Sometimes it is essential to have a
Plan B as this would help you deal better in a given situation.
Say, for example, you have a desired
goal that does not work out. Having a second back-up option will help you survive
better here.
It is essential to never close all
your options and goals at a fixed point.
Having a plan B will help you sail
through a rough patch in life.
It will also give you more perspective
which is not one-sided.
The balancing rock of Mahabalipuram
At Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, a 20-feet- high and 2-metre wide granite
stone on the slope of a hill is a major tourist attraction.
It is estimated to weigh over 250 tons.
The rock is balanced upon a 4-feet area of highly slippery slope of the
hill, resting at an angle of 45 degrees.
It stands in a way that challenges all natural laws.
When we look at it, we get a frightening feel that the stone will fall
down at any moment.
But it has been there sitting in that position for more than 1200 years!
The rock is called ‘Krishna’s Butterball.’
The name is said to be given by a tourist guide.
But it has been locally known in Tamil as ‘Vaan Irai Kal.’
In Tamil language the name means ‘Stone of Sky God.’
In 1908, the Governor of Madras State, Arthur Lawley, thought the rock
was a threat to the houses nearby.
He ordered to move it from there.
Seven big elephants were used to push the stone away from the slope.
But they failed to move it even an inch from its place.
It was not the first attempt ever made.
The Pallava KingNarasimhavarman I (630-668 AD) had also made an effort
to move the stone, but failed.
It is not a naturally formed stone as the rest of the hill is smooth and
without rocks. The stone proved to be impossible to push down the hill.
Then a few questions arise in our mind.
How was the stone pushed up the hill?
Is there something under it? Why has
it been known as ‘the Stone of Sky God’ ?
Tamil Nadu is a place of many geological wonders.
In Rameswaram, there are heavy stones which float in water.
Many say they are pumice stones which contain many air bubbles enabling
them to float.
Books
Life is not easy to live on without
friends. When it comes to books, they can be our best friends forever. A good
book enriches our mind with good thoughts and knowledge just like a good
friend. We do not feel lonely in the company of books. Books written by good
and experienced authors help us to become good persons and also teach us how to
serve the society in the best possible way. When we are alone, we can always
pick up a book and start reading it, to feel relaxed.
Books can be good or bad, but it is
our responsibility to choose them wisely. Friendship with good books makes good
persons, whereas friendship with bad books makes bad persons.
Books give us enormous amount of
knowledge. We go to school and learn a lot of new things. But to understand the
concepts completely in various subjects, we need to refer books.
We can refer books at any time and
clear our doubts or remind ourselves of some points that we have forgotten or
learn a point which we have not looked into so far.
Some books may be costly. But good
books are worth more than the money.
When we are travelling and the
duration of the journey is long, it is good to read books. Similarly, when we
are at home and have nothing to attend to, it is better to read books.
Often people with disturbed mind, try
to read sacred epics and holy texts, to keep their mind completely occupied and
to regain peace of mind.
Books written by well-known authors
generate noble thoughts in us. They give us analytical skills. They help in conceptualization
of ideas and in solving problems.
It is important to be practical in
applying the knowledge gained from books and not just remain as readers. Good use
of books means meaning the appropriate knowledge, let it be technical or
language skills or general knowledge or fun-related matters.
It is also very important to note down
important points, thoughts or doubts when we read a book.
We should use books carefully without
damaging them. We should keep them safe from wet environment and away from dust
and insects.
One good advantage of books is that we
can select what we want, read whatever we require, and whenever we wish.
In the modern world, books are also
changing their appearances from hard copy in paperbacks to e-books on the
internet. Whether we are comfortable reading a hard copy or a soft copy on the
computer, depends on personal choice.
Rana Sanga
The kingdom of Mewar boasted of a long
line of heroic kings. One such king was Maharana Sangram Singh (1482-1528), who
ascended the throne in 1509. He was better known as Rana Sanga.
Rana Sanga was an ambitious and shrewd
man. Though he had lost an arm and an eye in battle, he fearlessly waged wars
against Mewar’s traditional enemies in Gujarat and Malwa, and formed strategic
alliances with them.
Distressed by Rana’s exploits, Ibrahim
Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, sent a huge army against Mewar. The Rana was
undaunted and he attacked and defeated the Sultan’s forces. Lodi’s commander
barely escaped, with the Rajput soldiers giving him chase right up to the
border of Rajputana. The Rana’s victory against Ibrahim Lodi was his crowning
achievement.
Buoyed by his success, the Rana began
eyeing the throne of Delhi. He invited Timurid military adventurer, Babur, to
launch an attack on Ibrahim Lodi from Kabul.
He hoped that Babur would retreat from
India after trouncing Lodi at Panipat (1526) so that he could establish his
rule in Delhi. But that was not to be.
Babur did oust the Lodis from Delhi,
but he showed no inclination to return to Kabul. Undeterred by this setback,
the Rana formed a confederency of local chieftains and marched against Babur at
the head of a formidable army of 80,000 cavalrymen and 500 elephants.
The two armies met at Khanwa on 16
March, 1527. Babur only had a army of 50,000 men, but when he unleashed his
artillery power, the Rana’s army was capitulated.
With the Rajput’s defeat, the Battle
of Khanwa paved the way for Babur’s conquest of Northern India. Rana Sanga died
shortly after bringing a glorious chapter in Mewar’s history to an end.
A little girl and her father were crossing a wobbly wooden bridge across a stream.
The
father felt quite scared, and told his daughter, “Sweetie, please hold on to my
hand that you may not fall into the stream.”
The
girl said, “No, dad. Better you would hold my hand.”
“What’s
the difference?” asked the puzzled father.
“There’s
a big difference,” replied the little one.
“If
I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may
accidentally let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that,
no matter what happens, you will never let go of my hand!”
Trust
is the foundation of everything we do.
It
can be a fragile thing, but it is the basis of all relationships.
When
we trust someone, we have confidence in them as well as their honesty and integrity.
We
truly believe that they will do the things that they say they will.
We
recognize their abilities and strengths. We place our faith in them.
Trust
in ourselves; trust in others.
Above
all, trust in God.
Then
we can grow confidently and responsibly.
Be prepared to meet the challenges that come your way. Have trust, confidence, and determination.
This
will certainly enable you to succeed in life.
The
German poet Goethe once said, “As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how
to live.”
Dr. Charles Drew
Surgeon Dr. Charles Drew is perhaps
responsible for more lives saved across the world than anyone else. He showed
how blood could be stored for medical emergencies; establishing the world’s
first blood bank and organising the world’s first blood drive. He was also the
first director of the American Red Cross.
Born in Washington, D.C., in 1904,
African-American Drew was a brilliant student and athlete. After graduating
from USA’s Amherst College, he taught biology and also served as the school’s
Athletic Director. A few years later he was back in college studying for his
medical degree and later his CM(Master of Surgery).
Dr. Drew was keenly interested in how
blood could be transferred from one person to another. At that point, blood
transfusion technology was basic and blood could only be stored for two days
after which it became useless. Dr. Drew discovered that by separating the
liquid part of blood (plasma) from the rest of the blood (the red blood cells),
blood could be stored for up to a week. Dr. Drew’s insistence that the colour
of one’s skin played no role in blood donation saved the lives of many soldiers
during World War II. For instance, non-white soldiers no longer had to wait for
blood donations from same race donors. Dr. Drew’s unstinting work led to many
awards but sadly, when he was injured in an accident in 1950, his condition was
too grave for a blood transfusion and he passed away.
The age of a person is calculated in three ways according to medical science.
They
are Chronological Age, Mental Age and Physiological Age.
Chronological
Age: It
is the actual age of a person in years. This method of age determination is
commonly used by all people for various purposes. In the case of chronological
age, it is calculated from the date of birth of a person till date.
Mental
Age: It
is the age calculated as per the level of intelligence or the mental
development of a person in relation to his chronological age. It is determined
by a series of tests, such as Intelligence Quotient test (IQ) and other tests
by a psychiatrist/psychologist. For example, if a person of 30 years of age can
pass the tests meant for a child of 12years only, he/she is said to have a
mental age of 12 years.
Physiological
Age: It
is determined according to one’s physique, appearance of the body, and
behaviour of the person. For example, at a particular age some people seem to
be younger and others seem to be older. Some seem to be older at the age of 40
while some others seem to be younger at the age of 60.
MAHA KUMBH 2025 The Maha Kumbh Mela, an integral part of Indian tradition, is renowned globally as the largest peaceful congregation of peop...
