21 JUNE

 International Day Of Yoga

This year, it is the 9th International Yoga Day and the theme is 'Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' effectively encapsulating our collective aspiration for 'One Earth, One Family, and One Future.' 

Background: Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity. Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as International Yoga Day by resolution 69/131. 

June 21, which is the Summer Solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.

International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

IDY Logo: Folding of both hands in the logo symbolise Yoga, the union, which reflects the union of individual Consciousness with that of universal Consciousness, a perfect harmony between mind & body, man & nature; a holistic approach to health & well being. The brown leaves symbolise the Earth element, the green leaves symbolise the Nature, blue symbolises the Water element, brightness symbolises the Fire element and the Sun symbolise the source of energy and inspiration. The logo reflects harmony and peace for humanity, which is the essence of Yoga.

Benefits of Yoga: Yoga is very necessary and beneficial for all human beings if it is practiced by all on daily basis in the early morning. The benefits of Yoga include :-

• Increased muscle strength and tone
• Increased flexibility
• Improved respiration, energy and vitality
• Maintaining a balanced metabolism
• Weight reduction
• Cardio and circulatory health
• Improved athletic performance

TO BECOME STRONGER, BRAVER AND BETTER

Face Challenges Boldly

     When young, Swami Vivekananda, founder of the Ramakrishna Mission, was known as Narendra. One day, while going to the Durga temple in Kashmir, a troop of monkeys steadily followed him. Narendra became frightened. He did not know what to do. On instinct he decided to run away and escape from there. With all his might he began to run. But the monkeys followed him faster than before.

     A Sanyasi was watching the scene. He cried out “Instead of running from them, turn back and face them boldly.”

     Narendra obeyed his words. He stopped running. Then he turned back, and stood bravely facing the animals. The monkeys also stopped. After a while, they dispersed and disappeared.

     Challenges are a part of everyday life. They come in many different forms; both big and small; and often unexpectedly.

     For some people, the challenge would be doing well at school. For others, it may be worries, like certain prevailing difficulties, past mistakes, or failures. Challenges actually help us become stronger, braver, and better. Without them, life might be somewhat meaningless. For we might then have nothing to compare the good times to.       We do not have control over the past. But we do have control over decisions we make now and in future. Therefore, choose to believe in your ability to make rightful and practical decisions in the face of challenges. Don’t ever be hasty.     

     Remember the famous adage, “A calm mind is the ultimate weapon against challenges in life.” Be continually prepared to face challenges prudently and optimistically. Thus you shall move ahead and succeed in life.

IRRADIATED FOOD

 Is it safe for consumption?

     The process of food irradiation involves exposing the food to the energy from short-wave radiations like gamma rays, X-rays or electrons.

     Research over the last 40 years has proved that irradiated food does not retain any radioactive property and hence is completely safe. Moreover, irradiation does not diminish the nutritive value of the food.

This technology is used to destroy the bacterial, fungal or viral growth in food that can spoil it or cause diseases. Irradiated food thus has a longer shelf life. As irradiation is a cold process, it causes no change in the freshness or texture of the food unlike certain other procedures that involve heat. In fact, it is difficult to tell an irradiated apple from a normal one, as it remains as juicy and crisp. 

     Presently over 40 food items such as fruits, vegetables, spices, seafood, grains meat and poultry are available in irradiated form. Many specially-marked irradiated fruits and vegetables are commercially sold in the US, France, China, South Africa and Netherlands.

     Although the process of irradiation greatly reduces the growth of bacteria, it does not completely eliminate it. Hence irradiated poultry needs refrigeration. As for irradiated fruits, refrigeration is not essential, though they will last much longer in a refrigerator.

     In India too, many irradiated food items like onions, potatoes, garlic, spices etc. are now available.

NEVER GIVE UP

Story of two frogs

 

    In a pond lived two frogs. One rainy day, they went about happily hopping around here and there. Eventually, they entered a house, and accidentally fell into a can of milk kept on the kitchen table. They desperately tried to jump out of the can. But their efforts were in vain. Soon, both frogs were about to drown inside the can. One frog became totally exhausted, lost all hope, and said, “I can’t swim anymore.” It soon sank to the bottom of the milk can and drowned. The other frog, however, didn’t give up. It kept on trying to leap out. After some time, because of its rapid movements, the milk turned into butter. The frog was then able to climb atop the butter heap, and hop out of the milk can to safety. 

     At one time or another, everyone reaches a point in life when they want something very badly. But they may lose hope and become ready to lose out, like the frog which drowned. Don’t give up just because you’re tired from many failures. Ignore failures and keep on struggling with determination. Plan and work toward your planned goals with optimism and confidence. Remain focused, positive-minded, and progressive in the face of challenges, and persist until you win. An old adage says, ‘It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up’. Remember, Napoleon failed as an essay writer, Shakespeare as a wool merchant, Lincoln as a storekeeper, and Walt Disney as a newspaper editor. But none of them ever gave up their efforts. They tried other things for which they were better suited, and ultimately attained the amazing results that we all know and see today. Remember that the only real failure is giving up!

THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND CRYING AND WHY OUR EYES WATER

 Why do we cry?

What are tears made of? 

     Tears are a clear liquid that fills your eyes when you experience significant pain, overwhelming emotion or the invasion of an irritant, but not all tears roll down your cheeks in uncontrollable streams. If you’ve ever touched your own eyeball, you’ll know that it’s always wet. This is because tears are produced by your eyes constantly. Usually, the volume of tears produced is low enough that they don’t overflow out of your eyes. Instead they’re drained by tiny holes in the upper and lower eyelids called tear ducts. Tears contain the salts potassium chloride and sodium chloride, enzymes, lipids and essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Lysozyme is one of the most abundant enzymes in tears, as the first line of defence against bacteria. This protein works to kill any bacteria that enters the eye, which can easily happen when you rub your eyes with your hands. But not all of the benefits of crying are physical. Psychologically, we feel differently about others when we see them cry. It can show a person’s vulnerability, and studies show that during emotional arguments, people often become less aggressive towards others when witnessing them crying. By releasing tears you’re also more likely to receive help from others, bond with them and be trusted. 

Less than one per cent of your tears is salt.

Why do we cry with happiness?

     Crying is a release of emotion, but this emotion doesn’t always have to be sadness. Have you ever been reunited with a close friend and burst into tears as soon as they arrived? Or perhaps when it was the happiest moment of your life? Although you know when you are happy and sad, the brain can become overwhelmed by influxes of such strong emotions. Both positive and negative emotions are dealt with in similar ways by releasing tears. The amygdala is the part of the brain that processes emotional and behavioural responses. Just before you cry with happiness, the amygdala sends a signal to the glands in the eyes to make them produce more tears. When these tears are released from the eyes, the hormone oxytocin is also released in the body, working to calm the body by instigating physical changes such as reducing blood pressure. In the same way that sad crying relieves the negative emotions felt, happy crying stops the brain being overwhelmed with opposing changes in your mental state. Happy tears are sweeter tasting because they’re less acidic. 

Tears are made up of over 1,500 different proteins.

Types of tears:

The act of crying can have negative connotations, but not all crying is the same. Some tears are produced during highly stressful and emotional events, while others are formed after a single cut into an onion. There are three types of tears, differentiated by their triggers and impact on the body: basal, emotional and reflex tears. Each type also varies in its composition. Basal tears are always present on your eyeballs. They are made up of three layers, serving as a protective coating for delivering nutrients to the eyes. Without these tears, your eyeballs would dry out. 

     While basal tears work to keep small amounts of physical debris out of the eyes, emotional tears relieve stress and help to stabilise mental health. Stress chemicals have been detected in emotional tears, meaning that the act of crying can literally flush overwhelming feelings away. The third type is reflex tears. These are mostly made of water, which is released in higher volumes when an irritant such as a small insect – or the enzymes and acid released by onions when they’re cut – makes contact with the eyeball. More antibodies, which are defence proteins of the immune system, are released in these tears to fight any harmful cells that might enter the eye.    

Onions release sulphur when cut, which forms the irritant sulphuric acid when it makes contact with the water on your eyes, causing more tears to be produced. 

How basal tears create a protective layer (TEARY-EYED ANATOMY)

1 LACRIMAL GLAND: One of these glands is located above each eye. Here the bulk of tears are continuously released onto the outside of the eyeball.

2 MEIBOMIAN GLAND: Around 30 of these glands line the lower eyelid. These and the 40 on the upper eyelid release oil into tears.

3 CONJUNCTIVAL GOBLET CELLS: These cells produce a protein called mucin, which lubricates the eye and prevents the eyelids from sticking to the surface of the eyeball.

4 MUCOUS LAYER: This inner layer contains a protein called mucin, which is sticky and keeps the tear film attached to the eyeball.

5 AQUEOUS LAYER: The biggest portion of the tear film is water. This layer is 98.2 per cent water and 1.8 per cent solids to hydrate and nourish the eye.

6 LIPID LAYER: When excreted from the meibomian glands, the oily layer prevents the water in the tears from evaporating and makes the eyeball’s surface smooth.

7 EYELASHES: The small hairs that stick out from your eyelids reduce the movement of air around the eyes so that tears don’t evaporate quickly.

8 EVEN SPREAD: Each time you blink, the three-layered tear film is spread evenly across the eyeball’s surface by the eyelids.

9 TEAR DUCTS: These passages carry tears from the eye into the nose. Here the old tear film can exit the body by evaporation or re-enter the body.

MY PARLIAMENT MY PRIDE

 A New Parliament Building For A New India

     Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s new Parliament building on May 28, 2023. The new Parliament building is not just a physical structure but a symbol of India’s democratic spirit, heritage and culture. The new building will serve as an emblem of India’s glorious past, present and future as a world leader. 

     In its 75th year of independence, India has proudly presented its new Parliament building to the world. This building is constructed by Indians for Indians. 

Why was a new Parliament Building needed? 

The Parliament of India is the highest law-making body in India. The Parliament makes the laws that everyone in the country has to follow. The Parliament is made up of elected representatives called members of Parliament (MPs). The MPs discuss and debate a topic before making a new law. This requires a place for them to sit and conduct meetings. This place is called the Parliament House. 

     The previous Parliament House is a heritage building that was constructed in 1927. The Parliament House was designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. 

     The building is now old and showing signs of wear and tear. It also needed more space as the number of MPs is expected to increase in the future. For this reason, the Government of India decided to build a new Parliament building. This new building is better in terms of space, technology, amenities, safety, parking facilities and offices.

Let us explore the New Parliament Building: 

The new Parliament building is shaped like a triangle and covers an area of 65,000 square metres.

The building has three main gates. These are the Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar and Karma Dwar. These are separate entrances for important persons such as MPs and visitors.  

The new building has 888 seats in the Lok Sabha chamber and 384 seats in the Rajya Sabha chamber.  

The Lok Sabha Hall is three times bigger than the old one. It is peacock-themed based on India’s national bird.  

The Rajya Sabha Hall is lotus-themed based on India’s national flower.  

The building has ultra-modern office spaces. These spaces will use smart display screens, fingerprint sensors and other digitally-advanced audio-visual systems.  

The new building is designed to be safe from earthquakes. It is eco-friendly and uses clean energy. It will also focus on rainwater harvesting, solar panels and waste management.  

The public entrances have three galleries. The Sangeet Gallery showcases India’s traditional dances and music. The Sthapatya Gallery showcases India’s architectural heritage. The Shilp Gallery showcases the unique handicraft traditions of India’s many states.  

The new building also presents a unique union of tradition and modernity through symbols such as Sengol and Foucault’s Pendulum. 

The Sengol: Prime Minister Modi placed a historic object called Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber of the new Parliament building. The name Sengol comes from the Tamil word for righteousness, "Semmai". The Sengol is a sacred sceptre made of gold and silver. A sceptre is a decorated rod carried by kings or queens on special occasions as a symbol of their power. The Sengol is 5 feet in length. There is a small statue of Nandi at the top of the Sengol. Nandi is the bull deity associated with Lord Shiva.

      The Sengol has a long history. This history goes back to the time when the Chola dynasty ruled over parts of South India and Sri Lanka between the 9th and 13th centuries. The Cholas had a tradition of passing down the Sengol sceptre from one king to the next. This was a symbol of the transfer of power and legality. On Aug. 14, 1947, the Sengol was presented to India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The Sengol has since been kept at a museum. Now, the government has decided to put it in the new Parliament building. This has been done to highlight the importance of this historical object in India’s cultural heritage. The Sengol’s presence in the Lok Sabha chamber signifies the connection between the past and the present. It also shows the country’s commitment to its traditions and democratic ideals. 

Foucault’s Pendulum: Another interesting feature of the new Parliament building that has caught everyone’s attention is Foucault’s pendulum. It is named after the French scientist Leon Foucault. Foucault invented this pendulum to show that the Earth is rotating. The pendulum is a ball hanging from a string. Foucault’s pendulum has a heavy ball hanging from a height with a long string. It swings back and forth but slowly starts to change its direction. For example, when the pendulum swings in a north-south direction, it gradually shifts towards the eastwest direction. This shows that the Earth is rotating. The pendulum installed in the Parliament House is quite tall. It is about 22 metres high when suspended from the ceiling and weighs around 36 kilograms. It also has a power supply to make sure it swings smoothly. The pendulum was built fully in India. It has been installed in the gallery section of the Constitution Hall. The pendulum represents how India is connected to the universe. 

HAMID: THE PERSONIFICATION OF UNSELFISH LOVE

 Eidgah

     Eidgah, translated as ‘TheFestival of Eid’, is a very popular story by Munshi Premchand, one of India’s most influential Hindi writers of the last century. Written in 1938, the story is a sensitive account of a poor boy’s adventures at a village fair on the day of the Eid festival. The central character of the story is Hamid, a four-year-old boy who lives with his aged grandmother; having lost both his parents the previous year. 

     The story begins with an excited group of boys getting ready to accompany their elders to the Eidgah (prayer grounds) three miles away, on the long-awaited festival morning. Among them is little Hamid, who is described as thin and famished-looking and poorly dressed – he has no shoes on his feet, and wears a soiled, tattered cap whose golden thread has turned black.

     In contrast to his companions, who are from rich families and have plenty of pocket money to blow up on goodies at the Eid fair, he has just three coins in his pocket. However, he is the happiest of the boys. With all the innocence of childhood, he implicitly believes what his grandmother has told him about his parents – that his father has gone to earn money and will return with sack loads of silver and that his mother has gone to Allah to get lovely gifts for him. He is eagerly awaiting their return, so that he can then fulfil all his heart’s desires and have more than his insensitive companions, who are constantly teasing and tantalising him with their toys. 

     Despite his childish innocence, Hamid on several occasions also displays a maturity and sensitivity beyond his years. For instance, realising that his grandmother is distressed about letting him go to the Eidgah unescorted (while the other boys have their fathers with them), he consoles her with the assurance that he will be the first to get back. 

     At the Eid fair, due to lack of money, he can only stand and watch, while his companions enjoy swing and roundabout rides, buy attractive clay toys, and gorge on sweets to their hearts’ content. Naturally, like any other child, he also longs for these things; however, he finds consolation by telling himself that sweets are bad for health and the flimsy toys are a waste of money that give only momentary pleasure. 

     A noteworthy feature of Hamid’s character is his lack of vindictiveness. His natural tendency is to return good for evil. Even after the other boys have mocked and humiliated him, his reaction is to tell himself that when his parents have returned with riches, he will give each of his tormentors a basket full of toys to teach them how to treat friends. 

     Overcoming temptations, Hamid eventually opts to spend his precious three coins not on sweets or toys for himself, but on a pair of tongs for his grandmother, as he remembers how she burns her fingers on the griddle while baking rotis everyday. The other boys tease Hamid for his purchase, extolling the virtues of their toys over his tongs. 

     We now get to see Hamid’s intelligence as he comes up with quick-witted retorts about the superiority of his iron tongs over their clay toys. His arguments are so convincing that the boys soon believe that Hamid has had the best bargain, and even offer to exchange their items for his – which he refuses. The story ends on a touching note as his grandmother, on receiving the gift, is so overwhelmed with emotion, that she bursts into tears and invokes Allah’s blessings on her grandchild. 

     Little Hamid, with his selfless and caring nature and his gift of imagination that keeps him happy even in the midst of poverty, is one of Premchand’s most loveable creations.

15th June is observed as World Elder Abuse Awareness day to raise awareness about the mistreatment and neglect of older adults and promote the importance of their well-being and dignity. Let us all be sensitive and caring towards elderly people in the family and around us.