Hi,
There was Annual function at school today. And during the prize distribution ceremony, my name was announced. Guess for what? Not for the English elocution that i had to get but for "Student of the Year". It was a complete surprise. I had never thought that I would be named student of the year.In fact, i did not even know that such a prize is given. I've spent only one year in KV COD , hence this was my first annual function.
I am really happy today. Elated
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Generation Gap-A Myth or Reality
'Generation Gap' is a term which is often coined to point out the different behaviour of today's teenagers. Parents often use it as a negative term to indicate their anger and frustration at their offsprings' doing. While, on the other hand, teenagers use it to signify their freedom and label their own parents as 'outdated' and 'out of touch' with reality. In truth, it is neither a positive nor a negative term. It is definitely present, yes, very much there, as mindsets do change from one generation to another but it is not such a big 'real' issue that can become the cause of a fallout between teenagers and their parents.
As a child grows into a teenager and then into an adult, he wises to follow a different lifestyle from that of his parents. This might not be essential but is a sufficiently common scenario. A youth's social icons, his idols and the value system to which he adheres is often not the same as that of the parents. He might like to dress up differently and live differently from what his parents designate as the 'right choice'.
His thoughts an actions might not always be different. At times, they shall agree with those of his parents. It even happens that the advice of his parents which he considered 'obsolete' at the age of fifteen suddenly becomes full of wisdom when he is twenty-five.
Generation Gap is thus neither a complete myth nor a full reality. It is a fact that must be accepted by teenagers and their parents that at times, they may think differently on some issues as the social scenario has changed during the decades. It is not a complete reality since the core values of an individual do remain the same irrespective of the generations that may pass.
As a child grows into a teenager and then into an adult, he wises to follow a different lifestyle from that of his parents. This might not be essential but is a sufficiently common scenario. A youth's social icons, his idols and the value system to which he adheres is often not the same as that of the parents. He might like to dress up differently and live differently from what his parents designate as the 'right choice'.
His thoughts an actions might not always be different. At times, they shall agree with those of his parents. It even happens that the advice of his parents which he considered 'obsolete' at the age of fifteen suddenly becomes full of wisdom when he is twenty-five.
Generation Gap is thus neither a complete myth nor a full reality. It is a fact that must be accepted by teenagers and their parents that at times, they may think differently on some issues as the social scenario has changed during the decades. It is not a complete reality since the core values of an individual do remain the same irrespective of the generations that may pass.
Being a Girl
In today's world, if you are a girl then God has given you a better deal than others. I'm myself a girl and have thoroughly enjoyed being one. I'm sure being a boy has its own benefits but being a girl means that you can have your cake and eat it too.
A girl has all opportunities in the world open to her. She can be a fire-fighter, a pilot, a police inspector, a professor, a dancer or simply a home-maker. That is, she can choose whatever she wants to do except work in combat for Indian defence forces. Women are not preferred for highly physical jobs, but still they've broken the ice in almost all fields. Men, however have yet to be successful home-makers or primary school teachers.
On the emotional front, women have always been deemed more 'sensitive'. The complex emotions of the civilized world dwell in a woman's heart. In this era, men have developed emotionally. Boys don't cry is an outdated saying. Men do realise their emotions. But, often they need to be five years older than women to be on the same level. Emotional maturity comes late for men. In India, due to wrong social customs men have never experienced the power of emotions which separate home sapiens from beasts.Unless, they had exceptionally good parents, boys' worlds tend to be one-dimensional.
It is this one-dimensional world that is thwarted by womanhood. Girls get the best of both worlds. A boyish girl or even a tom-boy is alright but a guy wearing a skirt is queer. So, isn't a girl's world better?
A girl has all opportunities in the world open to her. She can be a fire-fighter, a pilot, a police inspector, a professor, a dancer or simply a home-maker. That is, she can choose whatever she wants to do except work in combat for Indian defence forces. Women are not preferred for highly physical jobs, but still they've broken the ice in almost all fields. Men, however have yet to be successful home-makers or primary school teachers.
On the emotional front, women have always been deemed more 'sensitive'. The complex emotions of the civilized world dwell in a woman's heart. In this era, men have developed emotionally. Boys don't cry is an outdated saying. Men do realise their emotions. But, often they need to be five years older than women to be on the same level. Emotional maturity comes late for men. In India, due to wrong social customs men have never experienced the power of emotions which separate home sapiens from beasts.Unless, they had exceptionally good parents, boys' worlds tend to be one-dimensional.
It is this one-dimensional world that is thwarted by womanhood. Girls get the best of both worlds. A boyish girl or even a tom-boy is alright but a guy wearing a skirt is queer. So, isn't a girl's world better?
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Elders, Pillars of Society
"Aged widow found murdered in her flat." It is a headline of a news article which left me grieving about the state of our elders in our society. The above-mentioned lady used to live alone in her house. It has become commonplace and painfully so, to find the old living alone in the last stage of their lives. Just when they need the support of their children most, their kin leave them to survive on their own. It is the plight of our nation that just when troubles attack a person, help says goodbye and leaves.
Talking of the troubles of old people, the first thing that comes to mind is their physical fragility. But, something more important than bodily weakness is the need for emotional security and support for the aged. As Shakespeare said in the "The Seven Ages", in the last stage of his life a man is "sans everything". When such a condition arises, the youth must be present to support and care for their elders.
Sadly, the youth does not attempt to provide their parents or grandparents with this much needed care. They are shunted away to live in old-age homes or forced to live alone in their own houses. The young attempt to remove the old from their homes in order to enjoy their freedom. But, Alas! They know not that if they will remove the pillars of society, the establishment will crumble.
In such a scenario, the measure that can be taken to give the elders of society, a happy life is to include them in the main strata of society. If we cannot radically change the mindset of people, we can atleast provide the senior citizens with adequate medical facilities, spacious housing facilities where they can live together and interact with each other. Let the NGOs come up, let the government take required measures and let us ensure that no other lady is killed because she was old and lived alone.
Talking of the troubles of old people, the first thing that comes to mind is their physical fragility. But, something more important than bodily weakness is the need for emotional security and support for the aged. As Shakespeare said in the "The Seven Ages", in the last stage of his life a man is "sans everything". When such a condition arises, the youth must be present to support and care for their elders.
Sadly, the youth does not attempt to provide their parents or grandparents with this much needed care. They are shunted away to live in old-age homes or forced to live alone in their own houses. The young attempt to remove the old from their homes in order to enjoy their freedom. But, Alas! They know not that if they will remove the pillars of society, the establishment will crumble.
In such a scenario, the measure that can be taken to give the elders of society, a happy life is to include them in the main strata of society. If we cannot radically change the mindset of people, we can atleast provide the senior citizens with adequate medical facilities, spacious housing facilities where they can live together and interact with each other. Let the NGOs come up, let the government take required measures and let us ensure that no other lady is killed because she was old and lived alone.
My Favourite Columnists
Reading is the primary passion of my life. Hindustan Times is thus, a daily neccesity, just like food. I read दैनिक भास्कर too, but generally skip its editorials.
The columnists I especially like are (in order):
The columnists I especially like are (in order):
- Vir Sanghvi
- Karan Thapar
- Dr. Shikha Sharma
- Khushwant Singh
- Barkha Dutt
- Khushalrani Gulab
Remembering More Things than One
I have recently joined a Crash Course in Maths for AIEEE at Career Shapers. My mathematical skills are now being bettered by Mr. Adarsh Kumar Banka, a chemical engineer from IT, BHU.
He recently taught us a way to remember an otherwise confusing determinant.
For a general second degree equation to represent a pair of straight lines, the condition is that the following determinant should be zero.
Remembered as:
Nice one, हाँ?
He recently taught us a way to remember an otherwise confusing determinant.
For a general second degree equation to represent a pair of straight lines, the condition is that the following determinant should be zero.
Remembered as:all handsome guys and hard-working girls {enforcing gender equality}
having bright future
go for careerShapers {direct marketing}
having bright future
go for careerShapers {direct marketing}
Nice one, हाँ?Thursday, April 5, 2007
Board Exams Over
The big daddy of all exams , 12th class board exams are finally over. I still cannot believe its over, I've been studying for so long. About one and a half months I suppose.
I've still got three more exams to give:
8th Apr -- IITJEE
29th Apr -- AIEEE
30th May -- BITSAT
I'll finally be able to shout "Exams Over!!!" on 30th May in the afternoon. I'll be in Indore as the BITSAT does not have a centre either in Jabalpur or Bhopal. I'm thinking of spending a day or two in Indore to enjoy. Can you suggest any nice sightseeing sites in Indore?
I've still got three more exams to give:
8th Apr -- IITJEE
29th Apr -- AIEEE
30th May -- BITSAT
I'll finally be able to shout "Exams Over!!!" on 30th May in the afternoon. I'll be in Indore as the BITSAT does not have a centre either in Jabalpur or Bhopal. I'm thinking of spending a day or two in Indore to enjoy. Can you suggest any nice sightseeing sites in Indore?
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Love for God - Means to gain prestige?
With references from "The Plate of Gold" by James Leigh Hunt
All people have a great yearning to be respected and admired in society। This admiration is gained either by fame of erudition i.e. by academic excellence, by their monetary worth or by being a 'noble soul' in the eyes of the world. Of the three ways, the one which men choose often to achieve prestige is - to appear to be a God-fearing, pious and charitable person.
But, appearance can be deceiving। When God or religion is used just to become respectable in society, the deeds are overpowered by words. It's the fame which becomes significant and the true love of God is obliterated. This can be seen in the poem 'The Plate of Gold'. On hearing the announcement made by the priests, many people gathered at the temple.They claimed that they were great philanthropists but did not empathise with the beggars who lay near the temple. They said they loved God but failed to love his humble creations who were present before their eyes.
The man who touched the plate when it turned to lead, was a very noble soul in the eyes of the people। His whole estate had been divided among the poor. But, this act had been done with the motive of being admired by people. There was no element of the love for God or true charity in his act. Hence, Heaven rejected this claimant.
'The Plate of Gold' very aptly describes how the name of God is abused to gain prestige and fame. It tells of all the men quarrelling with each other to decide who is the best lover of God. But none of them, except the peasant,
had any pity or empathy for the downtrodden। All philanthropy, love and feeling of brotherhood was forgotten while giving alms to the poor.
It was an abuse of "God, religion and charity" when the notions were used to gain something for their own selves.
All people have a great yearning to be respected and admired in society। This admiration is gained either by fame of erudition i.e. by academic excellence, by their monetary worth or by being a 'noble soul' in the eyes of the world. Of the three ways, the one which men choose often to achieve prestige is - to appear to be a God-fearing, pious and charitable person.
But, appearance can be deceiving। When God or religion is used just to become respectable in society, the deeds are overpowered by words. It's the fame which becomes significant and the true love of God is obliterated. This can be seen in the poem 'The Plate of Gold'. On hearing the announcement made by the priests, many people gathered at the temple.They claimed that they were great philanthropists but did not empathise with the beggars who lay near the temple. They said they loved God but failed to love his humble creations who were present before their eyes.
The man who touched the plate when it turned to lead, was a very noble soul in the eyes of the people। His whole estate had been divided among the poor. But, this act had been done with the motive of being admired by people. There was no element of the love for God or true charity in his act. Hence, Heaven rejected this claimant.
'The Plate of Gold' very aptly describes how the name of God is abused to gain prestige and fame. It tells of all the men quarrelling with each other to decide who is the best lover of God. But none of them, except the peasant,
had any pity or empathy for the downtrodden। All philanthropy, love and feeling of brotherhood was forgotten while giving alms to the poor.It was an abuse of "God, religion and charity" when the notions were used to gain something for their own selves.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Examophobia grips parents
Examophobia-the fear of exams, is supposed to give sleepless nights to all students. But, new observations have found that parents are the ones in danger of examophobia. Tension, nervousness and insomnia have become persistent problems of students' parents. It is somewhat unfathomable, isn't it? Lets try to analyse what exactly is happening to our parents.
When we analyse as to why examophobia is troubling parents, we find the cause as excessive worrying by parents. Today's competitive world has made parents wish that their kids must excel in everything they do, every time. This situation stems from the desire of parents that their wards must see success in this cut-throat world. Other than this I see no cause behind parental stress during exams. On discussing with several children in the school, I was astonished by the fact that almost every kid is stressed during exams - not because they are afraid of exams, but because their parents are stressed and nervous, so are they.
The observations that I made are very disturbing. Examophobia in parents will hamper their children's success. It is urged that parents should try to take it easy and not worry too much about examination results. Even if the exam is the Board Exam- the grand, grand examination, be relaxed for, at the end of the day, it is still an exam, - nothing more.
Note: I wrote this article while practising for eng exam. So some of it is fictional and the view is general not personal.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
This is some info i got about the last book about Harry Potter due to be released on July 21. It does not contain the end or anything such, just general info.
But, if u want to know nothing about the book before reading it, please don't read the following.
Confirmed Information
On this page you can find several points of information we know about Book 7। Each of these points have been confirmed by an official JK Rowling source।
Character Information
- We will find out something "incredibly important" about Lily Potter
- We will find out who R.A.B. is
- We will discover more about Dumbledore's past
- We will discover where Snape's loyalties lie.
- Something will be revealed about Petunia Dursley, although it will not be that she is a Squib
- Viktor Krum will return (World Book Day, 2004 interview)
- We will see a reappearance of Dolores Umbridge - "It's too much fun to torture her not to have another little bit more before I finish." (MuggleNet/Leaky Interview)
- JKR has said, "There is a character who does manage, in desperate circumstances, to do magic quite late in life, but that is very rare..."
Plot Information
- Harry will face Voldemort for the final time
- Harry will be attempting to find and destroy Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes
- Harry will return to the Dursleys' during the school vacation, but the magical protection Dumbledore arranged will expire on his 17th birthday when he comes of age
- Harry will visit Godric's Hollow
- There will be a reappearance of the two-way mirror
- We will see the wedding of Fleur and Bill Weasley
- The fact that Harry "has his mother's eyes" will prove to be an important plot point
- At least one character will die
Other
- The last word is expected to be "scar," but may change
- We will finally learn the full reason why some people become ghosts when they die and others don't
- The final chapter, which has already been written, will detail what happens to the characters that survive
- There will be no more Quidditch matches
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