GST (01/07/17)

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect tax applicable throughout India which replaced multiple cascading taxes levied by the central and state government. It was introduced as The Constitution Act (Amendment101). It is used in India on the supply of goods and services.  GST has replaced some indirect taxes in India such as the excise duty, VAT, services tax, etc. The Goods and Service Tax Act was passed in the Parliament on 29th March 2017 and came into effect on 1st July 2017.

BRIEF HISTORY

The start of reform in India’s indirect tax regulation dates back to Rajiv Gandhi’s government. It started with the introduction of Modified Value Added Tax (MODVAT) in 1986 by Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the then Finance Minister. Subsequently PM P.V. Narsimha Rao and his finance minister Manmohan Singh initiated early discussion on Value Added Tax (VAT) at the state level. A single common Goods and Services Tax was introduced during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government (1999); in a meeting between him and his economic advisory panel.

FORMATION

In 2016, the Lok Sabha passed the Constitution Amendment Bill. However due to disagreements on several statements in the bill and on opposition’s demand, the GST bill was sent back for review. A 21 member committee was formed to look in the proposed GST laws. After approval of Central Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 (The CGST Bill), the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 (The IGST Bill), the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 (The UTGST Bill), the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to the States) Bill 2017 (The Compensation Bill), these bills were passed by Lok Sabha on March 29, 2017. The Rajya Sabha passed the bills on April 6, 2017. They were enacted as Acts on April 12, 2017.

IMPEMENTATION

Goods and Services Tax was launched all over India with effect from July 1 2017. The Jammu and Kashmir legislature passed its GST act on 7 July 2017, thereby ensuring the entire nation brought under a unified indirect taxation system. The GST has ben modified many times since it’s implementation, the latest being on 22 December 2018. The panel of federal and state finance ministers decided to revise GST rates on 28 goods and 58 services.

FEATURES OF GST IN INDIA

DUAL GST:

  • India has adopted dual GST
  • Central GST (CGST) and State GST/ Union Territories GST (SGST/ UTGST)
  • Central govt. and State/UT govt. collect respective GSTs.
  • This feature owes to Amendment 101 of constitution
  • Integrated GST is leviable on inter-state transactions. It is levied and collected by the Central Government. It is equal to CGST + SGST.

TAXES SUBSUMED IN GST:

Central Government

  • Central Excise Duty
  • Additional Excise Duty
  • Service Tax
  • Additional Customs Duty (CVD)
  • Special Additional Duty of Customs (SAD)
  • Excise Duty on Medicinal and Toilet Preparations.

State Government

  • Sales Tax/Value Added Tax (VAT)
  • Entertainment Tax (other than collected by local bodies)
  • Central Sales Tax (CST)
  • Octroi and Entry Tax
  • Purchase Tax
  • Luxury Tax
  • Taxes on Lottery, Betting and Gambling

BENEFITS

  • Removal of Cascading Effect: The earlier system where tax was levied upon tax thereby burdening the consumer was removed effectively. Black money also seems to be reduced.
  • Uniformity in tax rate therefore rate arbitrage: While there used to be fluctuation in some commodities due to manufacture and inter state business, GST has levelled the taxes to a lot extent.
  • Decrease in prices because of cascading effect and rate arbitrage.
  • Abolition of interstate check-posts placed to enforce taxes on cross border transactions. This also reduced long-distance travel time for goods and transportation by 20 percent.
  • Creation of Nation Common Market

SHORTCOMINGS

  • Large list of GST- exempted goods which make the system unnecessarily complicated.
  • The decision to exempt almost 50 percent of items in the consumer price index basket has narrowed the base.
  • High tax rates on automobiles, construction of buildings have slowed down the progress of these sectors.
  • CAG report observed “Post-implementation of GST, the Centre’s revenue from goods and services registered a decline of 10% in 2017-18 compard to the revenue from the subsumed taxes in 2016/17”
  • Government’s gross tax revenue collection in Apr-Jun grew at the slowest pace in 10 years.

Thus we see as many benefits as the disadvantages are. Lets look forward to future amendments and openly keep our thoughts, for India is a democratic country!

 

Service Business- the upcoming style of business

With Service business gaining popularity every day and changing the way business is done, more and more entrepreneurs are starting service-oriented businesses. Be it cloud storage, entertainment channels like Netflix, Prime, Hotstar etc, multi-service platforms like UrbanClap, now known as Urban Company which offers almost all services you could possibly need or even food and grocery delivery apps (Zomato, Big Basket), Service Business has made its way into every industry.

A decade ago, Service Business was limited to services like consultations, tuitions, banking services, financial services (agent, brokers and consultants), after-sale services, real estate, event management, etc. But with the advancement in technology and skills of new entrepreneurs over time, it has expanded tremendously.

However, the nature of service business and its operations, compared to manufacturing or other kinds of businesses is very different. For example, in a manufacturing business, the manufacturer or any employee of the company, does not have any relationship or direct contact with its customer (except customer care and salespeople). However, in most service businesses, communication and maintaining a direct relationship with the customer is very important.

Dimensions of Service

In order to successfully establish and grow a service-oriented business, it is necessary to understand its dimensions and analyse where your business lies in terms of the three dimensions- Service Package, Service Customisation and Customer contact.

a) Service Package (Nature)

Service Package refers to the nature of the service and the value it adds. This tells us which part of the operation/service requires more attention. For example, if a service is dependent on tangible activities like in the case of food/grocery delivery apps, more attention is paid to spend money on tangible assets. However, if the service is dependent on intangible activities like salon beauty services, training and retention of skilled employees and development of firm’s knowledge assets is more important.

b) Service Customization

Service Customization refers to the level of customization or standardization of the service. This gives us an insight into the kind of human resources required and the nature of operations to be followed. For example, if the service is more or less standardised like in the case of plumbing, employees/workers with more narrow skills can be hired and a standardised step by step approach can be followed.

However, if the service is customised according to the needs and demands of every customer like in case of a bakery that makes customised cakes, the operation becomes less predictable and more variable so the company needs highly skilled employees/workers. Such organisations compete on the degree of customisation offered instead of cost.

c) Customer Contact

Customer contact refers to the degree of contact the employees have with the customer which depends on the nature of the service. The degree of customer contact is divided into- Front-room and Back-room operations.

Front-room operations refer to the part of the service where the customer interfaces directly with the service organisation. Back-room operations refer to the part of the service where there’s no contact with the customer.

For example, getting a Netflix/Prime subscription is a back-room oriented service. So, the company does not need employees with people skills since there is no direct contact or communication involved in the service. On the other hand, any service available on Urban Company requires direct contact (front-room) with the customer and hence, the employees hired should know how to be pleasant and cater to the needs of the customer.

With the help of these dimensions of service business, one must analyse the position of their service business and make its human resources and operations related decisions accordingly.

LEISURE HIDES THE SECRET OF PRODUCTIVITY

“Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

WHY NECESSARY?

Leisure means respite from work. It is essential for men tired with work. A little leisure refreshes the tired limbs and makes him fit for another period of work.

VARIOUS WAYS OF SPENDING SPARE TIME

  • Set of woman doing leisure activities relaxing at home, vacuuming the house, having coffee, exercising at a gym and gardening,

Modern life is full of cares and worries. We have to work very hard with little or no success. Some work in factories from morning till night, some work in offices for seven, eight or nine hours a day every person has to work hard to earn his or her living. But human body is not a machine. It cannot work continually for hours together it requires some rest. Even a machine is given rest. Otherwise, it breaks down. That is why leisure is so essential. Like machines, our health will break down completely if we have no regular leisure. It always helps us regain our lost energy and refreshes so that we may continue to do our work next day with more vigour both mental and physical.

ITS USE AND MISUSE

So, leisure we all must have. But it does not mean complete cessation of work. Our limbs may stop working; but our mind is never idle. Once the tension of physical labour is gone mind has time to relax and engage itself in finding enjoyment in some entertainment or recreations. Leisure does not mean idleness. It can be utilised by engaging oneself in recreations. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. So, work must be followed by recreations that brace up the mind and spirit.

CONCLUSION

Leisure varies from one person to another. Some utilise it in light reading, while other in their particular hobbies, like playing at cards, or at instruments there are some who go to the stress or cinemas for entertainments, while there are others who take evening walks. There are some who simply sit tight and enjoy the pleasure of doing nothing Whatever may be the mode of enjoying leisure, we must have it. Otherwise our life would become dull. We will lose interest in life. Life has to be lived and lived fully and joyfully.

THE BEST PARAGLIDING DESTINATION IN INDIA

Why do people paraglide

We human beings are blessed with the ability to talk, express our thoughts and feelings, walk freely on the land and various other things. Man is a curious creature wanting to try and explore new things and experiencing joy in that. Seeing the birds fly freely in the sky witnessing the nature and human made settlements through the microscopic view , many feet away from land has often led people to wonder how it would be to be in that sky. Well the creation of Aeroplane did do a little to experience that but still nothing comes closer to the experience of getting yourself loose in the air without a metal box enclosing you. The feeling of spreading your limbs freely experiencing the glories of nature , the very reason of our existence is incredible. And what if there is an opportunity to be this free bird amidst the world famous mighty Himalayas- where the wind from the great mountains will caress your face destressing you of your worries, the luscious greenery will provide you peace , the valleys and the rivers flowing hundreds and thousands of feet below you will scream peace and tranquility providing relief to the buried souls. Yes it is PARAGLIDING we are talking about.

To all the adventure sport lovers who are missing the rush of adrenaline flow through them while they take the “safe risks” by flying in air, in this covid pandemic where staying at home is the sole option, this blog is for you to read . The blog I am sure will give you all the reasons and information regarding paragliding in BIR BILLING.

Why to choose Bir as a paragliding destination

Bir , a small village located in the heart of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh- The land of Gods , is a paradisal abode for all the adrenaline lovers, offering an unforgettable lifetime experience of letting yourself free amongst the clouds while gliding through them. IT IS THE BEST PARAGLIDING DESTINATION IN INDIA which attracts gliders from all over the world. Bir has also played as a host of 2015 Paragliding world cup.

The Bir-Billing area is a popular site for paragliders both searching for tandem paragliding as well as solo paragliding which attracts people from all over the world to paraglide. It is the highest paragliding spot in India and is the best budget friendly option which enables you to take a flight from 2430 meters above the sea level. It also offers you an opportunity to camp and relax in the lap of nature , away from all the worries , in a pocket friendly way.

Bir Billing can be accessed via road, train and flight. The Gaggal airport in Dharmshala is the nearest air port to Bir which is connected to Kullu and Delhi and the distance between Dharmshala to Bir is 68 kilometers which can be accessed only by road. To reach Bir by train one has to travel till Pathankot railway station and then take a toy train to Ahju railway station which is just 3 kilometers away from Bir. The toy train experience is also a wonderful one and I would recommend taking the train option as the toy train seeping through the majestic Himalayan valleys and tunnels will take you a step closer to the nature. Also there are buses at regular intervals from Dharmshala and Shimla to take you to Bir and overnight buses from Delhi to Dharmshala and Shimla runs daily.

Paragliding in Bir

The take off site at Bir offers a mighty 360 degree view of Dhauladhar Mountain Range. A single paragliding flight of about 15 minutes will cost rupees 2000 generally while a 30 minute long flight will cost you around 3000 rupees.(Note these are the general rates and it may differ from one paragliding company to the other).

You will be taken to the take off site by the company you choose to paraglide with. For the first time paragliders , tandem paragliding where you will paraglide with a professional paraglider, is highly recommended. A harness securing you with the paraglider will be tied to ensure your safety and the balloon and navigation will be the responsibility of your paraglider. You will have to take a short run pre take off from the cliff in the air which will get you set free in the air. The process of the short run followed by the jumping in air can be a bit scary but within two minutes max your fear will be overpowered by excitement and ecstasy of being able to shake your hands and limbs freely in the air without a caged body .

Best Time to visit Bir

The best time to visit Bir is between October to June. However paragliding in December and January when the mighty Himalayas are covered in white sheet of snow is simply fantastic. However, the paragliding may be stalled sometimes due to snowfall in the winter months.

For staying you can either choose the option of rental homes or the hotels, the prices of which starts from 500 rupees per night and go as high as to 3000 rupees per night depending upon the luxuries.

Conservation Of Wildlife.

” The love for living creature is the most noble attribute of man”.

These words are well said by Charles Darwin, the biologist, who well know the pertinence of all living creatures and the need of harmony between man and other creatures. Our ecosystem depends on the cycle of interdependence between man and other creatures. If even one species become extinct, our ecosystem gets disturbed.

Man’s avarice allure it to do wrong thing, even killing may it be animals or others in form of poaching, hunting. Scientist reveal the fact, that since the development of ecosystem, above 2000 species have become extinct and about 1000 are endangered.

Artificial Intelligence in Biodiversity: How AI can help in Animal Conservation ? | by Cogito Tech LLC | Becoming Human: Artificial Intelligence Magazine

The question arises……

How long will the Earth sustain….?

OR

How the Earth will sustain by the artificial technology only, when everything is virtual….?

Killing fisheries, poultry, just for savoring tastes is not ethical for human being.

Change is the law of nature. Gone are the days when we enslaved animals or used horses alike ‘Chetak’, cows alike ‘Nandi’ etc. The need of the hour is to protect wildlife, not only by constructing National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries or launching campaigns.

It is the awareness which has to be enlighten within each one of us and unconditional bond between us and animals.

Humans made the conditions for the pupfish’s extinction- now humans keep it alive.

The pupfish, also known as the rarest fish in the world, are a group of killifish with striking coloration. They are mostly found in the extreme and isolated environment. These rare species of fish lives in a single pool in the Mojave Desert. They went almost extinct with their only canyon pool being pumped.

The description of Pupfish

Pupfish are small, colorful, knuckle-sized and ray-finned fishes. The most famous amongst them are the Devil’s Hole pupfish. The Devil’s Hole pupfish are bright blue with purple accents whereas, the white sands pupfish has yellow and orange fins. Most of the pupfish are very tiny, some even less than an inch in length.

The diet of these pupfish includes variety of things, consisting of algae, plants, aquatic invertebrates and some insects.

About the devils hole pupfish

The fascinating and playful pupfish with bright, silvery-blue and lustrous body are found in an oasis within the Death Valley called as- The Devils Hole. These mighty goldfish-like fishes survive in the 92 degrees water of the Devil’s Hole. They withstand harsh conditions that would kill most other fish.  Another fact about this fish is that it acts as an indicator of seismic activity around the globe.

Read-https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/endangered-devils-hole-pupfish-breeding-breakthrough

Hottest, Driest and the Lowest National Park

The Death Valley as the name sounds is a land of the most extreme conditions. You can expect a scorching heat of 110 F to 120 F +. Even though this land experiences droughts and record summer heat, in the winters the peaks of the mountains are snow-laden. This land welcomes rainstorms rarely. Lush oases harbor tiny fishes and refuge for wildlife and humans. The name might sound very morbid but it is home to a great diversity of life.

What threatened their existence?

In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, groundwater was pumped out extensively for the agricultural purposes. This activity led to a major downfall of the water level in Devil’s Hole. These invasions were a threat to the very existence of this fascinating species.

So, a group of academics, government employees and private citizens met in 1969 to speak about the protections needed for the fauna in Devil’s Hole.

The desert pupfish has been classified as endangered by IUCN. Due to the pumping of the aquifer since 1960’s, the fish never recovered. Later, it was decided that a back-up population was needed. A replica was created where one part of the population resides in the fake canyon, and the other in the natural canyon.

How many Devils Hole pupfish are left in 2020?

The observable population of the Devil’s Hole pupfish has reached 136. In the years 2006, 2007, and 2013 their population was less than 40. In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, scientists counted near about 200 Devils Hole pupfish. And in the late 1990s there was startling decline in their numbers.

“Despite these extremes, Devils Hole pupfish continue to display their resiliency that have allowed them to survive for thousands of years”, said Brandon Senger, Supervising Fisheries Biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

Are heart breaks a catalyst for success?

Do heartbreaks really lead to success? Read further to know more..

Heartbreaks are more of a blessing than a curse! Are every sort of heartbreaks the same? ‘Every sort’? Yes! Not just break ups causes heartbreak.. when your loved one dies or moves apart, when you lose your job, when you lose your property, these are all reasons for a heartbreak. Does it really lead to success? Or to depression?

Heartbreak builds a bridge between failure and success. It is completely your choice either to fall into the pit or to walk over the bridge and attain success.

Walk towards success!

Heartbreaks are not an end, sometimes it is just a beginning to something beautiful. It is rightly said that success comes from pain. When you go through a heartbreak, you wish certain things. You want to move on, you want yourself to stand on your own feet which acts as a fuel to become successful.

“Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success. I’ve met people who don’t want to try for fear of failing.”

– J K Rowling

Rowling’s words have inspired us to overcome failure, to use failure to become successful. Heartbreaks can surely be a motivation to fulfil our dreams and aims. Therefore, recognising failure is a stepping stone towards success.

The world of art would never have been interesting if it didn’t come from a broken heart. If you notice, most of the playwrights, actors, authors, philosopher, singers etc. that are a successful bore from the heart. Everyone had that struggle in life. Life completely takes a turn after it. Either downwards or to heights you could have ever imagined.

“Success is the best revenge.”
“You need pain to succeed in life.”

– Bo Sanchez

The pain revives certain inner qualities you posses. It somehow automatically creates a mood to follow your passion. Heartbreak comes with wisdom and knowledge. So let heartbreak be a burning fuel within, which motivates you to success.

Heartbreaks not only motivates you to be a better version of yourself, it allows your mind to be an effective judge. You gain emotional intelligence as well. You can no longer be easily fooled or trapped. You learn to control and handle emotions well. Emotional intelligence is no doubt a crucial skill to success.

Heartbreak is a failure which your heart faces. If you are experiencing any such issues. Face it and learn from it. It makes us stronger, better and successful.

The defense of Insanity

Criminal law is a wide field of study that is riddled with issues. Despite a vast literature on various parts of the issues, the subject of criminal responsibility and mental disorder has posed a challenge to jurists, attorneys, and psychiatrists for centuries, and it has remained an unsolved conundrum. For hundreds of years, the insanity defense has served as a defense against criminal charges for defendants who were unable to understand what they were doing or distinguish between right and wrong. Because most defendants in our criminal justice system must have had some knowledge or intent when committing a crime, the insanity defense offers protection to people who are deemed incapable of establishing such mental states.

Originally, most states required the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person was not insane if he or she claimed insanity as a defense. However over the course of time and with help of few modifications the burden of proof is now shifted from the prosecutor to the defense, requiring defense lawyers to prove the defendant’s insanity through clear and compelling evidence.

Even though it was put in place to improve judgment, most people exploit the insanity defense to avoid legal penalties, making it a loophole that encourages more offenders to commit crimes. Such a condition creates a serious problem, as people will become increasingly involved in such crimes since they are not afraid of the law. The Indian government has put in place a number of rules for performing an insanity test on the accused. They must meet two important criteria: the necessity for mental illness and the condition for loss of reasoning. Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with this issue.

Essentials: A person of unsound mind must carry out the act.

Such a person was mentally unstable at the time of the incident.

The accused incapacity should be due to mental illness.

Such person had no idea what he was doing was wrong.

Despite the fact that these strict regulations exist, many people try to exploit this defense by falsifying certifications or influencing the judiciary. To avoid the various controversies and confusions it is suggested that a well-defined definition of the term ‘insanity’ should be established. Many countries, notably Germany, Argentina, and Thailand, have prohibited this defense due to its widespread misuse. India can investigate this and decide whether or not the insanity defense should be recognized in the legal system.

Network Security

Network security refers to the monitoring and control of illegal access, exploitation, and any undesired changes to the networking system. A computer networking system strategy that ensures the security of an organization’s assets, software, and hardware resources is known as network security.

Why Do We Need Network Security?

Connecting our gadgets to the internet and other networks offers us a whole new world of possibilities. We can get the information we need without keeping it on our gadgets indefinitely. We are able to interact with one another, which allows us to collaborate and coordinate our efforts. The networks that enable us to operate our lives are made up of these linked gadgets. 

Unless properly secured, any network is vulnerable to malicious usage and accidental harm. Private data, such as trade secrets and client information, might be revealed due to hackers, disgruntled workers, or inadequate security measures inside the business.

For example, losing private research can cost a company millions of dollars by robbing it of the competitive advantages it paid for. While hackers steal consumer information and sell it to be utilised in fraud, the company suffers poor press and public confidence.

Rather than causing network damage, most frequent network assaults are aimed to obtain access to information through spying on users’ conversations and data.

Attackers, on the other hand, may do more than just take data. They may be able to cause harm to users’ devices or manipulate systems in order to obtain physical access to facilities. This puts the organization’s assets and members in jeopardy.

Data is kept safe, and susceptible systems are protected from outside tampering, thanks to effective network security measures. This helps network users to be secure while focusing on the organization’s objectives.

Information security is needed for the following given reasons:

  • Unwanted Changes – To secure information against unauthorized users unintentionally or purposefully altering it.
  • Information Loss and Proper Delivery – To prevent data loss and ensure that it reaches its rightful owner in a timely manner.
  • Non-repudiation – To ensure that each node receives an acknowledgement of a message in order to defend against the sender’s rejection in particular scenarios. Let’s say a consumer places an order to buy a few shares of XYZ in the broader market, but the transaction is denied after two days since the rates have dropped.
  • Hiding the Identity of the Original Sender – To prevent a certain network user from sending any mail or message in such a way that it seems to the recipient that it was sent by a third party. For example, a user X creates a message with some favourable instructions for his personal benefit and sends it to user Y in such a way that Y accepts the message as coming from Z, the organization’s boss.
  • Inappropriate Delay – To protect the data from any unintentional delays in the path taken to deliver it to the intended destination within the specified time frame.
  • Corrupting or Deleting – To protect our hardware, like as hard drives, PCs, and laptops, from malware, viruses, and other threats that might harm our system by corrupting or destroying all of the data contained on it.
  • Malware & Unwanted Software – To safeguard our computers against malicious software that, if installed, can destroy our systems in the same way that hackers do.

The Hot Planet Story

Two frogs are playing in a pond, then suddenly, BAM! They are kidnapped and taken to a kitchen by a chef. The chef boils up a pot of water and throws one frog inside. Sensing danger, the frog jumps out of the pot and escapes. The chef tries a different strategy with the other frog. This time, he turns on the heat slowly so that the frog doesn’t realize that it is being cooked.

REST IN PEACE Froggy.

Are we not facing the same situation? Yes, Global Warming.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the earth. It is one of the greatest environmental challenges.

Global warming is caused due to many reasons, the primary one being human activity. Greenhouse effect is the main cause of global warming. A greenhouse is made of glass which helps the plants stay warm even when it is cold outside. Similarly, the greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide act as an insulation to keep us warm. This is a natural process. But if more and more greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere, the earth becomes warmer rapidly. But what causes this?

Here we go again….. Human activity.

Over population

Deforestation

Burning of fossil fuels

Industrialization

All this leads to melting of glaciers which increases the sea level. This further leads to change in ecosystem. Rise in droughts, forest fires, hurricanes, and desertification are also caused due to global warming

Still, global warming remains to be a controversy, leading to many debates. Some people believe that global warming is just a natural cycle and the drastic climate changes have nothing to do with human activity. In my opinion, blaming the nature is not right. Since we are greedy and don’t want to fix the issue, we find such excuses.

Now moving on the solutions.

  • Spreading awareness, is a great step to fight against global warming, that is what this article is about, isn’t it?
  • Simple solutions like unplugging devices when not in use, carpooling, using LED lights and CFLs, planting trees and recycling can both save money and reduce our carbon footprint.
  • Using renewable energy sources, zero-carbon technologies like wind turbines, solar panels, and biomass boilers can be built to conserve energy.
  • Start-ups that develop such technologies should be encouraged and offered tax and loan incentives.

We can take such measures to protect our planet. Together we shall fight climate change and protect our dearest planet.

Photo by Olya Kobruseva on Pexels.com

World social media day

Hello guys!!

Do you know we celebrate world social media day on June 30 th.
Today is a very special day cause today is the day we celebrate the evolution of media from old times till now to the present social media, which made communication lot more easier,accessible,accurate.

Social media is a platform where different kinds of people are connected together .But the security and privacy is still the top most priority of the social media apps

As technology is developing faster and faster the social media applications are also evolving at an
astonishing rate .

Especially during this pandemic
Social media was one of the reasons why people were still able to connect with people at various places.

Social media became extremely essential during these times.we can even say that bonds,relations and specially the connections between people is maintained .

They are even updating their apps constantly so users can benefit from it,the user should not feel alone when they use these apps that is what a successful app must have .

Through social media not only people connect ,but people with similar interests gather together under one roof that is to say at the same place same place and enjoy each other’s company.

Social media acts as a platform where even a small issue can gather lots of attention and raise awareness among people about various issues.It is changing people’s ideals it’s telling what is good and what is not.It is helping us to gain knowledge , entertainment,education,news etc.

Social media has their own advantages and disadvantages based on how we use them.

Social media is both boon and Bane because it is the reason why people who are at different places able to connect and it is also the reason why we are becoming more far to our own families .

So as they say everything should be done in limit,and anything that exceeds the limit is not good .

So even usage of social media should be limited .Even the applications are also updated their apps and added new features where we can view our usage of that particular app so we can limit our usage to certain extent.

So at last what I want to say is every thing is in your hands either to make social media your boon or your Bane depends on you.

Thankyou^^

TRIBAL LIFE IN LIFE

Tribal settlements, villages and towns are the three main components of india’s social formation. a sharp distinction between tribal settlement and village and between village and town cannot, however be easily drawn due to some common characteristics shared by them. there are big tribal villages in some parts of the country and they are not significantly different from non tribal multi caste villages. distinctions based on kinship, wealth and power amoung some tribal villages are as sharp as we find amoung the non tribal villages. tribals are not theoritically a part of hindu social organisation, but they have always been in touch with wider society in india. they have been exploited economically and socially by the non tribals living in tribal areas. a number of tribes have revolted against their exploitation.

TRIBAL IDENTITY IN INDIA:

The state shall promote with special care the educational and economic intersects of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the scheduled tribes and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. there are however, tribes which are not scheduled tribes and are generally weaker sections of india’s population like the scheduled castes. the tribes are backward particularly in regard to education and economic standing. they were exploited in the past, by the dominant sections of indian society, namely, hindu landlords, moneylenders and industrialists who purchased their lands to establish industries in tribal areas. forest produces which tribals bring to the market for sale, are bought at throwaway prices. a number of tribes have hinduised or converted to christianity or islam to break away from their tribal indentity, to get redemption from exploitation and to elevate their status and honour. sometimes it becomes difficult to draw a clear line between a tribal and a caste group. there are hunters and food gatherers amoung the tribals on the one end, and there are tribals settled in villages, practically functioning as caste groups on the other. a large number of tribals in india live in hilly and forested areas where population is sparse and communication is difficult. they are spread over the entire sub continent but are found mainly in the states of west bengal, jharkhand, orissa, chattisghargh, rajasthan, gujarat and maharastra.

DEFINING TRIBAL SOCIETY:

In tribal life the principal links for the whole society are based on kinship. kinship is not simply a principle of social organisation it is also a principle of inheritance, division of labour and distribution of power and privilages. tribal societies are small in size. they possess a morality, religion and worldview of their own, corresponding to their social relations. however some tribes such as santhals, gonds and bhils are quite large. the segementary systems have relations on a small scale. they enjoy autonomy, and are independent of each other in a given region. the principle of organic relationship explains interdependence of various caste groups upon eachother in social life. caste groups are heirarchally arranged on the basis of certain ascriptive criteria. these criteria do not apply to tribes in india. distinctions between folk, peasant and urban or between tribal, folk and elite are not very useful for the understanding of tribes in india. the tribes of jharkhand mobilised their members against their exploiters. they interacted with the administration, town elite, and outsiders. the jharkhand which contains numerous tribes, is a tribal cultural zone comprising several tribal sub cultures. the mundas, oraons, hos and santhals the major tribes of this region depend upon forest produce, settled agriculture, employement in industries, coal mines and governament jobs. some have settled in towns, others are in villages and some of the latter are economically very well off. thus tribal culture is in part a peasent culture and in part an urban culture. even the revival of tribal aboriginaliy has been expressed in the form of an instrument of protest against the external intrusions and impositions of rules and regulations. the tribals of jharkhand are peasents to a large extent and therefore their pesants qualities should become the basis to understand their economic problems.

TRIBAL SOCIAL STRUCTURE:

Lack of hierarchy amoung men and groups. communitarian basis of landholding. lack of distinction between form and substance of religion and a distinct psychological make up for enjoying life. tribes have been seperated from other social categories on the basis of these features. in india the british conducted a detailed enumeration of the tribals in the 1930s. the large tribes of india are the gonds of chattisgargh maharastra and andhra pradesh. tribes in india differ from one another in racial traits, language, social organisation, cultural patterns e.t.c the dominant racial type amoung tribes is the protoaustraloid.

CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF SHAKESPEARE’S SONNET NO:130

Sonnet No. 130 is an unconventional sonnet which belongs to Shakespeare’s Dark Lady series, and no doubt, it is extraordinary and differs largely in conception, thought and approach from other conventional or traditional Elizabethan sonnets which were mostly written on the theme of human love.

Sonnet 130 is quite original and exceptional. The poet have expressed his irresistible attachment to his mistress who does not possess any physical charm like other ladyloves. Here the poet refers to some elements of feminine beauty a fair complexion, lustrous eyes, deep red lips, snow white breasts, rosy cheeks, a pleasant voice, a sweet breathe and a goddess like movement; these are taken normally as essential to feminine beauty and charm. But the poet’s mistress is lacking in all these requirements. She has nothing to attract that would attract or seduce other male lovers, yet the poet loves her much more than others knowing too well whatever flaw she possess.

This kind of theme is very rare in Elizabethan love poetry and stands out differently from the common theme of love. There is no idealistic yearning for one who is all beauty and grace. The sonnet is thus a satire on the Petrarchan praise of the charms of the beloved. It was a practice of the Elizabethan poets to compare the hairs of the beloved to the wires, usually golden wires which implies a contrast with black wires. It refers to extravagant hair style adopted by fashionable ladies of that time: “What guile is this…/ She doth attire under a net of gold…” (Spenser’s Amoretti:37)

The black complexion of the poet’s beloved has greater sensory pleasure. The word “reek” has an unpleasant suggestion; it suggests nasty smell . it is not a natural word as some commentators believe. This may be taken as a parody of romantic description: “From her sweet breathe their sweet smells do smell” (Constable’s Diana). The poet admits that he has never seen a goddess go as painted by the other Elizabethan love poets. His beloved is an ordinary woman who walks on the earth. His mistress is a down to earth woman, not the sort of idealized fiction imagined by other love poets. So the poet writes: ” I think my love as rare/ As any she belied with false compare”.

In Shakespeare there is an exploration of new possibilities; love has been liberated from its nominal ” Two loves I have of comfort and despair” gives the key to the whole sequence. First his “guiding star of virtuous love” is not Laura, nor a Beatrice but a young man, his friend. Secondly, he loves a lady who is not traditionally beautiful. Shakespeare suggests the contrast between appearance and reality. The poet argues that the lady’s black appearance cannot be counted beautiful but of course blackness has age old associations with evil but like most women her appearance owes nothing to art and therefore gives her a beauty of integrity and purity of character.

The Sonnet 130 marks a genuine excellence of literary art. The analogies drawn by the poet are precise, but quite clear and the subtle touch of wit marks them particularly impressive. Some expressions, such as “breasts are dun”, “roses damask’d”, “red and white” and so on are somewhat uncommon, but the sonnet presents a realistic tone and no idealistic presentation of his mistress. There is a mixture of satire and seriousness in the enumeration of the items of beauty. The final couplet gives a complimentary twist to the negative impact of the quatrains.

WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

Language is undoubtedly the most valuable single possession of the human race. Man is clearly distinguished from other species by his capacity for using language. The term language is derived from the Latin word lingua meaning tongue.

Language is our most effective means of communication .We communicate with others through speech and writing .Communication is more effective when we speak .We can make use of variations in voice ,gesture other features to reinforce what we say .Writing does not offer such conveniences. Again ,speech has been with us ever since human beings evolved as a distinct species. But writing claim to have a history of hardly six thousand years . Moreover speech comes first in life of individuals too. Hence historians of language consider speech as primary and writing as secondary. Considering these facts Wardaugh defines language as system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication .

Language helps man in several ways .It helps him to reach back into the collective knowledge of his ancestors. No one can ignore the role of language in placing humanity at the pinnacle of progress. Without language man would never have become fully human. Language is quite necessary for the continuity of civilization . It is mainly through language that human beings collect and preserve knowledge and transfer it to the next generation . It is not possible to imagine a society without language. Man’s social behavior is conditioned by the nature of his communication with fellow beings . That is why Barnett says ,”verbal communication is a condition of the existence of human society.”

It is true that animals too communicate .Some animals ,birds and insects have developed their own systems of communication .But their communicative systems are instinctively determined . They lack the flexibility and creativity of human language. Their communicative conventions are acquired genetically and not through learning.

The American linguist ,Charles F Hockett ,in a detailed study compared human communicative system with animal communicative system with animal communicative system with animal communicative systems. The aim of the study was to find out the essential defining characteristics of spoken language . He tried to determine what ‘counts’ as a human language as opposed to some other systems of communication . He identified thirteen characteristics of spoken language which he termed design features .They are , Auditory -vocal channel ,Broadcast transmission and directional reception, rapid fading , interchangeability total feedback, specialization ,semanticity , arbitrariness ,discreteness ,displacement ,productivity, traditional transmission and duality of patterning .

Sail Through The Waters In These Places

Being someone who seeks thrill in boating is always guaranteed of an adventure ahead. Boating as a water-based leisurely activity is found to have a positive impact on the relationships. Those who enjoy boating have certain craftsmanship in them to be always able to spot the best boat and know that it is the going to be significant fun. If you are looking for refreshing breaks to connect and spend quality time with your family, choose a location, plan a trip and go on a boat ride with them. The part about picking up a place where you can delight yourself on a boat ride might sound tricky but it is not.

1. Nakki Lake, Mount Abu:

The popular hill station situated in the Aravalli Range, Mount Abu has several tourist attractions. Among those, Nakki Lake which is considered to be pious because of its historical importance is a must-visit spot. According to the Hindu culture, in the ancient times, Gods dug out this lake with their fingers and nails while seeking protection from a demon. Nakki Lake is the first human-made lake which is believed to be 11,000 meters deep and a quarter of a mile wide. There is a boating facility at the Nakki Lake which gives visitors a great chance to enjoy the serene view of the lake. The lake is also famous for a different reason Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed in the same lake where Gandhi Ghat has been constructed. The fountains in the lake offer an enchanting view of the life at Mount Abu while you boat merrily. There is also Toad Rock on a hill nearby. These strangely shaped rocks are arranged in such a way that it resembles a toad about to jump in the lake. Additionally, there are numerous eateries in the area where you can enjoy a sumptuous meal after the pleasant boat ride.

2. Gadisar Lake, Rajasthan:

Enjoy the lush greenery on an early morning or evening boat ride at the Gadisar Lake, Rajasthan. This lake is one of the most precious assets for the locals and has been carrying the heritage and culture for generations. The first Maharaja of the city of Jaisalmer, Raja Rawal Jaisal, artificially built this lake in as a water reservoir for his people in the hope of solving the water crisis in the area. The Gadisar Lake is situated in the heart of Mount Abu and thus, boating around the lake offers a mesmerising view of the city while you can also spot the famous Raghunath Temple and Maharaja Jaipur Palace which are located in the nearby area. The lake is considered to be sacred and is worshipped by a local tribe known as Garasia.

You can also buy food from the stalls there and feed the catfish in the lake. The sight of the fishes flocking around you to grab a bite or two is intriguing as well as tad bit scary too. During winters, bird-watchers can engage in their favourite pastime as beautiful migratory birds visit the lake as the Bharatpur bird sanctuary is very close to the lake. 

3. Bedhaghat, Jabalpur:

A spectacle of nature, Bhedaghat is a town located in the Jabalpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The marble rock boating area is breathtaking with the subtle hues and colours of the rocks and stones. With time, the Narmada river has carved a beautiful gorge of approximately eight kilometres. Rent a rowboat or a motorboat and go on a guided tour of the river. 

4. Kumarakom Backwaters:

A trip to Kerala is incomplete if you do not get to enjoy the tranquil serenity of the Kumarakom backwaters. A small town located in Kottayam district of Kerala receives thousands of tourists everywhere who come to live up their dream of spending time on a houseboat in the backwaters. A much-deserved break from the fast-paced urban lifestyle, the Kumarakom boating tours are therapeutic in an actual sense. The vibrant green cover contributed by the coconut plantations, and paddy fields all around make up for a soothing sight for the mind and soul. The most exciting part is these houseboats or Kettuvallams, as known in Kerala, are entirely built with eco-friendly materials. 

5. Dal Lake, Srinagar:

To go on a fascinating Shikara boat ride on the Dal Lake and live up the most captivating activity while you are in Srinagar. The awe-inspiring panoramic view of the lush green landscapes, the ripples forming on the lake water, flowering gardens, and the vibrant floating market will leave you enchanted. Shikara is a kind of a wooden boat made primarily out of deodar wood. The Shikara boat can also take you to the famous tourist attraction surrounding the Dal Lake such as the Shalimar Garden, Nishat Garden and the Hazratbal Mosque. The Shikaras also play a crucial part in the infamous floating market on the Dal Lake where the locals sell flowers, vegetables and handicrafts. So, while you reside in a Shikara houseboat, you can go shopping on your boat to the eye-catching hues on the floating boats which are a part of the market.

6. Hoganekkal, Tamil Nadu:

If you want to visit the Niagara Falls of India, head out to Hogaenakkal Waterfalls, Tamil Nadu, located at a distance of 200 kms from Bangalore in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Famous for the spectacular waterfalls and hide boat rides, this major tourist destination offers fun boating and coracle rides. The waterfalls are divided; where the ones in Karnataka has numerous cascades whereas the part that lies on the Tamil Nadu side has picturesque gorges and boat rides. 

7. Ganga Ghat, Varanasi:

The sacred River Ganga is believed to have magical powers of having the potential to wash off one’s sins. Gliding through the water of Ganges to when the sun is rising or setting, you can experience the true essence of Varanasi. Visit the different Ghats which are connected to the land via waterways. Another major attraction is the Ram Nagar Fort, located on the opposite side of the river, which is the palace of the King of Banaras. The boat ride includes a mini-tour of the palace and the nearby market area and a visit to a Goddess Durga temple which was built 200 years ago.

8. Naini Lake, Nainital:

Making time on the water is among the favourite recreational activity during summers. This eye-shaped lake, located at the height of 1938 meters, offer boating as the major attraction for tourists who seek some entertaining activities at the hill station. There is also a Yacht Club at Mallital which offers yachting for the members and tourist alike. The exquisite beauty of the gleaming water, under the Kumaon Sky, can be thoroughly rejoiced only by a boating experience.

9.  Bhimtal, Nainital:

Bhimtal Lake in the Bhimtal Town is among the most famous lakes in India. There is an island in the middle of the lake which is an aquarium attracts visitors. The only way to reach the island is via boat. Visit the aquarium which has a variety of species that will leave you amazed. The Bhimeshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is also located on the island. The C-shaped lake is situated at an altitude of 4500 feet, sprawling over an area of 47 hectares. The clear lake water a paradise for nature-lovers and photo-fanatics, the surrounding of the lake are well-maintained with eateries offering local delicacies in the area. Immerse yourself in the hypnotic tranquillity on a boat ride around the lake.

10. Unkal Lake, Karnataka:

A resplendent sunset at the Unkal Lake will leave you mesmerised. Go on a boat ride around the Lake and capture the ravishing sight in your camera to relive the moment time and again. This scenic tourist spot is situated at Unkal in Dharwad district. The Unkal Lake is 110 years old. There is a statue of Swami Vivekananda in the middle of the lake. Tourists can reach here by taking a boat the site. The beauty of the lake is a must-visit for nature lovers who could get some great shots at nature photography. There are recreational facilities for children around the lake premises.