Literacy in India

Talk to a politician or a bureaucrat about the fate of education lie would immediately shift to literacy. He would like to emphasize that literacy picked up in the country during eighties and nineties.

For most of us it is difficult to calculate the number of educated people i.e. those who have studied at least up to higher secondary stage.

Literate statistics (sometimes even manipulated ones) are easily available. And who is considered literate in Bharat? Even one who can write his name and read is literate. There may be some who can read the headlines of newspaper or go through some lines of a religious book.

Anyway, the statistics are quite deceptive and beguiling. They are prepared by the field workers to snow their efficiency—if not in producing a sizeable number of really literate people at least in producing paper records in a sizeable number to please the people at the helm of the affairs. Some of them may be true too. There are conscientious people everywhere—though in small fraction.

Taking into consideration the records prepared Kerala should be proud of having the largest number of literates in the country. It was 90 per cent by the end of the eighties. Kerala has been known as 'Country's showcase state in education'.

Southern States have always risen to the need of the hour so far as education is concerned. The 1991 census is a guideline for the difference between the advanced states and the backward ones in the Hindi belt. The national literacy figures show 52 per cent people in the age group of seven and above. The percentage could have been more if U.P., Rajasthan, Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh had crossed the line of 40 per cent. Even then 52 percent is quite encouraging to challenge the prediction of UNICEF and WHO that 100 crore illiterate people will enter the 21st century of which 50 crore will be in India alone. Has India proved it wrong?

There are many disparities and deceptions too. The first is that many children are admitted to primary school but a large number does not attend the classes. The difference between the number admitted in class 1 and the higher classes makes it clear that the rate of drop outs is very high; and a large number is enrolled on paper only.

The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for primary schools in Tamil Nadu is 135 percent. It is 86 percent in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir. These states and some others bring the percentage down while the Southern States and Union Territories push it up.

The disparities between the urban and rural figures are glaring; statistics show that 52 per cent of six year olds were at school in urban areas while in the rural area only 26 per cent were at school. Urban areas nave only 23 per cent of the country's population while, according to a latter data, 50 per cent of country's higher secondary schools were in urban areas.

The difference between the literate boys and girls too is quite considerable. In urban areas fifty per cent of girls and 55 per cent of boys of the 6 plus age group were at school while in villages only 31 per cent boys and an equal number of girls in the same age group attended classes.

There is wide gap between the male and female teachers too in urban and rural areas. If there are a sizeable number of women teachers in rural schools they would attract a large number of girls. The parents in village would like to send their daughters only if the teacher is a woman. But there are only 21 per cent women teachers while in towns 56 per cent are women. It is these teachers who participate in the literacy programmes. They are not much interested in being forced to take up this meagerly paid job.

The lesser number of women teachers signify lesser literates among rural women. It is not the paid teachers forced by the administration but honorary volunteers from NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) who can hold the reins if they are sincere and have a dedicated cadre.

In December 1987 General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 1990 as the international literacy year .On December 6, 1989 an impressive function was held at the UN Headquarters in New York to launch the scheme. Although India too has kept pace with the global programme by increasing the number of literates from 324 million in 1981 to 352 million in 1991 the 2.3 per cent annual rate of population growth march the achievement of the country on the literacy campaign too.

TV -an idiot box

TV is a household name now. One hardly comes across a house today that does not have a TV set. Even those who belong to the lower income group invest in a TV set as soon as they can afford it.

Most Indians spend their evenings glued to the television as this is the most easily available entertainment for them. Now there are cable connections in most of the houses and with the advent of international channels on our television, the popularity of TV has grown many folds.

How TV does affect our lives today? We have to consider its advantages and disadvantages. In some ways TV is a boon. It is a vital source of information and helps to shape our lives in many ways. It keeps us posted with the latest political, social and cultural developments in the world.

Hence, it educates us. It brings the people of the world closer by removing the distances that exist between us. Sitting in our rooms, we get a view of the entire world.

TV also takes us nearer to the cultures of the world. While entertaining us with soap operas, dances, plays, music, etc., it educates us about the lifestyles of the foreigners in those lands where these programmes are produced.

We can compare our own culture with theirs and can learn something from them. With a television set in the house, a person can never get lonely. It can be man's best friend.

However, the television turns into a curse when it interferes with the normal routine of our day. When children neglect their school books and homework, the television becomes a curse. It is a source of great temptation for children to watch a cartoon show or a movie on TV rather than study. Adults often become less social because of the television.

They tie themselves down to the house according to the timings of their favourite television programme thus making themselves unavailable for various social gatherings. They might skip meeting a friend or calling on their relatives because they would rather watch a movie on television. This keeps them confined to the house and they often miss out on activities which are equally, if not more important, outside the four walls of the house.

If one balances the TV viewing time and time for work, then TV is a boon all the way, else it may become a curse.

The Place of English in Modern India

Macaulay's prediction, that the “English may leave India one day but English would be there” has not been falsified as yet. There was a strong sentiment against English in some Northern States and Gujarat in the post independence days. The study of English was ignored in schools and colleges. Efforts were made to replace English with Hindi if not as a national language at least as a link language.
The constitution came in the way. Certain states won't accept Hindi as a national language. It was a queer case of majority being blown off by the minority. The national apple cart lost its balance. English remained intact in the southern states, the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai and Chennai, in all the centrally administered states, in the North Eastern region of the Seven Sisters and in Punjab.
In the Hindi belt, in Gujarat, in rural Bengal and rural Maharashtra English lost its status. It became an optional subject in colleges. In many competitive examinations it gradually became an optional subject. Most of the states including the Southern ones replaced English with the local language in official work at the lower level.
Gradually even court proceedings were conducted and judgments given in State language. English left the precincts of Assemblies too. It is a partial medium in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha and in Nagaland and Mizoram where English has become more or less the mother tongue of the people. In a way English is losing ground in the official parlors everywhere in the country.
The multimillion question is who decides the fate of a social trend or a language or a fashion in a country—the government or the people. The decisions of a government have a political overtone-those of the people are need oriented or backed by sentiments and emotions. It is rather natural chat education should be imparted through the mother tongue of the young one.
Nowhere in the world is it imparted through a foreign language. In a multilinguistic federal structure one of the languages of the land becomes the link language for inter-state relations. That has not been achieved as yet in India. We may have to wait for some time more for its realization. By that time English would work as a link language in official parlors.
During seventies and eighties a new phenomenon was added to the linguistic stage. More and more people among the middle and upper middle class families took a fancy to English medium schools. The increase in the cumber of such schools is four fold.
Every district has at least one Central School with English medium. The number of Convent and Public Schools has also increased considerably. The rush for admission in these institutions is so much that parents spend thousands of rupees for the admission of their wards. Such schools are gradually entering the rural areas too. How can one imagine of the day when English disappears.
The era of liberalization has marked the entry of foreign entrepreneurs on a very large scale. On the other hand the Public Service Undertakings (PSUs) i.e. nationalized sector is passing through its last phase. The employment market for the educated too would be dominated by big entrepreneurs—Indian as well as multinationals.
English has already become a language of the elites and commands the precincts of business and industry. It has come to stay, as politics now is guided not only by sentimental or emotional factors but by economic ones too. It is not being forced upon the people as was done by the past masters in the pre-independence days. It is being accepted voluntarily and would flourish in the bed of linguistic flowers together with other languages. One has not to dream of the day of its disappearance

Reservation for Women: Why or Why not?

Providing reservations to a particular section of community in government jobs and other institutions is generally the highlight of any political party’s agenda these days. Now there have been discussions about providing reservations to women in government jobs and democratic institutions like legislative assemblies and Parliament also. Sometimes one feels that basically the reservation issue is nothing but a populist policy of a government, but still it is necessary to discuss the rationale behind such a policy. Can reservations for women be an effective measure and do the women really require such special treatment? These are the points which need to be addressed.

It is nothing but a truism to say that the present status of women in the Indian society vis-à-vis the status of men is far from satisfactory. For centuries, Indian society like most of the other societies has been a male-dominated one. Perhaps the degradation of the status of women started in the later Vedic period, because in the Rig – Vedic period we have references to many women scholars like Matitreyi, Gayatri etc.

These women scholars might have been exceptions in the society, yet they did reflect upon the general attitude of the society and a relatively good status of the women. But in the later Vedic period the situation started changing drastically with the increased dominance of the puritan and obscurantist ideas. Women’s condition had reached it abyss by the medieval period with systems like “Sati”, “Parda”, polygamy, maltreatment of widows etc. entrenching themselves. Thus see in the historical as well as contemporary perspective, reservation for women seems desirable.

Reservation for women both in government jobs and democratic institutions – would amount to a positive discrimination. But it might foster a sense of inferiority complex among the women that they have been, as if were, provided with crutches to walk on, to struggle in the demanding world. Also, reservation for women, as we have seen in the cases of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other backward Classes, would become a populist tool at the hands of powers – that – be. In the circumstances the intention of every political party is to talk in terms of reservation only, instead of hitting at the basic cause of such an inequality between men and women.

Instead of providing any solution to this deep – rooted problem reservation for women may give rise to social, political as well as psychological tensions. Besides, it is debatable if more women will attend school, college and office merely because of reservation. There are many complex reasons behind the low representation of women in the socio-political and economic profile of the country which a reservation policy cannot hope to tackle, real leave overcome.

But the case for providing reservation to women as a means of providing opportunities to them in a male – dominated society is equally strong. In spite of the fact that the country is supposed to be “developing” in different walks of life the proportion of women to that of men in various fields of national activities remains highly disappointing. Even after almost fifty years of independence and eleven general elections, the 11^th Lok Sabah is represented by about 40 odd women MPs in a house of 545. At present there is no woman chief minister in the country and even when there has been a woman CM in the past, it has always been an exception rather than the rule. Also in the other strata's of decision-making and policy implementation the representation of women is as low as ever.

Coming down to the common people the feeling is gaining ground that women should also be an equal partner in the income of the family (not to talk of expenditure!) This changing attitude towards women will get a good fillip once there are reservations for them in the job-market. For women having potential but lacking in proper opportunities such a policy would be highly beneficial.

One feels, however, that when one talks about reservation for women – whether for or against – one does so in the context of urban or at best semi-urban scenario only. Considering the condition of the rural women a policy like reservation, ad hoc as it is, will not have much of an impact. Since independence the government has failed to achieve one of the most important aims of the constitution makers – i.e. to provide compulsory education to all up to the age of 14. The lack of political and administrative will and apathy has resulted in a lack of quality education at all levels in the villages.

While the cult of public schools pro life rate in towns and cities, the impression of the collapsing building of a village schools being attended by a paltry number of students, sitting on the floor and getting “floored” by the outdated teachers has remained intact. The government has to evolve a long term policy consisting of free or subsidized education to the village girls, opening of all levels of schools within a reasonable distance and a compulsory fine to the teachers and parents in showing any complacence into eh education of their students and wards.

Naturally, before taking, such a tough measure the government will have to acquire a courage of conviction – a moral courage – to create a condition whereby the idea of the school – going girls and boys as a source of family income does not exist.

Thus, the upliftment of women, empowerment of women becomes a question of uplift of the society as a whole. Reservation for women can be a temporary sort of relief, as a means to clear the backlog as far as possible but the greater aim of achieving complete equality between men and women demands a much broader political, social and economic policy.

Motivation (short essay)

Motivation is any internal or external process, which is involved in instigating directing, and terminating behavior. All our involuntary responses are reflexes, where as all our voluntary activities involve motivation. But one's motivation cannot be observed directly. It is inferred from the behavior of the organism.

Motivation is a driving state; it is also a behavior-arousal state within the individual. Motivation directs the behavior towards a goal. It is thus an internal eternal condition of the organism that forces him/her into action.

Motivation has the following three aspects: (a) A driving state within the organism that is set in motion by bodily needs, environmental stimuli, or mental it’s, (b) The behavior aroused and directed by this state and (c) The goal towards which the behavior is directed.

We never observe motives directly. Rather we infer their existence from the people say about the way they feel and from observing that people and animals work towards certain goals. In other words, motives are inferences behavior. If our inferences about motives are correct, we have a powerful for the explanation of behavior. Truly speaking, most of our everyday explanations of behavior are in terms of motives.

Here is a simple question- "Why are you going to college?" The answer is given usually in terms of "motivation". You are going to the educational institution because you want to learn something or you need a college degree let a good job or it is a suitable place to make friends. You are a student in the college because you think it is expected of you, and one of your goals is to conform to what is expected.

It is true that, most likely you are going to college to meet some combination of these needs. Someone who understands your motives can see why you do the things the way you do. For this reason, clinical and personality psychologists who study the behavior of individuals place so much emphasis motives.

Sometimes motives do not tell us exactly what will happen; rather they give us an idea about the range of things a person will do. So, in other words, motives help us to make predictions about behavior.

Education and Games

Education means full development of the human personality and attainment of full stature. Man has a body, a mind and a spirit. Accordingly education aims at the physical, intellectual and spiritual and moral development of man. Education merely does not give knowledge to a human being and to enable him to earning his livelihood; but it does much more than this.

Education cannot ignore the physical side of man. Man has been blessed with a beautiful body. Poets, painters and sculptors have gone into raptures over the human body and have tried to depict it in their arts in many ways. Games are a means of keeping the body healthy and fit. Physical fitness from all kinds of ailments is the desire and ambition of every human being. Indeed, good health is first condition of happiness in life. Those who play games generally maintain good health.

Games are also a source of recreation or pastime. Education teaches a man the need of recreational activities. The essence of a recreation is that it should refresh both the body and the mind, and provide a means of escape from one's professional or scholarly pursuits. When one is playing golf or billiards or badminton or table-tennis, one becomes forgetful of everything else and gets absorbed in the games. Thus games are very useful as a diversion for the mind.

Games also provide a kind of training for the mind. Most games today are a matter of high skill and ripe judgement. Hockey, football, cricket and other games are not just a matter of physical exertion and exercise. Proficiency in these games is acquired after a long practice. The player must acquire the art of playing a game. Every game, therefore, contributes to the development of the mind and the judgement of a player. Good players show a lot of mental alertness and ingenuity while playing.

Fair play is a noble moral quality when practiced in political dealings. The quality is best inculcated in human beings through games. The habit of fair play makes a man love honesty, integrity and justice which are great moral qualities.

Games also teach the lesson of accepting a defeat on the play field with a smiling face. A defeated player shakes hands with his victorious opponent and even offers him congratulations.

Defeat does not dishearten or depress a true sportsman. On the contrary, it provides an incentive for a greater effort. This lesson also is bound to prove useful to a man in the wider sphere of life. Life has its misfortunes, woes, failures, but a man with a tough character is not daunted by these.

Games make a man tough and thus enable him to withstand the "slings and arrows" of fortune. Games teach certain other lessons as well. They teach team-spirit or the spirit of mutual cooperation; they teach the value of unity or united effort; they teach the necessity of always obeying the orders of the captain or the leader.

All these are valuable lessons which prepare man to live correctly and nobly. Education aims at building up character, and character includes all the qualities mentioned above. Thus the value of games in forming and moulding character is very great. Education aims too, at developing qualities of leadership in human beings. The qualities of leadership are developed most effectively and fruitfully through games.

necessity is the mother of invention

The meaning of the proverb is self-evident. We invent what we need; unless we feel the pressure of needs, we are not likely to invent anything. The fable of the thirsty crow who collected pebbles and threw them into the jar to raise the level of water to the bird's reach of lips is well-known.

During the Great War, the British and French ships carried on blockade of German ports. The supply of sugar, oil and many other essentials stopped, But the German scientists discovered substitutes and synthetic products to tide over the difficulty, due to constraint of circumstances.

Mere necessity would not help us much if we are not moved by thought. Animals have their needs but because they lack the power of thinking and ingenuity, they cannot invent anything. They act on instinct and follow a beaten track. Hence, the correct formula should be necessity is the mother of invention but only when it is supported by the power of thinking.

This, of course, is obvious. When man feels the pinching need of anything, he begins to think how he can satisfy his needs. He then sets his mind to the task of invention. Necessity gives the first impulse; the rest is the work of the intellect.

An illustration or two will make this clear. In primitive times men lived by hunting. It became necessary to shoot and bring down the bird flying or the beast running beyond the reach of man. Hence, the bow and the arrow were invented. Clothes were devised as protection against cold, houses for shelter. Implements were invented for production of food. In this way, various instruments were made to secure a better standard of living.

But man is something more than a mere slave of his needs. He creates new needs not always, because they are necessary but because they are good or beautiful symbols of status. Culinary skill has been invented to please the palate. Ornaments were invented to add to female beauty. Man has spent millions trying to invent guided locomotives to the moon and other planets like Mars, not because there is any crying need for the same, but because it gives the thrill of doing the outwardly impossible.

Man is not only the slave of his needs but their creator as well. He not only seeks to satisfy his necessity but also his desire for beauty, his lust for power. The mere satisfaction of needs can never be the sole motive for exercising man's faculties for inventiveness. The proverb tells us not to be passive in our attitude to life, not to follow the same old habits and ways to life. The world is changing every day, and we must adapt ourselves to the changing needs and keep pace with them. The more we expand our horizon, the greater will be our incentive to invent new machines and gadgets.

Influence Of Films On Youngsters

Going to the pictures has now become a craze with young people, both boys and girls, and it has been noticed that they often economize on other items of expenditure but they must see films every week, if not twice or thrice a week. A healthy hobby is, of course, to be welcomed but seeing films too frequently is far from such a hobby.

This fast growing habit is not only expensive (because of the high rates of admission to cinema halls) but also results in considerable waste of precious time which can certainly be devoted to healthier, less wasteful and more gainful pursuits.

If Indian films had been well and properly made, with a sound educative theme forming a part of the story, the harm done to youth would have been much less than it actually is. But the tragedy is that most Indian films present scenes of sex, violence, crime and other deviations from normal human behaviour. The pernicious influence of films is thus obvious.

When grossly vulgar and crude romantic scenes are presented on the screen, along with songs and duets, and when boys are shown chasing girls, indulging in improper jokes, and singing catchy, lilting tunes, it is no wonder that young boys imitate the screen heroes in everyday life and try to convert what they see in films into realities.

Education and other experts have repeatedly found that the main source of eve teasing and assaults on girls in our towns and cities, in the market place and elsewhere, is the cinema. Young people see on the screen a hero running after a heroine, approaching and tempting her in subtle ways. Such talk and gestures naturally catch the attention of the immature cinema fans and affect their thinking and conduct. Thus, the social fabric and the morals of the young people are adversely affected.

The efforts of parents and teachers to give their boys and girls sound education and to teach them good, ethical behaviour and good morals in order that they may become good citizens are thus defeated. The parents' own hard-earned money is spent by their grown-up boys and girls in watching films which have an adverse impact on character and morals, apart from queering the pitch for the training for good citizenship.

The cinema, it is said, can serve as a good medium of education and instruction, and the message that can be conveyed through films cannot be conveyed as effectively through any other channel, such as the radio, because of the colourful, visual impact made by gorgeously dressed girls conducting themselves in a particular fashion, defying their parents and guardians, challenging their judgment, describing them as old-fashioned etc., walking out of their houses at odd hours and sometimes marrying the hero secretly and then creating awkward situations or giving major shocks to their parents.

The love scenes, the amorous couples, the stereotyped formula stories and the eternal triangle all create an effect that is far from healthy or conducive to good morals and good conduct.

Young boys and girls are attracted by the affluence and glamour they see on the screen, and there are many cases of youth either running away from home or pressing their parents to let them go to Bombay to try their luck in Bollywood.

Each cinema-crazy boy and girl (especially those having an attractive personality) thinks he or she can prosper like -he heroes and the "stars" seen on the screen. All the stories they hear of top "stars" being paid lakhs of rupees for each film and living in grand style proves irresistible.

Thousands of young boys and girls have virtually ruined themselves in the senseless quest for becoming cinema "stars". Only a handful of talented actors and actresses prosper, while most of the young aspirants have to face intense frustration and utter disappointment because everyone cannot become a cinema hero or heroine. Most of them have to remain content with secondary or supporting roles, sometimes not even that.

Another notable aspect of the situation is that whenever some enterprising producer presents a simple, true-to-life story, based on the works of famous short story or fiction writers as Prem Chand or Sarat Chandra, such films, and also art films free of glamour, seldom prove successful and prove to be flops at the box office. The modern audiences want songs and dances, spectacle and gorgeous costumes, love scenes and fights. What sort of citizens can the country hope to produce when the films the young see are totally misleading, lack aesthetical values.

The film censors also seem to be more liberal than ever and allow sex and violent scenes which have a bad effect on the mental make-up of youth. Visiting the cinemas too often at the cost of class lectures and by missing lectures also spoils the education of youth. Instead of imbibing the basic virtues of life, our youth begin to think of flirting and seducing, like the screen heroes.

The youth imbibe negative social values. Both rural and urban youth thus fall victims to vicious temptations. It is not contended that there should be a total ban on films. But steps should certainly be taken to see that good instructive films are made, not trash and ruinous presentations merely to cater to cheap tastes.

world financial crisis

In modern world, financial crisis at world level can be traced back to 1920’s, when economic depression of 1929 occurred. It is said that history repeats itself. Today’s world financial crisis which started with mortgage crisis is only one aspect of history.

Crisis began with sub-prime lending crisis and whole financial system was engulfed. Sub-prime crisis refers to the crisis faced by the mortgage companies that were in loaning business that due to adverse situations ran in trouble. As a result the number of defaulters increased resulting in huge bad debts for the mortgagee companies.

Several of world’s best managed financial institutions went bankrupt and rests are dying for bail out. The world demand cycle is heading south and its impact is visible in world petroleum prices and auto manufacturer’s recent outcry for bailout. The liquidity is engulfing the whole world and taking the shape of financial famine.

In the period of strong global growth growing capital flow and prolonged stability market participant sought higher output without an adequate calculation of the risks and failed to exercise proper due diligence. Weak underwriting standards, unsound risk management practices increasingly complex and opaque financial products and consequent excessive leverage combined to create vulnerabilities in the system.

At the same time what looked as brisk-effervescence is financial market ended up in becoming alarm ringer for a greater catastrophe in the coming years. This was started with a small upheaval created by the sub prime crisis in 2007 in the world’s largest and most significant financial markets U.S. later in 2008 the whole of brink of falling apart. Apart from expansion the deepening of financial markets occurred for most of the courtiers in recent times.

The growths in financial capital asses for the countries have been much faster than the respective countries GDP growth. South financial times sector where the financial depths have increased to more than 400-500 times the GDP of these countries.

However, the financial capital assets have surged manifolds for the countries such as new emerging economics of Asia Russia, Eastern European countries and some of the Middle East countries thought are late entrant. Many factors have contributed to the countries success in reaching such a phenomenal increase.

One of the major reasons for the expansion in financial markets is the efficiency brought about the natured capital market growth. This rendered facilitated corporate borrowing. It increased the corporate borrowing through issuance of shares public traded bonds the securities by these companies in the capital market.

Apart from increased issuance of public traded bonds, shares and equities the increasing valuations of the companies and foreign investments have helped the countries in escalating the role and importance of capital market. Rising equities values from stronger corporate earning, issuance of asset backed securities rising asset price and government debts have helped in increasing eh countries’ financial depth.

Apart from the above mentioned factors, globalization also helped in enhancing the role played by foreign investment in the spreading the financial sector growth to other peripheral nations that were outside the core hub of new financial capitalization. Whereas role of foreign institutional investment (FIIs) that invests thorough capital market for short term gains directly impact the capital market deepening.

The foreign direct investments (FDIs) directly invest in countries for long term financial prospects. These have increased the financial market deepening as well. The FDI investment in developing countries bring in with the greater financial habits. US and European markets are known to be financial capital market hub and have greater exposure to the secondary and derivative market operations. Besides increasing the financial growth its operation in FDIs help in increasing the valuation of the companies in the emerging market like China, India and other Asian countries as these FDIs are mainly from US and Europe.

To be more precise the investments from eh developed countries with their investment in the emerging of developing countries are from the big Trans national corporations that have stronger foothold in world capital markets. Thus any kind of investment either through opening of wholly foreign investment venture or joint ventures with domestic companies of the developing nations help in greater valuation of the companies world stock market increasing overall capitalization.

However, there is a significant difference between the composition of financial capital assets between the more natured economics and some of the nascent economics. While the increasing in financial assets is more due to increases in banking deposits representing an immature financial system in emerging economies such as China. The largest contributor of increasing financial assets in natured economies especially like UK and US is the increasing role of equities of and securities and other corporate bonds.

Nevertheless the fact cannot be undermined that in more recent times, the issuances of bonds and securities in emerging markets have seen a surge in financial capital. USA has played a major role in financial capital market deepening both within the country and outside the country i.e. the world financial capital assets was $56.1 trillion for the country that accounts for nearly one-third of the global total.

Also the US foreign investments in overseas capital market have also played an important role in achieving greater financial integration. Until end of 2006 everything looked rosy with burgeoning financial markets, increasing equities and shares market and increasing reality sector in the country. However the crisis began in June 2007 with the advent of sub prime market crisis hitting the US market.

The sub prime lending refers to the lending to house borrowers with weak credit. Investment banks and lenders in happy spree gave loan to the home from the loan buyers at minimal or zero down payment without proper credit verification.

In the process demand rose stressing the prices as a result the house prices began to rise. The interest cost in general started making the borrowing costly. As a result many borrowers started defaulting. Between 2004 and 2006 a sub-prime mortgage worth $ 1.5 trillion constituting 15 percent of the total housing loan in US were booked. These loans did not rise and the reality sector grew.

Besides sub prime lending by the mortgage finding agencies and banks, in order to raise more money the banks, packaged these loans into securities and sold them to investment bank. This against amounted to voluminous percentage shares that added up to $3 trillion in 2005 of the total of $ 10 trillion.

When the recession started in financial markets, the house prices raised also the interest rate rose that increased the cost for borrowing. First few borrowers started defaulting in categories that were exposed to higher interest rates and higher risk. This had a spill over effect to other risk borrowings this adding to the number to of defaulters. The mortgage banks and real estate agencies that were in lending business started making hugs losses. This crisis became prominent in June 2007 when the two sub prime mortgage hedge funds managed by Bear streams collapsed followed by sub prime mortgaged by BNP Paribas.

In March 2008 the Bear and Sterns Chase that brought the company. This triggered a series of crisis and many other institutions followed eh suit. The central bank of America intervened and tried to improve the situating by lowering of interest rates. With the announcement of series of cuts in interest rates on lending situation was averted temporarily.

Again later in July and August 2008, the Famine Mae and Freddie Mac the mortgage giants faltered. Federal Reserves pumped in 200 billion to ease the credit situation. Even before the situation could improve the Lehman Brothers one of the oldest investment banking institution in US field for bankruptcy.

However the company could not sustain the market pressures. The other tow mega giants AIG and Merrill Lynch were also on the brink of falling. However these were rescued by the bank of America that bought the Merrill Lynch and Fed lends $ 85 billion loan to AIG this everting the crisis for two companies. In addition Wachovia group came under pressure.

The initial impale was fall in the economy. However it was not only restricted to fall in total capital assets worth as the share market also tripped shedding more points than over The valuation of the company also reduced. However with increasing global integration the shake in the US market also had spill over effects to other market. The well known his tropically financial behemoth UK capital market also fell to the whims and fancies of the crisis, some of the well known institutions in UK and its currencies came under pressure.

The upheavals crated by the crisis in US credit market had implications for other markets too. The impact on Indian market can be analyzed through three different dimensions, firstly its impact on Indian stock market, secondly on its impact on India currency and thirdly on Indian institutions that invested in other markets like US and Europe.

The country’s major stork indices tumbled down by more than 6 percentage points after the announcement of bankruptcy of Lehman brother. However the BSE Sense and Nifty have been struggling ever since the advent of sub prime crisis last year. After reaching a bourse of 21000 in January 2008 the market indices had fallen to 12514 on 16 July 2008.

Even before that shares could recuperate from the previous turmoil the news on three major investment banks sent fresh waves of shock in the stock markets. Firstly, Lehman brothers one of the top investment banks of US field for bankruptcy on 16 September 2008. This was followed by another investment bank Merrill Lynch fell almost on the brink on the same day. But before any mega crisis hitting the company it was rescued by Bank of America which troll over for $ %0 billion.

Another financial giant American International Group (AIG) the world’s largest insurance bank collapsed. The Federal Reserve saved the company from a bigger crisis by granting then the loan worth $ 85 billion for two years in exchange of 79.9 percent states in company stock.

Apart from the spillover of the events on derivative and equity markets the vent also had connotation related to regulatory issues with respect to its banking business deals in India and its business outsourcing operations in India. Fate for the business outsourcing branches for Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch in India remained undecided.

Though, the investment bank Nurture of Jape agreed to take over Asian-Pacific unit of Lehman Brothers, some of its banking operations in European and Middle Eastern region it is still not clear whether the new company would be interested in carrying the outstanding outsourcing business in India. Reserve Bank of India governing bodies it to sort out their swap deals with the Lehman. The bank investment in derivative market was estimated were estimated at Rs. 500-600 crores.

on the other hand the crisis in AIG would have limited impact on it’s the operation in India with the Tata Group as the latter pledged to pump additional funds in case of any crisis. The Tata group reaffirmed its insurers.

The Central Bank of India, (RBI) in its policy measures issues in wake of crisis hoped for recoveries soon, it considered the overall economy to be more or less insulted from the turmoil. India financial system particularly the banking system would be affected in cases where it was holding a swap account or debt account for the mega giants that were affected by the crisis.

However the impact on Indian banking sector could be analyzed in terms of those banking institutions that are holding bonds, mutual funds or other funds in other countries like Europe and U.S. According to a brokerage house Edelweiss Capital Ltd. Estimates the India’s leading commercial banks ICICI’s losses on account of its investment in bonds and debt by Lehman amounted to $ 200 million.

The flow of foreign institutional investor; investment en route capital market participation has been immense in past few years. The investments in the past have helped the companies in managing the required fund needed for its growth. The major investors have been mostly from the countries like US, Europe, Australia, Japan and some other Aisn countries.

However since last year the investment flows from US and Europe have slowed down because of turbulence in the domestic markets of these investing funds. From the net investors the FIIs inflows turned intoned seller for the first half of financial year 2008-09.

However the Indian markets were subjected to fall outs in US capital markets in July-September 2008 after the mega insurance and banking giants confirmed its financial ill health. The BS Sensex tumbled by more than 200 points on account of the recent bankruptcy by worlds top most banks. The Sensec index fell from the 13518.8 to 13262.9 between 16^th September and 17^th September. As a result of which the FIIs trading fell as investor shed its stake in all major markets. In India FIIS sold news of international investment giants falling. These variability’s are certainly going to deterirate the current balance of payment for the country adding up to overall deterioration in country’s balance of payment for the country adding up to overall deterioration in country’s balance of payment position.

The movements of India currency have been more variables comported to its values prior to 2007. This year the currency initially appreciated due to variety of domestic factors playing role. The recent turmoil in the financial markets weakened dollar in terms of major currencies. However after the spread of the crisis in other major capital markets the dollar value strengthened again.

The rupees have depreciated after the crisis hit the market. The selling pressures due to foreign institutional investment repatriating their capital by offloading their stakes in India in anticipation of major financial turbulence had further added pressure on the values domestic currency that is rupee. This would have impact on balance of payment accounts and the country’s investment strategies for the country.

The new emerging Asian Tiger that is India have undergone a sea change in its role frame the one that was primarily known for FDI inflows, are now proactively been involved in investing abroad. Historically well-known India business houses like Tat, Ambani, Birla and many other have inked deal with the European companies. It is to be noted that these investments are not affected by the recent crisis as these are mainly into infrastructural companies. But some of the lading banks of India have to also invest abroad in debt and security markets that are most likely to be hit bye crisis.

These are mainly dominated by the larger private sector banks like ICICI, HDFC etc. Apart from these investors the others that are likely to be hit-eh crisis are the companies hose shares are listed in NASADAQ and New York Stock Exchange. The market indices after the recent crisis have plunged and have been shedding points. Thus the Indian companies’ shares are also burning its fingers from the crisis.

Short term implications of this financial turbulence can be seen more in terms of increasing pressures on shot terms investments enroute capital market. Long term implication would be reducing the growth of capital and other assets, decrease in valuation of total financial assets, decrease in valuation of total financial assets, decrease in long term investment both inflows as well as outflows.

Habit: Good servant but bad master

"Man’s life work is a master piece or a shame as each little habit has been perfectly or carelessly formed. A canvas painted by a Van Gangh fetches millions. One by a slob not even a hundred.” -Joltn Ruskin.

A habit is like a tree grown crouched. One cannot go to orchard and take hold of a tree grown such and straighten it and say now get straight and make it obey him. When one is young, he can acquire good or bad habits. One starts doing certain act for the sake of pleasure, for the sake of fun and if he is doing that things,that particular act at regular or irregular intervals, he starts enjoying it and starts feeling the necessity of doing it again, at that particular time and it gradually takes a form of a habit.

Every chain smoker or a habitual drunkard never starts smoking or drinking as a habit. He simply begins with such act for the sake of company for the curiosity of taste, or for the sake of fun in the company of his friends or otherwise and he starts smoking or drinking alcohol, now and then and afterwards, he consumes it often, these now become his necessity and then the habit is formed. Habit is cultivated slowly and gradually. Habit is nothing but a slow and gradual intake of something, performing of some act, slowly and gradually, when becomes a necessity, is called a habit.

We can find many people, having unwarranted habit of utterance, while walking, habit of eye winking while talking, habit of strange gestures during conversation, using filthy or abusive language in friendly talks and so on. We find people applying his hand at the nose, at the ear, at the thin, or moving fingers or legs while thinking, talking in general. A strange thing about such people is that they were not aware to their actions in the beginning and at a later stage the habit is formed.

Some people have good habit of punctuality, accuracy, cleanliness and waking early in the morning. Habits are also inherited from the parents, surroundings, company. Generally the family environment plays important role in forn1ing good or bad habit. Good habits are the foundation of success of many great men, and bad habits are the cause of the ruin of many great empires.

Gandhiji had a habit of rising early, doing his own work, keep cleanliness around him. Mr. Walter Scott, the famous novelist of Scotland, who started as an ordinary clerk, attained the great heights of eminence by dint of his sheer diligence and habit of waking up by five o’clock and completing the task of the day up to ten o’clock. A well known thinker says, “The manner in which I do every small thing is of very great consequences, because it is just in these trifling things that I am forming my regular habits.”

It is the most simple thing in the world to drift down the stream into bad company, into the bar, just a little beer,just a little gambling,just little bad company, just a little killing of time, and just this or that gradually make you feel the need of it and the habit is formed.

We overlook the basis of habit. Every repetition of an act makes us more likely to perform that act and in the wonderful body mechanism, a tendency of perpetual repetition, this becomes a habit. ‘Habit’ of any kind is not a better preposition. It may look odd to believe in the above statement, but here habit means you are bound to do the act, otherwise you feel too uneasy to survive. Habit of early rise and ‘Habit’ of early sleeping are termed as the best habits, but some time these best habits become a cause of tension.

Habit of reading newspaper is also a good habit, but if due to some reason you couldn’t get the newspaper, you are in tension. Habit of getting fresh immediately after wake up is treated as the best way of starting a day, but if the toilet or lavatory is preoccupied, the habit becomes a cause of worry. A man who acquired habit of drinking milk before going to bed, may feel uneasy or sleepless if doesn’t get milk. “Habit” of going for a walk in the morning or evening are also termed as good habits, but if it couldn’t be possible due to any reason, you feel uneasy. These are some of the examples of those ‘habits’ which are tern1ed as good habits, said to be foundation of success, and prosperity, basis of good health and long life. Habit of any kind if becomes our master it is bad, if the habit is under our control, under our service, it will serve our good purpose.

People enjoy smoking, people enjoy drinking, but habit of smoking or drinking when becomes our master, we feel uneasy or wearisome, without smoking or drinking, it is felt bad. So rightly said, “Habit is a good servant but a bad master, “Don’t let the habits to control you, conquer you, keep them your ‘servants’ and enjoy their company”, is the secret of enjoying the life to the fullest extent.

Liberty

The word liberty is derived from the Latin word 'liber' which means freedom. In its derivative sense, therefore, liberty means absence of all restraints and freedom to do whatever one likes.
The word liberty is derived from the Latin word 'liber' which means freedom. In its derivative sense, therefore, liberty means absence of all restraints and freedom to do whatever one likes. Liberty of this nature is license, pure and simple. It is not possible to have such a liberty while living in society.
Man is a social animal. He must live in society. He must, therefore, adjust his liberty with due regard to the liberty of others. Regulation of human conduct and behavior is indispensable in social life.
It is in this sense that the leaders of the French Revolution in the famous Declaration of Rights of Man (1789) defined liberty as "the power to do anything that does not injure another." In practice the modern concept of liberty brings out two main idea.
Firstly, an individual wants to express his personality in thought, word and action. He demands freedom, i.e., absence of restraint on his freedom of thought, speech and action.
Secondly, freedom implies imposition of certain restrictions on the liberty of the individual in the interests of adjustment of like liberty to be enjoyed by others. Criminal law has emerged in every state for this purpose and it punishes those who infringe upon the liberty of other.
Liberty has two aspects—negative and positive. Various writers emphasize either one or the other aspect of liberty.

Negative Liberty:

It implies the absence of restraints and maximum freedom of action. It further implies that the individual must be left alone to live his life as he desires without interference. Every law of the state is merely an encroachment upon liberty of man.
Thus the state must only hinder the hindrances and limit itself to the minimum negative functions of maintaining law and order and protection of person and property. Beyond that it should not interfere in social, cultural, economic, or moral aspects of life.
Liberty alone can enable a person to develop his personality. The State laws kill it. Man must be left alone so far as he does not interfere with his neighbor. The slate should guarantee only non­interference by one with the other. So far as the choice of the individual is concerned, he must be his own master. The state should not impose restrictions upon him.
The state should have only two functions to perform namely maintenance of internal law and order and the defence of the country against external aggression. All the rest should be left untouched for the free action on the part of the individual.
In religion, social behavior, economic life and all other aspects of man's life in society the individual should have complete freedom of action and thought. The Individualist school of thought was the main supporter of this concept of Liberty. In fact, this school of thought wanted to allow maximum liberty to the rising industrial and commercial classes in England in the 18th century.
They wanted free enterprise and it is in their defence that this concept of liberty was put forward. Negative concept of liberty has been challenged by the modern political thinkers. They point out that liberty does not lie only in the absence of restraints; it lies in the creation of equal opportunities for all and freedom of the individual from material worries and cares.
Unrestrained freedom of action and thought in a society divided into 'haves' and 'have notes' will inevitably go in favour of the rich resulting in the oppression of the poor. The capitalists under these circumstances will have complete freedom to suck the blood of teeming millions in the garb of freedom of action.
This indeed is a dangerous type of 1 liberty in a society of hostile classes that has now been abandoned in the interest of general welfare of people.

Positive Liberty:

Positive liberty means that the state creates positive conditions for a good life. The state should perform not merely negative functions creating hindrances but must organize positive serv­ices and conditions which individuals cannot procure alone. It means the organization of opportunities and the maintenance of those social and economic conditions without which there would be no real freedom for the common masses.
Positive liberty demands conditions which are essential to the harmonious development of the latent powers of an individual. In the words of Laski, "liberty means the eager maintenance of that atmosphere in which men can have the opportunity to be their best selves.
" Laski further says, "I mean by liberty the absence of restraints upon the existence of those social conditions which in modern civilization are necessary guarantee of individual happiness." Thus positive liberty means the removal of hindrances from the path of good life and the creation of equal opportunities for all. All the democratic states have more or less accepted this concept of positive liberty.
The Welfare State is based on this concept. It attempts to provide those services that are needed for a happy life for instance good employment, free education, social services and insurance, etc. It must organize medical health services. It must develop mineral resources and organize the economy.
In a few words, the state must organize all those opportunities which man needs for the development of his personality. The state must not merely make declaration of rights but must also provide concrete physical conditions for the purpose.
Laski in his Grammar of Politics classified the content of positive liberty under these heads :
1. Positive Liberty:
It is opportunity to exercise freedom of choice in those areas of life where the results of one's efforts are mainly personal to oneself. It lies in freedom of religion and personal security.
2. Political Liberty:
It lies in the right of the individual to take part in the affairs of the state. It comprises the right to vote, the right to be elected, the right of to freedom of speech and expression, the right to form associations.
3. Economic Liberty:
It lies in the exercise of certain economic rights. It consists of the right to remunerative employment, the right to rest and leisure, the right to education, and right to material security in case of illness, old age and disability.

Time Is Money (short essay)

The phrase 'Time is money' is very commonly used now a days and is very true when seen in the present scenarios and the current state of the society and the market as a general example. The economic shifts in terms of up's and down's are seen very drastically everyday.

The economic shift and the stock market value increase and decrease are now seen to be seen basically dependent on the functionalities and the various working prowess of the people associated with the company. Where every employee contributes a huge sum towards the development of the company and this helps in the understanding of the fact that every single moment the employee works in the company contributes if not a large sum but at least a little sum for the development of the company and thus contributing a sum and thus can be said that every moment contributes a sum and thus the term -time is money.

Apart from this example various other more commonly associated examples too can be given where it can be said that every single moment of hard work if not presently but definitely pays in the long run and thus every moment is precious and thus the term money is a measure of time or a penny saved is a penny earned is very apt with the father of all these terms that is 'time is money'.

Advertisement -A powerful medium

A paid message for a product, information or service can be defined as advertisement. Every human being desires to publicize his activities to the masses. This may be dealing in product or any other informatory service. Advertisement actually encourages business and transitory exchange while exploring consumer and interested buyer and linking it to the supplier or manufacturer.

In the usual course, advertisement symbolizes a particular media, but the modern era leads the channel to various streams such as, boards and hoardings, wall paintings and tree labels, print media, television channels, spot presentation and mouth to mouth publicity. The experts favour more of mouth to mouth publicity. They feel it as most effective method for publicity. This establishes brand and brand position for a product or service.

An advertisement undergoes an elaborate process before it is presented to masses. The concentration is more to attract the masses. The film star calendar is such a development by Hindustan Level Ltd. In the field of advertisement. Caption writing or slogan writing had an important role in the development of an add The process is known as ‘copy writing’. The writer has complete details of the products in his mind. He wants to select a caption which is catchy and directly hitting the mind of the user. Very recently the manufacturer of a tooth Paste advertised as ‘strictly vegetarian tooth paste’. It certainly aroused a feeling of vegetarians that whey they have been using a paste with non-vegetarian ingredients? In the real facts, every paste has its own constitution. So the acceptance never questioned such a partition. Anyhow, the ‘ad’ attracted a particular segment of consumer.

The necessity of ‘ad’ is expanding with the time. In print media, advertisement has two sectors (i) classified and (ii) display. Classified ads are charged as per word for number of words under specific headings of the newspaper. Display ads are charged as per length in column centimeter. These ads are self – dependent and they do not have the consideration of words. In the same way, there is no restriction of headings or space for such ‘ads’.

Advertisements are normally planned by some advertising agencies who offer specialized expertise service in the channel. The normal advertising agency has two major considerations for planned advertisement, the major point is the ‘Publicity Budget’ and next, the type of clientage to be dealt with for the advertisement. Agency’s planning starts as per budget. They tailor the publicity as per budget provisions.

Advertisement has a very important notion for marketing. None of the manufactured items or services can capture market share without proper publicity or allied gist schemes.

However, the trends are more for elaborate descriptions and harping on the features, which are mostly missing in service or products. This creates a very negative attitude in the minds of customers. They, as such, go to the consumer court for remedy and the advertiser suffers for neglecting the code of conduct in advertisement.

Cost and advertisement has a direct ratio and they are interrelated to each other. Advertising has acquired a definite place in business. The specialized branch inspires visualizes to work more sincerely for this sector. It is as much obvious that advertising has a potential scope in India. It can light the candles or the emotional attachments of consumer.

Pongal festival -A south Indian festival

The great diversity of Indian religious beliefs and the varied cultural traditions of different States are very interesting. This is seen in the festival of Pongal. Pongal is celebrated all over the South as Makar Sankranti. In Tamil Nadu, it has an additional significance. It welcomes the occasion of the incoming harvest.

The Puranas, usually prolific in legends connected with festivals, have little to say about this festival. It is in all probability a Dravidian harvest festival. Perhaps it has survived the influence of the Indo-Aryan religion in the South.

There is a beautiful Tamil composition of the ancient Sangam period. It was known for the ancient Tamil academics. This charming composition describes the joy of a love-born young woman on the return of her husband from the battlefield. Her happiness is likened to the month before Pongal.

With the end of rains, the 'kaya' flowers blossom, the tender 'Konrai' flowers shower their golden pollen on the ground, the white 'kandal' flowers blossom, tender 'Konrai' plant is in full bloom. With receding clouds, the female and male deer are making love in the fields.

This poem describes the mood of anticipation and excitement of the people in Tamil Nadu, which gets its main rains from the northeastern monsoon in October and November. The harvest is gathered in the period just preceding this Pongal festival.

This festival of Pongal falls in the month of January after the winter solstice. As such, this Pongal festival marks the favourable course of the Sun. It is a three-day festival. The fourth day is a day for outdoors and excursions.

The first day is celebrated as the Bhogi Pongal. It is usually meant for domestic activities and of being together with the family members. This first day is celebrated in honour of Lord Indra, the supreme ruler of clouds that give rains. Homage is paid to Lord Indra for the abundance of harvest, thereby bringing plenty and prosperity to the land.

An interesting story is told. Indra Dev, being worshipped by all on this day, became proud and arrogant. To teach him a lesson, Lord Krishna asked his shepherd friends to worship Mount Govardhan on Bhogi Pongal day, instead of Indra. Terribly enraged, Indra sent forth the seven clouds to bring forth thunder, lightning and heavy rains to cause deluge to destroy the shepherds.

But Lord Krishna lifted up the Govardhan Mountain under which the shepherds and their cattle got full shelter. Then Indra begged ' Krishna's forgiveness. Once more Lord Krishna allowed Bhogi celebrations to continue in honour of Indra. There is a beautiful carving at Mahabalipuram showing Krishna lifting Govardhan.

On this day before Sun rise a huge bonfire is lit in front of the houses. All the useless household things are thrown into the fire. The burning of all that is old is symbolic of the starting of a fresh new year. The bonfire is kept burning throughout the night. Boys beat little drums known by the name 'Bhogi Kottus'. These are made from the hides of buffaloes.

The harvest of rice, turmeric and sugarcane is brought in. It is kept ready for the next day's festivities. Homes are cleaned till they literally shine. They are adorned with 'Kolam' designs drawn with white paste of newly harvested rice and outlines of the Kolam designs with red mud. In villages, yellow pumpkin flowers are set out in cow-dung balls in the middle of the designs.

The second day of Pongal is known as Surya Pongal. It is dedicated to the Sun God. On this day the granaries are full. Sun shines brightly. Trees are in full bloom. Bird-songs resound in the air. Hearts overflow with happiness that gets translated into colourful and joyous celebrations. A plank is placed on the ground. Kolam designs are drawn on its sides.

In the centre of the plank is drawn a large figure of the Sun God with his effulgent rays. The 'Puja' of the Sun God starts after the auspicious moment of the birth of the new month. Prayers are rendered to the Sun God to seek his benedictions.

The word Pongal literally has two connotations. Firstly it is the name of the special dish cooked on this day. Secondly the word Ponga means boil. So the word Pongal means that which is overflowing. The preparation of this special dish needs a new mud-pot called Pongapani. On this artistic designs are drawn. The village fair, where these pots of different shapes and designs are sold, is truly an aesthetic treat for the eyes to behold.

So it is also the specially set up colourful sugarcane market. While the 'Puja' is being performed, the neck of the Pongapani is tied with fresh turmeric and fresh ginger saplings with tender green leaves.

The green leaves are symbolic of prosperity, the turmeric of auspiciousness, ginger for the spice of life. The special dish called 'Sarkkarai Pongal' is cooked in this mud-pot. After the rituals of puja are over, 'Sarkkarai Pongal' with sticks of sugarcane is offered to the Sun god. It is the thanksgiving for the plentiful harvest. Sugarcane is offered for sweetness and happiness in life.

It is said that on this day, Lord Sundareshwar in the Madurai temple performed a miracle and breathed life into a stone elephant, which could eat sugarcane. The carving of this event is in Meenakshi temple. From this month of Thai starts the marriage season in Tamil Nadu.

The third day is Mattu Pongal. It is the festival of cattle. To the village people cow, the giver of milk and the bull, which draws the plough in the fields, are very valuable. The farmers honour their dumb friends by celebrating it as a day of thanksgiving to them.

The cattle are bathed. Their horns are painted and covered with shining metal caps. Multi-coloured beads, tinkling bells, sheet's corn and flower garlands are tied around their necks. They are fed with Pongal and taken to the village centers. The resounding of their bells attract the villagers as the young men race each other's cattle. The entire atmosphere becomes festive and full of fun and revelry.

Big commotion is seen when the game 'Manji Virattu' starts. In this, groups of young men chase the running bulls.

In some places 'Jallikattu' is arranged. It is a bullfight. In this, moneybags are tied to the horns of ferocious bulls and unarmed young men are asked to wrest them from the bull's horns.

On the Mattu Pongal day, Lord Ganesh and Goddess Parvati are worshipped and Pongal is offered to them in the 'Puja'.

This day is also known by the name of Kanu Pongal. Girls place coloured balls of cooked rice in the open for the birds and crows to eat. With each ball of rice that the sister makes, she prays for her brother's happiness. Brothers and sisters, wherever they may be, remember each other.

Community dinners are also held. In this rich and poor, the landlord and the peasant, the old and the young, women and children, all dine together forgetting the distinction of caste or class. All share in the spirit of bonhomie.

Pongal is a festival when god is praised with simple faith and sincerity. Old vices are all washed out. All that is good is welcomed in this New Year. This festival is for all living things. Man, his beast, his crop, the birds that fly in the sky, making man look up to the heaven in joy and thankfulness to God for everything that He gives to man, especially peace and happiness and the feeling of brotherhood.

Euthanasia- Mercy Killing

"Euthanasia means as an action which aims at taking the life of another at the latter's expressed request. It concerns an action of which death is the purpose and the result. "This definition applies only to voluntary euthanasia and excludes the non-voluntary or involuntary euthanasia, the killing of a patient without the patient's knowledge or consent. Some call this "life-terminating treatment."

Euthanasia can be either active or passive. Passive euthanasia allows one to die by withholding or withdrawing life supporting means. This is a tricky area because ordinary and extraordinary means of supporting life come into the picture. Ordinary means such as nutrition and hydration are never to be withheld since they are one's basic right in order to survive. However, one is not obliged to use extraordinary or 'disproportionate' means to sustain life. Due to complexity, each situation needs to be looked at individually when discussing extraordinary means. However, as a rule, one can discontinue "medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome." One cannot intend death by withdrawing or withholding treatment, but should, however, obey God and let one die a natural death. To withdraw a treatment as a condition worsens is letting one die and not a direct killing. In this case, it is the disease that is killing and not the one who withdraws the treatment.

Active euthanasia or' mercy killing' pertains to the Dr. Kevorkian’s' of the day. This is the direct intentional killing of a patient with either their consent (voluntary), without their consent when impossible (non-voluntary), or without consent but not sought (involuntary). Advocates of this murder have covered their ears to the command of the Lord: Thou shall not kill! The goal is to eliminate or relieve suffering by an evil means of death. Many patients’ are in immense suffering and may be led to choose death as the answer by these' doctors', friends or relatives. The culpability for the patient, in these cases may be lessened, but, this act of killing can never be justified.

These patients, whether having an incurable disease, being elderly, or suffering in other ways, are crying out for help and love. Palliative care, not death, is the answer. Medical personnel, friends and family must reach out and comfort the afflicted. Suffering and pain is manageable, especially today, with so many medicines and treatments available. Pain killers can be prescribed as long as there is no danger or intention of death. Consciousness of the patient is strongly encouraged, so that if dying, one may prepare to accept to meet God.

We cannot do whatever to our bodies, since they are not our own. God made us and knows what we need here on earth, so that we, someday, may enter into eternity. If Christ endured immense suffering, then why do we expect any less? We are called to be imitations of Christ and to share in His Passion. Is my life really mine? "If we live, we are responsible to the Lord, and when we die we are responsible to the Lord. Both in life and death we belong to the Lord." God has a plan and each human person having an eternal destiny has a dignity. God, being the author of life, alone has the right to create and destroy life. No human person has this right to take innocent human life, no matter how one tries to justify it. Thou shall not kill is still a command and not a suggestion, as many seem to believe.

There are many reasons why Euthanasia is gravely immoral some of which have already been discussed. Suffering has many benefits, especially suffering in the last days of one's life. In addition to sharing in Christ's Passion, one may find peace in God, reconciliation with family and friends and acceptance of death. One also may be undergoing temporal punishment here on earth through suffering; a sort 0 'purgatory on earth’. There are many benefits and advantages to suffering. However in a pragmatic society as ours, we tend to look past the positives and see only the negative side. This type of reasoning has led many to see death as the answer suffering, regardless of the consequences.

Euthanasia whether active or passive is immoral and contrary to God's law Within passive euthanasia, what is considered extraordinary means of sustaining life may not always be clear, but ordinary means such as hydration and nutrition must be provided. We must look past the suffering in this world and look towards eternal home with God. As humans we cannot always see the answers and for that reason, is not we to decide about the death of a human being, God has not given us ~ authority. We must also ask ourselves concerning euthanasia; where will it end: we allow the elderly or incurable to be assisted in suicide, what other groups will give this ‘right’. Will the handicapped or mentally retarded be next? Will teenage who are the leading age group of suicide; also have this 'right to die'?

The answer rests in our hands. If we continue to disrespect human life and its creator, God, then well destroy ourselves. A right is a moral claim and since we do not have a claim on death which itself has a claim on us, we cannot act for the right we don't have. Perilt Mother Teresa was right when she said that "if a mother can kill her own child, “is there to stop you and me from killing each other?" There is no way to slop culture of death, unless, we get back to God's law and speak out, boldly, against horrors and injustices of the day!

“We must be wary of those who are too willing to end the lives of the elderly and the ill. If we ever decide that a poor quality of life justifies ending that life have taken a step down a slippery slope that places all of us in danger. There difference between allowing nature to take its course and actively assisting The call for euthanasia surfaces in our society periodically, as it is doing now the guise of "death with dignity" or assisted suicide. Euthanasia is a concept, it seems to me that am in direct conflict with a religious and ethical tradition in which the human race is presented with “a blessing and a curse, life and death”, and we are instructed’…………. Therefore, to choose life. I believe ‘euthanasia’ lies outside the commonly held life centered valued of the West and cannot be allowed without incurring great, social and personal tragedy. This is not merely an intellectual conundrum. This issue involves actual human beings at risk……….”

Violence and politics in India

Politics has come to acquire a bad odour and generally implies unfair, underhand dealings, exploitation of the poor and the ignorant, though it need not necessarily be so. Since it generally involves the attainment of certain objectives, such as the seizure of power by all available methods, violence often becomes a part of it. Of course, violence need not be a vital or essential part of politics even in the most ill-governed country, but there is no doubt that unscrupulous politicians seldom hesitate to resort to violent methods to achieve their aims.
Whenever the practitioners on the art of politics find that normal and socially acceptable methods and practices have not brought them the desired achievements, they stoop to unethical methods, including incitement of sensitive people to violence.
It is tragic reflection on civilization that with the much-publicized progress in various spheres of human activity the resort to violence has also increased. In fact, one of the dominating factors in the postwar years is the growth of the spirit of violence.
Even in India, where the apostle of peace and non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi, preached that violence is both degrading and derogatory to human beings, the menace has been increasing. Proof of this dismal phenomenon is found in the sharp increase in violent crimes in the country, including murders, stabbings and other manifestations of cruelty. The concept of "might is right" is being practiced with a callousness. That is highly disgraceful and a sorry reflection on civilization.
It is poor consolation that violence has been on the increase not only in India but also all the world over, even in the most civilized countries, such as the U.S. A. and Britain. Naked, unabashed violence has even been glorified in certain continents; the number and intensity of armed clashes between various classes of people is yet another proof; and so is the increasing number of communal riots, many of which have their roots in politics. In fact, there would be no communal disturbances in the country if the spirit of non-violence were universally accepted as a guiding factor of human life.
It is indeed a sorry reflection on the state of our civilization that more politics has come to imply more violence; what is worse, violence begets violence. When one party adopts violent means to achieve its objectives, the other follows suit in the firm, though unwarranted, belief that the only answer to violence is greater violence, not peaceful overtures or non­violent satyagraha which Mahatma so earnestly advocated.
Yet another tragedy of modern civilization is that politicians refute by their actions the sound principle that a State based on force and violence is built on foundations of sand. There can be no social, economic or political stability where the entire polity is based on force and violence, not on the people freely expressed and frequently affirmed (through periodic elections) support and consent.
Ousters of one group by another are sometimes accompanied by force and violence, together with reprisals in various forms. Violence in politics also takes the form of coercion, which is another form of compulsion, and compulsion involves or implies the use of force or threat of force.
It is not surprising in such circumstances that politics of peace is becoming uncommon, and politics of war is replacing it gradually but surely. Some of those who are very much in politics, and seldom hesitate to adopt violence as a means to an end, quote Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Even though moral force is more effective at times, the Mahatma conceded that in certain circumstances, the refusal to fight violence adequately might smack of cowardice. Why does India maintain a large police force and ever-expanding military forces?
The State has to use force to quell riots of various types and has to be in a constant state of preparedness to meet aggression by hostile countries. Violence then becomes inescapable. Ironically, both peace and politics have become difficult to ensure without adequate preparations for fighting violence. This genuine peace in politics has become uncommon and the spirit of violence is abroad—like an infection that has seeped into all areas of human activity.

Friendship

A friend in need is a friend indeed is a proverb that stands true always. In our day to day work, we come across so many persons and all of them are not our friends.
God does not create friends. We acquire them. How are friends made? Friends have some qualities in common. They are generally of the same age group. Their aptitudes and interest, likes and dislikes are generally common. They may live nearby, may go to the same school or may be doing the same work. Good friends know all about one another. There would be no secrets among them. They love one another better than their relative.
There are different kinds of friends. True and faithful friends, casual friends and false or fair-weather friends. A true and faithful friend has certain qualities, which you should also have. It is correctly said that to have a friend you should be one.
True friends are like one soul, living in two bodies. They are attached so much to one another. A real friend is one who comes to you, when all others have left. Never a true one flatters you. He may at times frown upon you. A friend’s frown is said to be better than a foe’s praise. An old friend is like old wine. He is a stimulating force. An old friend is one, on whom one can always rely. He stands by you, at all times and shares you joys and sorrows. It is an unbroken friendship till the last.
In our day to day affairs, we come across so many, who become friends for a purpose. There are also other type of friends, who are casual friends, whom we meet on our travels in buses and the trains. They are friends with whom we exchange so many views. But at the end of the journey, each goes his own way and the casual friendship is also gone.
There are fair-weather friends. They are sycophants. They praise you to skies and linger around you as long as you enjoy property and power. When fortune turns against you, they would be nowhere to be seen.
Friendship spreads on. Even in you have a thousand friends you can still add one more. It is said that house can be known by the friends who frequent it. Know his friends and you know the man. Mahatma Gandhi says adversity is the crucible test for friendship. You know your real friend, only when he stands by you, in times of adversity. It is said prosperity makes friends. Adversity tries them.
Examples of true friends are many in our Puranas and history. Karna, the first son of Kunthi was a true friend of Duryodhana, for whose sake he sacrificed his life. The story of Sudhama and Lord Krishna is another example of real friendship.
Friendship is said to be an art and very few persons are said to be born with a natural gift for it. It is said that friendship multiplies our joys and divides our grief’s. Your life is blessed, if you have a faithful friend. Ion this world of wilderness every one of us requires a true friend. But beware; a friend of all is a friend of none.

crime against women (short essay)

Although, women may be victims of all kinds of crime, be it cheating, murder, robbery, etc., yet the crimes in which only women are victims and which are directed specifically against them are characterised as "crime against women". Broadly, crimes against women are classified under two categories:
(1) Crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which include seven crimes: (i) rape, (ii) kidnapping and abduction, (iii) dowry deaths, (iv) torture physical and mental (including wife battering), (v) molestation, and (vi) sexual harassment, and (vii) importation of girls.
(2) Crimes under Special and Local Laws (SLL), which include seventeen crimes, of which the important ones are: (i) immoral traffic (1956 and 1978 Act), (ii) dowry prohibition (1961 Act), (iii) committing Sati (1987 Act), and (iv) indecent representation of women (1986 Act).
It is equally important to clarify the concept of 'violence' against women. If we take 'violence' as "conduct which incurs the formal pronouncements of the moral condemnation of the community," or "deviation from conduct norms of the normative groups", the scope of cases of 'violence against women' becomes too broad.
Narrowly, the term 'violence' has been applied to "physically striking an individual and causing injury" (Kempe, 1982; Gil, 1970), to "the act of striking a person with the intent of causing harm or injury but not actually causing it" (Gelles and Strauss, 1979), to "acts where there is the high potential of causing injury" (Strauss, 1980), and to "acts which may not involve actual hitting but may involve verbal abuse or psychological stress and suffering".
Megargee (1982: 85) has defined violence as the "overtly threatened or overtly accomplished application of force which results in the injury or destruction of persons or their reputation."
While understanding the concept of 'violence' and distinguishing it from concepts like 'aggression', 'force', and 'coercion', is both necessary and desirable, there is always the fear of getting bogged down in controversies relating to these concepts raised by various scholars. As a result, one may miss the very purpose of understanding broader aspects of the problem of "crime and violence against women".
'Violence' must be recognised as a human phenomenon inasmuch as it consists of an act of one person which encroaches upon the freedom of another (Domenach, 1981: 30).
Here, we consider the operational definition of violence as "force, whether overt or covert, used to wrest from the individual (the woman) something that she does not want to give of her own free will and which causes her either physical injury or emotional trauma or both".
Thus, rape, abduction, kidnapping, murder (all cases of criminal violence), dowry death, wife battering, sexual abuse, maltreatment of a widow and/or an elderly woman (all cases of domestic violence) and eve-teasing, forcing wife/daughter-in-law to go for feticide, forcing a young widow to commit sati, etc. (all cases of social violence), are issues which affect a large section of society.
In the analysis of the problem of 'crime against women', we may focus on important issues like nature and extent of female crime in India, on identifying women who are generally victims of crime and violence, on those who are the perpetrators of crime and violence, on what motivates criminals to commit crimes or victimisers to use violence, and on measures which could contain the depersonalisation trauma of the victims.

History of Population Census Taking in India

The Indian census is the most comprehensive single source of authentic information about the land and its people. The first attempt to obtain the size of population in India by actually counting heads was made during 1867-1872. This count was neither synchronous, nor did it cover the whole country.
It was, as the noted demographer Kingsley Davis observed, just "an auspicious beginning" of census taking in India.
The next census which was synchronous, covered a wider area and was more modern in nature was undertaken in 1881. Since then, once in every ten years, a new census has been taken in India.
The 1971 census was the eleventh and marked the completion of one hundred years of census taking in India. In 1972, the centenary of the Indian Census was celebrated. The recent 2001 census represents the fourteenth census of India, in this continuous series.
Today, census taking is well accepted and few would question its necessity or try to boycott it. It is worthwhile, however, to study the history of census taking in India since the beginning.
In a populous and vast country like India census taking was by no means easy. It was rendered somewhat more difficult because of the fact that the population was essentially illiterate and was spread out in rural areas.
This gigantic operation was entrusted to the then Indian Civil Service. The census officials and enumerators had to face enormous difficulties, for the attitude of the Indian people at that time was a mixture of curiosity and fear.
On the one hand, they were curious to know why the foreign British Government was interested in information about the sex, religion, caste, language, occupation, etc. of the Indian people.
On the other hand, they had some doubts about the motives of the alien rulers. They were afraid of the imposition of taxes and/or conscription. The British rulers were also somewhat uncertain about the co-operation of the Indian in the conduct of census operations.
Considering the magnitude and the complexity of the task, we must point out that the Indian census authorities have always done a commendable job and that the population statistics obtained through our censuses are considered to be better than average.
The achievements of the census authorities during the past one hundred years have been outstanding, and each census has provided reliable and much-needed data for the use of the country.
In the early years of census taking, many scholars, who were connected with the Indian census in one capacity or the other, had brought out an impressive amount of information in the form of census reports.
These scholars tried to analyze Indian population data more from the sociological and anthropological points of view rather than from the demographic angle.
Such reports were helpful to our foreign administrators in their efficient governance of this country, for they provided them with a broad understanding of this strange land and its peculiar culture.
The Census of 1951 was the first census conducted in independent India. With political independence, the aspirations, for economic independence, better levels of living and a better quality of life came to the fore.
The idea of preparing a national plan for social and economic development gathered momentum after independence, and the First Five-Year Plan was launched.
Thus India committed herself to planned development. Since the census report was the main source of the data needed for drafting the Plan, the 1951 Census acquired a new importance. The approach to the analysis and interpretation of data changed accordingly.
The report of the 1951 Census discussed the growth and structure of the population, and its economic development. The threat posed by the alarming, increase in population was properly evaluated, and the need for curbing the rate of growth was emphasized.
The practice of preparing district census handbooks was also initiated. Data for smaller administrative units, such as a village or an urban block, were thus made available, and micro- level planning became possible.
The Census of 1961 was further improved. It was carefully planned and a great deal of publicity was given to it through the mass media, such as newspapers, pamphlets, radio, cinema, etc. The same practice was continued for the 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001 censuses.
An analysis of the 1961 Census was made on a very comprehensive scale. Nearly 1,400 reports based on the data/ collected during this census were prepared. Information about tribes was collected and analyzed for the first time.
A number of special studies dealing with the socio-cultural and demographic aspects of the population were also undertaken and reports were published.
Some of the important topics covered by these studies were: (1) Census Atlas the first of its kind in the world; (2) Village monographs; (3) Fairs and Festivals; (4) Classification of Indian languages; (5) Special studies of cities having a population of more than one million; (6) Census of scientific and technical personnel; (7) Fertility surveys; and (8) Various other monographs.
Economic and migration data uncovered by the 1961 Census were also analyzed in great detail. No wonder the census of 1961 was very comprehensive as compared to all the earlier censuses.

Pain of a Female

The female is a boon to society, who has the maximum heavenly power. She can bear every pain, she can tolerate every blame and she can keep a male in her womb for nine long months and then with an enormous pain give birth to that devil.

He who commits female-feticide, rape, honour killing, dowry death, dowry harassment and domestic-violence and also imposes several restrictions in order to restrict her from her freedom and development.

The pain of a woman begins before her birth and continues till her reincarnation. The fear of being killed in the womb stops the flow of blood and starts the flow of tears.

Many a times such attempts kill mothers as well. The male attempting such deed forgets that it is not because of the cells of a woman but it is because of his own cells that causes the birth of a girl.

During this slaughter the mother pleas for the same punishment which her daughter is facing. She weeps, shouts, cries out “No, don’t kill my child, don’t kill my daughter” but at that time even the super powers closed their ears and no one bothers of her plea.

Many a times these heavenly creatures are being rescued from the deadly hands of the devils. Now instead of slaughtering her, the devil plans to make her life hell. He bars her studies, cages her freedom and prepare her as a prey of a new devil that had taken birth in some other house. He ignores the development of his daughter. His daughter gradually grows.

Now a new pain starts in her life, since the age of 12, the pain of periods. Every month she suffers from the same pain.

Since the society has been modernized hence the devil now got a chance to make fun of this pain as well. He never tries to know about this pain but always tries to make fun of this feminine pain. This pain is the cause of his existence on this earth. This pain helps in pregnancy. Hence now the devil shall not make fun of this pain but instead he shall make fun of his own existence.

Still it is not over yet the girl at every step requires saving her own character from the characterless devils. She has to save herself from the devilish sights to the devilish deeds. Even if there is a fault or a crime committed by the devil then also the girl is being blamed in the society. The devil very bravely commits rape and he shall be punished after every 61st rape case. It is so because out of every 62 rape cases only is being recorded in the records of the law and the rest of them rest in peace.

It is not over yet the curse of being a female continues with her. Since before marriage the development of female child stops with the feel that a girl is fruitless, as, one day she has to leave her father’s house and go to a new house. Then before marriage she is being cursed because of the virtual image of being fruitless in the society.

In an Indian society although the status of a female is very holy but still we see the same holy spirit being barred and exploited every moment. The sacred entity has to sacrifice every moment. The cycle of pain continues forever and ever. Besides suffering from such evils the worst thing in a female’s life is the feeling of insecurity that she faces every second.

Still the female overcomes herself from all such things and establishes herself in the society. It’s not over yet, she fights for her identity and for her respect that she deserves. She like a revolutionary fighter survives in the society and very silently brings revolutions by her own soft means.

Females are a delicate part of society and indeed the better half of the society. She not just survives for her own cause but also for every relation that she bears. It is truly said that the love of a female is incomparable as whenever she loves someone she loves after sacrificing her heart, mind, soul and body. It is a female only who always wait for the male every time whether it is his birth or at lunch, or at dates, or when he is free from his work. It is the female who waits for the non-females even after their death.

So my plea to every non-female that please respect this heavenly creature as if an entity can be your creator then it can be your demolished as well.