Thursday, October 19, 2023

HISTORICAL EVENT OF THE MONTH

 Battle of Buxar

     One of the decisive battles in the history of pre-independence India, the battle of Buxar took place on October 22, 1764 in Buxar, a town about 130 km west of Patna in present-day Bihar. It was fought by the combined armies of Mir Qasim, Nawab of Bengal; Shuja-ud-Daulah, Nawab of Awadh; and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II on one side and the British East India Company's forces led by General Hector Munro on the other. 

     Although the allied army was numerically much stronger, comprising about 40,000 men as against the Company's army of about 7000, the differences of opinion between the allies as well as the British superiority in artillery turned the tide in favour of the British. The allied army was effectively routed. War casualities mounted to about 850 wounded or dead on the British side and 2000 to 5000 on the side of the three allies.  

     The war eventually led to the signing of the Treaty of Allahabad in August 1765 between Shah Alam II and Robert Clive of the East India Company, according to which the Mughal Empire ceded property rights over Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the British. The treaty thus enabled the British to establish their control in the eastern part of the country, ultimately paving the way for the establishment of British colonial rule over India that continued for the next two centuries.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

GEMS MADE BY LIVING CREATURES

 Pearls

Meet the jewellery-making molluscs that turn irritating specks of dirt into stunning stones.

    Pearls are smooth shiny gems that are commonly seen on a long string decorating elegant necks. They have been used as a fashion accessory since at least the 5th century BCE by the ancient Romans and Egyptians. But the process that creates these mesmerising gems isn't geological --- they are made by slow-moving marine and fresh water animals as a kind of symbol of their suffering. 

     Molluscs such as oysters, mussels and clams produce pearls as a byproduct of defence. They are made when these aquatic creatures attempt to rid their bodies of parasites, sharp pieces of shell matter or other debris that gets trapped inside their shells when they open them to feed. They secrete calcium carbonate, which is the core material that makes up a mollusc's shell, in a crystallised form when a irritant is present. It's called aragonite, and combines with protein fibres to coat smooth layers around the foreign object. The result is a creamy-coloured solid ball that serves as a barrier between the object and the soft internal tissue of the mollusc.

     Today, most pearls aren't harvested naturally. Instead, humans place a suitable irritant into an oyster to trigger this response and increase pearl production rates.

     Pearls are the only gems made by living creatures.

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

WHAT IS OZONE?

Is it good or bad?

     Ozone is a gas produced naturally by the action of ultraviolet rays from the sun on oxygen molecules, changing oxygen (O2) to ozone (O3) in Earth’s upper atmosphere (stratosphere) where it forms the ozone layer. The ozone molecules here absorb most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation, thereby protecting living organisms on Earth. So ozone in the stratosphere plays a beneficial role; it is good for us. 

     Ozone is also found in the troposphere, the lowest region of the atmosphere, extending from the Earth’s surface to a height of about 6–10 kilometres. Tropospheric or ground level ozone is created when air containing pollutants emitted by cars, factories, refineries and other sources like hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides chemically react in the presence of sunlight. 

     Ground level ozone is harmful to plants, animals and human health. Ozone reacts with molecules in the lining of the airways in the body. This can aggravate lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Even in otherwise healthy people, continuous exposure to even low-level concentration of ozone can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, irritation of the throat, and cough.Ozone’s harmful effect on living organisms is made use of to disinfect municipal drinking water in many European countries and elsewhere. Ozone introduced into the water destroys bacteria, viruses and fungi. It can also eliminate bad odour. Ozone is unstable and changes back to oxygen within a short time.

Monday, October 16, 2023

A PRAYER A DAY KEEPS FEAR AWAY

The Power of Prayer
     The fact remains that a human being, whoever he or she may be, is not really complete, perfect and strong. And there are times when one feels weak, does not know, is uncertain about the future and experiences fear. This happens in everyone's life. These are the moments when one turns the eyes up to God and prays. These may be very short and very rare or long and unending.
But it is true that human beings have limitations. We constantly go through pressures and stress, unexpected things keep happening. There are uncertainties about the future. There are moments when we are totally in doubt, totally rattled, and we seek help. It may be momentary but this is an inborn trait. An animal can only run away from the problem, get frightened, whereas a human being thinks. Somehow, that deep-seated belief is there in a human being, that there is something larger that is governing this universe. Even the worst atheist would not deny it. This entire universe, the way in which it functions, there has to be something behind it. Call it law, God, or anything else.
     So, when we are in a terrible condition, we resort to that feeling at that moment. But rather this should be cultivated consciously, so that during the day, we do shed our fears and worries for a little while. But we don't do it repeatedly during the day. We do it just once or few times a day. The Hindus do their Pooja, the Muslims do their Namaaz, the Christians go to church for prayers.
     Human being requires to pray regularly and if it is consciously done, it is better; otherwise, wrong thinking starts. One starts to think in extremes, gets terribly frightened. 
     A doctor, after examining a lady with his stethoscope, found some areas that were not responding, and feared that it might be tuberculosis. This statement took charge of her, she was so terribly frightened. When a friend went to see her, she had opened her entire wardrobe, examining each saree and putting it aside. Her friend asked her what she was doing. She said, "Now that I have tuberculosis, I am going to die one day. So, I am having a last look at my sarees." But her friend assured her. 
     She said, "But the diagnosis has not yet been confirmed. Even if it is confirmed there are medicines for it. So, who knows how many times more you will be using those sarees." 
     She had lost hope. This should not happen. Some little reassurance should come. Praying, not for hours, but periodically, the reassurance or the faith that there is something larger that governs this universe must be strengthened. 

Sunday, October 15, 2023

SECOND LARGEST LAND MAMMAL BEHIND THE ELEPHANT

Rhinoceroses

     Rhinoceroses, commonly known as rhinos, have a huge body, large head, thick skin, short legs, hooved feet and short tail. All rhinoceroses have a horn on their snout and some species have two horns.

     There are five known species of rhinoceroses --- white, black, Javan, Sumatran and Indian. Rhinoceroses may live in grassy plains, thick forests or wetlands depending on their species. They are herbivores and feed on leaves, fruits and grass.  Rhinoceroses may be grey or brown in colour.

* A rhinoceros' horn is made of the same material that is found in our fingernails and hair.

* Most rhinoceros species have a hairless body. They have hair only at the end of their tail and on the tips of their ears.

* A rhinoceros may weigh between 500 and 2,500 kilograms and may be between 2.5 and 4 metres long. 

* Male rhinoceroses are called bulls and female rhinoceroses are called cows. Their young ones are called calves.

* Rhinoceroses bathe in mud. The muddy layer protects their skin from the sun and insect bites.

* Rhinoceroses use their horns to defend themselves against predators such as tigers and lions and to fight with other rhinoceroses.

* Most rhinoceros species are solitary, meaning they live alone. But some species, like the white rhinoceros, may live in pairs or groups.

* Rhinoceroses, especially males, are very territorial, meaning they defend their territory from intruders.

* Rhinoceroses mark their territory by urinating on trees or shrubs and scattering their dung in the region.

* Rhinoceroses are hunted for their horns, which some people believe have medicinal properties. As a result, there are less than 30,000 rhinoceroses in the world today.

Saturday, October 14, 2023

A STORY FROM PANCHATANTRA

 Might is not always right

     A large herd of elephants lived by a pond deep in the forest. In the summer, the pond dried up and the elephants went in search of water.    

     After walking a long way, they found a big lake. The elephants rushed in excitement,trampling upon the many hares that lived in burrows around the lake. Unmindful of the distress and death that they had caused, the elephants had a good time splashing in the water. 

     When they left the lake to return home, the survivors got together and discussed their predicament. 

     “The elephants will come here every day. We have to do something to keep them away,” one of them said. He then came up with a plan. 

     The following day, the hare climbed up a hillock and waited. As expected, the elephants passed the hillock on the way to the lake.

     “Stop,” cried the hare. “You cannot go to the lake. It belongs to the Moon God. He looks after us. He is very angry that you have killed our folk. You have to apologise to him and go away.”

     The king elephant asked, “Where is your Moon God?” 

     The hare then took the elephant to the lake and showed the reflection of the moon on the water. 

     “See, he has come to console us.”

     The king elephant was awestruck. He bowed and apologised to the moon. He then left quietly with his herd.

Friday, October 13, 2023

DO YOU KNOW

 How henna stains skin?

     Henna is a type of dye that's derived from leaves of the henna tree. When left on the skin, henna paste temporarily stains the skin a reddish-organge colour. It's used around the world to decorate the skin with intricate pattern and body art, known as mehendi, for celebrations such as weddings, birthdays and on festive occasions.

     To produce a dye, the dried leaves of the henna tree are first pulverised into a powder and mixed with a combination of oils or an acidic solution such as lemon juice. The resulting paste known as red henna can then be applied to the skin or hair to alter its colour. The change in colour is due to dye molecules in the henna tree's leaves called lawsone. When lawsone comes into contact with skin cells, it latches onto a protein called keratin, which holds onto the dye until the skin cells are naturally exfoliated away. Once the henna paste is applied, it typically needs to sit on the skin for several hours for the lawsone to penetrate deep enough through the skin's cellular layers to stain for a few weeks.

     Another additive called p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), an ingredient in hair dye, has been added in recent years to create 'black henna' in some parts of the world. However, the use of PPD has been made illegal in many places, including the UK and EU, because it poses a risk of causing severe skin reactions.

How far into the skin can henna penetrate?

[1] Henna paste: Henna is applied directly to the skin so the lawsone molecules can penetrate skin cells and bind to keratin molecules.

[2] Stratum corneum: This is the outermost layer of the skin's epidermis, where keratin-carrying cells called keratinocytes rapidly reduce.

[3] Deep saturation: When applied to the thickest layer of skin, found on the back or on the hands, lawsone can penetrate 30 cell layers deep.

[4] Granular layer: Henna doesn't penetrate into the granular layer, which acts as the skin's impermeable barrier against water.

[5] Basal layer: The innermost layers of skin, where new protective keratinocytes are produced.

Ancient origins: The exact origins of henna are difficult to determine. There's evidence of the dye being used in early Babylonian civilisations from around 1894 to 539 BCE and during the time of ancient Egypt, between 3100 and 395 BCE. Henna was used to decorate the bodies of the deceased, and in some cases on the strips of linen wrappings used for mummification. Much like the keratin found in hair and nails, lawsone is resistant to decay and remains on the body after death. When archeologists examined the remains of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, they discovered that his hair, while white at the point of his death, had been stained bright orange with henna.

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