CHEMICALS VITAL FOR LIFE

 Vitamins

     Vitamins are organic compounds that are vital for life. Vitamins are essential for the maintenance of good health and the prevention of a number of diseases. They are found in a wide variety of foods. A balanced diet should provide you with the adequate quantities of vitamins you need. 

There are 13 major vitamins: A,C,D,E,K and 8 varieties of B.

Vitamin A (retinol)

Benefits : Vitamin A prevents eye problems, promotes a healthy immune system. It is essential for the growth of cells. It keeps the skin healthy.

Sources : Good sources of vitamin A are milk, eggs, liver, fortified cereals, vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin and fruits such as papayas and mangos. 

Vitamin B complex: The complex of B vitamins includes the group of substances: 

B1, B2, B3: The body requires relatively small amounts of vitamins B1(thiamin), B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin). 

B6, B12: Vitamins B6 (pyridoxine) and B12 (cobalamins) are vital nutrients in a range of activities such as cell repair, digestion and protection of the immune system. 

B5, B7, B9: Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is involved in the oxidation of fatty acids and carbohydrates. Vitamin B7 (biotin) plays a key role in the metabolism of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. Viamin B9 (folic acid) is needed for normal cell division, especially at times of rapid growth. 

Sources : The best dietary sources of the B vitamins are: milk, eggs, fish, animal products, asparagus, broccoli, spinach, bananas, potatoes, dried apricots, dates and figs, cheese, yoghurt, nuts and pulses, brown rice, wheat germ and wholegrain cereals.

Vitamin C (Ascorbate)

Benefits : Vitamin C is essential for healthy bones, teeth, gums and blood vessels. It helps the body absorb iron, aids in the healing of wounds and contributes to brain function.

Sources : You'll find high levels of vitamin C in citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, guava, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach.

Vitamin D (calciferol)

Benefits : Vitamin D strengthens bones because it helps the body absorb bone-building calcium.

Sources : This vitamin is unique — your body manufactures it when you get sunlight on your skin! You can also get vitamin D from egg yolk, oily fish and fortified foods like milk, soy milk and orange juice.

Vitamin E

Benefits: Vitamin E is an antioxidant and helps protect cells from damage. It is also important for the health of red blood cells.

Sources: Vitamin E is found in many foods such as vegetable oils, nuts, green leafy vegetables and whole grains.

Vitamin K

Benefits: Vitamin K is involved in the blood clotting process and in the maintenance of strong bones. It is found in small quantities in meat, most vegetables and wholegrain cereals.

Sources: Diets rich in fatty and sugary foods can adversely change the balance of the gut flora, as can the additives and pesticides that are often a part of modern food production.

DO YOU KNOW

What makes the sound when we crack our knuckles?

Your joints, including those in your knuckles, are surrounded by a membrane called the synovial membrane. Inside this membrane is synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant and shock absorber so that your bones don’t grind together when you move.

When you 'crack' your knuckles or any other joint, it expands the space between your bones, creating negative pressure that draws synovial fluid into the new gap.

This influx of synovial fluid is what causes the popping sound and feeling when you crack a knuckle. If you continually crack your knuckles, it may cause some injuries.

FREEDOM FROM FEAR

   FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real 

    When a motivational guru was addressing the students of a leading school, a girl asked this question : “Sir, I am always afraid of exams. How can I overcome exam fear?”

     He reverted to her with another question : “Which is the best way to eat an elephant? Is it as a whole or one spoon at a time?" 

     After some thought, she replied, "Of course, one spoon at a time!”

     The guru said, "None of us would actually want to eat an elephant, but it gives a metaphorical picture of how we can get things done without feeling frightened!”

     He added, “Sometimes, the whole thing just looks too big to be tackled. But when you break it into smaller tasks, it becomes achievable. If you make a plan of preparation and adhere to it strictly, exam will be a cake walk for you.” 

    The girl thanked the guru for giving a paradigm shift in her views about exams.

     There are many types of fears like exam fear, stage fear, fear of criticism, fear of rejection, fear of failure etc. In fearful situations, the heart beats quickly, the body might begin to perspire, and "butterflies" in the stomach soon follow.

     But most of our fears are myths. If you analyze, 90 percent of your past fears which threatened you at those times passed away just like a mist.

     The word FEAR itself is an acronym with the expansion “False Evidence Appearing Real.”

     The future belongs to the risk takers, not to the security seekers. The moment you are armed with a plan of attack, you become capable of conquering any adventurous task.

     You are a born genius. You are a success material. Hence throw away all types of fears and become an adventurous person from today.

A TRUE WONDER OF NATURE

Bird Migration 

     Bird migration is one of the most astonishing feats in nature. Some birds fly thousands of kilometers non-stop braving rough weather and other hazards! Their strength and bravery are to be admired and respected.

     For centuries the study of bird migration has been riddled with mystery and unanswered questions: Where do birds go? How far do they fly? Why do birds fly in V formation? Scientists are tapping new technologies to find the answers.

What is Migration? Migration is the movement of a bird or an animal from one region to another. This happens at regular periods of time, and during a particular season. Somebirds migrate across oceans, mountains and the equator.

Why do birds migrate? The reasons are complex and not fully understood. But a simple explanation is food and a safe place to breed. Birds migrate to a warmer climate in the winter to avoid losing their food supply under snow and ice.

How fast do migratory birds fly? Great Snipe is the fastest migratory bird ever discovered. Scientists found that the birds fly non-stop over a distance of around 7000 km from Sweden to Central Africa at a phenomenal speed of 100km per hour.

How high do birds fly? The highest honours go to a Ruppell’s griffon vulture. Alas, while cruising over the Ivory Coast at an altitude of 37,900 feet in 1975, this poor soul was sucked into a jet engine. That’s one high and mighty trip.

What’s the record for the longest migration on the planet? The Arctic Tern (Sterna Paradisaea) is an elegant flyer performing an annual long-distance migration between the Arctic and the Antarctica and back. The longest journey recorded for the Tern was 81,600 km. The Arctic Tern has the longest annual migration of all the animals in the world. When added up over a lifetime, the total journey for the bird is the equivalent of three trips to the moon and back.

How long do migratory birds fly non-stop? Some birds fly for several days in a row without stopping, sleeping or eating! The Bar-tailed Godwit was named the ‘endurance champion of the animal kingdom’ after it completed a nine-day non-stop 11,000 kilometer flight across the Pacific Ocean.

How do birds find their way? Navigation is complicated because it requires three things: birds must know their current location, their destination and the direction they must take to get there. Birds acquire directional information from five primary sources: (1) topographic features like hills, rivers and buildings (2) stars (3) sun (4) Earth’s magnetic field and (5) odours. 

     When the sky is cloudy and birds cannot see the sun or stars, they rely on their sense for the Earth’s magnetic field. They are sensitive to the angle at which lines of magnetic force meet the Earth’s surface, which changes at different latitudes. Some birds that were captured, shipped to areas outside of their flyway, and released have still been able to reorient themselves and fly to their original destination! 

Why do birds fly in V formation?

    One of the joys of the changing seasons is watching migratory birds make their journey in the impressive V formation. Migratory birds take advantage of each other’s wingtip vortices by flying in a V formation. It helps all other birds except the leader to fly easily in the up-wash from the wing of the bird ahead.

     The first bird in the pointing tip of V has to work the hardest since it flies through undisturbed air. When the lead bird is tired, it will move out of the lead position and fall back into one of the lines of the V. Another bird will rapidly move forward to take the lead position to maintain the V formation.

How do the birds prepare themselves for migration? The endurance displayed by the migratory birds is amazing. Eating right and gaining endurance seems to be the buzzword of birds prior to migration, according to the latest research.

     Tiny Sandpiper which migrates 3000 km with 3 days of non-stop flight has an amazing feat of endurance among the small birds. Just before the onset of migration, the sandpipers start eating mud shrimp. Mud Shrimp is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Within a short period of two weeks this frantic eating doubles the sandpiper’s bodyweight.

     Bird migration is one of nature’s greatest miracles. It is fun to observe these tiny creatures and to know about their bravery and stamina. The epic flights of migratory birds connect us all - crossing our borders, cultures and lives.

VISIONARY AND PHILOSOPHER

Swami Vivekananda 

     Swami Vivekananda (12 Jan 1863 ~ 4 Jul 1902)  was born Narendranath Datta in Kolkata to Bhubaneswari Devi and Vishwanath, an attorney at Calcutta High Court. His grandfather, Durgacharan was a Sanskrit and Persian scholar who left family and became a monk at the age of twenty five. 

     The progressive, rational attitude of his father and, religious and spiritual nature of his mother shaped his thinking and personality. He was an avid reader of a wide range of subjects: philosophy, religion, history, social science, art and literature.

     He read Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. He was trained in Indian classical music and regularly participated in physical exercise and sports. He displayed an amazing capacity for memory.

     He learnt Western logic, Western philosophy & European history at General Assembly's Institution (now Scottish Church College). In 1884, he completed Bachelor of Arts degree.

     He studied works of David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Baruch Spinoza, Georg W. F. Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer, Auguste Comte, John Stuart Mill and Charles Darwin. He became fascinated with evolutionism of Herbert Spencer and corresponded with him, translating his book 'Education' into Bengali.

     At university, he was connected to Western philosophy, Christianity and science. Social reform became focus of his thought. He joined Brahmo Samaj, dedicated to eliminating child marriage and to spread education among women and lower castes. He became disciple of Ramakrishna.

     He initially saw Ramakrishna's ecstasies and visions as 'hallucinations'. As member of Brahmo Samaj, he opposed idol worship, polytheism and Ramakrishna's worship of Kali. He tested Ramakrishna, who faced his arguments asking him to 'Try to see the truth from all angles'.

     His father's death in 1884 left the family bankrupt; creditors began demanding repayment of loans and relatives threatened to evict the family from their ancestral home. He unsuccessfully tried to find work and questioned God's existence, but found solace in Ramakrishna.

     In 1885, Ramakrishna developed throat cancer. He and other disciples took care of him during his last days. Ramakrishna asked him to care of other disciples and told them to see Narendra as their leader. Ramakrishna died on 16 August 1886.

     In December 1886, he and eight other monks went to Antpur and took formal monastic vows. He then took the name Swami Vivekananda. In 1888, he left the monastery as a Parivrajaka - a wandering monk. His possessions were a kamandalu (water pot), staff and two favourite books: Bhagavad Gita and The Imitation of Christ.

He travelled extensively in India for 5 years, visiting centres of learning and acquainting himself with diverse religious traditions and social patterns. Living on bhiksha (alms), he travelled on foot and by railway (with tickets bought by admirers)

     During his travels he met and stayed with Indians from all religions and walks of life: scholars, dewans, rajas, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, low-caste workers and government officials.

     Stressing on universal and humanistic side of Vedas and belief in service rather than dogma, he attempted to infuse vigour into Hindu thought, placing less emphasis on prevailing pacifism and presenting Hindu spirituality to the West. He was an activating force in movement to promote Vedanta philosophy (one of six schools of Indian philosophy) in US and England.

     In 1893 he appeared in Chicago as spokesman for Hinduism at World’s Parliament of Religions and captivated audience by calling them 'Sisters & brothers of America'. Later he lectured throughout US and England.

     On return to India with a small group of Western disciples in 1897, he founded Ramakrishna Mission at monastery of Belur Math on Ganges River near Kolkata. Self-perfection and service were his ideals. He adapted and made relevant to 20th century, highest ideals of Vedantic religion and although he lived only two years into that century, he left a mark after his early exit before turning 40 years.

     A powerful orator and writer in English and Bengali, his published works were compiled from lectures. His main work, Raja Yoga is of talks delivered in New York. He was singer, painter & poet. He blended humour with his teachings & his language was lucid.

     Bartaman Bharat (Present Day India) is a Bengali essay published in March 1899, reprinted as book in 1905 and compiled into 4th volume of 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda'. In this essay he urged readers to honour and treat every Indian as a brother irrespective of poverty, religion or caste.

     National Youth Day in India is observed on his birth anniversary. 11 September (day of speech at Parliament of Religions) is celebrated as World Brotherhood Day.

SAVITRIBAI'S PARTNER IN EDUCATION

Fatima Sheikh

     Fatima Sheikh (Jan 1831 – 9 Oct 1900) enrolled with Savitribai Phule as a teacher training institution run by Cynthia Farrar, an American missionary.

   Jyotiba and Savitribai’s efforts to teach women and oppressed Castes resulted in upper castes threatening their family. The couple were thrown out of their home. They were welcomed by Fatima and her brother, Usman Sheikh at their home in Mominpura in Ganj Peth between 1841- 1847.

     The first girls school was started in the same house. They called the school, 'Indigenous Library'. She continued to teach and work alongside Savitri in their school until 1856. She was first Muslim woman teacher of 19th century in British occupied India.

     Upper castes reacted vehemently and even violently to the start of these schools. They pelted stones and cow dung at both women on way to school. But both remained undeterred. They would carry an extra saree to work.

   She taught at all 5 schools that Phules established for children of all religions and caste. She would go door to door, encouraging families and parents from Dalit and Muslim communities to send their daughters to school. She spent time and effort counselling parents who did not wish to send their girls to schools.

    The friendship between her and Savitribai was one of respect, compassion and synergy. Throughout their time together, Savitribai would often mention her in her letters to Jyotiba with affection and concern. Their friendship lives today in the form of the work they have done in creating will and actual structures for uplifting marginalized through education.

   However, like many women who fought against injustice, this educator and social reformer’s memory is a blur in our consciousness. She remains lost in the pages of history, despite her close association with the Phules.

DOLL FESTIVAL OF JAPAN

 Hina Matsuri 

   The Japanese Doll Festival, Hina Matsuri or Girl's Day, is held on March 3. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period. 

    Origin and custom: The custom of displaying dolls began during the Heian period. Formerly, people believed the dolls possessed the power to contain bad spirits. Hina Matsuri traces its origin to an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi, in which straw hina dolls are set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking troubles or bad spirits with them. The Shimagamo Shrine (part of the Kamo Shrine complex in Kyoto) celebrates the Nagashibina by floating these dolls between the Takano and Kamo Rivers to pray for the safety of children. People have stopped doing this now because of fishermen catching dolls in their nets. They now send them out to sea, and when the spectators are gone they take the boats out of the water and bring them back to the temple and burn them.

   The customery drink for the festival is shirozake, a sake made from fermented rice. A coloured hina-arare, bite-sized crackers flavoured with sugar or soy sauce depending on the region, and hishimochi, a diamond-shaped coloured rice cake, are served. Chirashizushi (sushi rice flavoured with sugar, vinegar, topped with raw fish and a variety of ingredients) is often eaten. A salt-based soup called ushiojiru containing clams still in the shell is also served. Clam shells in food are deemed the symbol of a united and peaceful couple, because a pair of clam shells fits perfectly, and no pair but the original pair can do so.

   Families generally start to display the dolls around mid-February and take down the platforms immediately after the festival.  Superstition says that leaving the dolls out past March 4 will result in a late marriage for the daughter.