SENDING MAIL

From the Snail mail to Email

      Indian postal system is the most widely distributed postal system in the world. We send letters, greeting cards, books and several other things via post office. It is called the mail or post. Usually these are delivered on the following day if within a state in India. The letters to other states take three of more days for delivery. For the countries outside India, it usually takes minimum seven days to get them by airmail. The Universal Postal Union helps to send letters and other materials around the world.

     Egyptian postal system is the oldest postal system in the world. In ancient Egypt, the Pharaohs used messengers to deliver decrees within their country some 4400 years ago. Letters sent through post office is now called snail mail.

     The message sent by email is faster. However, it is slower than the speed of light . A few seconds only required for the computers to encode the message and decode it back to light beams.

     In 1978, V. A. Shiva Ayyadurai invented the email system. He was a 14-year old boy then. It all came out of a young boy's play. He is hailed as the inventor of the electronic mail. Today it is called email in abbreviated form.

Popular Email Service Providers:

Gmail : a free email service developed by Google launched on April 1, 2004

Yahoo! Mail : An email service launched in 1997 by the company Yahoo!

Mail : This is an email client by Apple Inc.

Outlook.com : This is Microsoft's email client which replaced the Hotmail in 2011. 

AOL mail : AOL stands for America Online and it is an email service owned by Verizon Communications.

FATHER OF THE INDIAN ARMED REBELLION

 Vasudev Balwant Phadke

Vasudev Balwant Phadke was born in Raigad, Maharashtra. He was mentored by freedom fighter Lahuji Vastad Salve, who motivated the youth to free the country from colonial rule.

Salve was a wrestler; he taught Vasudev Balwant Phadke the art of wrestling. Phadke then learnt by himself the art of shooting, horse-riding, and fencing.

At the age of 30, Phadke organised an army of 300 people, comprising of Ramoshis, Kolis, Bhils and Dhangars. He did not get support from the educated Hindus of his region.

As he did not have funds, he raided British treasuries, to buy weapons. He also helped the famine-affected villagers with the collected funds. He successfully led several raids in the Pune region.

The British labelled him as a dacoit. Phadke recruited another band of 500 Rohilas and trained them in the art of warfare. With 800 men, Phadke was all geared up for war against the British. He, along with his men, started attacking British posts.

He even declared big rewards to anyone who could capture the British Governor of Bombay or kill British officers. He led a surprise attack on Pune, defeating the British and getting hold of the city for a few days.

The British offered a big reward for Phadke’s capture. A traitor gave information about his whereabouts to the British. Before he was caught, Phadke encountered the British in a fierce battle at Kaladgi near a temple. It was 20 July 1879. The British deported him to Aden in Yemen where he was jailed.

Phadke escaped from his jail cell, taking the door off from its hinges. It was 13 February 1883. He was recaptured. He breathed his last at Aden jail on 17th February 1883. He was then aged 37 years.

JUNE 5, WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

 #Beat Plastic Pollution

     Our environment is going through a crisis. Devoting a day to create awareness about the environment and the challenges it is facing is important. 

     Since 1974, the United Nations has been observing June 5 as World Environment Day. It is celebrated in more than 100 countries and this year marks its 50th anniversary. This day helps us understand more about the dangers to the environment and the need to protect and conserve it. 

     Several factors such as industrial emissions, releasing industrial effluents into water bodies, overuse of plastic and deforestation have led to environmental pollution. These issues, in addition to others that cause pollution need to be addressed properly. The Government, industries, communities and individuals have to start acting responsibly in order to prevent environmental pollution. 

     Children can play a major role in saving our environment by promoting the message of World Environment Day. Every year the UN selects a topic of concern for that year. The theme of this year is ‘Solutions to Plastic Pollution’. This year’s hashtag and slogan is #Beat Plastic Pollution. 

     More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. An estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually. This affects our biodiversity and pollutes our ecosystem right from the mountains to the ocean floor. This is a major concern for our survival. That is why this topic is selected this year. We need to create awareness among the public about the dangers and educate them about reuse and recycling and proper waste management. 

     Let us be vigilant about this and try to make a difference by avoiding the use of single-use plastics.

NEW ACADEMIC YEAR, A NEW BEGINNING

 The best is yet to come

     Summer holidays are over and you are about to start a new academic year. You are now one step up in your educational pursuit. Make sure you begin this educational year with new hopes and a positive mind. Make your school life more useful, meaningful and successful. Pay attention while learning, absorb what is taught and retain it. Acquire wisdom through reading and listening. Don't harbour any kind of enmity in your mind.

     I wish you the very best for a wonderful new school year rich in knowledge and friendship and  would like to remind you of a thought provoking quote, which will inspire and motivate you in the unending process of learning by, Ralph Marston :

"The best book has yet to be written. 

The best song has yet to be sung. 

The most beautiful picture has not yet been painted. 

The best day has yet to be lived. 

The best food has not yet been served. 

The most exciting discovery is waiting to be made. 

The greatest building has yet to be built. 

The most useful machine is not yet designed. 

The biggest sale has yet to be sold. 

The most successful business has not even been started. 

All the great achievements the world has known to date are but a prelude of what is to come. 

In every field of endeavour, in every walk of life, there's ample opportunity to be the best. 

In every person is the seed of greatness, in every day is a dream to fulfill. 

The best is inside you, waiting for you to bring it to life."

DO YOU KNOW

 What are seed balls?

     It is a ball made from clay, seeds and compost or humus. Seed balls are used to replant areas where the natural flora has been destroyed. It is a technique of propagating plants from seeds without opening up the soil using traditional methods like ploughing. 

     Traditional methods of seeding have certain disadvantages. The seed is sown on top of the soil, so it may get dried out by the sun, blown away by strong winds, washed away by rains or eaten by birds. But when seed balls are used, the hard clay casing protects the seeds from excessive heat, winds, heavy rains and nibbling birds. The moisture in the clay of the seed ball helps the seeds to germinate. Additionally, cotton fibres or papier mache may be mixed into the seed ball while preparing it to increase its strength. 

     Using seed balls to replant an area is an ancient technique that was rediscovered and popularised in modern times by Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer.

     Seed balls are used in seed bombing and aerial reforestation. Environmental activists drop or throw seed balls in arid areas or land that is off-limits. This is called seed bombing. In the case of aerial reforestation, planes are used to distribute seed balls over large inaccessible areas such as mountain tops.

     Seed bombing is widely practised in Africa. The seed bomb is put in a biodegradable container and dropped onto the land, grenade-style. When the seed sprouts, the container biodegrades into the soil. 

A MANTRA APPLICABLE AT ALL TIMES

      This too shall pass

     A king once asked his Council of Ministers for a Mantra applicable at all times – happy and sad. The wisest of his ministers wrote a message on a piece of paper, folded it and told the king to keep it inside his ring. He advised the king to look at it when he was in his saddest and happiest moments. The king kept the folded paper in the ring without looking at the message, and forgot about it. 

     It so happened that in a few days, a neighbouring army attacked the kingdom. The king's army was not able to defend itself and the king was forced to flee from his palace, with the enemy hot upon his heels. He ran towards the forest and took refuge in the dark. Once he was sure that he had managed to evade the enemy soldiers, he pondered on his miserable situation and thought to himself,  “I have never been in a worse condition. This is surely the saddest moment in my life.” Suddenly, it struck him – “Let me see the Mantra in my ring”. 

     Written on the piece of paper were the words, “This Too Shall Pass.” The wisdom in the message was clear to him. No doubt it seemed that he was passing through a very bad time, but this was only a phase. It would pass off and things could only get better from here. This thought gave the king tremendous strength of mind. As he sat in the forest, he began strategising. He then came out from his hiding-place, rounded up his soldiers who were dispersed in various villages, instilled courage in them and rebuilt his army.  

     Well prepared and determined, they marched toward the enemy, defeated them and regained the kingdom and palace. The king was jubilant. He stood on the palace veranda overlooking his kingdom, feeling extremely happy of his achievement and a tad proud of himself. 

     Just at that moment, a ray of light fell on his ring and shone brightly. The king was startled and realised, “This is my happiest moment... but this too shall pass. These happy moments are nothing but temporary. So, what am I feeling so elated about,” thought the king to himself.

     Let us remember the Mantra in the king's ring,  that no situation is permanent and neither is any emotion. We need not feel ecstatic during the happier moments in our life nor feel down in the dumps when the going gets rough. Let us perform our duties in life with a balance of mind, full dedication and sincerity at all points of time. 

The less you expect, the more pleasant life gets.

FESTIVAL OF BUNS

Bun Festival of Hong Kong

     Every year in April-May, the island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong celebrates the Bun Festival. The Bun Festival is a week-long festival celebrated by the fishing community to thank Pak Tai, the God of water, for helping them get a good catch throughout the year and for protecting them from pirates. 

     During the festival, people showcase Chinese culture. Famed lion and dragon dances, grand parades with vibrant floats and children dressed up as their favourite heroes floating in mid-air (supported by wires and rods), and loud music to drive away evil spirits add to the fun.

     The most exciting part of the festival is on the last day at the Pak Tai temple, where three 20-m high bamboo towers are covered with sweet steamed buns, blessed by monks. At the sound of a gong at midnight, twelve selected youths, attached to safety harnesses, scramble up the towers to snatch away as many buns as they can. Good fortune is believed to befall the youth who succeeds in seizing the buns that are right on top.

     Traditionally, the islanders become strict vegetarians for the three days of the festival — this is one time when the local McDonald’s serves only vegetarian burgers!