SPEECH THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

Sisters and brothers of America...!

(Swami Vivekanand at the world's Parliament of Religions, Chicago, 11 september 1893)

Sisters and brothers of America,

     It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

     My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honour of bearing to different lands that idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.  We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you,  brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is everyday repeated by millions of human beings: 'As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, varies though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to thee.'

     The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world, of the wonderful doctrine preached in Gita: "Whoever comes to me, through whatever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or the pen, and all the uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal. 

NOVEMBER 19

 World Toilet Day 

     Lack of proper sanitation, including toilet facilities and sewage treatment, causes the spread of diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid and dysentery. This affects millions of people globally, especially children. 

     World toilet day is officially observed every year on November 19 to create awareness about the global sanitation crisis. The day was first celebrated in 2013 and was designated by the United Nation General Assembly. Since then, on this day, events are conducted to educate people about health, hygiene, sanitation and the effects of open defecation. 

Facts: 

* Close to 1.1 billion people across the world still practise open-air defecation. 

* A normal person will visit the toilet 2,500 times a year. 

* One spends close to three years of one’s life in the toilet. 

* Globally, 1.5 million children under the age of five die every year from diarrhoea. 

* Using clean toilet adds 20 years to a human lifespan. 

* Sir John Harrington invented the world's first flush toilet. 

* Only one in 20 people will wash their hands properly after using the toilet!

Did you know? When you avoid using public toilets because they are dirty, you are putting immense pressure on your kidneys. This, in the long run, can lead to kidney and bladder ailments. 

Transparent toilet: Switzerland has a 'see through' public restroom. It has one-way mirror so no one can see in, but the one using the restroom has a clear picture of everything happening outside!

DO YOU KNOW

 Why England vs Australia series called 'The Ashes'?

     The Ashes series was started in 1882 when the Australian team won the first test by 7 runs on the England soil. This defeat was published as a satirical obituary by the journalist Shirley Brooks in 'The Sporting Times'. The obituary stated that the England cricket was dead, the body would be cremated and the ashes would be taken to Australia. 

     When the England team went to Australia the same year and won the series 2-1, the victory was described as bringing the Ash (ash) back to England. From here the test series between the two countries came to be called the Ashes series. The 'ashes urn' made of terracotta is known to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket ball. It's around 15cm or 6 inches tall in size. The winning team keeps the urn as a symbol of winning trophy. 

THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

 Smt. Droupadi Murmu

     History was being rewritten when Smt. Droupadi Murmu became the 15th President of India, the first woman President from the tribal (Santhal) community. She was also the first woman-governor from the tribal area of the state of Jharkhand where she had proved her leadership might in her administration and governance. 

     When the tenure of Shri Ramnath Kovind was over, the NDA government didn't have to think twice to nominate Droupadi Murmu to the highest office of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's view about Droupadi Murmu is, "Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country."

     She served as a junior assistant at the irrigation department of the Government of Odisha, and then a teacher at the school, Sri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Centre in Rairangpur, where she taught Hindi, Oriya, Maths and Geography. In 1997, she was elected as the Councillor of Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat. From 2000 to 2004, she was an MLA, and was honoured with Nilkanth Award for her admirable work. Because of sincere and committed social work, she became the Governor of Jharkhand. 

Droupadi Murmu has devoted her life serving the society and empowering the poor, the downtrodden and the marginalised. Her contribution towards woman empowerment during this period was commendable. 

     Droupadi was born on June 20, 1958 at a place named Baidaposi of Mayurbanch district, Odisha. Her father Biranchi Narayan Tudu was the village head, like her grandfather. From childhood, she was excellent in studies, and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. She had her elementary education at the local primary school in Uparbeda and graduated (Bachelor of Arts) from Rama Devi Women's College, Bhubaneswar. 

     She was married to Shyam Charan Murmu and had two sons and a daughter. Unfortunately, her husband, two sons, mother and a brother died in a span of 7 years from 2009 to 2015. She is also a follower of the Brahma Kumari's spiritual movement. 

     The fact that a woman born in an undeveloped tribal area becomes the President of India has been like a new chapter in the history of India. She remains a model not just to the Indians, but to the whole world. 

EQUALITY OUR GOAL

 EDUCATION IS THE PLATFORM

“Education is the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela.

     One of the most crucial aspects of a person’s success is education. It has the capacity to sway a person’s life for the better. It enriches not just the individual, but also the community.

    Thus, the value of education in life and society cannot be overlooked. We’ve all come across articles about worrying incidents, such as a child being denied admission to a school because he belongs to a certain caste, or a girl dropping out from school because society believes female education is of no use, and perhaps even those where one’s bank balance decided which school their children could attend. As harsh as it may sound, such kinds of discrimination and inequality are faced by several people each day.

     Educational equality asserts that every student, regardless of where they come from, their ethnicity, gender, disability, social background or gender identity, should have equal access to a high-quality education. An equitable education system enables each student to gain the knowledge and skills they need to integrate into society and become valuable citizens.

     Each student is unique in terms of the guidance they need to scceed. Some students may have different needs than others because they come from a disadvantaged social environment or because they have special educational needs.      Everyone is entitled to the same level of education. And so, nothing should prevent a child from pursuing his or her interests and talents. Giving all children an equal start would have positive economic and social consequences for people, communities and our country.

     Now the question arises: What can we do to bridge this gap of inequality and discrimination in our education system?

     The strategy should begin with ensuring that school enrolment and attendance are equitable. When we stress the concept of 'learning for all' we can make significant progress. This feat will just be the start of a global movement, with every student in every country learning about basic life skills and approaches to sustainable development from well-trained teachers who are well-equipped with resources and a well-designed curriculum.

     Every stakeholder in the education system should endeavour to see that the government's policies are implemented. The effectiveness of these regulations must also be evaluated regularly. The significance of achieving equal education can be instilled through a set of pledges and aims combined with effective education programmes.

     As Malcolm X rightly stated, "Education now is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." We as individuals must come together and work to attain quality education for one and all.

THE PLANT FOR REMEMBRANCE

 Rosemary 

    Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an aromatic plant, native to the Mediterranean area of Southern Europe, that has been prized for its culinary and medical uses for centuries. Part of its appeal stemmed from the widespread belief that Rosemary stimulated and strengthened the memory, a quality for which it is still traditionally used. The plant gets its name from the Latin Rosmarinus, meaning 'dew of the sea'.

     In Europe, Rosemary is associated with remembrance and as such, was used for long in funerals and weddings. Mourners dropped Rosemary springs into the grave to symbolize remembrance (of the deceased). In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the mentally unbalanced Ophelia, babbling about her father's death, "There's Rosemary --- that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember." Rosemary leaves and flowers were entwined the wreath worn by brides. A branch of Rosemary, decorated with silk ribbons, was presented to wedding guests as a symbol of love and loyalty. 

     One of the most common aromatic wild plants of the Mediterranean landscape, Rosemary grows abundantly in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Southern France and Greece. It is also grown in Algeria, China, Middle East, Morocco, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and to a limited extent in India (in the Nilgiris), where it is known as rusmari in Hindi. 

     The plant is a stiff, bushy shrub, much branched, with a characteristic aromatic fragrance. Leaves are 2 to 4mm wide, greenish and crinkled on top and covered with densely matted woolly hairs underneath. 

     Rosemary tea, made by steeping Rosemary flowers and leaves in boiling water, is used as a tonic for the digestive tract and the gall bladder. It is also used as an antiseptic gargle and a mouthwash, as it is known to cure bad breath and mouth infections. In Tunisia, Rosemary leaves are consumed to relieve spasms and to expel intestinal parasites. The essential oil of Rosemary forms part of many antibacterial medicines for the respiratory passages. 

     Rosemary also has many culinary uses. It is extensively used in French, Spanish and Italian cooking to flavour vegetable preparations such as roasted potatoes, stocks and stews and various kinds of grilled and roasted meats and fish. 

     Rosemary oil, distilled from the leaves and flowering tops of the plant, is extensively used in the manufacture of soaps, lotions, creams and perfumes. It is also used in processed food products such as frozen desserts, candies and alcoholic beverages. 

HISTORY OF GREATEST INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CELEBRATION

 History of Olympics 

     Today, let’s have a peep into the history of Olympics that had originated centuries ago in the epic land of Greece. There are many stories related to the origin of Olympic games. 

     Hercules and Pelops were the sons of Soyuz, the King of Gods. Once Egias, the King of Elissa made a bet with Hercules. The bet was to clean the cowshed within a day. If Hercules succeeded in this task, he would be gifted one tenth of the cows. It was considered to be an almost impossible task to clean the dirty cowshed within such a short time. But Hercules was wise enough to do the job. He diverted a river and cleaned the cow shed. However, Egias was not ready to honour his promise. Thus, Hercules waged a war with Egias and killed him. He took away all the cows. 

To celebrate his success, a sports festival was organised in Olympia. The name Olympics originated from the name Olympia. This is a story in Greek epics.

     According to another story, there was a temple for the Greek Goddess Riya in Olympia valley. People used to run to light a lamp at the altar of this temple. This was later developed into a competition.

     Olympics was the victory of Hercules’ brother Pelops over the King, is another version of the story. 

     Again, it is believed that the Olympics was organised in honour of the King Petross’s funeral who faced a heroic death on the battlefield. All these are the epic stories which people love to believe.    

     Whatever be the origin of Olympics, it is now the greatest international sports celebration in the world.