Inculcate Patriotism! Start from home.

The recent unfortunate aircraft crash in Kozhikode did bring memories of other incidents where people have laid down their lives for a bigger cause and towards our Country. And here I’m sharing my thoughts on patriotism on a slightly different perspective, for us to act upon.

For people who have known me, I was fortunate enough to experience from a close range how does the life of a Navy officer go around. For the unknown, my father worked in the navy for 19 years. Like most of the children with similar backgrounds (armed forces), the schooling happened with Kendra Vidyalaya (KV) and that's the best thing today when I look back. Primary education was different in the 1990s and early 2000s. In the last 15 years, it went for a lot of changes both curriculum and expense wise. And with this year pandemic, institutional education is gearing up for digital acceleration.

As part of KV, I was amidst classmates covering the length and breadth of the country. And in that classroom, my patriotism blossomed. We were bonded by the mantra India with varied cultural backgrounds rooted in different parts of India. KV education system is one of the best and unparalleled with private institutions in my perspective. 

The moment I say 1999, most of us would resonate with Kargil War. My classmate's father bravely fought and laid his life for India. We all as classmates went through a real emotional experience when the news broke. Partly trying to absorb and partly trying to speak something to our friend.

As life have it - I came out of KV, did engg and post-graduation from good institutes albeit without a much-diversified friends’ group. And today in 2020, as I and my husband are upbringing our child from a so-called defined Indian household setup (my husband is part of the majority of millennial group with little or no connection with armed forces), thinking hard on how I should inculcate patriotism in my kid's heart and mind.

International schools (overpaid) with the highest syllabus may still only feed book knowledge about our country which will not suffice. And the surrounding environment will reflect Patriotism as coming together twice in a year for flag hoisting ceremonies and supporting India in sports!

In my view, we the parents and elders in society should take a lead and that too from our homes first. To the younger kids, we could tell recent historical incidents of our armed forces as stories. With the grown-up kids, we can spend their screen time (1/10th) together in watching India's history and pride (it can be about anything/everything about our country)

And for the adults, post watching all the Uri’s / Gazzi’s and patriotic series, do get to know in real what it takes to be part of armed forces even if you are over-qualified by now (in terms of age). Knowledge yourselves and keep sharing in your circles, it will benefit someone and in return all of us.

One thing which this pandemic has thought all of us - anything can happen at any time for anyone.

It's an opportunity for us to act upon and not to pass it to next-gen.

As we celebrate another year into independence, my pledge would be ensuring my kid as he grows, knows the sacrifices of the armed forces towards securing all of us all these years! Jai Hind!

Happy reading…. Stay healthy! Stay Safe!

Angel moment in Lockdown Period !

By now, all of us realized the fact Coronavirus is here to stay for a considerable amount of time and us human beings have let go of our acclaimed style of living henceforth.

During the last few months, I felt like an angel whenever (daily) I stepped out of my apartment. Yes, I had to commute daily even during lockdown thanks to my profession. From childhood, I strongly believed within me there is an angel and just the daily routine life does not allow to express and live like an angel.

So fast forward to 2020, and Covid-19, and Bangalore. As the country prepared to face the lockdown early this year in March, I was ready to commute in my scooty as usual. Initial few weeks while commuting, it was more of observation, as people hurried to get things, police personal trying to put barricades and offices exploring how to make people work albeit from their homes. Into 3^rd week of lockdown, I started to feel like an angel whenever I rode my bike to my office.

The usual two-way commute between my home and office suddenly became an enjoyable intracity journey for me. “I felt like I’m in another world, the roads welcomed me with a cool breeze rather than vehicle movements, I was on my own in the elevated flyover which runs for 9.9 km, the trees were shedding leaves for me, I had time to have a look at the lake more soulfully, I could enjoy the remaining green (sic) of this garden city and just wondered how it would have been a few decades back!! And then there was slight drizzle most of the days which was just blissful during this intracity journey😊” We all can have a similar experience with mother nature more regularly in a nearby small park also. Nature heals our mind and will continue to do so if we preserve whatever is left out.

While I agree partly the existing crisis helped me to feel the angel within me, I also think it is down to how we look at things. For the initial few weeks, I was too worried about exposure to pandemic at working but then later I was able to experience a journey in my daily commute. Working women do have time but then constrained to think for home when not at work. I’m also part of this category just started to emerge out.

Like the rest of the world, I am also eagerly waiting for vaccine development which would save millions of people and allows us to get back to the physical world. Till then will try to discover more positive stories on a personal front.

Stay safe, stay healthy! Happy Reading!

 

Rekindle | Revitalize | Revive (PASSION vs LIFE)

Its been nearly 3-4 years since I took a pause to reflect upon how I’m living and when I did so last week, there was a clear picture emerging. Becoming a mother is the sweetest thing which had happened in my life so far and parenting did bring a new set of routines with everyday excitement. And when I decided to resume my career 6 months ago, the routine become so quick that hardly anytime to reflect up on my passion in life. This blog post is sort of reviving my passion and yes life changes and we need to adopt it yet not at the complete cost of letting go the passion which you had from childhood days. Its like re-discovering the magic within your heart and mind and then finding a time for yourself on a regular basis. As I had stated here in my blogger profile, I did have a passion to draw, paint, reading books and I do still have 😊 It was evident when I drew pics for my 2 yr old toddler few weeks back – it took no time for me to draw and both I and kid were equally happy 😊 for different reasons. Like most of the women in my country, I also entered family life albeit after my post-graduation and working for few years. And I believe my friends also had to shelve their passion in the larger scheme of things life has thrown at us. Through this post I basically want to convey, we should rekindle the ideas/thoughts/passion each of us have and more importantly let’s re-engage on them. As they say, women who are homemakers (starting from my mom) fulfil the wishes of her immediate surrounding first and foremost and get content with it. In fact, I just wonder what would have been the passion for my mother when she grew up. It would be good to discover it and I’m going to do it 😊 And the other reason for me to write today is future oriented. When I fall into the aged category definition and after spending 3/4th of my time in this earth, there should be few things little or big which you have done for yourself with passion through out these years. Time spent for yourself is more valuable in the end and there is no alternate to it. And if you think finding time in a regular manner is going to be difficult, I do agree but then whenever we want to have diversions from the problems, our passion could be the key here. It can go hand in hand with bring more focused to tackle the problem also. It is easier said than done (live your life to the fullest) and in the case of a typical system laid out for married women in India, the phrase doesn’t hold good unless there is enough support around you. And in my opinion, let us rekindle the passion within us and that’s the reason Im articulating my thoughts over here in my blogpost after a gap of 6+ years. “Happiness is a state of mind” as put by Walt Disney, and our passion can be one way where you reach that state without depending on others. And with this blog, I have turned what seemed to be a full stop into a comma 😊 YES, time has come to write again, happy reading!! 😊

New Phase --- Work life !!!!!!!

Question arises whether its a Dream or reality, most of the time its tough to face the reality but chasing the reality making the desired one holds the challenge. Dream no words to express its vivid but its a instant pleasure, this is all life is about where expectation mets the need -attains saturation, " saturation" can be applicable for products right not for living beings, once we have reached saturated point there won't be any growth, so can we say human life is complicated??? To my perspective LIFE has endless meaning relationship, education, work,money, emotions many things play in it. It depends upon how we take it up. We enter into different stages of life, we meet different people many insights we get sometimes many realities come true. Hope you may think what this blog is about-its all about work life. It was a passion for everyone who passes out from college its CAMPUS today this word has become a marketing strategy for many colleges but it gives enlightenment to many budding youngsters. Its a different journey than what i thought, till that everyone will be in a nutshell of parents, faculties, friends etc entering into the corporate with new faces, new people in and around its something sounds different. But this will give you a better experience along with bitterness. This stage has some hidden meaning of WHAT'S LIFE. Sometimes its tough to face reality as I told new people new experiences are the gifts of this stage, I accept you may find people with negative thoughts crossing all the hurdles lies your ability, its a competitive world everyone says ya its competitive there is big ???? how smart you are ?? Smartness in a positive way not to pull others legs. Nowadays its a strategy monetary benefits drives the performance we are going in a wrong path. thats how we can find materialistic persons rether than person with passion. Thats how prsent world is!!! Its all about how we manage and take it. While entering into this stage I was happy as everyone but it changes as days goes on because coping with the reality is tough initially, I might have missed out many things if I have not worked !!!! Initially you will be walking on a rugged surface it pains and hurts, when you keep on walking it smoothens the path you travel. Its all about our mindset how we take it up. Its a nice journey with both bitterness and sweetness. Hope everyone should enter into this stage and taste the fruitfulness with the bitterness I hope lets not be materialistic lets the journey continue and give more insights. Lets salute on great day for the souls who respect their job more than there life serving the nation gives one the pride and makes them brave, lets salute all the souls behind this Independent India. We think work life is bitter being inside in a secured and sophisticated place. In rality we all are travelling in a smooth surface but still we find emptiness !!!!!!!! India is a rich country ya rich with Young resources. Lets work together - "young resources" to errode corruption, to ensure safety - nowdays its a big ???.Lets work with passion not be materialistic. Its all up to us !!!! Its all what you contribute that you will get back !!!!!!Be realistic, respect others thought , value emotions !!!! This what is needed!!!!!!! Happy Republic Day !!!!!!

Once it was reality!!! Now it’s only memories!!!

Once it was a dream of pursuing it. It took two years to shape it up as desired!!!!!! Random thoughts scrolling here and there, assuming things, dreaming about it. It was a moment filled with happiness as well as fear. I gonna do M.B.A which gave happiness and on the other hand, it was fear entering into a new world. Lot of scattered thoughts- how it would be, will I make it up, how about new friends and above all, it was residential. It was my first day entering into the paradise that I have not known before. I met couple of people whom I spoke earlier but unfortunately they left the place. As days went on, I processed myself to fit in. Beginning days were materialistic. Everything changed with time and gradually I was accompanied by few people over there. Later,I realized that they were GEMS in my life who turned my materialistic world to a fun-filled life. It was great fun with you all. Enjoyed with group studies, Chit chats, commenting each other and lot more!!!!!!!! Food court was the place where almost everyone here had best part of their time. Music and food- so obviously, it gave a good ambience. Thanks to Jonny anna for that. My days of first year started with newspaper (GNR) which was a good habit but unfortunately many couldn’t continue and continued with regular academic stuffs. Some classes were boring but yet enjoyed. I even remember how Pavi, Sanya and Ansu used to sleep in MPP classes and time started fleeting with thrill and fun. “Library” it’s like a mini world, stuffed with lot of books and information that our brain could hardly accommodate. Many used it efficiently but few went there just to drag time. The very next thing was mentoring - the place where I was groomed up, had lots of fun there. I am glad to be a part of it with great people, whom I admired in life like Ram, Sid and many more. I wonder that they had more things in them than our library comparatively. I hope everyone here might have enjoyed their mentoring. “134” I think this was the heaven with screams of joy and strings of emotions with my roomie Saranya, Pavi, Sanya, Greeshma, Sahana, Ansu, Uma, Vinitha and of course the list goes on. Graduation day celebration, Milaap ’12, Vidaai ’12, Induction were the time all 98 souls of 2013 mingled with each other and made it all a grand success. Let it be anything like organizing, planning, decoration or media, the effort for the proper execution was very much visible. I have been lucky to learn too many things from each one of you. Everyone had their own talents. It was a batch with love, affection, encouragement and lot more that cannot fit into words. I was astonished to see the encouragement and support given by all of them. It’s said that disputes arise in the place of tight bonding. True but it vanishes within seconds before anyone could even realize it. That’s what life was all about in my sweet place. If I’m not thanking this person,it won’t be fait enough. The one who helped me to take up my career in an effective way by teaching me basics of accounts to which I have never been exposed earlier- that’s none other than Pavi. she is the one with whom I can share everything and expect to be supportive all the time. We were planning for many trips which failed most of the times and we finally ended up with the implementation of Cochin trip- Sanya’s place. I must say that I was amazed by the hospitality and enjoyed a lot with Arya and many more. And the day with Don (Uma)- unforgettable. Movies, visit to Dhyanalingam , Hari bhavan and many more things in that trip was all fun  . I can’t forget the group studies with Pooja and the group. In hostel with Kutti chathan (nithya), Peter Priya, Don, Harry, Anu, Aishu, Jyo, Vimalya, Priya had a wonderful time. Even in house activity,had lots of fun with Pooja, Pranith,Vishnu and many more people. There were quiet a lot of people like Arun, Swamy gi, Guru, quiz genius- Ansari, Manoj Mahadevan and many from whom I had a chance to learn a lot. Finally I should thank the people who organized our get together in great manner – Danapal and team. Everyone enjoyed and it was like a cherry on the ice-cream. That was the moment I was reminded that those two sweet years have finally reached its end. Atlast, eyes were filled with tears and we were searching for words to express  and special thanks to Dharshanya for her pencil sketch and Anu,Bala’s kavithai. I have mentioned GEMS it won’t be fair if I don’t let your names out - Pavi,Saran,Sanya,Ansu,Greeshma and Sahana. I’m gifted enough to have great moments with you all. Two years end but I wish this relationship and friendship must be everlastingThe paradise that I have been speaking about is none other place than JSB. Now my mind is filled with wandering candy memories. It was like a family of 98 members saying adieu to each other with a tint of pain spreading inside. But behind all these, our paradise has shaped each and every one of us to meet the society as a better human being. This was the place where I learned what’s life; this was the place where I was inspired by thoughts; and this was the place where I got an inspiration in life. Hope this bonding will last forever. I’m happy to see entrepreneurs, managers, CEO’s on May 1st –get together. It will be a day of regaining energy. I can say it was the best part of my life. Miss you all :(

EVOLUTION AND EFFECT OF CURRENCY

Currency is not money. Currency is a medium of exchange that can be used to purchase something that has value, called an asset. Throughout the ages human-beings have been treating livestock, grains, spices, shells, beads and paper as forms of currencies. People who engaged in trade had to process their transactions by carrying the items they buy and sell. This was known as Barter system. It was also called "carrying out a trade". If someone with 5 cows wants to buy 20 hens, he has to carry them to the buyer’s place and exchange them. This includes many drawbacks like transaction costs, shoe leather cost – which includes cost of time and effort, bargaining costs, problem of divisibility- that is we can’t sell half a cow if we need to buy hens. So this leads to highly inefficient payment system. Currencies had not involved till then.

Gold and silver have been the predominant currency for 4500 years, but they became money in Lydia, in about 680 B.C. when they minted into coins of equal weight in order to make trade easier and smoother. Gold was known for its value among other metals at that time and so they used gold coins for trading purposes. Since gold has intrinsic value if it traded in commercial market this may lead to inflation. Till then Rs./$/pounds were not introduced.

Later Representative Money came into scene because of the inconvenience of the traders to carry heavy gold coins. Then government ordered people to surrender the gold coins and equivalent papers were issued to them. During 19th and 20thcenturies, the majority of currencies were based on the representative money. One can have enough paper money to go for a jolly trade, like how we have plastic cards in our wallets now. When the world was on the classical Gold standard, there was no inflation. Currency was real, and it was verifiable money, meaning that there was actual gold and silver in the treasury backing it up.

But to fund the wars, the costliest of human endeavours, Governments replaced representative money with currency (Fiat money) that can be printed in unlimited quantities. World was following the gold standard slowly. As per Federal Reserve Act of 1913, Federal Reserve has to keep a 40% reserve of “lawful money” (gold) at the US treasury. Generally if we give $20 dollars of gold they have to give us $20 of money in return in this case there will be no inflation. But when we give $20 gold they give us $50 of money as a 40 % reserve. And when this is given to foreign banks and commercial banks uses “Fractional Reserve Banking”. This allowed banks to maintain a certain amount of currency on hand for withdrawals and loan out multiples of the amount. Say, 10% is the reserve requirement set by the Federal, a bank must keep 10% of the currency deposited and can loan out 90% of those deposited. This means if $20 Gold is in vault, Federal could put $50 in circulation. Then banks could create loans of more dollars, which will result in circulation of more money and reduction in the resource “GOLD”.

Imagine if one fine day government asks us to exchange papers for gold, there will a huge crowd with lot of money in a long queue only first few will get gold. What will happen to others?? At that time there will no value for money. There will a burst in the bubble so that the situation will change like the burst in the “Tulit Bulb” bubble situation. It may happen anytime anywhere. Anything in abundance will lead to blow up the big bubble. This is what the present scenario and this is the fact everyone should know to balance the crisis.

NATURE

Nature has given mankind all necessary things for his living. But mankind has neglected to preserve the gift.
We get food from land,clean air,safe drinking water and so on.But the modern civilization and industrial progresses have done much harm to nature.Land is hardened by the use of fertilizers and insecticides.Air is polluted by harmful gases emitted by industries and automobiles.Water is polluted by industrial sewage.Monsoon has failed resulting in drought in some ares and flood in the other parts.River water has become unfit for marine life.The recent threat is the global warming which is due to deforestation and harmful gases.So to overcome this,tree plantation should be taken on war footing and the use of plastic materials should be reduced and in recent future it must be banned.Dumping waste restricts water circulation and ground water level has gone much deeper.Nature has provided us with herbal and medicinal plants for almost all the ailments. Awareness has been created to use herbal plants and this method is called naturopathy.
It is mankind's duty to preserve the natural gifts for our future generation.

"Industrial progress should not be at the cost of nature"