International news flow after the end of colonialism




The mass media are seen today as playing a key role in enhancing globalization, facilitating culture exchange and multiple flows of information and image between countries through international news broadcasts, television programming, new technologies, film and music. If before the 1990’s mainstream media systems in most countries of the world were relatively national in scope, since then most communication media have become increasingly global, extending their reach beyond the nation-state to conquer audiences worldwide.

International flows of information have been largely
assisted by the development of global capitalism, new technologies and the increasing commercialisation of global television, which has occurred as a consequence of the deregulation policies adopted by various countries in Europe and the US in order to permit the proliferation of cable and satellite channels. Globalization theorists have discussed how the cultural dimension of globalization has exercised a profound impact on the whole globalization process.

The rapid expansion of global communications in the 21st century can be traced back to the mechanical advancements of technologies during the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, which started mainly with the invention of the telegraph in 1837, and included the growth in postal services, cross-border telephone and radio communications and the creation of a modern mass circulation press in Europe. It was however the evolution of technologies capable of transmitting messages via electromagnetic waves that marked a turning point in advancing the globalization of
communications.

The emergence of international news agencies in the 19th century, such as Reuters, paved the way for the beginnings of a global system of codification. Nonetheless, it was not until the 1960’s, with the launch of the first geo-stationary communication satellites, that communication by electromagnetic transmission became fully global, thus
making the globalization of communications a distinctive phenomena of the 20th century.

Key theories in international communications grew out of international relation studies. The “modernization” or development” theory in the area of communication research
emerged in the Cold War context and were largely preoccupied with the ways in which the media could help transform traditional societies to include them into the capitalism orbit. Among the key theorists in this tradition was Wilbur Schramm with his sponsored UNESCO work, Mass Media and national development – the role of information in the developing countries.

The idea was that international communication media could be used
as a tool to transfer the political-economic model of the West to the growing independent societies of the South. Schramm’s views was that the mass media could be used by elites to
raise the ambitions of the populations in developing countries, who would cease to be narrow-minded and conformist and would be active in their own self-development. The dependency theories the 1960’s and 1970’s were perceived as an alternative approach grounded in neo-Marxism, and which adopted a theoretical framework that saw
capitalism and inequality as a key perspective in understanding the impact of power relations on global communications. According to the argument, transnational corporations based in the North engaged in a web of interdependency with the economies of the South, setting the terms of global trade, dominating markets, production and labour.

Dependency theorists and Latin American scholars argued that these economic relations worked within an exploitative dependency model that promoted American capitalist mentality in developing countries (Mattelart, 1979). Development was thus shaped in a way that benefitted largely the developed nations, maintaining the peripheral countries in a continuous position of dependence. Latin American scholars stressed that it was Western
media companies that were reaping the rewards of the modernization programmes, and that they were actually reaching out to the South in order to conquer new markets for their
products.

Globalization is thus seen as having consequences for the distribution of power and wealth both within and between countries. Cultural imperialism theories of the 1970’s and 1980’s highlighted how the media in developing countries imported foreign news, cultural and television genre formats (i.e. talk-shows, sitcoms) and also values of capitalist consumerism and individualism. The core critique of the imperialism thesis was that the
developing countries had established a relationship of subordination.

Written by : Ananya Kaushal

Cryptocurrency simplified

In the simplest of terms cryptocurrency is a digital currency used to make transactions. It is currently not being used to make transactions but can be potentially used to do so. Before jumping to cryptocurrency let’s clear our basics.

Understanding currency 

Think of cryptocurrency as any other currency, we use currency to fulfil our needs and we exchange currency because we are aware that we will be provided with goods and services in return. Now, this currency is not limited to just notes or coins but can be anything. Like in olden times barter system existed where people would exchange goods and services for other goods and services in return but this concept had a lot of limitations so currency started evolving. We moved to commodity money i.e., gold, silver then to metal money then paper money then plastic money(cards) and now we are moving towards crypto. These currencies evolved because the previous methods of transaction had their own drawbacks.

Like any other method, the method of transaction that the world operates on now also has drawbacks like centralisation, elasticity, the ease with which it can be issued to name a few.

Need for Crypto

Now, this is where cryptocurrency comes into play. It is a virtual form of currency that uses blockchain technology. Blockchain technology is a virtual decentralised ledger that keeps a record of transactions. Cryptocurrency is secured by cryptography which is a secure communication technique.

Now, keep in mind that it does not physically exist, one can’t hold up a bitcoin because it is based on a network distributed across computers. So you don’t have to carry it around, kind of like net banking or online transactions but online transactions are made through banks and can be monitored by any authority. Now, imagine you want to transfer your friends 5 bitcoins. You can do it without a bank or an intermediary interfering. It can be done anonymously with your privacy being protected. And since no authority controls it, that currency cannot be altered either. 

With paper currency, the government can print as much money as they want because they control it and printing a lot of money causes inflation but that is not the case with cryptocurrency because  only a limited number exists. 

For example, only 21 million bitcoins exist on the web. Bitcoin is a form of cryptocurrency created allegedly by a Japanese fellow Satoshi Nakamoto. Now , this could be a pseudonym or perhaps more than one person was involved in the development of said currency. However, for the most part that person’s identity still remains anonymous.  

Now,  this number of 21 million cannot be changed, it is constant. There will always exist 21 million bitcoins and can be found out through miing. This is done by solving puzzles. The more puzzles you solve, the more bitcoin you get. As more and more bitcoins are mined, the puzzles get tougher. These bitcoins are not easy to find and it is definitely not easy to solve the puzzles. Perhaps, that is why Bitcoin is so valuable. 

It is possible that somewhere in the not so far future we would not be using paper currency but crypto. For now, cryptocurrency is highly volatile and is used only for investing money.

K- show recommendation

It’s usually called ‘drama’ . Korean shows have recently been gaining popularity. The new show ‘Squid game’  has instantly trending worldwide.

K-show makes up to  2.02 bn revenue for South Korea.

They have also given nations incredible soft power over people around the world. They can influence trends and cultures or sometimes lifestyle too. It also proved a boomer of business to other sectors in Korea. Here are a few top shows that might interest you.

1)Mr. Queen: One of most hilarious drama in the newest realise. It has a story of how a woman in the history of Korea suffered in a royal Household. It also has a light romance side.

2)Vincenzo: It’s old mafia styled. A italian consilerr comes back to Korea and finds his good side working for a lawyer. It is available on Netflix.

This series is a must watch for beginners.

3)Crash landing on you: it’s a romantic drama with sorrowful twists. It shows the relationship and difference between North Korea and South Korea in the present day. If you are into romance drama it is best k-shiw can do for you.

4)Goblin: Show made it 2016. It is a cult hit in Korean shows. It set a benchmark for supernatural genre show. It feels story of a supernatural being looking for a wife to end his life. It’s a sorrowful romance that will make you cry till the end.

About that artist- Claude Monet

Claude Monet is considered as the initiator of impressionism along with Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Frédéric Bazille, who he met while studying under Charles Gleyre.

Early Life

Oscar Claude Monet was a French painter born in 1840 in France. Monet was the eldest kid in his family. He grew up around the coast, which plays a significant role in some of his works. In 1851, Monet got into  Le Havre secondary school of the arts. In his early years Monet started to show inclination towards art and would draw caricatures, which brought him initial success at the age of 15.

In 1858, he met Eugène Boudin through whom he was introduced to multiple techniques namely “en plein air” or painting in open air which he would go on to use in most of his paintings throughout his painting career .

Introduction to Art 

In 1858, Monet started studying in Paris where he was introduced to artists like  Charles Daubigny and Constant Troyon. Monet was called for military service under  Chasseurs d’Afrique

In Algeria. Every experience, every scene for an artist has the potential to serve as an inspiration for an artist and his time in Algeria did exactly that. The colors of Northern Africa were an inspiration for his later research. He was forced to return to Le Havre in 1862 due to illness. He met Johan Barthold Jongkind, who also played an important role and shaped his artistic perception along with Boudin.

In 1867 Monet had a child whom he named Jean with Camille Pissarro. 

A lot of his success comes from the work that he produced between 1865-75. One of those works include Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe which he finished in 1866 which shows a group of well dressed people enjoying a picnic. His paintings from this period portrayed very trivial, domestic scenes.

Some of his paintings from this period include The Beach at Sainte-Adresse(1867), The Woman in the Green Dress (1866), Portrait of Claude Monet, Carolus-Duran (1867).

In 1972, Monet came across Japanese paintings  which influenced his later paintings. Since then, his paintings revolved around nature. Monet is most known for his series of motifs that he started creating in the 1880s, these were impressionist paintings.

Later Years 

In 1883, Monet moved to Giverny with his family. Here he started working on a series of paintings mostly inspired by his surroundings. These paintings represented the River Thames, Charing Cross. During this time Monet frequently traveled to Lomdon and Venice. In 1893, Monet started to assemble a water lily garden and soon this garden became a subject of his later paintings. Most of his work in the 1900s remained unknown to a large population till the mid 20th century. In the later years of his life, his eyesight began to deteriorate despite that he did not stop painting, he painted almost all his life. In 1923, he went through a cataract surgery which improved his sense of sight a bit and went back to some of his older unfinished paintings. In 1926, Monet passed away. Hw spent most of his later years grieving for his friends who he had lost in World War I and perhaps this grief resulted in a series he called Weeping Willow which is regarded as one of his most beautiful series that he painted  

Are perpetual motion machines possible or not? Free energy?

Most of us might have had this idea, that magnets attract each other in opposite poles, so why can’t we use this to create free energy. Like placing a magnet or a metal in a car and attach the other magnet with a rod or something and place it in front of the car that keeps them attract each other. With this idea, we can move the car without any energy, forever. A perpetual motion machine is a device that is supposed to work indefinitely without any external energy source. Imagine a windmill that produced the breeze it needed to keep rotating or a light bulb whose glow provided its own electricity. These devices have captured many inventers’ imaginations because they could transform our relationship with energy. It sounds cool right? But there is only one problem, it won’t work.

Bhaskara’s wheel -The oldest perpetual motion machine

In countless instances in history, people have claimed that they have made a perpetual motion machine. Around 1159 A.D. a mathematician called Bhaskara the learned sketched a design for a wheel containing curved reservoirs of mercury. He reasoned that as the wheels spun, the mercury would flow to the bottom of each reservoir, leaving one side of the wheel perpetually heavier than the other. The imbalance would keep the wheel turning forever. Bhaskara’s drawing was one of the earliest designs for a perpetual motion machine. And more people have claimed that they made a perpetual motion machine, like Zimara’s self blowing windmill in the1500s, the capillary bowl where capillary action forces the water upwards, the oxford electric bell, which takes back and forth due to charge repulsion, and so on. In fact the US patent office stopped granting patents for perpetual motion machines without a working prototype.

Why perpetual motion machines won’t work?

Ideas of perpetual motion machine all violate one or more fundamental laws of thermodynamics. These laws describe the relationship between different forms of energy. The first law of thermodynamics says that “Energy neither be created nor be destroyed”. You can’t get out more energy than you put in. that rules out a useful perpetual motion machine right away because a machine could only ever produce as much as it consumed. There wouldn’t be any leftover energy to power a car or charge a phone. But what if you just wanted the machine to keep itself moving? Let’s take the Bhaskara’s wheel, the moving parts that make one side of the wheel heavier also shift its center of mass downward below the axle. With a low center of mass, the wheel just swings back and forth like a pendulum and will stop. In the 17th century, Robert Boyle came up with an idea for a self watering pot. He theorized that capillary action, the attraction between liquids and surfaces that pulls water through thin tubes, might keep the water cycling around the bowl. But if the capillary action is strong enough to overcome gravity and draw the water up, it would also prevent it from falling back into the bowl.

John Keely’s perpetual motion machine

For each of these machines to keep moving, they had to create some extra energy to nudge the system past its stopping point, breaking the first law of thermodynamics. There are ones that seems to keep moving, but in reality, they invariably turn out to be drawing energy from some external source. Even if engineers could design a machine that didn’t violate the first law of thermodynamics, it still wouldn’t work in the real world because of the second law. The second law of thermodynamics tells us that energy tends to spread out through processes like friction, heating. Any real machine would have moving parts or interactions with air or liquid molecules that would generate tiny amount of friction and heat, even in a vacuum. That heat is energy escaping, and it would keep leeching out, reducing the energy available to move the system itself until the machine inevitably stopped. Like I said about the idea of a car with magnets, the magnets in it won’t able to move the car. Even if the magnet is so powerful to move the car, the friction came into action and will eventually stops the car. So these two laws of thermodynamics will destroy every idea for perpetual motion. With these, we can conclude that perpetual motion machines are impossible.

  YOU  CAN’T  GET  SOMETHING  FOR  NOTHING.

IMPORTANT BOOKS TO READ IN YOUR 20’S

Reading is good for you because it improves your focus, memory, empathy, and communication skills. It can reduce stress, improve your mental health, and help you live longer. Reading also allows you to learn new things to help you succeed in your work and relationships.Reading has been proven to keep our minds young, healthy and sharp, with studies showing that reading can even help prevent alzheimer’s disease. Reading also develops the imagination and allows us to dream and think in ways that we would have never been able to before.

1) How to win friends and influence the people

How to Win Friends and Influence People is a self-help book written by Dale Carnegie, published in 1936. Over 30 million copies have been sold worldwide, making it one of the best-selling books of all time. Carnegie had been conducting business education courses in New York since 1912. The book is very easy to read and provides great examples and stories which makes it 10x easier to relate to and remember. I highly recommend this book, it has helped me improve certain aspects of my relationships and interactions with others.The core idea is that you can change other people’s behavior simply by changing your own. It teaches you the principles to better understand people, become a more likable person, improve relationships, win others over, and influence behavior through leadership.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Win_Friends_and_Influence_People

2) Think and Grow Rich

Think and Grow Rich was written by Napoleon Hill in 1937 and promoted as a personal development and self-improvement book. He claimed to be inspired by a suggestion from business magnate and later-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_and_Grow_Rich The “secret” of Think and Grow Rich is to place yourself within the overall scheme of creation, obeying natural laws that inevitably and invariably beget growth, expansion, renewal, and generativity.

3) The Power of your subconscious mind

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind has been a bestseller since its first publication in 1963, selling many millions of copies since its original publication. It is one of the most brilliant and beloved spiritual self-help works of all time which can help you heal yourself, banish your fears, sleep better, enjoy better relationships and just feel happier. The techniques are simple and results come quickly. You can improve your relationships, your finances, your physical well-being. Your subconscious mind is a powerful force to be reckoned with. It makes up around 95% of your brain power and handles everything your body needs to function properly, from eating and breathing to digesting and making memories.

4) The Richest Man in Babylon

The Richest Man in Babylon is a 1926 book by George S. Clason that dispenses financial advice through a collection of parables set 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon. The book remains in print almost a century after the parables were originally published, and is regarded as a classic of personal financial advice.This point is actually the crux of the book: the classic principle of paying yourself first. Clason recommends saving at least 10% of all income earned. Even in his example of those who are paying off debt, he still advocates setting aside this one-tenth. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Richest_Man_in_Babylon#:~:text=The%20Richest%20Man%20in%20Babylon%20is%20a%201926%20book%20by,classic%20of%20personal%20financial%20advice.

5) Atomic Habits

An atomic habit is a regular practice or routine that is not only small and easy to do but is also the source of incredible power; a component of the system of compound growth. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. While it is well worth reading cover-to-cover as it is chock full of useful and actionable information about habits, from how and why we form them to how to break them and make them, I’ve decided to highlight my top takeaways and share with you the lessons I felt were the most profound. https://medium.com/tom-thoughts/i-finally-read-atomic-habits-here-are-my-top-5-takeaways-57dd6f904ab4

New Zealand Reports Biggest Rise In COVID-19 Cases In Six Weeks

Some 1.7 million people in Auckland are under strict stay-home orders until Monday as officials look to stamp out the highly infectious Delta outbreak, the first major spate of community cases in the country since early in the pandemic.

New Zealand reported on Thursday its biggest rise in COVID-19 infections in six weeks, with all cases detected in Auckland, raising prospects of a further extension of lockdown restrictions in the country’s largest city beyond next week.

Some 1.7 million people in Auckland are under strict stay-home orders until Monday as officials look to stamp out the highly infectious Delta outbreak, the first major spate of community cases in the country since early in the pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said the surge in case numbers in Auckland was not unexpected “but they are rising more quickly,” and blamed illegal home gatherings for the spike.

“Now is not the time for complacency,” Robertson said during a media conference in Wellington, urging residents in Auckland to strictly follow the level-three rules, under which most people are required to stay at home unless they have urgent reasons to go out.

A total of 71 new local cases were reported in the country, all detected in Auckland, up from 55 a day earlier.

Today’s new case numbers are sobering but not unexpected because of where we are in the outbreak,” Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said.

About 2.49 million New Zealanders have been fully vaccinated, or about 59% of the eligible population, with officials promising to end lockdowns once 90% are vaccinated. Officials are looking to administer a record 100,000 doses in a single day during a mass immunisation drive on Saturday.

Communal Harmony

By – Supriya

“A house divided against itself cannot stand together” is an old saying and it holds true in the present context of increasing communal disharmony in the society as these dividing forces weaken and mutilate the society.The culture , civilization and tradition of India is approximately 12000 years old. The spirit of tolerance and assimilation has made it possible for our civilization to survive the test of time. But with passage of time, the growing attachment to one’s own ethnic, religious, racial or cultural group rather than being a part of a wider circle of the entire social milieu, has posed one of the gravest problems of modern times. Somehow with the increase in science and technology, the man who should have opened up to assimilation and integration has receded into his own cells and has become more conservative and protective towards his own culture and community. Fear, suspicion and insecurity towards other communities have given rise to hatred , which acts as fuel feeding the flame of communalism. Communal harmony can be achieved by making the people realise the significance  of oneness. People should be awakened to the fact that the differences of ethnic and religious origins have no foundations at all and these feelings should be discouraged if a nation has to survive , and on a larger scale if humanity has to survive. Roses alone cannot make a garden . It is the variety of different coloured and perfumed flowers that lends beauty to a garden. Yet, all flowers have their own essence. Fostering the spirit of brotherhood and mutual trust is the most challenging task that our country has to accomplish . We have to make every possible effort to eradicate vestiges of communal hatred and prejudice . One way of accomplishing this huge task in India is by promoting scientific temperament and smoothing the cobwebs of caste and religious prejudices. We also need to encourage the educated strata to continually participate in the work of social integration by educating the masses. It is the illiterate masses that fall an easy victims to the anti – social forces as they are gullible and in turn render the entire society vulnerable . India has had a long and proud history of mutual co – operation and trust . People belonging to various ethnic groups, races , religions, creed , cultures have come and settled on this land and since centuries have made it their home. But the divide and rule policy that has taken its roots deeper than what the colonial masters could have imagined , shows its predatory signs time and again.These seeds of communal divide, sown to meet short term selfish political ends , are now deep – rooted and threatening to uproot the century – old harmony and unity of the country. This hatred was at its worst during the I’ll – fated partition of the country. The articulation of the two – nation theory and the creation of the state of Pakistan implied that the enmity between the two communities was so great that it was virtually impossible for them to live together in peace as the same nation. Even today India’s fragile peace is shattered by a communal riot anytime. During the British rule, riots were triggered to either district attention from the growing freedom movement, or else to dilute and weaken the unity of Hindus and Muslims who were fighting jointly against the British. In contrast, Hindu-Muslim unity has always been one of the essential pillars of any progressive national movement. India’s valiant attempt to build a secular polity in a desperately impoverished nation was a step of profound importance , and key to the rehabilitation of the Indian people from two centuries of bondage to an exploitative alien power. But the task of reconstruction has not been easy at all , and from time to time the unity of the Indian people has been challenged by the anti – social and anti – secular elements of the society who feel their purpose is defeated in the face of growing unity and understanding among people of different communities and cultures; hence they try to instigate the hatred of a common man to serve their own selfish and ulterior motives.

The recent genocide of Gujarat , the anti- sikh campaigns during the mid -80s , the Mumbai Riots, the Ayodhya episode, the evaluation of Kashmiri Pandits, the attacks on the pilgrims on their way to pilgrimage are all blots on the secular fabric of the country. The nation should take lessons from its past and pledge not to let the domen of communal clash ever rise again. We, as responsible citizens, should continuously and ferociously guard our great secular heritage. Communal differences should be nipped in the bud itself and not be allowed to rise and flourish . The children should be taught to appreciate the diversity of the country. They should be taught to learn divergent cultures and ways of living. Religious snobbery, fanaticism and conservation should be discouraged and scorned at. One cannot and should not make a sweeping judgement about India’s secular nature just by browsing through a few shameful incidents of hatred, which are registered on the pages of history. Yet, one cannot ignore that it is during such times that the secular minded citizens of the country have joined hands together to fight against the forces of dissension. Although a handful of anti – social elements try to create an atmosphere of turmoil, turbulence and fear, yet time and again, the entire nation has risen against those handful to guard and protect the peace and harmony of the country. Moreover, a few power hungry political parties, sects and communities for their vested interests try to use diversity as a weapon to maintain their status – quo. Their greed makes them so short – sighted that they fail to see that they are in turn digging their own graves.

The road to peace and harmony can never be smooth. Every nation has had its share of violence in order to create a society where all can have equal rights and can live with respect and dignity. Who can forget the bloody civil war of America, the division of Germany and Korea, the Bolshevik Revolution, the violence after the French revolution, the prevailing disturbances in the Middle East , Israel – Palestine problem etc — the list is endless and the instances bloodier and more violent than the other.
India has emerged as a stronger nation every time communal forces have tried to test its secular foundations. One cannot sit back and relax at such times rather one has to work persistently against such forces that pose danger to the idea of a united nation. This cannot happen by the waving a magical wand. It is we, the people of the nation, who have to rise above these forces of dissent and division , so that India becomes a nation where religion of humanity is superior to every other religion. According to the census Data 2001, India is the home of
80.5% Hindus, 13.4% Muslims, 2.3% Christianity , 1.9% Sikhs,0.8% Buddhists, 0.4% Jains , and 0.7% persons of other religions are the other major religions followed by the people of India. However, India being the largest democracy in the world with a civilization more than five thousand years old boasts of multiple cultural origins. Despite multiple religious, linguistic , cultural , regional and caste identities , Modern India presents a picture of unity in diversity where people of different faiths and beliefs live together in peace and harmony.

THANKYOU!

About that author- Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde, a writer and a dramatist, this name noticeably sits on the plays that he wrote in the last decade of his life. 

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde, was an Irish poet and a playwright born in 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. Oscar’s father, William Wilde was Ireland’s foremost ear and eye surgeon, his mother was an Irish poet who wrote under the pseudonym Speranza which is “hope” in Italian. Wilde was homeschooled till he was 9 and learnt German and French. Later he went to the  Portora Royal School with his brother Willie. At school, Wilde was exceptional, academically and was also popular among his peers for his funny stories.

After attending the Portora School Wilde got into Trinity College, Dublin through multiple scholarships and later to Magdalen College, Oxford.

During his time in Magdalen College he wrote a poem Ravenna which won the Newdigate Prize.

Here is an excerpt from Ravenna

“Taken from life where life and love were new,

He lies beneath God’s seamless veil of blue;

Tall lance-like reeds wave sadly o’er his head,

And oleanders bloom to deeper red,

Where his bright youth flowed crimson on the ground”

He was highly inspired by the likes of John Ruskin, a writer and philosopher of the Victorian era  and Walter Pater, who was a writer and an art critic, just like many others in his time. 

Wilde had established himself in the world of literature in the early 1880s.

In 1881, he published his first book “Poems” , which received quite jumbled reviews. A periodical called “Punch” was at the forefront of this criticism and made him out to be a caricature. 

After a few years of the release of “Poems’ ‘, he went to America to deliver a few lectures and was more accepted by the American readers.

Wilde got married in 1884, to Constance Lloyd and gave birth to two children Cyril and Vyvyan.

He became the editor of Woman’s World,  a fashion magazine in 1887. During his time as an editor he published The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888), which is a collection of stories for children though it consists of some stories that do not pertain to the young readers. The Happy Prince and Other Tales received positive reviews overall and Wilde was even validated by Walter Pater, who wrote to him praising the book.

In 1889, after giving up the editorship at the Woman’s World Wilde started working on The Picture of Dorian Gray, which is a philosophical novel with witty dialogues, wilde was able to blend gothic themes with French decadence. Despite all his great, articulately written novels his success is attributed to his dramas. He wrote over 10 plays in his lifetime, some of the most famous being Lady Windermere’s Fan (1893), A Woman of No Importance (1893), An Ideal Husband (1899). These plays were all societal comedies, most of them but one Salomé , which offended a lot of people for it’s violent acts and the representation of biblical characters.

After the essay “The Decay of Lying” was published in 1889 , Wilde was accused of indulging in sodomy and was found guilty 4 years later. He was released in 1897, and had gone bankrupt. A year after his release, he died due to acute meningitis followed by an ear infection.

EXOTIC FRUITS OF INDIA

Fruits that are not native and are cultivated at their place of origin are known as exotic fruits, simply they are unusual or different. There are several fruits around the world that are found in a particular place, collected from the wild and usually eaten by the locals. nowadays, exotic fruits have found their way to the international audience. India too is an abode to some fruits that are different from the usual fruits like mango, banana and are rare, found in particular places.

Photo by Geraud pfeiffer on Pexels.com

Carambola (star fruit)

Thanks to social media star fruit has become a known fruit among indian locals and is quite popular. Also known as five fingers, carambola is the native to southeast asia and is consumed in many parts of the world. The whole fruits is edible, and is fleshy, crunchy and firm. It is consumed when the fruit leaves all traces of green and turns yellow, it tastes sweet and sour. It is a source of a good number of nutrients, especially vitamin C and fiber. despite being anutritiuos fruit star fruit can have negative effects on some poeple due to availability of high oxalate content.

Buddha’s Hands (fingered citron)

An unusual hand like fruit which is given as an offering in buddhist temples, and it is believed that buddha prefers fingers that are closed rather than open as they resemble praying hands. In chinese religion it is a symbol of happiness, longitivity and good fortune. It is a very fragrant fruit an is used to add fragnance to rooms and clothes, specifically in china japan and malaysia. although citrus fruits are juicy but most variety of buddha’s hands contain no pulp and usually known for their aroma and texture. It is used as a flavouring agent in dishes, desserts and beverages. It is also a part of traditional medicine.

Phalsa (Indian sherbet berries)

Phalsa is a small dark purple fruit and is helpful in balancing sweet and sour flavors. It is a good cooling agent and perfect for hot weather. It is a good source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus and vitamin C. It cures diarrhea, stomachache, builds immunity and supports smooth digestion. It is also consumed in the form of squash or sugar syrup and despite numerous benefits it is a very less known fruit in India.

Bael (wood apple)

One of the most popular summer fruit, bael is a highly effective against the scorching heat of the sun. The outer covering of the fruit is hard but the inner part is sweet and soft. Every part of the plant is good for human body, high in fibre, vitamins and other essential nutrients, it cures ulcers and piles, prevents constipation, is a good source of energy and equally effective against respiratory issues. The number of benefits it provides are uncountable.

Chalta (elephant apple)

Large sized shrub that is native to southeastern asia and the fruit of this plant is loved by the local elephants hence the fruit is known as elephant apple. It is consumed in both ripe and unripe form and is usually used is usually used for making jam, chutney or pickled dishes. The fruit has a large greenish-yellow shape and consists of 15-20 carpels, the fruit pulp is bitter-sour. It consists of numerous health benefits, like lowering blood pressure, fighting flu,cold and other infections, it is also good for eyes, has vitmin C and also cures stomach related problems.

SOLITUDE

A state of being alone is what we’ve understood about Solitude.Is it true? Does the meaning of solitude is only about being isolated,becoming an introvert or it has another viewpoint too.

We’re humans & it is said that we’re social animal,we need some connections we need relations in our lives fair enough but to relinquish ourselves to those relations for everything is not fair at all.

  • Why we’ve turned into someone who needs another being for survival ?
  • Why it has become difficult for us to think of moving alone in our lives ?
  • Why are we so scared of alone ?

Yet solitude is not as scary as we all think of it.

  • It is a power to ourselves.
  • We realize a lot.
  • We discover ourselves.
  • We introspect a lot of things within.
  • We turn ourselves into someone who has the ability to scrutinize.

At the end of the day the fact is we’re ( an individual ) main character of our own story and we’ve serve ourselves more than anyone else,we gotta help ourselves more than anyone & same goes in case of company we shall accompany ourselves the most than anyone else should.

As a matter of fact we own ourselves & we should be there for ourselves more than being around others.

Let us sense the flavor of this beautiful company of our own SOLITUDE.

Post covid lifestyle

Finally we can say we have reached the transaction period after 2years of fight with the panadamedic . We have been looking forward to it very much. This lifestyle tho is not as we expect it has been . Cooped up for a long time humans have lost the comfort to open up to people in person. Adults suffer from mental health problems such as stress, depression, and high level of competition in the workplace. 

Children fear opening up , going to school and college, making new friends. Many think it is very unnecessary points to focus, but it is for people who suffer.Many are facing severe financial crunch, mental health issues, economies shut down, and struggling to meet ends for each day. More than half the population have been pushed below the poverty line according to the UN’s statistics. 

Focusing on all these problems, people are coming up with solutions to solve these. Humans have always been beating such diffulities – source ‘history’. It all began with acceptance to reality, to the loneliness and pain and frustration we all had to go through. 

First step is very simple as to return to daily life where you-  Eat, Play music in traffic, meet people, miss those who are gone.

Second, the failure which left you devastated makes that devastation tell you bye bye!! Think it’s a new beginning even if faced success thinks of ways to make things worth it.

Many have realised thankfulness, sorrow, loneliness, success , failure and such other things deeply. People had paused their lifestyle and taken a look behind everything they had done. This helps in our future plans to get out of the panadamedic effect. Think what is that we always did, what is wrong we wished we correct, what ambitions still pending, what bad things we should cut out, things we missed out in life. It’s good that your here now to do this! 

Preferred gender pronouns

Preferred pronouns or preferred gender pronouns or personal gender pronouns is a set of pronouns that an individual wants others to use to refer to that person’s gender identity. These pronouns are different from the pre-defined gender specific pronouns such as she/her/hers which are used for females and he/him/his for males.

Importance of Gender Pronouns

Pronouns are usually not conformed to gender identity but we tend to relate the two. However, using the correct pronoun for the respective gender symbolises respect and social equality to all and also creates an inclusive environment. It is also important to not assume a person’s gender and pronoun on the basis of their appearance and looks as gender and pronouns are not necessarily tied up together. Moreover, using a wrong pronoun can be disrespectful and offensive whereas, ignorant behaviour towards a person’s pronoun can make them feel alienated and outcasted. Knowing and using the correct gender pronoun is a positive way of supporting people with diverse backgrounds. Also, it lowers gender depression, raises self esteem and creates a level of comfort among people.

Gender Neutral Pronouns

Gender neutral pronouns don’t specify the subject as male or female in third person. We can replace the traditional binary pronouns by neutral pronouns like:-

>he/she: zie, sie, tey, ve

>him/her: zim, sie, em, ver

>his/hers: zis, hirs, vers, ters

>himself/herself: zieself, hirself, verself, terself

In addition to these, there are a few traditional neutral pronouns in which can be used in everyday conversations such as they, them, theirs, everyone etc..

Becoming gender inclusive

The most important part of becoming inclusive is to normalise gender inclusive pronouns and respecting them. The best way to normalise the process is including them in day-today life, using pronouns in email signature, adding them on your social media handles etc.

Avoiding use of gender specific terms such as Ms, Ms, Mrs, watchman, postman etc. and replacing them by their corresponding neutral pronouns like Mx, security guard, postalperson etc. to neutralise gender specifications.

Another way to be inclusive is by using gender neutral pronouns in workspace. It helps avoiding stereotypical assumptions of job roles such as he for doctors, police officers etc and she for teachers, receptionists etc..

Seva Cafe: Where your meal is a gift from someone else

Who doesn’t like gifts? And a wholesome meal as a gift is no less than a surprise. But what if this a regular tradition followed by a cafeteria near you? Totally unimaginable, right? Ahmedabad’s Seva Cafe brings in the exact same concept to reality where your meal is a gift from someone else who came before you. It’s not just a tradition here but a belief in the happiness of serving people. This cafe not just gives a wholesome dining experience but also leaves behind a lesson for all. ‘Living is Giving’ is what they believe here in Seva Cafe. You don’t get a bill once you are done with your meal as it was already paid by the guests before you. All you need to do is carry forward this tradition and contribute in sustaining it. The visitors in the cafe are treated as guests, more like family, than mere customers.

Source: amazingindiablog.in

The cafe is an initiative by John Silliphant and Jayesh Patel, founders of Manav Sadhna NGO. It was founded in 2006 with its primary location in Ahmedabad. The motive is to make a change and connect people with the bond of trust. The cafe is based on pay-it-forward idea and is run by the contributions made by the guests. All the costs and income are made transparent with all the profits made in use for social services.

The cafe is run and operated by volunteers willing to devote their free time rendering their services. From cooking the meal to serving it, everything is done by the volunteers.

In today’s fast-paced life where people have forgotten to look after their loved ones, Seva Cafe is reminding and taking forward the concept of ‘Joy of giving’. The successful 15 years of this cafe justify the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and prove that the spirit of giving still resides within.

Engaging activities for the lockdown period

The lockdown period bothers everyone especially when all the social gatherings and meet ups are halted. We get plenty of time in our hands. This is the time when we can learn new skills and brush up the old ones. So why not look out for some interesting and productive activities which can be carried out even during lockdown.

>Catch up with old friends

It’s a great time to catch up with all the friends and family members you haven’t talked in a while. Chat with them on video call, play online games or just plan an online get together.

>Read books

Treat yourself with a good book. Reading is not just a great past time but also a productive activity. Read to get inspired or simply to learn something new and advance your vocabulary. Look for some good and easily accessible e-books.

>Get an online internship

During the time of lockdown on-site jobs and opportunities might not be possible but a virtual internship might prove beneficial. Many companies, associations and organizations are providing online internships to individuals which can be done from home. Look for the best suited internship for yourself. This might later help in grabbing good job opportunities post lockdown.

>Learn to cook

Try cooking and let your friends and family taste it. Start with basic and easy-to-cook recipes. Reach out to family and friends for cooking hacks and tips or just surf online for your favourite recipe. Participate in online workshops for cooking to master the skill.

>Maintain your personal diary

Ever read ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ which is a collection of diary entries of a young girl during the Nazi rule in Germany? If you wish to do something similar, this is the right time. We are experiencing a pandemic and what better than this can be the theme for your diary entries. Create time line of events, collect newspaper articles and picture. This can also act as a pandemic time capsule. One day, you’ll be able to narrate these stories to your children and grandchildren.

>Get hands on a new skill

This can prove to be the perfect time to grab a new skill. Explore your creative side. Try out drawing, sketching or painting. If interested in music, go on to learn singing or instruments. Dancing, photography and art are also fun to do and really engaging.

>Start your kitchen garden

If you are an expert gardener and love to grow plants, this is the ultimate opportunity for you. Kitchen gardening is one of the most popular activities done during lockdown. What can be better than eating what you grow?

>Create a YouTube channel

Since most of the entertainment these days is digital, YouTube is a platform for fresh content. Just like most of the celebrities, you too can begin a YouTube channel and start uploading your fun and engaging videos.

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