An interesting journey !

A couple of days ago ,I was on my way to Patna .When my train pulled in and halted at Asansol jn ,in West Bengal a family consisting of two kids ,husband ,wife, grandparents boarded the train, with a  load of luggage .

As they got into it one of the two children ,very bold and smart rushed to my seat and said" Uncle 17,18,19,20,21,22 are our seats"I kept mum and didn't reply .In a flash his father came with two heavy bags ,followed by his other family members.They all arranged the luggage and occupied their seats.Then ,the granny asked the kids"Give the  luggage if any left" To that the kids shouted in unison "Take these two bags but the jute bag we won't give you granny, as this bag has food ,chips ,cakes and many more to eat ".

 Then, the process of eating started. Firstly, came the turn of tiffin box that they had .The aroma of the food spreaded  all over the compartment.They consumed the tiffin stuffs in no time.  Then, in the queue present were ready to eat food like chips ,cakes etc.The opening of packets continued up to the last minute of the journey .

During my whole journey of around eight hours their mouth kept doing the exercises, never paused for a second ,the chewing and biting process kept running. The most interesting part was that in that fest not only kids had participated but the whole members husband,wife ,grandparents all equally had taken part. I really enjoyed that journey and how the time ran out ,I didn't understand.

'Bhasma Aarti' of Mahakaleswar Temple

In ancient times ,Ujjain city was also known by the name'Avantika'.Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain is unique and has a significant place in the Hindu mythology.

 The description and reference of this holy place can be found in the pages of Vedas,Upanishads etc.It is one of the twelve jyotirlingams present on the globe.About this temple there is a belief that one who pays obeisance in front of this Shiv linga do not die a premature death.

Since ages,pilgrims from all over the country have been visiting this divine place. But the uniqueness is not only because of the jyotirlinga but lies in the fact that here a very uncommon ritual is observed i.e 'Bhasma Aarti'.

       'Bhasma' means 'ashes' and 'Aarti' is a ritual done to pay respect and to please the God.To truely experience the beauty of this' Aarti ' needs absolute devotion to Almighty. Concentration and clear mind are must to enjoy every bit of this function.

 Attracted by this divine ritual I also booked a free entry pass, a day in advance .Getting into also require a dress code and is strictly followed without fail.

The male devotees are allowed in traditional dress' dhoti' while females are permitted in saris .

Perhaps, this is because of the reason that in Hindu religion stitched cloth is not believed to be sacred.
 Next morning, I  left the bed earlier.Around 3.30 AM out the main entrance of the temple there was a long queue and I too joined the crowd. Gradually the serpentine queue moved towards the Sanctum Sanctorum .The path led me into a gallery lookalike a portion of stadium ,close to the Jyotirlinga.

After a short while, the door of the Sanctum Sanctorum opened and then began the chanting of mantras by a group of priests.The head priest bathed the Shiva Linga with holy water, milk,curd and many other things.

 At that particular instant 'Aghori' a man who lives in place where mortal remains are cremated stepped in with ashes of freshly burnt human body.The head priest accepted the ashes also called 'Bhasma' and adorned the Shiva Linga with it.The decoration was done in such a way that the Linga turned into a king wearing crown.

Really the images that passed through my eyes was fantastic sights to behold and deeply settled in my mind.

A trip to the temple city Ujjain-1

Travel enthusiasts are always in search of a new destination, a bit challenging but that really gives immense pleasure to them .Travelling always top their priority list.Their vacations are all about discovering a place of importance .They explore scenic beauty and experience the culture. They are always committed to travelling.Like them,I too have an appetite for sight seeing .No matter it may be a metropolitan city ,a temple town or a national park.Each sight gives a boost to my desire and always encourages me to hunt for another mesmerizing destination.
                 After a short stay at Udaipur city and with Vivid memories I returned Udaipur station when the day is done to catch Ujjain bound train.Many a time I have heard that the temple city Ujjain offers an unique experience of Hindu religion and more importantly is also a place of pilgrimage. It has a lot more than temples -rich history related to Hindu mythology like good food for both body and soul.And the friendly people with emotional touch.That's what attracted me a lot to tour there.

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           Next morning, my train pulled into this city and just 30 mins drive got me to the main entrance of 'Mahakaleshwar Temple' the temple of Lord Shiva.I was really enthralled to see the beauty of this temple. Since the days of the Ramayana Ujjain is known but by another name 'Avantika'
      In the vicinity many comfy hotels at pocket friendly prices were available and I chose one of them.Other stay options were also there.
     It is not just the temples that attract tourist from all over the globe but one thing that add a bit of excitement is to enjoy the 'Bhasma Aarti' performed in the Mahakal temple. To be a part of this Aarti a pass is needed that is issued a day in advance by the temple management.This is the Ujjain that has given birth to many stories relating to Hindu mythology.

A visit to Belur Math

Metropolitan cities rarely sleep and pretty much the same for Kolkata city.This city has a plethora of things to offer like historical places ,interesting sights ,ferry ride, delicious cuisines and the list goes on, that are enough to keep one busy all day!
Still ,there are a few important one that leave an indelible imprint on mind and one such example is ' Belur Math' a place of significance.
Really, Kolkata is blessed with fine place like 'Belur Math'.A 30 -35 minute short driving from Howrah station take one to this picturesque spot.
In the crowded and over -populated Kolkata city if anyone is looking for a quiet and must see place ,this is the best spot where one really satiates the soul.
          Founded by swami Vivekananda it is unique in architecture.The temples of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and Sarda Devi here attract tourist from across the globe. And ,the museum is another point of attraction which has the collection of articles related to the life of Ramakrishna,Vivekananda and other sanayasis.
But, to truly experience the inner beauty of this place just vacate the mind ,disengage the senses ,stop diverting the mind and concentrate it that's what I have experienced during my short visit here.

What to eat in Kolkata?

Kolkata means two things for a traveller good food and best places or tourists spot to see.The true flavour of Kolkata could easily be experienced in its local delicacies. There, at short distances ,array of options are available to munch.Foodies needn't have to wander to get them.
To me ,it is a Paradise for foodies .The crowded street is filled with immense variety of mouth-watering dishes.The best place to try any new cuisine is Kolkata ,specially Bengali dishes starting from Jhal Muri, chat to sweet treat like sondesh,Rasogoolas etc.It is the best destination for travellers with a sweet tooth.Here, one can easily taste and enjoy the Bengali dishes ,in a string of stalls present in the busy streets at a pocket friendly prices.The list of delicacies in Bengal and Kolkata is never-ending.But a few must try items are
(1) Jhal muri
(2) Misti Doi
(3) Rosogolla of different flavours
(4) Rasmalai
(5) Rajbhog
(6) Radhabollobi
(7) Fish Curry
(8) Goja

A short trip to kolkata

Last week, I planned to travel kolkata  but kept my travel plans secret upto the last moment.And I raised the curtain from the suspense a day before the day of the trip.The sudden decision to move their irritated my friends but they all happily welcomed my last minute decision.
  One thing is very clear about my travel plans is that as a traveller I like exploring places of historical significance ,or places full of excitement and inspiration. No doubt, Kolkata has everything that we needed food, busy streets, many ample and popular sites within a short driving .with these ideas our travelling on a weekend started.We boarded the train and reached Kolkata at late night around 11.30pm.In the vicinity at a walking distance many hotels were available and we checked in one of them.But the fact was different .The rooms were not comfy and luxurious as the outer appearances suggested old furniture, water dripping from the old model air conditioner and poor services.
Like other places here too the hotels close to the railway station were costlier and could hardly save some serious rupees.
It's true that Kolkata attracts tourists from all over the world for its fantastic sights to behold but a few must sees are
Belur Math,Dakshineswar temple ,Victoria Memorial, Birla Science Museum, Science city and many more.
   Next morning ,less than an hour scenic drive takes us to Belur Math,a beautiful sight ,situated on the bank of the Hooghly river .It is a place where one can feel and experience a true peace.The temple is an example of excellent architecture, founded by Swami Vivekananda ,a disciple of Ramakrishna Pramahansa.
     Another twenty minutes of driving got us to another picturesque spot Dakshineswar temple mainly a temple of goddess Kali and because of its association with Ramakrishna ,this temple is world famous.
       Our last stop was Birla Science Museum where we all got the chance to see and experience the facts of science.
Beautiful science shows, surprising chemical reactions made us happy. A number of activities related to nuclear science, Mathematics ,Biology etc were being conducted which were very much interesting.
  In the end each spot of Kolkata leaves us overwhelmed and added a bit of excitement to our short tour and we really enjoyed each second of the trip.

A trip to Udaipur

Early the next morning before sunup, I checked out from the hotel for another alluring destination i.e Udaipur.Since Jaipur railway station was pretty close and also easy to reach so ,I decided to stroll straight there.And I walked the short distance with my luggage. the journey more comfortable I had reserved seat well in advance. The platform, even in the early morning was a bit busier.The Udaipur bound train was present ,I boarded the train and kept my luggage .A six-hour scenic journey on train took me to Udaipur ,a place full of captivating sights.Outside the platform many rental cars were parked.The drivers eyes were searching the passengers. without wasting a moment I also hired one of them.The cabman good by nature drove me to a budget friendly hotel 'Kajri',also the information center of Rajasthan Tourism development Corporation. Since I was badly exhausted of gruelling journey so, I checked into the same hotel located in the heart of the city.Anyhow ,the night stay at the hotel was comfy.The next morning around 5 AM I began the cruising towards  chittorgarh. After a three-hour comfortable drive I reached there.Having grown up reading about Chittorgarh I was excited to traverse the land of braves.Chittorgarh is really a land of finest fort.There are innumerable stories relating to chittorgarh and the bravery of Rajputs.The Chittorgarh fort has many beautiful monuments to see like Rani Padmini's palace ,Vijay Stambh also called the tower of victory built by Maharana Kumbha and many more .But among all Mirabai Temple is the magnificent site that draw tourists from across the country.
Next day destination was Udaipur city also known by the name city of lakes.It has a number of lakes like Pichola,Fateh Sagar,Udai Sagar etc.The two must see sites are Udaipur City Palace and Lake Palace made of black and white marbles.On the whole, I could say that Udaipur charmed me with lakes and palaces and left me feeling rejuvenated.





















































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data-ad-client="ca-pub-6530562477548311" data-ad-slot="9777259239"></ins> <s (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push(the journey more comfortable I had reserved seat well in advance. The platform, even in the early morning was a bit busier.The Udaipur bound train was present ,I boarded the train and kept my luggage .A six-hour scenic journey on train took me to Udaipur ,a place full of captivating sight.
 Outside the platform many rental cars were parked.The drivers eyes were searching the passengers. without wasting a moment I also hired one of them.The cabman good by nature drove me to a budget friendly hotel 'Kajri',also the information center of Rajasthan Tourism development Corporation. Since I was badly exhausted of gruelling journey so, I checked into the same hotel located in the heart of the city.Anyhow ,the night stay at the hotel was comfy.The next morning around 5 AM I began the cruising towards  chittorgarh. After a three-hour comfortable drive I reached there.
       Having grown up reading about Chittorgarh I was excited to traverse the land of braves.Chittorgarh is really a land of finest fort.There are innumerable stories relating to chittorgarh and the bravery of Rajputs.The Chittorgarh fort has many beautiful monuments to see like Rani Padmini's palace ,Vijay Stambh also called the tower of victory built by Maharana Kumbha and many more .But among all Mirabai Temple is the magnificent site that draw tourists from across the country.
Next day destination was Udaipur city also known by the name city of lakes.It has a number of lakes like Pichola,Fateh Sagar,Udai Sagar etc.The two must see sites are Udaipur City Palace and Lake Palace made of black and white marbles.On the whole, I could say that Udaipur charmed me with lakes and palaces and left me feeling rejuvenated.

Why do we fail to achieve success in life?

Swami vivekanand says that in life it is very important to pay as much attention to the means of work as to its end. If the means will be all right ,the end must come.
    As per the Hindu mythology there are various factors that fail us to achieve success in life.
(A) Previous experiences
       
Whenever we start a new project we apply our previous experiences.Not only that we also repeatedly apply the same experiences several times. As a result our mind sleep and lose interest in that particular subject. The flow of mental energy gets diverted to some other subject and we fail to achieve the goal.

(B) Proof

Mind  needs proof for everything or for all sorts of work.It does not believe easily.That makes the mind tired and inactive .As a result we fail to achieve the desired target.So, don't need proof of everything. There are many things one has to accept in real life.

(C) Continuous thinking.

We always think like poets and authors instead of doing anything. Continuous thinking makes our mind dull and inactive and as a result we fail to achieve our goal.So, never think continuously in place of that do something new with positive energy.

(D)  Sleep.

If we always sleep or feel sleepy, we never flourish in life because the real sleep drains out our energy and make us lazy mentally ,as a result the energy gets diverted to some other side.And we fail to get success.

What is unique about the state Kerala?

It is believed that the state Kerala has got its present name from the term 'kera' a Malayalam word which means coconut palm.
Another belief about its name is that the Lord Parasurams, a brahmin by caste after killing the kshatriyas threw his battle-axe into the sea.As a result the sea receded at the place where the axe fell and a narrow strip of land appeared.
Chera also ruled over Kerala .Therefore it is also known as  'the land of the cheras'
Kerala is also called as' River state of India' because there are 44 rivers that flow in the state and out of which 41 rivers are west -flowing and 3 are east-flowing.
Kerala is also called as the 'Land of spices'.Cloves,pepper, cinnamon, cardamom are the major spices cultivated here and these spices are also exported to different countries.

What do you mean by photosynthesis and chlorophyll ?

The process in which plants make food consuming carbon dioxide, water, sunlight(energy) in the presence of chlorophyll ,to give oxygen is called photosynthesis.
The process of photosynthesis takes place mainly in leaf.In this case plants absorb visible light for the energy requirement .This energy is received as light by chlorophyll pigments.
Chlorophylls are green photosynthetic pigments .They are of different types chlorophyll a,b,c,d and e..The structure of chlorophyll was first studied by Wilstatter,Stoll and Fischer.It has two parts head and tail.. The head is called porphyrin and tail is called phytol.The Porphyrin is made up of four  pyrrole rings.Magnesium atom is present in the centre of the chlorophyll molecule.The colour of chlorophyll a is blue -green and the colour of chlorophyll b is olive-green.
.

What do you mean by alkaloid?

It is a class of organic compounds that mainly found in higher plants.Alkaloids include morphine ,cocaine, coniine,nicotine etc.In the structure they contain one or more nitrogen hetrocyclic rings.Some of them are poisonous while some are used as medicines.They are mainly present in bark,seeds,leaves and root of the plant examples
(1) Coniine - It is the simplest alkaloid.It occurs in seeds of the hemlock herb.This alkaloid is very toxic to humans. It can cause paralysis and even death also.
(2) Piperine - This alkaloid is present in black pepper .It is used as an insecticide and also for flavouring.
(3) Nicotine - It is also an alkaloid occurs in the dried leaves of tobacco plant .It is harmful to humans in large doses and can also cause death.

What do you mean by synthetic polymers?

There are natural and synthetic polymers .Cellulose, natural rubber ,starch,proteins etc come under natural polymers. The man-made polymers are called synthetic polymers like PVC,Polyethylene, Teflon.
Polymers are high molecular weight compounds and are made of simple repeating units of low molecular weight compounds.These simple compounds are called monomers. In short, polymers are made of several monomers. And for this the reaction we do is polymerisation reaction.Some polymers are given below.
(1) polyethylene . It is made by polymerization of ethylene .Here, the monomers used is ethylene.
(2) Teflon.  It is made by polymerisation of tetrafluoroethylene.
(3) Polyvinyl Chloride.  It is prepared by polymerising vinyl chloride.
 (4)Polypropylene.  It is obtained by polymerising propylene.
There are large number of polymers.

What do you mean by mangroves?

The mangroves regions are present near the sea coasts ,generally where the river meets the sea like the deltas formed  near the Bay of Bengal.The forests of Andamans and Nicobar Islands are also mangroves forests. These regions contain saline soil which are loose and swampy.
The plants that grow in saline soils are called halophytes.So ,in these regions mainly halophytes are present.The plants that grow in these regions are also called mangrove plants.
The roots of the plants growing in these regions do not get proper oxygen.So ,the roots branches grow up .These roots have special pores to respire also called respiratory roots or pneumatophores ex Rhizophora.

A trip to Jaipur part-2

Undoubtedly, to travel a long distance has its own taste.It's true that some hurdles may come the way but that also increase the excitement multifold. After a comfortable journey of some five hours I reached 'Jaipur'around 10.30PM from Sarai Rohilla.As the train rolled in the platform I got excited because a desire to see Jaipur had been simmering in me ever since I read about it in magazines and newspapers.

As ,I touched the soil of 'the pink city' it seemed dreams come true.I cannot express the feelings in words that I had at particular instant.My excitement had attained its peak.
Jaipur,also the city of forts and palaces was ready to welcome me.
It has got the name 'the pink city' as the color of the stone used in the walled city is pink.

Here, the tourists from all walks of life pay visit.
On the platform, everywhere there was a rush and a heavy flow of passengers. Holding the luggage in hand I alighted from the train and stayed at the platform for a couple of minutes, in the hope that the crowd would get reduce soon.And the same thing happened .The rush lasted for a few minutes and then everything became normal.After a while, the platform turned  almost empty .Meanwhile, my eyes searched a porter who stood some ten metres away from me .I raised and waved my hand to call him.

Thanks ,to him who understood my signs and rushed to my help.He took my luggage and stepped ahead.When I glanced at my watch ,it was around 11.30PM
Since,the arrival was at late night and I had also spent much time waiting at the platform, out the station there were only a few one and had a deserted appearance. At the parking ,I saw some engaged in gossiping. My movement drew their attention and they all turned their faces towards me .Seeing me approaching one of them stood and asked
"Sir, where to go?."
"Just need a good lodge for night stay." I replied
"Sir, please" he reciprocated.
Then, he pulled the door of the taxi and the porter kept the luggage. The driver and I got into the car.He gripped the steering wheel and put the key into the ignition and started the engine.Then he put the car into gear and turned into the narrow lane, close to the railway station where a number of lodges were available .
The taxi halted near a lodge and the driver went in .He arranged a room even at late night.
The night stay in the lodge was very comfortable .Next day early in the morning I left the bed and got ready to see the eye-catching beauty of Jaipur.
After an interval of some fifteen minutes, the noise of the car honking fell to my ears.I stepped down the stairs .Outside, the driver was waiting for me for a sightseeing tour of the palaces and the beauty of Jaipur.
The places that I visited were
Amer Fort
Hawa Mahal
City Palace
Jantar Mantar
Jaigarh Fort
Nahargarh Fort
Govind Dev Temple
Laxmi Narayan Temple
Link
WWW.TripAdvisor.com
WWW.make my trip.com
WWW.tour myindia.com

Food of Jaipur

Dal Bathi Churma
Ghevar
Pyaz ki Kachori
Ker Shangri
Gatte ki Sabzi
Link
WWW.beautiful-jaipur.com
 Shopping

Johari Bazaar
Bapu Bazaar
Nehru Bazaar
Tripolia Bazaar
Link
WWW .traveltriangle.com

Hotels
Cheaper hotels are present close to railway station ,rooms available in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 1000.

Careful
Be careful in buying Jaipuri quilt.A large number of varieties are available in the market.Buy it from a reputed shop.

I enjoyed the tour of Jaipur a lot.

A trip to Jaipur part -1

I am passionate about travelling and usually love long journeys.May be a nearby places or far off destinations whenever, a chance comes my way I don't take a wrong turn,absolutely not.Really ,I don't miss the opportunity, just enjoy each and every second that rolls on.

After a day long touring, touching several eyecatching sights around Delhi, the well mannered taxi driver safely dropped me at Sarai Rohilla,a small railway station, close to New Delhi and a bit later turning face towards me he asked for tips to celebrate the day long wearing journey .

 Carefully, I heard his words and didn't turn down his request .Showing respect to his strong feelings I handed him a hundred rupee note.To receive the sum his face beamed with delight .There he stayed with me for a couple of minutes and had conversations relating to the day long happenings that we had spent together.

Then the driver turned round  the taxi at slow pace in the parking space and returned the way he had come .I kept mum gazing at the taxi driver .If you ask ,that particular moment broke my heart .I became a bit emotional for seconds .

Perhaps the reason was simply a detachment from an unknown one with whom I spent a few hours roaming in the city .Even though he was none of my relatives.At that time I realized how even a small number of hours ,of bondage and closeness with an unknown one turns into an unbreakable relationship. That instant brought tears in my eyes.

I picked up the luggage and headed towards the platform .As I stepped in I was amazed to see the condition of floor  and walls .The cracks on the walls ,loose plaster and sags on the floor were speaking about the poor maintenance of the railway station. Again, moving a step or two I asked a gentleman about the waiting hall.But he instead of answering pointed his fingers towards the hall which was close to the main entrance .I entered .

There steel chairs were arranged in an orderly manner for the passengers to sit .Already a few passengers were there who had been waiting for the train to come.As I was about to occupy the seat one of my friends requested me to bring something to eat .As we had half an hour in hand for the train to come so I moved out to buy some food .But in the vicinity, I didn't find any good restaurant where I could buy the eatables .So,I decided to look out for another options. There a fruit seller had been selling fruit, I moved close to him and grabbed my purchases.

The moment  I returned  I was shocked to see the scores of passengers on the platform. The crowd had swelled .There was noise everywhere. There was a great rush at the platform. Those who were to get into the train were seen carrying heavy luggage in the huge crowd.

 It was very surprising that just in the gap of half an hour everything had changed, entire platform had a different look.From a few passengers to throngs of passengers, not an inch to move.In the short interval there was again heavy flow of passengers at the platform.Anyhow I made my way through the crowd and inched towards the waiting hall.It's true that in my entire life I had never seen such a crowd on the platform. That is the only bitter experience I still have about Delhi otherwise my trip was epic.

After a few minutes, the Jaipur bound train gradually rolled in the platform. We all  boarded the train and occupied our seats, booked in the AC Second class .Everything was fine inside the compartment which was tidy and comfortable also and we all were cracking jokes and enjoying the moment.

 As the train left the station ,out the window ,my eyes fell on the slum area settled along the track ,covered with white smoky cloud.On the name of house people had taken shelter in plastic tents.It was not natural cloud but was none other than the atmosphere of pollutants that had engulfed everything. Our journey began and after an interval of around five hours, our train reached Jaipur at 10.30 pm.

Truly, the tour gave me a sense of fulfilment and filled me with great joy.

A short sojourn at Delhi on the way to Jaipur
Many a time,I have heard and also flipped through the pages of magazines about the eye-catching and tempting beauty of 'Jaipur' also called by name 'Pink City'.

Genuinely, I had never been to that place before. The flame of desire to pay a visit there had been in me since a long ago.Fortunately, by God's grace,last summer all of a sudden,I planned a trip to Jaipur to douse the flame of wish that had been in me.so,I ran my eye on the vacant berths available on different trains and made reservations in Rajdhani Express bound for Delhi.
         As the day drew closer to go on the trip,the excitations increased multifold.Everyone in my family was very excited and happy.In fact if you ask me about the preparations it was begun the day ,I had booked the tickets.
   The day came.we all reached the station half an hour before the arrival of the train.We all boarded with our heavy luggage which was difficult for one to lift.Having occupied our berths we all settled down comfortably and the train was flagged of on time around 5.35pm from Ranchi railway station.

   The breathtaking scenery of mountain ranges, villages, water bodies running before our eyes were very captivating.It was really a pretty awesome experience that we all had at that period of time.
  Next morning around 11.30 am,the train rolled into the New Delhi railway station.we hired a taxi to move towards the hotel in which rooms had already been booked . Out on the street throngs of pedestrians and traffic were present.But,the friendly and well mannered driver safely dropped us to the hotel.
After getting ready we stepped out to see the beauty of Delhi and reached Akshardham temple. This temple has an appearance of ancient Hindu temple ,built from sandstone and marble. The carvings on the sandstone and marble is the centre of attraction for the tourists.
Next spot that we visited was India Gate.It is said that it is a war memorial to soldiers who died during the first world war.The surroundings  is very beautiful and attractive.
  Rastrapati Bhawan is also a nice place to see in Delhi. It is also the official home of the President of India. We visited that place but saw it from outside as we didn't have the permission to go in.
As our train to Jaipur was on the same evening so we came back to collect the luggage and on the way we also caught a glimpse of Birla Mandir.
After a short sojourn at Delhi just a day ,we arrived at Sarai Rohilla railway station to catch a train for Jaipur.A day stay at Delhi filled us with positive energy and we all enjoyed a lot.


 

What did the young lady do on the train?

  

Sometimes an incident leaves an indelible imprint on the mind that takes years to fade. The story that I am going to share is not a work of fiction but a real one.

 That happening on the train is still fresh in my memory. I had an interview in Mysore for my first job. After facing the interview board I rushed to the bus stand to catch a bus bound for Bangalore as I had to travel to Mumbai by Coimbatore Express. I reached the station just a few minutes before the scheduled departure of the train which was around 12.30 PM. 

In a hurry, I got on board the train. My seat was beside the window. Just after a couple of seconds a family consisting of a little boy, a middle-aged beautiful lady ,and a man also got into the train and occupied their seats opposite to me.

 That man adjusted the luggage under the seat and got down. Again, holding the window railings he started talking to the young lady.

 From the appearances that man seemed to me as her husband because I had heard that little boy calling him 'papa '.Then waving goodbye her husband left the platform. After a while, the guard blew the whistle and the train began to move. within a short time, the platform disappeared from our sight.  

  

       

   Hardly, had we travelled half an hour then the little boy, named Murli repeatedly made a demand for ice cream. Getting annoyed with his demand the lady stood up to fulfill Murli's desire and requested me to take care of him. And she left the seat and moved ahead. I also began talking to Murli. He was really a nice boy. The way he was speaking could attract anyone's attention.

 Time elapsed one hour, two hours still she didn't return. There was no sign of her. Murli also lost his patience and burst into tears.

             I was in the state of what to do? what should I do? Negative thinking started building up in me. The images related to accidents, and suicides started running in my mind?. What happened to her? So, I also requested one of the passengers to take care of Murli but I did not disclose anything about her missing. He also accepted my proposal happily.

I moved from one compartment to another and also searched the toilets. My seat was in S3 and I reached S9 but didn't find any sign of her. Ultimately, I set foot in S11 coach which was also the last one.

I was shocked to see the live pictures. She was tightly holding a man other than her husband. He was good-looking. Their mouths were very close to each other, not an inch gap. Her pink saree was floating in the air near the washbasin.

They were so deeply involved in each other that she didn't even notice me. I also gazed at the romantic scene for a few minutes and thought it was best not to say anything so, I bought an ice cream and returned to my coach.   

                   

After 15 to 20 minutes of my arrival, she came withtwo ice-creams in her hand. To see the mother  Murli jumped and said "Mama uncle has given me this ice cream."

I kept mum and didn't utter a word. After a while, I whispered coming close to her ears " Madam I  have seen you busy in S11 coach"

She didn't reply and bowed her head in shame.

Why do the students hate mathematics and how this subject can be made more interesting

Why do the students hate mathematics and how this subject can be made more interesting?
       When it comes to maths a series of opinions come in view. Good ,bad and sometimes both.
            Some call it difficult, some say boring and uninteresting. But the fact is that it is mainly based on the state of mind. How do we think about the subject and how do we take it ? That's only matters.                                                                   

      

Usually  everyone thinks mathematics is a subject of long calculations, trigonometry, Geometry, mensuration and lots of painful  brain work .More or less it is  the truth also.And perhaps this is the  reason why many of us hate it.

              Now the question emerges can it be made interesting so that the students do not make excuse while attempting the subject.

To me,mathematics is a subject of logical thinking, creative thinking and that requires concentration which is a vital part in solving the

Sums.                           

Mathematics is also a language. The way we understand and learn different languages in the same fashion mathematics has its own words,symbols,figures. And these notations hint something specific about how the problem can be solved .

Ways that help in making it 

interesting are

(1) Concentration

Focus the mind on one thing don't get diverted to some other places.concentrate your mental power on  the concept and its application in  solving the problems.  If needed, take the help of yoga  and meditation.                 

(2) Patience

Don't try to solve problems fast as it brings the mind under pressure which is the biggest enemy of mathematics.Stress free environment is must to attempt the problems.

(3)Different methods.

Apply different methods to solve the sums  .Don't stick to the same method as your teacher explains.     It boosts up the self confidence and clear the concepts.

(3)Practise

Like  languages mathematics can also be learnt  by practising .Make a habit of solving problems as many as you can.

(4)Start with easy problems

Before starting , revise all concepts and formulas and in the beginning don't take the complicated questions just solve the one step question simply based on formula and gradually move toward  difficult types 

(4) Don't solve all the questions

No need to solve all the  questions given in the exercise. There are many questions that require

same concept and formula. Just solve a few and avoid others.
(5)Take short break
While solving problems take a short break of 5 to 10 minutes after an interval of every hour so that the mind get relaxed.
(6)Difficult questions
In case of such questions solve the same using own intelligence. Don't take help from others that will boost up the confidence.Try ,try and try.
(7)Never see answer
While solving the sums don't check the answer till you ensure, you have correctly solved them .Don't take the help of  any guide or help book.Even if you fail to solve then also don't loose patience and just try.
Last but not least always develop a habit of playing brain games like chess,solving puzzles. All these methods if followed would definitely give a better result and make this so called difficult subject more interesting.

                                       

              

      How to overcome exam fear?

Exam fear is not a new thing. Many of us have it and is very common. In today's competitive environment stress has created an atmosphere of fear.Students don't want to take exams as the fear of failure has deeply rooted in their mindset.They feel alone and helpless .They don't know how to achieve the goal.During exam's time this fear reaches its peak.How this fear gets germinated in the soil of calmness and how it can be overcomed are the major questions .
Reasons for exam fear
(1)Overcare
We unnecessarily protect and guard our children. We don't give them chance to think and take decision independently. We always insert our decisions in their activities .These paralyse the system of their decision making and become the cause of fear.
(2)Lack of confidence
Not giving adequate time to study is also one of the reasons for fear .That creates lack of confidence and  causes fear.
(3)Giving much importance to exams
As exams approach we put pressure on children to study hard.They also think that examination is the main part of study if they fail everything will get lost.This type  of thinking causes fear.
(4)Do better than others
We expect the best from our children .We compare them with others and force them to score more marks .That also creates fear among children.
Exam fear can be overcomed  by following ways.
(1) Habits
Develop a habit of regular studies. Regularity in studies and self labour are very important to fight exam fear.
(2)Never pressure children during  exams
Don't put extra pressure on children when exams approach  .Request them to revise the already learnt portion.That develops their confidence and helps in defeating fear.
(3)Meditation
It really works .It brings positive energy into the body and increases the concentration of mind.That helps in defeating fear.
(4) Closeness to nature
Nature has the power to heal all types of problems .It rejuvenates each and every cell of the body and fill us with extra energy.
All these methods reduce the exam fear to a large extent.

                What is fear...???

Is fear really a common problem?Yes,absolutely correct. Almost everyone has it ,but its level varies from person to person.If anyone asks me about it my answer will be very simple and clear.
        To me ,fear is a deep rooted thought,just a thought or a group of words which occupies the maximum volume of mind that means it does not allow any healthy thought to  come in.It captures the whole mind and stops the process of logical thinking.
In case of fear unreal images get created in the mind and keep on running all the time that result in secretion of different hormones cause increase in heartbeat, blood pressure and also speed up the breathing rate.It totally lacks reality. We can call it as a state of mind.
It is a habit or nature of an individual that gradually gets developed and we believe it as a sudden effect.
The reason of fear are many but the most important one is common belief .we don't want to know the fact of any happening. We just believe other words without investigating the fact and we also frame a pseudo result on the basis of others belief .
The only remedy to stay away from this problem is to remain positive always and to be confident in every decision.

Health and Depression

It is our belief that health means physical, mental and a state absence of disease. Similarly, science also defines the word 'health' but it adds one more component to the previous one i.e physical, mental and social health.
          Ayurveda ,the traditional Indian system of medicine explains this term in a different way. The components that it includes to define the word health are physical ( a balance of vata, pitta and kapha),mental, spiritual, soul and a state of total satisfaction.
But the question arises how the state of total satisfaction could be achieved?
Over desire, greediness, selfishness have engulfed the whole human race and declined the quality of life and also lead to depression, which is a common mental disorder prevalent in modern humans.
     The cases of depression are increasing at an alarming rate in the whole world. In such circumstances it is very difficult to achieve the state of total satisfaction but also  not impossible.
The factors that are required to be focused in order to achieve the total satisfaction are

(a)Food - Healthy food keeps body and mind healthy .Oily and spicy food have adverse effects on the body and mind.Healthy food includes lots of green vegetables, fruits ,milk etc.

(b) Proper eating habits- We eat without the knowledge of calories, nutrients present,duration of digestion of food.We simply eat as per our taste .
(c)Sleep- Electronic gadgets have distracted our mind.We waste our time in unproductive work.We even don't take proper rest .So adequate sleep along with balanced diet is must to keep body and mind healthy.
(d) Breathing - It also plays an important role in maintaining body and mind .We should know proper breathing techniques ,so that body and brain should get sufficient amount of oxygen
(e) Closeness to nature -Almost ninety percent of us have neglected the importance of nature .We have forgotten the benefits of sunlight, fresh air,pure water etc.
(f) Society- Social activities of the working people have reduced to zero. People prefer to live in nuclear family to joint family. They don't want to participate in social activities like meeting people ,talking to elderly, discussing problems with friends and giving time to grand parents.
(g)Spirituality -Turning towards spirituality is also very important as it disconnects ourselves from outer world to inner power or soul
                   It is believed that active brain never suffers from the problem of depression .Generally, inactive brains have this problem. In case of depression the same element of thought keeps on moving in the brain that makes the brain inactive and slow .So to make it active change the thought from negative to positive. This can also be done by meditation .
In short ,I think depression will  remain no longer if we concentrate on above mentioned things.

How did I reach Shillong?

I have a strong passion for travelling and whenever I get a chance to visit a new destinations, may be a hill station, a snowcapped mountain or a seabeach, I never miss it. I always love to spend time in the lap of nature.

 Last year by God's grace an offer to travel Shillong came my way. The tour came as a complete surprise. But the fact was that it was the outcome of our friends' joint efforts. One thing about it was crystal clear to me that the decision of tour was taken in haste ,was not properly planned.

 It was the beginning of Summer. Outside, the weather was neither hot nor cold, just normal. I along with my friends arrived at the Kolkata airport in the morning around eight o'clock and after security clearance, we boarded a plane for Guwahati as it is the  nearest airport to Shillong.

 The flight took off at scheduled time around 10 o'clock and landed at Guwahati airport after a gap of some forty five minutes.

 As we stepped out of the airport, we felt a bit cool. Here ,the summer was not as normal as Kolkata and a dip in the temperature could be felt easily.

 We hired a private car to get around Guwahati city and nearby places of historical and religious importance.

 It ran a few kilometres on the straight road and then curves appeared.

The road bent continuously and we headed at a steady speed on the spiralling road which climbed up  the peak and also our first destination 'The Kamakhya  Temple' an important pilgrimage place for Hindus. We worshipped the goddess and returned to the place where our car had been parked.

 Since morning, we had not eaten anything, almost on an empty stomach. Not a grain inside. At the same time we were also getting late as we had to reach Shillong before sunset. So, it was decided to have some food at the road side hotel.

 Hardly had we covered a distance of twenty kilometers, when one of our friends told us to halt the car. He complained us of an acute pain in the stomach due to acidity.

The driver understood the problem and applied the brake. The car came to a stop near a small cottage. We all came out of it.

 The driver without wasting a moment entered the cottage and brought a cot, a jug full of water and a hand made fan. My friend drank water and fell flat on the cot. We had no medicine of acidity to relive his pain and the hospital was also not present in the immediate vicinity. So, we all waited for his intense  pain to get reduce.

  Gradually, after an hour, his pain declined and he agreed to move. At that time I glanced at my watch. The time was 8:30 pm, much after sunset .

 The car again advanced towards Shillong in the pitch dark night and after a painful journey of four to five hrs, covering mountainous and spiralling roads we reached our main spot 'Shillong'.

 Anyhow, the driver managed a room in the hotel which was also the cause of our worry, to reach before sunset.

 Our journey to Shillong was pleasant barring some self created problems. No doubt we all enjoyed a lot.