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rambabu replied to the topic Is it true that a well read person is intelligent?.
An achievement is viewed in different ways by different people. Accordingly a member expresses his appreciation towards achiever.
9 years ago
jabeen replied to the topic Raees Tragedy.
Fans wait for hours and go at any length to meet the celebrity because they give great priority to them. We might consider it a waste of time as we are not interested in these...
9 years ago
jabeen replied to the topic Khadi Modified.
@Anil
Its not only about education. Even those who are educated have voted for the wrong person. Whether the candidate is a history sheeter or not people vote for...
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article A Look at Vin Diesel's "Return of Xander Cage".
I was in Mumbai on the 14th January when the world premier of the movie "XXX: the Return of Xander Cage" took place. I was lucky to get a pass for me and my girl and we attended the premier. Vin Diesel and his co-star the Bollywood starlet Deepika Padukone along with the producer and other of the cast were also there. It was a great occasion and though Vin was some distance away one could not mistake his muscular and macho look. There was also a tremendous chemistry between the two lead actors and I was not surprised when it was announced that Vin and Deepika would be together again in the next sequel to Xander Cage as well.
The original Xander cage movie was made in 2002. it did not fetch rave views and most critics gave it an average rating, but the film stormed the box office and garnered $270 million. That's a lot of money and one wonders why it took Vin 15 years to act in a sequel. Well after 15 years Vin is back doing the same things he did 15 years ago, but he is 15 years older and he has a new girl in the dusky Deepika Padukone. But one will have to doff one's hat to Vin Diesel as he looks every inch what he was 15 years back; macho and muscular. This bald actor has a niche of his own.
The film runs for 110 minutes and is shot in 3D and 4D. This heightens the effects. The story line is weak, but the death-defying stunts are what the public wants to see and they are superb. Vin thrashes the bad guys and gets his girl the lovely Deepika. In between, there are some steamy scenes and the chemistry between the duo exudes from the screen to the viewers. Vin Diesel and Deepika decided on the world premier in Mumbai and now a week later the film is released all over the world.
Vin Diesel had said that Deepika will be the new Hollywood star on the horizon in 2017. One will have to wait and see whether this prophecy comes true. Deepika flaunts a tanned body and is a good foil to the muscular Vin Diesel. But her English accent is a giveaway and one can see that she is Indian. The other girl also in Hollywood Priyanka has better diction. Maybe because she schooled in the United States.
The film has a furious pace and at the end, one does get the feeling that 110 minutes is less. Vin carries the film and it has an international cast. But minus the action sequences the film does not have much of a storyline. However, it's a feather in the cap of Deepika who after decades of Mumbai films has at last broken into the citadel of Hollywood and one hopes she is a hit and she becomes the new Hollywood star of 2017.
9 years ago
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh created new article Review of "The Winner Stands Alone".
Writer :Paulo Coelho
Price :Rs. 325
Rating :7/10
The grass is greener on the other side. This is an old proverb which has stood the test of time. A novel based on this theme is the Paulo Coelho's The Winner Stand Alone. Paulo Coelho, the master storyteller, has again struck it. The novel was originally published in Portuguese under the title "O Vencedor está Só".
The novel revolved around the five main protagonists-Igor, Ewa, Hamid Hussein, Gabriela and Jasmine. Igor is a ruthless businessman who wants to win back the love of his life, Ewa. Ewa is a strong willed woman who is in love with Hamid Hussein the Avon grade fashion designer. Igor destroys the life of some unknown people so as to send messages to Ewa and ultimately to get her back. There is the story of struggling actor, Gabriela and upcoming model, Jasmine.
The story took place within a period of 28 hours. It started at 3.14 am and ended at 7.55 am. Time wise the events occurred at a short interval. Due to the shortness of timeline the pace of the story is rapid. Everyone in the story seemed to be in a rush. The setting of the novel was the Cannes film festivals. During the festival many high flyers of different background and myriad interests descend on the small town of Cannes in the southern France. The characteristics of many people like the film producers, distributors, film makers, models, business tycoon, industrialists and actors are vividly described in this book. "Everyone behaves as if they were terribly important, apart from the people who really are important; they're much politer, they don't need to prove anything to anyone." How true these words from the novels are. Paulo has done an extensive researched into how the world of cinema operate. Apart from being a master narrator, he is also a great researcher. This novel is a testament to this little facet of the novelist. Further, I am completely awe at the proficiency of the storytelling by Paulo. The description of the scene where Hamid Hussein die is a remarkable piece of writings.
Another truth is that we think that we, the human, are destroying this planet earth. Nothing could be far from the truth. "The planet is, was and always will be stronger than us. We can't destroy it; if we overstep the mark, the planet will simply erase us from its surface and carry on existing.Why don't they start talking about of letting the planet destroy us?"
I will suggest everyone who desire to spend time with a good book to read this novel. It is fine piece of art.
9 years ago
Arunima Singh created new article Teenagers and Social Networking- some practical tips to parents.
One fine day my teenage daughter returned from school fuming and in a rebellious mood.
“I am feeling sooo..bad. Most of my friends have their own iPad, smartphones and laptops. They all have Facebook and Google accounts. You do not allow us. We get screen time only on weekends and that too for half an hour only and we have to choose between laptop, TV and your mobile phone.”…
Well, that’s something all the parents like me have to suffer occasionally. Parents who feel that screens ( TV, laptop, iPad, mobile) are an integral part and necessity of today’s life need not be a part of childhood or should be kept away till a certain age. We are parents who have followed their notion with conviction and who have not given up even after occasional conflicts with their children.
I did not react to any of her cribbing. After sometime when I found her calm and composed, I sat down with her for a talk. I acknowledged her feeling. One is bound to feel sad when he/she does not get what their peers are getting. But do you really need it?? Is it beneficial?? What purpose does it serve?? It’s pros and cons were discussed. Holding myself away from preaching mode, I tried my best to involve her and politely put the ball in her court – to decide what is good for her??
She came to the conclusion that the restriction is for her good.
I am sure that this is not the last time. I will again have to face such situation as a parent in future. And again I will try my best to channelize it into fruitful discussion and give her the responsibility of choosing what is good for her. I will follow my firm and polite approach. No wonder, truly said “Parenting is the most overwhelming job on the planet”.
Well, I proudly pat my back for my achievement. In the era of technology and smart devices, I am among the handful of parents who could successfully keep their children off screen till the age of seven. After that the screen time was limited to one and half hour per week dividing it into slots of half hour each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If there is a good movie on weekends they are allowed to watch it. And they accompany us to theater if we go out for watching clean family entertainer movies. Other than that, they get access to Internet and laptop during weekdays if and only if they need it for some homework and assignment.
And I promise to myself to help them to keep away from smart devices and social networking sites till they are 18.
But my situation might vary with others as the conditions and circumstances vary with each one. And keeping a teen or a tween away from social networking sights might be very tough in today’s technology driven world.
Technology has touched teens and tween and has impacted them a lot. More and more teens are joining social networking sites. Many of them join it without telling their parents and covering themselves under anonymity. Teens love to do adult things but their brain is still immature to make a right decision. In the age of influence and peer pressure they fail to resist the temptation to join a social networking site. Addiction to these sites, cyber bullying and many cyber-crimes etc. come as a side effect.
Many networking sites target teens through attractive video games and teen and tween avatars. Many a times these avatars are actually adults and such predators might harm your child.
Parents many a times feel helpless to deal with teens because of their rebellious nature and immature brain. They need to be tricky and tactful to deal with their teenage children. Here are some helpful tips that can be taken as a guide to Teenage and social networking.
Take them in confidence: This is of utmost importance. Hurting their feelings or self-esteem can actually backfire. Have a friendly relation with them. Spend quality time with them. Many children turn to social networking sites as they feel lonely and unwanted. They love to share and bond with strangers online as they feel more accepted and less criticized. Work on your bonding. If your child feels comfortable with you, he/she will feel free to share about online friends and experiences with you. They will keep you in loop of their activities and not do anything without informing you.
Update yourself: As a parent you need to be always on your toes to educate yourself. Visit the sites, know about it, talk to other parents about their experiences, talk to your children’s friends who are on same networking site and know about the potential dangers your child might get into. These updates will prepare you to handle the situation better.
Keep the communication channel open: Talk, Talk and Talk. A healthy talk which does not turn into a preaching lesson works best with teens. Talk before they join. Tell them the pros and cons. Tell them the guidelines to be followed and about the potential danger or mess that he/she might get into by the misuse of the social networks. Keep talking to them about their experiences on a day to day basis. Take interest in their online activities so that they feel like sharing with you about all the developments. Being involved with your kids will help you sense any alarming situation. You can be defensive and help them before any drastic consequence.
Smart tricks: Some smart parenting tricks will help you. Keep the computer at a place where you can keep an eye on your child without making them feel that you are hovering over their shoulders. Discourage them from using it in isolation or in a locked room. Use parental blocks to keep a track of the computer’s history, to see what he/she has been visiting online.
Set limits and be a role model: Every choice and freedom should come with a limitation and responsibility. Do not act bossy and have an honest talk with them about the time limits. Tell them how excess of networking sites can make them addict and adversely affect their health and studies. Let them understand the benefits f time limit. But all these will not bear any fruit if your child finds you addicted to social networks. They know you skin deep. So try to be a role model.
Some precautionary measures that they are bound to follow: Be polite but firm with these safety rules which at no cost can be broken.
• Discourage them from using networking sites like Facebook. Ask them to wait till they are 18.
• Discourage them from sharing personal photos and personal information.
• No and strict no for flirting online.
• Not use of inappropriate and abusive language.
• Not hurting feelings and sentiments. Refrain from religious, cultural and political exchanges.
• Never allow them to meet any online friends in person.
Try these tips to keep your child safe from predators online and also to help him from falling into the trap of social networking addiction.
9 years ago
Rohit Gupta created new article Building up the Conversation (part 10).
Building up the Conversation(Part 10)
The Art of Speaking
A man of the world will know another man from the moment the latter speaks. Words and the way he speaks reveal the man : his culture, his education, his status, his standing, his capability, his attainments. The art of speaking is an inborn art, but may also be acquired with practice, as Demosthenes, the Greek orator, acquired the art of elocution overcoming his slitter. It is also true that in the close circle of friends and relatives, a person may speak with ease and impress, but ordinarily people are wont to speak in a careless manner and so the art of speaking well is a treasure that belongs to only a few.
Speaking and Speech-making
When any person speaks in public, he is bound by conditions not applicable in the drawing-room; speech-making calls for a different manner. The speaker on the platform speaks because he has something to say and feels that he is competent to deliver the message to his audience. If this speaker is shaky, if his voice cracks or is not audible, if he cannot rouse the feelings of the audience to the desired pitch, or if he cannot transmit his ideas to those who are listening to him, he is sure to fail in his mission. When Burke delivered his historic speech at the trial of Lord Warren Hastings causing many members of the fair sex to swoon, when Antony, at the funeral of Caesar, roused the mob against the establishment, when Swami Vivekananda spoke in Chicago, when Nehru addressed millions of Indians through his famous tryst with destiny speech and when Churchill made his 'blood, sweat and tears' peroration against the Nazis in world war II, none had to be told that he had a speaker before him.
Speech-making thus signifies personal involvement. There is the devoted zeal of conveying to all the thoughts of righteousness, morality, equality, and truth. There is the great longing to train and transform, and the skill to create an effect which will move the audience to action. None of these things are present in day-to-day conversations or even the conversation that are held with guests and others at ceremonies, receptions and such other social occasions. while speaking at different types of conversational sessions, one has to conform to the rules that will afford maximum benefit and satisfaction to those engaged in conversation. but here also art is necessary. The same words and expressions will seem different if said with authority or humility, as the case may be. A request may be as forceful as an order if accompanied by laughter and the right intonation.
Those with the inborn gift of good speech need not fear of ever being at a loss though they should be careful not to become garrulous. The proverb, ' Empty vessels make most sound', is very apt here. This is because a gifted speaker knows that his audience is impressed by his jugglery of words even though he may not have anything of any great value to say. The temptation to depend solely on one's words should be eschewed.
Intonation
Intonation means the different degrees or nuances, variations, the rise and fall and tempo of speaking which make certain speeches more appealing than others. The various stresses and accents on words and expressions, the right number of pauses and repetitions, all contribute to the charm of the speech. Correct pronunciation as also its different versions, the cultured, 'city-bred', modern or even slang, adds novelty to a speech and makes it spicy, but slang should not be allowed to become 'staple'.
Intonation and Impression are closely related in this sense. Intonation is made use of to make the speech impressive and effective and so it can also change the meaning. A simple word like 'no' can, by varying the intonation, register a negative (a flat 'no'), surprise - 'no' (really?), horror ('no!). intonation is very closely related to style and depends much on how the individual put across the support of his words.
An affected style in the bane of conversation, and any person who is training himself to speak should be particularly careful that his style does not clash with his personality. To copy a cinema hero, a foreigner, a popular personality may, instead of impressing others, turn a man into a laughing stock. But when a person develops a manner of speech suited to his personality, his particular disposition, no matter how he speaks, whether he speaks slowly or quickly, calmly or noisily, he will command respect and gain the instant attention of his audience.
Manners
The Power of speech does not necessarily have much to do with etiquette and manners. If we make a survey, we shall find that the so-called lower classes have a much greater and more effective manner of speech than the so called educated elite. This is because they have fewer inhibitions. Railway porters, handcart-pushers, urchins and even vagabonds are far more powerful speakers than the ordinary or average middle-class gentleman. The former classes do not practice restraint of any kind and say whatever comes to their mind, whereas a middle- class, 'educated' person thinks twice before speaking and sometimes totally desists from speech. vulgarities, obscenities, shouts and demands for their rights will flow from the former's lips with a gusto and volley that will surprise many. They have no use for manners or proper speech and the practice of speaking out without restraint certainly adds a kind of crude force to their speech that the gently-bred do not much care to acquire.
From the above, it follows that restraint can also be an impediment or hindrance to speech-improvement. Nevertheless, if we are to exist in society, we have to keep to the rules of co-operation and co-existence and so we cannot say anything and everything that comes to our mind. All sensible and adult persons cultivate the habit of curbing their speech while speaking to others. Only children are excused for saying unwarranted and unintended things, but then this also reflects on the training they are receiving and their background. From the manners of the child the background of the parents may often be inferred. A polite and well-behaved child reflects the good manners that its parents and family have inculcated in it.
Thus, manners are important for a conversationalist who banks on his speaking power to get on in life. Different situations of conversation call for different types of manners. One speaks to one's elders and superiors, one's compatriots, one's fellowmen and colleagues and, of course, to one's friend and relatives. In all these case, this person will fare well if he knows the way these situations should be handled. Thus while he may laugh loudly among his friends and equals, he may only nod and smile before his superiors and may not speak unless spoken to. Similarly, in the company of strangers, a person should know what things can be asked and which topics may be discussed. One does not ask personal questions of strangers, nor does one launch into a diatribe against prominent personalities without knowing the political inclinations of the person one is talking to. Well-behaved persons have no dearth of topics to speak on even with strangers.
Pleasantness
A person who has mastered the art of conversing will know that he has not only to speak but must also speak in a manner which is appealing, dignified and effective. a person can say the things he has to say and yet produce no tangible result. For all practical purposes, it would have been better for this person not to have spoken at all! it is, therefore, a golden rule of conversation that words and expressions be brought out in a pleasant, dispassionate manner. A favor asked for by a good-matured person may be easily granted, while the same request coming in an uncouth manner from a disagreeable character is almost certain to be turned down. Good words and soft words have the power to create wonders and, of course, the adage, 'civility costs nothing', is known to all of us.
Pleasantness in speech does not stop at words alone. A person who is soft-spoken and well-behaved is invariably a person who has a kind disposition and an honest and truthful nature. Words and actions in this case go hand-in-hand and the total good effect is lost if either is absent. If we wish to develop pleasantness both in words and in actions, our first step would be to develop 'consideration' for others. If we have humility, consideration, respect, appreciation, and patience for others, it will not be difficult for us to view the others connection with becoming understanding. If we wish to be agreeable, there is nothing to stop us. if we are claim in the face of criticism or any adverse or trying situation, we shall win the day by the power of our pleasant manners.
Command over language
In the final analysis, of course, a person cannot become a good conversationalist if he has no language in which to project his views. He has to be expressive in his own way, whatever language he chooses. This command over language has to find its way through the spoken word. A person may be an author, an educationist or a planner, and still he may have no command over the language and may be unable to express himself clearly by the spoken word. This is not so strange because persons who are engaged in deep thought all the time or a major part of the time lose the habit of taking.
A person must have command of expression. This command will not come to him unless he has practice in conversation with people. Another good way to master this is to read aloud from the daily newspapers or a book till the reader feels that words come to him freely and that he has no difficulty with pronunciation or with his breathing. If some words prove to be difficult, he should go over them again and again till he can enunciate them without trouble.
Conversation in private or closed groups is different from public speaking, and use of eloquence, though relevant and necessary on the platform, has no place in private conversation. To succeed in conversation, one should aim at ready and practical speech and not go in for a roundabout and flamboyant style. Short sentences and easily understandable expressions should be used in a conversation, as these are more appreciated in talking than the long, ambiguous but theoretically through compositions.
Confidence
Every kind of speech is a function of the mind as well, and unless the mind is in full command of the situation that the conversationalist finds himself in, words will not come easily to the speaker. in the art of conversation, therefore, we shall have to consider confidence as a pre-condition to effective speech. How can this self-confidence be generated in the person concerned to enable him to speak without reservation, shyness or indecision?
In our present-day world, confidence springs mainly from economic security. If a person is worried about personal matters-especially finance- his confidence may be uncertain or shaky. But this is only one of the conditions. It might be that in spite of wealth and prosperity, a person has a complex which prevents him from talking in a fluent, natural and easy manner. At the same time, it is also true that though a person may not have any worldly possessions and is down-and-out, he might still retain his power of speech and self-confidence.
If we take the case of a salesman, lawyer or teacher, we shall find that these persons continue in their vacations largely unhampered by worldly cares and anxieties. These are trained men whose power of speech will not fail them even in the midst of great adversities or sudden crises. They have been able to put aside their own concern while talking to others and so their conversation may still sparkle with wit and humor, though their personal lives are under the greatest of pressure.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article The case of the "Golden Showers" and Donald Trump in Moscow.
https://pixabay.com/en/two-girls-concrete-wall-loft-1828539/
A sensational news has been broadcast all around that is salacious in the extreme. The aim is simple to try and malign the image of Donald Trump as being unworthy to hold the chair of the president of the United States. This is what we can say the final salvo to discredit the incoming president after earlier attempts to besmirch him with his comments on women years ago failed. At that time it was announced that Donald had made some disparaging remarks against women and show his macho image. The 4th estate and men of standing who were averse to a Donald presidency went hammer and tongs after him. Even Hillary stepped in and used the words "despicable" for the crowds attending Donald's meetings.
All this did not stop Donald who won the electoral college and the seat of the US president. The sad part is that even men of letters and members of the GOP joined the Democratic candidate Hillary to try and ensure the defeat of Trump. Yet, Donald won and then began a systematic campaign to malign him. The aim was simple, to discredit the victory of Trump and show the world that the man won the election with the help of an external power. They hatched the cyber attack by Russia in favor of Trump. The Intelligence agencies having their own ax to grind joined in and secretly leaked the report. But again Donald remained unscathed and the man mounted an attack head on the Intelligence agencies like the CIA and FBI.
Now another lurid detail has emerged. It is alleged that Donald on a visit to Moscow for a Miss world contest asked for a couple of Russian girls to do an act before him which included urinating on each other. The press opposed to Donald coined the word " Golden Showers". The event may or may not have taken place, but the fact remains there is no proof and the entire report is unsubstantiated. Yet the mainstream US media latched on it and began to broadcast it. Donald Trump has called the incident fake. he may be correct because in case there was any truth this report would have been made public before the counting day. Now the only aim seems to be to malign Trump.
The Russian president has come out in support of Donald Trump. he has rightly pointed out that the Russian intelligence has no such news or information. He has also added that it does look unreasonable that a man who had access to the most beautiful women would do this. He contended that Russian girls are the most beautiful in the world but the act of urinating or indulging in Golden showers in front of Donald may not be true.
One can say this was like David the last sling to down Donald ( Goliath) and it will probably die a natural death. But it will also give fodder to the tabloid newspapers that publish salacious news item to investigate this further. Yes, they could come out with "proof" but one can be sure that it could be manufactured one. Even if the event was true it is no reflection on the capability of the man himself who like Samson has shaken the foundations of the US democracy and slanted thoughts.
Donald Trump is a phenomenon and one will perhaps see results in the months to come. Donald is a showman and will be the 45th president of America. Sadly it is a divided America and the world will never be the same. In the meantime thennews of Golden showers is good news away from mundane speeches and news in the political arena. The world is an interesting place and so is politics.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Of Girls, Bars and Dating in the UAE.
The UAE is a swell place and one which is wortha holiday if you have money and want a high-end life. It has some of the best bars and night joints and all you b need is liquid cash and no place in the world can offer you anything better. Man's favorite sport is women and that applies to me as well and I recommend no better place for a freakout anywhere else than Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Here some of the high-end bars run all the night and there is a hefty entrance charge as well. A small pint of canned beer can set you back by $ 12-15, so be ready to pay.
These are the best places to pick or strike a friendship with the higher class of women.Europeans and Russians dominate and Ukraine girls are not far behind. Do you want the company of a Muslim girl? Fine this is the place, but the Muslim girls you get here are not the locals but the girls who have come from Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Oman, Iran and they are here because of the restrictions at their places. Here there is freedom and they make the most of it. Don't be taken in by the hijab they wear, for they are more mercenary that others and before they undress for you, they will shave your purse and credit card and maybe you won't mind it for a Muslim girl is exotic as ever.
I have been to all the top bars here and naming them is not my cup of tea to give them publicity for nothing, but I will say there is one on the 52nd floor of the Hotel Shangrila and having a Chivas at that altitude with your girlfriend can be exotic. A view of the city beckons and there is a lovely girl DJ playing what you like and it can almost be like nirvana. There are at least a dozen such places in the UAE but be careful not to get drunk and drive. That could spoil everything, for the traffic police is not like in India.
One can't think of a safer place than the UAE and Dubai, but Dubai is a little more classy as it has a greater number of rich expatriates. The name of the game is money and if you have it, there is nothing better than the UAE. Yes, tourists also abound and I have been surprised at the number of single women as tourists. Most come for a longish stay and many come to heal their hearts, broken relationships and looking for love. Do they find it? I can't say, but I did once shack up with a Ukrainian girl and my lessons of a joint yoga in the nude as taught by my guru in India did wonder therapy for her.
The UAE is doing great and the best part is that it is just a 3 hr flight from Mumbai and considering the Mumbai- Calcutta flight takes 2.40hr, it looks close. Where to go next for a holiday? Yu have to decide what yu want and all I can say is that Dubai and the UAE is a wonderful place. Live and let live.that's the motto, wish Indians could learn something from the atmosphere here.
If you are in need and want to mend your heart, go to the Mercure resort in the Jebel Hafeet mountains. Drinking a scotch in the exotic bar high up in the mountains is something to savor. I love it and last I was there with my secretary and it turned out to be the most soothing of my time in life.
9 years ago
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh created new article Review of "Mechanic Resurrection".
Director : Daniel Gansel
Cast : Jason Statham, Michelle Yeoh, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones
Rating : 2/5
Movies are the sources of inspirations, entertainment, thrill and joy. Good movies can make you happy and make your day an enjoyable one. Bad movies, on the other hand, can makes you despondent.
Mechanic Resurrection belong to the genre of movies which will make you despondent. It is a movie filled with mindless action and above all based on impossible plot. Bishop (Jason Statham) is an elite contract killer. He is tracked down by Cairn (villain) who want to take revenge on Bishop and want to utilise his skill to his advantage. First, Cairn send two women to lure Bishop into his trap. The first one was beaten black and blue by Bishop. The second lady played by Jessica Alba tries to fooled Bishop. Despite knowing this fact, he not only love but go on killing people to save her from Cairn. At last, our hero was able to save the girl and killed the villain. This is the formula for most of the action films. So, script-wise the film is below average.
Now let us see the great things in the movie. Jessica Alba is the love of the hero. So, naturally she adds the sex quotients in the movie. She has a great body but it was not used wholeheartedly in the movie. However, you must have seen sexier heroine then her. Another great thing about the movie is the scenery of Thailand. This is the only plus point for the movie. The tropical beach was shot from great angle.
You will dismay how the Director Daniel Gansel has actually copied scenes. Firstly, the scene in which the bodyguards of the villian roaming in the boat openly as if it is a war zone. Then come the all powerful hero killing all of them and saving the love of his life. How many times have you seen this scene in action film? I think the answer will be infinity. You will also see the same scene here. Further, the alpha villain in jail being guarded by his personal bodyguard. Here also you will see the same. Further the action scene was wanting and editing was not not upto the mark.
Those who are fan of Jason Statham dexterity in fighting villain will definitely enjoy the movie.For the rest it is a waste of time, money and energy.
9 years ago
Bineesh Balakrishnan created new article LESSONS LEARNT-PART 2.
I'm continuing writing on life lessons. As the last one, this is also part prose & part poetry...
Hope
"Hope springs eternal in the just heart,
It gives you strength for a new start.
Lights up your soul when it's feeling dim,
Keeps you going when the future looks grim.
Every life that ever lived it out grand,
Be it Abe Lincoln, Churchill or Rembrandt,
Knew very well that hope never dies,
& after every single fall, did again rise.
The power of hope is to date unfathomed
If you doubt it look at the rising sun.."
Humility
This is a virtue to be cultivated by every human being who wishes to be great. The greatest obstacle to the cultivation of humility is the bloated ego. Einstein was right when he noted that ego is inversely proportional to wisdom. Being humble need not mean allowing people to walk over you. It is realizing the fact that the Almighty wants us to be meek & humble, because we are merely instruments in His hands. Travelling & exploring the bounties of nature is one way of unwinding & also realizing the fact that we are all just pieces of a divine jigsaw puzzle.
Gratitude
'The attitude of gratitude' reached it's current level of fame because of 'the Law of attraction' movement. They claim-'the more gratitude you express for the things you have, the more reasons you will have for being grateful for'. We human beings take too much for granted. Think about it...
The air we breathe is free..
We choose the food we eat..
We choose the clothes we wear..
We choose our jobs...
We choose our life partners..
We choose our hairstyles...
We choose our friends..
The sun rises every morning..
The star-studded sky does not come with a monthly subscription....
All these gifts we take for granted( not to mention countless other gifts!!). Gratitude is thus an essential virtue. Meister Eckhart once said:"If the only prayer you ever uttered was 'Thank you', it would suffice."(& I couldn't agree more!!)..
Time management
"Tis slowly trickling away, as night follows the day,
A young man's hair will eventually turn gray,
& when his time is done, he'll need a muddy grave,
Time flies by, & nothing's gonna be the same,
So learn to use time wisely, that's the game..."
Traveling
I love traveling( that's like turning it down a few notches!). I love coddiwompling, mall strolling or just watching sunsets on beaches...I think everyone needs to travel, to help open up their souls. By traveling, I don't insist that you book yourself for a five-star cruise. Just visit a beach, or a waterfall, or just take a train trip to a neighboring state, & coddiwomple. Look at the marvels of nature, try out new cuisine, get lost in the beauty of some countryside. Breathe in the fresh air, look up at the blue sky. Try not to define what you're feeling, just enjoy the feeling. I think it was St. Augustine who aptly said:"The world is like a book, & those who don't travel only read one page of it."
Unwinding
In today's busy world we don't get enough rest. Our body & mind needs rest, if they are to function optimally. Our bodies can very well be likened to machines, which need servicing & oil changes to function as intended. Always listen to inner signals, & learn to take time out to rest. Different people have different modes of unwinding-music, reading, travelling, or just lazing around watching TV. Whatever your preferred mode, make sure you get your share of rest. Thanks to the attempts of MNCs to improve productivity, many techniques have been developed to recharge the mind & body during work days. These include power naps, yoga, breathing exercises, & so on. The value of rest was once emphasised by an incident where English explorers, wandering under the frondescence in Africa, decided to rest for quite a while. The reason they put forth, for this prolonged period of rest was quite apt. They said-''Let's rest so that our souls may catch up with our bodies.."
Living well is the best revenge
REM released a song, sometime back, called-'Living well is the best revenge'. I love this song, but without any doubt, this is a lesson life has taught me as well. If anyone has wronged you, don't waste time scheming a revenge. Live your life to the fullest, that in itself would be the best revenge. Wicked people can't see the people they've wronged, lead a good life. We all know that every bad experience, carries valuable life lessons. So assimilate all the life lessons you can from all the experiences, & keep going & growing...
That's it for now...Hope you enjoyed reading this article...
9 years ago
Abhishek Dass created new article Jatinga-The valley of death for birds.
Imagine waking up on a beautiful morning, only to find your front lawn littered with corpses of birds staining the ground with their blood.As a sane person, you would be quite entitled to scream like a little girl, take a moment to calm down then call the authorities (or keep screaming).
Could you imagine considering this a daily occurrence and remaining unfazed?
Unless you are a psychopath with a propensity for killing birds, your answer would probably be a resounding ‘NO’.
Unfortunately for the residents of a small village in the north-eastern part of India, this really is a common occurrence.
Now before you conjure up images of witchcraft, black magic or weird Indian rituals, let me inform you, this isn’t a case of some sort of bird genocide but rather a mass suicide.
Although Jatinga, a small village of Assam (North-Eastern State of India) is blessed with scenic beauty, it is also cursed with a grim reality which is both terrifying and fascinating at the same time.
It is not famous for its scenic beauty but unfortunately is known for “mass bird suicide”. This phenomenon has baffled the locals and the scientific community alike because birds are not known for committing suicide.
This strange phenomenon, happening over 100 years between the months of September and November every year after the monsoon whenever there is fog, cloud or mist, generally after sunset, between 7 p.m to 10 p.m. This happens in a particular stretch of 1.5 km long and 200 meters wide area of the village.
Ornithologists from all across the globe have tried to solve this strange mystery but could not reach to any conclusive answer.
Their research has shown that there is a total of 44 different species of birds affected by this phenomenon some of which are Black Bitterns, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Cinnamon Bittern, Ruddy Kingfisher, Little Egret, Tiger Bittern, Indian Pitta, Indian Pond Heron and Chinese Pond Heron.
Another interesting fact is that no long-distance migratory birds are affected by it.
Theories as to why this phenomenon is happening.
Locals used to believe that evil spirits living in the skies were responsible for bringing down the birds.
Many scientist and ornithologist came to a conclusion that the birds are generally disoriented by the monsoon fog and get attracted by the village lights, flying toward them. While on their way they get blinded by the light, sometimes hitting walls and trees during the descent.
Some of the birds succumb to severe injury, while others are grievously injured and become easy prey of the villagers. These birds become dazed and disheveled and do not put up any resistance when villagers attack them with slings or bamboo sticks.
The many unanswered facts remain.
Why the birds come in only from the north? Lights placed on the southern side of the village failed to attract any birds.
Why do these birds fly in the night?
Why they get voluntarily trapped at the same place every year?
This strange phenomenon has made Jatinga an attractive tourist destination. For the promotion of tourism, the Government of Assam’s tourism department has collaborated with the district authorities to organize the ’Jatinga Festival’. The first Jatinga festival was held in 2010.
9 years ago
vijaya sharma created new article Friendship- another name for life.
Friendship is a flower placed in true heart's vase, bringing comfort and peace all your days. It is an epidemic of codependency and the only true care.Some relations are made by god and those which he forget to name are bound by a precious relation of Friendship. Friendship is a two way road. It cannot be accomplished if both parties do not put appreciable effort. It has to be nourished with care , passion , love and time. The fruit of friendship, if nurtured properly , is sweet which brings happiness in our lives.
A Friend is a- Field of love, Root of joy, island of god, end of sorrow, door of understanding. It is very difficult to find a mate which shares same thoughts towards everything in every moment of life. But once you find him/her, you will see life through their eyes and it is a beautiful experience. In moments of joy they will be there to share it with you. whenever you face troubles in life and think there is nowhere to go, they will open new doors of possibilities. Such is the relation of Friendship. It gives you strength to face anything in life. With true friends by your side you can smilingly say to life- " Bring it on!".
In life many a times we will have disputes with family members and everything will seem to be falling apart, friendship proves to be that little ray of hope that can drag you out of darkness. You just need to let in that ray of hope.We make many friends throughout our life- some our friends with benefits, some are true friends and some are just people you socialise with. Those people who stand by your side in all goods and bads are your true pals. Many people fail to recognise their true friends, its no less a job to identify the true ones and hold onto them till they are far gone. The memories you share with your friends are priceless and these give you strength to fight anything that comes in your way.
Always remember- Friends are the angels that lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.Friendship is a heart to heart connection and cannot be broken by time and distance. There is nothing on this Earth more to be prized than true friendship. Friendship needs to be cherished in life and then you will understand the true meaning of life.Friends are like energy to your soul. Friendship is like a Miracle that dwells within the heart,and you don't know how it happens or when it gets its start. But the happiness it brings you always gives a special lift , and you realise that friendship is life's most precious gift.
It takes your heart to see your true friend , not your eyes. You need to feel the place someone special holds in your life, that is your true friend.The world's happiest friends don't have the same nature , they just have better understanding of their differences. Friendship is a lifelong relation that doesn't end even after life. Its more of a commitment of never letting the other alone in any situation in life and always there for them in their needs , joys and sorrows. Friends are flower in the garden of life. And if you want your garden to be evergreen you need to look after it with love and care. Thats when your life will its true meaning.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article How India lost the leadership of Asia to China.
The world is a dynamic place and nothing is static. Nations produce leaders who make their countries great and some do not have the vision and let their countries down. A classic example is China and India in Asia. The 19th and 20th century saw a see-saw between the two for a prominent position in Asia and as things stand the Chinese dragon is breathing fire all around while the Indian elephant scurries to find a place for itself.
Background
At the turn of the century, the omnipotent power in Asia was the British. They were astute and had de-fanged the dragon. By virtue of they ruling India, the country was much ahead of China. It was a safe period with Tibet a classic buffer state between India and China. Industry began to thrive in India and the British set up a network of rail and roads that was unrivaled in the world. Jamshedji was allowed to set up the first steel plant outside of Japan and an aircraft factory was operational in Bangalore. China at that time was involved in internal strife as warlords with massive private armies ruled and battled each other. There were near anarchy and no industry worth the name existed. There was also another two players in China namely the Kuomintang and Communist party who battled it out with each other.In contrast, India was peaceful and making progress.
Shifting Fulcrum
Towards the middle of the last century, the fulcrum began to shift towards China. The communists under Mao Tse Tung won a decisive victory and General Chiang Kai Shek fled to Formosa. At that time in 1948, even a bycycle was manufactured in China and agriculture management was primitive. In India, a steel plant was functional and cars and airplanes were being made.There was no comparison with China as the rupee had near parity with the British pound. The Chinese currency was worthless.
India also inherited all the rights of the Imperial British power. Tibet was a buffer state and the Indian army was allowed to station troops at strategic places in Tibet. Logically India, under Nehru, should have built on this platform, but within a decade China stole a march over India.The Chinese communists under Mao had one track vision to undo the wrongs of history and make China a great power. In contrast, this strategic vision was lacking in the Indian leadership led by Nehru and his successors. Almost all the rights the British had so meticulously built up in Tibet were given up. The right to maintain troops in Tibet was squandered and Nehru fearing a military coup decided to give the military the lowest priority.
Chinese supremacy
China attacked Tibet and occupied it and Nehru just sat and watched. This was the turning point in Asia and established China as the major power. A short border war in 1962 followed with a decisive Chinese victory and all at once India was reduced to a fifth rate power. All the gains of the British built up over 100 years were squandered as the Chinese began a massive military buildup. China also started a massive military-industrial base while Nehru wasted time in trying to be a "great non-aligned leader".
Rise of China
Within another 5 decades, the Chinese following Mao's Red Book encircled India, occupied vast tracts of Indian land and claimed the entire north East state of NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh) as part of China. China concentrated hard and followed a system of reverse engineering that saw it catch up with the west. They took a head start as a nuclear power and in contrast the Indian president Dr. Rajendra Prasad talked of disbanding the army and getting all duties to be done by a police force. One cannot think of anything more ludicrous than this. Successive Indian prime ministers like Morarji Desai failed to understand the geopolitical power and let India slide down. Now China is supporting a hostile Pakistan and has weaned away Nepal and Lanka from Indian influence. The Chinese are surrounding India and their military-industrial base is 2 decades ahead of India. Considering that in 1948, China's industry was primitive this is a tremendous achievement. They are now the dominant power in Asia while India looks for ways and means to assert itself. Things won't be easy and the Chinese may well have the last laugh in this scenario.
9 years ago
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh created new article DANGAL : a review.
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Cast :Amir Khan, Zaira Wasim, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Suhani Bhatanagar
Rating :4.9/5 (A MUST WATCH)
What are the qualities that make a genius? It is the dedication, perseverance and determination to one's chosen goals that makes genius. One such living genius in the world of Bollywood cinema is AMIR KHAN. Yes, you have read it right. AMIR KHAN, the perfectionist, has done it again. You can help but admire his source of inspiration, the amount of hard work and the dedication that he puts into his works. You must have seen his movies like Tare Zameen Par, 3 Idiots, Lagaan and lots more. You can expect only great opus from him.
In the movie DANGAL, Amir Khan has wowed the audiences with his acting skill, the wrestling skill (he have trained long and hard under the wrestling coach, Kripa Shankar Bishnoi) and the commitment to look the part that he is playing. In this movie he has taken on the role of a young wrestler, the middle aged father who trained his two daughters and the aged father who helped her teenage daughters. He was outstanding in all the three roles. There are numerous good actors in the Bollywood. These actors played the main part in the movies. However, with Amir it is diffferent. One things you must have noticed with Amir Khan is that he brings out the best from his co-worker. It is his co actors that often play the main roles. Take Darsheel Safari in Taare Zameen Par, Shaman Joshi and Madhavan in 3 Idiots,etc. That is why he is a class apart.
Dangal is a movie inspired by the true story. It revolves round the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat. Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat have won gold medal in their respective categories in the Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010. Geeta and Babita are sisters who have been coached by their father Mahavir Phogat. The movie shows the troubles that Mahavir had to undergo just two brings up the two daughter as a wrestler. The world only sees the results but they didn't know the struggles and the pain that makes Champion.This movie has bring out this factsa in an interesting, enjoyable and entertaining way.
Forget Amir Khan, you will be charmed by the works done by the two little girls and the two ladies who ware playing the part of Babita and Geeta. They are simply fabulous. They have given us a lot to look forward from them. They have to be trained in art of wrestling under Kripa Singh Bishnoi.
Director Nitsh Tiwari of Chillar Party, Bhootnath Returns fame has given us a wonderful tale. He has made us cry,he has made us laugh and he has given us the thrills in the movie. Music Director Pritam was blessed us the superlartive music. I like the song " Haneekarak Papa". It made me laugh so hard that my stomach pain.
I will recommend each and everyone of the movie lovers to watch it even if you don't have the time to watch it. You won't regret it. You will be thoroughly entertain.
9 years ago
Rohit Gupta created new article Building up the conversation (part 9).
Building up the Conversation (part 9)
Building up the Conversation
Rounding Off
All games are played according to the rules. They have their start and their finish, and so also in conversation, the winding-up is tantamount to ending the topic. Without this rounding up, no satisfactory conclusion will be reached. It may be argued that if conversation is taken only as a game of words, the weaving of expressions by the maestro, what does it matter whether it is rounded off or not? In answer to this, it may be urged that though a play of words, conversation is not merely an idle or loose exercise of vocabulary. A conversation to justify its name is to be an efficient medium of communication as well as a means of educating ourselves. In conformity with this argument, it is necessary that a conversation be rounded off and that the moderator automatically take this up and summarise the arguments for and against: not in a classroom manner, but in an artistic way.
Exploring Jointly
Without the help and co-operation of those taking part in the conversation, join investigations or joint explorations cannot be made. If in a conversation we become too engrossed in rejecting what others are saying and establishing our own arguments, much energy is wasted in going round and round because eventually someone or other may take personal offence at the views expressed and the true spirit of the conversation will be destroyed there and then. Conscientious conversationalists, therefore, avoid such situations and devote themselves to the proper building up of conversation through co-operative or mutual effort.
The word 'exploration' is particularly significant because just as in the discovery of a mineral or in adducing inductive reasoning to something yet unknown, groping, feeling, testing, etc., are involved, so also in a conversation that works to an educative or informative end, all participants should bring into play their mental capabilities to promote free conversation, as far as possible. Sometimes, it is enough to put in just a word like 'absolutely' or 'not always' and if the conversation is taken up by another who says, 'there i disagree, i'll tell you why',or, following 'not always' starts to resuscitate the remark with his own arguments, the conversation is passed round and thus is taken out of the hands of the person who first made the remark.
Arriving at the Truth
Joint exploration should lead the speakers to undiluted truth which is the objective of all purposeful speech. If the conversation moves towards this goal, the participants will not stray from the point. Contradictions as such are ruled out, because counter-reasonings would be wasteful in nature, by way of both time and energy. Instead of contradictions and attempts to show that the other party is in the wrong, It would be more helpful to adopt an attitude of acceptance and then of rejection. Also acceptance and rejection have to be done by common consent. Thus if a certain view is accepted, it will be equally plain to the conversationalists why this argument has been accepted, just as it will become plain to them why another is not.
Without this type of congruence, it will not be possible to proceed with speed in any conversation, and when speed is lagging, knowledge is delayed in its appropriation. It is, therefore, a general rule that explanations mar and nullify the very purpose of a conversation, and that any explanation that is given should be reasoned out by the conversationalist individually. The wheel of conversation moves, and the different persons in the game have to keep the wheel moving, helping it to acquire the highest revolution that is possible. When his turn comes, the individual has to contribute efficiently with minimum words as the situation warrants, and let the conversation move on to others.
Mental Aptitude
In all verbal 'combat', an aptitude of the mind to cope with the current level of discussion is of great importance. mental aptitude does not necessarily mean that a person has to be an expert on the subject. A person may attend a music recital without knowing the intricacies of the music that he listens to and may still enjoy the performance. He is able to do this because he has an inherent taste for and interest in music and in the absorption of the sensations of melody and harmony; he enjoys and appreciates them without necessarily understanding the technicalities. In the same way, one may participate in a conversation without understanding every bit of what is being said. This, however, is only a euphemistic expression because no person of 'standard' intellect and brain-power can remain ignorant for long about the topic that is being discussed if he or she pays careful attention to it; by the application of the same common and average intelligence, he can put forward his views which may prove highly rewarding to those who are actually taking part in the discussion.
Sincerity and Frankness
The building-up of anything is painstaking and a conversation calls for similar effort. The main citadels of such effort are sincerity and frankness in conversation. A person cannot pose as all-knowing in a subject of which he has only sparse knowledge. Nor can he succeed in confusing the issue and the subject-matter for long if he is in a group of knowledgeable people. Duping of any kind or saving the situation somehow may work in other circumstances but not in any proper conversation. A person will do much good to the situation if he comes out with something like, 'I do not know much about it, but I feel...' some in the party may be kind enough to enlighten him on the things that he does not know or at least what is relevant in the given context.
Frankness and Sincerity must come from all participants in the conversation. A person cannot be frank if he knows that whatever he says wiil be laughed at or treated as a jest by the others. He cannot show his sincerity if he feels that his group is too sophisticated to appreciate sincerity and may even take it as weakness. When however, individuals in the group take it as their base through the interchange of one another's knowledge and experience, the core objective and purpose of the conversation are fulfilled.
To be Continued....
9 years ago
Bineesh Balakrishnan created new article LESSONS LEARNT-PART 1.
Life presents lessons to the sincere seeker, but the fact is that many overlook these priceless warnings & values, because they're too busy, or just plain stupid!! I don't claim to have accumulated a lot of wisdom in all my existence so far( I'm only 33 years of age!!), but whatever I have, I am presenting it in this article....This article is part prose & part poetry...
Perseverance
"The water that breaks through rocks,
& forwards meanders for epochs.
Does so only with perseverance
& so your efforts should never end...
Persist, persist, persist, I say,
Through heat,cold, night & day.
Sometimes you may not make,
Progress but you should remain,
Working with patience & perseverance
Cos nothing else can bestow deservance.."
Wisdom
Wisdom is something we should keep accumulating, & keep reviewing. I believe the best way to strengthen our wisdom, is to use it practically. Wisdom from eclectic sources, is the best kind of wisdom, because it can be used in various ways. As far as I'm concerned the best sources of wisdom are books. Whether you want to enlighten yourself about Theology, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology or any other field, the best source would be books. Though the internet is being accepted as a hands on tool for clearing doubts, I don't think all the information it gives out is 'authentic'!!. Wisdom is a thing that's in constant flux, our realities keep changing. Gravity was replaced by Relativity, which was replaced by The String theory, & God only knows what will replace The String theory( maybe 'The G String theory'...Lol..). In all fields of human endeavor, knowledge is growing, & there is so much that we are yet to completely understand...
The Satanic Keralite Society
I've lived in this society only for the last 17 years, & honestly speaking, it's the most satanic society on the planet. In this society, the definition of 'Rights' is 'Whatever crimes can be committed without getting caught'. Trust me every single person exercises their 'Rights'!!. The worst thing about this society, is that though they know they are depraved, they try to portray the image of the best society on the planet. The literacy rate is pretty high in this society(the highest in all of India), but this literacy is used in the worst way possible. Even young students know that-'if you assault a person at night, you have a better chance of getting away without getting charged for it'!! As far as the rights of mental patients go, the situation is even worse. There is an old colloquial adage that -'It is great fun to watch someone else's mother go insane'!! One of the best indicators of how good or bad a society is, is how it treats it's children. There was an article(in a leading newspaper) which stated that the maximum cases of child abuse in India is from Kerala, & nearly 70% of these cases are based on incest. What about women?? There was an article(in a leading newspaper), which stated that women in Kerala are not safe even in their homes...Check out these links..
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Four-children-sexually-abused-in-Kerala-every-day/articleshow/53259934.cms
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Many-child-abuse-cases-unreported/article14568992.ece
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Ahead-of-Human-Rights-Day-KSHRC-raises-concern-over-spurt-in-HR-violation-cases-in-Kerala/articleshow/55898355.cms
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2016/sep/21/Kadakkal-horror-Kerala-Womens-Commission-tells-even-aged-women-are-unsafe-in-their-homes-1522144.html
Justice
"Oh! Justice thou art the best virtue
But hard it is to deliver you!!
For the guilty know how to get away,
The innocent& ignorant often pay,
For crimes that they didn't commit,
As the legal system kinda omits,
The rules they have to abide by,
In delivering their duty day & night!!
For the few who try to fight for you,
The path is long & pretty skewed..."
Forgiveness
I'm alright with forgiving my enemies, but I'll never forget their names(I think it's John F. Kennedy who once expressed this idea for the first time!!). Forgiving the hurt caused to you, by people, helps make life easier. Wallowing in the pain makes a waste of time, that can be put to good use. The problem if you forget the people who wronged you, is that they will most likely wrong you again. You must make it a point to avoid giving people who wronged you, to have another shot at doing so. Forgiveness is a gift for the mind & body, as it gives you a better view of life & also reduces stress & it's deleterious effects on the body...
Success
"Success is both a deceptive friend & enemy as well.
For how you handle it & proceed will definitely tell,
Whether you can advance on the path of your dreams.
Or lose yourself in the feeling of complacence, it seems,
You've drawn failure by pretending success is yours forever!
Remember success and failure are bound together
One carries the other within & pretty soon you'll realise their imposters.."
True love
"True love I hope to find you one day.
It's hard to find you, donno where you stay!
Are you in the eyes of a girl who longs for me?
Or in the eyes of friends & relatives who cherish me?
I believe only God knows how to love unconditionally
Everything else is a game played by the mind temporarily..."
Hope you enjoyed reading this article...I hope to write the next part of this article soon enough....
9 years ago
Bineesh Balakrishnan created new article THE YEAR THAT WAS.....
2016 crept in unexpectedly, but isn't that the norm. Before you know it, you've beautifully wasted a whole damn year, & an other one has just begun. The New year resolutions were made with hope. Well, like most people, I did my best to stick to the resolutions, & succeeded to a great extent. In this post I will describe the highs & lows of the year 2016 in my life...
Became a certified Physiatrist
I graduated as a certified Physiatrist on Sep 7th 2016. Physiatrists are a rare commodity in India. I love this field of medicine & love working to help people out as far as I can. This achievement is the best one, & tops all other achievements of 2016. I am currently working as a Senior Resident in Government Medical College, & am loving every single minute of it...
Started writing articles
I started writing blog articles, on a big scale. One of my articles was accepted by the site Bonobology, & got me awesome reviews from my friends & relatives. The best comment regarding that article, is still etched in my mind. One of my friends said that reading that article 'made her feel de-stressed'....That topped all the other statements made regarding that article...http://www.bonobology.com/love/friendship/591-finding-real-friendship-online.....I've also written quite a few articles for this site, as well...I love writing...
The Truth gets out
I've had issues with certain high profile people, & they had put me through some really bad harassment. The truth about their intentions, & also about their shameless acts surfaced, around September to October. This is definitely a high, because I was wondering of ways to expose the atrocities committed against me, & was running short of ways to do so....Like they say-"Justice is the highest of all virtues."...
The trip to Shirdi
I went to Shirdi in August, & Shirdi Sai Baba means everything to me. The visit was such a life altering experience. I've never felt this blessed in all my life. There's something about Shirdi Sai Baba's love for his devotees, that no bunch of high sounding words can express. I visited the Wadas, the paraayan room, & also checked out the book store. I decided to subscribe to the Sai Leela magazine....The visit to Shirdi was the best thing in my life.....
Had a fall out with certain new friends
Not every relationship is supposed to blossom into a meaningful one. When I found out that a bunch of new friends were unworthy of trust, I decided to back away from trusting & interacting with them. It's neither a high nor a low point/note, but it was an essential move, because for me TRUST is more than just a five letter word. If I lose trust in a relationship, it becomes nullified by default for me....R.L Stevenson said:"A friend is a gift you give yourself.".Well, these gifts only came with good packaging, on the inside they were sick & hollow human beings...
The book I've started writing
I've started writing a book on success principles, incorporating Sai Baba's teachings as the guiding light behind those principles. I've written enough material for 6 chapters. I hope I'll complete the book in 2 years....
The books I read
Read a lot in the last year. The best books by far were:-
1.Be as you are-Daniel Godman...The books contains the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, & is stuffed with spiritual wisdom
2.Practising the power of now - Eckhart Tolle...Another mindblowing book by Eckhart Tolle...Loved every single page of it....
3. Freedom from the known - Jiddu Krishnamurti...I love the way Jiddu Krishnamurti's words spin a web of superior logic around your thoughts, making your life simpler & better...
Sprained my ankle
This is a first for me, for I've never sprained an ankle before!! It hurt for around a week, took analgesics, & sang songs to alleviate the pain!! My heartfelt sympathies to the poor souls who had to listen to me singing Oasis & Bon Jovi songs, with ankle pain punctuating the performances!!!. The ankle sprain was a definite low note for the year....
Went to check out a girl with my parents
So after registering on a matrimonial site, I went to check out a girl with my parents. It was nothing like I expected it to be. I thought it would be super boring, but it was actually kinda fun. I'm looking forward to more such rituals, though my favorite protocol would always be eating dinner & getting to know a girl...
Demonetisation
Well I was also hit badly by this radical step, to curb the accumulation of black money. The long queues near ATMs in the hot noon sun, was really frustrating. But I think these memories will leave an indelible imprint on my mind. Demonetisation worked like a double edged sword. It had it's good & bad sides to it...Hmm...
The songs I've written
I wrote nearly 10 songs in the last year, & it was fun. I shared a good number of them om Facebook, & loved the feedback that I received. I love writing songs, & hope to continue doing so, for as long as I can...My favorite songs that I wrote this year are-'Solitude' & 'Rumors'....
The sunset at Kanyakumari
Once while travelling by train, an old woman told me that the sunset at Kanyakumari was the most beautiful sight on this planet. I decided to check out this phenomenon, & study it!! From 5:30 pm to 6pm all I did was analyse the beauty of the sun setting across the beach, in Kanyakumari. I don't think any other sight will be this awe inspiring...It gives you instant cosmic nirvana...
This year was unexpected, fun, challenging & blessed in every way possible. Not all my plans materialised, but like John Lennon( the lead singer of The Beatles) said:"Life is what happens when you're busy making plans.."...Good bye 2016......
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Modi on Road to Make History.
Narendra Modi swept to power in a gigantic wave, not seen for over 3 decades as he beat the moth-eaten UPA government led by the lackey of the Nehru- Gandhi family Manmohan Singh. It was a victory with a meaning as the Indian state had become moribund, corruption was rampant and almost 30% of the economy was black. Somebody was needed to give spunk to the Indian ethos which was also damaged on the international front with a fear of China. Sadly right from the days of Nehru, that behemoth of Indian politics the cardinals refrain was something from the title of Alistair McLean's novel" Fear is the key". Somebody was needed to set the ship on an even keel and steer it forward. It has now fallen to the lot of Narendra Modi to steer the Indian ship in choppy waters.
Modi has been in power for just 2.5 years but it is palpably clear that his interest is not on just winning elections but on turning the clock as well as steering the Indian ship to port. Firstly on the diplomatic front, two significant events have happened. He has called the Chinese Bluff and reached out to nations which for decades were neglected fraternity. In this one can see his overtures to Mongolia and regardless of the China factor his offer to help Monolia utilize the credit of one billion dollars to counter the Chinese embago are worth noting. Mongolia had earned the ire of China by playing host to the Dalai Lama, a worthy hated by Beijing for no other reason that he asks for rights of the Tibet people burdened by an oppressive regime.
Modi has also launched a surgical strike across the border into Pakistan. His critics say that insurgency has not gone down. Very true, but the aim of one surgical strike was not to finish insurgency but show the mailed fist as to what the Indian state is capable off. This is not lost on Pakistan and I suppose the new Army chief General Bajwa is aware of this fresh resolve. One can remember that Nehru could have turned the tide of the 1962 war in case the IAF had been used, but an irrational fear led him to accept defeat and humiliation and one can record that after that he was a shadow of his former self as he tried to hide from the world.
Modi is a different kettle of fish. He in contrast, has beefed up the border and lately positioned a 100 T -76 tanks n the border in a show of resolve to China. He has become a Globe trotter and progressed India's case to the far corners of the world. The US outgoing president Obama held him in high esteem and even wrote an article on him for TIME magazine.
Coming, home Modi has done the unthinkable as he attacked the fiscal system. This had become so moth-eaten that a parallel economy was created and it was an accepted norm that all deals would be in the 60:40 % ratio with 40% being in the unaccounted money. How was this going to be changed? the Congress and various governments shied away from this as they tacitly encouraged it. There were allegations of kickbacks even for the prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, known as the Bofors scandal and strangely the CBI and enforcement directorate just sat on their haunches. What could they do? the PM was himself involved.
Modi decided to clean the Augean stables of black money and parallel economy in a surgical strike by carrying out demonetization of all high-value notes. Overnight people who had hoarded millions of rupees realized that what they held was worthless paper as the old notes were no longer legal tenders. It was a step that was needed and I have known of many who lost hundreds of thousands of " black money" hoarded in their safes. The political leaders cried foul. It was to be expected as they were the ones who had stacked up thousands of crores of money to use in the elections to finance and buy votes. It was a terrible blow and the opposition led by the Congress howled like a wounded dog, but the deed was done as Modi tried to set right the fiscal balance of the nation.
History will record the efforts of Modi and it will also record that such a man comes once in 100 years. Modi may yet fail, but the torch he has lit and the ensuing flame will not be extinguished and one can be sure that India will move forward.
9 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Is it true that a well read person is intelligent?.
An achievement is viewed in different ways by different people. Accordingly a member expresses his appreciation towards achiever.
9 years ago
jabeen replied to the topic Raees Tragedy.
Fans wait for hours and go at any length to meet the celebrity because they give great priority to them. We might consider it a waste of time as we are not interested in these...
9 years ago
jabeen replied to the topic Khadi Modified.
@Anil
Its not only about education. Even those who are educated have voted for the wrong person. Whether the candidate is a history sheeter or not people vote for...
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article A Look at Vin Diesel's "Return of Xander Cage".
I was in Mumbai on the 14th January when the world premier of the movie "XXX: the Return of Xander Cage" took place. I was lucky to get a pass for me and my girl and we attended the premier. Vin Diesel and his co-star the Bollywood starlet Deepika Padukone along with the producer and other of the cast were also there. It was a great occasion and though Vin was some distance away one could not mistake his muscular and macho look. There was also a tremendous chemistry between the two lead actors and I was not surprised when it was announced that Vin and Deepika would be together again in the next sequel to Xander Cage as well.
The original Xander cage movie was made in 2002. it did not fetch rave views and most critics gave it an average rating, but the film stormed the box office and garnered $270 million. That's a lot of money and one wonders why it took Vin 15 years to act in a sequel. Well after 15 years Vin is back doing the same things he did 15 years ago, but he is 15 years older and he has a new girl in the dusky Deepika Padukone. But one will have to doff one's hat to Vin Diesel as he looks every inch what he was 15 years back; macho and muscular. This bald actor has a niche of his own.
The film runs for 110 minutes and is shot in 3D and 4D. This heightens the effects. The story line is weak, but the death-defying stunts are what the public wants to see and they are superb. Vin thrashes the bad guys and gets his girl the lovely Deepika. In between, there are some steamy scenes and the chemistry between the duo exudes from the screen to the viewers. Vin Diesel and Deepika decided on the world premier in Mumbai and now a week later the film is released all over the world.
Vin Diesel had said that Deepika will be the new Hollywood star on the horizon in 2017. One will have to wait and see whether this prophecy comes true. Deepika flaunts a tanned body and is a good foil to the muscular Vin Diesel. But her English accent is a giveaway and one can see that she is Indian. The other girl also in Hollywood Priyanka has better diction. Maybe because she schooled in the United States.
The film has a furious pace and at the end, one does get the feeling that 110 minutes is less. Vin carries the film and it has an international cast. But minus the action sequences the film does not have much of a storyline. However, it's a feather in the cap of Deepika who after decades of Mumbai films has at last broken into the citadel of Hollywood and one hopes she is a hit and she becomes the new Hollywood star of 2017.
9 years ago
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh created new article Review of "The Winner Stands Alone".
Writer :Paulo Coelho
Price :Rs. 325
Rating :7/10
The grass is greener on the other side. This is an old proverb which has stood the test of time. A novel based on this theme is the Paulo Coelho's The Winner Stand Alone. Paulo Coelho, the master storyteller, has again struck it. The novel was originally published in Portuguese under the title "O Vencedor está Só".
The novel revolved around the five main protagonists-Igor, Ewa, Hamid Hussein, Gabriela and Jasmine. Igor is a ruthless businessman who wants to win back the love of his life, Ewa. Ewa is a strong willed woman who is in love with Hamid Hussein the Avon grade fashion designer. Igor destroys the life of some unknown people so as to send messages to Ewa and ultimately to get her back. There is the story of struggling actor, Gabriela and upcoming model, Jasmine.
The story took place within a period of 28 hours. It started at 3.14 am and ended at 7.55 am. Time wise the events occurred at a short interval. Due to the shortness of timeline the pace of the story is rapid. Everyone in the story seemed to be in a rush. The setting of the novel was the Cannes film festivals. During the festival many high flyers of different background and myriad interests descend on the small town of Cannes in the southern France. The characteristics of many people like the film producers, distributors, film makers, models, business tycoon, industrialists and actors are vividly described in this book. "Everyone behaves as if they were terribly important, apart from the people who really are important; they're much politer, they don't need to prove anything to anyone." How true these words from the novels are. Paulo has done an extensive researched into how the world of cinema operate. Apart from being a master narrator, he is also a great researcher. This novel is a testament to this little facet of the novelist. Further, I am completely awe at the proficiency of the storytelling by Paulo. The description of the scene where Hamid Hussein die is a remarkable piece of writings.
Another truth is that we think that we, the human, are destroying this planet earth. Nothing could be far from the truth. "The planet is, was and always will be stronger than us. We can't destroy it; if we overstep the mark, the planet will simply erase us from its surface and carry on existing.Why don't they start talking about of letting the planet destroy us?"
I will suggest everyone who desire to spend time with a good book to read this novel. It is fine piece of art.
9 years ago
Arunima Singh created new article Teenagers and Social Networking- some practical tips to parents.
One fine day my teenage daughter returned from school fuming and in a rebellious mood.
“I am feeling sooo..bad. Most of my friends have their own iPad, smartphones and laptops. They all have Facebook and Google accounts. You do not allow us. We get screen time only on weekends and that too for half an hour only and we have to choose between laptop, TV and your mobile phone.”…
Well, that’s something all the parents like me have to suffer occasionally. Parents who feel that screens ( TV, laptop, iPad, mobile) are an integral part and necessity of today’s life need not be a part of childhood or should be kept away till a certain age. We are parents who have followed their notion with conviction and who have not given up even after occasional conflicts with their children.
I did not react to any of her cribbing. After sometime when I found her calm and composed, I sat down with her for a talk. I acknowledged her feeling. One is bound to feel sad when he/she does not get what their peers are getting. But do you really need it?? Is it beneficial?? What purpose does it serve?? It’s pros and cons were discussed. Holding myself away from preaching mode, I tried my best to involve her and politely put the ball in her court – to decide what is good for her??
She came to the conclusion that the restriction is for her good.
I am sure that this is not the last time. I will again have to face such situation as a parent in future. And again I will try my best to channelize it into fruitful discussion and give her the responsibility of choosing what is good for her. I will follow my firm and polite approach. No wonder, truly said “Parenting is the most overwhelming job on the planet”.
Well, I proudly pat my back for my achievement. In the era of technology and smart devices, I am among the handful of parents who could successfully keep their children off screen till the age of seven. After that the screen time was limited to one and half hour per week dividing it into slots of half hour each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If there is a good movie on weekends they are allowed to watch it. And they accompany us to theater if we go out for watching clean family entertainer movies. Other than that, they get access to Internet and laptop during weekdays if and only if they need it for some homework and assignment.
And I promise to myself to help them to keep away from smart devices and social networking sites till they are 18.
But my situation might vary with others as the conditions and circumstances vary with each one. And keeping a teen or a tween away from social networking sights might be very tough in today’s technology driven world.
Technology has touched teens and tween and has impacted them a lot. More and more teens are joining social networking sites. Many of them join it without telling their parents and covering themselves under anonymity. Teens love to do adult things but their brain is still immature to make a right decision. In the age of influence and peer pressure they fail to resist the temptation to join a social networking site. Addiction to these sites, cyber bullying and many cyber-crimes etc. come as a side effect.
Many networking sites target teens through attractive video games and teen and tween avatars. Many a times these avatars are actually adults and such predators might harm your child.
Parents many a times feel helpless to deal with teens because of their rebellious nature and immature brain. They need to be tricky and tactful to deal with their teenage children. Here are some helpful tips that can be taken as a guide to Teenage and social networking.
Take them in confidence: This is of utmost importance. Hurting their feelings or self-esteem can actually backfire. Have a friendly relation with them. Spend quality time with them. Many children turn to social networking sites as they feel lonely and unwanted. They love to share and bond with strangers online as they feel more accepted and less criticized. Work on your bonding. If your child feels comfortable with you, he/she will feel free to share about online friends and experiences with you. They will keep you in loop of their activities and not do anything without informing you.
Update yourself: As a parent you need to be always on your toes to educate yourself. Visit the sites, know about it, talk to other parents about their experiences, talk to your children’s friends who are on same networking site and know about the potential dangers your child might get into. These updates will prepare you to handle the situation better.
Keep the communication channel open: Talk, Talk and Talk. A healthy talk which does not turn into a preaching lesson works best with teens. Talk before they join. Tell them the pros and cons. Tell them the guidelines to be followed and about the potential danger or mess that he/she might get into by the misuse of the social networks. Keep talking to them about their experiences on a day to day basis. Take interest in their online activities so that they feel like sharing with you about all the developments. Being involved with your kids will help you sense any alarming situation. You can be defensive and help them before any drastic consequence.
Smart tricks: Some smart parenting tricks will help you. Keep the computer at a place where you can keep an eye on your child without making them feel that you are hovering over their shoulders. Discourage them from using it in isolation or in a locked room. Use parental blocks to keep a track of the computer’s history, to see what he/she has been visiting online.
Set limits and be a role model: Every choice and freedom should come with a limitation and responsibility. Do not act bossy and have an honest talk with them about the time limits. Tell them how excess of networking sites can make them addict and adversely affect their health and studies. Let them understand the benefits f time limit. But all these will not bear any fruit if your child finds you addicted to social networks. They know you skin deep. So try to be a role model.
Some precautionary measures that they are bound to follow: Be polite but firm with these safety rules which at no cost can be broken.
• Discourage them from using networking sites like Facebook. Ask them to wait till they are 18.
• Discourage them from sharing personal photos and personal information.
• No and strict no for flirting online.
• Not use of inappropriate and abusive language.
• Not hurting feelings and sentiments. Refrain from religious, cultural and political exchanges.
• Never allow them to meet any online friends in person.
Try these tips to keep your child safe from predators online and also to help him from falling into the trap of social networking addiction.
9 years ago
Rohit Gupta created new article Building up the Conversation (part 10).
Building up the Conversation(Part 10)
The Art of Speaking
A man of the world will know another man from the moment the latter speaks. Words and the way he speaks reveal the man : his culture, his education, his status, his standing, his capability, his attainments. The art of speaking is an inborn art, but may also be acquired with practice, as Demosthenes, the Greek orator, acquired the art of elocution overcoming his slitter. It is also true that in the close circle of friends and relatives, a person may speak with ease and impress, but ordinarily people are wont to speak in a careless manner and so the art of speaking well is a treasure that belongs to only a few.
Speaking and Speech-making
When any person speaks in public, he is bound by conditions not applicable in the drawing-room; speech-making calls for a different manner. The speaker on the platform speaks because he has something to say and feels that he is competent to deliver the message to his audience. If this speaker is shaky, if his voice cracks or is not audible, if he cannot rouse the feelings of the audience to the desired pitch, or if he cannot transmit his ideas to those who are listening to him, he is sure to fail in his mission. When Burke delivered his historic speech at the trial of Lord Warren Hastings causing many members of the fair sex to swoon, when Antony, at the funeral of Caesar, roused the mob against the establishment, when Swami Vivekananda spoke in Chicago, when Nehru addressed millions of Indians through his famous tryst with destiny speech and when Churchill made his 'blood, sweat and tears' peroration against the Nazis in world war II, none had to be told that he had a speaker before him.
Speech-making thus signifies personal involvement. There is the devoted zeal of conveying to all the thoughts of righteousness, morality, equality, and truth. There is the great longing to train and transform, and the skill to create an effect which will move the audience to action. None of these things are present in day-to-day conversations or even the conversation that are held with guests and others at ceremonies, receptions and such other social occasions. while speaking at different types of conversational sessions, one has to conform to the rules that will afford maximum benefit and satisfaction to those engaged in conversation. but here also art is necessary. The same words and expressions will seem different if said with authority or humility, as the case may be. A request may be as forceful as an order if accompanied by laughter and the right intonation.
Those with the inborn gift of good speech need not fear of ever being at a loss though they should be careful not to become garrulous. The proverb, ' Empty vessels make most sound', is very apt here. This is because a gifted speaker knows that his audience is impressed by his jugglery of words even though he may not have anything of any great value to say. The temptation to depend solely on one's words should be eschewed.
Intonation
Intonation means the different degrees or nuances, variations, the rise and fall and tempo of speaking which make certain speeches more appealing than others. The various stresses and accents on words and expressions, the right number of pauses and repetitions, all contribute to the charm of the speech. Correct pronunciation as also its different versions, the cultured, 'city-bred', modern or even slang, adds novelty to a speech and makes it spicy, but slang should not be allowed to become 'staple'.
Intonation and Impression are closely related in this sense. Intonation is made use of to make the speech impressive and effective and so it can also change the meaning. A simple word like 'no' can, by varying the intonation, register a negative (a flat 'no'), surprise - 'no' (really?), horror ('no!). intonation is very closely related to style and depends much on how the individual put across the support of his words.
An affected style in the bane of conversation, and any person who is training himself to speak should be particularly careful that his style does not clash with his personality. To copy a cinema hero, a foreigner, a popular personality may, instead of impressing others, turn a man into a laughing stock. But when a person develops a manner of speech suited to his personality, his particular disposition, no matter how he speaks, whether he speaks slowly or quickly, calmly or noisily, he will command respect and gain the instant attention of his audience.
Manners
The Power of speech does not necessarily have much to do with etiquette and manners. If we make a survey, we shall find that the so-called lower classes have a much greater and more effective manner of speech than the so called educated elite. This is because they have fewer inhibitions. Railway porters, handcart-pushers, urchins and even vagabonds are far more powerful speakers than the ordinary or average middle-class gentleman. The former classes do not practice restraint of any kind and say whatever comes to their mind, whereas a middle- class, 'educated' person thinks twice before speaking and sometimes totally desists from speech. vulgarities, obscenities, shouts and demands for their rights will flow from the former's lips with a gusto and volley that will surprise many. They have no use for manners or proper speech and the practice of speaking out without restraint certainly adds a kind of crude force to their speech that the gently-bred do not much care to acquire.
From the above, it follows that restraint can also be an impediment or hindrance to speech-improvement. Nevertheless, if we are to exist in society, we have to keep to the rules of co-operation and co-existence and so we cannot say anything and everything that comes to our mind. All sensible and adult persons cultivate the habit of curbing their speech while speaking to others. Only children are excused for saying unwarranted and unintended things, but then this also reflects on the training they are receiving and their background. From the manners of the child the background of the parents may often be inferred. A polite and well-behaved child reflects the good manners that its parents and family have inculcated in it.
Thus, manners are important for a conversationalist who banks on his speaking power to get on in life. Different situations of conversation call for different types of manners. One speaks to one's elders and superiors, one's compatriots, one's fellowmen and colleagues and, of course, to one's friend and relatives. In all these case, this person will fare well if he knows the way these situations should be handled. Thus while he may laugh loudly among his friends and equals, he may only nod and smile before his superiors and may not speak unless spoken to. Similarly, in the company of strangers, a person should know what things can be asked and which topics may be discussed. One does not ask personal questions of strangers, nor does one launch into a diatribe against prominent personalities without knowing the political inclinations of the person one is talking to. Well-behaved persons have no dearth of topics to speak on even with strangers.
Pleasantness
A person who has mastered the art of conversing will know that he has not only to speak but must also speak in a manner which is appealing, dignified and effective. a person can say the things he has to say and yet produce no tangible result. For all practical purposes, it would have been better for this person not to have spoken at all! it is, therefore, a golden rule of conversation that words and expressions be brought out in a pleasant, dispassionate manner. A favor asked for by a good-matured person may be easily granted, while the same request coming in an uncouth manner from a disagreeable character is almost certain to be turned down. Good words and soft words have the power to create wonders and, of course, the adage, 'civility costs nothing', is known to all of us.
Pleasantness in speech does not stop at words alone. A person who is soft-spoken and well-behaved is invariably a person who has a kind disposition and an honest and truthful nature. Words and actions in this case go hand-in-hand and the total good effect is lost if either is absent. If we wish to develop pleasantness both in words and in actions, our first step would be to develop 'consideration' for others. If we have humility, consideration, respect, appreciation, and patience for others, it will not be difficult for us to view the others connection with becoming understanding. If we wish to be agreeable, there is nothing to stop us. if we are claim in the face of criticism or any adverse or trying situation, we shall win the day by the power of our pleasant manners.
Command over language
In the final analysis, of course, a person cannot become a good conversationalist if he has no language in which to project his views. He has to be expressive in his own way, whatever language he chooses. This command over language has to find its way through the spoken word. A person may be an author, an educationist or a planner, and still he may have no command over the language and may be unable to express himself clearly by the spoken word. This is not so strange because persons who are engaged in deep thought all the time or a major part of the time lose the habit of taking.
A person must have command of expression. This command will not come to him unless he has practice in conversation with people. Another good way to master this is to read aloud from the daily newspapers or a book till the reader feels that words come to him freely and that he has no difficulty with pronunciation or with his breathing. If some words prove to be difficult, he should go over them again and again till he can enunciate them without trouble.
Conversation in private or closed groups is different from public speaking, and use of eloquence, though relevant and necessary on the platform, has no place in private conversation. To succeed in conversation, one should aim at ready and practical speech and not go in for a roundabout and flamboyant style. Short sentences and easily understandable expressions should be used in a conversation, as these are more appreciated in talking than the long, ambiguous but theoretically through compositions.
Confidence
Every kind of speech is a function of the mind as well, and unless the mind is in full command of the situation that the conversationalist finds himself in, words will not come easily to the speaker. in the art of conversation, therefore, we shall have to consider confidence as a pre-condition to effective speech. How can this self-confidence be generated in the person concerned to enable him to speak without reservation, shyness or indecision?
In our present-day world, confidence springs mainly from economic security. If a person is worried about personal matters-especially finance- his confidence may be uncertain or shaky. But this is only one of the conditions. It might be that in spite of wealth and prosperity, a person has a complex which prevents him from talking in a fluent, natural and easy manner. At the same time, it is also true that though a person may not have any worldly possessions and is down-and-out, he might still retain his power of speech and self-confidence.
If we take the case of a salesman, lawyer or teacher, we shall find that these persons continue in their vacations largely unhampered by worldly cares and anxieties. These are trained men whose power of speech will not fail them even in the midst of great adversities or sudden crises. They have been able to put aside their own concern while talking to others and so their conversation may still sparkle with wit and humor, though their personal lives are under the greatest of pressure.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article The case of the "Golden Showers" and Donald Trump in Moscow.
https://pixabay.com/en/two-girls-concrete-wall-loft-1828539/
A sensational news has been broadcast all around that is salacious in the extreme. The aim is simple to try and malign the image of Donald Trump as being unworthy to hold the chair of the president of the United States. This is what we can say the final salvo to discredit the incoming president after earlier attempts to besmirch him with his comments on women years ago failed. At that time it was announced that Donald had made some disparaging remarks against women and show his macho image. The 4th estate and men of standing who were averse to a Donald presidency went hammer and tongs after him. Even Hillary stepped in and used the words "despicable" for the crowds attending Donald's meetings.
All this did not stop Donald who won the electoral college and the seat of the US president. The sad part is that even men of letters and members of the GOP joined the Democratic candidate Hillary to try and ensure the defeat of Trump. Yet, Donald won and then began a systematic campaign to malign him. The aim was simple, to discredit the victory of Trump and show the world that the man won the election with the help of an external power. They hatched the cyber attack by Russia in favor of Trump. The Intelligence agencies having their own ax to grind joined in and secretly leaked the report. But again Donald remained unscathed and the man mounted an attack head on the Intelligence agencies like the CIA and FBI.
Now another lurid detail has emerged. It is alleged that Donald on a visit to Moscow for a Miss world contest asked for a couple of Russian girls to do an act before him which included urinating on each other. The press opposed to Donald coined the word " Golden Showers". The event may or may not have taken place, but the fact remains there is no proof and the entire report is unsubstantiated. Yet the mainstream US media latched on it and began to broadcast it. Donald Trump has called the incident fake. he may be correct because in case there was any truth this report would have been made public before the counting day. Now the only aim seems to be to malign Trump.
The Russian president has come out in support of Donald Trump. he has rightly pointed out that the Russian intelligence has no such news or information. He has also added that it does look unreasonable that a man who had access to the most beautiful women would do this. He contended that Russian girls are the most beautiful in the world but the act of urinating or indulging in Golden showers in front of Donald may not be true.
One can say this was like David the last sling to down Donald ( Goliath) and it will probably die a natural death. But it will also give fodder to the tabloid newspapers that publish salacious news item to investigate this further. Yes, they could come out with "proof" but one can be sure that it could be manufactured one. Even if the event was true it is no reflection on the capability of the man himself who like Samson has shaken the foundations of the US democracy and slanted thoughts.
Donald Trump is a phenomenon and one will perhaps see results in the months to come. Donald is a showman and will be the 45th president of America. Sadly it is a divided America and the world will never be the same. In the meantime thennews of Golden showers is good news away from mundane speeches and news in the political arena. The world is an interesting place and so is politics.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Of Girls, Bars and Dating in the UAE.
The UAE is a swell place and one which is wortha holiday if you have money and want a high-end life. It has some of the best bars and night joints and all you b need is liquid cash and no place in the world can offer you anything better. Man's favorite sport is women and that applies to me as well and I recommend no better place for a freakout anywhere else than Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Here some of the high-end bars run all the night and there is a hefty entrance charge as well. A small pint of canned beer can set you back by $ 12-15, so be ready to pay.
These are the best places to pick or strike a friendship with the higher class of women.Europeans and Russians dominate and Ukraine girls are not far behind. Do you want the company of a Muslim girl? Fine this is the place, but the Muslim girls you get here are not the locals but the girls who have come from Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Oman, Iran and they are here because of the restrictions at their places. Here there is freedom and they make the most of it. Don't be taken in by the hijab they wear, for they are more mercenary that others and before they undress for you, they will shave your purse and credit card and maybe you won't mind it for a Muslim girl is exotic as ever.
I have been to all the top bars here and naming them is not my cup of tea to give them publicity for nothing, but I will say there is one on the 52nd floor of the Hotel Shangrila and having a Chivas at that altitude with your girlfriend can be exotic. A view of the city beckons and there is a lovely girl DJ playing what you like and it can almost be like nirvana. There are at least a dozen such places in the UAE but be careful not to get drunk and drive. That could spoil everything, for the traffic police is not like in India.
One can't think of a safer place than the UAE and Dubai, but Dubai is a little more classy as it has a greater number of rich expatriates. The name of the game is money and if you have it, there is nothing better than the UAE. Yes, tourists also abound and I have been surprised at the number of single women as tourists. Most come for a longish stay and many come to heal their hearts, broken relationships and looking for love. Do they find it? I can't say, but I did once shack up with a Ukrainian girl and my lessons of a joint yoga in the nude as taught by my guru in India did wonder therapy for her.
The UAE is doing great and the best part is that it is just a 3 hr flight from Mumbai and considering the Mumbai- Calcutta flight takes 2.40hr, it looks close. Where to go next for a holiday? Yu have to decide what yu want and all I can say is that Dubai and the UAE is a wonderful place. Live and let live.that's the motto, wish Indians could learn something from the atmosphere here.
If you are in need and want to mend your heart, go to the Mercure resort in the Jebel Hafeet mountains. Drinking a scotch in the exotic bar high up in the mountains is something to savor. I love it and last I was there with my secretary and it turned out to be the most soothing of my time in life.
9 years ago
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh created new article Review of "Mechanic Resurrection".
Director : Daniel Gansel
Cast : Jason Statham, Michelle Yeoh, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones
Rating : 2/5
Movies are the sources of inspirations, entertainment, thrill and joy. Good movies can make you happy and make your day an enjoyable one. Bad movies, on the other hand, can makes you despondent.
Mechanic Resurrection belong to the genre of movies which will make you despondent. It is a movie filled with mindless action and above all based on impossible plot. Bishop (Jason Statham) is an elite contract killer. He is tracked down by Cairn (villain) who want to take revenge on Bishop and want to utilise his skill to his advantage. First, Cairn send two women to lure Bishop into his trap. The first one was beaten black and blue by Bishop. The second lady played by Jessica Alba tries to fooled Bishop. Despite knowing this fact, he not only love but go on killing people to save her from Cairn. At last, our hero was able to save the girl and killed the villain. This is the formula for most of the action films. So, script-wise the film is below average.
Now let us see the great things in the movie. Jessica Alba is the love of the hero. So, naturally she adds the sex quotients in the movie. She has a great body but it was not used wholeheartedly in the movie. However, you must have seen sexier heroine then her. Another great thing about the movie is the scenery of Thailand. This is the only plus point for the movie. The tropical beach was shot from great angle.
You will dismay how the Director Daniel Gansel has actually copied scenes. Firstly, the scene in which the bodyguards of the villian roaming in the boat openly as if it is a war zone. Then come the all powerful hero killing all of them and saving the love of his life. How many times have you seen this scene in action film? I think the answer will be infinity. You will also see the same scene here. Further, the alpha villain in jail being guarded by his personal bodyguard. Here also you will see the same. Further the action scene was wanting and editing was not not upto the mark.
Those who are fan of Jason Statham dexterity in fighting villain will definitely enjoy the movie.For the rest it is a waste of time, money and energy.
9 years ago
Bineesh Balakrishnan created new article LESSONS LEARNT-PART 2.
I'm continuing writing on life lessons. As the last one, this is also part prose & part poetry...
Hope
"Hope springs eternal in the just heart,
It gives you strength for a new start.
Lights up your soul when it's feeling dim,
Keeps you going when the future looks grim.
Every life that ever lived it out grand,
Be it Abe Lincoln, Churchill or Rembrandt,
Knew very well that hope never dies,
& after every single fall, did again rise.
The power of hope is to date unfathomed
If you doubt it look at the rising sun.."
Humility
This is a virtue to be cultivated by every human being who wishes to be great. The greatest obstacle to the cultivation of humility is the bloated ego. Einstein was right when he noted that ego is inversely proportional to wisdom. Being humble need not mean allowing people to walk over you. It is realizing the fact that the Almighty wants us to be meek & humble, because we are merely instruments in His hands. Travelling & exploring the bounties of nature is one way of unwinding & also realizing the fact that we are all just pieces of a divine jigsaw puzzle.
Gratitude
'The attitude of gratitude' reached it's current level of fame because of 'the Law of attraction' movement. They claim-'the more gratitude you express for the things you have, the more reasons you will have for being grateful for'. We human beings take too much for granted. Think about it...
The air we breathe is free..
We choose the food we eat..
We choose the clothes we wear..
We choose our jobs...
We choose our life partners..
We choose our hairstyles...
We choose our friends..
The sun rises every morning..
The star-studded sky does not come with a monthly subscription....
All these gifts we take for granted( not to mention countless other gifts!!). Gratitude is thus an essential virtue. Meister Eckhart once said:"If the only prayer you ever uttered was 'Thank you', it would suffice."(& I couldn't agree more!!)..
Time management
"Tis slowly trickling away, as night follows the day,
A young man's hair will eventually turn gray,
& when his time is done, he'll need a muddy grave,
Time flies by, & nothing's gonna be the same,
So learn to use time wisely, that's the game..."
Traveling
I love traveling( that's like turning it down a few notches!). I love coddiwompling, mall strolling or just watching sunsets on beaches...I think everyone needs to travel, to help open up their souls. By traveling, I don't insist that you book yourself for a five-star cruise. Just visit a beach, or a waterfall, or just take a train trip to a neighboring state, & coddiwomple. Look at the marvels of nature, try out new cuisine, get lost in the beauty of some countryside. Breathe in the fresh air, look up at the blue sky. Try not to define what you're feeling, just enjoy the feeling. I think it was St. Augustine who aptly said:"The world is like a book, & those who don't travel only read one page of it."
Unwinding
In today's busy world we don't get enough rest. Our body & mind needs rest, if they are to function optimally. Our bodies can very well be likened to machines, which need servicing & oil changes to function as intended. Always listen to inner signals, & learn to take time out to rest. Different people have different modes of unwinding-music, reading, travelling, or just lazing around watching TV. Whatever your preferred mode, make sure you get your share of rest. Thanks to the attempts of MNCs to improve productivity, many techniques have been developed to recharge the mind & body during work days. These include power naps, yoga, breathing exercises, & so on. The value of rest was once emphasised by an incident where English explorers, wandering under the frondescence in Africa, decided to rest for quite a while. The reason they put forth, for this prolonged period of rest was quite apt. They said-''Let's rest so that our souls may catch up with our bodies.."
Living well is the best revenge
REM released a song, sometime back, called-'Living well is the best revenge'. I love this song, but without any doubt, this is a lesson life has taught me as well. If anyone has wronged you, don't waste time scheming a revenge. Live your life to the fullest, that in itself would be the best revenge. Wicked people can't see the people they've wronged, lead a good life. We all know that every bad experience, carries valuable life lessons. So assimilate all the life lessons you can from all the experiences, & keep going & growing...
That's it for now...Hope you enjoyed reading this article...
9 years ago
Abhishek Dass created new article Jatinga-The valley of death for birds.
Imagine waking up on a beautiful morning, only to find your front lawn littered with corpses of birds staining the ground with their blood.As a sane person, you would be quite entitled to scream like a little girl, take a moment to calm down then call the authorities (or keep screaming).
Could you imagine considering this a daily occurrence and remaining unfazed?
Unless you are a psychopath with a propensity for killing birds, your answer would probably be a resounding ‘NO’.
Unfortunately for the residents of a small village in the north-eastern part of India, this really is a common occurrence.
Now before you conjure up images of witchcraft, black magic or weird Indian rituals, let me inform you, this isn’t a case of some sort of bird genocide but rather a mass suicide.
Although Jatinga, a small village of Assam (North-Eastern State of India) is blessed with scenic beauty, it is also cursed with a grim reality which is both terrifying and fascinating at the same time.
It is not famous for its scenic beauty but unfortunately is known for “mass bird suicide”. This phenomenon has baffled the locals and the scientific community alike because birds are not known for committing suicide.
This strange phenomenon, happening over 100 years between the months of September and November every year after the monsoon whenever there is fog, cloud or mist, generally after sunset, between 7 p.m to 10 p.m. This happens in a particular stretch of 1.5 km long and 200 meters wide area of the village.
Ornithologists from all across the globe have tried to solve this strange mystery but could not reach to any conclusive answer.
Their research has shown that there is a total of 44 different species of birds affected by this phenomenon some of which are Black Bitterns, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Cinnamon Bittern, Ruddy Kingfisher, Little Egret, Tiger Bittern, Indian Pitta, Indian Pond Heron and Chinese Pond Heron.
Another interesting fact is that no long-distance migratory birds are affected by it.
Theories as to why this phenomenon is happening.
Locals used to believe that evil spirits living in the skies were responsible for bringing down the birds.
Many scientist and ornithologist came to a conclusion that the birds are generally disoriented by the monsoon fog and get attracted by the village lights, flying toward them. While on their way they get blinded by the light, sometimes hitting walls and trees during the descent.
Some of the birds succumb to severe injury, while others are grievously injured and become easy prey of the villagers. These birds become dazed and disheveled and do not put up any resistance when villagers attack them with slings or bamboo sticks.
The many unanswered facts remain.
Why the birds come in only from the north? Lights placed on the southern side of the village failed to attract any birds.
Why do these birds fly in the night?
Why they get voluntarily trapped at the same place every year?
This strange phenomenon has made Jatinga an attractive tourist destination. For the promotion of tourism, the Government of Assam’s tourism department has collaborated with the district authorities to organize the ’Jatinga Festival’. The first Jatinga festival was held in 2010.
9 years ago
vijaya sharma created new article Friendship- another name for life.
Friendship is a flower placed in true heart's vase, bringing comfort and peace all your days. It is an epidemic of codependency and the only true care.Some relations are made by god and those which he forget to name are bound by a precious relation of Friendship. Friendship is a two way road. It cannot be accomplished if both parties do not put appreciable effort. It has to be nourished with care , passion , love and time. The fruit of friendship, if nurtured properly , is sweet which brings happiness in our lives.
A Friend is a- Field of love, Root of joy, island of god, end of sorrow, door of understanding. It is very difficult to find a mate which shares same thoughts towards everything in every moment of life. But once you find him/her, you will see life through their eyes and it is a beautiful experience. In moments of joy they will be there to share it with you. whenever you face troubles in life and think there is nowhere to go, they will open new doors of possibilities. Such is the relation of Friendship. It gives you strength to face anything in life. With true friends by your side you can smilingly say to life- " Bring it on!".
In life many a times we will have disputes with family members and everything will seem to be falling apart, friendship proves to be that little ray of hope that can drag you out of darkness. You just need to let in that ray of hope.We make many friends throughout our life- some our friends with benefits, some are true friends and some are just people you socialise with. Those people who stand by your side in all goods and bads are your true pals. Many people fail to recognise their true friends, its no less a job to identify the true ones and hold onto them till they are far gone. The memories you share with your friends are priceless and these give you strength to fight anything that comes in your way.
Always remember- Friends are the angels that lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.Friendship is a heart to heart connection and cannot be broken by time and distance. There is nothing on this Earth more to be prized than true friendship. Friendship needs to be cherished in life and then you will understand the true meaning of life.Friends are like energy to your soul. Friendship is like a Miracle that dwells within the heart,and you don't know how it happens or when it gets its start. But the happiness it brings you always gives a special lift , and you realise that friendship is life's most precious gift.
It takes your heart to see your true friend , not your eyes. You need to feel the place someone special holds in your life, that is your true friend.The world's happiest friends don't have the same nature , they just have better understanding of their differences. Friendship is a lifelong relation that doesn't end even after life. Its more of a commitment of never letting the other alone in any situation in life and always there for them in their needs , joys and sorrows. Friends are flower in the garden of life. And if you want your garden to be evergreen you need to look after it with love and care. Thats when your life will its true meaning.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article How India lost the leadership of Asia to China.
The world is a dynamic place and nothing is static. Nations produce leaders who make their countries great and some do not have the vision and let their countries down. A classic example is China and India in Asia. The 19th and 20th century saw a see-saw between the two for a prominent position in Asia and as things stand the Chinese dragon is breathing fire all around while the Indian elephant scurries to find a place for itself.
Background
At the turn of the century, the omnipotent power in Asia was the British. They were astute and had de-fanged the dragon. By virtue of they ruling India, the country was much ahead of China. It was a safe period with Tibet a classic buffer state between India and China. Industry began to thrive in India and the British set up a network of rail and roads that was unrivaled in the world. Jamshedji was allowed to set up the first steel plant outside of Japan and an aircraft factory was operational in Bangalore. China at that time was involved in internal strife as warlords with massive private armies ruled and battled each other. There were near anarchy and no industry worth the name existed. There was also another two players in China namely the Kuomintang and Communist party who battled it out with each other.In contrast, India was peaceful and making progress.
Shifting Fulcrum
Towards the middle of the last century, the fulcrum began to shift towards China. The communists under Mao Tse Tung won a decisive victory and General Chiang Kai Shek fled to Formosa. At that time in 1948, even a bycycle was manufactured in China and agriculture management was primitive. In India, a steel plant was functional and cars and airplanes were being made.There was no comparison with China as the rupee had near parity with the British pound. The Chinese currency was worthless.
India also inherited all the rights of the Imperial British power. Tibet was a buffer state and the Indian army was allowed to station troops at strategic places in Tibet. Logically India, under Nehru, should have built on this platform, but within a decade China stole a march over India.The Chinese communists under Mao had one track vision to undo the wrongs of history and make China a great power. In contrast, this strategic vision was lacking in the Indian leadership led by Nehru and his successors. Almost all the rights the British had so meticulously built up in Tibet were given up. The right to maintain troops in Tibet was squandered and Nehru fearing a military coup decided to give the military the lowest priority.
Chinese supremacy
China attacked Tibet and occupied it and Nehru just sat and watched. This was the turning point in Asia and established China as the major power. A short border war in 1962 followed with a decisive Chinese victory and all at once India was reduced to a fifth rate power. All the gains of the British built up over 100 years were squandered as the Chinese began a massive military buildup. China also started a massive military-industrial base while Nehru wasted time in trying to be a "great non-aligned leader".
Rise of China
Within another 5 decades, the Chinese following Mao's Red Book encircled India, occupied vast tracts of Indian land and claimed the entire north East state of NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh) as part of China. China concentrated hard and followed a system of reverse engineering that saw it catch up with the west. They took a head start as a nuclear power and in contrast the Indian president Dr. Rajendra Prasad talked of disbanding the army and getting all duties to be done by a police force. One cannot think of anything more ludicrous than this. Successive Indian prime ministers like Morarji Desai failed to understand the geopolitical power and let India slide down. Now China is supporting a hostile Pakistan and has weaned away Nepal and Lanka from Indian influence. The Chinese are surrounding India and their military-industrial base is 2 decades ahead of India. Considering that in 1948, China's industry was primitive this is a tremendous achievement. They are now the dominant power in Asia while India looks for ways and means to assert itself. Things won't be easy and the Chinese may well have the last laugh in this scenario.
9 years ago
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh created new article DANGAL : a review.
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Cast :Amir Khan, Zaira Wasim, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Suhani Bhatanagar
Rating :4.9/5 (A MUST WATCH)
What are the qualities that make a genius? It is the dedication, perseverance and determination to one's chosen goals that makes genius. One such living genius in the world of Bollywood cinema is AMIR KHAN. Yes, you have read it right. AMIR KHAN, the perfectionist, has done it again. You can help but admire his source of inspiration, the amount of hard work and the dedication that he puts into his works. You must have seen his movies like Tare Zameen Par, 3 Idiots, Lagaan and lots more. You can expect only great opus from him.
In the movie DANGAL, Amir Khan has wowed the audiences with his acting skill, the wrestling skill (he have trained long and hard under the wrestling coach, Kripa Shankar Bishnoi) and the commitment to look the part that he is playing. In this movie he has taken on the role of a young wrestler, the middle aged father who trained his two daughters and the aged father who helped her teenage daughters. He was outstanding in all the three roles. There are numerous good actors in the Bollywood. These actors played the main part in the movies. However, with Amir it is diffferent. One things you must have noticed with Amir Khan is that he brings out the best from his co-worker. It is his co actors that often play the main roles. Take Darsheel Safari in Taare Zameen Par, Shaman Joshi and Madhavan in 3 Idiots,etc. That is why he is a class apart.
Dangal is a movie inspired by the true story. It revolves round the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat. Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat have won gold medal in their respective categories in the Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010. Geeta and Babita are sisters who have been coached by their father Mahavir Phogat. The movie shows the troubles that Mahavir had to undergo just two brings up the two daughter as a wrestler. The world only sees the results but they didn't know the struggles and the pain that makes Champion.This movie has bring out this factsa in an interesting, enjoyable and entertaining way.
Forget Amir Khan, you will be charmed by the works done by the two little girls and the two ladies who ware playing the part of Babita and Geeta. They are simply fabulous. They have given us a lot to look forward from them. They have to be trained in art of wrestling under Kripa Singh Bishnoi.
Director Nitsh Tiwari of Chillar Party, Bhootnath Returns fame has given us a wonderful tale. He has made us cry,he has made us laugh and he has given us the thrills in the movie. Music Director Pritam was blessed us the superlartive music. I like the song " Haneekarak Papa". It made me laugh so hard that my stomach pain.
I will recommend each and everyone of the movie lovers to watch it even if you don't have the time to watch it. You won't regret it. You will be thoroughly entertain.
9 years ago
Rohit Gupta created new article Building up the conversation (part 9).
Building up the Conversation (part 9)
Building up the Conversation
Rounding Off
All games are played according to the rules. They have their start and their finish, and so also in conversation, the winding-up is tantamount to ending the topic. Without this rounding up, no satisfactory conclusion will be reached. It may be argued that if conversation is taken only as a game of words, the weaving of expressions by the maestro, what does it matter whether it is rounded off or not? In answer to this, it may be urged that though a play of words, conversation is not merely an idle or loose exercise of vocabulary. A conversation to justify its name is to be an efficient medium of communication as well as a means of educating ourselves. In conformity with this argument, it is necessary that a conversation be rounded off and that the moderator automatically take this up and summarise the arguments for and against: not in a classroom manner, but in an artistic way.
Exploring Jointly
Without the help and co-operation of those taking part in the conversation, join investigations or joint explorations cannot be made. If in a conversation we become too engrossed in rejecting what others are saying and establishing our own arguments, much energy is wasted in going round and round because eventually someone or other may take personal offence at the views expressed and the true spirit of the conversation will be destroyed there and then. Conscientious conversationalists, therefore, avoid such situations and devote themselves to the proper building up of conversation through co-operative or mutual effort.
The word 'exploration' is particularly significant because just as in the discovery of a mineral or in adducing inductive reasoning to something yet unknown, groping, feeling, testing, etc., are involved, so also in a conversation that works to an educative or informative end, all participants should bring into play their mental capabilities to promote free conversation, as far as possible. Sometimes, it is enough to put in just a word like 'absolutely' or 'not always' and if the conversation is taken up by another who says, 'there i disagree, i'll tell you why',or, following 'not always' starts to resuscitate the remark with his own arguments, the conversation is passed round and thus is taken out of the hands of the person who first made the remark.
Arriving at the Truth
Joint exploration should lead the speakers to undiluted truth which is the objective of all purposeful speech. If the conversation moves towards this goal, the participants will not stray from the point. Contradictions as such are ruled out, because counter-reasonings would be wasteful in nature, by way of both time and energy. Instead of contradictions and attempts to show that the other party is in the wrong, It would be more helpful to adopt an attitude of acceptance and then of rejection. Also acceptance and rejection have to be done by common consent. Thus if a certain view is accepted, it will be equally plain to the conversationalists why this argument has been accepted, just as it will become plain to them why another is not.
Without this type of congruence, it will not be possible to proceed with speed in any conversation, and when speed is lagging, knowledge is delayed in its appropriation. It is, therefore, a general rule that explanations mar and nullify the very purpose of a conversation, and that any explanation that is given should be reasoned out by the conversationalist individually. The wheel of conversation moves, and the different persons in the game have to keep the wheel moving, helping it to acquire the highest revolution that is possible. When his turn comes, the individual has to contribute efficiently with minimum words as the situation warrants, and let the conversation move on to others.
Mental Aptitude
In all verbal 'combat', an aptitude of the mind to cope with the current level of discussion is of great importance. mental aptitude does not necessarily mean that a person has to be an expert on the subject. A person may attend a music recital without knowing the intricacies of the music that he listens to and may still enjoy the performance. He is able to do this because he has an inherent taste for and interest in music and in the absorption of the sensations of melody and harmony; he enjoys and appreciates them without necessarily understanding the technicalities. In the same way, one may participate in a conversation without understanding every bit of what is being said. This, however, is only a euphemistic expression because no person of 'standard' intellect and brain-power can remain ignorant for long about the topic that is being discussed if he or she pays careful attention to it; by the application of the same common and average intelligence, he can put forward his views which may prove highly rewarding to those who are actually taking part in the discussion.
Sincerity and Frankness
The building-up of anything is painstaking and a conversation calls for similar effort. The main citadels of such effort are sincerity and frankness in conversation. A person cannot pose as all-knowing in a subject of which he has only sparse knowledge. Nor can he succeed in confusing the issue and the subject-matter for long if he is in a group of knowledgeable people. Duping of any kind or saving the situation somehow may work in other circumstances but not in any proper conversation. A person will do much good to the situation if he comes out with something like, 'I do not know much about it, but I feel...' some in the party may be kind enough to enlighten him on the things that he does not know or at least what is relevant in the given context.
Frankness and Sincerity must come from all participants in the conversation. A person cannot be frank if he knows that whatever he says wiil be laughed at or treated as a jest by the others. He cannot show his sincerity if he feels that his group is too sophisticated to appreciate sincerity and may even take it as weakness. When however, individuals in the group take it as their base through the interchange of one another's knowledge and experience, the core objective and purpose of the conversation are fulfilled.
To be Continued....
9 years ago
Bineesh Balakrishnan created new article LESSONS LEARNT-PART 1.
Life presents lessons to the sincere seeker, but the fact is that many overlook these priceless warnings & values, because they're too busy, or just plain stupid!! I don't claim to have accumulated a lot of wisdom in all my existence so far( I'm only 33 years of age!!), but whatever I have, I am presenting it in this article....This article is part prose & part poetry...
Perseverance
"The water that breaks through rocks,
& forwards meanders for epochs.
Does so only with perseverance
& so your efforts should never end...
Persist, persist, persist, I say,
Through heat,cold, night & day.
Sometimes you may not make,
Progress but you should remain,
Working with patience & perseverance
Cos nothing else can bestow deservance.."
Wisdom
Wisdom is something we should keep accumulating, & keep reviewing. I believe the best way to strengthen our wisdom, is to use it practically. Wisdom from eclectic sources, is the best kind of wisdom, because it can be used in various ways. As far as I'm concerned the best sources of wisdom are books. Whether you want to enlighten yourself about Theology, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology or any other field, the best source would be books. Though the internet is being accepted as a hands on tool for clearing doubts, I don't think all the information it gives out is 'authentic'!!. Wisdom is a thing that's in constant flux, our realities keep changing. Gravity was replaced by Relativity, which was replaced by The String theory, & God only knows what will replace The String theory( maybe 'The G String theory'...Lol..). In all fields of human endeavor, knowledge is growing, & there is so much that we are yet to completely understand...
The Satanic Keralite Society
I've lived in this society only for the last 17 years, & honestly speaking, it's the most satanic society on the planet. In this society, the definition of 'Rights' is 'Whatever crimes can be committed without getting caught'. Trust me every single person exercises their 'Rights'!!. The worst thing about this society, is that though they know they are depraved, they try to portray the image of the best society on the planet. The literacy rate is pretty high in this society(the highest in all of India), but this literacy is used in the worst way possible. Even young students know that-'if you assault a person at night, you have a better chance of getting away without getting charged for it'!! As far as the rights of mental patients go, the situation is even worse. There is an old colloquial adage that -'It is great fun to watch someone else's mother go insane'!! One of the best indicators of how good or bad a society is, is how it treats it's children. There was an article(in a leading newspaper) which stated that the maximum cases of child abuse in India is from Kerala, & nearly 70% of these cases are based on incest. What about women?? There was an article(in a leading newspaper), which stated that women in Kerala are not safe even in their homes...Check out these links..
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Four-children-sexually-abused-in-Kerala-every-day/articleshow/53259934.cms
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Many-child-abuse-cases-unreported/article14568992.ece
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Ahead-of-Human-Rights-Day-KSHRC-raises-concern-over-spurt-in-HR-violation-cases-in-Kerala/articleshow/55898355.cms
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2016/sep/21/Kadakkal-horror-Kerala-Womens-Commission-tells-even-aged-women-are-unsafe-in-their-homes-1522144.html
Justice
"Oh! Justice thou art the best virtue
But hard it is to deliver you!!
For the guilty know how to get away,
The innocent& ignorant often pay,
For crimes that they didn't commit,
As the legal system kinda omits,
The rules they have to abide by,
In delivering their duty day & night!!
For the few who try to fight for you,
The path is long & pretty skewed..."
Forgiveness
I'm alright with forgiving my enemies, but I'll never forget their names(I think it's John F. Kennedy who once expressed this idea for the first time!!). Forgiving the hurt caused to you, by people, helps make life easier. Wallowing in the pain makes a waste of time, that can be put to good use. The problem if you forget the people who wronged you, is that they will most likely wrong you again. You must make it a point to avoid giving people who wronged you, to have another shot at doing so. Forgiveness is a gift for the mind & body, as it gives you a better view of life & also reduces stress & it's deleterious effects on the body...
Success
"Success is both a deceptive friend & enemy as well.
For how you handle it & proceed will definitely tell,
Whether you can advance on the path of your dreams.
Or lose yourself in the feeling of complacence, it seems,
You've drawn failure by pretending success is yours forever!
Remember success and failure are bound together
One carries the other within & pretty soon you'll realise their imposters.."
True love
"True love I hope to find you one day.
It's hard to find you, donno where you stay!
Are you in the eyes of a girl who longs for me?
Or in the eyes of friends & relatives who cherish me?
I believe only God knows how to love unconditionally
Everything else is a game played by the mind temporarily..."
Hope you enjoyed reading this article...I hope to write the next part of this article soon enough....
9 years ago
Bineesh Balakrishnan created new article THE YEAR THAT WAS.....
2016 crept in unexpectedly, but isn't that the norm. Before you know it, you've beautifully wasted a whole damn year, & an other one has just begun. The New year resolutions were made with hope. Well, like most people, I did my best to stick to the resolutions, & succeeded to a great extent. In this post I will describe the highs & lows of the year 2016 in my life...
Became a certified Physiatrist
I graduated as a certified Physiatrist on Sep 7th 2016. Physiatrists are a rare commodity in India. I love this field of medicine & love working to help people out as far as I can. This achievement is the best one, & tops all other achievements of 2016. I am currently working as a Senior Resident in Government Medical College, & am loving every single minute of it...
Started writing articles
I started writing blog articles, on a big scale. One of my articles was accepted by the site Bonobology, & got me awesome reviews from my friends & relatives. The best comment regarding that article, is still etched in my mind. One of my friends said that reading that article 'made her feel de-stressed'....That topped all the other statements made regarding that article...http://www.bonobology.com/love/friendship/591-finding-real-friendship-online.....I've also written quite a few articles for this site, as well...I love writing...
The Truth gets out
I've had issues with certain high profile people, & they had put me through some really bad harassment. The truth about their intentions, & also about their shameless acts surfaced, around September to October. This is definitely a high, because I was wondering of ways to expose the atrocities committed against me, & was running short of ways to do so....Like they say-"Justice is the highest of all virtues."...
The trip to Shirdi
I went to Shirdi in August, & Shirdi Sai Baba means everything to me. The visit was such a life altering experience. I've never felt this blessed in all my life. There's something about Shirdi Sai Baba's love for his devotees, that no bunch of high sounding words can express. I visited the Wadas, the paraayan room, & also checked out the book store. I decided to subscribe to the Sai Leela magazine....The visit to Shirdi was the best thing in my life.....
Had a fall out with certain new friends
Not every relationship is supposed to blossom into a meaningful one. When I found out that a bunch of new friends were unworthy of trust, I decided to back away from trusting & interacting with them. It's neither a high nor a low point/note, but it was an essential move, because for me TRUST is more than just a five letter word. If I lose trust in a relationship, it becomes nullified by default for me....R.L Stevenson said:"A friend is a gift you give yourself.".Well, these gifts only came with good packaging, on the inside they were sick & hollow human beings...
The book I've started writing
I've started writing a book on success principles, incorporating Sai Baba's teachings as the guiding light behind those principles. I've written enough material for 6 chapters. I hope I'll complete the book in 2 years....
The books I read
Read a lot in the last year. The best books by far were:-
1.Be as you are-Daniel Godman...The books contains the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, & is stuffed with spiritual wisdom
2.Practising the power of now - Eckhart Tolle...Another mindblowing book by Eckhart Tolle...Loved every single page of it....
3. Freedom from the known - Jiddu Krishnamurti...I love the way Jiddu Krishnamurti's words spin a web of superior logic around your thoughts, making your life simpler & better...
Sprained my ankle
This is a first for me, for I've never sprained an ankle before!! It hurt for around a week, took analgesics, & sang songs to alleviate the pain!! My heartfelt sympathies to the poor souls who had to listen to me singing Oasis & Bon Jovi songs, with ankle pain punctuating the performances!!!. The ankle sprain was a definite low note for the year....
Went to check out a girl with my parents
So after registering on a matrimonial site, I went to check out a girl with my parents. It was nothing like I expected it to be. I thought it would be super boring, but it was actually kinda fun. I'm looking forward to more such rituals, though my favorite protocol would always be eating dinner & getting to know a girl...
Demonetisation
Well I was also hit badly by this radical step, to curb the accumulation of black money. The long queues near ATMs in the hot noon sun, was really frustrating. But I think these memories will leave an indelible imprint on my mind. Demonetisation worked like a double edged sword. It had it's good & bad sides to it...Hmm...
The songs I've written
I wrote nearly 10 songs in the last year, & it was fun. I shared a good number of them om Facebook, & loved the feedback that I received. I love writing songs, & hope to continue doing so, for as long as I can...My favorite songs that I wrote this year are-'Solitude' & 'Rumors'....
The sunset at Kanyakumari
Once while travelling by train, an old woman told me that the sunset at Kanyakumari was the most beautiful sight on this planet. I decided to check out this phenomenon, & study it!! From 5:30 pm to 6pm all I did was analyse the beauty of the sun setting across the beach, in Kanyakumari. I don't think any other sight will be this awe inspiring...It gives you instant cosmic nirvana...
This year was unexpected, fun, challenging & blessed in every way possible. Not all my plans materialised, but like John Lennon( the lead singer of The Beatles) said:"Life is what happens when you're busy making plans.."...Good bye 2016......
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Modi on Road to Make History.
Narendra Modi swept to power in a gigantic wave, not seen for over 3 decades as he beat the moth-eaten UPA government led by the lackey of the Nehru- Gandhi family Manmohan Singh. It was a victory with a meaning as the Indian state had become moribund, corruption was rampant and almost 30% of the economy was black. Somebody was needed to give spunk to the Indian ethos which was also damaged on the international front with a fear of China. Sadly right from the days of Nehru, that behemoth of Indian politics the cardinals refrain was something from the title of Alistair McLean's novel" Fear is the key". Somebody was needed to set the ship on an even keel and steer it forward. It has now fallen to the lot of Narendra Modi to steer the Indian ship in choppy waters.
Modi has been in power for just 2.5 years but it is palpably clear that his interest is not on just winning elections but on turning the clock as well as steering the Indian ship to port. Firstly on the diplomatic front, two significant events have happened. He has called the Chinese Bluff and reached out to nations which for decades were neglected fraternity. In this one can see his overtures to Mongolia and regardless of the China factor his offer to help Monolia utilize the credit of one billion dollars to counter the Chinese embago are worth noting. Mongolia had earned the ire of China by playing host to the Dalai Lama, a worthy hated by Beijing for no other reason that he asks for rights of the Tibet people burdened by an oppressive regime.
Modi has also launched a surgical strike across the border into Pakistan. His critics say that insurgency has not gone down. Very true, but the aim of one surgical strike was not to finish insurgency but show the mailed fist as to what the Indian state is capable off. This is not lost on Pakistan and I suppose the new Army chief General Bajwa is aware of this fresh resolve. One can remember that Nehru could have turned the tide of the 1962 war in case the IAF had been used, but an irrational fear led him to accept defeat and humiliation and one can record that after that he was a shadow of his former self as he tried to hide from the world.
Modi is a different kettle of fish. He in contrast, has beefed up the border and lately positioned a 100 T -76 tanks n the border in a show of resolve to China. He has become a Globe trotter and progressed India's case to the far corners of the world. The US outgoing president Obama held him in high esteem and even wrote an article on him for TIME magazine.
Coming, home Modi has done the unthinkable as he attacked the fiscal system. This had become so moth-eaten that a parallel economy was created and it was an accepted norm that all deals would be in the 60:40 % ratio with 40% being in the unaccounted money. How was this going to be changed? the Congress and various governments shied away from this as they tacitly encouraged it. There were allegations of kickbacks even for the prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, known as the Bofors scandal and strangely the CBI and enforcement directorate just sat on their haunches. What could they do? the PM was himself involved.
Modi decided to clean the Augean stables of black money and parallel economy in a surgical strike by carrying out demonetization of all high-value notes. Overnight people who had hoarded millions of rupees realized that what they held was worthless paper as the old notes were no longer legal tenders. It was a step that was needed and I have known of many who lost hundreds of thousands of " black money" hoarded in their safes. The political leaders cried foul. It was to be expected as they were the ones who had stacked up thousands of crores of money to use in the elections to finance and buy votes. It was a terrible blow and the opposition led by the Congress howled like a wounded dog, but the deed was done as Modi tried to set right the fiscal balance of the nation.
History will record the efforts of Modi and it will also record that such a man comes once in 100 years. Modi may yet fail, but the torch he has lit and the ensuing flame will not be extinguished and one can be sure that India will move forward.
9 years ago