Author: Anil Malik

Yesterday I read an article in the newspaper, which was really thought-provoking as I was not very aware of the topic because it was related to women. I am very sure that most men folk are ignorant about this subject, and the subject is “SANITARY PAD WASTE”. Since the sanitary pads manufactured by the organized sector contain plastic and, therefore, can not degrade naturally. Do we worry about what happens to them once they are thrown into dustbins? Most probably, they are likely to end up in a landfill where waste pickers have to sort through it with their hands. No one can deny that sanitary pads/napkins have been a boon for many Indian women, freeing them from the monthly ritual of washing and drying  their menstrual cloth. Rough estimates indicate there are 130 million women using sanitary pads, which generates about 120,000 tons of waste every year. The fact…

There was, and still is, only one singer who can bring numerous expressions and emotions in his voice, more than the nav rasas is Mohd Rafi. Other singers can bring out maybe 2 or 3 emotions in their voices, other than that they sound monotonous and the same in all songs. Here are just one example song for various emotions that Rafiji have brought out, though there are many more songs with lot of variations in expression and emotions. 1 Waiting and Pining- Selected song is “Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki, Na Jaane Tum Kab Aaoge”  from Dulari (1949), Shakeel Badayuni (Lyricist-L) and Naushad (Music director-MD). On screen –Suresh.. YouTube Link- https://youtu.be/RPNMFQDISIY?si=wakOLdLwCPvdhCyI 2 Longing-selected song is “Khoya Khoya Chand, Khula Aasmaan, Ankhon Mein Saari Raat Jayegi”, from Kala Bazaar (160), Shailendra (L), SD Burman (MD). On screen Dev Anand https://youtu.be/EsENO8IjmoY?si=tuJCpkVDYIFCDKqZ 3 Joy of First Love– selected song is “ Yahoo, Chahe…

We are now living in a digital age, and SMARTPHONES have become an important gadget for people of all ages, including senior citizens. The seniors, in particular, find these devices to be invaluable for staying connected with loved ones through various Apps, getting various information through the internet, listening to music, watching movies, etc. For younger people smart smartphones are kind of hand-held personal computers (PCs), and their requirements in smartphones are quite different from what seniors need in their smartphones. However, when it comes to selecting the right one for seniors certain factors should be considered to ensure a smooth and enjoyable user experience. 1 Operating System (OS) One of the foremost considerations when selecting a smartphone for seniors is OS stability. Reliability and ease of use are paramount, so it is essential to select a smartphone with an OS known for its stability. In the Indian market brands…

COMMON  SALT It is now established by science that eating an excess quantity of  Common Sodium Salt is not good for our health. Excess levels of sodium salt may put you at risk for: Enlarged Heart Muscles Headaches Kidney Disease Osteoporosis Stroke Heart Failure High Blood Pressure Kidney Stones Stomach Cancer Excess levels of common salt may cause increased water retention that leads to Puffiness, Bloating, and Weight Gain. While going through today’s newspaper, I came across one item that said we Indians generally have a double intake of Common Salt when compared to the standards prescribed by various Health Bodies. Indians consume 10 to 12 grams of Salt per day, while the health standard is 5-6 grams per day. Now, the time has come for the Indians to control our salt intake. Here are a few tips to cut salt intake in your daily diet: Mend Your Salty Habits…

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Many people are confused about these terms and use them interchangeably. Are they the same disease, if not what is the difference? Most people relate these terms to a general decline in cognitive abilities, especially memory loss, which is partially correct. A study conducted in India recently concluded that more than 8% of people who are 60+ are affected by Dementia. What is worrying is that many other studies have predicted that this percentage can increase significantly over the next 2-3 decades. Understanding Dementia It is not a disease but rather a syndrome. It is a general medical term used to refer to a set of symptoms that affect people’s ability to perform everyday tasks. These symptoms also impact the memory and communication abilities of people. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. The risk of developing dementia is high for people of 65+….

REMAKES & ORIGINALS In the world of cinema remakes/ inspired by are a common phenomenon, often sparking debates about whether they can surpass the originals. In Bollywood, filmmakers have taken inspiration from Hollywood films on numerous occasions, adapting some iconic films for Indian audiences. You will be surprised, there are many instances where these Bollywood remakes have not only done justice to originals but have also many times outshone them. Here are some Bollywood remakes of Hollywood films that not only lived up to expectations but, in some cases, even outdid the source material, proving that a fresh perspective and a touch of Bollywood magic can result in film magic of its own. 1 Baazigar- A Kiss Before Dying This Bollywood film, which made Shah Rukh Khan a big star, took inspiration from the 156 American classic A Kiss Before Dying. With power-packed performances and wonderful music, this inspired movie…

Canada and Khalistan Movement Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Canadian Sikh Khalistani separatist. He was wanted by Indian authorities and was designated a terrorist under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, accused of plotting the murder of Hindu priest in Punjab. Nijjar was shot and killed in British Columbia on 18th June 2023. Three days back Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that intelligence gathered by the Canadian government indicated that Indian government agents had assassinated Nijjar. India’s foreign ministry rejected the allegation, calling it absurd and politically motivated.  Subsequently, the Indian government expelled a top Canadian diplomat, who sources described as the Canadian intelligence station chief in India. Now let us see what is the Khalistan movement. Khalistan means ‘the of the pure’, though in this context the term ‘Khalsa’ refers broadly to the religious community of Sikhs, and the term ‘Khalistan’ implies that they should have their own nation….

Medically there are many lives that can be saved, but due to lack of awareness about the ORGAN DONATION people do not donate the organs of their near and dear ones after their death or in case of brain dead. Even the government is not pursuing the Organ Donation drive very seriously. There are certain communities in India, who due to religious reasons do not favour organ donation after death. It looks like Organ donation in India needs big reforms Organ donation is on the threshold of major changes in India. In February 2023,  the Union Health Ministry decided to do away with the ceiling that those above 65 years of age are ineligible for the registration of cadaver organ transplants. Now it is possible for an individual of any age to register for an organ transplant. The government has scrapped the clause in the National Organ and Tissue Transplant…

Urmila Matondkar (born 1974) is an Indian actress, who started working as a child artist in 1977, she gained recognition with Masoom (1983), following which she appeared in a few other films. Her first lead role was in the Malayalam film Chanakyan (1989) and her subsequent romantic lead role in Narsimha (1991) both of which were commercial successes. She emerged as a star with Ram Gopal Varma’s romantic drama Rangeela in 1995. She is one of the most underrated actresses of her time. When other actresses of her time were busy doing conventional Bollywood masala movies, Urmila was following her own path. She played so many versatile and unconventional roles that could put any actor of our time to shame. Some of her movies, even almost 20 years later have stood the test of time and are better than many of today’s junk and stupid movies. Here are some of…

Recently, there have been allegations by the opposition parties that the government is trying to change the name of our country to Bharat. I do not understand this allegation because even our Constitution says India that is Bharat. The name Bharat was used from the ancient days, it was the rulers who invaded our country who changed the name, First, it was the Mughals who started using the country’s name as Hindustan and later it was the British who changed it to India. But have you wondered WHY OUR COUNTRY IS KNOWN AS BHARAT? One of the most common answers is that it is named after King Bharat, who was the son of King Dushyant and Shakuntla. If we probe further, we will get another reply that this land Bharat after the great Rishi Bharatamuni. Then there was a great sage called Jada Bharata, a King called Bharata who was…