is about 27°C and the average annual relative humidity is 60 to 70 percent.
🌟Teak and sal are the most important tress.
🌟Sandalwood, rosewood, Kasum etc ., are trees of economic importance.
🌟They provide fragrant oil vanish,sandal oil and perfumes.

Tropical Dry Forest🌳 :

🌟These are found in the areas with 50 to 100 cm annual rainfall.
🌟Mahua, banyan ,amaltas,palas,haldu,kikar,bamboo, babool,khair etc., are the important species.
🌟These are also called as “Tropical thron forests”. These are found in the areas having annual rainfall of less than 50 cm.
🌟They have low humidity and high temperature.

Mountain or Motane Forest🌳 :

These Forests are classified on the basic of altitude and amount of rainfall. Accordingly two different type of Forests namely
i. Eastern Himalayas Forest
ii. Western Himalayas Forest.

i. Eastern Himalayas Forests🌳:

🌟 These are found on the slopes of mountains in north-east states.
🌟These Forests receive rainfall of more than 200 cm.
🌟The vegetation is of Evergreen type.
🌟The Altitude between 1200-2400m found in this type of Forest.
🌟Sal ,oak , Laura, amura, chestnut,cinnamon are the main areas.

ii. Western Himalayas Forest🌳:

🌟These Forests are found in the states of jammed and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
🌟Upto 900 m Altitude semi desert vegetation is found and it is known for bushes and small tress.
🌟 In Altitude from 900 to 1800 m, chir tree is the most common tree.

Alpine Forest 🌳:

🌟 It occurs all along the Himalayas with above 2400m Altitude.
🌟These are purely having coniferous trees.
🌟Oak,silver fir,pine and juniper are the main trees of these Forests.
🌟The Eastern parts of Himalayas has large extent of these Forests.

Tital Forest 🌳:

🌟These Forests occur in and around the deltas ,estuaries and creeks prone to tidal influence and as such are also known as delta or swamp Forests.
🌟The delta of the Ganga – Brahmaputra has the largest tidal Forest.
🌟The deltas of Mahanadi ,Godavari and Krishna rivers are also known for tidal Forests.
🌟These are also known as mangrove Forest.

Coastal Forests 🌳:

🌟There are littoral Forests.
🌟Causing,palm and coconut are the dominant trees.
🌟Both the Eastern and western coasts have this type of Forests.
🌟The coast of Kerala and Goa are known for this type.

Riverine Forest 🌳:

🌟These Forests are found along the rivers on Khadar areas.
🌟These are known for tamarisk and tamarind trees.
🌟The Rivers of Great plains are more prominent for this type of natural vegetation

Internship, Skill Development and training related

Internship

InTRODUCTION:-

The internship program is designed to provide students engaged in a field experience with an opportunity to share their insights, to explore the links between students’ academic preparation and their field work, and to assist participants in developing and carrying out the major research project which will serve to culminate their internship experience. Internships are individualized and tailored to the needs and interests of each student in the program. As part of the internship experience, students are expected to take an active role in finding an appropriate internship for themselves. Many students pursue their own contacts, however, information is available on Locating Internship Sites.
There is something in internships that is all the more inescapable than the sweet fragrance of a rose flower – Learning. An adage suggests, “Learning is not preparation for life; Learning is life itself.” Learning in every point of life is cardinal in its own way. When students experience a continuous learning environment, they get an opportunity to explore diverse and unexplored territorial domains. What thus follows is a phantasmagoria of constructive and highly rewarding events. This eventually leads to new ideas. Internships are cherished by students and multiple internships are mandated in a few reputed organizations.

Here is a curated list of reasons why internships are important–

1. Employers’ Perspective − In this ultra-competitive world where getting a job is an achievement in itself, the perspectives of potential employers and recruiters cannot be undermined. In a survey conducted by National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an overwhelming 95% of employers opined that ‘candidate experience’ is ‘necessary’ and ‘desirable.’ In other words, when it comes to hiring candidates, candidates who have interned with startups or corporates get an edge over other inexperienced candidates.
2. Hiring Decisions and Hiring Avenues − ‘Hiring from the interns’ program has become the latest corporate fad. During their gig as interns in various corporates, interns acquaint themselves with several industry best practices. They get accustomed to the corporate environment. Internships improve the quality of candidates as they are delegated with a few responsibilities and monitored constantly. Thanks to the responsibilities entrusted to interns, creativity kicks in and candidates start giving their very best. Interns who have surpassed the expectations of their employers will be offered jobs.
3. Building Critical Professional Contacts − College students clamoring for profound change should solicit advice from experienced professionals and build a rich professional network. Students should therefore create a dedicated profile and stay in touch with others. This helps them while searching for new jobs.
4. Career Path and Career Goals − Students are generally lost in the vagaries of the so-called ‘Student life’ and hence, they begin to abandon a precise and a thorough understanding of ‘Career Path’ and ‘Career Goals.’ Once students start interning with startups or corporates, they start taking matured decisions. The concepts of ‘Career Path’ and ‘Career Goals’ no longer seem abstract.
5. Theory vs Implementation − In colleges, students seldom get an opportunity to implement and put into practice what they had learnt. On the contrary, interns gain a valuable hands-on experience by implementing what they had learnt. Internships thus helps interns to apply academic knowledge to solve industry problems.
6. Monetary Value − John Maynard Keynes, the celebrated British economist once said, “The importance of money flows from it being a link between the present and the future.” Internship is undoubtedly a voyeuristic invasion of one’s full-fledged salaried life. In other words, students get an opportunity to take a glimpse into their full-time professional lives. As interns, students are generally paid a decent amount. As full-fledged employees, they are paid even better. Moreover, ‘Earn while you learn’ becomes an actuality rather than an abstraction.
7. Intangible Benefits − There is no gainsaying that students begin to exude the joy of life by enjoying the inherent thrills of internship. They master the ability to take calculated risks. Warren Buffet, the celebrated multi-billionaire owes his wealth to his ability of taking calculated risks. On an optimistic note, students can become the next Warren Buffet. As much clichéd as it sounds confidence matters. The fantastic learning experiences as interns will bolster the confidence levels of students. Commitment to work and dedication to job automatically follow the suit. Self-confidence and self-esteem are welcome additions.
8. Resume − Internships make a student’s resume impactful and impressive. They provide the necessary momentum and fillip and eventually make their resumes all the more effective. During the hiring process, companies generally ask for references. After duly taking the permission of the Line Manager and Project Manager under whom you have interned as XXX (designation), students can mention their names and contact details preferably email-ids and mobile phone numbers in the reference section of their resume. As an alternative, students can obtain reference letters one each from their Project Manager and Line Manager. Remember, there are no better testimonies other than the reference letters drafted by the officials concerned. All in all, internships serve as resume builders.
9. Multi-faceted Traits − College students are multi-talented and multi-faceted individuals. They are extremely versatile and brilliant. By participating in various internships that are in no way related to their majors, students get an opportunity to fine-tune their extra-curricular skills. For example, a student who may be a brilliant programmer can also be an excellent content writer. He can opt for content writing internships and draft quality content.

NOTE:-The benefits of an internship are endless and enormous. Today an intern, tomorrow a top-notch professional!

Skill Development

INTRODUCTION:-

Skill development is a process of identifying your skill gap and ensuring you develop these skills. Your skills determine your ability to execute plans and achieve your goals. Skill development and training is an integral part of an employee’s life.Skill development is a vital tool to empower people, to safeguard their future and for the overall development of an individual. It is an important aspect that enhances employability in today’s globalisation. Skills are as essential as one’s academic status. Education and skills should now go hand in hand.
Escort Skill Development- CSR Projects India
* It identifies the gaps and develops the skills which enable the person to achieve their goals.
* An ability and capacity acquired through deliberate, systematic, and sustained effort to smoothly and adaptively carryout complex activities or job functions involving ideas (cognitive skills), things (technical skills), and/or people (interpersonal skills).

* The recognition, practice, and internalization of skills towards improved execution of skills.
* Skill development is the method of detecting skill gaps and improving these skills.

FEW Ways To Improve Your Personal Development Skills:-

Key takeaways:

  • Personal development skills can be soft or technical skills.
  • Select which skills to develop by performing a self-analysis on your areas for improvement and necessary skills to advance in your career or industry.
  • Focus on transferable skills that make you a competitive candidate in any job.

What are personal development skills?

Personal development skills are qualities and abilities that help you grow both personally and professionally. In other words, they are skills that help you nurture your personal development. Understanding and improving these skills can help you maximize your potential. This process is also known as self-development or personal growth.

Why are personal development skills important?

Personal development skills are important because they allow you to create strategic and tactical plans for personal and professional growth towards your goals. It can be helpful to hone personal development skills so that you can naturally work them into your daily routines and use them to:
  • Achieve personal and career goals
  • Advance in your career
  • Improve your strengths and talents
  • Better yourself
  • Find fulfillment and satisfaction

Examples of personal development skills:-

Personal development skills can be traits or qualities you already have or ones you can gain through education and training. Individuals will value different personal development skills depending on their goals, but here are some examples of skills people commonly practice to facilitate personal growth :
  • Communication
  • Interpersonal
  • Organization
  • Problem-solving
  • Self-confidence
  • Adaptability
  • Integrity
  • Work ethic
  • Leadership

Communication:-

Communication includes your ability to speak, write and listen. With these skills, you can understand what others are saying and feeling and also convey your own ideas and feelings. Good communicators can speak clearly and confidently, using a tone that is positive and appropriate for the situation.

Interpersonal:-

Also called people skills or social skills, interpersonal skills are the verbal and nonverbal behaviors and reactions to interactions with other people. They affect your ability to build relationships and make impressions on others in social situations.

Organization:-

Organization skills include the tidiness of your physical and digital spaces as well as your ability to plan, schedule and prioritize. Good organization can help save time, prevent miscommunications and improve efficiency.

Problem-solving:-

Problem-solving is your ability to handle challenging or surprising situations. Good problem-solvers can stay calm when they encounter obstacles and assess all their options to find the best solution.

Self-confidence:-

Self-confidence is the belief in your abilities, actions and decisions. If you have confidence in yourself, you might be more likely to pursue ambitious goals, try new things and believe you can succeed.

Adaptability:-

Adaptability is your ability to adjust quickly and easily to new things. People who handle change well often get along with a variety of personalities and thrive in any environment. They can also remain calm in surprising situations.

Integrity:-

People tend to trust those who are honest and stand by their values. Integrity means doing what is right and telling the truth, even if doing so presents challenges. Having integrity can lead to a good reputation and opportunities for advancement.

Work ethic:-

Work ethic includes not only hard work but also reliability, responsibility, quality, determination and discipline. People with good work ethic tend to be productive and have a positive attitude.

training

INTRODUCTION:-

Training refers to the teaching and learning activities carried on for the primary purpose of helping members of an organization acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes needed by a particular job and organization.Training constitutes a basic concept in human resource development. It is concerned with developing a particular skill to a desired standard by instruction and practice. Training is a highly useful tool that can bring an employee into a position where they can do their job correctly, effectively, and conscientiously. Training is the act of increasing the knowledge and skill of an employee for doing a particular job.

Definition of Training:–

Dale S. Beach defines training as ‘the organized procedure by which people learn knowledge and/or skill for a definite purpose’. Training refers to the teaching and learning activities carried on for the primary purpose of helping members of an organization acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes needed by a particular job and organization.
According to Edwin Flippo, ‘training is the act of increasing the skills of an employee for doing a particular job’.

Need for Training:–

Every organization should provide training to all the employees irrespective of their qualifications and skills.

Specifically the need for training arises because of following reasons:–

1. Environmental changes:–

Mechanization, computerization, and automation have resulted in many changes that require trained staff possessing enough skills. The organization should train the employees to enrich them with the latest technology and knowledge.

2. Organizational complexity:–

With modern inventions, technological upgradation, and diver­sification most of the organizations have become very complex. This has aggravated the problems of coordination. So, in order to cope up with the complexities, training has become mandatory.

3. Human relations:–

Every management has to maintain very good human relations, and this has made training as one of the basic conditions to deal with human problems.

4. To match employee specifications with the job requirements and organizational needs:–

An employee’s specification may not exactly suit to the requirements of the job and the organization, irrespective of past experience and skills. There is always a gap between an employee’s present specifications and the organization’s requirements. For filling this gap training is required.

5. Change in the job assignment:–

Training is also necessary when the existing employee is pro­moted to the higher level or transferred to another department. Training is also required to equip the old employees with new techniques and technologies.

Reference Links:-

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/importance-of-internships-to-college-students
https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/skill-development/27090
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/human-resource-development/training-meaning-definition-and-types-of-training/32374

Tea – The most overwhelming drink of everyday

Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to China and East Asia.The tea plant originated in the region encompassing today’s Southwest China, Tibet, north Myanmar and Northeast India, where it was used as a medicinal drink by various ethnic groups.After water, it is the most widely consumed drink in the world.

Tea has a stimulating effect in humans primarily due to its caffeine content.Portuguese priests and merchants introduced it to Europe during the 16th century.During the 17th century, drinking tea became fashionable among the English, who started to plant tea on a large scale in India.

Tea Garden

Origin and history of tea :-

Tea plants are native to East Asia and probably originated in the borderlands of southwestern China and north Burma. Besides that, Chinese (small-leaf) type tea may have originated in southern China possibly with hybridization of unknown wild tea relatives. However, since there are no known wild populations of this tea, its origin is speculative.

Given their genetic differences forming distinct clades, Chinese Assam-type tea may have two different parentages – one being found in southern Yunnan and the other in western Yunnan. Western Yunnan Assam tea and Indian Assam tea both may have originated from the same parent plant in the area where southwestern China, Indo-Burma, and Tibet meet.Tea was first introduced to Western priests and merchants in China during the 16th century, at which time it was termed cha.The earliest European reference to tea, written as chiai, came from Delle navigationi e viaggi written by Venetian Giambattista Ramusio in 1545.

5 Good effects of having tea :-

1. Boosts energy. 2. Protects heart health. 3. Supports mental health. 4. May regulate blood sugar. 5. Aids Digestion.

Different kind of tea

5 Bad effects of having massive amount of tea :-

1. Increased anxiety, stress, and restlessness. 2. Reduced iron absorption. 3. Nausea. 4. Poor sleep. 5. Caffeine dependence.

Different kind of tea :-

Tea is one of the most ancient beverages on the planet, and it’s made by soaking dried leaves in water.Some of the most common tea varieties include black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, herbal tea, and rooibos tea.The tea flavor can change greatly depending on temperature, humidity, and other air conditions. Heat treatments, like pan-firing or steaming, will stop the oxidation process.

1. Black Tea :-

Black tea or red tea is one of the most popular tea flavors and is fully oxidized. The leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant are withered. Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and Sri Lanka are a few well-known black tea producing regions, and the flavor will vary based on the region and type of black tea.

Black Tea

2. Milk Tea :-

Milk tea refers to several forms of beverage found in many cultures, containing some combination of tea and milk. Beverages vary based on the amount of each of these key ingredients, the method of preparation, and the inclusion of other ingredients (varying from sugar or honey to salt or cardamom).

Milk Tea

3. Green Tea :-

Green tea is the most popular tea globally, is unoxidized, and has less caffeine than black tea. Camellia sinensis leaves are picked, dried, and heat-treated to prevent oxidation. Chinese people often pan-fire leaves, which creates a duller green color, while Japanese people will typically steam them and achieve a brighter green shade. Matcha, Sencha, Gunpowder Green tea, Dragonwell (Longjing) green tea are some different kind of green tea.

Green Tea

4. Herbal Tea :-

Herbal tea doesn’t come from tea leaves like other varieties. It’s made from dried herbs, fruits, and flowers, which can create a wide range of delicate flavors. These tea types are caffeine free, making them ideal for customers with dietary restrictions.hibiscus, chamomile, peppermint, Yerba Mate are some kind of herbal tea.

Herbal Tea

5.Rooibos Tea :-

Rooibos tea, or African Red Tea, is an herbal tea that comes from the South African Red Bush, and the leaves are ground and bruised before they’re fermented and dried. Green rooibos tea doesn’t go through an oxidation / fermentation process and has a lighter flavor.

Rooibos Tea

GAME CHANGER IN PLAYSTATION – SONY PS 6


PS6 Latest Update:
There’s been a talk for years that we’ll reach an end of traditional game console. Could we see Sony downsize to a flash drive-like device that plugs into your TV, like stadia, perhaps? Possibly.Let’s assume that the PS6 is actually in the pipeline for now.
Expected price:
The price might be between $400-$600.
The PS6 is likely to be a long way off.


In an interview with Game informer, Sony’s Executive VP of Hardware Engineering Masayasu Ito confirmed that the PS5 life cycle is expected to last about six or seven years, meaning we won’t see the PS6 until at least 2026.
Features of Sony PS6:
• A smaller console
• More affordable expandable internal storage
• Built in Bluetooth audio support- so we don’t need a dongle for the official headset
• Wireless charging for controllers/headset- can just be placed on top when off
• Wire free and zero latency connection to the TV
• Improve the UI
• VR integration (Virtual reality)
• Smaller design
• Modular upgrades
• Digital only console


The PS6 will surely improve in more ways that the features listed above, but since we’re several years out from launch. The PS6 fashion’s as rugged and dark, with elements presumably taken from various versions of the Xbox, starkly different from the PS5.
Pre orders:
PS6 pre orders will start sometimes after the consoles official announcement from Sony.

WILL YOU GET ANOTHER RELIEF PAYMENT? FOURTH STIMULUS CHECK


The IRS has issued almost 167 million payments in the third round of direct stimulus aid, with another 1.8 million people receiving the$1400 checks. But some lawmakers are pushing for a fourth round of stimulus aid that would effectively send recurring payments until the pandemic ends.
So far, the federal response to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has delivered $3,200 to each eligible adult: $1,200 via the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act in March 2020: $600 in a December relief measure; and $1,400 under the American Rescue Plan signed in March by President Joe Biden.

Last week, President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators worked out the details of a possible infrastructure deal, but nothing resembling pandemic related money was introduced. Biden is “open to a range of ideas” regarding stimulus aid, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in early June, but that he had already put forward what would be “the most effective for the short term”.
There are many what ifs when it comes to future stimulus aid.
• If it makes the child tax credit raise permanent
• If it passes a minimum wage hike
• If it renews federal unemployment bonuses beyond the fall


Joe Biden said:
It’s time we build an economy that delivers dignity and gives everybody a chance.
Kamala Harris and 80 Democrats in Congress support a new stimulus payment for American families. Joe Biden received 3 request letters for recurring financial payments. Congressmen consider essential for the survival of families that have suffered the pandemic in their family economy.
Fourth stimulus check:
Over 80 lawmakers now support future direct payments to American.

Earth- Sweet Home

11]Earth- Sweet Home 

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. We have learnt about Earth since childhood. Here I will cover some facts and provide quick glances at the basic information which everyone must know about our home planet.

Some facts about Earth:

Diameter- 12,742 km

Orbital period-  365.25 days

Day-   23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds

Axis tilt- 23.5 degrees

Distance from sun- 1AU

 Hydrosphere:

Earth is the only object known to harbor and support life in the universe so far.  About 29.2% of Earth’s surface is land consisting of continents and islands. The remaining 70.8% is covered with water, mostly by oceans, seas,  lakes, rivers, and other water bodies, which together constitute the hydrosphere.  Much of Earth’s polar regions are covered in ice and many glaciers are present. 

Lithosphere and Structure of Earth

Earth is the densest planet in the Solar System and the largest and most massive of the four rocky planets. Earth’s outer layer is divided into several rigid tectonic plates that migrate across the surface over many millions of years, while its interior remains active with a solid iron inner core, a liquid outer core that generates Earth’s magnetic field, and a convective mantle that drives plate tectonics.  The Earth’s crust ranges from 5–70 kilometres (3.1–43.5 mi) in depth and is the outermost layer. Earth’s mantle extends to a depth of 2,890 km, making it the planet’s thickest layer.

See the source image

Atmosphere

Earth’s atmosphere consists of various gases which are (by volume) -78.09% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases. The atmosphere has various layers. From highest to lowest, the five main layers are:

  • Exosphere: 700 to 10,000 km (440 to 6,200 miles)
  • Thermosphere: 80 to 700 km (50 to 440 miles)
  • Mesosphere: 50 to 80 km (31 to 50 miles)
  • Stratosphere: 12 to 50 km (7 to 31 miles)
  • Troposphere: 0 to 12 km (0 to 7 miles)

Gravity and Orbit

The gravitational acceleration on Earth’s surface is considered to be 9.8 ms-2 . Earth’s gravity interacts with other objects in space, especially the Moon, which is Earth’s only natural satellite. Earth orbits around the Sun in about 365.25 days. Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted with respect to its orbital plane, producing seasons on Earth. The gravitational interaction between Earth and the Moon causes tides, stabilizes Earth’s orientation on its axis, and gradually slows its rotation. 

History of Earth and Life

According to radiometric dating estimation and other evidence, Earth formed over 4.5 billion years ago. Within the first billion years of Earth’s history, life appeared in the oceans and began to affect Earth’s atmosphere and surface, leading to the proliferation of anaerobic and, later, aerobic organisms. Some geological evidence indicates that life may have arisen as early as 4.1 billion years ago. Since then, the combination of Earth’s distance from the Sun, physical properties, and geological history have allowed life to evolve and thrive. In the history of life on Earth, biodiversity has gone through long periods of expansion, occasionally punctuated by mass extinctions. Over 99% of all species that ever lived on Earth are extinct. Almost 8 billion humans live on Earth and depend on its biosphere and natural resources for their survival. Humans increasingly impact Earth’s surface, hydrology, atmospheric processes, and other life.

Our responsibility

Recently, Earth has been facing many problems due to human activities. It is the responsibility of humans to fix these problems- Global warming and climate change. Carbon emissions and overpopulation is leading to the creation of many environmental as well as social problems. We must stand up for our Earth and contribute as much as we can, since every step matters.

Structure of Earth – Wikipedia
https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth

Social Network As the Main Way of Communication in the Modern World

Social Networking has become a predominant part in the modern world. It is recognized as a revolutionary powerful medium of communication. It has an enduring impact on the way people communicate and how it has become an indispensable part of our lives. It is routinely used for social interaction, access to information and news, spread information, generate awareness and so on. The significance of social networking can be seen in various fields like lifestyle, business, entertainment, news etc. The mass number of people using social media is increasing with time and that clearly specifies the importance of it. There are numerous benefits of being on a social platform that has contributed in enhancing the way the world works. Social networking is not only used to make brands and customers meet. In fact, it’s about connecting people from all over the world irrespective of their gender, caste, religion, colour etc. There are ways to grow you network on a social media platform tremendously. It increases connectivity in a modern world. From nations which are progressed to under developed nations everyone is grasping the benefits of social networking and utilizing its power to enhance their lives.

It has been a little more than a decade ever since social networking has made its place in our lives; the influence of social media has gone from an entertaining form to a fully integrated shares of nearly every aspect of daily lives of people. The beauty of the social world is that you can connect with anyone to share and learn irrespective of distance or educational background. Initially the world of social media gained attention because it could connect people from all over the world. It has become very easy for to educate people especially students via social media and networking. Anyone can learn any field of work or can connect with people from that field to have first hand knowledge about their areas of interests. One can update themselves from anywhere about anything. If you have a business, you can reach out to a larger audience in no time. Social networking can benefit in making communities come together, help noble causes, creates awareness among people and invites people to communicate.

However, on the other hand it has affected the world in a negative way as well.  At the end of the day, it is in the hands of the user to use its advantages or disadvantages. One of the major concerns of a social platform is privacy, personal data of anyone can easily be taken out from the internet. Many individuals have scammed and committed fraud through social media. It decreases face to face encounters with people and also lacks emotional connection which can have a huge effect on people. Using social media excessively can lead to having unrealistic expectations.

But nonetheless internet allows people to improve their quality of life in numerous ways. It encourages people to get out of their comfort zone and explore different spheres of life. Moreover, it has opened its access to inaccessible things. With millions of users, social media and networking are emerging as the main way of communication in the modern world.

The Story of Shravan Kumar

Shravan Kumar, mentioned in the ancient Hindu text Ramayana, known for his filial piety towards his parents, was killed accidentally by King Dasharatha. Shravan Kumar’s parents, Shantanu and Gyanvanti (Malaya), were hermits. They were both blind. When they became aged, Shravan wanted them to take to the four most sacred places of Hindu pilgrimage to purify the soul. Since Shravan Kumar could not afford the transport, he decided to put each parent in a basket and tie each to an end of a bamboo pole, which he would carry on his shoulder while on their pilgrimage.

According to Punjabi folklore, Shravan’s mother was distantly related to King Dhashrath as his sister. According to Ramayana, while hunting in the forest of Ayodhya, then-Prince Dashratha heard a sound near a lake and unleashed an arrow, hoping to hit an animal. When he crossed the lake to collect his kill, he found that his arrow had fatally struck a teenage boy who was bleeding. The injured boy was Shravan, who then told Dasaratha he had come to the lake to collect water for his sick and aged parents, who were both blind and whom he had been carrying on a sling. With his dying breath, Shravan requested Dashratha to take water to his parents and to tell them what happened. Shravan then succumbed to his wounds and when Dasaratha took water for his parents and told them of his tragic mistake, they were unable to bear the shock. Despite acknowledging that it was an accident, they cursed Dasaratha that he too would experience “Putrashoka” (grief due to the loss of a son). Thus Shravan’s sick and thirsty parents died without drinking water.

This curse turned out to be true when king Dashratha had to suffer the exile of his most beloved and able son Rama who had to be exiled at his own orders (it was actually his beloved wife’s wish that could not be ignored since he had himself promised her boon years back when she had saved his life). So he did it unwillingly. 

Local tradition holds that the place where Shravan died was named “Sarvan” in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh in India, and the spot where Dashratha shot his arrow came to be known as “Sarwara” and the place where Shravan’s parents died is called “Samadha”. An old and dilapidated memorial for Shravan on the banks of the lake is now withering away. Mukhed in the Nanded district of Maharashtra has a samadhi (shrine) dedicated to Shravana. The moral of this story is always respect and care for your elders like Shravan Kumar and don’t be afraid to admit your mistakes like Dashratha.