A TRIBUTE TO THE HOCKEY WIZARD

 Major Dhyan Chand

     India celebrates its National Sports Day as a tribute to the greatest hockey player the world has ever seen; the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand on August 29. 

     At the Mexico Olympics, when Bob Beaman jumped beyond 29 feet; the world record at that time being a few inches above 26 feet, the field judges went on to change the measuring tape to ensure that they were using the right measurement. Beamon’s ‘Leap to Infinity’ was attributed later to the low gravitational pull at the altitude at which the jump was taken. Legend has it that something similar happened with Dhyan Chand after a match in the Netherlands where his hockey stick was changed as people thought that he had some sort of a magnet in his stick that made the ball stick to it. In fact, it was a great tribute to his dribbling talent. 

     To summarize Dhyan Chand’s achievements, he played a major role in India winning gold medals in three successive Olympic Games; in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles) and 1936 (Berlin) and scored 570 goals in his career which span from 1926 to 1949, during which he played 185 matches. The number of goals would exceed a thousand if his domestic matches were included in his total score. He indeed deserved titles like 'The Wizard’ and ‘The Magician’. It is a result of his exceptional career that India’s highest sports award in any sportsperson’s lifetime achievements is named after this great sportsman as ‘Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award’.

     Dhyan Singh was born on 29 August 1905 in Allahabad, which at that time was a part of the United Province of Agra and Oudh, and is named now as Prayagraj in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Dhyan’s father, Sameshwar Singh, was a part of the British Indian Army and his frequent transfers affected the study of his three sons; Mool, Dhyan and Roop, till the family settled finally in Jhansi, another district in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

     Dhyan Chand hardly played any hockey till he was recruited as a sepoy in the 1st Brahman Regiment of the British Indian Army, in 1922, as a seventeen-year-old teenager. The  Regiment was reorganised later as the 1st Punjab Regiment. Once Dhyan Chand joined the army, he started participating in various Regimental and Army games and hockey was one of them. Young Dhyan Singh was seen practising hockey even under the moonlight, which earned him the nickname of ‘Chand’ (the Moon), a name that stuck with him till the very end.

     When an Army team was sent to New Zealand, Dhyan Chand was a member of that team. The team performed exceptionally well and Dhyan Chand started getting recognition as an attacking forward. In 1925, the Indian Hockey Federation started selections for forming an Indian hockey team for the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics; five Province teams were formed for the players to demonstrate their hockey skills. The teams played again in 1927 before the Indian team for the Olympics was finalised. Incidentally, before leaving for the Olympics, the team played against a Bombay team and lost. Obviously, not much was expected from the team who lost to their home team.

     However, what happened thereafter was totally unexpected. The Indian team played a few matches in England, winning all of them and also all its pre-Olympic matches. In its pool matches in the Olympics, the Indian team beat Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Switzerland convincingly and despite some of its players indisposed and even an unfit Dhyan Chand taking field, the Indian team won the final match against the home team with Dhyan Chand scoring two out of three goals. The Indian team not only won the gold medal, but what was even more remarkable was that none of the teams could score even a single goal against India. Dhyan Chand scored 14 out of 29 goals scored by the Indian team in five matches.

     The Indian Army did not relieve Dhyan Chand for the 1932 Olympic trials but the IHF selected him without any trial. This time, his younger brother Roop Singh was also in the Indian team and once again the Indian team routed all teams to win the gold medal. In the finals, India defeated the host team with a record margin of 24-1. Of the 35 goals scored by the Indian team during the Games, the two brothers had a combined tally of 25 goals.

     In 1936, the Army refused to relieve Dhyan Chand once again for the trials and once again the IHF included him in the final team and as the proposed captain refused to participate, this time Dhyan Chand was called upon to lead the Indian team. In a pre-Olympic match, India suffered a defeat against Germany but when it mattered, India defeated Germany 8-1. It is said that Adolf Hitler was so impressed with Dhyan Chand’s play that he offered the player a citizenship of Germany and the rank of Colonel in the Army which Dhyan Chand refused politely.

     Dhyan Chand’s scoring blitz can be measured from the fact that the second-highest international goal scorer is Sohail Abbas of Pakistan with 348 goals; way behind Dhyan Chand’s tally of 570. For his achievements, Dhyan Chand was given an Emergency Commission in 1943. In 1956, the Indian Government honoured him with the Padma Bhushan and after his death in 1979, in 1980, the Indian Post and Telegraph Department issued a 35 paisa commemorative postage stamp in honour of him. 

     In 2002, the National Stadium in New Delhi was also renamed as the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

     What Donald Bradman is to cricket or Muhammad Ali to boxing, Dhyan Chand is to hockey. Among all the sports’ personalities of India, Dhyan Chand stands tall, head and shoulder above the rest just as his statue on Sipri Hill in Jhansi.

CONVEYING MESSAGES THROUGH PICTURES

Emojis

     An emoji is a pictograph similar to an emotion used to accompany electronic textual messages. It was created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita for NTT Docomo's i-mode --- the world's first major mobile internet system.

     In the 1990s, email was taking the world by storm. Communication in the digital era did away with long letters. On the flipside, it also reduced the emotional content of the messages --- it was not easy to gauge the mood of the person writing the message, leading to miscommunication. Kurita thought that pictorial cues could help to convey emotions, weather, situations, activities etc. He and his team then created a set of 176 12X12 pixel images, taking inspiration from Japanese comics. The images were called emoji --- Japanese for 'picture' (e) + 'character' (moji). It was targeted for the Japanese market, especially teenagers.

     In the 2000s, emoji became visible across chatrooms and forums. In 2010, emoji characters were encoded in Unicode, the computing industry standard for most writing systems. With the release of Apple's iOS 5 in late 2011, they made their real international debut. Now emoji is universally accepted as a popular way of making our smartphone messages 'come alive'.

     Emoji is different from emoticons. An emoticon is a smiley face created by a user by combining a group of characters, whereas an emoji is a single pre-defined image. 

AUGUST 29

 National Sports Day

     Major Dhyan Chand, India's greatest hockey player, was born on August 29. India celebrates his birthday as National Sports Day. Chand was known for his talent for scoring goals. He brought home three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936 as part of the Indian field hockey team. He scored 400 goals in 22 years and in 1956, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. After his death in 1979, the Indian postal department issued stamps in his honour. The National stadium of Delhi was renamed Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in 2002.

Facts: 

* On National Sports Day, the President of India gives away national sports awards including Arjuna award, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand awards.

* The Indian government has launched many sports-related schemes on this day. In 2018, Khelo India, in 2019, Fit India and so on.

* Vishwanathan Anand is said to be the best chess player of India. He held the FIDE World Chess Championship from 2000 to 2002 and was the undisputed world chess champion from 2007 to 2013.

* Gama Pahelwan is known to be the greatest wrestler in Indian history. He fought 60 fights and never lost.

* Jimmy George is said to be the greatest volleyball player India has produced.

TO PURSUE YOUR GOAL

Don't Underestimate Yourself

     An old tale about a candle goes like this: One late evening a small lighted candle was being carried by a keeper climbing the stairs of a lighthouse. On the way up, the candle asked the man, "Where are we going?" 

     "We are going to the top of this lighthouse to give light signals to the big ships of the ocean," the man answered.

     "But how would it be possible for me to give signals to big ships? They will never be able to see my light," bemoaned the candle.   

     "Don't worry. Though your light is meagre, let it be. Just do your part; keep burning and leave the rest to me," replied the lighthouse keeper. 

     Soon they arrived at the top of the lighthouse where a special large lamp fitted with lenses and reflectors had been placed. It was quite dark by then, but with the help of the light of the small candle, the keeper could light the lamp and soon it shone so brightly that ships far at sea could see and be guided by its light signals.

     Like the little candle in the above story, most people often underestimate themselves, their abilities and are actually far more capable than they imagine they are. By underestimating yourself, you actually hold yourself back from pursuing your goals and find excuse for not doing the things you are capable of doing. Believe in yourself, your abilities and your potential and results will be amazing.

     Trust in yourself and in God to persevere and make it through distresses. It is said that God does not look at one's abilities or inabilities, but rather at one's availability, willingness and mindset.

   

MEDICINES THAT ACT AGAINST LIFE

 Antibiotics: How do they work?

     Anti means "against" and biotic means "life". Antibiotics are widely used to treat infections caused by microorganisms called bacteria. They work by destroying or slowing down the growth of bacteria that may cause illness.

     Usually as soon as the bacteria enter our body and begin to multiply, the body's immune system gets into action . The army of white blood cells in the blood begins to destroy the harmful bacteria even before the symptoms surface. 

     Although our immune system is capable of tackling mild infections, sometimes extra help is needed in the form of antibodies.

     An antibiotic like penicillin kills the bacterium by inhibiting its ability to either turn glucose into energy or to construct its cell wall.

     Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, fungi and parasites. They do not work against viruses. Therefore it is important to find out if the infection is bacterial or viral. For example, infections such as the common cold and sore throats are generally caused by viruses and taking antibiotics will not really help.

     Antibiotics should be taken only when prescribed by the doctor. When antibiotics are overused, the bacteria are likely to become resistant and the antibiotic becomes less effective against a particular type of bacterium.

     It is also crucial to complete the entire course of medication even if the condition improves. Otherwise some bacteria may survive in the body, causing the infection to recur. Worse still, any future antibiotic treatment may not be as effective as the bacteria that survived in the body when the antibiotic was stopped abruptly have had some exposure to antibiotics and have consequently built up a resistance to it.

MOST BELOVED FESTIVAL OF MALAYALIS

 Onam

     Onam is a celebration in connection with the legend of Vamana and Mahabali. Mahabali, also known as Maveli, was a king in ancient Kerala. He was believed to be a wise and benevolent king who ruled over his kingdom leading to great prosperity and harmony. Mahabali became so powerful that he even challenged and defeated the gods, known as the devas. The devas sought the help of Lord Vishnu. 

     There are many versions about the legend of Mahabali. According to one version, in response to the devas’ request, Lord Vishnu decided to teach Mahabali a lesson. He took the form of a dwarf Brahmin named Vamana and approached Mahabali. Vamana asked Mahabali to grant him a piece of land that will be covered by his three steps. Mahabali, known for his generosity, agreed without hesitation. 

     To Mahabali’s surprise, Vamana suddenly grew in size and covered the entire earth and heaven with his first two steps. Mahabali understood that he was none other than Lord Vishnu Himself. In an act of devotion and penance, Mahabali bowed his head for Lord Vishnu to place his foot. Lord Vishnu blessed him with immortality and sent him to rule as the King of ‘Patala’ or the netherworld. 

     Pleased with Mahabali’s devotion, Lord Vishnu also granted him a special boon. He allowed Mahabali to visit his kingdom once a year to ensure the well-being and prosperity of his people. Mahabali’s story serves as a reminder that even the most powerful and prosperous individuals should remain humble and respectful towards others. 

     The annual visit of Mahabali is celebrated as Onam by the people of Kerala. Onam is the most beloved festival of Malayalis, and it is marked by various customs and traditions. The festivities include preparing a grand feast known as ‘sadya’, creating beautiful floral carpets called ‘pookkalam’, performing traditional games and dances like ‘Onathallu’ and ‘Onavillu’, and participating in the famous boat race called ‘vallamkali’. 

     During Onam, Malayalis from all around the world visit their homes in Kerala to reunite with their families and loved ones: the festival holds great cultural and social significance. Additionally, Onam is also considered as a harvest festival as it coincides with the beginning of the harvesting season in the Malayalam month, Chingam. 

    Onam represents happiness, enjoyment, and excitement. It is a time for people to come together, celebrate their traditions, and cherish the spirit of togetherness. 

UNFORGETTABLE REVOLUTIONARY

 Rajguru

Shivaram Hari Rajguru was an Indian revolutionary who was born at Khed in Maharashtra, to Harinarayan Rajguru and Parvati Devi in a Deshastha Brahmin family, on August 24 in 1908. He was an active member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), which wanted India free from British rule.

When he was six years old, his father passed away, and the family's responsibility came to him and his elder brother, Dinkar. He completed his primary schooling at Khed and went to English High School in Pune to complete secondary education.

Rajguru joined the Seva Dal early and attended meetings and training camps conducted by Dr N. S. Hardikar at Ghatprabha. Later, he became a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), which wanted free India from British rule.

After becoming an active member of the HSRA, he associated himself with the ideology of Sukhdev Thapar and Bhagat Singh. He took part in the assassination of a British assistant superintendent of police, John Saunders, on December 17, 1928, at Lahore.

The trio took action to avenge Lala Lajpat Rai, who died a fortnight later due to being beaten by the police while on a rally protesting the Simon Commission.

Along with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, the revolutionary freedom fighter, Rajguru was also hanged to death by the British government on March 23, 1931. The whole nation remembers their sacrifice for the country as March 23 is observed every year Martyr's Day.

In his honour, Khed was renamed Rajgurunagar now a census town in the Khed tehsil of Pune.

DO YOU KNOW

 What is Retro walking?

     Retro walking is backward walking, usually done as a form of exercise. It is claimed that 100 steps of backward walking is equivalent to 1000 steps of conventional forward walking.

     Fitness experts say retro walking burns more calories, improves the mechanism of balance and co-ordination in the body and gives the heart and lungs a better workout than forward walking.

     As retro walking puts less stress on knees, those with knee or ankle problems benefit from retro walking exercises.

TALLEST ANIMAL ON EARTH

 Giraffe 

     When a baby giraffe, called a calf, is born, it literally has a long way to go — about 1.2 m(four feet) to be precise. The female or cow gives birth to the young one standing up and her legs alone are 1.8 m (six feet) long. The baby lands safely and in about half an hour, is able to heave itself up. After ten hours, it can run. A newborn giraffe is as tall as Mamma’s legs!

     As the calf grows older, the mother leaves it in a crèche with other youngsters. One or two giraffe mothers baby sit while the others take a break to eat and socialise. With their long, spindly legs and over arching necks, giraffes are the world’s tallest mammals. They can easily peek into a second-floor window! 

     A male giraffe is about 5.5 metres (18 feet) tall while a female is about 1.2 m (four feet) shorter. The long legs allow giraffes to sprint short distances at 56 km an hour. About one-third the height of the giraffe is the neck. It contains the same number of bones — seven — as human beings but each vertebra is more than 25 cm long. The neck makes the giraffe a natural look out in the vast open savannah it inhabits in Africa. Other herbivores such as zebra and antelope, gather around giraffes while feeding, because they feel safe in their company. 

     One would expect that its height and size would deter any predator, but giraffes are attacked by lions and crocodiles. Babies are especially vulnerable. Adult giraffes are most at risk when they are drinking water because they have to assume an awkward posture, with their legs spread out wide and their necks stretched out low. This is why giraffes try to get as much water as they can from their food. 

     They typically eat the tender leaves and buds of the acacia tree. The acacia has nasty thorns specifically evolved to tackle giraffes, but the animals have a trick up their sleeves —their tongues! The purple-black tongue is around 46 cm long and the lips are prehensile (capable of grasping). A giraffe bypasses the thorns and curls its tongue and lips around the leaves beyond and pulls them off with consummate ease. 

     Long, outrageously thick eyelashes protect its eyes. In case it swallows a thorn, a giraffe’s thick, sticky saliva coats it to prevent any harm. 

     Giraffes have beautiful spotted coats and each giraffe has a distinctive pattern like a human fingerprint. They have a smallish hump on their backs. This and their spotted coat gave their species the scientific name camelopardalis which means camel-leopard!

Fact File:

◆ A giraffe has a peculiar gait, in which both the front and back legs on one side move forward at the same time.

◆ Its closest relative is the okapi, a short zebra-like African mammal.

◆ Both male and female giraffes have a pair of hair-covered horns called ossicones. Babies are born with soft horns that lie flat against their heads.

◆ If they have to, giraffes can send predators flying with a deadly karate-style kick.

◆ Giraffes only need 5–30 minutes of sleep.

◆ They can moo, roar, snort, hiss, and grunt but do so rarely.

WORSHIP OF SNAKE GOD

 Nag Panchami

     The festival of Nag Panchami, celebrated all over India in August, centres around the worship of cobras or snake gods and goddesses. In some places devotees bow before live cobras; in others, serpent images made of clay, dough, or silver are venerated. Worship generally includes pouring milk over the head of the snake or its idol also offered to snakes for drinking. It is considered auspicious if the reptile drinks the milk.

     Nag Panchami is a time for snake charmers to make some money. They take the reptiles to towns and cities in round bamboo baskets. When they play the ‘been’, a musical instrument, the cobra coiled in the basket, stirs to life. It raises its head, spreads its hood and moves its head from side to side. One gets the impression that the snake is swaying to the music.

The Cobras of Shirala Battis: Shirala in Maharashtra's Sangli district is renowned for its celebration of the Nag Panchami festival. Shirala literally crawls with cobras during this time. Tourists pour in either to participate or gawk at the snakes or to witness the strange interaction between man and venomous reptiles.

     Days before Nag Panchami, the countless nag mandals or youth clubs whose members specialise in trapping snakes go on a snake-catching spree in the surrounding countryside. Even the children of the village are quite fearless and handle the snakes as if they were toys.The cobras are put in clay pots and carried by bullock cart in a colourful procession to the Amba temple where they're worshipped throughout the day. They're released back into the wild once the festival is over.The people of Shirala believe that they're protected against snakebite because of an ancient boon granted to their ancestors by Shiva. They also realise that snakes are very useful in keeping the rat population under control, and they never harm the snakes. However, animal rights activists say the snakes undergo tremendous stress during the festival.

Snake Myths: 

* When the snake charmer plays the 'been' the snake sways to the music.

False. Snakes don't have external ears. They cannot hear airborne sounds. They pick up vibrations of sound from the ground. They move their head from side to side when the snake charmer plays the 'been' because they're suspicious of the instrument and regard it as a possible threat. As the snake charmer keeps shifting the position of the 'been' the snake keeps moving its head from side to side so as to keep the instrument in sight all the time. Lizards have external ears but snakes don't.

* Snakes Loves Milk.                

False. Snakes can't digest milk and normally don't drink it. However, if they were deprived of water for several days they would drink milk, or for that matter even Pepsi or Coke, to quench their thirst. Often, during Nag Panchami, snakes are forced to drink milk by their owners and many die as a result. Some people believe that snakes enter cowsheds and drink milk from cows. This, of course, is utter nonsense. Snakes sometimes enter cowsheds while chasing rats. The cows are tethered and cannot get out of the way. They cower in fright and some of them may get so scared that their milk dries up. This may make the farmer think that the snake has drunk their milk. 

* Snakes can't lap up liquid with their forked tongue. When they're drinking water or any liquid they suck the liquid into their mouth and then force it into the oesophagus by contracting the mouth cavity.

INDIA'S OLDEST WIND INSTRUMENT

 Flute

     The flute is India’s most ancient wind instrument, depicted in the frescoes at Ajanta and in centuries-old temple sculptures. Remnants of flutes made of bone that are thousands of years old have been found in Europe and elsewhere, but the Indian flute developed independently of its western counterpart. 

     The flute is a simple instrument generally made of hollow bamboo though other materials may also be used. It has five or more holes along its length and a mouthpiece. The musical notes are produced by blowing into the mouthpiece and opening and closing the other holes with the fingers, in correct order. In India we have two main types—the bansuri, used in the Hindustani classical music of north India and the venu, used in Carnatic music. 

     The venu has eight holes and is smaller in size than the bansuri, which is typically around 35 cm (14 inches) in length but can be as long as 82 cm (32 inches) and has six or seven holes. 

     Lord Krishna is often shown playing the bansuri, an instrument with which he produced music that enthralled not only the gopis and others but also wild beasts. Two of his several names are Murlidhar or ‘one who holds the flute’, and Venugopal. 

     One of the greatest exponents of the flute is Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. 

     Pannalal Ghosh (1911-1960), maestro of the flute, made many innovations in the instrument to extend its tonal range and to integrate it into Hindustani classical music. 

STORY TIME

 Precious Onions

     Once upon a time there lived a man called Saul who was always in search of adventure. One day, a traveller came to Saul’s village and told of a far-away country where onions were unknown.    

     “What!” cried Saul in astonishment. “No onions? How can people eat food without the taste of delicious onions?” 

     He decided that he would introduce onions to those ignorant folks. He bought a wagon-load of onions and set off. As soon as he was admitted to the king’s presence, Saul announced, “I have brought a unique vegetable which will improve the taste of your food greatly.”

     The king agreed to ask his cooks to use the onions. “But if we fall ill, then it’s off with your head,” he warned Saul. 

     The next day, a number of dishes were prepared with the onions. A great banquet was held where everyone was invited.

     As they ate, Saul could see that the onions captivated all, from the king to the commoner. And everyone agreed that from then on, they would not eat food without onions in it!

     The king was very pleased with Saul and offered him gold equal in weight to the onions he had brought. When he reached home, he related his adventure to the admiring villagers. One of them, Peter, thought over what Saul had said.

     “If onions were welcomed so warmly, then what might be the reaction to garlic?” he pondered. “It adds even more flavour to food. Why, the king might even reward me with diamonds!”

     So Peter carted five sacks of garlic to the same kingdom. The king agreed to introduce garlic to his people. When everyone sampled the food cooked with garlic, they praised it to the skies and remarked that it was even better than onions. As Peter had predicted, the king and his minister wished to gift him something even more valuable than gold. 

     After a long discussion, the king summoned Peter and said,“We would like to present you with the most precious commodity in our kingdom to express our gratitude for your gift of garlic.”

     And the king handed over to Peter five sacks full of onions!

DRAWING WITH LIGHT

 Photography

     Photography is a way of capturing and recording images using a device called a camera. Photography was invented by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, a French inventor. The person who captures the picture is called a photographer. Pictures captured using a camera are called photographs.

     Photography is considered as a useful form of communication. A photograph has the ability to capture an experience, an idea or a moment in time and gives us more information about the place, people, events and objects in the photograph. World Photography Day is observed annually on August 19 to celebrate the art, craft, science and history of photography.

Facts:

* The word 'photography' is derived from Greek words meaning 'drawing with light'.

* The oldest photographic image is almost 200 years old and it took eight hours to capture.

* Print media (newspapers and magazines) has been using photographs of events and people since the 1800s.

* The first colour photograph was taken in 1861 by Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell.

* George Eastman founded the Eastman Kodak company that made camera film and photography available to the masses.

* People never smiled in the olden days as they had to stay still for many hours for one photograph to be captured.

* The first digital camera weighed four times more than the modern DSLR.

* The most viewed photograph is a wallpaper of Windows XP named 'Bliss'. It was photographed by American photographer Charles O'Rear.

DO YOU KNOW

How and where did forks originate?

     The dining fork has an interesting history. It originated centuries ago, in an ancient Egypt, not as an item of cutlery but as a cooking tool used for carving or lifting meats from cauldron or the fire. The original forks were fairly large with two tines (prongs) that prevented meat from twisting or moving during carving and allowed food to slide off more easily than it would with a knife.

     By the 7th century, the nobles and royalty of the Middle East and the Byzantine empire began to use forks at the table for dining. (Until then, they had eaten with their fingers, using only knives for cutlery.) But this did not meet with the approval of the clergy, who considered it sinful to substitute metal forks for the natural forks (fingers) provided by God. It was not until the 16th century that forks gained acceptance in Italy. In 1533, forks were brought from Italy to France when Catherine de Medici married king Henry II. The French, too, were slow in accepting forks, because using them was thought to be an affectation. The French Monarch Louis XIV was known to have forbidden his children from eating with the forks their tutor had encouraged them to use. But gradually, the fork gained popularity and by the beginning of the 19th century, it had become an essential part of the French dinner table.

     An Englishman named Thomas Coryate brought the first forks to England after seeing them in Italy during his travels in 1608. He initially faced much ridicule, as the English thought it unnecessary. But over the years, they became prized possessions made of expensive materials intended to impress guests. Small slender-handled forks with two tines were generally used for sweet, sticky foods or for foods such as berries which were likely to stain the fingers. By the mid 1600s, eating with forks was considered fashionable among the wealthy British. Forks used solely for dining were luxuries and thus markers of social status and sophistication among nobles.

NOBLE VIRTUE

 Kindness

     At one of the Special Olympics, nine physically challenged boys lined up at the starting line for the 100-metre race. 

     At the sound of the starting gunshot, they all darted out, each in their own tracks, making their best effort to dash towards the finish line. 

     During the race, a young boy tripped and tumbled to the ground and began to cry. Hearing the cry, the other boys slowed down and looked back at him. 

     Then without hesitation, they all turned around and began running towards the injured boy. 

     Instead of pushing forth to the finish line to win, they decided to help the boy to his feet. Then all of them linked their arms and together they walked to the finish line. 

     By the time they reached the end, everyone in the stadium was on their feet and cheering the boys, some with tears rushing down their cheeks.  

     Even though they had lost their chance to win the race, all the boys had smiles on their faces because they knew they had done the right thing.  

     Mark Twain said, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Kindness to all is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength and nobility of character.

MOST COMMON FISH FOUND IN HOME AQUARIUM

 Goldfish

     Goldfish are freshwater fish. They are most common fish found in home aquariums. Goldfish have two sets of paired fins and three single fins. They have large eyes and great sense of hearing and smell.

     Goldfish eat worms, shrimp and other small fish. Goldfish are not just golden orange, they come in various sizes and colours.

Types of Goldfish:

Black telescope eye goldfish

Common goldfish

Bubble eye goldfish

Oranda goldfish

Some facts about goldfish:

i) It can survive for up to 10 years in an aquarium 

   and 30 years in a pond.

ii) It can grow to a length of between 4 and 16 

    inches.

iii) Around 450 million goldfish are sold as pets 

     across the world every year.

iv) There are about 200 breeds of goldfish.

v) Gifting a goldfish is a sign of friendship.

vi) The world's largest pet goldfish was found in 

      Netherlands in 2008. It measured 18.7 inches.

Goldfish habits:

1) Goldfish doesn't have teeth. They crush their  

    food in their throat.

2) They are friendly and usually do not harm 

     other fish.

3) Though they are quite calm, they can become 

     aggressive when released into the wild.

4) They do not need companions and can live 

     alone in a tank.

5) They are smart and enjoy music.

BRITISHER WHO SUPPORTED INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE

  Annie Besant

     The Indian freedom movement was a struggle against colonial oppression and the reign of the British in India. However, not all the British believed that India was to be ruled. Instead, some supported the idea of India as a free, democratic country. Many Britishers sympathised with the Indian freedom struggle, saw the cruelty and injustices of colonial rule and actively rebelled against it. They played a part in India's freedom struggle and the independence it achieved in 1947, one such bold British woman who fought is Annie Besant.

     Annie Besant was an early advocate of many causes including women's rights, worker's rights, secularism and birth control. She first came to India on November 16, 1863, to attend the Annual Convention of the Theosophical Society in Madras (now Chennai). She actively participated in local politics, joining the Indian National Congress (INC), originally a debating body that discussed solutions to prevalent political issues.

     In 1914, when World War I broke, Besant said, "England's need is India's opportunity." In June 1914, she purchased the Madras Standard newspaper and renamed it 'New India'. She used this medium to express her outrage against the colonial government and insisted on clear moves towards a democratic nation. In 1916, she along with Madan Mohan Malaviya and Sunder Lal founded the Banaras Hindu University and in 1922, she helped establish the Hyderabad National Collegiate Board. In September 1916, she created the Home Rule League that demanded self-government for all of India through demonstrations. She set up the women's Indian Association in 1917 and in June 1917, she was arrested for participating in political matters. But she defiantly flew a red and green flag against the British Empire while in prison. She was released in September 1917 due to a threat of protest from the INC and Muslim League. In December 1917, she became the president of the INC; she was the first woman president.

     Besant clashed with Mahatma Gandhi as he felt that she emphasised intellectual develpment instead of brotherhood and unity. Besant objected to Gandhi's method of mass movements as she believed that the public would not be able to meet violence with demonstrations. She eventually left the INC to join the Liberal Party and continued to campaign for India's independence in India and during her tours of Britain. She was made Honorary Commissioner of India in 1932 and died in 1933.

DO YOU KNOW

 What is melanin?

     Melanin is a black pigment found in our bodies that is produced by special skin cells called melanocytes. It is melanin that gives colour to the skin and hair. The amount of melanin in the skin accounts for the colour differences among the races. Thus the melanocytes in the bodies of dark-skinned people produce more melanin than those in the bodies of fair-skinned people. 

     Melanin protects us from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, including skin cancer. Some people are unable to form melanin because of a flaw in their chemical makeup. Such people are known as 'albinos'. Their skin and hair are white and their eyes are red. 

     Melanin production increases with exposure to strong ultraviolet light, and this creates a sun tan, which is a protective response. Over a period of years excessive exposure to sun can tend to cause wrinkles and cancer of the skin. Since dark-skinned people have more melanin, they have fewer wrinkles and are less likely to develop skin cancer.

STORY FROM PANCHATANTRA

A wise old owl

     A mighty tree, deep in the forest was home to a great many birds. The oldest resident was an owl. One day, the old owl noticed that two branches had grown very close to each other. So he alerted the others. 

     "Friends, those two branches over there are constantly rubbing against each other," said the owl.

     "So, what about it?" asked one bird.

     "In the dry weather, friction could cause a spark that could set the tree on fire. My advice to those of you who are building nests, is to shift to a safer location!" said the owl.

      "Age has made you timid, Sir!" said a woodpecker. "We woodpeckers know everything about building nests and I assure you that the tree is safe."

     Only a few birds decided to leave the tree and build nests elsewhere. The majority decided to stay where they were.

     "This tree is as old as the hills! Fire has never occurred here," said one of the birds.

     "That's true," replied another bird. "We would be fools to leave such a safe place. I think owl is an alarmist!"

     And then one hot summer afternoon, the tree caught fire just as the old owl had predicted. A spark caused by the branches rubbing together led to a fire that engulfed the whole tree destroying every living thing on it.

Moral of the story: Listen to the voice of experience.

ARCHITECT OF INDIA'S SPACE PROGRAMME

 Vikram Sarabhai

     Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (1919 - 1971), the architect of India's space programme, was born on August 12, 1919 in Ahmedabad as the son of an industrialist. He did his tripos (a final honours examination) in natural sciences from Cambridge University in 1940. Returning to India when World War II broke out, he began pursuing research in cosmic rays under C. V. Raman at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (now Bengaluru). In 1945, he went back to Cambridge to do his Ph.D in nuclear fission.

     In post-independence India, Sarabhai went on to establish numerous institutions including research laboratories, a dance academy in collaboration with his wife, dancer Mrinalini, and the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad. His interests were not limited to scientific research but encompassed industry, business, and development issues. He followed a consistent approach involving the use of scientific methods, sound financial planning and a clear nationalistic purpose.

     In 1962, Prime Minister Nehru invited Sarabhai to organise India's space research. He was appointed chairman of the Indian National Committee for Space Research, which was later renamed the indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

     In 1963, Sarabhai with active support from Homi Bhaba, set up India's first rocket launching station at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram. The first rocket with sodium vapour payload was launched on November 21, 1963. In 1965, the UN General Assembly officially recognised the Thumba Rocket Launching Station as an international facility.

     After Bhaba's untimely death in a plane crash, Sarabhai became the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Carrying forward his predecessor's work in the field of nuclear research, Sarabhai played a key role in the establishment and development of India's nuclear power plants. He laid the foundations for the indigenous development of nuclear technology for defence purposes. 

     Awards won by Sarabhai in his lifetime include the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Award for Physics in 1962 and Padma Bhushan in 1966. He was also awarded with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. 

     Sarabhai died prematurely in 1971, at the age of 52. 

TRAINING IN THE WOODS

 A career in the Indian Forest Service

     If you want to explore the world without being confined to four walls, here is an opportunity for you to combine your academic and leadership skills with your love for outdoors. 

What’s this career about?

     The core duty of an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer is to protect and manage the country’s natural resources like forest flora and fauna, wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and implement the National Forest Policy. The job combines both desk work as well as extensive field monitoring.    

     The work involves overseeing the maintenance and development of an area of forest or woodland; organising the planting of trees, thinning and felling of trees, mining, oil and gas drilling operation; assessing the impacts of wildfires, insects, diseases and/or pollution on forests and develop strategies to control and prevent of forest fires, and protecting wildlife and natural habitats.

     Besides this, the work entails a regular interaction with the local communities living near the forest area and helping in their rehabilitation, providing them protection from wild animals as well as educating them on the importance of forests and wildlife and their protection. They may also advise government and industry officials on forest management issues and assess new forest management applications.

How do I get there?

     Indian Forest Service (IFS) is one of the three All India Services, the other two being Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS). The examination for this highly competitive job is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) (upsc.gov.in). Eligibility is graduation in science or engineering.

     Selection procedure consists of three stages — preliminary, main examination and personality test. Candidates who qualify in the Civil Services (Preliminary) and meet the eligibility criteria of IFS are shortlisted for the IFS Main Examination. After clearing the main examination, the candidate is called for an interview. 

     The interview aims to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for the service. They must be conversant with the modern currents of thoughts and with new discoveries, as any well-educated youth. The candidate’s love for outdoor life and the desire to explore unknown places is also assessed.

     This is followed by a medical test and an endurance test, which requires the selected male candidates to walk 25 kms in four hours, whereas female candidates have to walk 15 kms. Those candidates who are successful in all these phases of the examination are recruited for training.

     Initially, the candidates have to attend the common foundation course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie (lbsnaa.gov.in). On completion of this course, they go to Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy at Dehradun (ignfa.gov.in), for training on forest and wildlife management, soil conservation, surveying, etc. The officers are taught more than 56 subjects of life sciences during these two years. They need to travel to forests throughout India to know the entire spectrum of forests. They are also supposed to do field work and trek through several villages. 

     After completing training at the academy, candidates go through a year of on-the-job field training in the state to which he or she is assigned. Later, the officers are awarded a Master’s degree in Science (Forestry) from Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (fridu.edu.in). 

      No fees are charged; rather trainees are paid a stipend during the training period. Also, the Government of India takes care of other expenses. 

     After completing all the trainings, the probationer starts as an Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF). They are assigned field work with a small staff. Within 4-5 years, they are promoted to the post of Deputy Conservators of Forests (DCF) in charge of districts/forest divisions. At higher levels, they spend less time outside and may be involved in decision-making and policy decisions. At the top is the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) who is the administrative head of the forest organization and a technical advisor to the Government.

What key skills do I need?

*Love for outdoors and an interest in the 

  preservation of the environment.

* Physical hardiness.

* Scientific curiosity to solve problems.

* Effective oral and written communication skills.

* Enjoy working outdoors and be prepared to  

   spend time in isolated areas.

* Good at making decisions and planning skills.

* High level of organisational skills.

* Aptitude for administrative work and project 

   management.

Pay package 

     Indian Forest Service officers are given official vehicles and accommodation. Their salary starts with around Rs 60,000 per month, which may go up to Rs 2.5 lakhs a month. After several years of experience, some foresters become consulting foresters, working alone or with a partner.

Employment profile

     The Government of India is the only recruiter that offers different positions to eligible and qualified candidates in the Indian Forest Service. The Ministry of Environment and Forests provides employment in various departments including Environment and Ecology, Botanical Survey of India and the Botanical Gardens, the Zoological Survey of India, National Museum of Natural History, Wildlife Preservation departments, Wildlife projects, Central Ganges Authority, the National Wasteland Development boards, and the Indian Forest Service.

     Forests contribute significantly to economic development; these yield firewood, timber, fodder, industrial raw materials and other minor produce. Foresters will continue to be needed to help landowners manage their forested property. Specially trained personnel are needed to maintain and regenerate forest cover and forest resources.