AN IRANIAN FOLK TALE

Flight of fancy

A landlord was strolling through his estates when he met one of his tenants who presented him a hamper containing a roast chicken and a bottle of grape juice.

The landlord saw one of his servant boys going past and called him and asked him to take the hamper home.

"Don't open it on the way," he warned. "It contains a live bird and a bottle of poison. If you open the basket, the bird will fly away!"

The boy, however was not to be fooled. As soon as he was out of sight of his master, he ducked behind some bushes and opened the hamper. The sight of the chicken made him drool.

When the landlord reached home and learnt that the boy had not brought the hamper, he was furious and went in search of him. He found him sleeping contentedly under a tree. He kicked him awake and demanded to know what had happened to his hamper.

"I - I did a very bad thing," said the boy, "I - I opened the hamper."

"You did, eh!" said the landlord, grimly. "You ate it, didn't you?"

"Ate what master?" asked the boy, innocently. The moment I opened it, the bird hopped out and flew away."

The landlord didn't know what to say. Then he remembered the grape juice.

"And what happened to the juice?!" he asked triumphantly.

The boy said,"I was so ashamed of what I had done and so fearful of what you would do that I decided to end my life. I drank the bottle of poison to the last drop and now I am waiting for it to take effect. Goodbye, master!"

The landlord aimed another kick at him and stumbled back to his house, feeling rather foolish at being outsmarted by a small boy.

DO YOU KNOW

How do erasers remove pencil marks from paper?

 

Erasers also called rubbers, are used to remove the graphite marks made by pencil while writing on paper. Erasers are generally made of 'sticky' substances like plastic, rubber, vinyl, gum etc.

When a person writes, graphite particles wear off the pencil tip and get interlocked with paper molecules. The soft abrasive action of the eraser causes the graphite particles to stick to it instead of the paper, as graphite has a stronger attraction to the eraser molecules than to paper. The 'dust' left over after rubbing consists of worn rubber clumps mixed with graphite particles. 

Some types of erasers tend to remove the top layer of the paper along with the graphite particles and rubbing the same spot repeatedly can make holes in the paper.

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT LONGEST INTERNATIONAL BORDER

 Canada-U.S. Border

The border between the United States and Canada is officially known as the “International Boundary” or just the “Canada-U.S. Border”. It is the longest international border in the world.

The Canada-United States border passes through the villages of Stanstead in Quebec, Canada, and Derby line in Vermont, US. It has split many houses and streets. So people are cooking their food in one country and eating it in another!

Canusa Avenue is particularly interesting. Homes on the South side of Canusa are in Vermont whereas those on the north side are in Quebec. The residents have to inform the Customs Authorities before they cross the street!

The border also passes through the Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line which was commissioned by local philanthropist Martha Haskell and her son Horace Stewart Haskell. They deliberately built it on the international border so that citizens of both countries could enjoy the library services.

The Haskell Free Library has a line on the floor that marks the border between the US and Canada. So when you walk through the front door, you are in the US. But if you reach the circulation desk, you are in Canada. And if you sit on the couch, you are back in the US!

Similarly, the stage of the Opera house lies in Canada while the seats lie in the United States! There are three official crossings between Stanstead and Derby line. The residents have to inform Border Patrol Authorities every time they cross the border.

CLASSICAL DANCE STYLE OF ODISHA

 Odissi

Odissi is one of the most elegant classical dance styles of India based on the feminine style of dancing known as Lasya, hailing from Orissa. Prevailing for more than 2,000 years, evidence proves that Odissi existed in the 2nd century, but over the centuries went through various stages of both progression and regression like other classical dances of India. Through the medium of varied movements and expressions, different stories of Hindu mythology are portrayed, particularly Vaishnavism. Nevertheless, stories from other religions are also interpreted in Odissi. Hence, Odissi is a fine representation of secularism and spiritualism.

Evolution and History:

Odishee (original name) archeological sites related to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and the carvings of dance and music in the Manchapuri Cave in Udayagiri, reveal that Odissi existed in the 1st to 2nd century during the reign of Jain king Kharavela. Hathigumpha inscriptions further ascertain the fact of the existence of this lyrical and graceful classical dance of India.

The “Shilpa prakasha”, Odia architecture and sculptures at the Lord Jagannath Temple, the Konark Temple with a “nritya mandapa”, the Brahmeshwara temple in Bhubaneshwar, are other evidences of the Odissi form. The 8th century saw the emergence of the saint composer and philosopher Shankaracharya, and in the 12th century, the saint-composer Jayadeva wrote the immortal classic Geet Govinda which is considered the mainstay of Odissi repertoire.

Odissi dancers were referred to as Maharis (devadasis). The dancers used to perform inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and there were other dancers who danced in the temple courtyards and further moved on to rich landlords and palaces, hence the degradation of dance started for which not only the dancers but also the society is responsible. Alongside, the traditional emergence of Gotipua (boy dancers) prevailed wherein young boys danced dressed as girls.

Technique and music:

Like other classical dance styles, Odissi is also based on the text of dance and dramaturgy, Bharata Muni’s Natya Sastra and Nandikesvara’s Abhinaya Darpana. Natya Sastra mentions four vrittis (methods of expressive delivery) in vogue like Avanti, Dakshinatya, Panchali and Odra-Magadhi. Odra refers to Odissi. The Odissi technique comprises various bhangas (symmetry body bends), torso deflections and hand movements. It all starts with the chauka (basic stance) followed by other movements in different rhythmic beats. Broadly, Odissi can be divided into two sections: movements known as pure dance and abhinaya (expressional dancing). Students start learning at an early age as it is not easy to master this art of geometrical symmetry and stylized movements.

Classical and folk music with Odia lyrics forms the music with raags like Kalyana, Nata, Baradi, Karnata, Bhairavi, Saveri, etc., are used. Musical composers like Jayadeva, Dinakrisha Dasa, Kabi Samrata, Upendra Bhanja, Banmali Dasa and Kavichandra Kalicharan Patnaik form the mainstay of the Odissi repertoire.

The performance normally begins with an invocation to Lord Jagannath known as Mangalacharan, followed with a rhythmic pure dance item known as Pallavi, a fine combination of rhythm, music and melody, Abhinaya numbers like Dashaavataram, Ashtapadis from Geet Govinda, and finally Moksham, that symbolises the union of the human soul (jeevatma) with divine soul (parmatma).

Pioneer mentors and repertoire:

The pioneer mentors of Odissi are Kelucharan Mohapatra, Gangadhar Pradhan, Pankaj Charan Das and Raghunath Dutta, top dancers like Sanjukta Panigrahi, Sonal Mansingh, Ragini Devi, placed Odissi on the international platform followed with Dr Priyambada Mohanty, Laxmipriya Mohapatra and Kum Kum Mohanty and Kasturi Pattnaik further enhanced the repertoire by increasing the numbers with new choreographic items. Sharon Lowen from America and Illeana Citaristi from Italy are recognized as devoted performers.

Some of the professional dancers from Mumbai are Jhelum Paranjape, Daksha Mashruwala, Shubhada Varadkar and Debi Basu. Young talented dancers include Madhur Gupta, Vinod Kevin Bachan (disciple of Padmashri Ranjana Gauhar), Ankur Balal and Debasis Patnaik.

AN AMAZING MOTIVATOR

 Nicholas James Vujicic

Nick Vujicic was born to Dushka and Boris Vujicic, Serbian immigrants from Yugoslavia on December 4, 1982 in Melbourne, Australia. Although he was an otherwise healthy baby, Nick was born without arms and legs; he had no legs, but two small feet, one of which had two toes. Originally, the toes of one of his feet were fused. An operation was performed to separate the toes so that he could use them as fingers to grab. He refers to it as his chicken drumstick. When he was born, his mother refused to see him or hold him when the nurse held him in front of her. She and her husband went out of the hospital and vomited from seeing their son with no limbs, but they eventually accepted the condition. Nick has two siblings, Michelle and Aaron.

Initially, a Victoria state law prevented Nick from attending a mainstream school due to his physical disability in spite of a lack of mental impairment. However, Vujicic became one of the first physically disabled students integrated into a mainstream school once those laws changed. However, his lack of limbs made him a target for school bullies, and he fell into a severe depression. At age eight, he contemplated suicide and even tried to drown himself in his bathtub at age ten; his love for his parents prevented him from following through. He also stated in his music video "Something More" that God had a plan for his life and he could not bring himself to drown because of this.
Nick prayed very hard that God would give him arms and legs, and initially told God that, if his prayer remained unanswered, Nick would not praise him indefinitely. However, a key turning point in his faith came when his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with a severe disability. Vujicic realized he wasn't unique in his struggles and began to embrace his lack of limbs. After this, Nick realized his accomplishments could inspire others and became grateful for his life. 

Nick gradually figured out how to live a full life without limbs, adapting many of the daily skills limbed people accomplish without thinking. Nick writes with two toes on his left foot and a special grip that slid onto his big toe. He knows how to use a computer and can type up to 45 words per minute using the "heel and toe" method. He has also learned to throw tennis balls, play drum pedals, get a glass of water, comb his hair, brush his teeth, answer the phone and shave, in addition to participating in golf, swimming, and even sky-diving.
During secondary school, he was elected captain of MacGregor State in Queensland and worked with the student council on fundraising events for local charities and disability campaigns. When he was seventeen, he started to give talks at his prayer group, and later founded his non-profit organization, “Life Without Limbs”.

He lives in Los Angeles, California, United States.

In 2005, Vujicic was nominated for the Young Australian of the Year Award.

On 12 February 2012, he married his fiancée, Kanae Miyahara, and on 13 February 2013, their son Kiyoshi James Vujicic was born weighing 8 pounds 10 ounces.

He is a father of two boys and twin daughters (born in 2018).

To conclude in his words:

“Failure is not important, how you overcome it is.”

DO YO KNOW

 How does a hand sanitizer clean your hands?

A hand sanitizer is often used as a substitute for cleaning hands when soap and water are not available. It comes in the form of gel, foam or liquid. It mainly consists of ethanol/ethyl alcohol (60 per cent) and other chemicals along with ingredients like glycerine, fragrance, essential oils of plants and water. Non-alcohol based hand sanitizers are also available.

A dollop of hand sanitizer is enough to remove germs from your hands without the use of water. The high concentration of alcohol in the sanitizer kills the bacteria present on the surface of the hand. It simultaneously strips away the outer layer of oil on the skin, thus preventing the growth of new bacteria. Non-alcohol based sanitizers use a chemical called benzalkonium chloride instead of alcohol. However, the effectiveness of a hand sanitizer is a matter of debate. Studies indicate that it kills most bacteria, fungi and some viruses, but only if its alcohol content is at least 60 per cent. Moreover, it takes about 30 seconds for the alcohol to take effect—if it evaporates before, then your hand is not germ-free. A hand sanitizer cannot clean a dirty hand either.

GREAT MONARCH OF INDIA

 Ashoka - The Enlightened Ruler

Ashoka was born in medieval India’s first great dynasty ---the Mauryan Dynasty, founded by Chandragupta Maurya. The nane Ashoka means ‘the sorrowless one’. After the death of Ashoka’s father Bindusara in 272 BC, a power struggle broke out among his sons. Ashoka, known for his terrible temper and cruelty, overthrew his eldest stepbrother and ascended the throne of Magadha. In the beginning, Ashoka ruled cruelly. He built a prison where prisoners were subjected to unimaginable torture. This came to be known as Ashoka’s hell.

Soon Ashoka had to suppress a revolt in the frontier region of Taxila (in present-day Pakistan). Later, Ashoka led a bloody war against Kalinga (modern-day Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh). This was one of the bloodiest wars ever fought. Over 1,00,000 soldiers were killed and 1,50,000 were made prisoners. Despite being victorious, Ashoka was filled with remorse at the killings and finally understood the need for peace.

Ashoka turned towards Buddhism with its teachings of non-violence, tolerance and openness. His thoughts were directed towards reducing the sufferings of people. People who used to refer to him as Chanda-Ashoka (Ashoka the fierce), now started to call him Dharma-Ashoka (Ashoka the noble). It was usual in those times for kings to spread their ideas by force, but Ashoka spread the message of Buddhism through moral persuasion.

Ashoka turned Buddhism from a local Indian tradition into a world religion. He took his message to the people through dozens of edicts carved in rocks in all the corners of the country. These edicts were in the Brahmi script, which fell out of use after Ashoka’s time, and his edicts were forgotten in India, though remembered in other countries where Buddhism had spread. A story about two of Ashoka’s pillars illustrates this.

King Firoz Shah of Delhi had these pillars transported to Delhi. He asked the scholars of his kindom to decipher them. Having no idea of what was written on the pillars, the scholars told the king that the inscription stated, ‘No one would be able to move these pillars until the later day when there is a king called Firoz Shah.’ The local population believed the pillars to be the walking sticks of Bheem, one of the five Pandavas in Mahabharat.

In the 19^th century, British scholar James Prinsep deciphered the Brahmi script and re-discovered Ashoka. After this re-discovery, Ashoka became a favourite of Indian nationalists. Ashoka’s wheel and lion capital were adopted for the national flag and national emblem.

Ashoka was perhaps the first ruler ever to establish a welfare state. He abolished the sacrificial slaughter of animals for the royal kitchen. He established hospitals for both humans and animals. Along highways, wells were dug, and banyan and mango trees were planted at every kilometre for the comfort of travellers. Ashoka built an extensive road network including the Uttarapath or Northern Route, which began in Taxila and ended 2,000kms away at Pataliputra, the Mauryan capita. The road was later remade by the Mughals and the British as the Grand Trunk Road, now called National Highway 1.

Ashoka ruled for 36 years. He created an empire that covered almost the whole of India except for a small region in India’s Southern tip. Such a huge empire was not created again in India for nearly 2,000 years till the British colonized India. Under his rule, the kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, his empire declined very rapidly after his death as his successors could not maintain such a huge empire.

Famous writer H. G. Wells paid tribute to Ashoka in the following words:

“Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the columns of history, the name of Ashoka shines and shines almost alone, a star. From the Volga to Japan, his name is still honoured. China, Tibet and even India, though it has left his doctrine, preserve the tradition of his greatness.”

Ashoka’s Architectural Legacy

* Lion capital at Sarnath

* Pillars at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

* Buddha’s birthplace, Lumbini, in Nepal and Sarnath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

* Champaran, Bihar

* Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh and Vaishali, Bihar

* Ashokan rock inscriptions in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan

Lessons to learn from King Ashoka

* Through willpower one can overcome one’s faults

* Peace is better than war

* Love and respect all forms of life on Earth