NARA'S DIGEST

LEARN FROM OTHERS

It was when I traveled from Chennai to Coimbatore by AC chair car, I noticed an young gentleman, elegantly dressed in a tee and jeans. He was using lap top.

He did not make a ‘small talk’ with his co-passenger sitting by his side.

I was observing him curiously.

Mostly I do observe people when I travel by train or air.

It is an interesting hobby. Some of these people are worth watching and others are not. We can learn many things from such men and women.

Their behaviour, attitude and way of conversation, movement etc., are worth watching.

It’s a time pass for me, at the same time a learning something new.

Yes, the gentleman I was watching pulled out some eatables from a polythene bag which produced a cracky noise.

The eatables were not the ones I expected.

But, they were a bar of chocolate, some nuts and an orange fruit.

He started eating them one by one not in a haste; while others were ordering for masal dosa, vada, somosa, palampuri etc.,

What a contrast in food habit?

Without messing up he completed his eating neatly and took out a bottle of water and drank half the bottle and went back to his lap top.

I tried to learn something from this gentleman, although I am a 70-year old man.

One thing I could understand was that do not get your eatables from railway canteen which are generally not hygienic.

He did not disturb his co-passenger.

The most important thing was his eatables.

He ate chocolate, nuts and orange fruit!

I was thinking about these three items.

Generally I do find very few people who eat such sophisticated food.

I was thinking about it even when I arrived home.

I used to read for an hour before going to bed.

I took one of the reports which I received on that day by post.

The report was on food nutrition. There was a chapter on ‘Chocolate is good for your brain’

I got more interested in going through this chapter first.

The opening sentence of the chapter was:

“Scientists, speaking at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco, presented results from early studies testing the effects on the brain of flavanols, an ingredient found in cocoa from which chocolates are made.”

So chocolate has benefits for the brain.

The report also said that flavanol content of chocolate helps the health of heart.

Similarly the nuts are supposed to bring down the cholesterols and they are good source of manganese, a trace element required for human nutrition.

Orange is rich source for vitamin C which is considered to be one of the best nutrients for health.

Now I could fully understand the advantages of the food habit of the gentleman whom I saw in the train.

My wife brought a cup of hot drink which happened to be chocolate in stead of tea or coffee.

01:32 - Sun 15 Apr 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

GLOBAL POPULATION AND GLOBAL WARMING

Babies are born in every minute everywhere in the world.

Similarly people die.

Such beginnings and ends are continuously happening.

Birth of babies is a happy news because we gain someone in the family whereas death is a sad thing because we lose someone dear to us.

Death can occur in many ways. It may be due to fatal diseases, old age, accidents, natural calamities and many other reasons.

But birth occurs only one way. It’s simple, by fusion of a sperm with an ovum. No other way the natural birth occurs in human beings.

The rate of birth is being controlled in many populated countries by suitable control measures.

Demographers keep an account of the global population growth.

Because of medical support the number of death is coming down day by day.

People are able to live healthy for more years, due to better living conditions, healthy food and body care.

Most of the diseases are either controlled or cured or prevented by appropriate medical care.

Attempts are going on to prevent accidents too. People take precautionary measures to save their precious life.

Thus the global population is growing because of birth of babies and extension of human life.

Some countries are not able to arrive at a balance to keep the population at a desired level.

China and India are the countries which badly require such a measure.

Many developed countries have regulated their population to a critical level.

People help the governments by curtailing the family size.

Control of global population is as important as global warming about which we hear so much nowadays.

Even with significant reductions in birth rate the global population is expected to increase from 6.7 billion now to 9.2 billion by 2050.

The underlying fact is that more people use more resources and create more pollution.

Therefore, the growing global population has a greater impact on global warming!

07:07 - Thu 12 Apr 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

OUR RULERS

In a democracy politicians are the key players to rule the country. India is one of the largest democratic countries with all diversities. Still it’s united and we are proud. Elections are being conducted regularly correctly or less correctly, legislators are elected and the government is formed. Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Ministers and Legislators are changing every time depending on the ballots of the people. In spite of, innumerable limitations the Election Commission is successfully conducting the elections to elect people’s representatives.

If you think little bit about the politicians, they are the risk taking ones and diplomatic in their behaviour outwardly. Internally they have their own way of life. To become a politician, one has to start as a miserable life serving a party or a political leader undergoing all sorts of agony and understand the trick of the trade. Slowly, depending on the political climate, one has to move up. Sometimes moving down may also happen. One has to have patience and wait for opportunities. He or she has to be prepared for any eventuality. One should know how to make attractive speeches in order to drive in the ideology of the political party into the minds of the common people. Also one has to make many promises if they are elected to power. Moreover, they should mingle with people and help them in getting benefits from the Government. Generally, politicians are good in these aspects.

Another set of politicians come from the family of political leaders. Sons, daughters, wife, in-laws are mostly inducted into politics. These people have some idea about politics because of their association with the political relatives or family. They do not require very high education and knowledge because that part will be taken care of by their secretaries. The major job of the politicians is to please people and earn money. Moreover, they know how to please their higher ups who will be of a different character. Time brings experience which finally makes a full fledged politician.

Politicians should have followers, bodyguards and self-protection because they generally face odd situations. They live in a risky shell. They are not free to move around like a common man. Every time some one has to be with them to provide protection. In spite of all these protections we do hear odd instances such as: politicians are shot at close range and killed. Many, many politicians are being killed like this. Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajeev Gandhi and number of others became the prey to hatred. Hence, instead of a politician to protect the people whom he represents, the people have to protect the politicians! That is today’s situation. We do not know what will happen tomorrow? Rivalry, jealousy, ego and all those unwanted attitudes are not acceptable but some possess them to come to power. Democracy should discard such elements.

Therefore, let’s elect the politicians who are less corrupt, less arrogant and more cultured, more educated and knowledgeable. Public comforts and conveniences should be in their mind to take care of during their tenure. Then only the country will progress fast and the standard of life for the people will improve. Let us hope for it.

06:29 - Wed 11 Apr 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

SHAME...SHAME...SHAME...

One day when we were sitting in our drawing room, one of us suddenly shouted Shame… Shame… Shame…! in a singing tone. I saw my 3-year old grand daughter standing amidst us naked after emerging out of the bath room. Hearing this she was shy, laughed and ran to the bed room.

Such scenes are not uncommon in most of homes. In fact, a small child – boy or girl certainly feels shy when reminded her by the elders saying Shame…Shame…Shame…! As the child grows up, the parents buy various kinds of pretty dresses to cover the child every time. Thus children feel shy if they are not covered with a proper dress. When they reach more than 4 years, they themselves choose their own dress. For going to school, they have uniform, to play, they have another dress, to visit relatives or friends there is a different dress. Dresses are made for all age groups in various fashions nowadays. Fashion technology is a well known profession globally. When we live in such a world, some people want to discard the dress and want live bare bodied! Some of the sanyasies live naked. We see them in Kumbh Mela. It used to be a feast for the foreign and local photographers! Similarly, modeling with reduced or no dress is another profession growing all over the world including India. Boys and girls come forward boldly for taking up this job. “Shameless girls!” “Shameless boys!” some of us say. Also we may say that it’s shame for Indian culture, just to satisfy ourselves. Who hears our voice? Exposing oneself as much as possible is going on shamelessly.

In a society we have certain common norms to follow. If any one is deviating from it, we feel uncomfortable. People have started questioning the basic norms one has to adopt for building a social fabric. When the norms are not followed, people start living as they like with or without clothes. An adult man or woman appearing naked in public is an odd event. Only mad people will do it. But when it’s happening in a show, cinema or party, it is greatly appreciated.

All of us know that human body is a beautiful structure. But in a civilized society we have to cover it to give a presentable appearance. That was what our ancestors followed and taught us. We still follow more or less in the same spirit. But the changing world with freedom to all asks “What’s in it?”

When we read the letters to the editor in a newspaper, it is evident that there are always two opposing opinions for every issue. We find for and against arguments. Same is the case for nakedness too.

Anyway if we take all these as an entertainment or art or acting, we can do anything we want. Who has to ask? Shame…Shame…Shame…!

09:02 - Tue 10 Apr 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

READING BOOKS

Naturally being a professor and a writer, I value books. I have read a good number of books of various kinds. I did take down notes in my journal regularly. At times, I look back those pages to recollect what I liked in those books. Most of the books whether they are novels, short stories, poems, self-help ones or scientific did motivate me. Such motivations are useful only if we practice within one or two days. Otherwise they are of no use! That was my experience too. It seems only 10% of the book buyers read beyond the first chapter. If that is true, a lot of money is being wasted!

Unfortunately, reading has become the practice of the past. Although there are attempts at various quarters for promotion of book reading such as book clubs, exhibitions, community and college libraries, people are not very much bothered to read.

In some families parents advise children to read books of their choice. Reading is a good exercise for mind and body. The best time for reading I found, was early morning. The absorption of the read material by our brain is very much. You can try, if you don’t know already. It’s a fact because I tried it.

It’s always advisable to make it a habit of reading for one hour every morning. The book one chooses may be of one’s choice based on one’s interest. Students may prefer to read their text books whereas others may prefer other type of books.

I consider that books are the best friends and treasures one acquires during our life time. They stimulate our creative thinking. General knowledge is very important nowadays for our life. We need to live up-to-date. The world is changing so fast that we have to cope up with it. So learning becomes a continuous process all through our life.

The books we buy, we read and digest have to be preserved in our home library for others to use them. Every family should have a home library which has to be built up by adding read books over time. It should be used by the members and friends of the family.

In today’s world, knowledge is fed to people through computers, television, mobiles etc., because people do not have time to read books. This is not acceptable, because people while traveling long distances either by train or by air have lot of time which can be used for reading not for sleeping. Also as I mentioned earlier, one hour every morning is possible for every one to grab from their daily routine. So, even in this age of electronic life, everybody has little time for reading books.

I feel that the helpfulness of books has to be evaluated properly for different age groups, because it is essential in today’s context. Education has spread like wild fire in the whole world and more particularly in our country – India. Almost no one feels they have been harmed by reading books. One stops reading a book if he or she does not like it.

Scientific evaluation by conducting surveys and interviews in a community of people, will reveal the present position of book reading culture. Ways and means can be found for improving or encouraging people to read books. Such activity may be initiated by local associations, Non-governmental organizations, social societies, even libraries and government organizations. These evaluations will bring out the real reading habits of our people.

Book exhibitions can be organized in small towns to encourage people to buy books and read, in stead of all sorts of exhibitions which only to help us to buy household items and other wasteful things. Think of books and read good books to gather knowledge and become wise.

08:59 - Tue 10 Apr 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

“Where will we all go once we sell our land? Agriculture is our life.”

“What will we eat after selling our land to them?”

These are the helpless protest voices of farmers and others who are affected by the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Policy recently introduced by Government of India.

It appears Maharashtra State alone has over 70 approved SEZs.

We see every day news in the media that displacing poor people who live peacefully with their small holdings from their own land by paying huge amount of money.

Money can not bring everything in their life.

Singur and Nandigram in West Bengal are the two areas approved for SEZs.

Protests from people lead to loss of human life in a miserable way beyond one’s imagination!

What are the peoples’ representatives doing?

They simply visit with full police protection these areas and return safely their homes and forget the whole thing.

The visits have not helped the villagers. However, the GOI have realized the importance of peoples’ voice and started rethinking about the SEZs.

There are very many examples to show the miserable conditions of displaced people in our country.

Once they lose their land they have to depend on the government officials for the resettlement.

They have to run from pillar to post to get their rightful dues.

It is a common experience for the displaced people in countries like India.

Facing the criticism on SEZ issue, particularly after the police firing at Nandigram in West Bengal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the policy of SEZ is irreversible.

He wanted to look into the inadequacies in compensation.

SEZs are needed for the economic growth of our country.

But how to implement them without causing concerns to the common people is the most crucial point in the Prime Minister has to consider.

There are pressures from multi-national companies and rich industrialists.

At the same time the poor people of mother India.

How to find a compromise?

It’s not that easy!

Still if there is a will, there is a way!

I hope, soon the GOI will come out with a revised SEZ policy so that every one, above all India get prospered.

10:15 - Sat 7 Apr 2007 - comments {0} - post comment