Sunday 9 October 2016

Attention Travelers: 7N/8D Royal Candidasa,Bali stay @20000/- 0nly

Hey Guys,

I am a member with Royal Resorts @ https://royalresorts.co.in/ and they have awesome properties all over the world. Recently, I booked a trip to Bali for a friend but he will not be able to make it. So, I have decided to offer it to anyone out there who is interested at a huge discount. You may gift this to your loved ones too...but make sure to get the guest certificate in their name.

Note: These properties are only available for members but you may visit there on my invite. So, it is a one time opportunity. Don't miss it:-)

Here are the conditions:

1. The booking is for 7N/8D at Royal Candidasa, Bali for a couple.   http://www.royalresorts.com.au/indonesia/royal-candidasa . However, you may choose to stay for a shorter duration also and considering the discount it will still be a good deal.

2. Date of stay: 3rd Dec,2016 to 10th Dec, 2016. However, the dates may be rescheduled subject to availability.

3. A guest certificate in the name of the traveler with all terms and conditions will be issued.

4. It is available on one-time offer price  of  Rs.20,000/- for the complete stay. All payments will have to be made in advance.

5. It does not include airfare/visa or any other commodity not mention here. It only includes stay at the resort.

Interested candidates kindly leave your details in comments and I will reach out for you.

Thank you Guys :-)

A step towards making #InfertilityNotATaboo

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       ‘Infertility’ the word itself tells the story...it speaks of negativity in volumes. It’s like saying “not-a-mother” or worse “can’t-be-a-mother”. It is a taboo at least in India and will continue to be until we come up with a positive word for this condition. Although this is not the only thing that needs to change but it will surely give a positive makeover; much like the scheduled caste did for dalits and differently-abled for physically challenged.

What is actually infertility? 
  • It refers to the inability of an individual (male or female) to contribute to conception, or to a female who cannot carry a pregnancy to full term. For practical purposes, if you have not conceived after trying for one year then you need to consult a doctor for complete work up. On the brighter side, WHO gives you 2 years time before calling the name but in practice, people trying for more than 10 years have also conceived.

You are not alone.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the prevalence of infertility in India is around 12.6 percent and considering our population it is a huge number.

The root cause of all the problems is that women don’t make decisions when it comes to family planning.
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  • An Incident (somewhere in 2008): I was an intern in family planning clinic at a tertiary care govt. hospital in the capital city. A young female, well dressed and apparently from a well to do background came to the clinic for an abortion; but surprisingly she was all alone. I could see the courage she had to gather to come to us on her face; teary eyes, trembling feet and shaky voice. Legally, she could get the baby aborted without husband’s consent but even then she would need someone to accompany her following the procedure (which was free). BUT we had a policy to go for M.T.P. only if the mother opts for contraception, temporary (like copper-T) or permanent (Ligation) (Because if you don’t want this baby, either you should wait or put a full stop) and for that husband’s consent is MUST. In this case the husband or the family clearly didn’t know. Then it struck me; this young lady wanted to space the babies but the husband or the in-laws didn’t want her to. Even her own family or friends were not there with her. She basically didn’t have a say in it. And over the years I realized that this is not uncommon. 

In India, brides are made for only one purpose (besides the chores of course).
  • A baby delivered in the first year of marriage is seen as a positive sign in Indian household and it is fairly common but it cannot be a good thing if the average age of marriage is 22.2 for women.

Pregnancy within 1 year of marriage; A norm and why it is a problem?
  • It may be a good thing for some but problem for others because if you have not conceived by the first anniversary, you would have hit the eligibility mark for infertility by definition. Peer pressure works in family planning too because you are already late if everybody else is getting pregnant. This is the stage when a family affair becomes a big issue for the the whole community.

The irony: 
  • Excessive physical or emotional stress results in amenorrhea (absent periods) which may add to infertility. Also, the neglected females who are already facing malnutrition and excessive weight loss are at a greater risk of falling prey to infertility and pregnancy related complications. So, it can turn into a vicious cycle going on for a very long time if not forever.

The paradox of age.
  • For a woman, infertility can manifest as either the inability to become pregnant or to maintain and carry a pregnancy to a live birth and both extremes of the fertile age group are bad for that but the younger end is often ignored by the society. However, it is not a coincidence that the WHO has included age as low as 15 years in the operational definition of infertility when the legal age of marriage is 18.
  • Many women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children and this leads to age becoming a growing cause of fertility problems. Aging not only decreases a woman's chances of having a baby but also increases her chances of miscarriage and of having a child with a genetic abnormality. 

Common causes of Infertility in Indian women:
  • Infections of the female genital tract are generally considered to be the leading preventable cause of infertility worldwide, especially in developing countries.
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may constitute as high as 85 percent of these infections. A condom is a simple and effective way to keep all/most of them at bay.
  • Another common infection which is often difficult to diagnose is the tuberculosis of genital tract. With the kind of exposure and prevalence of TB in our country, it can happen to anyone. Although it is not fatal but most of the damage occurs silently which only delays the treatment. The good thing is that it is easily treatable.

Breaking the Ice: Males can be infertile too.
  • It is a pity that we need a social media campaign to convey that males play equal role in fertility and infertility alike. In fact, in 40 to 50 per cent cases, the male is the affected partner. 
  • It's because of the social set up that women are blamed for a childless marriage, but men are equally in need of treatment.
  • Actually, they are the ones who make the baby a girl or a boy which is another big taboo being imposed on females (but obviously they can’t choose). 
  • And they are the ones who can prevent all the STIs by using condoms.

Who else can be blamed? Urban lifestyle of course.
  • The changing lifestyle is certainly to be blamed for both the male and the female infertility. Smoking, alcohol consumption and delayed marriage are among the main culprits.

Problem bigger than infertility itself: 'The Quacks'.
  • These are the unqualified imposers who take advantage of the superstitions, myths and the popular beliefs surrounding the ultimate taboo of infertility.
  • They not only rob people of their money but also of their valuable time which only delays the treatment. Each quack visit is an opportunity lost.

Infertility is preventable; yes you read that right.
  • Only an estimated 3 to 5 per cent of who are infertile, are due to unknown or unpreventable conditions. Rest all are preventable or at least treatable.

Facing infertility: What to do?
  • Consult a qualified practitioner as soon as possible. He/she may be a gynecologist, an IVF specialist or anyone approachable.
  • When in doubt, visit a Govt hospital. There are special weekly infertility clinics in all/most secondary and tertiary level hospitals. 
  • Some hospitals even have an IVF center which provides free consultation and services; like the state of the art IVF center at Lok Nayak Hospital, Delhi.

The right approach to infertility:
  • Both the partners should be worked up together to reinforce the fact that the female is not the only one that can be affected.
  • Counselling sessions should be staged to chalk out a plan, allay anxiety, bust myths and cater to any all the questions which the couple would like to get answered.

The way out: Not always expensive but a long walk anyway.
  • The good part is that 80 per cent of the infertility problems can be corrected through simple medications and advanced and expensive treatment methodologies like the IVF or egg donation are required in only 20 per cent of the cases which usually have some underlying complications.

Be patient and don’t lose hope.

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  • The work up is in itself a long step-wise process to rule out abnormalities one by one.
  • Some tests have to be done on specific days of the menstrual cycle, so the complete work up may take up to 2 to 3 cycles/months or more depending upon the problem.
  • Some tests are expensive and a few very painful and the results may take time.
  • Even after all these efforts, all the investigations may come out to be normal, it happens but they are still necessary to rule out certain conditions.
  • A majority of such patients with unknown underlying cause still respond to simple medications.
  • Even when the cause has been identified, the conception may still take time. The treatment is scheduled on the basis of menstrual cycles, so 1 treatment option per month, which amounts to only 12 trials in a complete year.
  • With the kind of technology available today, infertility is bound to lose if you have the guts to keep fighting. Time is an important factor in this battle, even more important than money.
My best wishes to all the struggling couples. You may visit  http://infertilitydost.com/ for more information, inspiring stories, support groups and more or just contact me.

This blog is to #SpreadAwareness about Infertility through Infertility Dost, India’s first website that facilitates couples to brave infertility with support and knowledge. You can find other links on Write Tribe.

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Sunday 14 August 2016

Salute to Netaji: Independence Day

Remembering Netaji on 70th Independence Day, here is a post from my archives:

Doc2poet: Exploring the blindspot...: Salute to Netaji: 23rd Jan




              It has been 70 years since our national flag breathed free air for the first time in 1947 and we owe it to our heroes who laid down their lives for it. We can never be sure about who played the most pivotal role in the 'struggle for independence' but one thing is certain that it was a joint effort and that it did not happen “ बिना खड़ग बिना ढाल” . There were people who, at a tender age of 23 years, wilfully took the path of martyrdom in the hope that it may help incite a revolution that might uproot the British Empire: he was Shaheed Bhagat singh. There were more fighters than we can name but only a few shone as the leader, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was one such prodigy.

Click here for complete post... 

Sunday 7 August 2016

The story of a suicide: A review

Source here

The Story of a suicide

By Sriram Ayer

Reviewed by Dr. Amit Prakash (doc2poet)

               This book is set in a college campus that I am sure most people can easily relate to but this story is much beyond that. I have lived in hostels and been in clinical practice for more than 8 years but this novel manages to show the unexplored sides of the coin of emotional turmoil. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration if I say that after reading this novel, you will realize that the coin is actually a ball with more than two sides to it. This novel portrays a frangible yet intricate plight with respect and solicitude without losing the plot. You can read the complete story here @ http://www.storyofasuicide.com/ .

           This is not exactly just a novel but a multidimensional project aimed at a higher cause. This project aims to connect with young people and help them come out with their struggles so as to help them cope with the pressures and duress. Sriram Ayer, the creator and the author of this novel is an esteemed writer and a social entrepreneur who has won numerous awards for is noble endeavors. He is also the founder of NalandaWay Foundation which has been working with children from the most exploitative situations in India for more than 10 years. This organisation helps these children in learning basic and creative life-skills, building self-confidence and succeeding in schools. 

Storytelling and writing- The story is a gripping tale of four people who are trying to fit in their own lives and looking for a direction and a ray of hope. It is interesting how the author manages to knit them together to create a beautiful honeycomb effect maintaining the clarity in the plot while it thickens. The story is short and crisp which is divided into chapters in a felicitous way to reveal only enough to move the plot further yet maintaining the suspense and urge to flip through those pages to unfold the mystery. The writing is compelling and fast paced which makes it apt for an overnight read. If you are too busy to accommodate a novel in your frantic lives, even then you can fit this one in.
“You seem very worried Caesar, have you sinned too many?"
              I absolutely loved how the confrontation of Draupadi and Caesar was staged in the story without affecting the plot and yes, their conversation was spot on. 

The Characters- The story revolves around four main characters, a brilliant boy with a traumatic childhood who somehow managed to make it to the college but couldn’t get past the alien language ‘English’ to fulfill his mother’s dreams, a young boy who suffered silently at the hands of his uncle because no one understood or believed him and now he is struggling to find his own sexual identity, a beautiful confident girl who is misunderstood more often than she is loved and a geek who loses his cool and turns dark. Each character is so real that you can relate to them almost instantly. I personally felt sad for ‘Hari’ who lost his childhood to fear and lust and was betrayed by destiny itself when everyone failed to understand his feelings, including even his love and his family. 

The Illustrations- The beautiful and vibrant illustrations actually bring this story to life. They sort of add the much needed color to this otherwise darker tale which works exceptionally well to create a balance. Ghana, the illustrator is the CEO of her design studio ‘The Yellow House’ and also the co founder of ‘ArtCompaassion’ - an art based initiative supporting social development. She has done a great job here.

Added bonuses- If you already love this initiative, there’s more to it. There’s also an audio book option for the earphone generation riding the metros. It is a brilliant step to maximize the readership. Each chapter has a How do I? set of questions to help out the youth and you can submit your own stories too. And the promotional video is bang on. 

The team- Kudos to the whole teams to have put their heart and soul in this project. Well done guys. You can meet them all here @ http://www.storyofasuicide.com/about.html .

The Verdict- It is a must read for everyone and I am sure you will find something that you will absolutely love to have come across. 

" मुक़म्मल  जहाँ  की  तलाश  में, फिरते  रहे  मारे-मारे , 
कैसे  मिले  जो  खोया  ही  नहीं, हर  पल  पास  है  हमारे , 
आँखें  बंद  करने  की  देरी  है, जी  उठेंगे  ये  दिलकश  नज़ारे, 
के  लड़खड़ाते  कदम  राह  ढूंड  ही  लेंगे, 
कभी  यादों  की  भीड़  में...कभी  तनहाई  के  सहारे...|| "
                                                                                                   -doc2poet

You may read the online novel or hear it out on audio book but don’t forget to share it. Just be positive and visit here for all that you need 

Monday 25 July 2016

Income tax made easy: #TaxPledge

Source here

Source here

             I am yet to meet a person who loves filing taxes; of course I am not talking about the CAs and consultants who do it for a living. Who would want to pay for something you can’t measure in objective terms. It is like shelling out your hard earned money for buying something you don’t know or understand (you would know if you have ever tried to fill an old ITR form). Also, mathematics has not been found to be friendly with most brains and outsourcing has evolved to be more like an Indian trait. Seriously speaking, filing taxes has been the ugly duckling of finance and economics for long but the times have changed now. 


               In the e-age, filing taxes is as easy as pokemongo. Filing taxes has its own benefits but I would like to talk more about e-filing because this is what has given a beautiful makeover to this ugly duckling (visit https://www.hrblock.in/  for e-filing your taxes ). 

1. Feel the power: File your taxes yourself in a few easy steps and feel like an     expert yourself. Once you do it, you will realize how easy it has always been. 

2. Get enlightened (and zip those pockets): E-filing your tax gives you             access to all the information you need at one stop. You can learn hows and         ifs of   taxes  and  where  you can save money. It will empower you to know       what entitles you for rebates and take decisions wisely.

3. Get your money back: If you know what goes where, you can fix this             jigsaw puzzle in no time. If you have paid your tax through your employer         but missed to report your savings on time (it is difficult when you tend to          miss the deadlines often like me or if you pay your saving premiums in               march). 

4. Make a difference: You will feel good when you pay your taxes on time. You     have to pay them anyway so just play safe and steer clear of the penalties.



           It’s a pity that less than 3% of Indians pay income tax. I am sure if we could make income tax a status symbol with coded PAN cards like platinum, gold, silver, etc, the collection would go up for sure and more people would oblige to upgrade. Let’s not be funny and take #taxpledge this year to file our taxes on time. There are still few days to go and I hope more and more people would join in this year. Let us share and encourage as much as we can. 




              I’m taking the #TaxPledge to file IT returns with the easy Income Tax efiling option from H&R Block at BlogAdda.

Sunday 10 July 2016

Catching up lost growth of children

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How important, in your opinion, is it for children to catch up on lost growth?

           I came across horlicks growth plus @https://growthplus.horlicks.in/ over the internet and i could instantly relate to it and decided to write about it on my blog. Watching their children grow bigger and smarter is probably the best gift to reward the efforts of all the loving parents. With so many kids in my family (nephews and nieces only because my little one haven’t showed up yet) It is easy to spot that each kid responds differently and not everyone can catch up with all the expected milestones despite a healthy and nutritious diet and the parents end up blaming themselves for not doing enough. I said I could relate to it because I am also a pediatrician and coming across children whose parents think that they are not growing enough is almost a daily routine.


        A baby’s nutrition starts with a healthy mother who conceives and
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nurtures the baby with all that she has. A healthy mother, thus, can prevent a lot of future deficiencies by providing adequate stores for the baby. The next important step is to breast feed the baby exclusively for first six months of life and start complementary feeding with home based feeds as soon as the child turns 6 months old. This is another crucial turn because if the additional solid feeds fails to complement the continuing breast feed and fill the energy gap, the child will not be able to grow as expected. This is where many kids falter and lag behind. The parents end up complaining that their young ones have become too picky and choosy to eat what everyone else in the family is eating and the kids mostly survive on junk foods. With all the right steps and counselling etc, this downslide in their growth curves can still be prevented. But to do that the children would not only have to reach the expected calorie intake and diets but also catch up on the deficient nutrients and eventually build up adequate stores for optimal growth. You should always consult your doctor for complete evaluation of the child before you start with any intervention.


         Although a balanced diet chiseled out from family foods is best for optimal
Source here
growth but you may require commercially available preparations, if you have some catching up to do. And Horlicks growth plus is exactly what you need here. It is a specialized nutrition product designed by international pediatric experts for children in age group of 3-9 years who are lagging behind in height and weight. It contains high quality whey protein with added nutrients that are known to enable children to catch up on lost growth. It has been clinically proven for visible growth in children in 6 months and isn’t it great?


        You just have to add Horlicks growth plus to the normal diet of the kid and it will take care of the rest. You will never have to bother about the growth of your child because he will reach all the heights that he/she is destined to achive and all that with only a simple step. So, just get out and grab Horlicks growth plus from the nearest store and thank me late.

For more information, visit https://growthplus.horlicks.in/.

Wednesday 1 June 2016

Have you met this beauty: Datsun redi-GO

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          Life today has become too busy these days where vacations and breaks appear to be struggling for fresh air between the hour and minute hands of the clocks. Living in a metro like Delhi only adds to the chaotic madness. A Delhite spends almost a pahar everyday on the roads which also includes going from point A to B besides being stuck in the notorious jams. A lot of odd things have been said about the rising traffic in the city but it seems now we are even. A new car has come to town and it just may have all the answers I have been searching for. It’s stylish, sporty and oozing with comfort. With the kind of forward styling you would find on a crossover, the Datsun redi-GO is anything but conventional and this is what makes it special. It’s a compact & sleek hatchback with aggressive style and a soothing touch of comfort. Do you think it’s amazing already, I have only started yet? Although this winner is gushing with super exciting features these are my favorite ones and I am sure you will crave for one once you finish reading this. So just grab your seat belt and hang on for this:


Fun. Freedom. Confidence. The ultimate Urban Cross - Datsun redi-GO - the capability of a crossover with the convenience of a hatchback.

1. SUPERB STYLING AND DESIGN

With a wide, robust stance provides the best in class ground clearance. you get and a sporty attitude. Agile and robust under body construction renders it with impressive room and sleek silhouette for a trendy look. An uber-cool instrument panel with an on board drive computer and it’s like your own personal JARVIS. No seriously, it gives the average mileage, distance to empty, fuel remaining, and much more right in front of your eyes instantaneously. The daytime running lamps and the classy interiors are just the cherry on the top. Basically it has got everything you could ask for and even the things you only dreamt of. 


2. SMOOTHEST RIDING EXPERIENCE

The new Datsun redi-GO boasts of a technologically superior suspension system to give you give you a smooth and bump free ride. A small turning radius and high ground clearance makes it perfect to ride on rugged city roads with easy maneuverability. It has been designed specifically to suit the urban life to provide better stability and comfortable handling. The safety part has also been taken care of with a UN94 crash compliant shell and an airbag.


3. HANDSOME FUEL ECONOMY

The 799cc engine will sing and dance to the slightest touch of your feet only to win your heart (and your pocket) with an impressive fuel economy of 25.17 km/L. Moreover, the easy-to-read shift indicator is there to assist you for maximum efficiency and performance. Datsun redi-GO really knows how to arrive in style and keep that beautiful smile on your face shining. 



        The new Datsun redi-GO is a must have for any urban locale and it is just for you if you are looking for a stylish, trendy and yet easy on the pocket ride to make your presence felt. I hope I have said enough to convince you to go out there and test drive this beauty or you may just bring her home. Please tell me how much you loved the Datsun redi-GO and leave your feedback in the comments section. :-)

Fun. Freedom. Confidence. The ultimate Urban Cross - Datsun redi-GO - the capability of a crossover with the convenience of a hatchback.



Saturday 28 May 2016

Movies I love: #Indispire

       
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         I love movies because they can make you question, make you think and make you to act. Here are a few ones from my all time favorites. These movies have  one thing in common- ‘a positive energy’ which is so strong that it will light up each and every  corner of your soul. They all have a message to take home, each beautifully gift wrapped in delicate layers of entertainment to make a complete package. They have the potential to revolutionize the concepts of #education, #social responsibility, #family, #religion, #politics and #terrorism. You will have to watch them to experience the thrill.

“Some movies make you laugh and some make you cry  
but the best ones make you think

These movies will charge up some neurons for sure, so be prepared to meet the new you:-



3 Idiots - ‘An Aamir khan 300 crore masterpiece’ : If you were waiting for a sign that will make you fight for your dreams...then this is it. It has this immense positive energy that you needed for that extra push. It portrays so beautifully that you can fight all odds if you believe in yourself  and success will follow if you have the courage to pursue your dreams. Dreams do come true.






Bawarchi  - ‘A  Rajesh  Khanna  classic from the 70’s’: It is amazing to see how 'kaka' simplifies the intricate relationships of a dynamic family. You will know how little things can make  big changes.  It will compel  your heart to beat for your family. More than  just a 'family entertainer'.






Oh My  God - ‘OMG’ :  A perfect balance between science and religion. An atheist meets the God and religion is redefined in the process...its up to you what you choose to believe. It is not against God but tells you how you can come closer to him and against popular belief temples are not  ‘the toll stations’ on ‘highway to heaven’.  A ‘holy trail’ for us to follow.







Bhootnath Returns  - ‘And what a comeback’ :  It is a movie so intelligently written that it ends up being too good to be  just  a sequel . This political satire  cum children movie will motivate you to come out and vote .  You sure can do what a ‘bhoot’ can.







A Wednesday  -  ‘24 hrs of high adrenaline Drama’ : It is a perfect blend of amazing script, soul stirring dialogues  and powerful performances  of  bollywood veterans executed to absolute perfection. A common man’s fight against terrorism takes the big guns with a surprise. An absolute stunner.




This post is written for Indispire Edition 119: Character(s) from movie(s) or movie(s) that have impressed or influenced you. #Movies

Wednesday 11 May 2016

A Tribute to India: How much did you know?




           I wonder how many of us realize that there is a treasure of ancient and modern day artifacts all around us, how many of us really know India. India is a country that will mesmerize you with its intriguing history and fascinating past. India has always been a land of great achievements, people, fables, anecdotes and what not. It goes without saying that it is indeed very difficult to understand and define India in one go. Other than the beauty, culture, rich history, diversity in nature so on and so forth, we have some mind boggling things that continue to awe people all over the world. Let’s see how each one of us fairs this small test. I am going to give you some of the fascinating facts about India. The drill is, you just have to mark the ones you already knew and give your score in the comments to boast about it. Are you ready?


Ancient civilization

1. India is the largest democracy in the world, the 7th largest Country in the world, and one of the most ancient civilizations.

2. Indians established Harappan culture in Indus Valley Civilization, at a time when many cultures comprised of nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago.

3. Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today. 

4. Indians started cultivating cotton during the 5th – 4th millennium BCE in the Indus Valley Civilization and introduced it to the ancient Greeks who used to wear animal skins and were not even aware of cotton. 



Mathematics

5. The birth of Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus happened in India.

6. The Decimal and Place Value system originated and developed in India.

7. Quadratic equations were propounded by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53(10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 BC during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera: 10*12(10 to the power of 12).


8. The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, long before the European mathematicians.

9. The correct time taken by the earth to revolve around the sun was calculated by the famous astronomer Bhaskaracharya. His calculation showed that the earth takes around 365.258756484 days to go around the sun once.


Education

10. In 700 BC, the world's first university was established in India, in Takshila. It was one of the biggest achievements in the field of education, as more than 10,500 students came from all over the world to receive education in over 60 different subjects.

11. The University of Nalanda was another milestone that was achieved in the field of education in 4th century BC.

12. The oldest written Text – Rigveda: The existence of the Vedas goes beyond recorded history and are said to be passed down from the Gods to the great seers of Bharat. For many human generations the Vedas were passed on through word of mouth, until finally documented by the great Rishis and Swamis. And if the Vedas speak of the Sarasvati River, then it would seem clear that they were written before about 2000 BC, and not later than 1500 BC, as scholars originally believed.


13. First Poetry of the World: The Ramayana is the first poetry of the world. It is a glorious Sanskrit epic written by the Divine Sage Valmiki. It has 24,000 Sankskrit verses. It was later translated by Kamban and Tulsi Das.

14. Longest Poetry of the World: The Mahabarata is the longest poetry ever written. Its 100,000 verses encompass all facets of Dharma or human way of life. It narrates the story about the great Mahabarata war between the noble Pandavas and their evil cousins the Kauravas.



Medicine

15. The earliest school of medicine known to mankind was Ayurveda and it originated in India. Ayurveda is the indigenous system of medicine in India. Ayurveda literally means 'the science of living' (longevity). Unique quality of Ayurveda is that it uncovers and cures the root cause of illness, it is safe, gentle and inexpensive, it sees 6 stages of disease development (where modern medicine only sees the last two stages), it treats people in a personalized manner according to their dosha or constitution and not in any generic manner.

16. Charaka Samhita: World’s first Medical Textbook: In 500 BC Maharishi Charaka wrote the famous Charaka Samhita or Physicians’ Handbook. The Charaka Samhita went into great detail to describe human anatomy, pathology, diagnostic procedures, and treatment for various diseases. Charaka also described the functions of the heart and the circulatory system in great detail.


17. Surgery existed in India even 2600 years ago, when Sushruta, known as the Father of Surgery, conducted many complex surgeries. Sushruta as early as 600 BC used cheek skin to perform plastic surgery to restore and reshape human nose, ears, and lips with incredible results. Shushruta describes the details of more than 300 operations and 125 kinds of surgical instruments . The valuable ancient scriptures have detailed information on Cataract, Artificial Limbs, Cesareans, Fractures, Urinary Stone Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Brain Surgeries. Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient Indian medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism,physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.

18. The art of Yoga that is now popular worldwide originated in India only and was performed by highly revered sages, in the ancient times.



Religion

19. The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, followed by 25% of the world's population originated in India. 

20. Jainism and Buddhism were founded in India in 600 B.C. and 500 B.C. respectively. Sikhism originated in the Holy city of Amritsar in Punjab. Famous for housing the Golden Temple, the city was founded in 1577. 


Engineering and Architecture

21. Adam’s Bridge or Rama Setu: Various theories have been proposed that prove that it was actually an engineering marvel and not just a godly creation. I believe it is a bit of both.

22. As a world heritage site, Ellora caves is a perfect example of magnificent design, architecture, structure and individuality. The entire temple has been carved out of a huge mountain, a technique so unique and hard to accept from that period. It remains one of its kinds in the entire world. Looks like a well contemplated result of a very advanced civilization.

23. Hand Carved Sundials (clock ) at Konark Temple: This temple is dedicated to the Sun god Surya, and no wonder that it embodies an accurate clock, which dates back to 1250 A.D. The whole sanctuary is a flawlessly adorned chariot mounted on 24 wheels (for day clocks and night clocks), each around 10 feet in measurement and drawn by 7 strong stallions. The 7 steeds speak to the times of the week and the 12 sets of wheels speak to the 12 months of the year.

24. The World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The shikhara of the temple is made from a single 80-tonne piece of granite. This magnificent temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola.

25. The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.



Mining and metallurgy

26. Worldwide, India was the only source of diamonds until the discovery of mines in Brazil in the 18th century. Almost 5000 years ago, diamonds were first recognized and mined in central India.

27. India was the world-leader in Metallurgy. Gold jewelry is available from 3,000 BCE. Brass and bronze pieces are dated back to 1,300 BCE. Extraction of zinc from ore by distillation was used in India as early as 400 BCE while William Campion patented the process some 2,000 years later. There is an iron pillar in Delhi dating back to 400 CE that shows no sign of rust or decay. The earliest known book on metallurgy was written by sage Nagarjuna in 10th century.



Population:

28. More than 54 crore people voted in the 2014 General Election – more people than the population of USA, UK, Australia and Japan combined.

29. Number of births in India every year is more than the total population of Australia, and many other nations.

30. India has the largest English speaking population in the world, yes with that literacy rate.

31. The 2011 Kumbh Mela was the largest gathering of people with over 75 million pilgrims. The gathering was so huge that the crowd was visible from space.



Connectivity

32. The world’s largest road network is in India—over 1.9 million miles of roads cover the country.

33. India also has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.

34. The Indian Railways has the largest network of railways with the largest work force employed in its various departments.



Indian Army

35. The Indian Army is the largest voluntary force in the world with a combat trained cavalry regiment. The Indian Army protects the highest combat zone on planet earth, Siachen glacier. The Army training school at siachen is one of its kind.

So, How much did you score out of 35?

           I mostly focused on historical achievements but India is scaling new heights every day, making new records each hour and reaching new milestones each second. There are innumerable modern day accomplishments but enumerating all of them in just one post may not be possible but what you can take away from this one is that India is much much more than you and I can ever imagine. Just embrace the greatness around you and always be proud to be Indian.

P.S. This is just a representative list and not an exhaustive one. You may add your own inputs to add to the greatness.






Saturday 2 April 2016

Do you think you can?




       Social media today is mourning for another innocent life. A young, gorgeous, buoyant and eminent face of Indian television succumbed to the pressures of the society. Sometimes I wonder what does a modern woman thrives to achieve from life. If a successful and independent diva of our so called modern society cannot stand up to their male counterparts then who will? Do you think you can? 


           I am aggrieved to hear that Pratyusha bannerjee has met the same fate as Jiah khan few years back and what is more distressing is that their boyfriends continue to enjoy the perks of being linked to a diva when they were a no one themselves. And this is only the tip of an iceberg. You can imagine the gravity of the situation in small towns and non-metro cities.





Here’s something I wrote on women empowerment:-


मैं नारी हूँ मैं सबला हूँ, समरूप हूँ मैं पर हीन नहीं,

आकाश में उड़ना है मुझको, पर नसीब मुझे क्यूँ ज़मीन नहीं ;

इन आँसुओं पे ना जाना तुम,

के प्रगाढ़ हूँ मैं, गमगीन नहीं ;

दरकार नहीं सहारे की मुझे,

के शोषण से टकराए जो, बलवान वही-और वीर वही ;

बात इतनी सी है, गर समझ पाए कोई,

के तुम मुझसे हो मैं तुमसे हूँ , और एकाकी हम फ़रदीन नहीं ;

एकाकी हम फ़रदीन नहीं…

***


R.I.P. Pratyusha



Saturday 27 February 2016

Living in Fear: Perennial Wars



        Working in healthcare gives you enough opportunity to get acquainted with the panic, fear, chaos and death but it all happens in sort of civilized and controlled environment. No matter how composed you consider yourself, things tend to go out of control more often than you can imagine. The world around us seems to me crumbling upon itself but are thing actually as bad as it appears on news channels. For all those who have not seen the chaos inside these riots happening around us...I would pray that they never get to see it and for those who had...maybe even god cannot do enough for them. 



          The riots and lawlessness gripping the national capital region is probably the worst thing that has happened in recent times. Hearts drenched in fear, eyes oozing with sorrow, the tragic first person accounts and all that negativity smeared over the media, it gives me chills. I thought I could feel their pain but I was mistaken.


         I watched a movie today which I did not know existed till now and it shook me. This movie ‘Firaaq’ depicts the aftermath of Gujarat riots without being politically biased and it is spot on. You have to watch it to feel these riots from the inside and how they affected the lives of thousands of innocent people who had nothing to do with the violence. This movie is an honest attempt to sensitize the masses and the powerful performances of exceptional actors makes it believable. I would recommend this movie to each and everyone because if it cannot move you...nothing will and that would be the ultimate doomsday, the end of civilization. 


दुनिया में कितना ग़म है, मेरा ग़म कितना कम है ;

जलता वो घर मेरा है नहीं, ये पागलपन मेरा भ्रम है ;

हम लाख सही पर एक हैं हम, तन्हा होकर हम क्या हम हैं ;

के आओ थाम लें हम हाथ उनका, जिनकी गुम है हँसी और आँखें नम है ||


This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda. This week’s WOW prompt is – ‘My Doomsday Moment’

Saturday 20 February 2016

Sharma MD: A Medico TV Series




“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set,

I go into the other room and read a book”

                                                                                                 -Groucho Marx





           It is true that a visual impression lasts longer in our memory than audio or texts but I doubt everything we see is worth retaining. It looks like the technology took the supersonic jet towards innovation but content somehow missed the flight. TV is called the ‘idiot box’ for a reason and I bet it has something to do with the shows. Nowadays, we have a plethora of TV channels which we can flip through for hours but only a few that can give some rest to the remote. I love the fast paced, content driven shows with least amount of excess baggage and the typically nice ones would include the following:

1. The crime thriller classic- Castle

2. History & Mythology shows on Epic- Devlok, Epicgrams etc

3. The ones with positive vibes- Zindagi isi ka naam hai hosted by Amitabh Bachchan himself

4. Almost anything on Natgeo- Genius

5. Sci-fi & fantasy- Agents of shield



If I Could Create A TV Show...

If I could make a TV show it would definitely be a story set in an Indian hospital. We have seen some classics on English television like House MD and Greys anatomy but none on Indian channels. Long time back a show called ‘sanjivani’ was born but it soon turned into the same old love triangle and sas-bahu drama. I really crave for a medico show with realistic characters and believable situations. I think the real Indian doctor has never been portrayed on TV and their poor brand image as projected in biased media reports is making the situation worse. Most of the times the good work fails to come out of the gremlin-stricken facade and the incessant efforts of the doctors remains unappreciated. We only get to see the MunnaBhais (funny but unreal) and the money hungry goons in ‘Gabbar is back’ and the media never misses an opportunity to paint an ugly picture on their face. I guess the Idiot box is getting sicker and we should call a doctor before it’s too late. I can only imagine the possibilities...the comic scenarios, the clinical cases, the intense drama, emotional turmoil, the twists & turns and the ironies...all concentrated in a single show. 



Why a Medico TV show should be made?

- It’s a novel concept on Indian television and it has never been seen.

- It’s intriguing and intellectual shows are anyway scarce on the Idiot box.

- Who wouldn’t like an intense series with the script in main lead and may be a comic twist?

- It has the potential to become the next big thing on TV.

- It is required to portray the real life of a medico and create a positive image.

- We all need a break from the ichchadhari nevla’.


           The list may go on forever but I don’t need any more reasons to make a TV show out of it and if I could ever make it a reality.....I will.

I hope you like it:-)

            This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda. This week’s WOW prompt is – ‘If I Could Create A TV Show’.