MORAL STORY

Half knowledge is dangerous!

     An Aeroplane cleaner was cleaning the Pilot's cockpit, when he saw a book titled, "HOW TO FLY AN AEROPLANE FOR BEGINNERS (Volume 1)

     He opened the first page which said: "To start the engine, press the red button...". He did so, and the airplane engine started...

     He was happy and opened the next page...:

     "To get the airplane moving, press the blue button... "He did so, and the plane started moving at an amazing speed...

     He wanted to fly, so he opened the third page which said: To let the airplane fly, please press the green button... "He did so and the plane started to fly...

     He was excited...!!

     After twenty minutes of flying, he was satisfied, and wanted to land, so he decided to go to the fourth page... and page four says; "To be able to know how to land a plane, please purchase Volume 2 at the nearest bookshop!"

*Moral Lesson*

Never attempt anything without complete information. Half Education is not only dangerous but destructive!

DO YOU KNOW

Why do our stomachs sometimes rumble?

When we haven’t eaten for a while, our stomach is nearly empty, containing only gastric juices and swallowed air. The normally quiet and slow movements of the stomach walls become stronger, causing a gurgling sound known as hunger contractions. These sounds stop once we eat. Similarly, our intestines can make noises when they move food and gas along their length. These sounds are normal and occur as part of the digestive process, helping to move the food through the digestive tract and break it down for absorption. Eating regularly can help reduce these noises and keep our digestive system working smoothly.

COLOUR-CODED WEATHER WARNING

What are the different types of weather alerts by IMD (Indian Meteorological Department?

Colour- Coded Weather Warning

It is issued by the IMD whose objective is to alert people ahead of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life.

Warnings are updated daily.

Green (All is well): No advisory is issued.

Yellow (Be Aware): Yellow indicates severely bad weather spanning across several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, causing disruption in day-to-day activities.

Orange/Amber (Be prepared): The orange alert is issued as a warning of extremely bad weather with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail closures, and interruption of power supply.

Red (Take Action): When the extremely bad weather conditions are certainly going to disrupt travel and power and have significant risk to life, the red alert is issued.

These alerts are universal in nature and are also issued during floods, depending on the amount of water rising above land/in a river as a result of torrential rainfall.

For instance, when the water in a river is ‘above normal’ level, or between the ‘warning’ and ‘danger’ levels, a yellow alert is issued.

A DAY TO REMEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS OF DOCTORS

National Doctor's Day

Doctor's day in India, observed July 1, is a day dedicated to honouring the extraordinary contributions of doctors and healthcare professionals to society. This date is significant as it commemorates the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of India’s most esteemed physicians, educators, and political leaders. Dr. Roy, who was born on July 1, 1882, and passed away on the same day in 1962, was a beacon of medical excellence and social reform. His legacy extends beyond his medical practice to his significant role in public health and infrastructure development in West Bengal and across India. 

Dr. B. C. Roy's contributions to medicine and society are monumental. He was instrumental in the establishment of several hospitals, medical colleges, and healthcare institutions, including the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan and the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kolkata. His vision for a robust healthcare system has inspired generations of medical professionals. Recognising his impact, the Government of India awarded him the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, in 1961. Celebrating Doctor's Day on his birth and death anniversary is a tribute to his enduring legacy and serves as a reminder of the standards of dedication, compassion, and service that he embodied. 

Doctor's Day in India is a profound occasion that highlights the critical role of doctors in maintaining and improving public health. It serves as a day to honour their unwavering commitment, often under challenging conditions, to providing care and saving lives. Doctors are at the forefront of combating public health crises, managing chronic diseases, and advocating for healthier communities. Their impact is felt in every aspect of society, from urban hospitals to remote rural clinics, where they often work with limited resources and infrastructure. 

The celebration of Doctor's Day involves various activities and events designed to recognise and appreciate the contribution of doctors. Medical institutions and professional bodies honour outstanding doctors with awards and accolades, celebrating their achievements in patient care, medical research, and community service. Hospitals and clinics organise free health camps, offering medical check-ups, consultations, and treatments, providing essential services to underserved populations. These initiatives not only deliver critical healthcare but also promote public awareness about health issues. 

Doctor's Day also brings attention to the numerous challenges faced by the medical community in India. Doctors often contend with high levels of stress, long working hours, and the emotional toll of their profession. They face resource limitations, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas, where inadequate medical supplies and infrastructure can hinder their ability to provide optimal care. Instances of violence against doctors by frustrated patients or their families are a significant concern, highlighting the need for better security measures and public education about the challenges faced by healthcare providers. 

Navigating complex ethical dilemmas and legal pressures is another challenge for doctors, who must balance the needs of their patients with their professional integrity and the constraints of the healthcare system. Additionally, keeping up with rapid advancements in medical technology and treatment protocols requires continuous learning, which can be demanding alongside their clinical duties. 

It is essential for our society to support and empower doctors so that healthcare facilitates can be availed easily and quickly. Supporting and valuing our doctors is essential for the health and prosperity of the entire nation. Their unwavering dedication and compassionate care are the cornerstones of a healthy society and they deserve our deepest gratitude and continuous support. 

WORLD'S HIGHEST ANCIENT PALACE

Potala Palace 

The Potala Palace, located in Lhasa, Tibet (Xizang Autonomous Region), is the world's highest ancient palace. This architectural marvel stands at an altitude of about 3,700 meters (12,100 feet) above sea level. It serves as a treasure trove of Tibetan history, culture, and art, housing nearly 40,000 ancient books and documents in various languages.

Originally constructed in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo, the palace as we see it today was expanded in the 17th century by the Fifth Dalai Lama. It served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas and the center of Tibetan governance. The structure comprises the White Palace, which served as the living quarters, and the Red Palace, dedicated to religious study and prayer.

The Potala Palace is renowned for its intricate architecture, with its massive walls, beautiful murals, and numerous chapels and shrines. It reflects a blend of Tibetan, Han, and Indian architectural styles, showcasing the cultural richness of the region.

In 1994, the Potala Palace was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizing its historical, cultural, and architectural significance. This designation helps ensure the preservation and protection of the palace for future generations, allowing it to continue to stand as a symbol of Tibetan heritage and spirituality.

THE FOREST MAN OF INDIA

Jadav Molai Payeng

     HERO…Well defining the word HERO is difficult. Superman and Batman are heroes to us, our teacher who always believes in us is a hero to us, our mom, dad, sister and brother who works tirelessly to provide for the family are heroes to us. The definition of a hero is left to interpretation. 

     Who do you think of when you hear the word hero? Well, heroes come from all walks of life. Everyone who we admire and idolize, is a hero to us. One thing is certain: we want to believe in heroes, but we’ve been going about it the wrong way. 

     Heroes are the ones who act nobly. Their lives inspire us. Therefore it is important for us to know the unsung heroes of our country who are impacting thousands of lives, changing the way we think, and making India truly a better place.

     Here's a story of one such hero who has achieved extraordinary feats and moved our country forward.

     This man, Jadav Payeng, rightly called "forest man of India", single-handedly converted a washed-out land into a 1,360-acre forest. 

     Almost three decades ago, a teenager, after noticing the deaths of a large number of reptiles due to lack of tree cover, started planting Bamboo in an area that had been washed away by floods. Today, that same land hosts 1,360 acres of Jungle called Molai Forest, named after Jadav “Molai” Payeng, the man who made this possible single-handedly!

     He was 16 when the catastrophic flood hit Assam destroying crops, vegetation, and wildlife. Payeng observed that the flow of migratory birds eventually started to decline to the forest areas and wetlands near his home and snakes and other reptiles were disappearing in large numbers. When he asked his village elders, they told him that with a decline in forest cover and deforestation, animals lost their habitats. In order to restore wildlife, the only solution was to build new homes or forests for the animals. He informed the forest department but they asked him to plant trees himself. So that's what he did. He located a riverine island, on the banks of River Brahmaputra, and began to plant the saplings. Payeng visited the island and planted a few saplings every day for three decades.

     Transforming the area into a forest was not a piece of cake. He experienced tough and difficult challenges. The odds were against him but he didn't give up. One of those obstacles was watering the growing area. Watering the area proved to be vast for one man. He could not draw water from the river and water all the growing plants. But that never stopped him.

     He came up with a brilliant idea. He built a bamboo platform on the top of each sapling and placed earthen pots with small holes in them. The water would gradually drip on the plants below and water them through the week. With his "never quit" attitude he conquered all those challenges and obstacles.

     In 1980, he started working with the social forestry division of Golaghat district when they launched a scheme of tree plantation on 200 hectares. Payeng was one of the labourers who worked on that 5-year-long project. When the project was completed other workers left but he chose to stay to look after the plants and he continued to plant more trees on his own, in an effort to remodel the area into a forest.

     Payeng was honoured at a public function arranged by the School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University on 22nd April 2012 for his noteworthy achievement. The vice-chancellor of JNU Sudhir Kumar Sopory named him as "Forest Man of India". In October 2013, he was honoured at the Indian Institute of Forest Management during their annual event ‘Coalescence’.

     In 2015, he was honoured with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India. He received honorary doctorate degrees from Assam Agricultural University and Kaziranga University for his contributions.

     He started as a 16 year old boy, Today he is 57 and lives in his own forest, which is now also home to Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, over 100 deer, and rabbits, besides apes and several varieties of birds, including a large number of vultures. The forest department wanted to employ him but he refused because he believed he wouldn’t be able to pay attention to the cause if he was bound by responsibilities.

     Isn’t it fascinating to see the willpower of this man who fought alone and won the battle single-handedly? Where we don’t hesitate to cut trees for our luxuries, he sacrificed all the worldly pleasures to save the environment and the ecosystem. Our country needs more such heroes who are trying to make Earth a better place.

NATIONAL PARK OF KERALA

The Silent Valley National Park 

The Silent Valley, a national park in Kerala, is one of the last undisturbed tracts of South Western Ghats montane rainforests in India. Located in the Nilgiri Hills in Kerala’s Palakkad district, it is part of the Western Ghats, a chain of mountains traversing six states and covering an area of 1,40,000 sq km, that is internationally recognized as a region of immense global importance for the conservation of biological diversity and designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Silent Valley national park has a core area of 89.52 sq km. A surrounding area of 148 sq km has been designated a buffer zone to protect the park’s rare flora and fauna. The park is home to 41 mammal, 211 bird, 49 reptile, 47 amphibian, 12 fish, 164 butterfly, and 400 moth species. Its most famous resident is the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca Silenus), a monkey endemic to the Western Ghats, that ranks among the rarest and most threatened primates in the world.

Other animals found here include the tiger, leopard cat, brown palm civet, small flying squirrel, Indian pangolin, and mouse deer. Rare birds spotted include the Nilgiri wood-pigeon, the great Indian hornbill, the Nilgiri flycatcher and the white-bellied shortwing.

The park is a roughly rectangular tableland closed on all sides, with high and continuous ridges along its entire east, north, and northeast borders and a somewhat lower ridge along the entire western and southern border. A perennial river named Kuntipuzha originates from the south-western edge of the Nilgiri mountain mass and flows through the western side of the park. Along its entire length, the plateau slopes toward the bed of the Kuntipuzha, which divides itinto two sectors. The valley is drained by five main tributaries of the Kuntipuzha that originate near the eastern border and flow westwards.

There are many legends about how the Silent Valley got its name. The most popular one is that this is a distorted or Anglicised version of its original name, Sairandhrivanam, literally ‘forest of Sairandhri’. Sairandhri or Draupadi was the wife of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata, and she and her husbands are believed to have hidden in this forest while escaping their cruel cousins, the Kauravas. Another version attributes the name to the unearthly silence of the valley due to the absence of cicadas, whose noisy, constant buzzing is a typical feature of normal rainforests.

The Silent Valley shot into the limelight in 1973 when the Kerala State Electricity Board initiated a hydroelectric project here that involved building a dam across the Kuntipuzha river, which in turn would flood 8.3 sq km of virgin rainforest and threaten the habitat of the lion-tailed macaque. The decision engendered a storm of protest as environmentalists and intellectuals joined the fray, bringing the matter to public attention at the international level.

Thus was born the Save Silent Valley movement, a high-profile campaign against the project that went on to become India’s fiercest environmental movement over the next two decades. Eventually the project was cancelled and the SilentValley was formally notified as a national park in 1984. The Silent Valley National Park was formally inaugurated on September 7, 1985.