Happy New Year 2014

Happy New Year 2014

Yes one more year is just coming to a close. In everybody’s life some good and bad events might have occurred. That is way of life. But at the end of a year, it will be ideal to have an introspection and take stock of the past one years’ deeds. This will enable us to take new decisions for the ensuing year.

The proverb ‘Time and tide wait for no man’ is  perfectly apt. Days roll into months, months to years and thus time passes away. In Government organizations, at the end of each financial year, a review of the past financial transactions are reviewed and future programs chalked out. In northern India, business people do the same way - review their business activities and plan accordingly to the next year. In a  similar fashion, each individual irrespective of his age and profession should also analyze their past deeds and plan future  activities for the coming new year. There might have been so many trials and tribulations. If one was able to remain  calm and quite in adverse circumstances also then he might have been able to face the situations boldly. Everybody must be able to forget the bad deeds of their foes and forgive them. " Forget and forgive; then you will never regret"  - the proverb is like that.

In general, at least a large percentage of people take New year resolutions; but all will not be in a position to practice it throughout the year. They drop it after some days due to several reasons. In reality .people are not able to concentrate on their specified task because of distractions. Mind plays a very important role in this connection. In Upanishads, it has been told

“ May we have noble thoughts in our minds

 May we never express bitter words in our speech! ”

One must be able to lead a healthy life both physically and mentally. The old saying “Sound mind in  a sound body “ is perfectly right.

Let us all hope and pray to the Almighty to help us to lead a happy Year 2022 with full of hopes  and aspirations. We must be able to help our fellow brethren in what ever way we are able to help. Let us try to spread a smile on face of all. Let us try to enjoy life to its full extent.

Remember-

“ Unborn tomorrow and dead yesterday

Why fret? If today be sweet !”

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Onam

YEs! this year's Onam is also over.
There was no college for the last one week. As usual celebrated Onam
in its own fashion. Only you can see the flavor of Onam in different
TV shows, that too talk with different film celebrities.

It is being told that during king Mahabali's rule people of Kera were very
happy and led a calm and peaceful life. Mahavishnu came as a boy and requested
Mahabali three measures of land but Mahabali could not give it. Vishnu

 then sent Mahabali to hell; but permitted him to visit Kerala once in a year- the legend goes like that.

Wait for another year to celebrate Onam.

Scattered Thoughts

Scattered Thoughts

For the last two months I did not post anything in my blog as my lap top was out of order.

I tried to get it repaired but could not, as  it  has completed its life cycle. So I was compelled to go for another new one. Instead of going for a new laptop, I decided to go for a desktop as I did not foresee going out with a laptop. For working from home, I thought that a desk top was an ideal one.

Yesterday evening I went to hotel Monad at Karanthur to attend Principal Dr Elizabeth’s son’s marriage party. A  nice  hotel.  I was going for the first time to that hotel. Good environment.

On Friday the college was closed on account of students’ strike. I think that this is a special phenomenon of Kerala. For a small thing, people go on strike. What do they get out of it? Perhaps, they will not be having an answer  for that.

Now a days,  people plan  every  thing well  in advance. Parents first decide where their kids should study, in what field should they work and so on. In today’s news paper there was a report on a talk by Dr Paul, Ex Addl. Chief Secretary of Kerala.  According to him one should plan well in advance, what should be done after  one’s death regarding disposal of dead body, donation of organs such as eyes, liver etc and other rituals. He says he has recorded the details in his mobile and recommends that others should also follow his footsteps. A nice advice indeed.

Happiness for Sale

 

 Happiness for Sale
What? Happiness for sale? Unbelievable!Where is it available?
Yes gentleman! It is available and that too absolutely free! It is with in you.You only!
What ? With in me! Difficult to beleve!
Yes man! I repeat. With in you! But you have to search for it.
Where?
Just imagine you are inside a food court.You have closed your eyes and are shouting- I am hungry ;I want food.
But friend please open your eyes and take what you want till your stomach is full.
This is the case with happiness also.It is with in you. But you have to locate it.
What I have to do?
Very simple. Just follow these instructions.
After getting up in the morning, wash your face ,have a glass of water, go to a corner of your house, sit comfortably and repeat these affirmations.
I am brave, I am strong.
Perfume of success thoughts
Blows in me, blows in me.
I am cool, I am calm,
I am sweet, I am kind,
I am charming and magnetic,
I am pleased with all;
I have no enemy,
I am the friend of all,
Nothing is impossible
I can do everything!"

 
But doubt NOT; if you want to attain any righteous goal, cast away the thought of failure.

As you are a child of God, believe that you have access to all the things that belongs to Him.
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Natural Resources - Forests

Natural Resources – Forests

Tags: forests, deforestation, afforestation, soil erosion, global warming

Nature has provided us many natural resources such as forest, land, water, energy, mineral etc. A resource is a source of supply held in reserve. Among them forest is one of the important resource. In the early periods,  man cut trees for getting timber for constructing his house, for obtaining fire wood and also for clearing forest for agriculture. But in course of time as population increased, his needs also increased and he started inflicting too much pain on the forest by clearing the forest area for constructing dams, industries, agriculture, air ports, high ways – like that for many infrastructure works. Trees improve our aesthetic environment ,absorb noise and create calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Forest can be defined as a community composed of trees, plants, shrubs etc serving as an abode for animals and birds. Approximately one third of the earth’s land area is covered by forests. The services rendered by forests can be grouped under three categories – productive, protective and regulative. People collect from forests fruits ,roots, herbs, fire wood , fodder for animals and timber for house construction. The main protective functions of forests are conservation of soil and water. The regulative functions are absorption, storage and release of gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen. Forests help in regulating atmospheric temperature.

                                      

                                                               Forest

It has been reported that during king Ashoka’s rule emphasis was given to tree planting and its upkeep. Also in several parts of kerala people used to worship trees and did ‘ poojas’ in what is called as snake gardens. The per capita forest area available in India is only 0.06 hectares as against 0 .64 hectares of world average. Destruction of forests is going on at an alarming rate – approximately 10 million hectares per year.

The main causes of deforestation as mentioned earlier are clearing the areas for construction of dams, air ports, industries, high ways, agriculture and mining. Extreme weather conditions, over grazing by cattle and forest fires also contribute for deforestation. The deforestation causes many hardships such as reduced rain fall, increased soil erosion, decreased soil fertility, climate change and frequent floods. Deforestation causes loss of biodiversity, leading to disturbances in ecological balance.

As such, it is very essential for forest conservation as well as proper management of the resources. Tree felling should be matched by an equal number of trees planting.  Afforestation should be done in areas not fit for agriculture. In building construction, alternate materials should be used in place of timber as far as possible. Previously for railway sleepers, teak wood was used. But now it has been dispensed with and pre cast concrete sleepers are being used.                                       

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Value Education

    Environment and Value Education

Key words: environment, value ,education, natural resources

Education can be through formal and informal channels. Value education with respect to environment should help  to bring  a new sustainable way of life. The environmental value education should inculcate   natural and cultural values, social justice, human heritage, equitable use of resources, managing common property resources in the minds of all persons.
In the present day world we are giving importance to development only with out understanding thee problems caused due to destruction of our environment. Our mind set should be changed so that the development should be with due regard to sustainability or equitable use of resources. The unsustainable development leads to economic growth of the rich and powerful while it makes the poor more poorer
Values in general sense deal with ones own principles and standards.
Values in environment education focus on the following aspects- effective utilization of natural resources, keeping the surroundings clean, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in farms, effective use of water and power etc. All these issues are connected to the quality of human life.  They deal with respect for nature. These  values  will help  in leading a  healthy, productive and happy lives in harmony with nature.
Environmental values are the feelings that help us in preserving nature. Values are not constant. Concepts of what constitutes 'right' and 'wrong' behavior change with time. Once shooting of animals was taken as a sport. But now it is considered as a crime. It indicates that value system changes with time.
We have to develop a sense of values that are linked with a better and more sustainable way of life for all people. The positive feelings that support environment include a value for nature, cultures, heritage, and equity. We must also pay attention to  aspects that have negative impacts on the environment. These include our attitude towards the degradation of the environment, loss of species, pollution, poverty, corruption in environmental management and the rights of future generations.
We need to adopt the values to bring about a better way of life on earth for all people and all living creatures.
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May his soul rest in peace!

 

 
Early hours of Saturday morning . January 26,2013.

As usual , I was just going through the Malayala Manorama daily.

I had just opened the centre page. Yes I saw a small snap- . A known figure.

I read the report.- M P M Menon ex IFS officer passes away.

I was shocked, I could not believe it.

Murali was my class mate; we were in the class for three years -1955 to 1958  at
Government Secondary School, Perinthalmanna. In the final year, he was just sitting my side.

I was always coming first in the class but in the final examination he surpassed me.

We did not meet afterwards. I could understand that after a brief stint in the military , he entered Indian Foreign Service.

After retirement he had settled in Delhi. I could understand from Face book that he was suffering
from cancer.

Death is inevitable. Nobody can stop it. We call come into this world with a return ticket, the
only point is that the return date is not announced earlier.

The old memories  of school days come into my mind.

Nothing more to pen down

May his soul rest in peace !!.