Daily Happenings

Ramayana and Mahabharata are two great epics of Sanatan Dharam, imparting great knowledge to all. Recently, I read an article on the internet about Ramayana, which revealed some hidden teachings of this epic that I was unaware of. I would like to share these teachings with you. There are many dark forces and enemies lies with in us, such as: Kama-selfish desires, Krodh- anger, Moh- attachment, Lobh- greed, Madh- pride, and Matsarya- envy. The Ramayana teaches us secular message of universal harmony achieved through a spiritual approach to life. These are some of the main lessons it instills: 1 Integrity-Cultivate righteousness based on the qualities Rama displayed. Do what is right even if it is inconvenient. 2 Fortitude-Recognise that life has ups and downs bearing misfortunes with courage and forbearance. 3 Recognise Good Advice-Corrupt counsel or company can have terrible consequences. This is evidenced by the evil influence of Manthara…

As we grow older, maintaining GOOD EYE HEALTH becomes increasingly important. While not everyone over 5 needs supplements, incorporating specific nutrients into your diet can help preserve your vision and protect against age-related eye conditions. Here are six essential nutrients that promote eye health and the best ways to include them in your diet. Please always consult your doctor before you start a new supplement regimen. 1 Vitamin A (and Beta Carotene) Vitamin A is crucial for maintaining healthy vision. A deficiency can lead to night blindness and, if left unchecked, permanent blindness. Beta Carotene, found in many orange/vegetables, is a precursor to Vitamin A and equally important for eye health. To ensure adequate intake, include liver and dairy products in your diet, along with Beta Carotene-rich foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. 2 Vitamin E Vitamin E, an antioxidant, helps protect the eyes from damage caused by…

Having an EMERGENCY FUND is essential, especially in uncertain times. It gives you peace of mind knowing you are prepared for unexpected expenses, whether it is medical bills, car repairs, or anything else that might come up. Here is how you can start building an emergency fund: 1 Set a Goal- What Are You Saving For? The first step in building an emergency fund is knowing what you are saving for. Ask yourself-what kind of emergencies could I face? May be it is an unexpected home repair, medical expenses or sudden need to help family member. Understanding your needs will help you stay focused and motivated as you build your fund. 2 How Much to Save-Start Small and Build UP Deciding how much to save can be challenging, especially during unpredictable times. A good starting point is to save enough to cover one month’s living expenses. This might include rent…

In today’s weekend blog, I am on cricket again. VIRAT KOHLI is one of the best batsmen the game of cricket has ever seen and can be considered the greatest batsman of the present era (say after 2010). He made his International debut in August 2008 when he played his first ODI for India, started his Test career for India in June 2011, and started his T20I career in June 2010. Friends, you may not be aware that after his International debut, he is holder of the following cricketing records: (Please note that stats mentioned here are till mid August 2024) 1 Most International Runs scored (All formats)- 26,942 2 Most 50+ Scores – 220 3 Most 50s- 140 4 Most 100s– 80 5 Most 150s- 16 6 Most 200s-  7 7 Most 4s– 2662 8 Most Boundaries (4s+6s)- 2963 9 Most Player of the Match Award (POTM)- 67 10…

Ancient India’s philosophical, religious, and scientific influence over the world was not properly documented by historians in the olden times. Now one UK-born writer William Dalrymple in his recent book “The Golden Road: How India Transformed the World” has written on this subject. In his book, he has turned his attention to ancient and early medieval India to produce a powerful and sweeping account of land that was one economic powerhouse, a civilization cradle and exporter of merchandise and ideas-philosophical, religious and scientific. In this book Dalrymple looks back at ancient Indian exports of Buddhism and Hinduism to astronomical texts, the number zero and the game of chess, and argues that more than the famous silk road, it was the waterways connecting India to Europe via Persia, Arabia, and northern Africa to the west and China, South-East Asia and Sri Lanka to the east that helped India build its empire…

Friends, have you noticed that many young people are prematurely turning grey, meaning that their hair is changing colour from natural to greyish? Recent scientific studies indicate that stress can be a major cause of hair turning grey. This happens because stress can affect the stem cells that are responsible for regenerating hair pigment. Stress can have various negative effects on the body, and stress can cause hair to turn grey, which may be one of them. Hair colour is determined by cells called melanocytes, which produce the pigment called melanin. New melanocytes are made from melanocyte stem cells that live within the hair follicle at the base of hair strand. As we age these stem cells gradually disappear. The hair that re grows from hair follicles that have lost melanocyte stem cells have less pigment and appears grey. Few years back, scientists and researchers set out to determine if…

Today’s blog is of a general nature, and I am writing about some information which you may or may not be aware of. Given below is  some information about the Highest, Biggest, Largest, Deepest, and Smallest of the World: 1 Largest Airport– King Abdul Khalid International Airport, Saudi Arabia. 2 Airport at Highest Altitude– Lhasa Airport, Tibet. 3 Tallest Animal– Giraffe. 4 Largest Animal– Blue Bottom Whale. 5 Largest Bay– Hudson Bay, Canada. 6 Fastest Bird– Swift. 7 Largest Bird– Ostrich. 8 Smallest Bird– Humming Bird. 9 Longest Cantilevered Type Steel Bridge– Huey P. Long Bridge, USA. 7 KM. 10 Tallest Building– Burj Khalifa, Dubai. 829.8 M 11 Longest Canal– Baltic Sea White Canal. 227 KM. 12 Largest Cathedral–  Cathedral Church of New York. Capacity 2400 people. 13 Largest Cemetry– Ohisdorf Cemetry, Hamburg-Germany. 14 Largest Church– Balisca of St. Peter in the Vatican City, Rome. Capacity- 20,000 people seated or…

The India-Canada diplomatic relations have been going downhill for the last few years, and it has escalated after the killing of Sikh Separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Colombia last year, with accusations flying thick and fast between the two countries. Since last year Canada has charged that it had credible evidence that Indian agents were behind the killing of  a Canadian citizen (Nijjar). The Indian government has denied these charges and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the charges are preposterous. Never before-not even during 1985 Air India bombing allegedly by Khalistani activists that killed 329 people on board- have the relation reached such a low point. At that time it was said that the Canadians had information of a alleged sabotage but had not bothered to follow up and warn the Indian government. Few days back, the recall of India’s high Commissioner Sanjay Varma from Ottawa…

In today’s weekend blog, I am back with Bollywood. Today I am writing about a lyricist who started his career in early 1950s but he got the fame late 1906s, his peak came in 1970s. He wrote more than 1000 songs in over 300 films in a career spanning over four decades. His real name was Shyamalal Babu Rai, and we better know him by his pen name INDEEVAR (1924-1997). His initial recognition came from movie called Malhar in 1951, where he penned this famous song “Bade Armanon Se Rakha Hai Balam. “, under the music of Roshan. Giving below some of my favourite songs penned by Indeevar with their YouTube link: 1 Tumse Badhkar Duniya Mein Na Dekha Koi Aur–  Kaamchor (1982). Kishore Kumar & Alka Yagnik (Singer-S), Rajesh Roshan (Music Director-MD). On screen- Rakesh Roshan & Jaya Prada. https://youtu.be/PCBX95xuqkQ?si=roDMmqesw-2e-tGB 2 Neele Neele Ambar Par, Pyar Jab Aaaye– Kalakar…

Friends, have you heard about ADR related to the Indian election process? It is “ Association for Democratic Reforms” working on electoral reforms for over 25 years. The objective of ADR is to improve governance and strengthen democracy through continuous work in Electoral and Political Reforms. They focus on: Corruption and Criminalisation in the Political Process. Empowerment of the electorate through greater dissemination of information relating to the candidates and the parties for a better and informed choice. Need for greater accountability of Indian Political parties. Need for inner-party democracy and transparency in party-functioning. ADR engages with partner organization across the country, collectively called the National Election Watch (NEW)- a nation wide campaign comprising of citizen led organizations working towards strengthening democracy. They have conducted election watches for all Assembly & Parliamentary elections since 2002. Election Watch is the flagship programme of ADR. As part of this, background details of…