HAPPY HOLI

Dear All....Wishing You and Your Family a very Bright, Colorful and Joyful Holi... With Love and Best Wishes....!

             ....SURI

The New Colors of Holi Festival Celebrations- Facts, Statistics & Trends

Holi, also popularly known as the festival of colors marks the beginning of ceremonies specially in the Hindu calender as it is the first festival in the Hindu calendar. Holi 2013 falls on March 27, that is the full moon day of the month of Phalgun as per the Hindu calendar. However, the festival of Holi will surely continue to evolve this year as it has done over the past year… perhaps even more 

The traditional symbols of Holi: 

Holika Dahan(The Holi bonfire): The main emphasis of the festival is on the burning of the holy fire or Holika. The origin of the traditional lighting of Holi is attributed by some to the burning of demonesses like Holika, Holaka and Putana who represent evil, or to the burning of Madan according to others. Traditionally a bonfire on the day of Holi, marks the symbolic annihilation of Holika the demoness as described above. This is set fire to after ritualistic worship, and people make pradakshina of the bonfire. The next day this victory is celebrated as the day of Dulhendi.

Songs of Holi- Though the festival really begins many days in advance, with “Holi Milan” or Baithaks, musical soirees, where songs related to the festival, and the epic love story of Radha Krishna are sung; a special type of folk songs, known as “Hori,” are sung as well.

Dulhendi: This involves Smearing of coloured powder on each other, and throwing colour and scented water at each other using pichkaris (shaped like giant syringes or squirt guns). Principal ingredients of the celebration are Abeer and Gulal, in all possible colours. Next comes squirting of coloured water using pichkaris. Coloured water is prepared using Tesu flowers, which are first gathered from the trees, dried in the sun, and then ground up, and later mixed with water to produce orange-yellow coloured water. Another traditional Holi item now rarely seen is a red powder enclosed in globes of Lakh, which break instantly and cover the party with the powder.

Food preparations: Assemblage of Gujia, Papads, Kanji and various kinds of snack items including Malpuas, Mathri, Puran poli, and Dahi badas, which are served to Holi guests.

Drinks: The night of Holi, the baithak take turns churning bhang (cannabis) into intoxicating milk shakes and they make sweet laddoos mixed with bhang. Intoxicating bhang is consumed with a variety of mouth watering delicacies such as pakoras and thandai to enhance the mood of the festival. Vast quantities of liquor are consumed alongside ganja and bhang, which is sometimes added to foodstuffs.

We have places like Mathura, Barsana, Pushkar, etc, where you feel the essence of this festival, performed with all the rituals. People from all over the country come down to these places and celebrate this grand festival with an ethnic touch

The New Colors of Holi

However in modern times, Festival of Holi has gone beyond the bonds of religion, geography or even celebration style.

The Holi Bashes

People wait all year for this festival and throw big bashes and parties, where a lot of people get together and groove to the music beats and get drenched in colours from head to toe.

Emerging Health Concerns towards Holi Celebrations

A visit to a doctor after the festival of colours is common in India. Diseases, specially of the skin and eye are bound to happen with the quality of colours that are now available in the market. It may be noted that chemical colours came into vogue as they were earlier thought to be harmless. Besides their being convenient and cost effective options as against the natural colours. These days manufacturers mix harmful chemicals in colours and play with the health of the consumers for the sake of profit. The chemicals added by them are so injurious that if unfortunately they enter a human body, they may cause fatal infections. These days most Holi colours sold in the market are oxidized metals or industrial dyes mixed with engine oil. These chemicals are known to cause serious harm to persons health.

Green colour is obtained from copper sulphate -which may cause allergies in eye or even temporary blindness.
Purple is obtained from chromium iodide – which may cause bronchial asthma or other forms of allergy.

Silver is obtained from aluminum bromide – a known carcinogenic.

Black is obtained from lead oxide – may cause renal failures or learning disability.

Red is obtained from mercury sulphite – may cause skin cancer or Minamata disease (mental retardation, paralysis, impaired vision…)

Shiny Colours are a result of powdered glass being added to the colours.

Many water colours have an alkaline base capable of causing severe injuries. Colours in the form of pastes have toxic compounds mixed in a base of engine oil or other inferior quality oil, capable of causing skin allergy, temporary blindness. When washed, these colours containing toxic chemicals enter the river, thereby soil and water pollution.

Even the way we play Holi is becoming dangerous. Throwing water filled balloons has become rampant, which is very harmful. People should realise, what is fun for them could cause injury to the eyes and ears to the other person, specially when thrown from a distance and with force.

Natural, Organic & Home-Made Colors are coming back

In the early days when Holi celebrations weren’t as much commercialized, Holi colors were primarily prepared from the flowers of trees such as the Indian Coral Tree (parijat) and the Flame of the Forest (Tesu).These and several other blossoms provided the raw material from which the brilliant shades of Holi colors were made. Most of these trees also had medicinal properties and Holi colors prepared from them were actually beneficial to the skin.

Holi festival lovers will be glad to know that it is very much possible to make simple organic colors in one’s own kitchen. Here are some very simple recipes to make organic colors:

Yellow Color: 1) Mix turmeric (haldi) 2) Boil flowers in water

Yellow liquid color: Soak peels of pomegranate (Anar) overnight.

Deep Pink Color: Slice a beetroot and soak in water

Orange – Red Paste, Henna leaves (mehndi) can be dried, powdered and mixed with water.

The colorless side of Holi

While one side of Holi is full of color and fun, other other side is not so merry. The spirit of Holi is sometimes taken too far, to an extent it starts encrouching others’ safety. Women’s and children’s safety is one of those. While I could not find any open statistics to support crime against women and children in the wake of spirit of Holi, I can definitely share ample evidence of careness of people during the festvities which they openly exhibit on the roads. In New Delhi itself, the number of accidents and drunken driving incidents is increasing multifold:

A total of 8,526 prosecutions were done by Traffic Police during 2012 Holi which included 961 for drunken driving, 865 for triple riding, 3,381 for not wearing helmet by drivers and pillion riders and 378 for not using seat belt amongst others.

In eight days, a total 1,991 prosecutions were done for drunken driving. Action against drunken driving included of 384 cars and 1,009 two wheelers in 8 days.

While 10 persons were killed in 2000, the figure rose to 19 in 2001 but came down 11 in 2002 and 10 in 2003. In 2004, it rose to 16 only to come down the next year.

The year 2006 saw the highest fatalities at 22 while in 2007 and 2009 the figure was 17 each. In 2008, it was 13 while it was 15 in 2010 and 13 last year.

GOALS

Have you ever started working on a goal, slipped up, and just gave up completely? Many people who do this over and over again have this ‘all or nothing’ mentality. For example, they make a decision to lose weight and plan on eating right and exercising 5 times a week. Then the day comes where they give into their temptations or laziness and eat something they’re not supposed to or skip a workout. When this happens, they feel like a total failure, beat themselves up mentally, and give up on the goal altogether.

Listen, we all slip up every now and then; even the most successful people. But guess what? It’s OKAY! Don’t let one moment of weakness make you quit on your goal entirely. The key is to simply acknowledge you got a little bit off track, and then as quickly as you can, get right back on track.

It’s not slipping up once or twice that causes people to fail at achieving their goals, it’s using that as an excuse to continue to keep slipping up that destroys most people’s chances of success. Remember, it’s not what you do once in a while that determines your success or failure, it’s what you do every day.

keep fighting for your dreams

Temporary setbacks are something that we all have to face every now and then. Expecting everything to always go exactly as planned can lead to some major disappointments. Realize that setbacks are a part of life. In fact, they’re what makes achieving a goal worth celebrating over. When was the last time you celebrated after doing something you could do without any effort like brush your teeth?

I realize setbacks aren’t the easiest things to deal with. I think most of us would just rather not go through them at all. However, keep in mind that going through those moments of doubt and discouragement and yet still finding the mental strength to keep fighting for your dreams is what gives your eventual success excitement and meaning.

Don’t let setbacks take you out of the game. Instead, use them to intensify your desire. When all is said and done, you’ll either have a list of excuses, or a list of battles won.

'International Women Courage Award' to 'Nirbhaya'

I am happy to read news about Delhi Brave heart 'Nirbhaya' who has been chosen posthumously by U.S. Secretary of State for  'International Women Courage Award' as a recognition for her fight against gender based violence. Her bravery and struggle inspired people to force government for bringing legislation and social programme to stem violence against women in all forms.

US annually recognizes ten women around the world for  this award who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating  for women's rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk.

Tribute to Hyderabad Bomb Blast Victims

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY

Celebrating “We The People…” 64th Time: Republic Day 2013 Facts & Statistics

IT WAS THIS DAY…

IT WAS a 26 January in the year 1950, when India’s constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, completing the country’s transition toward becoming an independent republic. This date was chosen to honour the memory of the “Declaration of Independence of 1930” from the British Rule.

Did you know ? Our Constitution is the longest in the world. The Assembly gathered for 166 days that was spread over two years, 11 months and 18 days before the final version was formed. It was all hand-written and it was on the 26th of January that marked the celebration of Independence in its true sense.

The Republic Day Time Line

August 15, 1947

India achieved its independence from United Kingdom on August 15, 1947, but did not have a permanent constitution till that time.

***

November 4, 1947

The drafting committee presented the constitution’s first draft to the national assembly

***

 January 24, 1950.

The national assembly signed the final English and Hindi language versions of the constitution on January 24, 1950.

***

1st Republic Day, January 26, 1950

The Constitution of India came into a legal circulation at 10:18 AM on the 26th of January, 1950.  which gave India’s citizens the power to govern themselves by choosing their own government. The Repubic Day was chosen as it was the anniversary of Purna Swaraj Day, which was held on January 26, 1930. Dr Rajendra Prasad took oath as India’s first president at the Durbar Hall in the Government House, followed by a residential drive along a route to the Irwin Stadium, where he unfurled India’s national flag. Ever since the historic day, January 26 is celebrated with festivities and patriotic fervor across India.

Did You Know ? The President addresses the Republic Day whereas; the Prime Minister addresses the Independence Day.

What are your feelings this Republic Day ? Does your heart still fill with pride this day ? Or do you think its lost its significance in today’s time and is just another holiday?

Would love to hear from you so please splash your thoughts through the comments section below

10 Deadly Sins of Negative Thinking

The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.” – Dalai Lama

Life could be so much better for many people, if they would just spot their negative thinking habits and replace them with positive ones.

Negative thinking, in all its many-splendored forms, has a way of creeping into conversations and our thinking without our noticing them. The key to success, in my humble opinion, is learning to spot these thoughts and squash them like little bugs. Then replace them with positive ones. You’ll notice a huge difference in everything you do.

Let’s take a look at 10 common ways that negative thinking emerges — get good at spotting these patterns, and practice replacing them with positive thinking patterns. It has made all the difference in the world for me.

10 Deadly Sins of Negative Thinking

1. I will be happy once I have _____ (or once I earn X).

Problem: If you think you can’t be happy until you reach a certain point, or until you reach a certain income, or have a certain type of house or car or computer setup, you’ll never be happy. That elusive goal is always just out of reach. Once we reach those goals, we are not satisfied — we want more.

Solution: Learn to be happy with what you have, where you are, and who you are, right at this moment. Happiness doesn’t have to be some state that we want to get to eventually — it can be found right now. Learn to count your blessings, and see the positive in your situation. This might sound simplistic, but it works.
2. I wish I were as ____ as (a celebrity, friend, co-worker).

Problem: We’ll never be as pretty, as talented, as rich, as sculpted, as cool, as everyone else. There will always be someone better, if you look hard enough. Therefore, if we compare ourselves to others like this, we will always pale, and will always fail, and will always feel bad about ourselves. This is no way to be happy.

Solution: Stop comparing yourself to others, and look instead at yourself — what are your strengths, your accomplishments, your successes, however small? What do you love about yourself? Learn to love who you are, right now, not who you want to become. There is good in each of us, love in each of us, and a wonderful human spirit in every one of us.

3. Seeing others becoming successful makes me jealous and resentful.

Problem: First, this assumes that only a small number of people can be successful. In truth, many, many people can be successful — in different ways.

Solution: Learn to admire the success of others, and learn from it, and be happy for them, by empathizing with them and understanding what it must be like to be them. And then turn away from them, and look at yourself — you can be successful too, in whatever you choose to do. And even more, you already are successful. Look not at those above you in the social ladder, but those below you — there are always millions of people worse off than you, people who couldn’t even read this article or afford a computer. In that light, you are a huge success.

4. I am a miserable failure — I can’t seem to do anything right.

Problem: Everyone is a failure, if you look at it in certain ways. Everyone has failed, many times, at different things. I have certainly failed so many times I cannot count them — and I continue to fail, daily. However, looking at your failures as failures only makes you feel bad about yourself. By thinking in this way, we will have a negative self-image and never move on from here.

Solution: See your successes and ignore your failures. Look back on your life, in the last month, or year, or 5 years. And try to remember your successes. If you have trouble with this, start documenting them — keep a success journal, either in a notebook or online. Document your success each day, or each week. When you look back at what you’ve accomplished, over a year, you will be amazed. It’s an incredibly positive feeling.

5. I’m going to beat so-and-so no matter what — I’m better than him. And there’s no way I’ll help him succeed — he might beat me.

Problem: Competitiveness assumes that there is a small amount of gold to be had, and I need to get it before he does. It makes us into greedy, back-stabbing, hurtful people. We try to claw our way over people to get to success, because of our competitive feelings. For example, if a blogger wants to have more subscribers than another blogger, he may never link to or mention that other blogger. However, who is to say that my subscribers can’t also be yours? People can read and subscribe to more than one blog.

Solution: Learn to see success as something that can be shared, and learn that if we help each other out, we can each have a better chance to be successful. Two people working towards a common goal are better than two people trying to beat each other up to get to that goal. There is more than enough success to go around. Learn to think in terms of abundance rather than scarcity.

6. Dammit! Why do these bad things always happen to me?

Problem: Bad things happen to everybody. If we dwell on them, they will frustrate us and bring us down.

Solution: See bad things as a part of the ebb and flow of life. Suffering is a part of the human condition — but it passes. All pain goes away, eventually. Meanwhile, don’t let it hold you back. Don’t dwell on bad things, but look forward towards something good in your future. And learn to take the bad things in stride, and learn from them. Bad things are actually opportunities to grow and learn and get stronger, in disguise.

7. You can’t do anything right! Why can’t you be like ____ ?

Problem: This can be said to your child or your subordinate or your sibling. The problem? Comparing two people, first of all, is always a fallacy. People are different, with different ways of doing things, different strengths and weaknesses, different human characteristics. If we were all the same, we’d be robots. Second, saying negative things like this to another person never helps the situation. It might make you feel better, and more powerful, but in truth, it hurts your relationship, it will actually make you feel negative, and it will certainly make the other person feel negative and more likely to continue negative behavior. Everyone loses.

Solution: Take the mistakes or bad behavior of others as an opportunity to teach. Show them how to do something. Second, praise them for their positive behavior, and encourage their success. Last, and most important, love them for who they are, and celebrate their differences.

8. Your work sucks. It’s super lame. You are a moron and I hope you never reproduce.

Problem: I’ve actually gotten this comment before. It feels wonderful. However, let’s look at it not from the perspective of the person receiving this kind of comment but from the perspective of the person giving it. How does saying something negative like this help you? I guess it might feel good to vent if you feel like your time has been wasted. But really, how much of your time has been wasted? A few minutes? And whose fault is that? The bloggers or yours? In truth, making negative comments just keeps you in a negative mindset. It’s also not a good way to make friends.

Solution: Learn to offer constructive solutions, first of all. Instead of telling someone their blog sucks, or that a post is lame, offer some specific suggestions for improvement. Help them get better. If you are going to take the time to make a comment, make it worth your time. Second, learn to interact with people in a more positive way — it makes others feel good and it makes you feel better about yourself. And you can make some great friends this way. That’s a good thing.

9. Insulting People Back

Problem: If someone insults you or angers you in some way, insulting them back and continuing your anger only transfers their problem to you. This person was probably having a bad day (or a bad year) and took it out on you for some reason. If you reciprocate, you are now having a bad day too. His problem has become yours. Not only that, but the cycle of insults can get worse and worse until it results in violence or other negative consequences — for both of you.

Solution: Let the insults or negative comments of others slide off you like Teflon. Don’t let their problem become yours. In fact, try to understand their problem more — why would someone say something like that? What problems are they going through? Having a little empathy for someone not only makes you understand that their comment is not about you, but it can make you feel and act in a positive manner towards them — and make you feel better about yourself in the process.

10. I don’t think I can do this — I don’t have enough discipline. Maybe some other time.

Problem: If you don’t think you can do something, you probably won’t. Especially for the big stuff. Discipline has nothing to do with it — motivation and focus has everything to do with it. And if you put stuff off for “some other time”, you’ll never get it done. Negative thinking like this inhibits us from accomplishing anything.

Solution: Turn your thinking around: you can do this! You don’t need discipline. Find ways to make yourself a success at your goal. If you fail, learn from your mistakes, and try again. Instead of putting a goal off for later, start now. And focus on one goal at a time, putting all of your energy into it, and getting as much help from others as you can. You can really move mountains if you start with positive thinking.

RESPECT A WOMAN......

RESPECT WOMEN

Deepest Condolences

My heartfelt condolences to the braveheart's family who only know their loss in this great tragedy. May her soul rest in eternal peace forever. Her perpetrators must be stoned publicly instead of the routine hanging method so that she gets justice after her death

Pay tribute to 23-year old gangrape victim who put up a brave battle for life

The 23-year-old victim of the brutal gangrape and assault in Delhi that had triggered an outrage across India died early morning on Saturday in Singapore after putting up a brave battle for life for nearly a fortnight. Let us not forget her.

Come share your prayers here.

A New Flavor To Age Old Celebrations: New Year’s Celebration Facts

While we call it New Year Celebrations, but many of festivities associated with this globally celebrated moment have trickled down generations and still form a part of the traditions  The First Recorded New Year Celebration The first recorded New Year’s celebration dates back 4,000 years to Babylon, when the first moon after the spring equinox marked a new year. In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar created a calendar with Jan. 1 as the first day of the year, partly to honor Janus, the month’s namesake and god of beginnings. Who gets to celebrate the New Year first every year The first spot to celebrate the start of the New Year will be Kiritimati on Christmas Island, ringing in the New Year at 5AM EST on Dec. 31. Sydney, Tokyo and London and then New York and at the end Pago Pago in American Samoa welcomes the New Year at 6AM EST on Jan. 1 The Famous New Year’s Resolution It is believed that the Babylonians were the first to make New Year’s resolutions, and people all over the world have been making ( and breaking  ) them ever since The early Christians believed the first day of the new year should be spent reflecting on past mistakes and resolving to improve oneself in the new year. The most common New Year’s resolution is losing weight. Other popular resolutions include exercising more, quitting smoking, saving money, and getting a better job or education. The New Year’s Celebration with Food & Sweets The holiday season is known for its sweets, and New Year’s is no exception. It’s a custom in some countries, like Mexico and Greece, to hide a prize inside of a New Year’s cake—whoever finds it in their slice is guaranteed good luck in the year ahead. In Sweden and Norway, people take part in a similar tradition in which an almond is hidden in rice pudding. Honey-drenched treats are popular in Italy, to evoke a “sweet” new year Ring-shaped donuts (to represent coming full circle) are customary in Poland and Hungary. Celebrants in Spain eat 12 grapes at midnight to ensure a fruitful year ahead, a tradition that began as a solution to a grape surplus in 1909. (The custom stuck and then spread to Portugal, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador and Peru.) Each grape corresponds with a single month in the upcoming year: a sour second grape, for example, might foretell a bumpy February. The goal for most grape eaters is to swallow all 12 before the stroke of midnight. Cabbage, collards, kale and chard are eaten on New Year’s Eve in much of the American South. Since green leaves look like money, the tradition holds that the more greens a person eats, the more economic success he or she will experience in the year to come. Legumes are also consumed with financial fortune in mind, as beans, peas and lentils look like coins and swell when cooked. In Brazil, for example, the first meal of the New Year is often lentil soup or lentils and rice. New Year Fireworks Noisemaking and fireworks on New Year’s eve is believed to have originated in ancient times, when noise and fire were thought to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck. The Chinese are credited with inventing fireworks and use them to spectacular effect in their New Year’s celebrations. New Year’s Celebrations at New York’s Times Square ball drop When fireworks were banned in 1907—just three years after the first New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square—officials lowered a ball from a flagpole to signal the end of one year and the start of another. In 1907, the New Year’s orb was composed of iron and wood and weighed 700 pounds. Today’s ball contains 32,256 LED lights and 2,668 crystals, tipping the scale at 11,875 pounds. This year, the Waterford crystal ball will have 288 new crystal panels to replace the old ones, with doves chiseled into them to mark the theme “Let There Be Peace.” An estimated 1 billion people worldwide are expected to watch the Times Square ball drop Some other interesting ways of New Year’s Celebrations Thousands of spectators gather in Stonehaven, Scotland each New Year’s Eve to watch the village’s men swing blazing fireballs over their heads as they parade the streets. The ancient event is thought to encourage a pure and sun-filled year. In Mexico and South American countries including Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela, it’s customary to ring in the New Year by sporting special underpants: red if you’re looking for love and yellow if you’re after money. In the Philippines, people believe that wearing polka dots—on their underwear or elsewhere—ensures a promising year ahead. In Oshogatsu (Japan) the new year is the most important holiday in Japan, and is a symbol of renewal. In December, various Bonenkai or “forget-the-year parties” are held to bid farewell to the problems and concerns of the past year and prepare for a new beginning. Misunderstandings and grudges are forgiven and houses are scrubbed. At midnight on Dec. 31, Buddhist temples strike their gongs 108 times, in a effort to expel 108 types of human weakness. New Year’s day itself is a day of joy and no work is to be done. Children receive otoshidamas, small gifts with money inside. Sending New Year’s cards is a popular tradition—if postmarked by a certain date, the Japanese post office guarantees delivery of all New Year’s cards on Jan. 1. Hogmanay (Scotland) is the home of Hogmanay (hog-mah-NAY), the rousing Scottish New Year’s celebration (the origins of the name are obscure). One of the traditions is “first-footing.” Shortly after midnight on New Year’s eve, neighbors pay visits to each other and impart New Year’s wishes. Traditionally, First foots used to bring along a gift of coal for the fire, or shortbread. It is considered especially lucky if a tall, dark, and handsome man is the first to enter your house after the new year is rung in. The Edinburgh Hogmanay celebration is the largest in the country, and consists of an all-night street party (visit their Hagmanay website here). The most commonly sung song for English-speakers on New Year’s eve, “Auld Lang Syne” is an old Scottish song that was first published by the poet Robert Burns in the 1796 edition of the book, Scots Musical Museum. Burns transcribed it (and made some refinements to the lyrics) after he heard it sung by an old man from the Ayrshire area of Scotland, Burns’s homeland. It is often remarked that “Auld Lang Syne” is one of the most popular songs that nobody knows the lyrics to. “Auld Lang Syne” literally translates as “old long since” and means “times gone by.” The song asks whether old friends and times will be forgotten and promises to remember people of the past with fondness, “For auld lang syne, we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet.” Not everyone celebrates New Year’s on January 1. Chinese New Year, for example, begins on the first day of the lunar calendar, which usually falls in either late January or early February. During this time, it is customary for each family to thoroughly cleanse the house in an effort to sweep away ill fortune, to eat Chinese delicacies such as “nian gao,” or sticky rice, and to end the night with firecrackers. Red paper envelopes full of money are also distributed to the children at this time—one of the more popular traditions. Some people believe that breaking anything on New Year’s Day foreshadows a year of other broken things, like friendships and marriages. Many cultures also make sure to not serve any form of fowl on that day because it means the family will have to “scratch out” a living for the rest of the year. Instead, to ensure a year of good luck, firecrackers and noisemakers became tradition in order to scare away any remaining evil spirits and to ensure a brand new start. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”, which started with a couple of cameras and skeleton crew in 1972, has grown to become the most-watched New Year’s Eve broadcast in the world. In the first “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” without the legend himself, ABC will honor the American icon with a tribute by celebrating his life (1929-2012). Performers include Neon Trees and Carly Rae Jepsen in New York, and Flo Rida, Justin Bieber, Ellie Goulding and Jason Aldean in Los Angeles, with Ryan Seacrest as the show’s new host. Most hospitals in the U.S. do reward the first baby born on New Year’s Day with diapers, blankets, clothing or gift certificates donated by local businesses. Whether they win the prize or not, any baby born on Jan. 1 is considered lucky, a distinction enjoyed by author J.D. Salinger (left) and American flag designer Betsy Ross.

A heart melt real story!

 

In the image above is Shila Ghosh, an 83-year-old woman who lives in Pali in West Bengal, a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation’s fourth-most populous.
Her only son had heart ailment and passed away a few months ago. To make ends meet, Shila now works. Every evening, Shila comes from Pali to Kolkata to sell chips.
When asked if she has a problem in travelling, she weakly smiled and said: “No, the bus gets me here and my health is not that bad”.
Circumstances could have easily forced her to beg but her dignity and respect is everything for her, she is determined to work until the end of her life rather than to beg on the streets.

Story courtesy of Sufia Khatoon,
A college student in Kolkata  

When we go on complaining, let us remember her….. she chose to solve her problems on her own for as they say God helps them those who help themselves.
Don’t worry, Shila is being helped. Although she refuses donations and prefers to make her own living, many people found ways to help without making her feel dependent on anyone i.e. purchase more chips from her… some are also helping her to build a kiosk.

The important things in life

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

            He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

           He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.

Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

Happy Engineer's day

In remembrance of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, the most outstanding Engineer of all times, the
Engineering fraternity of India celebrates "Engineer's Day” every year on 15th of September. It was this day 147 years ago that this great contributor to growth and engineering was born. Every year the celebration of the Engineer's Day revolves around a central theme that is notified to all states and local centers.

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

He is known to be the greatest engineers of all times, who with his vision and dedication in the field of engineering made some exceptional contributions to India. Owing to his contribution he was honored with the highest state award of India, the “The Bharat Ratna”, in the year 1955. Some of the contributions of Sir VM are:

  
As an Engineer par excellence:

• He was the chief engineer during the construction of Krishna sager dam on the Cauvery River.

• Many dams built by him in Bombay are still functional even till today.

• The Sri Jayachamaraja Polytechnic Institute of Bangalore was started on the  recommendation of Sir Visvesvaraya.

• The Block System was invented by him, which was a system of automated doors that closed in the conditions of overflow.

• Krishnarajasagara Dam built by his help, is still praised by everybody witnessing it.

• Mysore University, which is a matter of great proud for the people of Mysore, was established because of his will and conviction.

   As a Person:

What was achieved by Sir Visvesvaraya, was not as easy as it seemed, as it required strict discipline from his side.

• Punctuality: He was very famous for his punctuality, it's said He was never late even by a minute and expected his people also to realize the importance of time.

• Perfect Clothing: Every person having met Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, proudly remembers his neat and fine clothing.

• Perfectionist: There are many examples to show that even a little task that he took up, was always completed to perfection. Even if it was to deliver a speech, he would think in advance, write and rehearse it number of times.

• Fitness: Even at the age of 92, he was never dependent on comforts; he would not only walk by himself, but, take full participation in all proceedings.

• Dedication to work: Nothing was able to deter Sir, from his commitment to good work; his work was his worship.

• Courageous: Many of the projects completed by him that India stands proud of today, would not have existed if it was not his will and conviction.

• Fearless Patriot: When it came to India, even high perks given to Sir by the British Government were not enough for him; he opposed everything and anything that was against the favor of his nation.

Dr. S Radhakrishnan

Dr. Radhakrishnan Speak
"Respect for teachers cannot be ordered; it must be earned."