NOBLE VIRTUE

 Kindness

     At one of the Special Olympics, nine physically challenged boys lined up at the starting line for the 100-metre race. 

     At the sound of the starting gunshot, they all darted out, each in their own tracks, making their best effort to dash towards the finish line. 

     During the race, a young boy tripped and tumbled to the ground and began to cry. Hearing the cry, the other boys slowed down and looked back at him. 

     Then without hesitation, they all turned around and began running towards the injured boy. 

     Instead of pushing forth to the finish line to win, they decided to help the boy to his feet. Then all of them linked their arms and together they walked to the finish line. 

     By the time they reached the end, everyone in the stadium was on their feet and cheering the boys, some with tears rushing down their cheeks.  

     Even though they had lost their chance to win the race, all the boys had smiles on their faces because they knew they had done the right thing.  

     Mark Twain said, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Kindness to all is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength and nobility of character.

MOST COMMON FISH FOUND IN HOME AQUARIUM

 Goldfish

     Goldfish are freshwater fish. They are most common fish found in home aquariums. Goldfish have two sets of paired fins and three single fins. They have large eyes and great sense of hearing and smell.

     Goldfish eat worms, shrimp and other small fish. Goldfish are not just golden orange, they come in various sizes and colours.

Types of Goldfish:

Black telescope eye goldfish

Common goldfish

Bubble eye goldfish

Oranda goldfish

Some facts about goldfish:

i) It can survive for up to 10 years in an aquarium 

   and 30 years in a pond.

ii) It can grow to a length of between 4 and 16 

    inches.

iii) Around 450 million goldfish are sold as pets 

     across the world every year.

iv) There are about 200 breeds of goldfish.

v) Gifting a goldfish is a sign of friendship.

vi) The world's largest pet goldfish was found in 

      Netherlands in 2008. It measured 18.7 inches.

Goldfish habits:

1) Goldfish doesn't have teeth. They crush their  

    food in their throat.

2) They are friendly and usually do not harm 

     other fish.

3) Though they are quite calm, they can become 

     aggressive when released into the wild.

4) They do not need companions and can live 

     alone in a tank.

5) They are smart and enjoy music.

BRITISHER WHO SUPPORTED INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE

  Annie Besant

     The Indian freedom movement was a struggle against colonial oppression and the reign of the British in India. However, not all the British believed that India was to be ruled. Instead, some supported the idea of India as a free, democratic country. Many Britishers sympathised with the Indian freedom struggle, saw the cruelty and injustices of colonial rule and actively rebelled against it. They played a part in India's freedom struggle and the independence it achieved in 1947, one such bold British woman who fought is Annie Besant.

     Annie Besant was an early advocate of many causes including women's rights, worker's rights, secularism and birth control. She first came to India on November 16, 1863, to attend the Annual Convention of the Theosophical Society in Madras (now Chennai). She actively participated in local politics, joining the Indian National Congress (INC), originally a debating body that discussed solutions to prevalent political issues.

     In 1914, when World War I broke, Besant said, "England's need is India's opportunity." In June 1914, she purchased the Madras Standard newspaper and renamed it 'New India'. She used this medium to express her outrage against the colonial government and insisted on clear moves towards a democratic nation. In 1916, she along with Madan Mohan Malaviya and Sunder Lal founded the Banaras Hindu University and in 1922, she helped establish the Hyderabad National Collegiate Board. In September 1916, she created the Home Rule League that demanded self-government for all of India through demonstrations. She set up the women's Indian Association in 1917 and in June 1917, she was arrested for participating in political matters. But she defiantly flew a red and green flag against the British Empire while in prison. She was released in September 1917 due to a threat of protest from the INC and Muslim League. In December 1917, she became the president of the INC; she was the first woman president.

     Besant clashed with Mahatma Gandhi as he felt that she emphasised intellectual develpment instead of brotherhood and unity. Besant objected to Gandhi's method of mass movements as she believed that the public would not be able to meet violence with demonstrations. She eventually left the INC to join the Liberal Party and continued to campaign for India's independence in India and during her tours of Britain. She was made Honorary Commissioner of India in 1932 and died in 1933.

DO YOU KNOW

 What is melanin?

     Melanin is a black pigment found in our bodies that is produced by special skin cells called melanocytes. It is melanin that gives colour to the skin and hair. The amount of melanin in the skin accounts for the colour differences among the races. Thus the melanocytes in the bodies of dark-skinned people produce more melanin than those in the bodies of fair-skinned people. 

     Melanin protects us from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, including skin cancer. Some people are unable to form melanin because of a flaw in their chemical makeup. Such people are known as 'albinos'. Their skin and hair are white and their eyes are red. 

     Melanin production increases with exposure to strong ultraviolet light, and this creates a sun tan, which is a protective response. Over a period of years excessive exposure to sun can tend to cause wrinkles and cancer of the skin. Since dark-skinned people have more melanin, they have fewer wrinkles and are less likely to develop skin cancer.

STORY FROM PANCHATANTRA

A wise old owl

     A mighty tree, deep in the forest was home to a great many birds. The oldest resident was an owl. One day, the old owl noticed that two branches had grown very close to each other. So he alerted the others. 

     "Friends, those two branches over there are constantly rubbing against each other," said the owl.

     "So, what about it?" asked one bird.

     "In the dry weather, friction could cause a spark that could set the tree on fire. My advice to those of you who are building nests, is to shift to a safer location!" said the owl.

      "Age has made you timid, Sir!" said a woodpecker. "We woodpeckers know everything about building nests and I assure you that the tree is safe."

     Only a few birds decided to leave the tree and build nests elsewhere. The majority decided to stay where they were.

     "This tree is as old as the hills! Fire has never occurred here," said one of the birds.

     "That's true," replied another bird. "We would be fools to leave such a safe place. I think owl is an alarmist!"

     And then one hot summer afternoon, the tree caught fire just as the old owl had predicted. A spark caused by the branches rubbing together led to a fire that engulfed the whole tree destroying every living thing on it.

Moral of the story: Listen to the voice of experience.

ARCHITECT OF INDIA'S SPACE PROGRAMME

 Vikram Sarabhai

     Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (1919 - 1971), the architect of India's space programme, was born on August 12, 1919 in Ahmedabad as the son of an industrialist. He did his tripos (a final honours examination) in natural sciences from Cambridge University in 1940. Returning to India when World War II broke out, he began pursuing research in cosmic rays under C. V. Raman at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (now Bengaluru). In 1945, he went back to Cambridge to do his Ph.D in nuclear fission.

     In post-independence India, Sarabhai went on to establish numerous institutions including research laboratories, a dance academy in collaboration with his wife, dancer Mrinalini, and the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad. His interests were not limited to scientific research but encompassed industry, business, and development issues. He followed a consistent approach involving the use of scientific methods, sound financial planning and a clear nationalistic purpose.

     In 1962, Prime Minister Nehru invited Sarabhai to organise India's space research. He was appointed chairman of the Indian National Committee for Space Research, which was later renamed the indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

     In 1963, Sarabhai with active support from Homi Bhaba, set up India's first rocket launching station at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram. The first rocket with sodium vapour payload was launched on November 21, 1963. In 1965, the UN General Assembly officially recognised the Thumba Rocket Launching Station as an international facility.

     After Bhaba's untimely death in a plane crash, Sarabhai became the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Carrying forward his predecessor's work in the field of nuclear research, Sarabhai played a key role in the establishment and development of India's nuclear power plants. He laid the foundations for the indigenous development of nuclear technology for defence purposes. 

     Awards won by Sarabhai in his lifetime include the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Award for Physics in 1962 and Padma Bhushan in 1966. He was also awarded with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. 

     Sarabhai died prematurely in 1971, at the age of 52. 

TRAINING IN THE WOODS

 A career in the Indian Forest Service

     If you want to explore the world without being confined to four walls, here is an opportunity for you to combine your academic and leadership skills with your love for outdoors. 

What’s this career about?

     The core duty of an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer is to protect and manage the country’s natural resources like forest flora and fauna, wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and implement the National Forest Policy. The job combines both desk work as well as extensive field monitoring.    

     The work involves overseeing the maintenance and development of an area of forest or woodland; organising the planting of trees, thinning and felling of trees, mining, oil and gas drilling operation; assessing the impacts of wildfires, insects, diseases and/or pollution on forests and develop strategies to control and prevent of forest fires, and protecting wildlife and natural habitats.

     Besides this, the work entails a regular interaction with the local communities living near the forest area and helping in their rehabilitation, providing them protection from wild animals as well as educating them on the importance of forests and wildlife and their protection. They may also advise government and industry officials on forest management issues and assess new forest management applications.

How do I get there?

     Indian Forest Service (IFS) is one of the three All India Services, the other two being Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS). The examination for this highly competitive job is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) (upsc.gov.in). Eligibility is graduation in science or engineering.

     Selection procedure consists of three stages — preliminary, main examination and personality test. Candidates who qualify in the Civil Services (Preliminary) and meet the eligibility criteria of IFS are shortlisted for the IFS Main Examination. After clearing the main examination, the candidate is called for an interview. 

     The interview aims to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for the service. They must be conversant with the modern currents of thoughts and with new discoveries, as any well-educated youth. The candidate’s love for outdoor life and the desire to explore unknown places is also assessed.

     This is followed by a medical test and an endurance test, which requires the selected male candidates to walk 25 kms in four hours, whereas female candidates have to walk 15 kms. Those candidates who are successful in all these phases of the examination are recruited for training.

     Initially, the candidates have to attend the common foundation course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie (lbsnaa.gov.in). On completion of this course, they go to Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy at Dehradun (ignfa.gov.in), for training on forest and wildlife management, soil conservation, surveying, etc. The officers are taught more than 56 subjects of life sciences during these two years. They need to travel to forests throughout India to know the entire spectrum of forests. They are also supposed to do field work and trek through several villages. 

     After completing training at the academy, candidates go through a year of on-the-job field training in the state to which he or she is assigned. Later, the officers are awarded a Master’s degree in Science (Forestry) from Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (fridu.edu.in). 

      No fees are charged; rather trainees are paid a stipend during the training period. Also, the Government of India takes care of other expenses. 

     After completing all the trainings, the probationer starts as an Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF). They are assigned field work with a small staff. Within 4-5 years, they are promoted to the post of Deputy Conservators of Forests (DCF) in charge of districts/forest divisions. At higher levels, they spend less time outside and may be involved in decision-making and policy decisions. At the top is the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) who is the administrative head of the forest organization and a technical advisor to the Government.

What key skills do I need?

*Love for outdoors and an interest in the 

  preservation of the environment.

* Physical hardiness.

* Scientific curiosity to solve problems.

* Effective oral and written communication skills.

* Enjoy working outdoors and be prepared to  

   spend time in isolated areas.

* Good at making decisions and planning skills.

* High level of organisational skills.

* Aptitude for administrative work and project 

   management.

Pay package 

     Indian Forest Service officers are given official vehicles and accommodation. Their salary starts with around Rs 60,000 per month, which may go up to Rs 2.5 lakhs a month. After several years of experience, some foresters become consulting foresters, working alone or with a partner.

Employment profile

     The Government of India is the only recruiter that offers different positions to eligible and qualified candidates in the Indian Forest Service. The Ministry of Environment and Forests provides employment in various departments including Environment and Ecology, Botanical Survey of India and the Botanical Gardens, the Zoological Survey of India, National Museum of Natural History, Wildlife Preservation departments, Wildlife projects, Central Ganges Authority, the National Wasteland Development boards, and the Indian Forest Service.

     Forests contribute significantly to economic development; these yield firewood, timber, fodder, industrial raw materials and other minor produce. Foresters will continue to be needed to help landowners manage their forested property. Specially trained personnel are needed to maintain and regenerate forest cover and forest resources.