Happiness, that’s a choice. A choice, and it comes from within, not from outside. 

It is absolutely true that happiness is not dependent on external factors. In the opposite, our happiness rests solely in ourselves, on our inner influences. 

Money cannot buy you happiness.

external factors which are big house, car, lucrative career, immense wealth, property, expensive electronic items, lavish furniture and last but not least excess financial status may make your day, and make you smile, but if you are not happy, or are sad in the first place, they will not make you happy!

Happiness is celebrating the small essence of life. 

Happiness is more about life and being happy for all the blessings we have. The greatest aspect is that we are satisfied for small stuff that we do, people do, or what we have. Real joy is throwing it away.

A little smile, a little charity, a donation of food, essential items for the needy, and sometimes even in this difficult time giving financial assistance to the poor, is enough to make one happy.

When this contagious disease spreads, people lose their lives, it points out that being alive is happiness itself. Life can not be bought. Being able to live, thank God for all that He gives us, praying, meditating are all our true sources of joy.Being inside, practicing meditation and relaxation exercises, planting, watering seeds, reading a novel, blogging, watching Ramayana and Marabharat with your children, all of these really give you the feeling of doing something imaginative and inventive. The very essence of knowing that you can change something or do something for society is happiness.

If we look around us, when we are all in our houses, we enjoy a lot of stuff. Being around loved ones, not heading away, listening to music, snorting animals, calm waters of rivers, a nice feeling, a glimpse of the range, no noisy sound of horns or cars, is a gift in disguise.We are now giving space to our relationships, enjoying, believing in the power of social distancing, maintaining hand hygiene, controlling the infections of the entire environment and of ourselves. 

We did a lot of new things a few days back in our country due to PM. All of this has instilled in us all a feeling of cohesion and solidarity.If it’s ringing bells, clapping or even lighting diyas, candles or utilizing smartphone flashlights, it’s all too simple but at the same time too pleasant. All age groups could be seen doing these little activities at the prescribed date and time. It is a joyful task for some people to sleep peacefully or play with pets.

If wealth is lost ,nothing is lost

If health is lost, something is lost

If character is lost then everything is lost

Happiness can never be tied to outside factors. In our minds and souls, joy is everything. If we want to be positive, then we are satisfied and if we choose to feel unhappy over past things no one will support. In fact, our inner thoughts, our own motivation, decisions , actions and good deeds for our society, family, country, and other people make us happy.As long as we behave as humans with empathy, compassion towards others, understanding, change, no aspirations, and above all having inner confidence that all is good and will be better in the future, we are bound to be genuinely content, productive and ultimately safe.

The Supreme Court has reestablished the discipline of the punishment of cashiering to Ex. Lt. Col. S. S. Bedi who was a Medical Specialist in the Indian Army Medical Corps found as liable of the charge of using criminal power against two ladies patients.

The Supreme Court held, “We restore the punishment of penalty by considering the indefensible conduct of the Appellant misusing a place of trust being a Doctor which isn’t condonable. Be that as it may, we direct the Respondents to consider the whole record of service of the Appellant and his propelled age while taking a decision to start procedures under the Army Pension Regulations.”

A three-judge Bench of Justice Nageswara Rao, Hemant Gupta and Ravindra Gupta was not convinced with the reasons given by the Tribunal for changing over the sentence from cashiering to imposition of fine of Rs.50,000 and directed revival of the punishment.

An appeal was documented by Ex. Lt. Col. S. S. Bedi tested the judgment of the Armed Forces Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi affirming request of his conviction by the General Court Martial.

The Tribunal had anyway changed over the sentence of cashiering from administration into a fine of Rs.50,000/ – The Union of India had documented an appeal oppressed by the modification of sentence from cashiering from administration to inconvenience of fine.

The Appellant Mr Bedi was commissioned in the Indian Army Medical Corps in 1966 and was posted at Base Hospital Lucknow as a Medical Specialist in 1984.

An objection was made by two ladies against him in 1986 that he behaved badly with them during test by touching their genitals. He was charged for carrying out a civil offense and using criminal power on two ladies with purpose to shock their modesty, as opposed to Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC). The Appellant was held liable by the General Court Martial and was sentenced to be cashiered from service on fourteenth Jan 1987.

The conviction and sentence of the General Court Martial were tested by the Petitioner before the Delhi High Court in the year 2010 and was moved by the Delhi High Court to the Principal Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal, New Delhi. The Tribunal maintained the conviction of the Appellant however changed over the punishment of cashiering to a fine of Rs.50,000/ – .

The Counsel for the appealing party Mr. Sridhar Potaraju, had submitted before the Supreme Court that the conviction of the Appellant is impractical as the proof on record was not appropriately valued by both the General Court Martial and the Tribunal.

Additional Solicitor General showing up for the Respondent reacted by contending that there was .plentiful proof on record highlighting the guilt of the Appellant which has been appropriately valued by the General Court Martial and the Tribunal.

He informed the Court that the Respondents are just worried about the conversion of the punishment of cashiering to a fine of Rs.50,000, which as indicated by at that point was unjustifiable. The Appellant had misbehaved with two patients and the expert proof additionally shows that there was no need of the Appellant touching the private pieces of the complainant.

The Apex Court concurred with the conclusion of the General Court Martial and the Tribunal that the Appellant is liable of the charge of using criminal power against two ladies patients and denied the dispute that the conviction was unreasonable.

Adding another layer to the debate encompassing the demise of actor, Sushant Singh Rajput, the Center has now acknowledged the Bihar government’s proposal for a CBI probe into the case. This was informed to the Supreme Court by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today.

The court was hearing Rhea Chakraborthy’s plea looking for transfer of a FIR documented against her by Sushant Singh Rajput’s father from Patna to Mumbai and a stay on the investigation by the Bihar police.

The request documented by Rhea expresses the FIR in Patna asserting abetment to suicide charges against her is only a demonstration of “conspiracy” between the State of Bihar and the father of the late Actor.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy stated: “Rajput was a skilled artist who died under unordinary conditions. In the event that there is culpability involved, it should be examined.”

He added: “Everybody has a sentiment about prominent cases, however we will continue as per law. Let the Maharashtra government react to what Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has submitted.

Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, showing up for Rhea, argued that a defensive request be passed for the petitioner. But, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, showing up for the Rajput family, brought up criticisms and presented that no defensive request ought to be passed as it could prompt altering of proof.

Justice Roy was not satisfied with the isolating of the Bihar police in Maharashtra and stated: “The quarantining of the Bihar police doesn’t send a good message. The imprisonment ..does it send a good message? Particularly when the case has gathered so much media attention? State of Maharashtra needs to guarantee that everything is done in proper manner.”

The bench has allowed three days to all parties to gather the documents. State of Maharashtra has been asked to update on condition of the investigation by Mumbai police. Matter will be recorded one week from now.

The Madras High Court has dismissed a writ appeal challenging the Regulation 7(2)(ca) of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), which specifies the prerequisite that the Insolvency Professionals (IP) should pay an expense calculated at 0.25% of the professional charge earned for services delivered as an IP in the previous money related year.

The petitoner, CA. Venkata Siva Kumar, is a CA and has enrolled himself as an IP with the IBBI. He expressed in his writ appeal that the guidelines of the IBBI (Insolvency Professionals) Regulations, 2016 are violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and has the right to be struck down.

The principle dispute of the petitoner was that Section 196 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 doesn’t give power to IBBI to demand expenses based on the yearly compensation or the yearly turnover of the IP or IPE and that an enrollment fee of Rs 10,000 is charged every five years after the declaration of registration is granted.

The division bench of Chief Justice A.P. Sahi and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy held that plainly Section 196(1)(c) and 207 of the IBC and the IP Regulations are expected to satisfy the object and purpose behind the IBC with respect to the working of the IBBI.

“The IBC contains adequate safeguards to guarantee that the Parliament viably administers all rules and principles with the ability to change or even invalidate the same,” the seat said.

“The IBBI offers noteworthy types of assistance, including connections to IPs, and that there is an expansive correlation between charges and administrations. Given the way that chief arithmetical connection as between the charge got and service delivered isn’t necessary particularly with regards to administrative expenses, we are of the view that Regulation 7(2)(ca) of the IP Regulations doesn’t suffer the ill effects of constitutional infirmity by virtue of the absence of quid pro quo,” the bench said.

The Supreme Court today today asked General Tushar Mehta to ask for directions from the Centre on the chance of opening 4G internet services in certain parts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Manoj Sinha has been named the new LG of Jammu and Kashmir after G C Murmu left the post.

Fast Internet service in J-K has been suspended since August 2019 when the Centre had revoked  its special status and bifurcation of the state into two UTs – Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The top court said that with the new  LG, nothing changes as the special panel is there to investigate the issue.

The top court was hearing a plea of the NGO looking for inception of contempt proceedings against the Union Home Secretary and Chief Secretary of J-K for their claimed “wilful defiance” in conforming to the court’s May 11 request.

At the beginning, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, showing up for the J-K organization advised the bench that he needs to accept directions as the LG has changed there and new LG has assumed control over yesterday.

The bench said that with the difference in LG, nothing changes as the high powered panel is there to investigate the issue.

It said that the court can’t state what the circumstances are on the ground level yet the issue is that the matter should not be postponed.

The seat asked Mehta to take directions on whether 4G administrations can be reestablished in specific zones.

Mehta said that there is no goal to postpone the issue as the top court’s structure has been conformed to in letter and soul and he would take guidelines.

The bench, including Justices NV Ramana, BR Gavai and Subhash R Reddy, was hearing a content appeal recorded by Foundation of Media Professionals, looking for sure quick restoration of 4G in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

The contempt petition was recorded to bring the Court’s focus to the obstinate failiure of government authorities in complying with the order of the Supreme Court, in spite of 29 days having passed  since the judgment was conveyed on May 11, 2020.

Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the applicants, presented that during the past hearing the SG had looked for time to go through the reply documented by the petitioners presenting that they have followed the court’s directions. However, they have not reacted at this point.

The bench, in any case, said that it was not saying anything at the moment, as the petitioners have depended on the statement of the Governor, however now the Governor has changed.

The bench additionally said that it will decide whether there is contempt or not after they get a reply from the centre.

On July 28, the Center and the J-K organization had told the top court that it will check the statements made by the Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and BJP politician Ram Madhav that 4G Internet administration can be reestablished in the Union Territory, and asked for time to document an answer to the response oath recorded by a NGO.

1. The Celebration (1998)

The Celebration (Festen) is directed by Thomas Vinterberg. In this movie a rich family comes together to celebrate the patriarch’s 60th birthday. On the dinner table where many people have gathered, while making a toast, the eldest son reveals a wrongdoing that his dad indulged in, his confession causes chaos. There are two kinds of reactions by the people at the party, either they pretend that they didnt hear anything or they try to shut him up.

This the first film of the Dogma 95 movement started by Thomas Vinterberg and Lars Von Trier. The manifesto of this movement was basically that films will be made on a low budget – they will be shot on location, a handheld camera will be used, no props will be allowed on set and no external audio would be added after the movie is done.

This film is really well written. At it’s core it shows how people use culture to deal with unpleasantness. It points fingers at some of the negative aspects of the Danish culture. I loved how this film portrays human dynamics. It shows how this guy who’s the victim of something heinous has to face a night of humiliation either because people dont believe him or because they want to live in denial. The film is shot on a handheld camera that makes the film look like a home video. And I think that’s perfect for the film, because it is set around a family gathering, so it makes it look real. There is also use of dark humour that I thought was very well done. The film is about an uncomfortable subject, so the humor adds some light.

The Celebration is a great example of minimalist filmmaking. Do check it out,  it may make you uncomfotable at times but it’s all very well done.

2. Being John Malkovich (1999)

Being John Malkovich is directed by Spike Jonze and written by one of my favourite screenwritesr, Charlie Kaufman. John Cusack plays a down on his luck puppeteer. So he takes up a job. Once while working late at night he comes across a portal that can take you inside the head of actor, John Malkovich.

This is one of the most crazy concepts to have ever graced the big screen. This film is an example of surrealist cinema done right. All thanks to Charlie Kaufman’s masterpiece of a screenplay. Charlie Kaufman is known to subvert all the typical Hollywood tropes. His films dont even follow the traditional three act structure, he likes to experiment and finds the traditional structute boring. So all his films are extremely original.

This film is really meta, the dialogues are smart, the character arcs are extremely well done. The film shows a lot of stuff that I couldn’t even imagine being put on the screen. But Kaufman and Spike Jonze find a way. It has a lot of twists and turns from beginning to end and all of them surprised the hell out of me. There are also some statements on our existence that will make you think. I loved how weird the characters are, John Cusack is this pervert of a puppeteer, Cameron Diaz is unrecognizable as his wife. She plays this kinda nerdy woman who works at a pet store. When i saw this film for the first time, this film made me realiise how great of an actress Catherine Keener is. She is more or less the negative character in this couple’s lives. There is this very weird and unconventional love triangle between them which I dont want to spoil for you. John Malkovich is fantastic as himself and I’m really glad that he picked this weird and ballsy film.

In the end I’d just like to say that Being John Malkovich is one of the best films I’ve ever seen. It’s an extremely original and funny film that will keep you entertained and would surprise you at every turn.

1. Damnation (Karhozat) (1987)

Damnation (Karhozat) (1987) is directed by the great Hungarian auteur Bela Tarr. It is set in an unnamed town in which a man named Karrer is in love with the local bar singer, but she’s married. They have an affair for a while but then she leaves him. Karrer is offered a smuggling job by the bartender of the same bar but he gives it to the singer’s husband to get him out of the way. But things dont go as he expects and he faces a few hurdles.

The film has minimal dialogues and it is full of Bela Tarr’s signature style of long takes of mundane things. For example, there is a three minutes long take just of our lead staring out of his room’s window. The film is shot in black and white and has this sad and bleak atmosphere. The cinematography and framing are impeccable. The film deliberately moves at a snail’s pace. The shots are slow and winding. In this film, the camera’s movements are more important than the plot. The film delivers the plot visually. One of my favourite scenes was one in which our lead characters are fighting, and the crying baby’s noise in the parallel room acts as the background score. I dug the upbeat classical music throughout. It showed how the hopeless inhabitants of this town try to find joy by dancing and partying.

This film is more about the mood and the atmosphere. It’s a film about nothing but I was absorbed. I felt like I was there in this rainy and muddy shithole of a town where everything was dark and gloomy. Showing the mundane lives of these people reminded me of the films of Michaelangelo Antonioni. The topics that our characters talk about are full of philiosophy and subtext,   they are deep and powerful.

Damnation is a highly stylized film that is not for everyone. The film progresses at a snail’s pace. But I didnt mind it because I was hypnotised by what I saw. I loved how the plot of the movie is told visually and the way it shows this sad and dreary world. This film is more of a sensory experience that I had a blast with.

2. Close Up ( 1990)

In today’s World, face masks have become an important part of our lives. Even though they cause immense discomfort, it has become A safety necessity. This necessity has led to several types of face Masks being available in the market- You get cheap face masks being made of fabric, you get fancy ones with valves in it And you even get funny ones with Smiley images printed on them. , And recently, the indian health ministry has Issued a warning that highlights what you should and should not do with your mask and one of the Is to stop sailing face masks with respirator As they might not be COVID-19 safe As we thought they might be. Rajiv Garg, DGHS, In a letter to all the states and union territories, States, “It is to bring to knowledge that the use of Respirator N95 masks Are detrimental to the For preventing the spread of As it does not prevent the virus from escaping out of the mask.”
“In view of the above I request you to instruct all concerned to follow the use of face/mouth cover and prevent inappropriate use of N95 masks”,he added.
As highlighted by TOI, the problem with N95 mask is the valve that comes fitted with them. N95 masks are essentially a type of PPE that is designed for health care workers as well as for workers at the construction site. The mask is made of material that filters air which is coming in. Most of these masks are fitted with a valve at front that enables better ventilation so it doesn’t feel exhausting to breathe . However, most masks that are circulating in the market only have a one-way valve. Which means, while it does filter the air coming from the outside, it isn’t preventing your breath, from staying in. The valve is acting like an unfiltered outlet to spread outside. The safest, which has been suggested by health ministry is home made masks – washing it in boiling water with salt for five minutes and drying it properly before use.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry today organised a webinar on the occasion of the World Biofuel day with the theme Biofuels towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.

World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th August to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Tarun Kapoor said that there is large amount of agricultural residues available in the country and therefore the scope of producing Biofuels is immense.

He said that there are three major areas of Biofuels- Ethanol, Bio-diesel and Biogas.

He added, if these three sources are exploited, dependence on import of crude and also gas can be reduced to a very large extent.

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, EPFO has ensured hassle free service delivery through UMANG app during COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Labour and Employment Ministry said, presently a PF member can access 16 different services of EPFO on their mobile phone using the Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance, UMANG App.
 
The Ministry said, on UMANG app a member can raise claim, track claim and know the status of claim raised.
 
During the COVID-19 pandemic period from April to July, a total of over 11 lakh claims were filed online through UMANG App.
 
This was a whooping 180 per cent increase compared to pre-Covid 19 period from December last year to March 2020, where only around four lakh claims were submitted through the app.
 
To ensure safe and secure delivery of its services at the door steps on its 66 lakh pensioners, EPFO brought the facility of View Pensioner Passbook as well as updation of Jeevan Pramaan Patra on UMANG app.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has said that National Education Policy 2020 is a blend of tools enabling the students to compete with the global world, as well as to grasp the Bharat centric values, culture and languages.

Participating in a webinar on Atma Nirbhar Madhya Pradesh – Health and Education’ in New Delhi today, Mr Pokhriyal said, the policy aims to revamp all aspects of India’s education system that were in place over three decades and bring it closer to the best global standards of education.

The National Education Policy has maintained a balance between the traditions and the interdisciplinary approach. He said, the policy has a clear vision and defined objectives. Mr Pokhriyal said, the reforms proposed can only be implemented collaboratively by the Centre and the states.

The Minister congratulated the Madhya Pradesh government for swiftly responding to the current COVID crisis by introducing a series of interventions across all sectors.

During the current lockdown, the School Education Department of Madhya Pradesh has proactively taken upon the task of ensuring that children do not lose out on any opportunity to learn and to continue their academic progress by providing access to tech-enabled learning sources.

Hitting out at senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that those raising objections to the draft environment impact assessment, EIA notification are the same people who took big decisions without consultations when they were in power.

Speaking to  media on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi today, Mr Javadekar questioned their protest against the draft saying it is not final notification.

The Minister said, it was kept for public consultation for an extended period of 150 days because of COVID-19.
He said, Government has received thousands of suggestions which it welcomed and will consider them.

He added that then Government will take a call and come out with final draft. Mr Javadekar said, some people jumping just on the draft is not fair practice.

Gandhi yesterday had said that EIA 2020 draft is a disaster and it seeks to silence the voice of communities who will be directly impacted by the environmental degradation it unleashes.

The Congress leader  also called for its withdrawal, saying it will lead to further environmental destruction.