Benefits of learning different languages. [part 2]

[Bhoomika Saini]

Learning languages is an important part of being very soft and friendly welcomed in different countries. Even only one language cans totally change the way of the communication, the attitude towards you and the impression which you will make in people with which you conduct a conversation.

Nowadays it is like must to study and learn new languages, in terms of self development, comfort and confidence. During the years of studying and later when you want to work the knowledge of language is a big advantage. Studying abroad gives opportunity for better education which leads to a better working position after graduation. But this cause is reachable only when you know forage languages.

Let’s learn some more benefits of learning languages.

1. Connect!

One of the most rewarding aspects of the human experience is our ability to connect with others. Being able to communicate with someone in his or her language is an incredible gift. Bilinguals have the unique opportunity to communicate with a wider range of people in their personal and professional lives. Knowing the language makes you a local no matter where you are, opening up your world literally and figuratively. You will be shaped by communities. You will be humbled by the kindness of strangers. You will build lifelong friendships. And for these reasons alone, you will see the reward of learning languages for many years to come.

2. Deepen Your Connection to Other Cultures

Language is the most direct connection to other cultures. Being able to communicate in another language exposes us to and fosters an appreciation for the traditions, religions, arts, and history of the people associated with that language. Greater understanding, in turn, promotes greater tolerance, empathy, and acceptance of others—with studies showing that children who have studied another language are more open toward and express more positive attitudes toward the culture associated with that language.

3. Go to the Source

In a world of more than 6,000 spoken languages, we sometimes require translation, but speaking at least one additional language empowers us to access information that would otherwise be off-limits. For example, individuals proficient in other languages are able to navigate the Internet as genuine global citizens—consuming and assessing foreign media and entertainment.

4. Strengthen Your Decision Making

Studies show that decisions made in your second language are more reason-driven than those made in your native language.4 Contrary to popular assumptions, when we deliberate in a second or third language, we actually distance ourselves from the emotional responses and biases deeply associated with our mother tongue. The result? Systematic and clear-headed decisions based on just the facts.

5. Gain Perspective

As we explore a new language and culture, we naturally draw comparisons to what is most familiar. Learning about another culture sheds light on aspects of our own culture—both positive and negative—we may not have previously considered. You may find a greater appreciation for what you have, or you may decide to shake things up!

6. Become a Polyglot

Not only does learning a second language improve communication skills and multiply vocabulary in your first language—yes, really!—but research shows that it makes picking up additional languages a much easier feat, especially among children.3 That’s because when you learn a new language, you develop new brain networks that are primed and ready when you embark on learning a third language.

7. Boost Your Confidence

Any language learner can attest to making his or her share of mistakes while discovering a new language—often in front of an audience. It’s a necessary part of the learning process! Learning a language means putting yourself out there and moving out of your comfort zone. The upside is the amazing sense of accomplishment you’ll feel when conversing with someone in their native language.

Benefits of learning different languages. [Part 1]

[Bhoomika Saini]

Knowing more than one language is nearly vital in today’s world. Companies are all global, and the demand for multilingual applicants is high. But not all languages are created equal; some will get you further than others.

What Makes A Language Useful To Learn?

Feed Your Brain

The many cognitive benefits of learning languages are undeniable. People who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills. They switch between competing tasks and monitor changes in their environment more easily than monolinguals, as well as display signs of greater creativity and flexibility. If that weren’t enough, as we age, being bilingual or multilingual also helps to stave off mental aging and cognitive decline.

Number Of Speakers

Unsurprisingly, it is very important to know how many speakers there are of a language before you set your heart on learning it. Most people opt to learn languages spoken by the largest number of people. You should also consider how many people speak the language as a second language. With this information, you will open more doors to global communication.

Geographic Region

This is where your goals and interests come into play. Do you plan to travel in one particular region for a while? If so, look into what languages are commonly spoken there. If you want to learn a language that is widely spoken throughout the world, you may want to opt for English, French, or Spanish, which are spoken on all continents.

Usability And Versatility

When choosing a language, you may want to look at versatility. Mainly, can you use this language both at home and abroad? What about in both business and social contexts? Ask yourself, “How much will I use this language?” It takes time and effort to learn a language, and you will want to learn the one with the most usability for you!

Career Opportunities

Think of your current or future field, and location of business. If you are working in the United States, Spanish is a very useful language to learn. If you expect your industry or company will do a lot of international business, learn languages that will be useful in your field. It could be Chinese, Japanese, Italian, or German.

Cyber bullying

Technology is evolving rapidly. The enhancement in technologies has made it possible for various establishments over the world. It connects the whole world and has made our communication better and feasible through several digital platforms and social medias. It has developed and promoted many new and innovative approaches. We are into an era where the technologies has got over our lives. The social medias though help us for a better connectivity it also carries along with it some of the undeniable pitfalls which at times ruins an individuals’ life. One of the snags that it holds is the cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying also known as cyber harassment is a way of bullying / harassment through digital spaces or media. It creates a situation, which includes threats, humiliations, blackmail, or sexual bullying and the victim is ridiculed. It is less physical than the other traditional categories of bullying but it has very impactful and influential effects on individuals. Cyber bullying has become very common these days and has been increasing, especially among the teenagers who are exposed more to the social platforms because the young people are mostly influenced by internet usage more than ever due to the increased screen time. It comes in various forms. It doesn’t necessarily mean hacking anyone’s profile or posing to be someone else. It includes the pessimistic comments by the usage of abusive or derogatory words passed on someone for defamation or other reasons. It tarnishes the reputation/image of an individual that they have built over the years.

The false rumors could even destroys the people’s lives. Nowadays everybody owns an account in the various social lines and this makes it very easy for anyone to misuse this access. Cyber bullying portrays the unpleasant side of the internet. These hostile actions are seriously damaging and can affect anyone easily and gravely. A cyberbullying may not necessarily be a stranger, it may also be someone we know. It is dangerous as it affects the mental peace of a person and takes a toll on the person’s mental health. It shakes the self esteem of a person and makes them feel inferior and at times the stress or depressions developed may also lead to some physical health issues. The internet provides incognito and the chance to create a profile with a hidden identity. Most of the times cyberbully work in groups because in that way they feel strongly united. Cyber bullying can result in detrimental effects on both the bully and bullied. More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyber threats online. Over 25% of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the internet. Well half of the young people do not even tell their parents when cyber bullying occurs.

Prevention

Section 507 IPC – The section states that if anyone receives criminal intimidation by way of an anonymous communication then the person giving threats shall be punished with imprisonment for up to two years. Cyber bullying prevention is the need of the hour. It has to be monitored sincerely. We can implement them at authoritative levels as well and arrive to effective solutions. From a personal standard one can refrain oneself from posting explicit photos in the social medias and avoid sharing personal information online or to unknow persons. When children expose themselves on the social media, their juvenile nature can make them as a prey to cyber bullies and fall at the wrong hands. So parents should have continuous monitorization over their children. Cyber bullying must be reported immediately when countered without any delay. There are helpline numbers, mail id’s and websites where we can report such crimes. This can prevent further incidents from taking place. We should create awareness about the forms of cyber bullying and its consequences.

|Nuclear Policy of India|

India adopted its nuclear Doctrine in 2003 the salient features of this Doctrine are as follows:

Building and maintaining a credible minimum deterrence.

A posture of no first use nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against the nuclear attack on Indian Territory or on Indian forces anywhere. 

Nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage. 

Nuclear retaliatory attacks can only be authorised by a civilian political leadership through nuclear command authority.

 Non use of nuclear weapons against non nuclear weapon States.

However, in the event of a major attack against India or Indian forces anywhere by biological or chemical weapons India will retain the option of retaliating with nuclear weapons.

A continuance of strict controls on export of nuclear and missile related materials and technologies participation in fissile material cutoff Treaty negotiations and continued observance of the moratorium on nuclear test.

Continued commitment to the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world through global, verifiable and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament.

6 Stories of Super Successes Who Overcame Failure

  1. Arianna Huffington got rejected by thirty six publishers.
    It’s laborious to believe that one among the foremost recognizable names in on-line publications was once rejected by 3 dozen major publishers. Huffington’s second book, that she tried to publish long before she created the currently ubiquitously recognizable Huffington Post empire, was rejected thirty six times before it absolutely was eventually accepted for publication.
    Even Huffington Post itself wasn’t a hit promptly. In fact, once it launched, there have been dozens of extremely negative reviews concerning its quality and its potential. Obviously, Huffington overcame those initial bouts of failure and has cemented her name jointly of the foremost productive shops on the net.
  2. Gates watched his initial company crumble.
    Bill Gates is currently one among the world’s wealthiest people, however he didn’t earn his fortune in a very line to success. Gates entered the entrepreneurial scene with a corporation known as Traf-O-Data, that aimed to method associated analyze the info from traffic tapes (think of it like an early version of massive data).

He tried to sell the thought aboard his business partner, Paul Allen, however the merchandise barely even worked. it absolutely was a whole disaster. However, the failure didn’t hold Gates back from exploring new opportunities, and a couple of years later, he created his initial Microsoft product, and cast a replacement path to success.

  1. George Steinbrenner bankrupted a team.
    Before Steinbrenner created a reputation for himself once he noninheritable possession of the the big apple Yankees, he closely-held atiny low five known as the Cleveland Pipers back in 1960. By 1962, as a results of Steinbrenner’s direction, the whole franchise went bankrupt.

That stretch of failure gave the impression to follow Steinbrenner once he took over the Yankees within the Nineteen Seventies, because the team struggled with variety of setbacks and losses throughout the Eighties and Nineties. However, despite public worry and criticism of Steinbrenner’s moot selections, eventually he LED the team to a tremendous comeback, with six World Series entries between 1996 and 2003, and a record jointly of the foremost profitable groups in conference Baseball.

  1. filmmaker was told he lacked creative thinking.
    One of the foremost inventive geniuses of the twentieth century was once discharged from a newspaper as a result of he was told he lacked creative thinking. attempting to hold on, film producer shaped his initial animation company, that was known as Laugh-O-Gram Films. He raised $15,000 for the corporate however eventually was forced to shut Laugh-O-Gram, following the shut of a very important distributor partner.

Desperate and out of cash, film producer found his thanks to Hollywood and long-faced even a lot of criticism and failure till finally, his initial few classic films began to skyrocket in quality.

  1. Steve Jobs was shod from his own company.
    Steve Jobs is a powerful bourgeois attributable to his infinite innovations, however conjointly attributable to his emphatic comeback from associate nearly forgotten failure. Jobs found success in his 20s once Apple became a vast empire, however once he was thirty, Apple’s board of administrators set to fireside him.

Undaunted by the failure, Jobs supported a replacement company, NeXT, that was eventually noninheritable by Apple. Once back at Apple, Jobs tried his capability for greatness by reinventing the company’s image and taking the Apple complete to new heights.

  1. John Milton Hershey started 3 candy corporations before Hershey’s.
    everybody is aware of Hershey’s chocolate, however once John Milton Hershey initial started his candy production career, he was a no one. when being discharged from associate billet with a printer, Hershey started 3 separate candy-related ventures, and was forced to observe all of them fail.

In one last try, Hershey supported the Lancaster Caramel Company, and commenced seeing huge results. basic cognitive process in his vision for chocolate for the plenty, he eventually supported the Hershey Company and have become one among the foremost well-known names within the trade.

Draw inspiration from these stories subsequent time you expertise failure, in spite of the size. within the moment, some failure may appear just like the finish of the road, however bear in mind, there area unit innumerable productive men and ladies within the world these days United Nations agency area unit solely enjoying success as a result of they set to push past the inevitable gloom of failure.

Learn from your mistakes, replicate and settle for the failure, however go back your passion and keep following your goals in spite of what.

Tradition and Modernity

A tradition is a belief or behaviour (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. Modernity is defined as a condition of social existence that is significantly different to all past forms of human experience, while modernization refers to the transitional process of moving from “traditional” or “primitive” communities to modern societies.

Tradition: India is considered the birthplace of some of the world’s major religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Today, other religions such as Muslim and Christianity have worked their way into the population as well, though Hinduism remains the most popular. For some visitors, the heavy spices and herbs used in Indian cuisine can be difficult to adjust to. Indian spices are legendary for their medicinal purposes, food-preserving powers and flavour kicks. Spices, such as cumin, turmeric and cardamom, have been used over thousands of years to make otherwise bland but nutritional dishes taste better. Though it varies from region to region, wheat, Basmati rice and pulses are staples of the Indian diet. Several religious groups are vegetarian or have certain limitations as to what meat they can consume, but lamb and chicken are most common for those who do eat meat. One most old tradition is wearing sari. Saris vary from five to nine yards long and two to four feet in breadth, and are wrapped around the waist and draped over the shoulder often baring the midriff. The sari may have originated among India’s temple dancers in ancient times because saris allowed them to maintain modesty while also giving their limbs the freedom of movement. A dhoti is an unstitched piece of cloth ranging from four to five yards in length and tied around the waist and legs. Gandhi used to wear a dhoti, and it was considered to be an attire that commanded dignity and respect.

Modernity: Modern Indian culture is a combination of traditional Indian customs, British heritage and other modern influences from around the world. It would impossible to cover every aspect of it, but let’s explore some important and interesting elements. The majority of the population practices one of the forms of Hinduism. This faith is a combination of several religious beliefs and traditions and is commonly perceived as a way of life. Islam is the second largest religion, coexisting with Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity and others. Modern India is also a test of two middle-ground philosophies. As an early proponent of non-alignment in international politics, India has attempted to establish a [middle] position between Western and [communist] oriented states. Over the years, its leadership in carving out a Third World posture demonstrated that there is a viable route for nations who did not want to take sides in Cold War politics, an approach which many other nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East have followed and hope to sustain. 

Conflict between tradition and modernity: It might benefit us to engage with the idea of parampara, which is the Sanskrit word, also used in many other Indian languages, for what we call tradition in English. While tradition is not exactly an equivalent, it is also quite resonant. Methodologically, it is useful to make key concepts across cultures and meaning universes to converse with each other, rather than subduing or supplanting each other—in our case, the Western idea superimposing and superseding ours. Indian modernity is Janus-faced, even schizophrenic. On the one hand, it looks to the West and to the future, but on the other hand, it looks to India and its past. Arguably, the single most significant problematic in recent Indian intellectual history is that of tradition vs modernity. After nearly 200 years of debate and discussion, it seems fairly clear that India can have neither pure tradition, nor uncontaminated modernity. Whatever we are or have become has to be some combination or amalgamation of both

NASA girl trolled for her faith- peak of Hinduphobia

Humanity hit a new low when an Indian origin American girl was heavily trolled by netizens just because of her faith. NASA, in order to invite new interns tweeted an application showcasing the diverse nature of the organization. An Indian girl also featured in the tweet with Hindu idols in the background of her picture.

An innumerable number of trolls targeted the girl criticizing NASA for including such a “stereotypical” image of Indians according them. But is it okay to bash someone merely because they follow a particular faith or religion? The girl undoubtedly secured a place through her efforts and a futile, good for nothing crowd directly mocked her as a fake science-lover only because she believes in her Gods. If atheism was a criterion to get selected in any scientific organization then people should also nullify the work and contributions of Einstein, Newton and Darwin.

It is so shameful to read the tweets and realize how much hatred and Hinduphobia is prevalent in society. Some of the tweets read ‘She missed Lord Ganesha and 33 million other Gods’, ‘NASA and gods don’t mix. The Indian kid seems to have some kind of obsession with Gods’. Other tweets are too vile to read.

Another user very accurately pointed out “All those mocking her: Hijab, polygamy, child marriages, Niqab, prayers on road, etc. are supposed to be respected under the concept of ‘choice’ and ‘pluralism’ but a Hindu lady practicing her faith has to be ridiculed. Carry on! Your bigotry will make her faith stronger.”

It is indeed true that the case would have been very contrasting only if the girl was wearing either hijab or had a Christ portrait in the background. However, irrespective of any religion or faith, no one should be criticked or targeted just because they are proud of their roots.

10 Best MightyText Alternatives To Send SMS From PC

We send texts on our phones; now we can do the same on our desktop computers. Many Android apps, such as MightyText, are available on the Google Play Store as well as on App Store that allow users to send and receive text messages from their computers. MightyText is one of the most popular desktop clients for accessing and controlling mobile devices from a PC.

You can simply sync MMS, SMS, Videos, Photos, and other files to other devices with MightyText. It can also be used to send and receive text messages from computers. However, it can or cannot be a paid service. The free version of Mighty Text includes a monthly restriction of around 500 text messages. Mighty Text also includes a subscription edition that allows you to schedule messages, remove the message limit, remove adverts, and sync up to 100 GB of photographs and videos, among other things. MightyText’s Pro version costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. If you’re satisfied with the free version’s 500 message limit per month, Mighty Text should function fine.

AirDriod 

The Airdroid is a good substitute for MightyText. Above all, if you want to send SMS from your computer. It will also include a number of additional features not available on MightyText. Along with the standard SMS, this is one of the coolest features. Messages from Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger are also synced via the Airdroid. 

Apart from that, it will have a number of other capabilities, such as notification mirroring. A file-sharing programme may make and receive phone calls, among other things. The nicest part about this software is that it allows you to send limitless text messages for free.

Yappy

Yappy is another option available as one of the most powerful alternatives. This programme is available as a web extension and is capable of syncing with both mobile and desktop computers. Furthermore, the quantity of messages you can send via your PC with Yappy is unrestricted. This extension’s free version includes everything, but if you prefer an ad-free experience, you may upgrade to the Pro version. The enhancements are only available in Chrome or Firefox. The free form has no message boundaries; it can send and receive SMS or alerts, make phone calls from a distance and hold a 14 day message.

MySMS

MySMS is an Android software that is both easy and powerful. You can even send SMS from your PC or tablet using this method. There are currently no more exciting features in the app. Despite this, it has grown in popularity due to its skills. It’s true. Presently With over 1 million users, MySMS is available in over 180 countries. 

You must send an SMS from your computer. After that, you must first log in to the MySMS Android app. So, just use the same Google account to log in to the desktop app. Now your account will be synced across both devices. As a result, you can send and receive messages using only your computer. In addition, you can save your messages to the cloud using Google Drive or Dropbox. The user interface for the MySMS features is similarly neat and tidy. It is really simple for users to navigate.

PushLine

One of the best ways is by using Pushline to manage your mobile and computer. If you simply want to send and receive SMS, this is one of the greatest apps. It is a completely free programme from which to choose. You will not see advertisements even if you have the free version.

Join

Another excellent MightyText alternative is Join. This app is highly adaptable and performs admirably on both mobile devices and computers. This is now accessible for both Android and iOS devices. 

However, regardless of the device you’re using, you can get SMS remotely using a browser. You also receive a slew of other capabilities, like file sharing. Screen sharing, toll-free voice, video conferencing, and more features are available. An end-to-end encryption option will be included with a Join. This will also ensure that your privacy is well protected. There are also a few fantastic connectors, such as Chrome, Outlook, Office365, and so on. The application has a free preliminary rendition for 30 days post which is accessible for 5$.

PushBullet

One of the best Mighty Text alternatives is PushBullet. This will also have a streamlined UI that will look fantastic on any device. Furthermore, seamless device syncing and relatively simple configurations make it even more appealing. 

Messages can now be sent and received from any platform. PushBullet also allows you to view notifications on your phone, share files and links, and communicate with pals. This is also accessible in both a free and a premium version. The free version does have some limitations, but the premium version allows you to go as far as you want.

TextFree

Text Free is another excellent free SMS and calling application for your Android phone. Text Free is a web application, you can use it from any programme. 

Text Free provides customers with a real phone number that can be used to exchange texts. The actual phone number can also be utilized to make judgments. Text free is a website that allows you to send free text messages to anyone, anywhere.

These Mightytext Alternatives do not expect access to your phone number; instead, the administration generates a strange phone number that can be used to message people. It’s an excellent way to send SMS in a trouble-free manner, as long as you don’t mind it being sent from a different number.

Pulse SMS

Pulse SMS may be the perfect choice for you if you’re seeking for an Android SMS programme that’s swift, secure, and packed with useful features. Expect your mind to be blown. You can sync your SMS and MMS communications across all of your devices, including PCs, using Pulse SMS. 

TextNow

Text Now is similar to the Text Free Android software, which keeps track of prior text messages. Text Now, like Text Free, allows users an arbitrary phone number to which they can send instant messages. Because it is a web application, it may be accessed from any device or programme. It also offers calling capabilities, however it is not free. 

The text now generates a random number and does not allow the user to send messages using their own phone number. The most important aspect is that it allows you to appreciate endless information from all around the world. So, if you don’t give a damn about numbers, the programme can be of use to you.

Send Anywhere

The application also offers a work area form, making it a perfect alternative for synchronizing your computerized devices. It allows you to move or transfer gadgets to its employees for more centralized access. Before beginning any data transfer, the programme verifies and generates a six-digit access pin. 

However, the plug has a 10-minute validity period after which the records are automatically destroyed. The application does not require any information exchange and allows you to surreptitiously move an unlimited amount of data.

Remote access apps for Android can, in fact, be used to send SMS from a computer. To begin sending and receiving messages, connect your Android to your computer using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Apart from sending and receiving SMS, remote access applications can also be used to manage other types of data stored on Android, such as photos, videos, and documents.

Literacy

The word “Literacy” means an ability to read and write with understanding in any language.A person, who can only read but cannot write is not literate.An illiterate person has to face many practical difficulties in life he cannot read a letter addressed to him by his near and dear ones, he cannot calculate his own income and expenses etc.

The percentage of literate person in India has considerably increased when compared to earlier years.Educated citizens makes intelligent choices and undertake research and development projects.The literacy rate in India is 64.84%.Among all the states in India, Kerala had the highest literacy rate with 94%.

NEET TO BE HELD ON 12TH SEPTEMBER (2021)

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 will be held on September 12 across the country, informed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

As the NEET exams are to be held on 12th September, the online registration for the same would commence from 5pm on Tuesday. The decision was taken following a meeting with the senior ministry and National Testing Agency (NTA).Considering the COVID-19 situation, the number of exam centers and exam cities have been increased this year. Number of cities conducting exam been increased from 155 to 198 and the numbers of centers will also be increased accordingly. Over 16 lakh candidate are likely to take the pen paper test conducted by NTA.

PROTOCOLS TO BE FOLLOWED:

To ensure safety, COVID protocols are to be followed. Social distancing should be followed, masks will be provided for each and every candidate at the center. Staggered time slots during entry and exit, contactless registration, proper sanitization, seating with social distancing are to be followed.

HOW TO APPLY:

The application form will be released at ntaneet.nic.in at 5 pm. Candidates can apply for the exam by following these steps – 

Step 1: Visit the official website, ntaneet.nic.in.
Step 2: Click on the application form link.
Step 3: Register using credentials.
Step 4: Fill form, upload documents.
Step 5: Pay fee, Submit

DOCUMENTS NEEDED:

Scanned or e-copy of passport size photographs of the candidate . Scanned copy of the signature of the candidate.
Scanned image of e-version of left-hand thumb impression of the student.
Class 10th Certificate.

FEES:

The application fee for the NEET 2021 as till the last year was Rupees 1500. For general-EWS, OBC-NCL category the fee is Rupees 1400 and for SC, ST, PwD, and transgender candidates it is Rupees 800.

JOURNEY TO SANITY – SELF CARE

Imagine human mind as a bank account. In order to withdraw money from an account, we need a basic primary balance and we need to deposit from time to time in order to make future withdrawals. Similarly, human mind and body needs equal deposits of self-love, care and compassion in order to reflect that upon others. You cannot pour water from an empty pot. So, it is necessary to fill your pot before you pour it out.


The Social – Media and Magazine definition of self includes Hair-Care, Skin-Care, Spa sessions, etc but we often forget the most important part of our body that requires equal care and nurturing. Yes, our Mind. Our mind works 24/7 unlike our body, hence this calls for a special day to celebrate it’s success and hard work.
Self-care is a broad term. It involves any and everything that makes you happy. Be it having an ice cream, putting on a good hair mask or dancing in your bedroom to silly item numbers. The best part about it is that it doesn’t have to make sense to others.


It is okay to take a day off just to sit with yourself and do nothing.
It is okay to binge watch the new show you always wanted to see but never got enough time to do so.
It is okay to avoid social gatherings if it’s getting too much for you.
It is okay to sleep early and miss out on parties and night-life.
It is completely okay to avoid that person, phone call or that text to maintain the sanity of your mind.
It is okay to not be okay all the time


But what’s not okay, is to not listen to your heart and letting others decide what you do with your life. Self-care involves standing up to your beliefs unapologetically and living on your terms. It might not always be right but its worth a try. After all life’s too short to not live and sadly most of us are working on auto-pilot mode.
So, get up with the sun. Eat your favourite breakfast, binge on your most awaited show, go for long walks and dance to your favourite song till you sleep.

Do not forget to read more from the series : 🙂

JOURNEY TO SANITY – DOUBLE STANDARDS

JOURNEY TO SANITY – SUNSHINE 🌤️

JOURNEY TO SANITY – ACCEPTANCE

JOURNEY TO SANITY – MINDFULNESS

JOURNEY TO SANITY -JOURNALING

INTEGRATING YOUTH TOWARDS SCIENCE

There is a fountain of youth. It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love.” – Sophia Loren.

Youth is the spring of human life. This is the phase of life where we live with our dreams and discoveries. Youth is the greatest strength and wealth of any nation. Empowering youth leads to nation pride.

The primitive humans were driven by instinct, just like animals. As we evolved, the faculty of intellect and higher thoughts developed in our brain. We started conditioning nature rather than obeying it. We developed rational thinking and understood the way we can support our thoughts with empirical data. We learned to make hypothesises and test them. We discovered science, as a faculty of knowledge and applied it meticulously and thus started dominating the world. A single example is how we made fire by friction, then came the match box and now sleek lighters. Today we have understood the science of nuclear energy so deeply that we have the power to even turn a big city into ashes within seconds.

Albert Einstein once said: “The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible”. The comprehensibility of world comes through understanding science.

For couple of decades, we saw a trend that the youth of India was mesmerised to opt for Engineering or Medicine naturally due to career prospects. However due to various initiatives and funding for science research of-late we are seeing a trend that the present-day youth started preferring science as a career. Science research is no doubt time consuming and quick result and career is not easy to achieve.

Progress is the result of self-sacrifice not self-interest. There are many good and sincere scientists in India whose interests are not motivated by awards and recognition. These people have served and will continue to serve as mentors to future generations of Indian scientists. Science is the result of the efforts of these people. Let each one of us act as a catalyst to the advancement of science in India which will certainly make our country very powerful among the other nations in the world.

To conclude, youth are the backbone of our nation. They are full of energy. They should channel their energies for constructive purposes, develop scientific temper and thus bring their own progress and on turn the progress and prosperity of our nation.

Effects Of Rape

In the aftermath of a rape, victims can face immensely difficult and painful emotions and experiences. Every victim responds to traumatic events in their own way. The effects of the trauma can be for a short while or can last long after the rape.

We all know that rape is a traumatic experience that affects the victim in a physical, psychological, and sociological way. Even though the effects and aftermath of rape differentiate among victims, they are tend to suffer from similar issues found within these three categories. Long term reactions may involve the development of coping mechanisms that will either benefit the victim, such as social support, or inhibit their recovery. Seeking support and professional resources may assist the victim in numerous ways.

Physical Effects:-

  • Gynecological Effects  experienced by the victims include; Vaginal or anal bleeding or infection, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, vaginitis or vaginal inflammation, dyspareunia – painful sexual intercourse, vaginismus – a condition affecting a woman’s ability to engage in any form of vaginal penetration, chronic pelvic pain, Urinary tract infections, pregnancy, HIV/AIDS.
  • Pregnancy is a potential result of rape. Rape can cause difficulties during and after pregnancy, with potential negative consequences for both the victim and a resulting child. Medical treatment following a rape includes testing for, preventing, and managing pregnancy. A woman who becomes pregnant after a rape may face a decision about whether to raise the child or to make an adoption plan or abort the child.
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STDs) can affect both the victim and the rapist. While penetrative rape generally does not involve the use of a condom, in some cases a condom is used. The use of a condom significantly reduces the likelihood of pregnancy and disease transmission, both to the victim and the rapist. Rationales for condom use include: avoiding contracting infections or diseases (particularly HIV), especially in cases of rape of sex workers or in gang rape.

Psychological Effects:-

  • In the immediate effects the victim of rape may often have anxiety and fear directly following their attack.  According to a study on the reactions after rape, 96 percent of women said they were scared, shaking, or trembling a few hours after their attack. After more time is passed, the previous symptoms decreased while the levels of depression, exhaustion, and restlessness increased.
  • After an attack, rape survivors experience heightened anxiety and fear. According to Dean G. Kilpatrick, a distinguished psychologist, survivors of rape have high levels of anxiety and phobia-related anxiety. This includes and is not limited to the following; Feelings of dread, feeling nervous, feeling tense or uneasy, having panic attacks, having an irrational response to certain stimuli.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is an effect which is very common among rape victims. The National Victim Center and the Crime Victim’s Research and Treatment Center released a report that found 31% of women who were raped develop PTSD at some point in their lives following their attack
  • Self-blame is among the most common of both short- and long-term effects .There are two main types of self-blame: behavioral self-blame (undeserved blame based on actions) and characterological self-blame (undeserved blame based on character). Survivors who experience behavioral self-blame feel that they should have done something differently, and therefore feel at fault. Survivors who experience characterological self-blame feel there is something inherently wrong with them which has caused them to deserve to be assaulted.
  • Suicide or the attempt of suicide is a common effect among rape victims. Survivors of rape are more likely to attempt or commit suicide. This effect remains, even after controlling for sex, age, education, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and the presence of psychiatric disorders.

Sociological Effects:-

  • Rape is a stigmatizing in cultures with strong customs and taboos regarding sex and sexuality. For example, a rape victim (especially one who was previously a virgin) may be viewed by society as being “impure.” Victims in these cultures may suffer isolation, be disowned by friends and family, be prohibited from marrying, be divorced if already married, or even killed. This phenomenon is known as secondary victimization. While society targets secondary victimization mainly towards women, male victims can also feel shameful, or experience a loss of purity.
  • The term victim blaming refers to holding the victim of a crime to be responsible for that crime, either in whole or in part. In the context of rape, it refers to the attitude that certain victim behaviors (such as flirting or wearing sexually provocative clothing) may have encouraged the assault. This can cause the victim to believe the crime was indeed their fault. Rapists are known to use victim blaming as their primary psychological disconnect from their crime and in some cases it has led to their conviction.]Female rape victims receive more blame when they exhibit behavior which breaks the gender roles of society.

In a Chinese city, facial recognition technology is combating the coronavirus.

To combat the coronavirus epidemic, officials in a Chinese city bordering Myanmar have deployed facial recognition technology connected to personal health codes.

In the last five years, China’s government has rushed to install more than 200 million Surveillance cameras to “cover all public areas,” making it one of the world’s most surveilled countries.

In China, which was the first country to deploy a QR code system to register test results and monitor interactions, surveillance has also been widely used to combat COVID-19.

However, this is the first time that face recognition has been used to follow a person’s activities and health state as they enter and depart residential neighborhoods, supermarkets, transportation hubs, and other public locations.

On Saturday, officials in Ruili, Yunnan province, informed reporters that “everyone who comes in and out needs to have their (health) code and face scanned to pass.”

According to data released Tuesday, Ruili found 155 cases in the previous week, making it one of the deadliest viral outbreaks in recent months in China.

In critical places, security technologies like face recognition cameras, smart door locks, and road barricades (managed by police or community volunteers) have been installed, according to local authorities.

According to China National Radio, the scanners can also monitor people’s temperatures.

There are no specifics on how long the database will keep records or whether the system, which is being overseen by the city’s pandemic prevention team, would be shut down once the outbreak is under control.

Privacy related concerns

Ruili, a city of about 210,000 people, is a key crossing point from Muse, Myanmar, which has witnessed growing instability since a February 1 coup, generating worries that people would flee the bloodshed by crossing the Chinese border.

According to the Yunnan Provincial Health Commission, Myanmar citizens accounted for over half of the new cases recorded in the last week, but it was unclear how they reached the city.

When it comes to coronavirus clusters, China has taken a zero-risk strategy.

With strict border restrictions, mass testing, lockdowns, and tie-ups with big tech for surveillance, the illness has been mostly contained since it first surfaced in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019.

However, the proliferation of new health tracking applications has prompted worries about privacy.

According to a New York Times investigation in January, a widely used app monitoring travel history and virus testing produced by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba exchanged data with the authorities.

During the peak of the epidemic, police officers in major cities donned helmets with facial recognition technology and infrared cameras to monitor pedestrian temperatures.

China’s ubiquitous monitoring network has been criticized by human rights groups, who claim it is being used to stifle dissent and target minority, ethnic groups.

UNAIDS- Achievements and Challenges.

As of 2018, about 38 million people in the world are infected with HIV and out of these about 21 million people were living in Africa alone. South Africa, Nigeria and India are the worst affected countries with over 7 million, 3 million and 2 million people with HIV infection respectively. Interestingly, India is on third position with over 2 million of its population infected with HIV; however it has the lowest HIV rate in the world due to its vast population.

Source: UNAIDS.

UNAIDS acts as a global cogent body that protects HIV infected people from discrimination and aims to provide them a safer environment by creating awareness among the masses. It also provides deliberate and strategic advocacy and cooperates with different governments and private bodies to achieve its goals.

Achievements of UNAIDS.

1) Because of UNAIDS’s effective advocacy, different Government responses towards every aspect of HIV and AIDS was positive with good leadership and management.

2) UNAIDS’s advocacy also inspired many countries to change and abolish discriminatory laws that used to keep HIV patients on the fringes. It also convinced many countries to make laws in favour of women’s rights so that stigma faced by women decreases.

3) In 2019, 67% of all people living with HIV were accessing treatment. 68% of adults aged 15 years old and above had access to treatment, 53% of children had access to treatment and 73% of the female adults also had the access to treatment.

4) About 85% of pregnant women living with HIV had access to antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission to their child in 2019.

5) UNAIDS also worked a lot in raising awareness about HIV and related stigma all over the world. It focused on myths related to HIV which ultimately led to a positive attitude of public towards HIV patients.

CHALLENGES FACED BY UNAIDS

There are a lot many challenges attached to HIV infection and thus it also becomes difficult for UNAIDS to deal with the issue at times. It is a social difficulty too and HIV patients suffer in silence because misconceptions about HIV.

1) HIV and Violence on women:

Every week, about 5500 young women aged 15-24 years become infected with HIV.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, five in six new infections among adolescents aged 15-19 years are among girls. Young women aged 15-24 years are twice more likely to be living with HIV than their male counterparts.
More than one third (35%) of women around the world have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence by a non-partner at some point of time in their lives.

2) HIV and Tuberculosis:

Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, accounting for around one in three AIDS related deaths.
In 2018, an estimated 10 million people developed Tuberculosis and 9% of them had HIV.

3)HIV and COVID-19, newest of all:

A new analysis by UNAIDS has revealed that COVID-19 is going to have a detrimental effect on low and medium income families and countries around the world on supplies of the generic antiretroviral medicines used for HIV treatment.
The lockdowns and border closures imposed by Governments to stop Covid-19 have impacted both production of the medicines and their distribution.

It’s important for us as a society to support the HIV-AIDS patients and their families morally, socially and make a stigma-free environment for them.