STORY TIME

Why the stork is white

     At the beginning of time, when the world had just been created, all the birds were white in colour. Unfortunately, some birds were always victimising the others and since both were white, the perpetrators of the crimes could never be identified and punished. So, the weak birds continued to have their eggs robbed, their meals snatched and their nests taken over by their aggressive fellow birds.

     One day, the victim birds decided to protest to the Creator. They went to Him in a delegation and complained of the terrible life they led. The Creator was aghast, since he had just then been patting himself on the back for creating such a wonderful world.

“Let me think about it,” the Creator replied, running his fingers through his grey beard.

     After some time, he shouted, “Eureka! I’ve got the solution. I’ll give each species a different set of colours.”

     And this is what he did. As every bird preened itself, showing off its gorgeous hues, there was suddenly a great commotion. There was a late arrival. It was the stork.

“Why are you late?” thundered the Creator, his eyes flashing lightning.

“I–I–I overslept,” mumbled the stork, blushing pink.

“Ha!” exclaimed the Creator. “You don’t lie very well. What were you really upto?”

The stork broke down. “I am sorry. But I was stealing shrimps in the lake,” said the stork, breathless with tears.

“Stealing shrimps?” boomed the Creator. “You know that stealing is forbidden in my world!”

The stork was silent. The other birds fell silent, too.

“Your punishment,” announced the Creator, “is that your feathers shall forever remain white. Then you will be visible at all times, and cannot indulge in your thieving habits!”

And that is why the stork has such dazzling white feathers. But has it stopped stealing? Just ask the shrimps!

DO YOU KNOW

How does a seat belt help a car passenger in the event of an accident?

When a car is in motion, the passengers seating in it are also moving at the same speed. If the car is moving at a speed of 70kmph (kilometres per hour), for example, the passengers are also moving at the same speed though they are not aware of it. 

Now, if the car crashes, its speed rapidly changes from 70kmph to 0kmph. The passengers are still moving at 70kmph at the time of impact, in accordance with Newton's first law of motion which states that "a body in motion tends to keep moving until an external force is applied to stop it".

An external force has stopped the motion of the car but not that of the passengers. They will hurtle forward at 70kmph and hit the dashboard or crash through the windshield. But not if they're wearing seat belts. 

Firstly, a seat belt, being slightly elastic, stretches to slow down the abrupt halt of the passenger. It also secures the passenger to the seat thereby stopping him/her from being thrown forward. Thirdly, it spreads the force of impact over the stronger parts of the body like the lap (pelvis) rib cage and shoulders. 

So wearing a seat belt can prevent grievous hurt or even death, in an accident. 

JAPANESE FORM OF POETRY

Haiku

Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry which originated hundreds of years ago. It is distinctive because it is very brief. It captures a single moment or thought in few words. In the Japanese language which is written in characters, a haiku is typically composed using just seventeen sound units (similar to syllables in English) and is expressed in three short lines. There are five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five again in the third line. Another distinctive quality about Haiku is that it does not rhyme. 

In the 17th century, haiku also emerged as an art form in Japan. Almost all Haiku poems relate to the beauty of nature and the Japanese Zen philosophy. Other topics that haiku poems deal with are animals, season of the year, or something as simple as a rain drop or a snowflake. 

Example: In a pouch I grow, 

                 On a southern continent 

                  Strange creatures I know 

Rabindranath Tagore composed haiku too and also translated some Japanese haiku into Bengali. Newer forms of haiku in English experiment with a wide range of topics. 

JULY 11

World population day

Observed on July 11, world population day raises awareness about population issues and their impact on society and the environment. It emphasises the need for sustainable development, finding a balance between population growth and resources. The day highlights women's empowerment, reproductive health rights, and challenges related to healthcare provision. It also emphasises the connection between population dynamics and environmental sustainability, promoting sustainable consumption, resource management and renewable energy. 

World population day addresses migration, urbanisation and the need for Inclusive and sustainable cities. It calls for discussions and actions to address these challenges, ensuring the well-being of present and future generations. Ultimately, the day serves as a platform to foster dialogue, raise awareness and promote action for a balanced, equitable and sustainable world. 

The theme for world population day 2024 is "Leave no one behind, count everyone". 

BRUSH UP YOUR TENNIS VOCABULARY

Tennis A to Z

Ace: A serve that the opponent doesn't touch with the racquet. An ace wins the point immediately for the server.

Backspin: A shot which forces the ball to spin and and reduce its speed at impact. It is also known as 'slice' or 'underspin'.

Career Golden Slam: A term associated with a player who has won all the four major titles and also an Olympic gold medal. So far only four people have achieved this feat: Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. 

Deuce: A score of 40-40. A player must score two consecutive points from deuce if he has to win the game. A player to score the first point from deuce is said to have an advantage. If he scores another, he wins the game. But if the opponent scores then the score goes back to deuce. 

Error: A loss in point due to the shot not landing correctly in the opponent 's court. 

Frame shot: A shot coming off the frame of the racquet rather than off the strings. Usually it is a mishit. 

Grunt: Noises made by the players while serving or hitting the ball. Notable players who grunt are Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova among others. 

Hopper: A large container that holds tennis balls. 

Jam: To hit the ball at or near to the opponent's body forcing him/her to hit back awkwardly. 

Kick Serve: A type of serve which spins tremendously causing the ball to change the direction when it bounces. 

Lucky loser: A player who loses the final qualifying round but still gets to enter the tournament when another player withdraws. 

Mis-hit: A shot that fails to hit the middle of the racquet. 

No man's land: The area between the service line and the base line is said to be a no-man's land. 

Overrule: A decision is said to be overruled when the umpire reverses the decision of the line judge. 

Poaching: In doubles, a player hits a shot, mostly a volley, which was intended for his/her partner. 

Qualifier: A small competition held to choose a specified number of players for the main tournament. 

Return ace: A shot in which the opponent serves, the player returns the serve, and the opponent is unable to hit the ball. It’s the opposite of ace wherein the server serves and the receiver is unable to hit the ball.

SABR (Sneak Attack by Roger): It is an attack devised by Roger Federer in which the serve returner rushes toward during a serve to upset the opponent's rhythm.

Tandem: It is a doubles formation in which each partner is responsible for one half of the court as divided by the centre line.

Umpire: An arbitrator who usually sits on a high chair next to the tennis court. 

Volley: A shot in which the ball is struck before it bounces on the ground. 

Western grip: A type of grip used by a player to generate a lot of topspin on the groundstrokes.

Zero pointer: Top 10 players who withdraw from a commitment tournament receive a mandatory zero pointer (no points) on their rankings. 

AN ICONIC STRUCTURE OF PARIS

Eiffel Tower 

The Eiffel Tower is an iconic structure located in Paris, France. It was built in the late 19th century and has become a symbol of the city. 

The story of the Eiffel Tower begins with an engineer named Gustave Eiffel. He wanted to create something grand for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, a world’s fair held in Paris. So, he designed and oversaw the construction of a tall iron tower. 

The construction of a tower wasn't easy. It took many workers, iron pieces and countless hours to complete. Once finished, the tower stood tall at 324 metres (1,063 feet), making it the tallest man-made structure at that time. When the Eiffel Tower was unveiled, it amazed everyone with its intricate ironwork and grandeur. People from all over the world flocked to see it. Initially, some Parisians criticised it, but over time, it became a beloved symbol of the city and a testament to an engineering marvel. 

Today, the Eiffel Tower attracts millions of visitors each year. People can ride elevators to the top and enjoy breathtaking views of Paris. It has become and enduring symbol of beauty, engineering prowess, and the city of love, captivating the hearts of people of all ages.

WORLD’S OLDEST RESIDENTIAL UNIVERSITY

Nalanda University

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently opened the new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar. This was an important event. Nalanda University is an important part of India’s history and culture. 

Ancient Nalanda University: Nalanda University is one of the oldest universities in the world. It was built in the fifth century, about 1,500 years ago. Nalanda was a Buddhist mahavihara (a grand monastery) in ancient and medieval Magadha (today's Bihar). It was a famous learning centre. Students from many countries studied different subjects. These subjects included science, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and medicine. Many travellers from different countries came here. Hiuen Tsang was a Chinese traveller who stayed in Nalanda both as a student and a teacher. The ancient Nalanda Library had countless Sanskrit texts (manuscripts).

Nalanda University was destroyed in 1193 by an attack led by Bakhtiyar Khilji. He was an Afghan conqueror. Nalanda was more than six times older than the oldest European university, the University of Bologna in Italy. 

The New Campus: The new campus is in Rajgir, Bihar. It is less than 12km from the ancient ruins of Nalanda University. The campus is about 100km from Patna. It covers a large area of about 455 acres. It has modern facilities. But it still has the ancient architectural style of the original Nalanda University. The campus also has a beautiful Bodhi tree. This tree is a symbol of peace and knowledge.