13 FEBRUARY

 World Radio Day

World Radio Day, celebrated on February 13 every year, is dedicated to spread awareness about the power of the audio medium. The radio, said to be invented by Italian electrical engineer Guglielmo Marconi in the 1890s, is an important means of communication to educate, entertain and inform. 

It is a fast, easily accessible and affordable way to reach a huge number of people, including in remote areas. World Radio Day is honoured with special activities like broadcasts, community events, awards, debates conducted by radio stations and other organisations.

The theme for World Radio Day 2023 this year is ‘Radio and Peace’, which highlights the role of radio in encouraging peace and avoiding conflict. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) highlights independent radio as a pillar for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The sub-themes for this year’s radio day are - Radio in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding and Support to Independent Radio.

History and Significance

The Spanish Radio Academy in September 2010 requested the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to mark a day to honour radio's significance across the world. After discussions with various broadcasting associations, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as UNESCO Permanent Delegations and National Commissions, 91 percent voted in favour of the proposal.

During the 36th general assembly session, the UNESCO Executive Board requested UNESCO to declare a World Radio Day. February 13 was then accepted as World Radio Day in 2012. The date was chosen because the United Nations Radio was born on February 13, 1946.

Radio arrived in India in the early 20th century. Serving as a source of information for those who are unable to read advertisements or newspapers, the radio has stood the test of time as a trusted medium even as technological advancements abound.

WHY DO BATS HANG UPSIDE DOWN?

 

Bats, although they fly are not birds but they are mammals. Unlike birds, bats have trouble with takeoffs from the ground. Their wings are not as strong as those of birds and they cannot run fast enough to build up flight speed. Bats have an easier time flying when they start already in the air. They use their front claws on their wings to climb to a high spot and launch themselves to achieve flight.

Another reason they hang upside down is because a bat’s talons or back claws work opposite of most muscles. In fact, their knees face backwards. When they relax, special tendons lock the toes and talons in place, so they do not exert energy while hanging. Once their toes and legs are locked in place, their body weight and gravity keep them hanging. By flexing leg muscles, the toes and talons release and flight begins.

Humans cannot hang upside down as blood rushes to the head and tends to pool or collect. But the bat’s compact, small size allows their heart to easily distribute the small volume of blood even when upside down.

Because of their unique physical abilities, bats can safely roost in places where predators cannot get them. To sleep, bats hang themselves upside down in a cave or hollow tree, with their wings draped around their bodies like cloaks. They hang upside down to hibernate and even upon death.

JAPANESE STORY OF FISH

 

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the water close to Japan has not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever.

The further the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring the fish. If the return trip took more time, the fish were not fresh.

To solve this problem, the fish companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer.

However the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen fish and they did not like the taste of frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price.

So, fishing companies installed fish tanks.

They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, fish were tired, dull, and lost their fresh-fish taste. The fishing industry faced an impending crisis.

But today they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan.

How did they manage?

To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks but with a small shark. The fish are challenged and hence are constantly on the move.

The challenge they face keeps them alive and fresh!

Have you realised that some of us are also living in a pond but most of the time tired and dull...?

Basically in our lives, sharks are new challenges to keep us active.

If you are steadily conquering challenges, you are happy.

Your challenges keep you energised.

Don’t create success and revel in it in a state of inertia. You have the resources, skills and abilities to make the difference.

Put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go...

In order to be motivated, take challenges and achieve it.

Challenges keep you energised....

WHY DO WE YAWN?

 

Everybody yawns — from unborn babies to the oldest great-grandparent. Animals do it, too. But why, exactly, do people and animals yawn? No one knows for sure. But there are many theories (ideas) about why people yawn. 

One is that when we are bored or tired, we just don't breathe as deeply as we usually do. As this theory goes, our bodies take in less oxygen because our breathing has slowed. Therefore, yawning helps us bring more oxygen into the blood and move more carbon dioxide out of the blood.

Yawning is an involuntary reflex (something we can't really control) to help us control our oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

Other studies have shown that breathing in more oxygen and also breathing in more carbon dioxide does not increase yawning.

Another theory is that yawning stretches the lungs and lung tissue. Stretching and yawning may be a way to flex muscles and joints, increase heart rate, and feel more awake.

Other people believe that yawning is a protective reflex to redistribute the oil-like substance called surfactant that helps keep lungs lubricated inside and keeps them from collapsing. So, if we didn't yawn, according to this theory, taking a deep breath would become harder and harder — and that would not be good!

But there is one idea about yawning that everyone knows to be true. It seems contagious. If you yawn in class, you'll probably notice a few other people will start yawning, too. Even thinking about yawning can get you yawning. How many times have you yawned while reading this article? It seems to be psychological too!

THE HISTORY OF ELECTRIFICATION IN INDIA

Look around you. You are surrounded by electricity. Lights, fans, air-conditioners, washing machines, fridges and even reading devices all work on electricity or electrical charge. Without electricity, our lives would be very different.

Did you know, princely states like Hyderabad and Mysore got electricity even before Bombay (now Mumbai), Delhi and Bangalore (now Bengaluru)? In Hyderabad, electricity was introduced in 1901.

30 years after that, electricity transmission systems consisted of six mains carrying currents of 6,600 volts.

In the next 30 years, 66 substations were introduced. The residents of Hyderabad started using electricity for household lighting because of the New Power House, which was installed in 1927. The government encouraged people to apply for electric connections, and the resulting increase in demand led to a reduced rate per unit. As a result, many more people began to apply for connections.

In Mysore, electric supply began in 1902 after the Sivasamudram Project was completed. This was India's first hydroelectric power station and is located on the Cauvery River. It was commissioned by the Diwan of Mysore, Sir K Seshadri lyer. The generated power was used in the Kolar Gold Fields. In 1911, the government funded an extension of the project. The already existing system produced 11,000kW and with the extension, 14,300kW of power could be produced.

Soon Bombay had electricity. Failure to implement electric lighting in areas like Crawford Market led the Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company to develop the first generation station in Bombay in November 1905. It supplied power to tramways and official and domestic spaces. The capacity of the station was over 4,300kW and it lasted till 1908. Then, the tramways started expanding, which resulted in a growing need for electricity and power. In 1912, a factory was set up in Mazgaon, which was of higher capacity. However, high prices of electricity resulted in unequal distribution of electricity. To increase supply, hydropower plants were set up in Khopoli, Bhivpuri and Bhira. The increased use of electricity in Bombay influenced other parts of Maharashtra like Yeola and Bulsar.

In Bangalore too, electricity was inaugurated in 1905. Lahore got it in 1911. Punjab had over 10,000 streetlights, 3,200 fans, 77 motors, 35 pumps and 36 radiators during 1923-24.

While India was a colony of the British, most of the power-generating systems were hydroelectric in nature. They electrified the big ports, cities and offices. The Electricity Supply Act of 1948 led to the rise of State Electricity Boards (SEBs), which subsequently resulted in the emergence of Regional Electricity Boards.

Impact on Agriculture

After electricity was established in Mysore, places like Anekal, Doddaballapur, Mulbagal, Hoskote, Chikkaballapur and Vadaganahalli started to get lit up. By 1928, more than 128 villages received electricity. The government encouraged farmers to invest in electric irrigation pumps and increased rural electrification. Farmers took advantage of these modern mechanised power tools instead of performing manual labour. The raiyat (a person who has the right to hold land), who would bail water from his wells using bullocks, realised that the benefits of using an electric pump allowed him to pump about 2,000 gallons per hour. There were 383 irrigation pumps powered by electricity by 1936. Soon, flour mills and rice mills powered by electricity became popular in the state of Mysore.

How Lives Changed Because of Electricity

When electricity came to Calcutta (now Kolkata), there  was increased demand for electricity from Burma, Punjab, Bihar and other provinces. Consequently, the government introduced the Indian Electricity Act of 1900, which made having an electric inspector necessary to look into each and every electrical installation. Electric meters in all premises having electricity and licenses for companies became the norm. Anyone who tampered with the connections was sentenced to two years of prison. This marked the start of formal all-India electrification.

At the time electricity was introduced, it was not a very well-known service among the locals. Advertisements and pamphlets were used to promote the use of electricity for lighting and heating. By the 1900s, trams took the place of carriages and mechanised fans replaced hand-held fans.

When electricity came to Delhi in 1902, the entire city was to be decorated for the Durbar. In the following year, the streets were lit up by electric lights and electric trams were introduced. The civil lines were among the first places to get electrified. After electrification, a tramcar service was introduced, which ran in the busiest areas of the city. Indians found the new system convenient, and trains were soon jam-packed, especially during the festive season and holidays.

Modern India & Renewable Energy

India is considered to be the world's largest consumer of electricity and the world's largest renewable energy producer. In 2001, alternate forms of renewable energy in Indian households included biomass, firewood, crop residue and cow dung. Since 2014, the adoption of renewable energy for electricity has increased at the rate of 25% per year.

Simultaneously, power installation has increased tenfold and solar energy has grown from nothing to 2,500MW in 2014. More than a million households in 2014 depended on solar energy exclusively to meet their basic electricity needs.

Renewable energy production in India began when the Commission for Additional Sources of Energy was set up in the Department of Science and Technology in 1981. Today, renewable energy forms a quarter of India's total installed power capacity and accounts for 13% of the country's electricity generation. The Electricity Act of 2003 opened up the rural electrification market to decentralised distributed generation systems. Many states including Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have policies to encourage people to harness solar power from the rooftops of buildings.

As part of the Paris Climate Agreement, India has set a target to produce 50% of its electricity from renewable sources and install 450GW of renewable energy by 2030.

Solar Energy in India

Every year, about 5,000 trillion kWh of solar energy is incident over India's land area. Solar photovoltaic cells can easily harness this energy. If harnessed, this has the ability to generate power on a distributed base and promote rapid capacity addition with short lead times.

Considering energy security, solar is the best because it is abundantly available. Millions of Indian villages use solar energy for their cooking, lighting and other uses. It has social and economic benefits as it reduces workload among women in rural areas and girls engaged in gathering wood for fuel from long distances. Cooking in smoky kitchens powered by fuel has also reduced, reducing the risks associated with contracting lung and eye ailments.

The National Institute of Solar Energy works to address sustainable ecological growth while addressing India's energy security challenges, considering the Government of India and the states. To encourage the use of solar power in India, the government has introduced several schemes like Solar Park Scheme, VGF Schemes, CPSU Scheme, Defense Scheme, Canal Bank & Canal Top Scheme, Bundling Scheme and Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme.

WOLRD’S HIGHEST ALTITUDE ATM

 

The world’s highest altitude ATM is located at the Khunjerab Pass border between China and Pakistan, in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

At an elevation of 15,396 feet, Khunjerab Pass is the highest paved border crossing in the world.

Installed by National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in 2016, the solar – and wind-powered ATM is used for cash withdrawals, utility bill payments and interbank fund transfers. 

CARRY YOUR HEAVEN WITHIN YOU: A BEAUTIFUL SUFI STORY

 The Sun and the Cave

One day the sun and a cave struck up a conversation. The sun had trouble understanding what “Dark” meant and the cave didn’t quite get the hang of “light and clear” so they decided to change places.

The cave went up to the sun and said, “Ah, I see, this is beyond wonderful. Now come down and see where I have been living.”

The sun went down to the cave and said, “I don’t see any difference.”  

When the sun went down, it took its light along and even the darkest corners were illuminated. That's why the sun couldn't see any difference.

One of the quotes says "The enlightened ones can never be sent to hell or pushed into darkness. They carry their heaven on their shoulders all the time".

We are under the impression that heaven is a place where we should go, but it is our state of mind which imagines heaven or hell.

If you are full of darkness, full of negativity, fear and doubt, you become a cave unknowingly. It's a hell within and no matter how much you accumulate, you still remain hollow.

On the other hand, if you are illuminated like the sun, then the darkness of the cave wouldn't matter. You could be in the worst of circumstances, yet you will still be able to find a blessing somewhere...

Carry your heaven within you!!!