DISCARDED ELECTRICAL / ELECTRONIC DEVICES

 e-Waste(Electronic Waste)

In today’s technology consumed world, e-waste is a concept that people need to be more aware of. e-Waste is an umbrella term used to describe discarded electronic devices whether its laptops, air conditioners, refrigerators, mobiles, televisions, computers, VCRs, stereos, copiers, fax machines or any other digital device or electronic equipment. 

We have many shows discussing the pros and cons of the latest gadgets being introduced, we have a comparison of the old with new electronic devices; yet there is scarcity of knowledge among the layman, when it comes to the concept of e-waste. e-Waste commonly assumed as digital rubbish is not because the equipment has stopped performing and therefore are being discarded, the technological advancements are leading people to change devices simply because of upgradation in technology leading the precursors to be rendered outdated. For example: the concept of “smart homes” is encouraging choices where people are vowed to more comfortable living by use of advanced technology which provides many services just by the click of a tab; like the security of the house is in-tacked, switching lights, air-conditioners, etc. and such other luring offers. But has any one considered the after effects of excessive dependency on digitalisation and obsession with upgradation of technology in daily activities? The rapid ascension of e-waste is a global concern. Most electronics contain high quantity of lead, mercury, cadmium, barium and bromine, etc. which are toxic to the environment when buried; as leaching process damages the soil, the ground water and thus the nearby fresh water bodies are infected too. The result is contamination of crops, livestock and wildlife of the surrounding area.

The crops soak up traces of e-waste during the developing stages and after harvest. When we purchase and consume such crops, we unknowingly consume these toxins. Bio-accumulation of such toxins can lead to long-term brain and nerve damage. Also, inhalation of these toxic fumes from their accumulation in soil, air, food not only has negative implications on people and land animals but sea animals also get infected because of them. Well, e-waste pollution can be controlled; if we collectively implement methodical measures to safeguard our environment from e-waste.

Some of the measures are shared below:

Produce less e-waste: Don’t just jump into the lure of new products. The cost of achieving something is not always in monetary terms. Disturbing the ecosystem will take away more from us than what we realise.

Reuse: Instead of discarding the old, consider donating them, re-gifting them or selling them for further use by someone else.

Repair: Instead of purchasing a new product, prefer to get the old one repaired. It’s not always costly or impractical. Don’t let the slightest inconvenience prompt you to encourage e-waste.

Proper Collection and Recycling of e-waste: Recycling e-waste is the ultimate option; just make sure you execute it the right way. Recycled metals are more energy efficient. Example: Valuable metals like silver, copper, tin, gold, etc. can be extracted from the circuit boards. Thus, end-of-life handling measures play a vital role in e-waste effect. In order to develop a circular economy, where resources are saved and fed back into the supply chain for reuse it’s essential to be responsible in the process of not just collecting e-waste but also ensuring it reaches the correct authority liable for recycling or dismantling the e-waste.

Life and ecosystem: The technology innovators will continue to expand and create user friendly electric devices designed to make our lives easier in every conceivable way but being susceptible to quickly pitching the machines we already have can cost heavily on our environmental degradation. We as individuals are responsible and thus need to make sure we don’t just keep passing the e-waste liability on the government and instead are responsible ourselves. Dizzying speed of technological advances has no end; it’s a continuous learning and upgrading activity. However, environmental protection should be our priority. We have already exhausted substantial amount of natural resources and can’t afford to waste anymore. Life and ecosystem will sustain on natural resources and not technology, thus being responsible is a great contribution in saving environment. It’s our duty to not convert a blessing into a curse, by recklessly using it.

e-Waste scenario in India: e-waste is not sufficiently collected and processed in India because of the prevalent patterns of illegally recycling the e-waste along with other wastes by informal waste pickers called kabadiwalas or raddiwalas. This reduces the potential capacity to extract metals from e-waste and also enhances release of toxic pollutants leading to irreversible consequences. Enforcing e-waste legislation remains a challenge because of unawareness among people regarding the consequences of such ignorance. Not only recycling industry needs to be established but implementation regarding collection, disposal and compliance deficits requires attention. There is a great capacity of job generation in this recycling industry but safety of workers needs to be prioritised before-hand. We also need to invest in technology that are cutting edge and can prove beneficial to the e-waste recycling industry, which not only safeguards the workers safety but at the same time enforces an efficient system of collection and disposal of e-waste. The current regulatory framework needs to integrate the informal sector into the overall system and educational programs should be organised to spread awareness among people.

 

CELEBRATION OF BIRTH OF SHREE RAM

 Ram Navami

Ram Navami is the celebration of birth of Prabhu Ram. According to the Hindu calendar, Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the Chaitra month which is also the last day of Chaitra Navratri. Hence, Ram Navami holds a special importance. Ram Navami is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm throughout India. The festival is celebrated in a grand manner in the Northern India, especially in Ayodhya, the birth place of Shree Ram.

Ram Navami signifies the arrival of divine power on the earth. It was the day when Bhagwan Vishnu was born as the elder son of Dasharath, the King of Ayodhya. On this day, the devotees of Prabhu Ram perform elaborate rituals.

The purpose of the birth of Ram was to destroy the evil spirit of Ravana. Hence, the celebration of Ram Navami glorifies the power of dharma(righteousness), and it reflects the victory of good over evil. A celebration of Ram Navami festival indicates the removal of negativity and rise of divine power on the earth. To remove the Asuras (demonic energy) from the earth and to maintain the Dharma, Bhagwan Vishnu was born as Shree Ram.

The day of Ram Navami begins with the offering prayer to the Sun. The Sun symbolises power. Sun is believed to be Prabhu Rama's ancestor. Hence, praying to the Sun at the beginning of that day to seek the blessing of supreme power is auspicious.

Devotees of Shree Ram celebrate the day by singing the devotional songs, listening recitations from religious books and chanting of Vedic hymns. Preachers also preach sermons from religious texts. All of these practices make people aware about the difference between right and wrong. Followers of Shree Ram keep a fast for the whole day. It helps to purify body system.

At the end of the day, devotees break the fast after having fruits and sweets. Chariot procession is an indispensable part of Ram Navami festival. The devotees place the images of Shree Ram, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman in a decorated chariot and carry out a procession on the streets.

                        

Taking a holy bath in the sacred river of Saryu in Ayodhya is a part of rituals of this ceremony. The Hindus believe that this holy bath purifies the body and soul.

STORY

 The window and the mirror

A wealthy merchant, as he grew older, became more and more unhappy.

He was perplexed by his own misery, and said to himself, “I have every luxury that money can buy. Yet nothing gives me pleasure anymore. How can this be?”

It so happened that a sage was staying in that town. The merchant invited the sage to his house to seek his advice.

When the sage arrived, he noticed a large window looking out into the town square, and also saw a mirror hanging on the wall.

The sage took the merchant by the hand and led him to the window. “What do you see?” the sage asked.

“I see people,” the merchant replied.

Then the sage led him to the mirror, and again asked: “What do you see?”

“I see myself,” the merchant replied.

The sage said: “In both, the window and the mirror, there is glass. But the glass in the mirror is covered with silver and as soon as silver is added, you cease to see others, and just see yourself.”

Later that day the merchant wandered through the town. For the first time in his life, he forgot about his own needs and saw the needs of others. He then decided to share his wealth with others, and kept only enough to feed and clothe himself. His misery disappeared and he lived happily thereafter!

HOBBY THAT IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE

 Swimming

Hobbies are our best friends. We pursue them when we have either nothing to do or are tired from the day’s work. While some hobbies merely help us to kill time, there are other hobbies that improve the quality of our life. Swimming is one such hobby.

There are more benefits to swimming than simply cooling off on a hot day. Swimming is one of the best exercises that benefit our entire body. The more we learn about swimming the more we will want to add it to our list of favourite hobbies. It is a great, year-round hobby and takes very little gear to get started.

Swimming not only burns calories, but is easy on the joints, supports our weight, builds our muscular strength and endurance. The other health benefits of swimming are that it keeps our heart rate up and takes some of the stress off our body. The most beautiful aspect of swimming is that we can set our own pace — go as fast as we like — otherwise just take slow laps in the pool. Swimming uses all the muscles in the body — so whether it is a gentle breaststroke or hammer butterfly, we get a full body workout.

Swimming is perfect for our mental health as well. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, swimming for just 2.5 hours per week decreases the risk of chronic illness. By toning and developing a wide range of muscles, swimming helps prevent the injuries that can occur in youth who specialise in a sport from a younger age.

But swimming for beginners can be challenging if you don’t know what to do in the pool. Hence, it’s extremely important to start swimming by using a beginners’ guide and including all the safety measures. It is essential to find the right pool and take proper swimming lessons and not try out anything on your own. The best way to pursue swimming as a hobby is to join a swimming club. To get started, one can begin with just the swim workouts.

Swimming was one of the eight sports practised at the first Paralympic Games in 1960, and has now become most popular. Swimming has been part of the Olympic schedule since the very first modern Olympic Games held in 1896. 

So summer is here.

Enjoy splashing water, enjoy swimming!

MEET THE SCIENTIST

 Alexander Graham Bell

I am Alexander Graham Bell, a scientist. I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 3rd March 1847. I was initially homeschooled by my father who was a professor. Later I attended high school at the University of Edinburgh.

Do you know what scientific achievements I have done when I was alive? No? Then let me tell you. I was the one who invented the telephone, which is now indispensable to everyone.

I became interested in the science of sounds because both my father and mother were deaf. And slowly I got an idea to send voice signals into a telegraph wire. I got some funding for this experiment and hired another great scientist, Thomas Watson, as my assistant and together we built the world's first telephone. And these are the first words I spoke on my telephone – “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you" on March 10, 1876.

Many other scientists also had similar ideas for the telephone but I was the first one to run to a patent office and register my invention. So, I became the first one to invent the telephone before others did.

Then I started a company called Bell Telephone Company in 1877. This company underwent many mergers and name changed over the years. Today this company is known as AT&T.

The telephone is not the only invention that I have done. I have many other scientific achievements to my credit and this is my list:

The Metal Detector - I invented the first metal detector that was used to try and find a bullet inside President James Garfield.

Audiometer - I invented a device to detect hearing problems.

I invented special techniques to help in teaching speech to deaf persons.

I made a device to help find icebergs.

I made the world's first transcontinental telephone call to Thomas Watson from New York to San Francisco. Watson was in San Francisco.

I also helped form the National Geographic Society.

Finally, I died on 2nd August 1922. And when I died every phone in North America was silenced for a short period to honour me.

REASON FOR MANY FAILURES

 Difference between Belief and Trust

A person started to walk on a rope tied between two tall towers at several hundred feet above the ground. He was slowly walking balancing a long stick in his hands. He had his son sitting on his shoulders.

Everyone down was watching him in bated breath and was tense. He slowly reached the second tower. Everyone clapped, whistled and welcomed him. They shook hands and took selfies.

He asked the crowd, “Do you all think I can walk back on the same rope now from this side to that side?".

Crowd shouted, “Yes, yes, you can".

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

They said, “Yes, yes we are ready to bet on you.”

He said, “Okay, can any one of you sit on my shoulder? I will take you to the other side safely.”

Everyone became quiet. There was stunned silence.

Belief is different. Trust is different. For Trust you need total surrender.

People believe, But don’t trust.  This is the reason for many failures.

DETERMINATION HIGHER THAN EVEREST

 Arunima Sinha

Meet Arunima Sinha, the mountaineer whose determination can only be gauged as higher than Mount Everest. Her hair-raising story is not just a story of determination of the highest level but one of a sublime level which may serve as an inspiration for all and yet may be impossible to emulate.

Determination must have been in her blood as Arunima was born in the family of an Army engineer on 20 July 1989. Her early life was of hardships and struggles as she lost her father at a very young age, and the family consisted of four children. Being a resident of Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, Arunima had her schooling in the Government Girls’ Inter College of her hometown. Her hobbies were gardening, sketching, yoga, travelling and listening to music. She also liked football, while distinguishing herself as a national level volleyball player. She has participated in the Nationals, seven times.

Aspiring to join one of the paramilitary forces, on 12 April 2011, Arunima Sinha boarded the Padmavati Express on her way to Delhi to appear for her CISF examination. Little did she then know that her life was about to take a turn for something that neither she nor anyone could have ever foreseen. A gang of robbers tried to rob the passengers of the General Compartment in which Arunima was travelling. Arunima resisted when the hooligans tried to snatch her necklace but she was outnumbered and was pushed out of the train. She fell on the rail tracks and was unable to move and all that she remembers is that another train on the adjoining track ran over her left leg. She recalls: “I resisted the robbers, but they pushed me out of the train. I could not move. I only remember another train coming towards me. I tried getting up. But by then, the train had run over my leg. I don’t remember anything after that.”

She was soon taken to a nearby hospital. After some initial treatment, Arunima was moved to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The police department made a mockery of the investigation by concluding that Arunima may have tried to commit suicide. It was a judgement of the Allahabad High Court that finally made the Railways pay Rs 5,00,000/- as compensation to Arunima.

Arunima had been brought to the AIIMS with injuries to her backbone and also the right leg. While the doctors inserted a rod in her right leg, to save Arunima’s life, they had to amputate her left leg below the knee. A local Delhi company financed her for getting a prosthetic left leg.

For any ordinary mortal, the situation would have been only looking into a dark and bleak future but not for one whose inspirations are people like Swami Vivekananda, cricketer Yuvraj Singh and mountaineer Bachendri Pal. While being treated at AIIMS, she had already resolved to climb Mount Everest. She was inspired by Yuvraj Singh, who successfully battled cancer, “to do something” with her life.

She excelled in the basic mountaineering course from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, and was encouraged by her elder brother Omprakash to climb Everest with a prosthetic leg. She contacted Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest, and signed up for training under her at the Uttarkashi camp of the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) 2012.

Once out of bed, Arunima refused to use crutches for walking although the doctors feared that another operation would become necessary if the steel rod tore through the flesh, but the ‘never-say-die’ spirit of the mountaineer-to-be had the last laugh.

On 1 April 2012, Arunima started her first expedition in Ladakh and scaled the 6,622-metre high Mount Chhamser Kangri. The same year, as preparation for her Everest expedition, Arunima also scaled the 6,150-metre Island Peak and on 12 April 2013, with sponsors secured by the Rama Krishna Mission at Vadodara, Arunima was on her way to reach the highest point on Planet Earth at 8,848 metres.

The 52-day and a last stretch of a 17-hour climb to the top of the world may have ended as a failure as Arunima’s oxygen level was below the desired level but not when the person at the other end of the breathing apparatus is a 5’2” dynamite named Arunima Sinha. On 21 May 2013, the determined soul left the whole world gaping in awe; Arunima reached the top of the world!

Incidentally, Arunima was not the first to achieve such a feat as way back in October 2011, a 61-year old American lady, also a left leg amputee had scaled Mount Everest but Arunima was definitely the first Indian woman to achieve this remarkable feat.

As was expected, honours and prizes began to flow. But Arunima, the restless mountaineer, had added yet another dream to her life. She wanted to scale the highest peaks of each of the seven continents. In due course of time, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Kosciuszko in Australia, Aconcagua in South America and Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia all lay low to Arunima’s determination. In January 2019, when Arunima scaled Mount Vinson in Antartica, she became the first amputee lady to scale that peak.

Of the many awards that Arunima received, the Padma Shri could be rated as the highest, but the diminutive mountaineer has now started focussing on another project: working for the welfare of the differently-abled, that they too are able to achieve their own goals. In pursuance of her social magnanimity, Arunima has used all her prize money to open an academy in the name of the most revered revolutionary: Pandit Chandra Shekhar Vikalang Khel Academy.

Her autobiography, 'Born Again on the Mountain', inspires a host of individuals who may be in a state of despair due to their physical incapacities.

Other than her physical handicap, Arunima’s personal and emotional life also has had its shocks and turmoil. Her first marriage of 2012 fell apart and she remarried in 2018 but nothing seems to stop the flow of Arunima’s determined life. Having set and achieved a goal, she is quick to set another one for herself to achieve. Indeed, a true follower of her idol, Swami Vivekanand; “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.”