Author: Anil Malik

Friends, have you heard about INFIRMARY? Generally, an Infirmary is a room in a school, college or university where students who become sick or injured during their institution’s working hours can go for primary medical treatment. Even a medical room in jail is referred as an infirmary. Generally, most schools have first aid facilities and some arrangements for calling an ambulance to handle medical emergencies. However, an infirmary and paediatrician are rarely heard of as belonging to the operational system of school. When it comes to taking steps towards development of the children, many schools pay a lot of attention to the3ir intellectual development. While it is expected that schools take care of the intellectual growth of the students through academics, they also ought to do something about actual, physical development. Having a first aid box, and ambulance on call is not enough. Many schools are  capable of doing more…

Sometimes, we fail to appreciate something that we have in abundance. Sunshine is one of such thing that we Indians are blessed with, naturally. Except for peak winter in some parts of India, we get more than enough sunlight. Vitamin D is naturally produced in our body when exposed to sunlight. Hence, it is also called the sunshine Vitamin. We Indians were not aware of VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY and its ill effects till recently. However, awareness is growing , and we now know how important Vitamin D is to our good health. Many factors come into play to bring about Vitamin D deficiency in seniors, leading to health issues. With age, our body loses its ability to synthesise Vitamin D from sunlight. Also, very few foods in our diet provide Vitamin D naturally. In the recent times Covid 19 pandemic restricted outside movements, which was not a good news for…

Until a few years ago, heart disease used to affect only the elderly. Today we have youngsters in the age group of 25 to 45 years suffering from various stages of cardiac disease. Can a heart attack be avoided in young adults? What are  some of the warning signs that people can look for? Sometimes, a toothache or jaw pain could be a manifestation of impending heart disease. Here are some of the warning signs: 1 Family history of cardiac disease The first indicator is family history. If the person has a strong family history of heart disease, which means that someone in his/her family or a close relative has had a cardiac event below the age of 50 to 60 years, it is major risk factor. Suppose, if the mother or father had a cardiac history below the age of 60, then in such cases, chances that the children…

In continuation of my last weekend’s blog, today I am writing about the greatest women’s champions in the open era at the WIMBLEDON tennis tournament. One of the most famous events in all of sports has delivered some of the most iconic champions of all times. Here is the list of 9 greatest women’s singles champions: 9 Jana Novotna ( Czech) She won the title in 1998, and reached the finals in 1993, and 1997. She blew away a heavy lead in 1993 final to Steffi Graf, and four years later was beaten by Martina Hingis in the 1997 final. However she finally claimed the title in the following year, beating Nathalie Tauziat in straight sets. 8 Petra Kvitova (Czech) She won titles in 2011 and 2014. One of the best WTA players of the past decade and half, there were few better sights in tennis than Kvitova in full…

PICKLE  is a part of all Indian cuisines, and people all over the country relish this dish with their meals. Ever wondered where the phrase ‘in a pickle’ originated from? Some credit the great Shakespeare with it. The Tempest has a line, ‘How camest thou in this pickle? Some others say  it came from the diary of Samuel Peopys. The word, though is, of Dutch origin “pekel ” indicating something spicy and brined. The English phrase though means, someone in a spot of bother, disarray, etc. Whatever the origin or the meaning, we Indians have been pickling a lot of stuff and doing it rather well. Pickling is the age-old preservation method of fermenting various vegetables using natural preservatives like salt, spices, and oil or vinegar used across the country. Some even pickle fish and meat and raw fruits as well. It is believed that the pickling process in India…

Yesterday, India’s 3 new criminal laws came into operation. These laws were passed by parliament in August 2023, and I had written my blog on 14th August 2023 on this subject. The three new laws which came into force from 1st July. The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita  2023 (BNSS) will replace the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) will replace the Indian Penal code (IPC), and the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) will replace  the Indian Evidence Act (IEA). These three new laws focus on justice rather than punishment and are aimed at providing speedy justice, all the way, strengthening the judicial and court management system emphasizing  “ access to justice for all”. The BNS has 358 sections, compared to the 511 in the IPC. For instance, Section 420, which defined cheating, led to the number ‘420’ becoming catchall and commonly used term for such crimes, it is…

In my last weekend blog, I wrote about grass court tennis, and this week I am writing about Wimbledon, the most famous Grand Slam tournament played on the grass surface. With the 2024 Wimbledon tournament starting next Monday, here is the list of the greatest men’s singles champions in the open era. MEN’S SINGLES CHAMPIONS 9 Andy Murray (U K) He won the titles in 2013, and 2016, and reached final in 2012 His heart was broken when he lost the 2012 to Roger Federer, this was his 4th defeat in as many Grand Slam finals. However he came back one year later and defeated Novak Djokovic and end 77 year wait for British men to win Wimbledon single title. He won his 2nd title in 2016 when he defeated Milos Raonic. 8 Rafael Nadal (Spain) He won titles in 2008, and 2010, reached finals in 2006, 2007, and 2011….

Maharashtra has become the 13th Indian state to permit BIKE TAXIS, joining  Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, West Bengal, and others. While bike-taxis are prevalent in some Indian cities, some states are still curtailing their use. Amid growing city congestion, bike-taxis are a convenient and affordable transit option that must be encouraged through a regulatory regime that builds safety and prevents misuse. Various countries around the world have permitted the use of motorbikes as taxis. Bike-taxis are particularly popular in Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. Indeed most Brazilian cities have bike-taxi service, although they are unregulated in smaller towns and are under similar regulations as 4 wheeler taxicabs in the larger cities. They are also popular and widely prevalent in many Southeast Asian countries, such as Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, particularly on account of low costs and quick travel time. Similarly bike-taxis are also popular…

Digestive issues are common as we age since the metabolism weakens. Usually, when BLOATING happens, we look at our diet to figure out what causes it. Possibly, the culprit could be something other than what we ate. As we age, we may develop health issues due to which we must take prescribed medicines. Unknown to us, some of these medicines may cause bloating. Some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for mild issues can also cause bloating and constipation. Many aged people have constipation, which also leads to bloating. Some medicines can worsen the situation, causing extreme discomfort. Only qualified doctors can help us understand whether our bloating is due to normal ageing, diet or the medicines we consume. 1 Painkillers For those who are used to popping a pill for headaches, body aches and more, please think twice before doing so. Some common painkillers, especially the OTC ones, can cause bloating, though…

Friends, for last few days you must be reading/hearing in media about NEET Leak. What is this all about? National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate (MBBS/BDS/Ayush Courses) every year. As per Government of India, it is a mandated requirement to qualify NEET Exam to study medical courses in India and abroad. The test comprises three sections-physics, chemistry and biology. Candidates have to attempt all the questions in order to qualify for admission. The test is conducted once in a year. The candidates can appear for NEET as many times as they desire, as there is no restriction on the number of attempts. The NEET (UG) exam, held on 5th May has come under severe criticism after reports of irregularities and paper leaks. The central government is facing lots of criticism over this, and the government has transferred this case…