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Reena created new article Honey: A Home Remedy.
Innumerable colors of flowers and their heart touching fragrance is hidden in each drop of honey and its goodness can be very well compared to a beautiful song which is highly blessed. Honey is a combination of magical sweetness and fragrance of beautiful flowers.
From ancient times, Indians are very well aware regarding importance and goodness of honey. Honey is very essential for good eye sight. It is thus used in manufacturing of many medicines for treatment of eye related disorders. It is popular among weight watchers. It helps in reduction of fat from the body. Early morning consumption of honey mixed with warm water along with few drops of lemon when taken on empty stomach is known to reduce body weight. Honey also helps to get rid of cough. In Ayurveda, honey is considered to be a very essential medicine as it is believed to increase healing power and thus is mixed with numerous other medicines prepared to cure various ailments.
Honey bees suck nectar from flowers and accumulate them in honeycomb. Initially honey contains 75% water. However, later only 20% of water remains in it. It contains more amount of glucose and fructose. It also contains thiamine, riboflavin, niacin along with traces of iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, sulfur and magnesium.
Honey is extremely sweet when compared with sugar cane juice, sugar or jaggery. It is very easily digested too. It helps in the improvement of hemoglobin level. it produces instant energy in body. As it gets digested easily, thus it can be recommended to physically weak individuals or patients suffering from long term illness as their body parts need not take excess load to digest honey. It helps in indigestion, swelling of internal organs and acidity. It is prescribed even to patients suffering from typhoid and pneumonia. It can also be given to patients suffering from heart diseases as well as helps in epileptic disorders. Honey is full of antibiotic properties. If honey is applied on ulcers, they are seen to heal and clear out quickly. It helps to bring instant relief in common cold and throat pain. It also brings relief in urinary infections.
Honey is widely used for cooking purposes too. Its mild taste brings tingling sensation to taste buds and increases everyone's cravings. It is particularly used in making breads, cakes, desserts and various sauces. Honey tea not only is a refreshing beverage but aids in digestion and can be used as an Ayurvedic beverage to cure various ailments and improvement of health.
Honey has not only been used since age old times all around the world by countless cultures as traditional medicine but is also well approved by modern medicine. It is high source of energy as well as has antibacterial and anti fungal properties. Honey is a boon to mankind and helps in the treatment of various diseases and cure numerous disorders. It is available in the kitchen of every household and thus it should be used regularly to cure ailments and in the improvement of overall health.
10 years ago
usha manohar created new article Armageddon By Leon Uris.
About the Author and the Book
Ever since, so to say Leon Uris burst upon the literary scene with his magnificent novel about the American marines ' Battle Cry ', he has been regarded as a supreme writer about significant events of our times. Battle Cry was followed by other equally great books like 'Exodus' and MILA 18, both portraying holocaust as no other. I cannot think of another writer who has the ability to bring out the depth and details of that dark period in the history of mankind. His next mega novel Armageddon , which I am now writing about and reviewing is a novel of Berlin and of the invincibility of free men when they stand defiant !
It is the story written about the origin of the Cold War in the strife ridden post-war Germany and more importantly Berlin. It is a historical fiction based on facts. Leon Uris himself was very much part of the second world war working with the 6th Marine regiment having been there and experienced the great war and the cold war that followed. His feelings were mixed, often questioning the outcome of the cold war and its after effects on the German people and the world in general. It is this conflict that he had within himself regarding the cold war that made him write this novel just so he could be fair in his analysis ,which in my opinion can easily be considered as one is of his best writings!
The Story in Brief
There are many people in Germany that I have spoken to, who are still angry and disturbed by the Nazi rule and even more so by the cold war that followed the defeat of the Nazis and after Allies took over. After I read this book I could clearly understand their feelings and empathise with them because they had to suffer when the war was on under the rule of Hitler and again later when the cold war began. During that period of cold war there was no shelter or security for the Germans either in their country, city or their homes , which was being invaded and looted by others.
It is very difficult to make this brief, since there is so much covered of equal interest and importance in this mega novel. The story is set in the year 1944, in the war torn Germany and Berlin. The country and the people coming to terms with the war and its losses, with insights and accounts of the past actions of the Nazis, the Russians and the Allies. It is also pay back time for those who suffered under the Nazi regime and those who were bitterly opposed to Hitler's violent rule.
It is the story of Sean Sullivan, a young American Commanding Officer, who has lost both his brothers fighting the war against the Germans, and who has developed a bitter hatred towards all Germans not just Nazis . He is sent to Rombaden (Germany) to investigate the horrors of Schwabenland camps, where 1,116,000 deaths certified natural by the Nazi authorities ,were recorded in a single week.
Once there, he realises this as an uphill task as all those connected with the camp feign ignorance and, in turn had taken it on themselves to exploit the American Soldiers with sex and disinformation. Sean feels that de-nazification, planned by his authorities, in reality would not work however hard he tried. In fact the situation in Germany was quite different to what he had been given to understand by his superiors back in America. The reality was shocking to Sean.
He is sent to Berlin, where power struggle was on between the Allies and the Russian forces, who were keen to have a Russian Berlin.. On the other side, there is Igor Karlovy , an officer of Soviet Red Air Force with his own disturbed past , spent fighting the war and still mourning his lost love . He is left only with his Patriotism. Now he waits on the other side of Brandenburg gate to claim Berlin for the Russian people. And as far as he is concerned Germans , Americans and other Allies are all his enemies.
Amidst all this unrest Sean meets Ernestine, a young and beautiful German girl with a Nazi background and connections, trying to survive and live in the aftermaths of war and its new horrors, now unleashed by the Russian, Mongols, Allies and practically everyone , on the defeated Germans regardless of the fact that most of them were innocent and had suffered under Hitler’s rule. Young German girls with a Nazi background were the most hunted , abused and tortured by everyone since there was little sympathy for anything that had a Nazi lable on it , including people and especially beautiful young girls like Ernestine !
Sean falls desperately in love with Ernestine , and she with him ,not knowing what the future holds for them. For the two lovers it is not at all an easy time and there are hurdles and of course for Sean it is a time for facing some hard hitting facts and truths about his own role and his country’s role in the prevailing cold war.
The Russians in the meantime are working on a secret plan detailing the harassment of the Western Allies in Berlin, all leading up to the final historical moment ' The Berlin Airlift'.
My views about this Mega novel
Any story based on Holocaust makes us stop and think hard but normally it is the horrors of war camps and the atrocities meted out to Jews , that we normally associate it with , not the cold war that followed it where scores of Germans suffered as much as the Jews for no fault of theirs .
Although this book had been with me since the past several years, I somehow kept putting it off not attempting to read it, mainly because of its size . It has 810 pages which in itself looked intimidating to me .However, once I decided to read the book, it was impossible to put it down. I got down to reading it only , after my entire family had read it and discussed it ,with myself, having nothing to contribute to the discussion but it also made me realise that I was missing out on something very valuable and interesting. After having read it, I sincerely regretted not having done so earlier. This is without any doubt a Superior novel written by a Supreme writer. It is like going through pages of history books, only a lot more interesting, real and human .
Talking about history, the author highlights the nature of German people and insights into their nature, that has been formed through centuries, and initially as Sean discovers more about this, his loathing for the Germans increases to even greater heights . At some stage Sean begins to feel that the longing to be the supreme race, the strange elation at the moment of death is so prevalent in the German culture. Probably that is the reason why they excel in every field even now .
The interactions between Sean and General Andrew Haisen are complex, his superior sharing a turbulent yet a strange kind of rapport , the superior ever critical of his junior, but at the same time trusting him above all the others in his hour of need. Leon uris's insights into human emotions and behavioral patterns is truly amazing.
It is lovely going through the pages covering Sean and Ernestine's early meetings, the impact they have on each other’s personalities , with Sean learning a more sensitive and human side of Germans through Ernestine. True love brings out all our finer emotions to the fore front . The slow build- up of Igor and Sean's camaraderie, and their growing respect for each other’s views , though being on opposite sides is very realistically and well portrayed.
Everything's fair in war and what followed after the war. The building up of events leading to the final victory of the Western world over West Berlin and the Berlin Airlift, which is one of the most important events of history, gave me a bit of history lesson that I was not thorough with. What shines through all this is the tender love story of Sean and Ernestine that unfolds amidst all the unrest , violence and hatred.
While Uris's portrayal of the atrocities committed around Berlin is violent and graphic, when he writes about the touching love story of Sean and Ernestine he is ever so sensitive, tender and gentle in his observations. The accounting of the horrors committed on the German people by the rest of the world after the end of the war leaves one cold, where life has little value and the victors exhibiting their own brutal side, almost like the Nazis did, and enjoying it too, like the Nazis did ! It is one’s basic instincts taking over when one’s enemies are down and out.
But again there are people like Sean, Igor, Ernestine who all come from the same background, yet feel the prick of conscience and try to make amends as and where they can. Leon Uris has touched upon all nuances of human emotions that came to the fore front in probably what was the most horrifying period ever in the recent past . He tells us a tale of a war torn country being ravaged by the four power occupations with utter disregard and respect for its people and their lives. After reading this book my admiration and regard for Germany and the German people grew higher!
A superb book , that leaves you with such an impact as never to be forgotten. Anything I write about this mega novel seems too little. This book is like a rare experience that leaves one asking for more and I highly recommend this novel as a must read for all book lovers.
To sum up, some innocents paid a heavy price for the atrocities committed by others of their kind, and, a lucky few were able to fight their wars, pack up and go home. But, for those who were unable to do so it was untold misery and the rest of the world simply overlooked them as if they did not matter and the cold war was of no consequence .
( image - book cover)
10 years ago
usha manohar created new article Agatha Christie's Endless Night and Cards On The Table.
Endless Night
Every Night and every Morn, Some to misery are born
Every Morn and every Night, Some are born to Sweet Delight
Some are born to Endless Night...
[William Blake - Auguries of Innocence]
A Brief Introduction
Agatha Christie needs no introduction since she is a household name for fiction lovers.her many suspense thrillers have enthralled readers all over the world for several decades. I have read many of her books and liked almost all of them. Some books become dearer to you because of various reasons and the two I am reviewing here come from that category of her books. Endless Night is a touching tale, in many ways more than a murder mystery and Cards on the table is a perfect whodunnit, the complex plot of it could only be imagined and executed by Agatha Christie in her own inimitable style!
The Story
'In my end is my Beginning ! Is there ever any particular spot where one can put one's finger and say: "It all began that day, at such and such a place, with such an incident?' This is how the disturbing and compelling story of Endless Night begins.
Perhaps there was something more sinister behind the gypsy's warning. Michael Rogers a man of many interests and a vagabond dreamed of a rich beautiful wife and a perfectly designed house. He found the girl and they built the house - but the site that was selected was at a place called Gypsy’s Acre, a place with a curse where sudden death had already struck more than once, and was about to strike again.
Told in first person by Michael Rogers, who is a Drifter by nature, now a salesman, but with very high ambitions, looking for something exciting to happen in his life and excitement comes to him soon enough. He meets a Brilliant Architect Santonix, who promises to build him a Dream house, when he finds the proper setting for a house and the means to build it. While taking his clients on a house viewing expedition, Michael comes across a Sale bill for a property in Kingston Bishop, a place according to him, of no importance to him, until the moment he visited the place.
Once he set his eyes on the property called Gypsy’s Acre, he is transfixed by its mystery and beauty and determined to own it and requests Santonix to build his dream house there… as he turned away from the sale bill "...when I turned away from the sale board I felt a little shiver because a black cloud had come over the sun." All the locals furnish him with a tale of terror with a Gypsy's curse on the property and unexplained deaths and accidents happening just around there, also how the property had remained without being sold for these very reasons.But, Michael becomes even more determined to prove everyone wrong about the curse including Mrs Lee, who is the local gypsy, who warns him against having anything to do with it, as the property had belonged to her family way back in the past!
When Michael visits Gypsy's acre yet again as the place draws him, he comes across the beautiful and the fabulously rich heiress Fenella Goddman. In his own words - Elle was standing just by a tall fir tree and she had the look, if I can explain it, of someone who had not been there a moment before but had materialized, as it were, out of the trees...." They meet and are instantly attracted and they get married, go ahead and buy the property and Get Santonix to build the house. However, Michael is warned by Mrs Lee, the gypsy woman again and by his mother as well, who Michael is wary of, as she is the only person who is able to read him like a book.
The wonderfully happy couple move into the new house and there is a small accident on the first day itself -a dead bird with a message asking them to get out of Gypsy's Acre. Things become even more disturbing when Elle insists that her close companion and secretary, Greta come and live with them.
Michael had disliked her ever since he met her and tries his level best to stop her come and live with them but with little success since Greta was brilliant and was able to manage Elle’s financial affairs so well that her grabbing relatives were wary and kept out. Just when everything looked settled there is an even greater tragedy when Elle has an accident while riding her favorite horse!
What I feel about the book
This is more a tragic love story than Christie's usual kind of suspense thriller which focuses only the crime part of it. This story deals with the depth of human emotions and how feelings can and do change with time and circumstances sometimes with disastrous results !
The book does not disappoint the readers and in many ways is a complete departure from Agatha Christie's normal style of writing. It is a sensitive tale of crime, passion and tragic romance. The romantic story of a middle class vagabond and a shy beautiful heiress tugs at your heart. In my opinion, this is probably one of her best written books and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book beginning with the usual guess work as to who gets murdered, when and whodunnit? It has a very touching end to it.
In fact I am surprised that this book has not been publicised much like her other better known and popular novels. I am almost certain that all Agatha Christie fans would enjoy reading this book. It is a Fabulous mystery beautifully crafted by Christie, not to be missed!
Cards On The Table
Apparently, when Agatha Christie wrote this novel in 1936, she wanted to make it different to all her earlier works . According to her The most likely murderer in general would be the least likely person to have committed the crime, so she warned her readers beforehand that this was not that kind of a mystery. There are only four suspects and given the right circumstances, any one of them might have committed the murder. Each of them have already committed at least one murder or more, and each of them is capable of committing further murders. They come from a widely different background and would employ different methods. The deduction therefore has to be entirely psychological as Poirot says " When all is said and done it is the mind of the murderer that is of supreme interest"
The Story
Hercule Poirot who is visiting an exhibition of Snuff-Boxes at Wessex House, has a chance encounter with Mr. Shaitana, a person with a bizarre taste in clothes and appearance, and, according to Poirot someone who every healthy decent Englishman longed earnestly and fervently to kick!
Nobody knew Mr Shaitana's origins, but what was known was that he was very rich and lived in the lap of luxury, and more interestingly he gave wonderful parties - sometimes macabre, sometimes queer, sometimes classy but never dull. And lastly he was a man of whom nearly everybody was a little afraid of. He made it his business to dig out any little hidden secrets of various people known to him and took pleasure in making them aware of this fact by giving little hints about his knowledge which made them uncomfortable and uneasy. So, Shaitana was not a person people wanted to be friends with!
Shaitana while baiting Poirot at the exhibition, invites him to his apartment where he claimed he had a 'Black Museum', and he was willing to show Poirot some objects in his own line, crime! According to Shaitana murder was an art form and the 'ones who got away with it' were the successes and according to him were the ' ultimate artistes'. Shaitana arranges a dinner party for Poirot to meet his 'exhibits' (the ultimate artistes?) – Poirot however is reluctant to attend the party and warns Shaitana against the idea, finally gives in and decides to attend the party out of sheer curiosity.
The party consists of Poirot, Mrs Oliver, the well-known writer of detective novels and a feminist to the core, Superintendent Battle, one of Scotland yard's best representatives and Colonel Rice, an unassuming, quiet secret service agent, with a sharp observant mind. The other guests include Dr. Roberts, Mrs Lorrimer, Major Despard and Miss Meredith - supposedly Shaitana's four exhibits. Shaitana's idea of fun was to have a party with his four exhibits and four sleuths. What begins as an absorbing evening consisting of an Excellent dinner, a lively discussion on crime and murder and bridge, turns into a dangerous game with Shaitana found stabbed with one of his own collection of an exquisitely carved and jewel headed Stilletto.
In fact, Shaitana literally signed his own death warrant when he made certain leading remarks and concluded 'But who am I to pronounce with so many experts present ?' As Poirot remarks later 'The stupid little man, to dress up as the Devil and frighten people' - Now it was the task of the four sleuths to find the murderer, who was exceptionally daring and cunning.
My views about the book
This is yet another very interesting and compelling tale written by Christie. As she writes in her forward at the beginning of the book, there are just 4 suspects and anybody could have done it. They all had the motive and all of them had the courage and the desperate need to execute the crime because of Shaitana’s own shortsightedness where he failed to recognise the real danger to himself. When a person is drunk with power and recklessness he begins to lose grip with reality and that is exactly what happens to Mr. Shaitana .
I must confess that I had absolutely no clue about the identity of the murderer, and Christie has made sure that you don’t come to know about it right until the very last page. Very gripping and witty like most of her novels, I would rate this as one of Poirot's most complicated cases and probably that's why there are three other experts helping him out. I like the way Christie describes Mrs. Oliver the writer of detective stories, who makes an appearance in many other novels along with Poirot. She is the typical feminist writer, a bit vague but with an eye for detail and unknowing to herself she blurts out the right things at the wrong moment which in turn leads to many humorous situations which is quite funny and enjoyable.
Given the circumstances it seems impossible to commit a murder within the confines of a room where eight people are playing bridge, with Shaitana sitting and watching them, quite enjoying the tricky situation he has created and totally unaware of the dangerous situation he has put himself in! When Christie explains the daring manner in which the murder is committed one can visualise the desperation of the murder- excellent suspense This was made into a film with David Suchet in the lead role of Hercule Poirot. But there were some unnecessary changes that made a mess of the storyline and reduced the impact. The book was one of Christie's masterpieces but sadly the film was not up to the mark. This has been happening with many of Christie's works of late, and in my opinion there is no advantage, in fact it only dilutes the storyline.
10 years ago
Shampa Sadhya created new article My Real Father got alive through the bollywood movie Piku .
It’s now very much well known that the recently released Hindi cinema Piku directed by Shoojit Sircar has touched every soul. I am also one of those touched souls. Though it’s the entire movie which did touch my soul, I firstly got hooked by its trailer. It instantly connected me with the movie and I felt somewhat nostalgic about the golden years spent with my ever loving father.
I literally craved to watch the movie and constantly nagged my hubby to book the tickets. Just a thought of going to the theatre was in itself an enthralling experience and finally when I finished watching it then I was speechless because of my heart’s boundless happiness. I had read rave reviews and even my loved ones conveyed me their appreciation for Piku after they watched it but my excitement of going to watch this movie was beyond my understanding. I was unable to assemble all the appropriate words to express my excitement. Maybe it was because I felt connected with the trailer of the movie so much that I was expecting my reel experience to mesmerise me by bringing back all the fond memories of my father.
I must say it did not disappoint me rather it would be perfect to say that I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the film although my father was not very similar to Bhaskor Banerjee, the reel father, played by the stalwart Amitabh Bachchan. Interestingly, my father was very different from Piku’s father in many ways but there is one great similarity that’s regarding their bowel movement though my father had his very unique approach towards it. Sometimes his approach to the bowel difficulties made for a great hilarious time for the whole family. At times he was shouted at by my mother, siblings, other family members and obviously I am included too.
My father was an extraordinarily good human being, he performed his role as the chief of a joint family with ease and to had him as father was the most amazing experience in the lives of my sibling’s and mine. He was not a spoil sport and never ever demeaned any of his children neither in front of the family members nor before the outsiders. So, I can vouch that every child would love to have a father of his kind and would feel proud to address that person as ‘baba’ with respect. Oh! I forgot to mention about the relatives, neighbours, acquaintances, domestic help and even the cook who had admired his personality and paid respect at every point of time wholeheartedly.
Actually every child loves to grab an opportunity to express his/her gratitude for the parents and in doing so one forgets to talk about their not so gracious things. As of now I am doing the same thing by highlighting my father’s great qualities and not coming up with the unique stories behind his bowel movement.
Hereby, I reveal that I still very clearly remember that my baba, as I addressed my father, used to visit toilet at least three to four times a day. The number of times had never decreased rather it increased when he went out for a few hours. In the meantime, I must say that I am sharing the story of those days of my father’s life when he was retired and I a grown up daughter. One particular attitude of his was that at 10:30 in the night he used to go to toilet. Sitting idle for some time was preferable than completing his mission toilet earlier than 10:30 PM and then catch a good night sleep. We poked him to go to toilet early and he used to see the watch and decide in favour (occasionally) or against our wish. In fact, we always laughed at him and commented sarcastically that what bowel pressure and 10:30 at night have in common. He never got angry but hardly listened to our persistent request. I must say he was adamant in this regard and never tried to understand why we pestered. He used to take his own sweet time so for the other members it was very difficult to remain awake until he came out of the toilet. Imagine if any untoward incident had taken place at any of the dark nights while the rest of the family slept unaware. The whole family felt very worried because he was on pacemaker.
As we all know that sometimes during a year the mosquitoes have a great feast on human blood. Our home was also not spared by the mosquitoes but my father never felt bogged down by it too. He had his own indigenous method to defend himself and enjoy his mission toilet. My father always lighted a mosquito coil and took it with him to the toilet. Now, I wonder that what would have happened if during those days the coil makers had come up with low smoke coil or no smoke one! Even he had a special chair for his toilet just like the reel father had and in the movie it was described as ‘singhashan’ that means royal chair. Indeed, we treated it to be a royal too. What a coincidence!
I always felt that my father was literally fascinated by worrying about bowel movement and loved his trips to toilet. He was an extraordinarily co-operative person but his mission toilet was an example of his adamant nature though without going into any argument with anyone in the family. After watching Piku I constantly thought that suppose my father had been like the reel father Bhaskor Banerjee then what would have happened to the lives of my siblings and mine.
It is always a pleasure to have one’s father around, no matter what and in my case my father had only one weakness but even for that he never put anyone in trouble. While he was on bed we scolded him a lot when he used to ask for bed pan for quite a number of times each and every day because of his bowel mania but he never rebuked back. I still remember that one morning we found his bed completely soiled and had even pulled the rubber cloth and the bed sheet from under his waist and threw them on the floor. We all thought it was done out of rage maybe because we failed to respond his call during the night. I went a step further, stopped talking to him and for the whole day I did not visit his room. Next day he confided his point of view to me and made me cry. He told me that his act was not out of anger upon anyone rather it seemed he underwent some hallucination. He saw a water body around him and so he threw away his soiled sheets into it. Till date I feel ashamed whenever I recall that moment.
The movie Piku dramatically connected me with it though my experience with my father was diametrically opposite. For me the Bong connection was an added pleasure because of my Bengali lineage. The most affectionate portion of the movie was that having so much of difference in opinion the love between a father and a daughter never ceased to exist, daughter’s concern for her father, father’s dependence upon the daughter, even annoyance for each other and irritation at one another’s attitude simply grabbed all my attention. Though the movie ended at a stipulated time but made me not only recall every detail of my life with my adorable father rather I am still enjoying the spirit of it. I even visualized myself as Piku, the protagonist played by Deepika Padukone, and all thanks to Shoojit Sircar for directing such an emotional movie which is lead by motion as the caption of the movie says, motion se hi emotion, which in some or the other way made my dead father alive for me.
10 years ago
Pawani Dube created new article Simple ways to destress during exams.
Distressing during exams -Simple ways to distress during exams
Exams are an integral part of every academic process to test a student’s ability to understand a subject and to measure their performance. Well we all know there’s no way to escape exams but yeah there are many ways to escape the stress that’s exams usually create and the side effects of stress.
Prior preparations for your exams definitely aids in reducing stress to a large extent but sometimes effective preparations are not enough. Remember when it comes to appearing for your exams both over confidence and also lack of confidence can turn out to be heinous for your performance. After all exams are brain games wherein in a stipulated period of time you are supposed to answer some questions based on the knowledge and information that you have stored in your brain. So students should try their best to keep themselves distressed during exams and also to keep a positive attitude and confidence in you. Don’t underestimate your abilities as this will prevent you from taking excessive stress.
Exams are mostly accompanied by rigorous hard work and yeah hard work pays off, but only and only if you work hard smartly. Smartly here implies effective means to allow your mind and body work hard without creating excess stress which ultimately affects your performance.
Beat the stress don’t let it affect you and your studies.
It’s really simple,
Take short intervals between your study schedules, do not plan continuous long hours of studying. Short intervals are essential because humans have a capacity to concentrate and study for shorter durations after which they tend to lose their focus and then it’s not possible to learn and understand effectively. If you take short breaks between your study schedules, it will help you grasp your subject faster and also aids in storing your subject data in your long term memory effectively. With proper concentration and focus even if you have minimal time period to study you will be efficiently able to do so.
Proper sleep hours are essential. Do not compromise on your sleep hour’s .If you have minimal time left for your exams and a lot of your study portion is remaining to be covered up and revised then the best way is too take mini power naps that is sound sleep for short duration that energizes and freshens you up and releases your stress.
Eat well and drink sufficient amount of water. Proper diet energizes you and gears you up for working hard and helps reducing stress too.
While you take mini breaks in between your study schedules, you can either take your power naps or you can carry out your favorite hobbies. Listening to your favorite music, or playing a sport that you like the most, or watching your favorite TV series or any other activity that you adore can work really great in releasing stress and energizing you and also helps in aiding your memory.
Having short conversations with your family and friend also works as a stress buster at times. While you study, do not continuously sit in a particular place as it restricts proper blood circulation in your body. Exercise and yoga helps in building up your stamina and concentration powers. Go outdoors, take a walk for some time, and breathe fresh.
All these small efforts really work wonders during your exams preparations. They help in distressing and building up positivity in you for giving your best performance in your exams.
10 years ago
rambabu created new topic What is Hangry ?.
What is the meaning of Hangry ?
Hangry means the onset of a bad temper or irritability due to hunger.
Hangry is one of the new additions added to the Oxford Dictionary to its informal collection of words as part of its quarterly update. For other interesting words:
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/08/31/oxford-dictionary-words-2_n_8068584.html?utm_hp_ref=in-lifestyle
10 years ago
rambabu created new topic A Colourful Entry Into Kashmir..
LeT Militants took a leaf out of Bollywood Movies.
Revelations of Showkat Ahmed Bhat, an alleged LeT operative, who spoke about his involvement with the terror group and his association with Abu Qassim, south Kashmir-based commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Read on..
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/09/09/bollywood-let-militants-p_n_8111744.html?utm_hp_ref=india
10 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Will it be good to have a National Language in India?.
" Speak and write in Odiya . Else quit the state" was once the attitude in Odisha when I lived there. I don't know the present condition. I left Odisha long ago. Before the Bifurcation of AP, the present CM of Telangana used to shout in all his meetings at the top of his voice, " Andhra wallah Bhago."
This is the mood of almost all the states in the country. Now in this scenario think of having a National Language for this country?
10 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Doing actions without expectations! Is this possible?.
epraneeth77 wrote:
When money finds backstage and emotions and emphathy takes centre stage then these kind of acts are possible. But the idea of living with money is deeply rooted.
I beg to differ with you.It all depends on one's inherent traits. Doing things in a different way, and treading a new path that was never used and Service before self were deeply rooted in my nerves In this process Money and returns were never a point in my agenda.
10 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Things successful tech executives do before breakfast.
It is implied that one has to choose a way that suits him. For example i Chose Creativity, even well before i have seen thjis list,
10 years ago
Shampa Sadhya liked a reply to the topic Shouldn't legal professionals have some moral responsibility towards society?.
10 years ago
Shampa Sadhya liked a reply to the topic Shouldn't legal professionals have some moral responsibility towards society?.
10 years ago
Shampa Sadhya liked a reply to the topic Shouldn't legal professionals have some moral responsibility towards society?.
10 years ago
epraneeth77 replied to the topic Doing actions without expectations! Is this possible?.
When money finds backstage and emotions and emphathy takes centre stage then these kind of acts are possible. But the idea of living with money is deeply rooted.
10 years ago
suni51 replied to the topic Is there any automatic online tool available to check duplication of article in whole blog?.
Yes there is. But you have to look deeper than going through the article in a routine way. If you check that blog by a group of 3-4 sentences thoroughly you'll be able to find if the blog contains any duplicate content.
10 years ago
epraneeth77 liked a reply to the topic OROP Announced by the Government after 42 years of deadlock !.
10 years ago
Reena created new article Honey: A Home Remedy.
Innumerable colors of flowers and their heart touching fragrance is hidden in each drop of honey and its goodness can be very well compared to a beautiful song which is highly blessed. Honey is a combination of magical sweetness and fragrance of beautiful flowers.
From ancient times, Indians are very well aware regarding importance and goodness of honey. Honey is very essential for good eye sight. It is thus used in manufacturing of many medicines for treatment of eye related disorders. It is popular among weight watchers. It helps in reduction of fat from the body. Early morning consumption of honey mixed with warm water along with few drops of lemon when taken on empty stomach is known to reduce body weight. Honey also helps to get rid of cough. In Ayurveda, honey is considered to be a very essential medicine as it is believed to increase healing power and thus is mixed with numerous other medicines prepared to cure various ailments.
Honey bees suck nectar from flowers and accumulate them in honeycomb. Initially honey contains 75% water. However, later only 20% of water remains in it. It contains more amount of glucose and fructose. It also contains thiamine, riboflavin, niacin along with traces of iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, sulfur and magnesium.
Honey is extremely sweet when compared with sugar cane juice, sugar or jaggery. It is very easily digested too. It helps in the improvement of hemoglobin level. it produces instant energy in body. As it gets digested easily, thus it can be recommended to physically weak individuals or patients suffering from long term illness as their body parts need not take excess load to digest honey. It helps in indigestion, swelling of internal organs and acidity. It is prescribed even to patients suffering from typhoid and pneumonia. It can also be given to patients suffering from heart diseases as well as helps in epileptic disorders. Honey is full of antibiotic properties. If honey is applied on ulcers, they are seen to heal and clear out quickly. It helps to bring instant relief in common cold and throat pain. It also brings relief in urinary infections.
Honey is widely used for cooking purposes too. Its mild taste brings tingling sensation to taste buds and increases everyone's cravings. It is particularly used in making breads, cakes, desserts and various sauces. Honey tea not only is a refreshing beverage but aids in digestion and can be used as an Ayurvedic beverage to cure various ailments and improvement of health.
Honey has not only been used since age old times all around the world by countless cultures as traditional medicine but is also well approved by modern medicine. It is high source of energy as well as has antibacterial and anti fungal properties. Honey is a boon to mankind and helps in the treatment of various diseases and cure numerous disorders. It is available in the kitchen of every household and thus it should be used regularly to cure ailments and in the improvement of overall health.
10 years ago
usha manohar created new article Armageddon By Leon Uris.
About the Author and the Book
Ever since, so to say Leon Uris burst upon the literary scene with his magnificent novel about the American marines ' Battle Cry ', he has been regarded as a supreme writer about significant events of our times. Battle Cry was followed by other equally great books like 'Exodus' and MILA 18, both portraying holocaust as no other. I cannot think of another writer who has the ability to bring out the depth and details of that dark period in the history of mankind. His next mega novel Armageddon , which I am now writing about and reviewing is a novel of Berlin and of the invincibility of free men when they stand defiant !
It is the story written about the origin of the Cold War in the strife ridden post-war Germany and more importantly Berlin. It is a historical fiction based on facts. Leon Uris himself was very much part of the second world war working with the 6th Marine regiment having been there and experienced the great war and the cold war that followed. His feelings were mixed, often questioning the outcome of the cold war and its after effects on the German people and the world in general. It is this conflict that he had within himself regarding the cold war that made him write this novel just so he could be fair in his analysis ,which in my opinion can easily be considered as one is of his best writings!
The Story in Brief
There are many people in Germany that I have spoken to, who are still angry and disturbed by the Nazi rule and even more so by the cold war that followed the defeat of the Nazis and after Allies took over. After I read this book I could clearly understand their feelings and empathise with them because they had to suffer when the war was on under the rule of Hitler and again later when the cold war began. During that period of cold war there was no shelter or security for the Germans either in their country, city or their homes , which was being invaded and looted by others.
It is very difficult to make this brief, since there is so much covered of equal interest and importance in this mega novel. The story is set in the year 1944, in the war torn Germany and Berlin. The country and the people coming to terms with the war and its losses, with insights and accounts of the past actions of the Nazis, the Russians and the Allies. It is also pay back time for those who suffered under the Nazi regime and those who were bitterly opposed to Hitler's violent rule.
It is the story of Sean Sullivan, a young American Commanding Officer, who has lost both his brothers fighting the war against the Germans, and who has developed a bitter hatred towards all Germans not just Nazis . He is sent to Rombaden (Germany) to investigate the horrors of Schwabenland camps, where 1,116,000 deaths certified natural by the Nazi authorities ,were recorded in a single week.
Once there, he realises this as an uphill task as all those connected with the camp feign ignorance and, in turn had taken it on themselves to exploit the American Soldiers with sex and disinformation. Sean feels that de-nazification, planned by his authorities, in reality would not work however hard he tried. In fact the situation in Germany was quite different to what he had been given to understand by his superiors back in America. The reality was shocking to Sean.
He is sent to Berlin, where power struggle was on between the Allies and the Russian forces, who were keen to have a Russian Berlin.. On the other side, there is Igor Karlovy , an officer of Soviet Red Air Force with his own disturbed past , spent fighting the war and still mourning his lost love . He is left only with his Patriotism. Now he waits on the other side of Brandenburg gate to claim Berlin for the Russian people. And as far as he is concerned Germans , Americans and other Allies are all his enemies.
Amidst all this unrest Sean meets Ernestine, a young and beautiful German girl with a Nazi background and connections, trying to survive and live in the aftermaths of war and its new horrors, now unleashed by the Russian, Mongols, Allies and practically everyone , on the defeated Germans regardless of the fact that most of them were innocent and had suffered under Hitler’s rule. Young German girls with a Nazi background were the most hunted , abused and tortured by everyone since there was little sympathy for anything that had a Nazi lable on it , including people and especially beautiful young girls like Ernestine !
Sean falls desperately in love with Ernestine , and she with him ,not knowing what the future holds for them. For the two lovers it is not at all an easy time and there are hurdles and of course for Sean it is a time for facing some hard hitting facts and truths about his own role and his country’s role in the prevailing cold war.
The Russians in the meantime are working on a secret plan detailing the harassment of the Western Allies in Berlin, all leading up to the final historical moment ' The Berlin Airlift'.
My views about this Mega novel
Any story based on Holocaust makes us stop and think hard but normally it is the horrors of war camps and the atrocities meted out to Jews , that we normally associate it with , not the cold war that followed it where scores of Germans suffered as much as the Jews for no fault of theirs .
Although this book had been with me since the past several years, I somehow kept putting it off not attempting to read it, mainly because of its size . It has 810 pages which in itself looked intimidating to me .However, once I decided to read the book, it was impossible to put it down. I got down to reading it only , after my entire family had read it and discussed it ,with myself, having nothing to contribute to the discussion but it also made me realise that I was missing out on something very valuable and interesting. After having read it, I sincerely regretted not having done so earlier. This is without any doubt a Superior novel written by a Supreme writer. It is like going through pages of history books, only a lot more interesting, real and human .
Talking about history, the author highlights the nature of German people and insights into their nature, that has been formed through centuries, and initially as Sean discovers more about this, his loathing for the Germans increases to even greater heights . At some stage Sean begins to feel that the longing to be the supreme race, the strange elation at the moment of death is so prevalent in the German culture. Probably that is the reason why they excel in every field even now .
The interactions between Sean and General Andrew Haisen are complex, his superior sharing a turbulent yet a strange kind of rapport , the superior ever critical of his junior, but at the same time trusting him above all the others in his hour of need. Leon uris's insights into human emotions and behavioral patterns is truly amazing.
It is lovely going through the pages covering Sean and Ernestine's early meetings, the impact they have on each other’s personalities , with Sean learning a more sensitive and human side of Germans through Ernestine. True love brings out all our finer emotions to the fore front . The slow build- up of Igor and Sean's camaraderie, and their growing respect for each other’s views , though being on opposite sides is very realistically and well portrayed.
Everything's fair in war and what followed after the war. The building up of events leading to the final victory of the Western world over West Berlin and the Berlin Airlift, which is one of the most important events of history, gave me a bit of history lesson that I was not thorough with. What shines through all this is the tender love story of Sean and Ernestine that unfolds amidst all the unrest , violence and hatred.
While Uris's portrayal of the atrocities committed around Berlin is violent and graphic, when he writes about the touching love story of Sean and Ernestine he is ever so sensitive, tender and gentle in his observations. The accounting of the horrors committed on the German people by the rest of the world after the end of the war leaves one cold, where life has little value and the victors exhibiting their own brutal side, almost like the Nazis did, and enjoying it too, like the Nazis did ! It is one’s basic instincts taking over when one’s enemies are down and out.
But again there are people like Sean, Igor, Ernestine who all come from the same background, yet feel the prick of conscience and try to make amends as and where they can. Leon Uris has touched upon all nuances of human emotions that came to the fore front in probably what was the most horrifying period ever in the recent past . He tells us a tale of a war torn country being ravaged by the four power occupations with utter disregard and respect for its people and their lives. After reading this book my admiration and regard for Germany and the German people grew higher!
A superb book , that leaves you with such an impact as never to be forgotten. Anything I write about this mega novel seems too little. This book is like a rare experience that leaves one asking for more and I highly recommend this novel as a must read for all book lovers.
To sum up, some innocents paid a heavy price for the atrocities committed by others of their kind, and, a lucky few were able to fight their wars, pack up and go home. But, for those who were unable to do so it was untold misery and the rest of the world simply overlooked them as if they did not matter and the cold war was of no consequence .
( image - book cover)
10 years ago
usha manohar created new article Agatha Christie's Endless Night and Cards On The Table.
Endless Night
Every Night and every Morn, Some to misery are born
Every Morn and every Night, Some are born to Sweet Delight
Some are born to Endless Night...
[William Blake - Auguries of Innocence]
A Brief Introduction
Agatha Christie needs no introduction since she is a household name for fiction lovers.her many suspense thrillers have enthralled readers all over the world for several decades. I have read many of her books and liked almost all of them. Some books become dearer to you because of various reasons and the two I am reviewing here come from that category of her books. Endless Night is a touching tale, in many ways more than a murder mystery and Cards on the table is a perfect whodunnit, the complex plot of it could only be imagined and executed by Agatha Christie in her own inimitable style!
The Story
'In my end is my Beginning ! Is there ever any particular spot where one can put one's finger and say: "It all began that day, at such and such a place, with such an incident?' This is how the disturbing and compelling story of Endless Night begins.
Perhaps there was something more sinister behind the gypsy's warning. Michael Rogers a man of many interests and a vagabond dreamed of a rich beautiful wife and a perfectly designed house. He found the girl and they built the house - but the site that was selected was at a place called Gypsy’s Acre, a place with a curse where sudden death had already struck more than once, and was about to strike again.
Told in first person by Michael Rogers, who is a Drifter by nature, now a salesman, but with very high ambitions, looking for something exciting to happen in his life and excitement comes to him soon enough. He meets a Brilliant Architect Santonix, who promises to build him a Dream house, when he finds the proper setting for a house and the means to build it. While taking his clients on a house viewing expedition, Michael comes across a Sale bill for a property in Kingston Bishop, a place according to him, of no importance to him, until the moment he visited the place.
Once he set his eyes on the property called Gypsy’s Acre, he is transfixed by its mystery and beauty and determined to own it and requests Santonix to build his dream house there… as he turned away from the sale bill "...when I turned away from the sale board I felt a little shiver because a black cloud had come over the sun." All the locals furnish him with a tale of terror with a Gypsy's curse on the property and unexplained deaths and accidents happening just around there, also how the property had remained without being sold for these very reasons.But, Michael becomes even more determined to prove everyone wrong about the curse including Mrs Lee, who is the local gypsy, who warns him against having anything to do with it, as the property had belonged to her family way back in the past!
When Michael visits Gypsy's acre yet again as the place draws him, he comes across the beautiful and the fabulously rich heiress Fenella Goddman. In his own words - Elle was standing just by a tall fir tree and she had the look, if I can explain it, of someone who had not been there a moment before but had materialized, as it were, out of the trees...." They meet and are instantly attracted and they get married, go ahead and buy the property and Get Santonix to build the house. However, Michael is warned by Mrs Lee, the gypsy woman again and by his mother as well, who Michael is wary of, as she is the only person who is able to read him like a book.
The wonderfully happy couple move into the new house and there is a small accident on the first day itself -a dead bird with a message asking them to get out of Gypsy's Acre. Things become even more disturbing when Elle insists that her close companion and secretary, Greta come and live with them.
Michael had disliked her ever since he met her and tries his level best to stop her come and live with them but with little success since Greta was brilliant and was able to manage Elle’s financial affairs so well that her grabbing relatives were wary and kept out. Just when everything looked settled there is an even greater tragedy when Elle has an accident while riding her favorite horse!
What I feel about the book
This is more a tragic love story than Christie's usual kind of suspense thriller which focuses only the crime part of it. This story deals with the depth of human emotions and how feelings can and do change with time and circumstances sometimes with disastrous results !
The book does not disappoint the readers and in many ways is a complete departure from Agatha Christie's normal style of writing. It is a sensitive tale of crime, passion and tragic romance. The romantic story of a middle class vagabond and a shy beautiful heiress tugs at your heart. In my opinion, this is probably one of her best written books and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book beginning with the usual guess work as to who gets murdered, when and whodunnit? It has a very touching end to it.
In fact I am surprised that this book has not been publicised much like her other better known and popular novels. I am almost certain that all Agatha Christie fans would enjoy reading this book. It is a Fabulous mystery beautifully crafted by Christie, not to be missed!
Cards On The Table
Apparently, when Agatha Christie wrote this novel in 1936, she wanted to make it different to all her earlier works . According to her The most likely murderer in general would be the least likely person to have committed the crime, so she warned her readers beforehand that this was not that kind of a mystery. There are only four suspects and given the right circumstances, any one of them might have committed the murder. Each of them have already committed at least one murder or more, and each of them is capable of committing further murders. They come from a widely different background and would employ different methods. The deduction therefore has to be entirely psychological as Poirot says " When all is said and done it is the mind of the murderer that is of supreme interest"
The Story
Hercule Poirot who is visiting an exhibition of Snuff-Boxes at Wessex House, has a chance encounter with Mr. Shaitana, a person with a bizarre taste in clothes and appearance, and, according to Poirot someone who every healthy decent Englishman longed earnestly and fervently to kick!
Nobody knew Mr Shaitana's origins, but what was known was that he was very rich and lived in the lap of luxury, and more interestingly he gave wonderful parties - sometimes macabre, sometimes queer, sometimes classy but never dull. And lastly he was a man of whom nearly everybody was a little afraid of. He made it his business to dig out any little hidden secrets of various people known to him and took pleasure in making them aware of this fact by giving little hints about his knowledge which made them uncomfortable and uneasy. So, Shaitana was not a person people wanted to be friends with!
Shaitana while baiting Poirot at the exhibition, invites him to his apartment where he claimed he had a 'Black Museum', and he was willing to show Poirot some objects in his own line, crime! According to Shaitana murder was an art form and the 'ones who got away with it' were the successes and according to him were the ' ultimate artistes'. Shaitana arranges a dinner party for Poirot to meet his 'exhibits' (the ultimate artistes?) – Poirot however is reluctant to attend the party and warns Shaitana against the idea, finally gives in and decides to attend the party out of sheer curiosity.
The party consists of Poirot, Mrs Oliver, the well-known writer of detective novels and a feminist to the core, Superintendent Battle, one of Scotland yard's best representatives and Colonel Rice, an unassuming, quiet secret service agent, with a sharp observant mind. The other guests include Dr. Roberts, Mrs Lorrimer, Major Despard and Miss Meredith - supposedly Shaitana's four exhibits. Shaitana's idea of fun was to have a party with his four exhibits and four sleuths. What begins as an absorbing evening consisting of an Excellent dinner, a lively discussion on crime and murder and bridge, turns into a dangerous game with Shaitana found stabbed with one of his own collection of an exquisitely carved and jewel headed Stilletto.
In fact, Shaitana literally signed his own death warrant when he made certain leading remarks and concluded 'But who am I to pronounce with so many experts present ?' As Poirot remarks later 'The stupid little man, to dress up as the Devil and frighten people' - Now it was the task of the four sleuths to find the murderer, who was exceptionally daring and cunning.
My views about the book
This is yet another very interesting and compelling tale written by Christie. As she writes in her forward at the beginning of the book, there are just 4 suspects and anybody could have done it. They all had the motive and all of them had the courage and the desperate need to execute the crime because of Shaitana’s own shortsightedness where he failed to recognise the real danger to himself. When a person is drunk with power and recklessness he begins to lose grip with reality and that is exactly what happens to Mr. Shaitana .
I must confess that I had absolutely no clue about the identity of the murderer, and Christie has made sure that you don’t come to know about it right until the very last page. Very gripping and witty like most of her novels, I would rate this as one of Poirot's most complicated cases and probably that's why there are three other experts helping him out. I like the way Christie describes Mrs. Oliver the writer of detective stories, who makes an appearance in many other novels along with Poirot. She is the typical feminist writer, a bit vague but with an eye for detail and unknowing to herself she blurts out the right things at the wrong moment which in turn leads to many humorous situations which is quite funny and enjoyable.
Given the circumstances it seems impossible to commit a murder within the confines of a room where eight people are playing bridge, with Shaitana sitting and watching them, quite enjoying the tricky situation he has created and totally unaware of the dangerous situation he has put himself in! When Christie explains the daring manner in which the murder is committed one can visualise the desperation of the murder- excellent suspense This was made into a film with David Suchet in the lead role of Hercule Poirot. But there were some unnecessary changes that made a mess of the storyline and reduced the impact. The book was one of Christie's masterpieces but sadly the film was not up to the mark. This has been happening with many of Christie's works of late, and in my opinion there is no advantage, in fact it only dilutes the storyline.
10 years ago
Shampa Sadhya created new article My Real Father got alive through the bollywood movie Piku .
It’s now very much well known that the recently released Hindi cinema Piku directed by Shoojit Sircar has touched every soul. I am also one of those touched souls. Though it’s the entire movie which did touch my soul, I firstly got hooked by its trailer. It instantly connected me with the movie and I felt somewhat nostalgic about the golden years spent with my ever loving father.
I literally craved to watch the movie and constantly nagged my hubby to book the tickets. Just a thought of going to the theatre was in itself an enthralling experience and finally when I finished watching it then I was speechless because of my heart’s boundless happiness. I had read rave reviews and even my loved ones conveyed me their appreciation for Piku after they watched it but my excitement of going to watch this movie was beyond my understanding. I was unable to assemble all the appropriate words to express my excitement. Maybe it was because I felt connected with the trailer of the movie so much that I was expecting my reel experience to mesmerise me by bringing back all the fond memories of my father.
I must say it did not disappoint me rather it would be perfect to say that I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the film although my father was not very similar to Bhaskor Banerjee, the reel father, played by the stalwart Amitabh Bachchan. Interestingly, my father was very different from Piku’s father in many ways but there is one great similarity that’s regarding their bowel movement though my father had his very unique approach towards it. Sometimes his approach to the bowel difficulties made for a great hilarious time for the whole family. At times he was shouted at by my mother, siblings, other family members and obviously I am included too.
My father was an extraordinarily good human being, he performed his role as the chief of a joint family with ease and to had him as father was the most amazing experience in the lives of my sibling’s and mine. He was not a spoil sport and never ever demeaned any of his children neither in front of the family members nor before the outsiders. So, I can vouch that every child would love to have a father of his kind and would feel proud to address that person as ‘baba’ with respect. Oh! I forgot to mention about the relatives, neighbours, acquaintances, domestic help and even the cook who had admired his personality and paid respect at every point of time wholeheartedly.
Actually every child loves to grab an opportunity to express his/her gratitude for the parents and in doing so one forgets to talk about their not so gracious things. As of now I am doing the same thing by highlighting my father’s great qualities and not coming up with the unique stories behind his bowel movement.
Hereby, I reveal that I still very clearly remember that my baba, as I addressed my father, used to visit toilet at least three to four times a day. The number of times had never decreased rather it increased when he went out for a few hours. In the meantime, I must say that I am sharing the story of those days of my father’s life when he was retired and I a grown up daughter. One particular attitude of his was that at 10:30 in the night he used to go to toilet. Sitting idle for some time was preferable than completing his mission toilet earlier than 10:30 PM and then catch a good night sleep. We poked him to go to toilet early and he used to see the watch and decide in favour (occasionally) or against our wish. In fact, we always laughed at him and commented sarcastically that what bowel pressure and 10:30 at night have in common. He never got angry but hardly listened to our persistent request. I must say he was adamant in this regard and never tried to understand why we pestered. He used to take his own sweet time so for the other members it was very difficult to remain awake until he came out of the toilet. Imagine if any untoward incident had taken place at any of the dark nights while the rest of the family slept unaware. The whole family felt very worried because he was on pacemaker.
As we all know that sometimes during a year the mosquitoes have a great feast on human blood. Our home was also not spared by the mosquitoes but my father never felt bogged down by it too. He had his own indigenous method to defend himself and enjoy his mission toilet. My father always lighted a mosquito coil and took it with him to the toilet. Now, I wonder that what would have happened if during those days the coil makers had come up with low smoke coil or no smoke one! Even he had a special chair for his toilet just like the reel father had and in the movie it was described as ‘singhashan’ that means royal chair. Indeed, we treated it to be a royal too. What a coincidence!
I always felt that my father was literally fascinated by worrying about bowel movement and loved his trips to toilet. He was an extraordinarily co-operative person but his mission toilet was an example of his adamant nature though without going into any argument with anyone in the family. After watching Piku I constantly thought that suppose my father had been like the reel father Bhaskor Banerjee then what would have happened to the lives of my siblings and mine.
It is always a pleasure to have one’s father around, no matter what and in my case my father had only one weakness but even for that he never put anyone in trouble. While he was on bed we scolded him a lot when he used to ask for bed pan for quite a number of times each and every day because of his bowel mania but he never rebuked back. I still remember that one morning we found his bed completely soiled and had even pulled the rubber cloth and the bed sheet from under his waist and threw them on the floor. We all thought it was done out of rage maybe because we failed to respond his call during the night. I went a step further, stopped talking to him and for the whole day I did not visit his room. Next day he confided his point of view to me and made me cry. He told me that his act was not out of anger upon anyone rather it seemed he underwent some hallucination. He saw a water body around him and so he threw away his soiled sheets into it. Till date I feel ashamed whenever I recall that moment.
The movie Piku dramatically connected me with it though my experience with my father was diametrically opposite. For me the Bong connection was an added pleasure because of my Bengali lineage. The most affectionate portion of the movie was that having so much of difference in opinion the love between a father and a daughter never ceased to exist, daughter’s concern for her father, father’s dependence upon the daughter, even annoyance for each other and irritation at one another’s attitude simply grabbed all my attention. Though the movie ended at a stipulated time but made me not only recall every detail of my life with my adorable father rather I am still enjoying the spirit of it. I even visualized myself as Piku, the protagonist played by Deepika Padukone, and all thanks to Shoojit Sircar for directing such an emotional movie which is lead by motion as the caption of the movie says, motion se hi emotion, which in some or the other way made my dead father alive for me.
10 years ago
Pawani Dube created new article Simple ways to destress during exams.
Distressing during exams -Simple ways to distress during exams
Exams are an integral part of every academic process to test a student’s ability to understand a subject and to measure their performance. Well we all know there’s no way to escape exams but yeah there are many ways to escape the stress that’s exams usually create and the side effects of stress.
Prior preparations for your exams definitely aids in reducing stress to a large extent but sometimes effective preparations are not enough. Remember when it comes to appearing for your exams both over confidence and also lack of confidence can turn out to be heinous for your performance. After all exams are brain games wherein in a stipulated period of time you are supposed to answer some questions based on the knowledge and information that you have stored in your brain. So students should try their best to keep themselves distressed during exams and also to keep a positive attitude and confidence in you. Don’t underestimate your abilities as this will prevent you from taking excessive stress.
Exams are mostly accompanied by rigorous hard work and yeah hard work pays off, but only and only if you work hard smartly. Smartly here implies effective means to allow your mind and body work hard without creating excess stress which ultimately affects your performance.
Beat the stress don’t let it affect you and your studies.
It’s really simple,
Take short intervals between your study schedules, do not plan continuous long hours of studying. Short intervals are essential because humans have a capacity to concentrate and study for shorter durations after which they tend to lose their focus and then it’s not possible to learn and understand effectively. If you take short breaks between your study schedules, it will help you grasp your subject faster and also aids in storing your subject data in your long term memory effectively. With proper concentration and focus even if you have minimal time period to study you will be efficiently able to do so.
Proper sleep hours are essential. Do not compromise on your sleep hour’s .If you have minimal time left for your exams and a lot of your study portion is remaining to be covered up and revised then the best way is too take mini power naps that is sound sleep for short duration that energizes and freshens you up and releases your stress.
Eat well and drink sufficient amount of water. Proper diet energizes you and gears you up for working hard and helps reducing stress too.
While you take mini breaks in between your study schedules, you can either take your power naps or you can carry out your favorite hobbies. Listening to your favorite music, or playing a sport that you like the most, or watching your favorite TV series or any other activity that you adore can work really great in releasing stress and energizing you and also helps in aiding your memory.
Having short conversations with your family and friend also works as a stress buster at times. While you study, do not continuously sit in a particular place as it restricts proper blood circulation in your body. Exercise and yoga helps in building up your stamina and concentration powers. Go outdoors, take a walk for some time, and breathe fresh.
All these small efforts really work wonders during your exams preparations. They help in distressing and building up positivity in you for giving your best performance in your exams.
10 years ago
rambabu created new topic What is Hangry ?.
What is the meaning of Hangry ?
Hangry means the onset of a bad temper or irritability due to hunger.
Hangry is one of the new additions added to the Oxford Dictionary to its informal collection of words as part of its quarterly update. For other interesting words:
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/08/31/oxford-dictionary-words-2_n_8068584.html?utm_hp_ref=in-lifestyle
10 years ago
rambabu created new topic A Colourful Entry Into Kashmir..
LeT Militants took a leaf out of Bollywood Movies.
Revelations of Showkat Ahmed Bhat, an alleged LeT operative, who spoke about his involvement with the terror group and his association with Abu Qassim, south Kashmir-based commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Read on..
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/09/09/bollywood-let-militants-p_n_8111744.html?utm_hp_ref=india
10 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Will it be good to have a National Language in India?.
" Speak and write in Odiya . Else quit the state" was once the attitude in Odisha when I lived there. I don't know the present condition. I left Odisha long ago. Before the Bifurcation of AP, the present CM of Telangana used to shout in all his meetings at the top of his voice, " Andhra wallah Bhago."
This is the mood of almost all the states in the country. Now in this scenario think of having a National Language for this country?
10 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Doing actions without expectations! Is this possible?.
epraneeth77 wrote:
When money finds backstage and emotions and emphathy takes centre stage then these kind of acts are possible. But the idea of living with money is deeply rooted.
I beg to differ with you.It all depends on one's inherent traits. Doing things in a different way, and treading a new path that was never used and Service before self were deeply rooted in my nerves In this process Money and returns were never a point in my agenda.
10 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Things successful tech executives do before breakfast.
It is implied that one has to choose a way that suits him. For example i Chose Creativity, even well before i have seen thjis list,
10 years ago
Shampa Sadhya liked a reply to the topic Shouldn't legal professionals have some moral responsibility towards society?.
10 years ago
Shampa Sadhya liked a reply to the topic Shouldn't legal professionals have some moral responsibility towards society?.
10 years ago
Shampa Sadhya liked a reply to the topic Shouldn't legal professionals have some moral responsibility towards society?.
10 years ago
epraneeth77 replied to the topic Doing actions without expectations! Is this possible?.
When money finds backstage and emotions and emphathy takes centre stage then these kind of acts are possible. But the idea of living with money is deeply rooted.
10 years ago
suni51 replied to the topic Is there any automatic online tool available to check duplication of article in whole blog?.
Yes there is. But you have to look deeper than going through the article in a routine way. If you check that blog by a group of 3-4 sentences thoroughly you'll be able to find if the blog contains any duplicate content.
10 years ago
epraneeth77 liked a reply to the topic OROP Announced by the Government after 42 years of deadlock !.
10 years ago