MMIINNDD--TTRREEEE

Volume-I | Issue-9 | May 2011

Image Courtesy: www.freedigitalphotos.net Mind ---Tree , May 2011 111 wikimedia.org

MMIINNDD--TTRREEEE Volume-I | Issue-9 | May 2011

We are eager to have your valuable opinions @ [email protected] or [email protected] Bhakthi Bhakthi Yoga teaches people the path of Love – to love all as you Bhagwan Sathya Sai Baba is one of the love yourselves, and prosper by rarest Karmayogis India has ever pro- love. Then no harm can come to duced. He has you. It will only spread joy and wiped the happiness to all. is present tears from the withered faces of the poor and the mar- ginalised Indi- ans. For his be- lievers, he was a demi-God who had definite mesmeric powers. Surpris- ingly, he could also attract millions of human beings towards his abode. May be he had several critics who used to uncharitably criticise him and his charitable disposition. But that did not dissuade him from his destined spiritual duty and yeoman’s service to in all beings as Love. They all en- the people around him. Undoubtedly, deavour to merge their love with he will be remembered for the amaz- the Ocean of Love that God is. ing spiritual service and the philan- Wherever Love is evident, take it Happiness cannot be experienced that it is God’s own Love. God is through spiritual practices. the greatest Lover of mankind. It can be experienced only through Therefore, when anyone decides Divine Love. – Baba to serve humanity whom He thropic works he could undertake for loves, God showers Grace in the welfare of the mankind, whereas plenty. When the human heart his die-hard critics had only one- melts at the suffering of others point agenda to “bare” him naked.He and expands as a result of that showed that serving the mankind is sympathy, believe that God is tantamount to serving the God in all present there. That is the sign of respects. Probably, there are few par- the validity of the path of devo- allels in the world for his unique way tion ( Bhakthi Yoga ). of spirituality.

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Divine Speak What water can do, gasoline cannot and what copper can, gold cannot. The fra- A plum once said, 'just because a banana gility of the ant enables it to move and lover came by, I converted myself into a the rigidity of the tree enables it to stay banana. Unfortunately, his taste rooted. Everything and everybody has changed after a few been designed with a Pro- months and so I became portion of uniqueness to an orange. When he said serve a purpose that we I was bitter I became an can fulfill only by being apple, but he went in our unique self. You as search of grapes. you alone can serve your Yielding to the opinions purpose and I as I Alone of so many people, I have can serve my purpose. changed so many times You are here to be you... that I no more know who Just YOU. I am. How I wish I had remained a plum and waited for a plum lover.' There was a time in this world when a Just because a group of people do not ac- was required and he was sent; A time when a Christ was required and he You are a Masterpiece was sent; a time when a Mahatma was required and he was sent; a time when a cept you as you are, there is no necessity J.R.D.Tata was required and he was sent. for you to strip yourself of your original- There came a time when you were re- ity. You need to think Good of yourself, quired on this planet and hence you for the world takes you at your own esti- were sent. Let us be the best we can be. mate. Never stoop down in order to gain recognition. Never let go of your true In the history of the universe, there has self to win a relationship. In the long been nobody like you and to the run, you will regret that you traded your infinity of time to come, there will be no greatest Glory - your uniqueness, for mo- one like you. Existence should have loved you so much that it broke the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar mould after making you, so that another of your kind will never get repeated. You are original. mentary validation. Even Gandhi was You are rare. not accepted by many people. The group You are unique. that does not accept you as YOU is not You are a wonder. Your world. You are a masterpiece. Your Master's piece. There is a world for each one of you, Celebrate your Uniqueness . where you shall reign as king /queen by just being yourself. Find that world... Coutesy: JAYAPRAKASH NAIR In fact, that world will find You.

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We are eager to have your valuable opinions @ [email protected] or [email protected]

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Shankar, Ramdev, Swami Mind Agnivesh and former Indian crick- eter Kapil Dev,many celebrities showed their public support through Twit- Along with members of the India Against Corrup- ter. On 6 April 2011 Sharad Pawar resigned from tion movement, former justice of the Supreme the group of ministers formed for reviewing the Court of India and Lokayukta of draft Lokpal bill 2010. The move- Karnataka N. Santosh Hegde and ment gathered significant sup- , a senior law- port from India's youth, visible yer in the Supreme Court, through the local support and on drafted an alternate bill called social networking sites like Face- the (People's - book and Twitter. [46] There have budsman Bill). This bill provides also been protests in Bangalore, more stringent provisions and Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, wider power to the Lokpal Guwahati, Shillong, and Aizawl, (Ombudsman). Hazare began a among other cities of India. On 8 fast unto death from 5 April 2011 April 2011 the Government of In- at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to press for the demand dia accepted all demands of the movement. On 9 to form a joint committee of the representatives of April 2011 it issued a notification in the Gazette of the Government and the civil society to draft a new India on formation of a joint committee. It ac- bill with stronger penal actions and more inde- cepted the formula that there be a politician Chair- pendence to the Lokpal and Lokayukta s man and an activist, non-politician Co-Chairman. (Ombudsmen in the states), after his demand was According to the notification, Pranab Mukherjee rejected by the Prime Minister of India Manmohan will be the Chairman of the draft committee while Singh. He stated, "I will fast until Jan Lokpal Bill is Shanti Bhushan will be the co-chairman. “The Joint passed". The movement attracted attention in the Drafting Committee shall consist of five nominee media, and thousands of supporters. Almost 150 ministers of the Government of India and five people reportedly joined Hazare in his fast. He said nominees of the civil society. The five nominee that he would not allow any politician to sit with Ministers of the Government of India are Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister of Finance, P. Chidambaram, Union Minister of Home Affairs, M. The story of Hazare’s transformation began Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Law and Jus- in 1964 at a Delhi railway station bookstall tice, Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Re- after he bought a book on Swami Vivekan- source and Development and Minister of Commu- anda. Enthralled by the great sage’s life and nication and Information Technology and Salman by his dictum that the noblest thing a man Khursheed, Union Minister of Water Resources can do is work for the good of others, and Minister of Minority Affairs. The five nominees Hazare avidly began reading religious texts of the civil society are Anna Hazare, N. Santosh and biographies of social reformers. And af- Hegde, Shanti Bhushan Senior Advocate, Prashant ter his escape from the Sabre jets at Khem- karan, in September 1965 , Hazare became a Bhushan, Advocate and Arvind Kejriwal. On the vegetarian, gave up cigarettes and liquor, morning of 9 April 2011 Hazare ended his 98-hour and vowed to remain a bachelor devoting hunger strike by first offering lemon juice to some himself to public service. of his supporters who were fasting with him. Hazare then broke his fast by consuming some lemon juice. He addressed the people and set a him in this movement. Politicians like Uma Bharti deadline of 15 August 2011 to pass the Lokpal Bill in and Om Prakash Chautala were shooed away by the Indian Parliament. Real fight begins now. We protesters when they came to visit the site where have a lot of struggle ahead of us in drafting the the protest was taking place. Social activists, in- new legislation, We have shown the world in just cluding Medha Patkar, Arvind Kejriwal, former IPS five days that we are united for the cause of the officer Kiran Bedi, and Jayaprakash Narayan lent nation. The youth power in this movement is a their support to Hazare's hunger strike and anti- sign of hope. Anna Hazare said that if the bill does corruption campaign. People have shown support not pass he will call for a mass nation-wide agita- in Internet social media such as Twitter and Face- tion. He called his movement as "second struggle book. In addition to spiritual leaders Sri Sri Ravi for independence" and he will continue the fight.

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and wrote four works in- India cluding one on astronomy. The last ruler of this dy- nasty was Lakshamanasena under whose reign the Mus- MedievalMedieval HistoryHistory ofof IndiaIndia lims invaded Bengal, and For a period that has come to be so strongly associ- the empire fell. ated with the Islamic influence and rule in India, Me- The Pratihara dieval Indian history went for almost three whole The greatest ruler of the centuries under the so-called indigenous rulers, that Pratihara dynasty was Mihir included the Chalukyas, the Pallavas, the Pandyas, Bhoja. He recovered Kanauj (Kanyakubja) by 836, and the Rashtrakutas, the Muslims rulers and finally the it remained the capital of the Pratiharas for almost a Mughal Empire. The most important dynasty to century. He built the city Bhojpal (Bhopal). Raja th emerge in the middle of the 9 century was that of Bhoja and other valiant the Cholas. Gujara kings faced and de- The Palas feated many attacks of the Between 8 th and 10 th centuries Arabs from west. A.D., a number of powerful Between 915-918 A.D, empires dominated the east- Kanauj was attacked by a ern and northern parts of In- Rashtrakuta king, who dev- dia. The Pala king Dharm- astated the city leading to pala, son of Gopala reigned the weakening of the Prati- from the late 8 th century A.D. hara Empire. In 1018, Kan- to early 9 th century A.D. nauj then ruled by Rajya- Nalanda University and Vik- pala Pratihara was sacked ramashila University were by Mahmud of Ghazni. The empire broke into inde- founded by Dharmpala. pendent Rajput states. The Senas The Rashtrakutas After the decline of This dynasty, which ruled from Karnataka, is illustri- the Palas, the Sena ous for several reasons. They ruled the territory vaster dynasty established its than that of any other dynasty. They were great pa- rule in Bengal. The trons of art and literature. The encouragement that founder of the dynasty several Rashtrakuta kings provided to education and was Samantasena. The literature is unique, and the religious tolerance exer- greatest ruler of the cised by them was exemplary. dynasty was Vijaysena. The Chola Empire of the South He conquered the whole of Bengal and was suc- It emerged in the middle of the 9 th century A.D., cov- ceeded by his son Ballalasena. He reigned peacefully ered a large part of Indian peninsula, as well as parts but kept his dominions intact. He was a great scholar of Sri Lanka and the Maldives Islands. The first important ruler to emerge from the dynasty DID YOU KNOW? was Rajaraja Chola I and his son and successor Rajen- dra Chola. Rajaraja carried forward the annexation …...that theCholas are featured in the History of policy of his father. He led armed expedition to dis- the World board game, produced by Avalon tant lands of Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Hill? The successors of Rajendra I, Rajadhiraj and Rajendra II were brave rulers who ……that Rashtrakuta literature and inscriptions fought fiercely against show that Kannada was not only popular in the the later Chalukya modern Karnataka region but the linguistic kings, but could not change had spread further north into present check the decline of day southern Maharashtra and to the northern Chola Empire. The later Deccan by the 8th century ? Chola kings were weak and incompetent rulers. …..that the power of the Gurjara Pratihara army The Chola Empire thus lingered on for another cen- that effectively barred the progress of the Mus- tury and a half, and finally came to an end with the th lim invaders beyond the confines of Sindh? invasion of Malik Kafur in the early 14 century A.D. Source : http://india.gov.in/knowindia

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Caravel CHARAKA A caravel is a small, highly maneuverable, two- The Father of Anatomy or three-masted lateen-rigged ship, created by Charaka , sometimes spelled Caraka , born c. 300 BC was the Portuguese and used also by them and by one of the principal contributors to the ancient art and sci- the Spanish for long voyages of exploration ence of Ayurveda, a system of medicine and lifestyle devel- from the 15th century oped in Ancient India. He is sometimes referred to as the The caravel was developed in the Atlantic un- Father of Indian Medicine Ac- der the order of Henry the Navigator and be- cording to Charaka's transla- came the preferred vessel for Portuguese ex- tions health and disease are not plorers. Initially, the Portuguese used carracks predetermined and life may be to explore along the west African coast and into prolonged by human effort and the Atlantic Ocean. The carrack (or nau) was attention to lifestyle. As per the state of the art in late medieval shipbuild- Indian heritage and science of ing. But these larger, full-rigged square-sailed Ayurvedic system, prevention of ships could not always be sailed with the preci- all types of diseases have a more prominent place than sion necessary for inshore surveying in un- treatment, including restructuring of life style to align with known waters. The explorers soon came to pre- the course of nature and four seasons, which will guarantee complete wellness. Charaka was the first physician to pre- sent the concept of digestion, metabolism and immunity. According to his translations of the , a body functions because it contains three dosha or principles, namely move- ment (vata), transformation (pitta) and lubrication and stability (kapha). The doshas are also sometimes called hu- mours, namely, bile, phlegm and wind. These dosha are produced when dhatus (blood, flesh and marrow) act upon the food eaten. For the same quantity of food eaten, one body, however, produces dosha in an amount different from another body. That is why one body is different from another. For instance, it is more weighty, stronger, more energetic. Further, illness is caused when the balance among the three fer the caravel, as well as the barge (barca ) or dosha in a human body is disturbed. To restore the balance the balinger (barinel ) of around 50 to 200 tons. he prescribed medicinal drugs. Although he was aware of Being smaller, the caravel could sail upriver in germs in the body, he did not give them any importance. shallow coastal waters. With the lateen sails Charaka knew the fundamentals of genetics. For instance, attached, it could go fast over shallow water he knew the factors determining the sex of a child. A ge- and take deep wind, while with the square At- netic defect in a child, like lameness or blindness, he said, lantic-type sails attached, it was very fast. Its was not due to any defect in the mother or the father, but in the ovum or sperm of the parents (an accepted fact to- economy, speed, agility, and power made it day). esteemed as the best sailing vessel of its time. Charaka studied the anatomy of the human body and vari- The exploration done with caravels made possi- ous organs. He gave 360 as the total number of bones, in- ble the spice trade of the Portuguese and the cluding teeth, present in the body. He wrongly believed Spanish. that the heart had one cavity, but he was right when he considered it to be a controlling centre. He claimed that the heart was connected to the entire body through 13 main channels. Apart from these channels, there were countless DID YOU KNOW? other ones of varying sizes which supplied not only nutri- ents to various tissues but also provided passage to waste ... that in 2008 Hewlett-Packard created products. He also claimed that any obstruction in the main a prototype of the theoretical fourth channels led to a disease or deformity in the body. Under the guidance of the ancient physician Atreya, Ag- and last passive circuit element , the nivesa had written an encyclopedic treatise in the eighth memristor , that may one day revolu- century B.C. However, it was only when Charaka revised tionize electronics , although the theory this treatise that it gained popularity and came to be was devised in 1971 ? known as Charakasamhita . For two millennia it remained a standard work on the subject and was translated into many

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Artificial intelligence Euclid Euclid , also known as Euclid of Alexandria , was an Egyptian Greek mathematician, often referred to as the Artificial intelligence (AI ) is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that "Father of Geometry". He was active in the Greek colony of aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I (323–283 BC). His "the study and design of intelligent agents" where Elements is one of the most influential works in the history of mathematics, serving as the main textbook for teaching an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its mathematics (especially geometry) from the time of its environment and takes actions that maximize its publication until the late 19th or early 20th century. In the chances of success. John McCarthy, who coined the Elements , Euclid deduced the principles of what is now term in 1956, defines it as "the science and engi- called Euclidean geometry from a small set of axioms. neering of making intelligent machines." Euclid also wrote works on perspective, conic sections, The field was founded on the claim that a central spherical geometry, number theory and rigor. Euclid's con- property of humans, intelligence—the sapience of tributions were built on the Greek culture of philosophical Homo sapiens —can be so precisely described that investigation into which he was born, relying on the works it can be simulated by a machine. This raises phi- of thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Eudoxus, and Theaetetus . losophical issues about the nature of the mind and "Euclid" is the the ethics of creating artificial beings, issues which anglicized ver- have been addressed by myth, fiction and philoso- sion of the Greek phy since antiquity. Artificial intelligence has been name (Εὐκλείδης the subject of optimism, but has also suffered set- — Eukleídēs), backs and, today, has become an essential part of meaning "Good the technology industry, providing the heavy lifting Glory".

Little is known about Euclid's life, as there are only a handful of references to him. The date and place of Euclid's birth and the date and circumstances of his death are unknown, and only roughly estimated in proximity to contemporary figures mentioned in refer- ences. No likeness or description of Euclid's physical ap- TOPIO, a humanoid robot, played table tennis at pearance made during his lifetime survived antiquity. Tokyo International Robot Exhibition (IREX) 2009 Therefore, Euclid's depiction in works of art is the product of the artist's imagination. The few historical references to Euclid were written centu- ries after he lived, by Proclus and Pappus of Alexandria.[8] for many of the most difficult problems in com- Proclus introduces Euclid only briefly in his fifth-century puter science. AI research is highly technical and Commentary on the Elements , as the author of Elements , specialized, and deeply divided into subfields that that he was mentioned by Archimedes, and that when often fail to communicate with each other. Sub- King Ptolemy asked if there was a shorter path to learning fields have grown up around particular institutions, geometry than Euclid's Elements , "Euclid replied there is [ the work of individual researchers, the solution of no royal road to geometry." Although the purported cita- specific problems, longstanding differences of tion of Euclid by Archimedes has been judged to be an interpolation by later editors of his works, it is still be- opinion about how AI should be done and the ap- lieved that Euclid wrote his works before those of Ar- plication of widely differing tools. The central chimedes. In addition, the "royal road" anecdote is ques- problems of AI include such traits as reasoning, tionable since it is similar to a story told about knowledge, planning, learning, communication, Menaechmus and Alexander the Great. In the only other perception and the ability to move and manipulate key reference to Euclid, Pappus briefly mentioned in the objects. General intelligence (or "strong AI") is still fourth century that Apollonius "spent a very long time with among the field's long term goals. the pupils of Euclid at Alexandria, and it was thus that he [13] acquired such a scientific habit of thought." It is further Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org believed that Euclid may have studied at Plato's Academy in Athens. Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org

Mind ---Tree , May 2011 777 Events in MAY MAY May 1 is Labor Day in many countries. May is the fifth month May 1 is May Day in the United Kingdom, how of the year in the Gre- ever the public holiday is held on the first Mon gorian Calendar and day in May. one of seven Gregorian May 3 is when the Polish Constitution Day is months with the length celebrated in Poland. of 31 days. May is a May 3 is Japanese Constitution Day Japan month of autumn in the May 4 is the day of Remembrance of the Dead Southern Hemisphere in the Netherlands and spring in the Northern Hemi- May 4 is Liberation Day in Denmark sphere. Therefore May in the South- May 5 is when Cinco de Mayo or the Batalla de ern Hemisphere is the seasonal Puebla is celebrated in Mexico. equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice May 5 is the Children's Day in Japan and Korea versa. The month May has been May 5 is Liberation Day in the Netherlands named for the Greek goddess Maia, May 5 is Europe Day in Europe who was identified with the Roman May 8 is VE Day in Western Europe era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, May 9 is Europe Day in the European Union whose festival was held in May. Con- May 10 is Golden Spike Day versely, the Roman poet Ovid pro- May 10 is Mother's Day in Mexico, Guatemala, vides a second etymology, in which and Salvador. he says that the month of May is May 12 is International Nurses Day. named for the maiores, Latin for May 12 is the day of the Finnish language in "elders," and that the following Finland. month (June) is named for the iunio- res, or "young people" ( Fasti VI.88 ). May 12 is International Awareness Day for In both common Western calendri- Chronic Immunological and Neurological Dis cal systems, no other month begins eases (CIND). on the same day of the week as May. May 15 is the beginning of Tourette Syndrome This month and June are the only awareness month. two months that have this trait, May 17 is Norwegian Constitution Day. though the first day of August in a May 21 is when the Battle of Iquique is cele common year and the first day of brated in Chile. October in a leap year are also May 24 is when Eritrea celebrates its Inde unique. No other month ends on the pendence Day . same day of the week as May. May 25 is the May Revolution (or Revolución de Mayo) MAY SYMBOLS May 25 is Towel Day, in tribute to Douglas Ad ams. Birthstone - Emarald The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day in the United States. Each year in May, the Eurovision Song Contest is held. The Indianapolis 500 is held on the Sunday be fore Memorial Day. Labor Day in Queensland, Australia, is cele brated on the first Monday in May. In Canada, Victoria Day is celebrated on the last Monday on or before May 24. The last Monday of May is Memorial Day in the United States. Birth flower - Rose

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RELIGIONRELIGION GOD IN HINDUISM Vaishnava tradition often translates it within its per- spective as primeval or original Personality of , but also considers the terms such as Supreme For God, as is, is beyond any attributes of form, Personality of Godhead and Supreme God as an equiva- color, shapes ... That is, God does not have any specific lent to the term Svayam , and may also choose form or name. In this state God is referred to as nirguNa to apply these terms to , and many of (attributeless god). However God takes forms as their associated . perceived by humans and this perceived form is called Earlier commentators such as translated saguNa brahman (god with (good) attributes). These the term as "he who has bhaga- forms could range from calm to fierce to yogic (1). Each vatta "; meaning "he who has the quality of possessing all form has its significance. For example when one is de- good qualities". Others have translated it simply as "the pressed and sees the form of God Strong and Powerful, Lord Himself". ] Followers of Vishnu-centered sam- the seeker feels the moral boost that God would definitely pradayas of rarely address this term, but be the support for the right thing. Similarly when in an believe that it refers to their belief that Krishna is among auspicious ceremony would like the God to be the calm the highest and fullest of all Avatars and is considered to provider of boons. In a spiritually elevated state, the be the " paripurna Avatara ", complete in all respects and choice would be the yogic form of God. The forms pro- the same as the original. According to them vide a basis for worshipper to easily pursue the Krishna is otherwise incomprehensible Supreme. So Hinduism sup- described in the Purana as the Purnavatara ports both form as well as formless worship of the God. (or complete manifestation) of the Bhagavan, while other Whether one worships in saguNa or nirguNa way, it is incarnations are called partial. ultimately the same God Brahman Svayam Bhagavan The Vedantic school of also has a no- Svayam bhagavan is a theological term that tion of a Supreme Cosmic Spirit called Brahman , pro- refers to the concept of absolute representation of the nounced [br əhm ən]. Brahman is the impersonal aspect monotheistic God as Bhagavan himself within Hindu- of Absolute Truth. Absolute Truth is realized in three ism . stages: as Brahman , Paramatma and Bhagavan , Brahman It is most often used in Gaudiya Vaishnava Krishna- realization is the first step of the Hindu transcendental- centered theology as referring to Krishna . The title ist. The path which leads to this realization is called Svayam Bhagavan is used exclusively to designate Jnana , usually followed by Shankara- mayavadi Krishna. [ Certain other traditions of Hinduism consider him to be the source of all philosophers. Hinduism advises against speculating avatars, and the source of Vishnu himself, or to be the same as Narayana. As such, he is about the Absolute (as it may long for millions of life- therefore regarded as Svayam Bhagavan . times), but straight to get to -yoga, as it is a direct The term is seldom used to refer to other forms of path and includes both Brahman and even Paramatma Krishna and Vishnu within the context of certain reli- realization (attained by yogis through mystic gious texts such as the , and also on four-handed Narayana or Vishnu on Vaikunthalo- within other sects of Vaishnavism. kas ). Even himself, being a greatest im- When Krishna is recognized to be Svayam Bhagavan , personalist supported this viewpoint: one has to give up jnana and take to worship of Parabrahman , - it can be understood that this is the belief of Gaudiya that is Krishna . See also: Bhaja Govindam . Vaishnavism , the , and the Nim- Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org barka Sampradaya , where Krishna is accepted to be the source of all other avatars, and the source of Vishnu himself. This belief is drawn primarily "from the famous Did You Know? statement of the Bhagavatam"(1.3.28). A different viewpoint, opposing this theological concept ...that There are many Hindus in Arab is the concept of Krishna as an of Narayana or states, many due to the migration of In- Vishnu . It should be however noted that although its is dians to the oil-rich states around the usual to speak of Vishnu as the source of the avataras, Persian Gulf ? this is only one of the of Vaishnavism, who is also known as Narayana , and Krishna and behind each of those names there is a divine figure with ...that Hindu temples have been built in attributed supremacy in Vaishnavism . Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, The theological interpretation of svayam bhagav ān Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen and Oman? differs with each tradition and the literal translation of the term has been understood in several distinct ways. Trans- ...that Hinduism first came to Muscat in lated from the Sanskrit language , the term literary means 1507 from Sindh ? "Bhagavan Himself" or "directly Bhagavan ". Gaudiya

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RELIGIONRELIGION God in Islam ISLAM

In Islamic theology , God (Arabic: as a unified whole, with God being a single concept Allāh ) is the all-powerful and all-knowing creator, that would describe or ascribe all existing sustainer, ordainer, and judge of the universe. Islam things:"God is the First and the Last, the Outward puts a heavy emphasis on the conceptualization of and the Inward; God is the Knower of everything God as strictly singular ( tawhid ). God is unique (Sura 57:3 )" Some Muslims have however vigorously (wahid ) and inherently One ( ahad ), all-merciful and om- criticized interpretations that would lead to a monist nipotent. view of God for what they see as blurring the distinc- Creation and ordering of the tion between the creator and universe is seen as an act of the creature, and its incom- prime mercy for which all patibility with the monothe- creatures sing God's glories ism of Islam. and bear witness to God's The indivisibility of God im- unity and lordship. According plies the indivisibility of God's to the Islamic teachings, God sovereignty which in turn exists without a place. Ac- leads to the conception of uni- cording to the Qur'an, "No verse as a just and coherent vision can grasp Him, but His moral universe rather than an grasp is over all vision. God is existential and moral chaos above all comprehension, yet (as in polytheism). Similarly is acquainted with all the Qur'an rejects the binary things" (Qur'an 6:103) modes of thinking such as the God responds to those in idea of duality of God by argu- need or distress whenever ing that both good and evil they call. Above all, God Name of All āh written in Arabic calligraphy generate from God's creative guides humanity to the right by 17th century Ottoman artist Hâfız Osman act and that the evil forces way, “the holy ways.” have no power to create any- According to Islamic tradition there are 99 Names of thing. God in Islam is a universal god rather than a God (al-asma al-husna lit. meaning: "The best names") local, tribal or parochial one; an absolute who inte- each of which evoke a distinct attribute of God . All grates all affirmative values and brooks no evil. these names refer to , the supreme and all- Tawhid constitutes the foremost article of the Mus- comprehensive divine name. Among the 99 names of lim profession. To attribute divinity to a created en- God, the most famous and most frequent of these tity is the only unpardonable sin mentioned in the names are "the Compassionate" ( al-rahman ) and "the Qur'an. Muslims believe that the entirety of the Is- Merciful" ( al-rahim ). lamic teaching rests on the principle of Tawhid Islam teaches that God, as referenced in the Qur'an, Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org is the only God and the same God worshipped by members of other Abrahamic religions such as Chris- tianity and Judaism . Did You Know? Oneness of God Oneness of God or Taw ḥīd is the act of believing and ...that about 13% of Muslims live in affirming that God (Arabic: Allah ) is one and unique Indonesia , the largest Muslim coun- (wāḥid ). The Qur'an asserts the existence of a single try? and absolute truth that transcends the world; a unique and indivisible being who is independent of ...that Converts and immigrant com- the entire creation. According to the Qur'an: munities are found in almost every "Say: He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, part of the world? Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him." (Sura 112:1-4, Yusuf Ali ) ...that Adam , Noah , Abraham , Jacob , Thy Lord is self-sufficient, full of Mercy: if it were God's Moses and Jesus and his apostles are will, God could destroy you, and in your place appoint whom God will as your successors, even as God raised all confirmed as being Muslim by the you up from the posterity of other people." (Sura 6:133 , Qur'an ? Yusuf Ali ) According to Vincent J. Cornell, the Qur'an also pro- vides a monist image of God by describing the reality

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RELIGIONRELIGION God in Christianity CHRISTAINITY

trine has been stated as "three Hypostases (or, less precisely, persons ) in one God", all three of whom, as In the Christian religion, one definition of God is the distinct and co-eternal persons, are of one indivisible Di- eternal being that created and preserves the universe . vine essence , a simple being . The majority of Chris- The Bible never speaks of God in an impersonal are Trinitarian and regard belief in the Trinity as sense. Instead, it refers to him in personal terms —as a test of true orthodoxy of belief. one who is, who speaks, who sees, hears, acts , and "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" loves . God is understood to have a will and personal- "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" is a quotation of Jesus' ity and is an all powerful , divine and benevolent be- words as recorded in the Great Commission : “Go there- ing. He is represented in Scripture as being primarily fore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them concerned with people and their salvation . in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the God is believed by most Christians to be immanent Holy Spirit.” The names in similar order later appeared in (meaning that he is with and the Apostle Paul's apostolic within all things), while oth- benediction: “The grace of The ers believe the plan of re- Twelve Apostles the Lord Jesus Christ and Traditionally, the twelve Apostles include Peter demption in scriptures the and the (whom some denominations consider the "Prince of show he will be immanent fellowship of the Holy the Apostles" ); Andrew , James the Greater , James Spirit be with you all." later as seen in 1 Corin- the Lesser , John , Philip , Bartholomew , Matthew , Since the first century, thians 15:28 , Colos- Thomas , Thaddeus , Simon , and Judas Iscariot . Ju sians 1:19-20 , and Ephe- das had been one of the twelve , but he betrayed Christians have called sians 1:10 , and most be- Jesus and committed suicide. With Judas gone, upon God with the name lieve he is also transcen- Matthias became one of the Twelve . In the Synop "Father, Son and Holy dent (meaning that he is tic Gospels , Mark names the Twelve , Matthew fol Spirit" in prayer, baptism, outside space and time, lows Mark, and Luke substitutes Jude for Mark's communion, demon exor- and therefore eternal and Thaddeus. John refers to the Twelve without nam cism, hymn-singing, unable to be changed by ing them all, adds the name Nathanael, and uses preaching, confession, ab- forces within the uni- the term "beloved disciple (presumably for John). solution and benediction. verse) , though God the Son Jesus' inner circle of twelve disciples probably cor Trinitarian doctrine was on earth during the responds to the twelve tribes of Israel . In the Syn In Christianity , the doc- Ministry of Jesus and will optic, Jesus selects Peter, James, and John to wit trine of the Trinity states ness his divine Transfiguration and to be with him return to earth in the Sec- that God is one being who when he prays at Gethsemane. In Mark, the ond Coming of Christ . exists, simultaneously and Twelve are obtuse, failing to understand the impor eternally , as a mutual in- God is usually held to tance of Jesus' miracles and parables . The book of dwelling of three persons : have the properties of ho- Acts recounts the deeds of the apostles in the liness (separate from sin years after Jesus' crucifixion . the Father , the Son and incorruptible), justice (incarnate as Jesus of Naz- (fair, right, and true in all areth ), and the Holy Spirit his judgments ), omnipotence (all powerful), omnis- (or Holy Ghost). Since earliest Christianity, one's sal- cience (all-knowing), omnibenevolence (all-loving), vation has been very closely related to the concept of omnipresence (everywhere present) and immortality a triune God, although the Trinitarian doctrine was (eternal and everlasting). not formalized until the 4th century. At that time the God is understood by Trinitarians as Father , Son , and bishops of the Christian Church, which had been re- Holy Spirit ; a single infinite being who is both within cently legalised by Emperor Constantine , held the and beyond nature. Because the persons of the Trin- Council of Nicea and formalized the Trinitarian doc- ity represent a personal relation even on the level of trine. God to himself, he is represented by all Christian de- Most Christians believe that God is spirit, an uncre- nominations to be personal both in his immanence ated, omnipotent , and eternal being, the creator and (in his personal relation toward us) and in his tran- sustainer of all things, who works the redemption of scendence (in his personal relation toward himself). the world through his Son, Jesus Christ . With this [citation needed ] Less commonly, nontrinitarian theologies background, belief in the divinity of Christ and the exist in various denominations which define the Fa- Holy Spirit is expressed as the doctrine of the Holy ther, the Son, and the Holy Spirit differently. The Trinity , which describes the single Divine substance Trinitarian doctrine is considered by most Christians existing as three distinct and inseparable persons : the to be a core tenet of their faith. Since the 4th century , Father , the Son (Jesus Christ the eternal Word ), and in both Eastern and Western Christianity, this doc- the Holy Spirit . Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Mind ---Tree , May 2011 111111

RELIGION RELIGION God in BUDDHISM The refutation of the notion a skeptic with respect to other teachers' claims to be of a supreme God or a prime able to lead their disciples to the highest mover is seen as a key distinction between good." Buddhism and other religions. Hence, Bud- Citing the Devadaha Sutta ('Majjhima Nikaya dhism is often aptly described as a "spiritual 101), Hayes remarks "while the reader is left philosophy " whose sole aim is the complete to conclude that it is attachment rather than alleviation of stress in samsara , called nir- God, actions in past lives, fate, type of birth vana . The Buddha explicitly rejects a creator , or efforts in this life that is responsible for denies endorsing any views on creation and our experiences of sorrow, no systematic ar- states that questions on the origin of the world are worth- gument is given in an attempt to disprove the exis- less. Some theists beginning Buddhist meditation tence of God. believe that the notion of divinity is not in- in the Pali Canon compatible with Buddhism but belief in a Brahma is among the common found in the Pali Canon. Brahma (in common with all other devas) is Supreme God is eminently considered to subject to change, final decline and death, just as are pose a hindrance to the attainment of nir- all other sentient beings in samsara (the plane of con- vana the highest goal of Buddhist practice. tinual reincarnation and suffering). In fact there are Despite this nontheism , Buddhists consider venera- several different Brahma worlds and several kinds of tion of the Noble ones very important, although the in Buddhism, all of which however are just two main schools of Buddhism differ mildly in their beings stuck in samsara for a long while. Sir Charles reverential attitudes. While Theravada Buddhists Eliot describes attitudes towards Brahma in early view the Buddha as a human being who attained nir- Buddhism as follows: vana or arahanthood , through human efforts, some There comes a time when this world system passes Mahayana Buddhists consider him an embodiment of away and then certain beings are reborn in the the Dharmakaya , who was born for the benefit of oth- "World of Radiance" and remain there a long time. ers, and not merely a human being. In addition, some Sooner or later, the world system begins to evolve Mahayana Buddhists worship their chief Bodhisattva , again and the palace of Brahma appears, but it is Avalokiteshvara and hope to embody him. Buddhists empty. Then some being whose time is up falls from accept the existence of beings in higher realms (see the "World of Radiance" and comes to life in the pal- Buddhist cosmology ), known as devas , but they, like ace and remains there alone. At last he wishes for humans, are said to be suffering in samsara , and not company, and it so happens that other beings whose particularly wiser than us. In fact the Buddha is often time is up fall from the "World of Radiance" and join portrayed as a teacher of the gods, and superior to him. And the first being thinks that he is Great them Brahma, the Creator, because when he felt lonely and God in early Buddhism wished for companions other beings appeared. And As scholar Richard Hayes describes, "the attitude of the other beings accept this view. And at last one of the Buddha as portrayed in the Nikayas is more anti- Brahma’s retinue falls from that state and is born in speculative than specifically atheistic," although the human world and, if he can remember his previ- "Gotama regarded the belief in God as unhealthy." As ous birth, he reflects that he is transitory but that Hayes describes it, "In the Nikaya literature, the ques- Brahma still remains and from this he draws the erro- tion of the existence of God is treated primarily from neous conclusion that Brahma is eternal either an epistemological point of view or a moral Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org point of view. As a problem of epistemology, the question of God's existence amounts to a discussion Did You Know? of whether or not a religious seeker can be certain that there is a greatest good and that therefore his ...that Buddhism in is a legally efforts to realize a greatest good will not be a point- recognized religion and has 10,402 fol- less struggle towards an unrealistic goal. And as a lowers according to the 2001 census? problem in morality, the question amounts to a dis- ...that the Mahayana were trans- cussion of whether man himself is ultimately respon- mitted in secret? sible for all the displeasure that he feels or whether ...that Mahayana Buddhism flourished in there exists a superior being who inflicts displeasure upon man whether he deserves it or not . . .the Bud- India from the 5th century CE onwards, dha Gotama is portrayed not as an atheist who claims during the dynasty of the Guptas ? to be able to prove God's nonexistence, but rather as

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Part-IV cal implications of Cosmic Ray Time Variations. 1. Raman, Sir C.V .: (1888-1970) Eminent In- 6. Sen, P.K. (Dr ): is the Indian surgeon who dian Scientist (F.R.S.) Na- performed Asia’s first heart transplant operation tional Professor of Physics in Mumbai. and founder Director of 7. Susruta : was Raman Research Institute, a fourth century Bangalore. He was Hindu surgeon and awarded Nobel Prize for physician. He his discovery of ‘Raman wrote an impor- Effect’ (Feb 28, 1928). His tant book on work on study of crystal medicine and also structure is of unique im- a thesis on the portance. Feb 28 is cele- medical properties brated every year as Na- of garlic. tional Science Day. 8. Varahmihira: (505-587) was a distinguished 2. Ramanujan, Srinivas : (1887-1920) Indian Indian astronomer, mathematician and philoso- mathematician who con- pher. He was one of the nine gems of the court tributed to the theory of of king Vikramaditya. numbers, theory of parti- 9. is a central and tions, and the theory of revered figure in the ma- continued fractions. jority of Hindu traditions. 3. Ray, Sir P.C .: (1861- He is also sometimes 1944) founder of Indian called Veda Vyasa (the one Chemical Society and Ben- who compiled the Vedas) gal Chemical and Pharma- or Krishna Dvaipayana ceutical Works Ltd., and (referring to his complex- author of ‘Hindu Chemis- ion and birthplace). He is try’. His work about nitrous acid and its salts the author as well as a deserves special mention. character in the Hindu 4. Saha, Dr Meghnad : epic Mahabharata and considered to be the (1893-1956) late Palit Prof of scribe of both the Vedas, and the supplementary Physics, University College texts such as the . [Concluded] of Science and Technology, Calcutta University—well known for his researches in nuclear physics, cosmic rays, spectrum analysis and other branches of theoretical physics. 5. Sarabhai, Dr Vikram A.: former Chairman of In- dia’s Atomic Energy Com- mission and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) died on December 30, 1971. Dr Sarabhai was an eminent physicist mainly interested in the astrophysi-

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problem developed. Instead of the satellite HHHooowww llleeeaaadddeeerrrsss ssshhhooouuulllddd going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal . It was a big maaannnaaagggeee fffaaaiiillluuurrreee??? failure. That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish At Wharton India Economic fo- Dhawan, had called a press conference. The rum , Philadelphia, March 22,2008 launch was at 7:00 am, and the press confer- the Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam was asked this ques- ence -- where journalists from around the tion. His reply to this throws light world were present -- was at 7:45 am at into his deep insight and enlight- ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota enment [in in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, con- Let me tell you about my experience. In ducted the press conference himself. He 1973 I became the project director of India's took responsibility for the failure -- he said satellite launch vehicle program, commonly that the team had worked very hard, but called the SLV-3. Our goal that it needed more techno- was to put India's 'Rohini' logical support. He assured satellite into orbit by 1980. I the media that in another was given funds and human year, the team would defi- resources -- but was told nitely succeed. Now, I was the clearly that by 1980 we had to project director, and it was launch the satellite into my failure, but instead, he space. Thousands of people took responsibility for the worked together in scientific failure as chairman of the or- and technical teams towards ganization. The next year, in that goal. July 1980, we tried again to By 1979 -- I think the month launch the satellite -- and this was August -- we thought we time we succeeded. The were ready. As the project whole nation was jubilant. director, I went to the control Again, there was a press con- center for the launch. At four ference. Prof. Dhawan called minutes before the satellite me aside and told me, 'You launch, the computer began to go through conduct the press conference today.' I the checklist of items that needed to be learned a very important lesson that day. checked. One minute When failure oc- later, the computer Shri Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam ), curred, the leader of program put the the organization usually referred to as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, launch on hold; the owned that failure. was the 11th President of India who display showed that When success came, served from 2002 to 2007. During his term some control compo- he gave it to his team. as President, he was popularly known as nents were not in or- The best management the People's President der. My experts -- I lesson I have learned had four or five of did not come to me them with me -- told me not to worry; they from reading a book; it came from that ex- had done their calculations and there was perience. enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the com- puter, switched to manual mode, and Contributed by Mrs. Lekha Nair launched the rocket. In the first stage, every- thing worked fine. In the second stage, a

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Facebook has become the most popular social network in the inter- net among the young as well as the old. Even the companies are using Facebook to popoularaise their prod- ucts and services. Then what is Face- book? Read further. Internet Users can create profiles number of features with which users with photos, lists of personal inter- may interact. They include the Wall, ests, contact information, and other a space on every user's profile page personal information. Users can that allows friends to post messages communicate with friends and other for the user to see; Pokes, which al- users through private or public mes- lows users to send a virtual "poke" to sages and a chat feature. They can each other (a notification then tells a also create and join interest groups user that they have been poked); Pho- and "like pages" (formerly called "fan tos, where users can upload albums pages", until April 19, 2010), some of and photos; and Status, which allows which are maintained by organiza- users to inform their friends of their tions as a means of advertising. Mark Zuckerberg co- whereabouts and actions. Depending To allay concerns about privacy, created Facebook in his on privacy settings, anyone who can Facebook enables users to choose Harvard dorm room. see a user's profile can also view that their own privacy settings and choose who can user's Wall. In July 2007, Facebook began allow- see specific parts of their profile. The website is ing users to post attachments to the Wall, free to users, and gener- whereas the Wall was ates revenue from ad- Popularity previously limited to tex- vertising, such as ban- tual content only. ner ads. Facebook re- As of April 2010, according to The New York Times , On September 6, 2006, a quires a user's name countries with most Facebook users are the United News Feed was an- and profile picture (if States, the United Kingdom and Indonesia . Indone- nounced, which appears sia has become the country with the second largest applicable) to be acces- number of Facebook users, after the United States, on every user's home- sible by everyone. Users with 24 million users, or 10% of Indonesia's popula- page and highlights in- can control who sees tion. Also in early 2010, Openbook was established, formation including pro- other information they an avowed parody website (and privacy advocacy file changes, upcoming website) that enables text-based searches of those have shared, as well as Wall posts that are available to "Everyone", i.e. to events, and birthdays of who can find them in everyone on the Internet. the user's friends. This searches, through their enabled spammers and privacy settings. FallFall----outsouts other users to manipu- The media often com- late these features by pare Facebook to Writers for The Wall Street Journal found in 2010 creating illegitimate MySpace, but one sig- that Facebook apps were transmitting identifying events or posting fake information to "dozens of advertising and Internet nificant difference be- tracking companies". The apps used an HTTP refer- birthdays to attract at- tween the two websites rer which exposed the user's identity and sometimes tention to their profile or is the level of customi- their friends'. Facebook said, "We have taken imme- cause. Initially, the News zation. Another differ- diate action to disable all applications that violate Feed caused dissatisfac- ence is Facebook's re- our terms". tion among Facebook quirement that users give their true identity, a users; some complained it was too cluttered and demand that MySpace does not make. MySpace full of undesired information, while others were allows users to decorate their profiles using concerned it made it too easy for others to track HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), while individual activities (such as relationship status Facebook only allows plain text. Facebook has a changes, events, and conversations with other

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sponse, Zuckerberg issued an apology for the sends a notification to the friend site's failure to include appropriate customizable that they have been tagged, and privacy features. Since then, users have been provides them a link to see the able to control what types of information are photo. shared automatically with friends. Users are now Facebook Notes was introduced on able to prevent user-set categories of friends August 22, 2006, a blogging feature that allowed from seeing updates about certain types of ac- tags and embeddable images. Users were later tivities, including profile changes, Wall posts, able to import blogs from Xanga, LiveJournal, and newly added friends. Blogger, and other blogging services. During the On February 23, 2010, Facebook was granted a week of April 7, 2008, Facebook released a Comet-based instant messaging application called "Chat" to several networks, which allows users to communicate with friends and is similar in functionality to desktop-based instant mes- sengers. Facebook launched Gifts on February 8, 2007, which allows users to send virtual gifts to their friends that appear on the recipient's profile. Gifts cost $1.00 each to purchase, and a personal- ized message can be attached to each gift. On May 14, 2007, Facebook launched Marketplace, which lets users post free classified ads. Market- place has been compared to Craigslist by CNET, which points out that the major difference be- tween the two is that listings posted by a user on patent on certain aspects of its News Feed. The Marketplace are seen only by users in the same patent covers News Feeds in which links are pro- network as that user, vided so that one user can participate in the whereas listings posted on Craigslist can be seen same activity of another user. The patent may by any to develop. encourage Facebook to pursue action against On July 20, 2008, Facebook introduced websites that violate its patent, which may po- tentially include websites such as Twitter. One of the most popular applications on Face- book is the Photos application, where users can upload albums and photos. Facebook allows us- ers to upload an unlimited number of photos, compared with other image hosting services such as Photobucket and Flickr, which apply limits to the number of photos that a user is al- lowed to upload. During the first years, Face- book users were limited to 60 photos per album. As of May 2009, this limit has been increased to 200 photos per album. Privacy settings can be set for individual albums, limiting the groups of users that can see an al- "Facebook Beta", a significant redesign of its user bum. For example, the privacy of an album can interface on selected networks. The Mini-Feed be set so that only the user's friends can see the and Wall were consolidated, profiles were sepa- album, while the privacy of another album can rated into tabbed sections, and an effort was be set so that all Facebook users can see it. An- made to create a "cleaner" look. [97] After initially other feature of the Photos application is the giving users a choice to switch, Facebook began ability to "tag," or label, users in a photo. For in- migrating all users to the new version beginning stance, if a photo contains a user's friend, then in September 2008. On December 11, 2008, it was the user can tag the friend in the photo. This announced that Facebook was testing a simpler

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signup process. Research In Motion both provide On June 13, 2009, Facebook introduced a Facebook applications for their "Usernames" feature, whereby pages can be own mobile devices. More than linked with simpler URLs such as http:// 150 million active users access www.facebook.com/facebook as opposed to Facebook through mobile de- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php? vices across 200 mobile operators in 60 countries. USERS’ PRIDE On November 15, 2010, Facebook announced a new "Facebook Messages" service. In a media Facebook (stylized Facebook) is a social net- event that day, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, "It's working service and website launched in Febru- true that people will be able to have an ary 2004, operated and privately owned by Face- @facebook.com email addresses, but it's not book, Inc. As of January 2011, Facebook has more email." The launch of such a feature had been than 600 million active users. Users may create a personal profile, add other users as friends, and exchange messages, including automatic notifications when they update their profile. Additionally, users may join common interest user groups, organized by workplace, school or college, or other characteristics. The name of the service stems from the colloquial name for the book given to students at the start of the academic year by university administrations in the United States to help students get to know each other better. Facebook allows anyone who declares themselves to be at least 13 years old to become a registered user of the website. Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates and fellow computer sci- ence students Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Mosk- ovitz and Chris Hughes. The website's member- ship was initially limited by the founders to Harvard students, but was expanded to other colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. It gradually added support anticipated for some time before the announce- for students at various other universities before ment, with some calling it a "Gmail killer." The opening to high school students, and, finally, to anyone aged 13 and over. system, to be available to all of the website's us- A January 2009 Compete.com study ranked Face- ers, combines text messaging, instant messaging, book as the most used social networking service emails, and regular messages, and will include by worldwide monthly active users, followed by privacy settings similar to those of other Face- MySpace. Entertainment Weekly included the book services. Codenamed "Project Titan," Face- site on its end-of-the-decade "best-of" list, say- book Messages took 15 months to develop. ing, "How on earth did we stalk our exes, re- In February 2011, Facebook began to use the member our co-workers' birthdays, bug our hCalendar microformat to mark up events, and friends, and play a rousing game of Scrabulous the hCard microformat for the events' venues, before Facebook?" Quantcast estimates Face- enabling the extraction of details to users' own book has 135.1 million monthly unique U.S. visi- tors in October 2010. According to Social Media calendar or mapping applications. Today , in April 2010 an estimated 41.6% of the As of April 2011 Facebook users now have the U.S. population had a Facebook account. ability to make live voice calls via Facebook Chat allowing users to chat with others from all over id=20531316728. Many new smartphones offer the world. This feature which is provided free access to the Facebook services either through through T-Mobile's new Bobsled service lets the their web-browsers or applications. An official user add voice to the current Facebook Chat as Facebook application is available for the iPhone well as leave voice messages on Facebook.. OS, the Android OS, and the WebOS. Nokia and

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Dance in India covers a wide range of dance and dance theatre forms, from the Hindi films ancient classical or temple dance to folk and mod- Dance in early Hindi films, was primarily modelled ern styles. on classical Indian dance styles and particularly Three best-known hindu deities, , Kali and those of historic northern Indian courtesans Krishna, are typically represented dancing. There (tawaif), or folk dances. Modern films often blend are hundreds of Indian folk dances such as Bhan- this earlier style with Western dance styles (MTV gra, Bihu, Ghumura Dance, Sambalpuri, Chhau or in Broadway musicals), though it is not unusual and Garba and special dances observed in regional to see festivals. Western I n d i a pop and offers a adapted number classical of classi- d a n c e cal In- numbers d i a n side by d a n c e side in forms, the same each of film. The which hero or can be heroine traced to different parts of the country. The pres- will often perform with a troupe of supporting entation of Indian dance styles in film, Hindi Cin- dancers. Many song-and-dance routines in Indian ema, has exposed the range of dance in India to a films feature unrealistically instantaneous shifts of global audience. location and/or changes of costume between Classical Indian dance verses of a song. If the hero and heroine dance and Each form represents the culture and ethos of a sing a pas de deux (a French ballet term, meaning particular region or a "dance of two") often group of people. The cri- staged in beautiful natu- teria for being considered ral surroundings or archi- as classical is the style's tecturally grand settings, adherence to the guide- referred to as a lines laid down in Natya- "picturisation". by the sage Indian films have always Bharata Muni, which ex- used what are now called plains the Indian art of "item numbers". A physi- acting. Acting or natya is cally attractive female a broad concept which character (the "item encompasses both drama girl"), often completely and dance. unrelated to the main Indian classical dance is a cast and plot of the film, misnomer, as actually performs a catchy song dance refers to natya , the sacred Hindu musical and dance number in the film. In older films, the theatre styles. Its theory can be traced back to the "item number" may be performed by a courtesan Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni (400 BC). The San- (tawaif) dancing for a rich client or as part of a geet Natak Akademi currently confers classical cabaret show. The dancer Helen was famous for status on eight "dance" forms: [citation needed ] her cabaret numbers. In modern films, item num- Those who worship Vishnu are considered bers may be inserted as discotheque sequences, Vaishnavas. The dance style performed by Sri dancing at celebrations, or as stage shows. Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) and the gopis in Indian producers now release music videos, usually is called -lila, and is considered as a featuring a song from the film. However, some form of devotional dance. Many other Indian clas- promotional videos feature a song which is not sical dances are used to illustrate events from the included in the movie. Puranas related to or describing Vishnu.

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BALANCEBALANCE SHEETSHEET OFOF LIFELIFE ARE YOU RICH? When I was a kid in Minnesota, water- melon was a delicacy. One of my father’s buddies, Bernie, was a prosperous fruit– and–vegetable wholesaler, who operated a warehouse in St. Paul. Every summer, when the first watermelons rolled in, Bernie would call. Dad and I would go to Bernie’s warehouse and take up our positions. We’d sit on the edge of the dock, feet dangling, and lean over, Our Birth is our Opening Balance! minimizing the volume of juice we were about to spill on ourselves. Our Death is our Closing Balance! Bernie would take his machete, crack our first Our Prejudiced Views are our Liabili- watermelon, hand us both a big piece and sit ties down next to us. Then we’d bury our faces in Our Creative Ideas are our Assets watermelon, eating only the heart – the red- dest, juiciest, firmest, most seed–free, most Heart is our Current Asset perfect part – and throw away the rest. Bernie was my father’s idea of a rich man. I always Soul is our Fixed Asset thought it was because he was such a success- Brain is our Fixed Deposit ful businessman. Years later, I realized that Thinking is our Current Account what my father admired about Bernie’s wealth was less its substance than its application. Achievements are our Capital Bernie knew how to stop working, get together Character & Morals, our Stock-in- with friends and eat only the heart of the wa- termelon. Trade What I learned from Bernie is that being rich Friends are our General Reserves is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how Values & Behavior are our Goodwill much money we have, will never be free enough to eat only the heart of the water- Patience is our Interest Earned melon. Others are rich without ever being Love is our Dividend more than a paycheck ahead. If you don’t take the time to dangle your feet Children are our Bonus Issues over the dock and chomp into life's small Education is Brands / Patents pleasures, your career is probably overwhelm- ing your life. Knowledge is our Investment For many years, I forgot that lesson I’d learned Experience is our Premium Account as a kid on the loading dock. I was too busy The Aim is to Tally the Balance Sheet making all the money I could. Well, I’ve relearned it. I hope I have time left Accurately. to enjoy the accomplishments of others and to The Goal is to get the Best Presented take pleasure in the day. That’s the heart of Accounts Award. the watermelon. I have learned again to throw the rest away. Contributed by Shri GA SIRWANI Contributed by Shri Hrishikesh Apte

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BloodBlood PressurePressure

The force applied by circulating blood on the walls of the blood pressure level up to normal. blood vessels is known as blood pressure. The most • After exercising, take some time out to cool common blood pressure values for a healthy adult down. A sudden stoppage in the middle of an human are approximately 120 mmHg systolic and 80 exercise routine can lead to a fall in blood pres- mmHg diastolic. However, normal blood pressure sure. varies from person to person. In some people, the • Salt is good for people with low blood pressure. blood pressure levels fluctuate widely, either rising or Increase in salt consumption may vary from per- falling to abnormal levels. As this may lead to other son to person. health problems such as heart disease, it is important • to always keep blood pressure under control. Drinking alcoholic beverages is harmful to people with a low blood pressure condition. Such indi- PREVENTION IS POWERFUL viduals should drink healthy juices or non- One third of all the cancers can be avoided by alcoholic drinks only. preventing tobacco, increasing activity levels Before undertaking any of the above steps, re- and decreasing the fat in the diet. member to first consult your doctor. High blood pressure usually develops due to faulty lifestyle, obesity, sedentariness and less http://india.gov.in/citizen/health/ of fruits & vegetables and excess of refined foods, processed foods and salt. High blood pressure is thus preventable to a large extent. How can I control my blood pressure We should aim to promote the healthy behav- iours throughout the life course. This approach without medicines? combines health promotion, disease prevention 1 Non-pharmacologic therapy for high blood pressure is significant in the management of high and disease management. We should reinforce blood pressure. In most cases, drugs are not neces- healthy behaviours which already exist in our sary and lifestyle changes, followed religiously, can society & prevent changing to unhealthy behav- be adequate to bring the blood pressure to target iours. We should also help people revert back levels. In others, medicines may be required, but from unhealthy to healthy behaviours. the dose of the medicines required will be much less with better blood pressure control, when com- bined with rigorous lifestyle measures. Some common steps to reduce high blood pres- sure are: 2 Weight reduction: if you are overweight then you must lose weight. Calculate your BMI and also measure your waist. • Stop smoking 3 Diet plan - Restrict your calories as soon as • Keep your body weight at a healthy level. the pointer goes there, calculate the calories which • Follow a healthy diet, stressing on fruits, vegeta- you need to consume each day so that you take bles and low fat dairy foods only as many calories are required. Include a vari- • Get involved in some physical activity. ety of fresh fruits and vegetables , include nuts • Consume alcoholic drinks in moderation. in your diet and switch from refined grain foods to Some common tips to prevent low blood pressure whole grains and whole pulses and the diet are: should be low on saturated fats and total fats. You can achieve 8-14 mm of Hg reduction in blood • pressure through this diet. Dehydration minimizes blood volume, which Restrict salty foods . Your total salt intake in a day causes a drop in pressure. Hence, drink plenty of should not exceed 5 grams (approx 1 teaspoon). water. Don't put extra salt in the salad & foods on the • Go for a walk after meals. This helps in bringing table.

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I cursed the day. Today is one of the worst days in my life, I thought. Every thing I am doing today lead me into trouble. To start with, I had an awful fight with my wife in the morning. Reason... who knows... as CRIME STORY usual. I thought I should have controlled my tongue. I did not take breakfast, not even a glass of water...... That hurt me a lot later. ……. I went to office... I was late as usual... I knew WWWWhat…? Manager was fuming, I could see the smoke ……... coming out of his cabin...ha... ha... What to “I am on my way... I will reach there by mid- do? He waved his hand signaling me to night” come inside his cabin. ***** “Don’t worry Raj... late is our birth right,” My village was a remote one. After 9.00 PM, commented Rizwani, smiling at me. no one can reach my Village. But I had to go at any cost. The bus dropped me at 10.00 PM Sebastian Selvaraj in a nearby city. I thought I might get a transport... a jeep... at least a bullock cart... I entered the Cabin only to find his smiling No way... I cursed the Politicians who always face... promised us light, road, transport, water Good Morning Sir... etc., once in five years from when I was five Bad Morning dear... you are fired... collect years old. your cheque... get lost... Even an Earthquake followed by Tsunami I can’t wait till morning; hence, I decided to would not have given me this Jerk... walk. The thought of walking 10 long Kilo- But I was a short tempered man. I may meters to reach my home gave me a shiver. starve and die but I will not tolerate this. I I cursed myself for not getting a drink... had my self belief; I knew I can get a brand Crap... I started walking. new job. Hell with this one... especially with this idiot... “Thanks,” I said, banged the door and went out of the office like a vampire amid stares behind my back. ***** When I got up from the shadow of a tree in the Park, it was evening 6.00 PM. The four large I had taken in the afternoon was disap- peared. My head was aching. I wondered what next? I hate to go home either... Since I knew the place very well, I had no My mobile rang. I saw the number, it was a problem. After around 5 Kilometers, I new one. Wondering who the hell it would looked at my watch... It said... 11.45 PM. I be... I said “hello.” I could scarcely recognize knew the other three Kilometers is a difficult my voice... it was rough... one... where I had to cross even a Graveyard.

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FOOD PRICES SOAR Just three years after the 200708 food crisis, the food security of poor people and vulnerable groups, especially women and children, is again threatened as the prices of basic food items increase rapidly and become more volatile. Expanding biofuel production, rising oil prices, U.S. dollar depreciation, export re strictions, and panicparticular detriment of the world’s poorest consumers, who spend some 5070 percent of their incomes on food. While global food prices dropped slightly in March, they remain 37 percent higher than they were one year ago. Research shows that when food prices change quickly, as they continue to do at present, poverty increases in the vast majority of cases. High food in flation is affecting not only small The thought of crossing a Graveyard at mid- countries but also night gave me a feeling of chill crawl up my those with large numbers of poor spine. people such as ***** India, China, and When I neared the Graveyard, it was mid- Indonesia. For night 12 O clock. Faint smoke of a burnt example, food in flation rose to 10 body gave me a sweat. I had a look around. percent in China and 18 percent in India between No one could be seen. The place looked December 2009 and December 2010. It is often said dark & deserted. Even during the day no that poor agricultural producers benefit from higher food prices through higher incomes, but this is only one dare to cross the place alone. That too possible if they are net sellers of food and if their in in the night, even a ghost would not dare to put costs do not also rise. In recent years, however, be there alone. I thought of running. But the cost of inputs such as fertilizer and transport has told myself to stay calm. I started a brisk also been high and volatile. Increasing costs, coupled with the uncertainty that stems from excessive price walk. The abnormal sound of my own feet volatility in input and output markets, can reduce increased my sweat. I heard the howling farmers’ profit margins, distort longterm planning, sound of a dog somewhere. Now I was and dampen investment in improved productivity. scared. Scarred enough to run... So I ran fast Decisive action is needed to prevent recurring food crises. Given the complex web of factors affecting so as to cross the graveyard as soon as possi- global food security, governments and international ble. Suddenly, I heard a hissing sound be- organizations must adopt a comprehensive approach. hind my back for the first time as if some Such an approach should incorporate seven principal elements. purchasing are again driving up food one following me right behind my ear. My prices—to the entire body felt shiver. I came to a grinding 1. Effective policies and technology investments to halt and slowly I looked behind. minimize food–fuel competition. No one was there… I did not want to stand 2. Social protection, especially social safety nets, for the most vulnerable groups. any more. I started running again. I heard 3. Transparent, fair, and open global trade. the hissing sound again and again at my 4. A global emergency physical grain reserve. back. I ran faster… the sound followed me… 5. Policies and investments to promote agricultural growth, in particular smallholder productivity, in the I turned again and saw what that was… I saw face of climate change. a white smoke… a pure white smoke… I fell 6. Investments by national governments in climate down… change adaptation and mitigation using the full poten ***** tial that agriculture offers. 7. An international working group to regularly monitor the world food situation and trigger action to prevent Narsi... That is how he was called. Narasim- excessive price volatility. han- a local politician. He was on his way to Apr 28, 2011 by S. Gustafson town in his bike. Suddenly he spotted a per- Courtesy: foodsecurityportal.org son lying near a well which was covered with

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bushes hiding the deep water. He looked around. That place was deserted. He came ***** closer to the well. Stopped the vehicle and When I regained consciousness, I was still had a look at the person lying near the well. lying near the Graveyard. I looked at my He was shocked to find Raj on that pose. He watch. It was 10.00 AM. The place still did not expect that Raj who was working in a looked deserted. The sunshine gave me multinational company in city to lie near the courage. Last night horror came to my well that too in this condition. He went mind. What a horrible experience it was! I near him. He placed his hands near his was unconscious for the past 10 Hrs. My god! I got to my feet and somehow reached home. There, I was very pleased to see my mother, who was seriously ill yesterday, sat in the arm chair. I went near her and upon seeing me she hugged tightly with profound affection. The maternal hug offered me the much needed soothe. I sobbed and softly kissed on her forehead.

***** Next day’s local news paper read: Mystery killings Nov. 12. Narasimhan, a local politician, was found dead in the Deadly Well together with his Motor Cycle. It is not known whether he Committed Suicide or was murdered. The readers may recall that last week the bodies nose. There was breath. He was happy to of Ragini & Rajesh, local love birds, were note that Raj was alive. He tried to wake found in the same well in a mutilated condi- him up. tion. Postmortem report later revealed that Raj... wake up... what happened? Rajesh was assaulted and Ragini was raped. Raj opened his eyes and saw Narsi... there Inspector Vijay told reporters that the police was anger in his eyes. Narsi did not expect suspected a link between the two incidents this. He asked Raj again. What happened, and further investigating the case. Raj? Why you are sleeping here? Raj was on his feet now. He had an un- ***** friendly look at Narsi... After attending the funeral of one of my old Narsi... Did you think I will not come back? friends, a local politician, who committed You should not have done this to us. You do suicide or was killed... I went back to my city not deserve to be here. Come to our world. in two days. My wife was very joyful to see Narsi... could not understand a word in it. me back after two days. She fervently “What are you talking about?” hugged me and said, “Sorry, Honey... I will Without answering his query, he pushed never pick up a fight with you”. I tenderly him very hard into the well. kissed her on her forehead, saying “That’s all Totally unexpected of this, Narsi fell inside right, sweet heart.” the well which was covered in bush. He The end. never came back later. Raj was looking into the well. Feeling satis- fied came near the Bike and pushed it into Mr. Sebastian Selvaraj can be contacted at [email protected] the well and walked away.

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kitchen counter, modeling her newest shop- Do you believe ping, chattering endlessly, while I added that each day tarka to her favorite dal , was going to be with us all our lives. promises a I am reading ‘When life changed forever ‘ the fresh beginning? author says, life was not meant to be pre- dictable or planned, anything might change This morning I woke up with a horrible feel- at any moment. And that the death of a ing in the pit of my stomach. Still not fully awake, I lay wondering what caused it. My DID YOU KNOW THAT ? mind, unbelievably, still in our life before Aug 2010. And then I realized (or woke up fully). Tejaswee. I tried to think what made this morning more difficult than other

child changes the parents forever. Accept- ing that we will never be what we were, might make it easier to live with our changed selves. I am realizing that some of the changes are subtle. Some changes come slowly as the realization sinks in. Maybe some of the changes are reversible. But this much is true, now we have two lives, our life before Aug 11, 2010 and this life after Aug 11, mornings, and then I knew. 2010.

I had opened Tejaswee’s laptop for the first Ricky Taylor says, “Our friends and family, and we ourselves, wanted us to get back Indian Homemaker to ‘normal’. But ‘normal’ had been fiendishly changed…. time yesterday. It look a long time and many tries before I could remember the password. But it also became very obvious to us that There was nothing new on her laptop actu- what he had thought of as ‘normal’ was ally, except that it was hers. Most of yester- phantom. It existed only in our minds. The day was spent going through photographs reality was that each day promises a fresh and videos not seen for a long time. beginning…” ‘The reality was that each day promises a And hearing her voice after months. fresh beginning.. .’ I don’t know how to see that. Sounds posi- Here she is with her favorite turquoise tive if one didn’t consider what one has lost. bracelet , also seen in the header and on the sidebar. Do you believe that each day promises a How easy it was to take for granted on 12th fresh beginning? October 2009 that the child who sat on the Cortesy:

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Middle -Class Middle -Class ? Bane or Boon? The middle class is any class of people in the Bane or Boon? middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the The assertion of the social activist Arundhati broad group of people in contemporary society Roy that corruption was presented as a moral who fall socio-economically between the work- issue rather than a political one to Hazare's ing class and upper class . supporters who thronged Jantar Mantar, can- The common measures of what constitutes mid- not be brushed below the carpet merely be- dle class vary significantly between cultures. In cause she suffers from LSS (Limelight Seeking urban India , for example, a family is considered Syndrome). The fast-unto-Death undertaken middle class if it resides in an owner-occupied by Anna Hazare has touched the nerves of the property. In the United States, many families people unlike never before. But the people where the primary income-earner is employed have a holier-than-though attitude in fighting in a blue collar job consider themselves middle corruption. It is like my-small-corruption is class, when in fact they are working class by the less serious than your-big-corruption attitude. classic Weberian definition. Unless the citizens make deliberate attempts In the United Kingdom , the term middle class to clean the society of the gangrene of corrup- implies those people who typically have had a tion, the rot will continue. The Lokpal can aid good education, own a family house, and hold a and restrict the menace only in a limited way. managerial or professional post. Those holding a The neo-liberalism has unleashed hidden po- senior role in a profession or ownership/ tentials to tap the hidden resources for looting directorship of a corporation may be regarded as the public assets unprecedentedly and self- upper middle class, but in England this is as aggrandisement. She is right in saying that it much dependent on background and education. The upper class is generally regarded as the aris- is the middle class which benefitted the most tocracy and landed gentry; very rich financiers from the liberalisation and globalisation. The buy country estates in order to qualify. It was commonly held that to join the landed gentry Bichu Muttathara required a distance of least three generations from the time at which money was made very same middle class does not spare any (especially if through trade) and that those en- chance to hijack any social campaign and to tering into its rank acquired the manners and demonstrate its desire to be a part of the mores of those already established. agenda to espouse and/or championing the • A persistent source of confusion surround- cause célèbre. This may be due to the middle- ing the term "middle class" derives predomi- class guilty conscience and upward mobility to nantly from there being no set criteria for stay afloat in the social order. For example, the such a definition. From an economic per- middle class was always in the frontline in spective, for example, members of the mid- such burning issues as Mandal Agitation, Lok- dle class do not necessarily fall in the middle pal Campaign, etc, though both are for differ- of a society's income distribution. Instead, ing arenas. AT the same time, the middle class middle class salaries tend to be determined would like to have the cake and eat it too, i.e. by middle class occupations, which in turn they would like to reap the benefits of the eco- are attained by means of middle class values. nomic liberalisation and at the same time Thus, individuals who might fall in the mid- would like to be seen as championing the so- dle ground on a societal hierarchy as defined cial causes. One day they would hail DR MMS, by sociologists do not necessarily fall into a the PM, very other day they have no com- middle ground on an economic hierarchy as punctions in pelting stones at him mercilessly. defined by economists. As a result, intuitive This is the most ironical situation in today’s colloquial and journalistic usage of the term social campaigns. casts a wide net and does not necessarily coincide with an academic sociological or economic definition.

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users).

The Falkland Islands its apparent lack of fear of people. In Wolf (Dusicyon aus- When Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1833 he tralis ), also known as named the species Canis antarcticus and described it the Warrah and occa- as common and tame. However, at the time of his sionally as the Falkland Islands Dog , Falkland Is- visit the animal was confined to West Falkland and lands Fox or Antarctic Wolf , was the only native its numbers were in massive decline. He predicted land mammal of the Falkland Islands. This endemic that the animal would join the Dodo among the ex- canid became extinct in 1876 (on West Falkland is- tinct within "a very few years." The settlers regarded land), the first known canid to the wolf as a threat to their have gone extinct in historical sheep and organised poisoning times. It was the only modern and shooting on a massive species in the genus Dusicyon . scale. The absence of forests Original research supposed that led to the speedy success of the the most closely related genus is extermination campaign. This Lycalopex , including the Culpeo was facilitated by the animal's and his domestic forms (perro tameness, as is common in in- fueguino, perro yagán), which sular species due to the ab- itself has been introduced to the sence of predators - trappers Falkland Islands in modern would lure the animal with a times. But 2009 research con- chunk of meat held in one ducted by a scientific team di- hand, and kill it with a knife or rected by Graham J. Slater, a stick held in the other. How- post-doctoral researcher at the ever, it would defend itself oc- University of California, Los An- casionally if it needed to, as geles, confirmed that the Falk- Admiral George Grey noted land Island wolf's closest living relative is actually the when they landed on West Falkland at Port Edgar Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus ) - an unusually (Falkland Islands) on December 17, 1836 - long-legged, fox-like South American canid, from "I landed in the creek and had hardly put a foot on which it separated about 6.7 million years ago. It was shore, when one of the foxes of the country was known from both West and East Falkland, but it is chased by Pilot. I ran up as they were fighting and unknown if the varieties were much differentiated. came to the poor dog's assistance who had nearly met The fur of the Falkland Islands Wolf had a tawny col- his match, and a rifle ball soon settled the business, our. The tip of the tail was white. The diet is un- but the Pilot had received a terrible bite in the leg." known. Due to the absence of na- A live wolf was taken to London tive rodents on the Falklands, its Zoo, England in 1868 , but survived diet probably consisted of ground- only a few years. In 1880 , post- nesting birds such as geese and extinction, Thomas Huxley classi- penguins, grubs and insects, as fied it as related to the Coyote . In well as seashore scavenging.[4] It 1914, Oldfield Thomas moved it was sometimes said to have dwelt into the genus Dusicyon , with the in burrows Culpeo and other South American The first recorded sighting was by foxes. (These other canids have Capt. John Strong in 1692 . Captain since been removed to Lycalopex .) Strong took one of the animals on Current researchers in 2009 , also his ship, but during the voyage back to Europe the found that the four Falklands wolf samples that they creature became frightened by the firing of the ship’s examined shared a common ancestor at least 70,000 cannon and jumped overboard. Louis Antoine de years ago, which suggests that they arrived on the Bougainville , who established the first settlement in Falkland islands before the end of the last ice age and the Falkland Islands termed it a loup-renard ("fox - before humans ever made it into the New World wolf "). The name "warrah" is a corruption of the term (Graham J. Slater et al. 2009. aguará (meaning "fox" in Guaraní , a Native American Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ language ), because of its similarity with the Maned Wolf ("aguará guazú"). The warrah's Latin name translates into 'foolish dog of the south,' because of Mind ---Tree , May 2011 262626

re-

rado, New Mexico, and Alaska), Canada (Quebec and British Columbia), China, Japan, and Korea. Polyozellus is a fungal The disjunct distribution of genus in the family Thele- this species in North Amer- phoraceae, a grouping of ica and East Asia has been mushrooms known collec- noted to occur in a number tively as the leathery of other fungal species as earthfans. A monotypic well. Polyozellus multiplex genus, it contains the sin- is also found in the Queen gle species Polyozellus Charlotte Islands, where it multiplex , first described is commercially harvested in 1899, and commonly Edibility known as the blue chan- Polyozellus multiplex is edi- terelle , the clustered ble, and is collected for sale blue chanterelle , or, in in Asian countries such as Alaska, the black chante- Korea, Japan, and China. In relle . The distinctive fruit North America, it is some- body of this species com- times collected recreation- prises blue- to purple- ally, and commercially. The taste is described as mild, colored clusters of vase- or spoon-shaped caps with and the odor as mild or aromatic. Mycologist David veiny wrinkles on the undersurface that run down the Arora claims the flavor to be inferior to Craterellus . length of the stem. Fruit bodies may be preserved by drying. Polyozellus has had a varied taxonomic history and has been reclassified several times at both the family Bioactive compounds and genus level. The range of Polyozellus includes The compound polyozellin—a chemical which can be North America and eastern Asia, where P. multiplex isolated and purified from P. multiplex —inhibits pro- may be found growing on the ground in coniferous lyl endopeptidase (PEP), an enzyme that has a role in forests, usually under spruce and fir trees. It is an edi- processing proteins (specifically, amyloid precursor ble species, and has been harvested for commercial protein) in Alzheimer's disease. Chemicals that in- purposes. Polyozellus multiplex contains the bioactive hibit PEP have attracted research interest due to their compound polyozellin, shown to have various physio- potential therapeutic effects. Further analyses of ex- logical prop- tracts from P. multiplex revealed similar dibenzofu- erties, in- ranyl derivatives of polyozellin, each with different cluding sup- chemical properties, including kynapcin-12, kynapcin- pressive ef- 13 and -28, and -24. A total synthesis of kynapcin-24 fects on was achieved in 2009. stomach Antitumor properties cancer. Research conducted in 2003 suggests that extracts Polyozellus from Polyozellus multiplex may have suppressive ef- multiplex is fects on stomach cancer.The study showed that feed- an ectomy- ing a low concentration (0.5% or 1%) of the mush- c o r r h i z a l room extract enhanced the activities of the enzymes species, meaning that the hyphae of the fungus grow glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase, in a mutualistic association with the roots of plants, and increased the abundance of the molecule glu- but the fungal hyphae generally do not penetrate the tathione. The extract also augmented the expression cells of the plant's roots. The species grows in conifer- of the protein. All of these substances protect the hu- ous woods under spruce and fir, and more frequently man organism against cancer. Additional studies re- at higher elevations. It is most often encountered in ported in 2004 and 2006 attribute the anti-tumor summer and fall. properties to polyozellin. This species is northern and alpine in distribution, Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ and rarely encountered. Collections have been made in the United States (including Maine, Oregon, Colo-

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Sports Pilavullakandi Thek- press. Currently she keparambil Usha (((born June 27, runs the Usha School of Athletics at Koy- 1964), popularly known as P. ilandy in Kerala. T . Usha, is an Indian athlete from the P. T. Usha was born in state of Kerala. P. T. Usha has been asso- the village of Payyoli, ciated with Indian athletics since 1979. Kozhikode District, Kerala. In 1976 the Athletics Kerala State Govern- It is a collection of sporting events that in- ment started a Sports volve competitive running, jumping, throw- School for women, ing, and walking. The most common types and Usha was chosen to represent her of athletics competitions are track and district. field, road running, cross country running, In 1979 she participated in the National School Games, where she was noticed by O. M. Nambiar, who coached her through- out her career. Her debut in the 1980 Moscow Olympics proved lacklustre. In the 1982 Asiad, she got silver medal in the 100 m and the 200 m, but at the Asian Track and Field Championship in Kuwait a year later, Usha took gold in the 400 m with a new Asian record. Between 1983-89, Usha garnered 13 golds at ATF meets. She finished first in the semi-finals of the 400 metres hurdles in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, but faltered in the fi- nals. In almost a repeat of Milkha Singh's 1960 feat, there was a nail-biting photo finish for the third place. Usha lost the bronze by 1/100th of a second. She be- came the first Indian woman (and the fifth Indian) to reach the final of an Olym- pic event by winning her 400 m hurdles and race walking. The simplicity of the Semi-final. competitions, and the lack of a need for ex- In the 10th Asian Games held at Seoul in pensive equipment, makes athletics one of 1986, P. T. Usha won 4 gold and 1 silver the most commonly competed sports in the medal in the track and field events. Here world. she created new Asian Games records in Organised athletics are traced back to the all the events she participated.She won Ancient Olympic Games from 776 BC, and five golds at the 6th Asian Track and Field most modern events are conducted by the Championship at Jakarta in 1985. Her six member clubs of the International Associa- medals at the same meet is a record for a tion of Athletics Federations. The athletics single athlete in a single international meeting forms the backbone of the modern meet. Summer Olympics, and other leading inter- Usha has won 101 international medals national meetings so far. She is employed as an officer in the Southern Railways. In 1985, she was con- She is regarded as one of the greatest ferred the Padma Shri and the athletes India has ever produced and is award. often called the "queen of Indian track Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org and field". She is nicknamed Payyoli Ex-

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In most countries, Mother's Day is a recent MOTHERS’ DAY observance derived from the holiday as it has evolved in America. When it was THE MODERN MOTHER 'S DAY IS CELEBRATED adopted by other countries and cultures, it ON VARIOUS DAYS IN was given different MANY PARTS OF THE meanings, associated WORLD , YET MOST to different events COMMONLY IN MARCH , (religious, historical APRIL , OR MAY AS A or legendary), and DAY TO HONOR MOTH- celebrated in a differ- ERS AND MOTHER- ent date or dates. HOOD . Some countries al- FATHER 'S DAY IS THE ready had existing CORRESPONDING DAY celebrations honoring FOR FATHERS AND FA- wikimedia.org motherhood, and THERHOOD . their celebrations CELEBRATIONS OF MOTHERS have adopted several exter- AND MOTHERHOOD OCCUR nal characteristics from the THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ; US holiday, like giving car- MANY OF THESE CAN BE nations and other presents TRACED BACK TO ANCIENT FES- to your own mother. TIVALS , LIKE THE GREEK CULT The extent of the celebra- TO CYBELE OR THE ROMAN tions varies greatly. In some FESTIVAL OF HILARIA . T HE countries, it is potentially MODERN US-CELEBRATION OF offensive to one's mother MOTHER 'S DAY IS NOT DI- not to mark Mother's Day. RECTLY RELATED TO THESE . In others, it is a little-known festival celebrated mainly by Modern antecedents immigrants, or covered by One of the early calls to the media as a taste of for- celebrate a Mother's Day in wikimedia.org eign culture (compare the the United States was the celebrations of Diwali in the "Mother's Day Proclamation" by Julia Ward UK and the United States). Howe. Written in 1870, it was a pacifist reac- India tion to the carnage of the American Civil Mother's Day is celebrated on the second War and the Franco-Prussian War. The Sunday of May. It is quite famous in urban Proclamation was tied to Howe's feminist areas, where gift giving to mothers is ob- belief that women had a responsibility to served. shape their societies at the political level. The festival of Pâthâre Prabhu is celebrated International Women's Day was celebrated on the same day only in Mumbai (previously for the first time in 28 February 1909, in the Bombay), the Southern part of India US, by which time Anna Jarvis had already (concretely Konkan and the districts below begun her national campaign in the US. It is the Western Ghats). The Pathare prabhu now celebrated in many countries on March caste always celebrates this holiday.It is 8. based on a legend about a mother whose children kept dying after only one year of International history and tradi- living and it has a very remote origin. Al- tions though it's also called "Mother's Day", it is unrelated to the modern celebration and is Mind ---Tree , May 2011 292929

celebrated in the whole country. ing what she saw as an abuse of the celebra- tion. Commercialization Later commercial and other exploitations of Nine years after the first official United the use of Mother's Day infuriated Jarvis and States Mother's Day, commercialization of she made her criticisms explicitly known the rest of her life. She criticized the practice of purchasing greeting cards, which she saw as Terrorism a sign of being too lazy to write a personal Terrorism is the systematic use of terror espe- letter. She was arrested in 1948 for disturb- cially as a means of coercion. At present, there is ing the peace while protesting against the no internationally agreed definition of terrorism. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to commercialization of Mother's Day, and she those violent acts which are intended to create finally said that she "wished she would have fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological never started the day because it became so goal (as opposed to a lone attack), and deliber- out of control ...". ately target or disregard the safety of non- Mother's Day continues to be one of the combatants. Some definitions also include acts most commercially successful U.S. occa- of unlawful violence and war. The history of ter- rorist organizations suggests that they do not se- lect terrorism for its political effectiveness. Indi- vidual terrorists tend to be motivated more by a desire for social solidarity with other members of their organization than by political platforms or strategic objectives, which are often murky and undefined. The word "terrorism" is politi- cally and emotionally charged, and this greatly compounds the difficulty of providing a precise definition. Studies have found over 100 defini- tions of “terrorism”. The concept of terrorism is freedigitalphotos.net itself controversial because it is often used by states to delegitimize political or foreign oppo- sions. According to the National Restaurant nents, and potentially legitimize the state's own Association, Mother's Day is now the most use of terror against them. A less politically and popular day of the year to dine out at a res- emotionally charged, and better defined, term (used not only for terrorists, and not including all taurant in the United States. those who have been described as terrorists) is For example, according to IBISWorld, a pub- violent non-state actor. Terrorism has been prac- lisher of business research, Americans will ticed by a broad array of political organizations spend approximately $2.6 billion on flowers, for furthering their objectives. It has been prac- $1.53 billion on pampering gifts—like spa ticed by both right-wing and left-wing political treatments—and another $68 million on parties, nationalistic groups, religious groups, greeting cards. revolutionaries, and ruling governments. One Mother's Day will generate about 7.8% of the form is the use of violence against noncombat- U.S. jewelry industry's annual revenue in ants for the purpose of gaining publicity for a 2008, with custom gifts like mother's rings. group, cause, or individual. It's possible that the holiday would have Courtesy: Wikipedia withered over time without the support and continuous promotion of the florist indus- tries and other commercial industries. Other the holiday became so rampant that Anna Protestant holidays from the same time, like Jarvis herself became a major opponent of Children's Day and Temperance Sunday, do what the holiday had become and spent all not have the same her inheritance and the rest of her life fight- level of popularity. Courtesy: Wikipedia

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