The 60s saw an influx of hippies coming to India in search of nirvana who brought with them the dope culture! Whether they achieved nirvana or not remains a mystery but the influence of dope stayed, which is catching up with the youth of today.
EVER SINCE the 60s rock music has closely been associated with dope. A walk down the memory lane will take us into a phase that has witnessed numerous revolutions in a quest to search for freedom. Today, a number of youth are falling prey to dope, reflecting the revival of a hippy's culture in some way.
Doping is considered to be trendy. It is becoming a big time fad in urban areas. What is it that lures people into doping? Why do a number of composers think that they can come up with their best works under its influence? What do they feel? How do they react?
The sixty’s saw the culture of rock ‘n’ roll emerge as a phenomenon that sparked off a reason to celebrate music. The scene of listening to rock bands like The Beatles, Dylan, and Doors was compounded with the experience of being high.
The Hippies and Yankees soon sprung up in various parts of the world. They were known for their carefree lifestyle. Rock bands soon began to be taken as symbols of individualism and were known for their unique lyrics and illuminated revolutionary ideas among the youth.
It was not long before music began to be produced for those sitting in their bunks,etc smoking dope and cherishing new albums. This led to the birth of a brand new culture together with music and psychedelics.
Nelly, 32, is doing research on different cultures. She says, “The hippie fad hit the middle class because The Beatles were a band that originated from Liverpool and portrayed rebellious ideas. Nothing was absolutely right or wrong. Kids attempted pot and acid even before they heard about new drugs like heroin, cocaine or crack.”
This was in the 60s but the trend is reviving in this era with great speed. There is immense unrest in the minds of the present day youth. The culture has shifted to rave parties and music. Some blame it on the multinationals while others on the killer rat race.
Dope is the latest trend, the latest fashion. The present generation is all set to find enlightenment.According to Nelly the justification one of the dopers gave her "When maharishis and munis get to smoke it in order to attain nirvana, we have every right to it too. Even we want to find the truth.”
Chirag,18, one of my friend, seems to know everything about dope. Its forms, what it does and how it works. It is like slow poison that will familiarize you with your end. Chirag went on,"you can have a positive trip or negative trip.If you have a positive trip it is fine but in case you get jumbled up in your own thoughts or phobias you can have a negative trip as well which can even result in a heart attack.”
Dope is destruction. It can ruin you. The after effects of drugs are extremely harmful. Many youngsters are trying stuff that they don’t even know about, and which is readily available with the local pan wallahs.
Many foreigners come to India looking for dope. They feel that it is a part of our cultural heritage. They get the notion from sadhus and monks who meditate on the Himalayan peaks.”
Substance abuse leads to a number of health problems in human beings. It is a fast developing phenomenon that needs to be curbed. We need to generate awareness among our youth about its adverse effects. Doping is not a fashion it is a curse.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
WAIT N SEE!!! WHETHER THIS WILL BE OUR NXT PLANET OR NOT???
Tired of getting the right place to settle on this earth,you might be a little luckier,as scientists in Germany had discovered another planet very similar to our planet earth.
FOR LONG HUMANS have been in search of planet which had similar features like earth and which would support life and those looking for a quiet but habitable spot away from the hustle and bustle of this planet EARTH ,GLIESE 581 just seems to be the right place.
GLIESE 581 was identified at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) facility at LA SILLA in the Atacama Desert recently.The planet is located around a star known as the GLIESE 581, which is about 20.5 light years away from earth’s solar system and among one of the 100 closest stars to the sun. One year on the planet lasts for only 13 days.
To make the discovery possible, researchers had to use a very sensitive instrument called HARPS (High Accuracy Radial Velocity for Planetary Searcher) that can measure tiny changes in the velocity of a star as it experiences the gravitational tug of a nearby planet.
Gliese 581 is much cooler and dimmer than our own Sun and the discovery has created tremendous excitement among scientists. The yet unnamed planet is only about one-and-a-half times the size of earth and five times massive than our earth, according to a team of European astronomers.
Its discoverers are not yet clear that if it has a rocky surface like the Earth or if it’s a frozen ice ball with liquid water on the surface.If it is rocky like Earth, according to the prevailing theory, it has a diameter of about one and a half times bigger than our planet and if it is an ice ball, then it would be even bigger.
The GLIESE 581 super-Earth is in what scientists call the "Goldilocks Zone" where temperatures "are just right" for life to have a chance to exist.Until now, all 220 planets found by astronomers outside our solar system have had the "Goldilocks problem." They’ve been either too hot or too cold. Or they are just a plain—too big and gaseous—like uninhabitable Jupiter.
The research team believes that the average temperature of the planet to be somewhere between 0 and 40 degrees celcius and that has set off celebrations among astronomers.
Xavier Delfosse of Grenoble University in France said that the newfound planet could inhabit life and will definitely be a target for future space missions to find extra-terrestrial beings.
FOR LONG HUMANS have been in search of planet which had similar features like earth and which would support life and those looking for a quiet but habitable spot away from the hustle and bustle of this planet EARTH ,GLIESE 581 just seems to be the right place.
GLIESE 581 was identified at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) facility at LA SILLA in the Atacama Desert recently.The planet is located around a star known as the GLIESE 581, which is about 20.5 light years away from earth’s solar system and among one of the 100 closest stars to the sun. One year on the planet lasts for only 13 days.
To make the discovery possible, researchers had to use a very sensitive instrument called HARPS (High Accuracy Radial Velocity for Planetary Searcher) that can measure tiny changes in the velocity of a star as it experiences the gravitational tug of a nearby planet.
Gliese 581 is much cooler and dimmer than our own Sun and the discovery has created tremendous excitement among scientists. The yet unnamed planet is only about one-and-a-half times the size of earth and five times massive than our earth, according to a team of European astronomers.
Its discoverers are not yet clear that if it has a rocky surface like the Earth or if it’s a frozen ice ball with liquid water on the surface.If it is rocky like Earth, according to the prevailing theory, it has a diameter of about one and a half times bigger than our planet and if it is an ice ball, then it would be even bigger.
The GLIESE 581 super-Earth is in what scientists call the "Goldilocks Zone" where temperatures "are just right" for life to have a chance to exist.Until now, all 220 planets found by astronomers outside our solar system have had the "Goldilocks problem." They’ve been either too hot or too cold. Or they are just a plain—too big and gaseous—like uninhabitable Jupiter.
The research team believes that the average temperature of the planet to be somewhere between 0 and 40 degrees celcius and that has set off celebrations among astronomers.
Xavier Delfosse of Grenoble University in France said that the newfound planet could inhabit life and will definitely be a target for future space missions to find extra-terrestrial beings.
Friday, April 6, 2007
INDIAN RAILWAYS-Reaching New Heights
Trains journey will never be the same again.Hats Off to the technological advancements introduced by Indian Railway which runs around 11,000 trains daily,7000 of them passenger trains carrying roughly seven billion people a year.
Indian Railways is India’s premier transport organization and the world’s second largest rail network after Russia. Union Railways Minister Lalo Prasad Yadav’s IT plans for the Indian Railways this year are something to talk about.
Among the few initiatives undertaken by Indian Railway,the one which draw more attention is issuing of tickets through net.Although this service was introduced many years back but it was limited to some major cities only.Now they intend to expand it all parts of the country.As such,e-tickets will be issued in petrol pumps,post offices,ATM's and to make online reservation more accessible Indian Railway have tied up hand with Internet service provider, SIFY ,to enable customers book tickets online.
In addition to the above there are more services that the railway minister has ordered like installation of more than 6000 automatic ticket vending machine across the country.Now tickets would be available with a press of a button by using credit cards.Central Railway is also thinking of issuing smart cards through which daily tickets can be purchased without wasting time standing in queues for hours.
Also successful tests were accomplished for high speed trains running at 300-350 km.Also more than 250 low budget hotels on unused railway land,campaign for cleanliness,and changes in fares of tickets are in the offering.
A common website integrating about 50 Indian Railway websites is also being developed with built-in facilities like e-ticketing and e-tendering.A web portal will be developed in next 3 years especially to attract traffic for filling vacant seats. A train inquiry call center in all four zones will be set up in the later half of the current year with SMS alerts. The call center will also provide tickets,hotel and taxi booking services.
A proposal to provide hand held computers to TTE's is also on the pipeline.The way it will work is that TTE's will feed current situation of vacancies both coach and berth wise in the hand held computers which will directly linked to passenger reservation system(PRS) to allot vacant seats to wait listed passengers hand-to-hand.
Moreover,the Railways is planning on collaborating with the Russian Railways to offer state-of-the -art technologies in railway automation,safety,collision repair,and monitoring of rail network through Global Positioning System (GPS).
The latest instance of increasing use of technology in railways in the installation of LCD television screens behind seats in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express.A forward looking measure that will offer passengers the perfect oppurtunity to catch up with some infotainment while traveling.
Considering the implementation of the technical advances listed above,in coming years indian Railways may well stand in the first position in both technological advancement and size in the world.
Indian Railways is India’s premier transport organization and the world’s second largest rail network after Russia. Union Railways Minister Lalo Prasad Yadav’s IT plans for the Indian Railways this year are something to talk about.
Among the few initiatives undertaken by Indian Railway,the one which draw more attention is issuing of tickets through net.Although this service was introduced many years back but it was limited to some major cities only.Now they intend to expand it all parts of the country.As such,e-tickets will be issued in petrol pumps,post offices,ATM's and to make online reservation more accessible Indian Railway have tied up hand with Internet service provider, SIFY ,to enable customers book tickets online.
In addition to the above there are more services that the railway minister has ordered like installation of more than 6000 automatic ticket vending machine across the country.Now tickets would be available with a press of a button by using credit cards.Central Railway is also thinking of issuing smart cards through which daily tickets can be purchased without wasting time standing in queues for hours.
Also successful tests were accomplished for high speed trains running at 300-350 km.Also more than 250 low budget hotels on unused railway land,campaign for cleanliness,and changes in fares of tickets are in the offering.
A common website integrating about 50 Indian Railway websites is also being developed with built-in facilities like e-ticketing and e-tendering.A web portal will be developed in next 3 years especially to attract traffic for filling vacant seats. A train inquiry call center in all four zones will be set up in the later half of the current year with SMS alerts. The call center will also provide tickets,hotel and taxi booking services.
A proposal to provide hand held computers to TTE's is also on the pipeline.The way it will work is that TTE's will feed current situation of vacancies both coach and berth wise in the hand held computers which will directly linked to passenger reservation system(PRS) to allot vacant seats to wait listed passengers hand-to-hand.
Moreover,the Railways is planning on collaborating with the Russian Railways to offer state-of-the -art technologies in railway automation,safety,collision repair,and monitoring of rail network through Global Positioning System (GPS).
The latest instance of increasing use of technology in railways in the installation of LCD television screens behind seats in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express.A forward looking measure that will offer passengers the perfect oppurtunity to catch up with some infotainment while traveling.
Considering the implementation of the technical advances listed above,in coming years indian Railways may well stand in the first position in both technological advancement and size in the world.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
India and the race for Soft Power
Earlier i.e. pre Cold War period nations are compared on the basis of quantitative metrics such as population, concrete military assets, gross domestic product[GDP] and many more.But post Cold War an Harvard University professor Joseph Nye introduced a term 'soft power'' which compare nations on the basis of culture,traditions,music,literature,sports,etc.
These days a lot of talks is going on this topic[soft power] throughout the world.But India is making the most of this so-called soft power.This is because of rich cultural heritage,traditions,diverse society that this land inherits.Hard power is necessary but it has got limitations.Afghanistan and Iraq has taught us that the side with large army does not always win,but a land with more diverse culture always have an upper side than these big guns.
This is not new.When France lost war in 1870 to Prussia,one thing that French did was rebuild their cultural heritage and art to prove their worth which is appreciated in entire world today.
India is leading in the same path.Indian dance,art,music,fashion,movies have the same effect in the world.This is evident.Bollywood is already making its presence felt in global scenario through entries in Oscars and many more international awards ceremonies.It is Indians who had won beauty pageants maximum times.A.R. Rehman had taken Indian music to another level.Zakir Hussain,and many more through their contributions to classical music made India proud in global stage.
In recent time,Indians also registered their names in Booker and Pulitzer Prizes.F.M Hussain,S.H. Raza dominated the field of art in international level.Even in the field of sports India is tightening its nuts and bolts.
India has the largest poll of engineers,doctors,and scientists throughout the world.Even U.S.A Presidents once asked his people to start learning Mathematics and Science so that Indians does not acquire their jobs.IITS and IIMS made their presence felt.Though MIT,STANFORD,OXFORD are best in world but still IIT entrance paper is considered toughest in the world.
All these indicate that India is heading in the right direction and will be able to create a new image for itself as a responsible power.
way to go India.......
These days a lot of talks is going on this topic[soft power] throughout the world.But India is making the most of this so-called soft power.This is because of rich cultural heritage,traditions,diverse society that this land inherits.Hard power is necessary but it has got limitations.Afghanistan and Iraq has taught us that the side with large army does not always win,but a land with more diverse culture always have an upper side than these big guns.
This is not new.When France lost war in 1870 to Prussia,one thing that French did was rebuild their cultural heritage and art to prove their worth which is appreciated in entire world today.
India is leading in the same path.Indian dance,art,music,fashion,movies have the same effect in the world.This is evident.Bollywood is already making its presence felt in global scenario through entries in Oscars and many more international awards ceremonies.It is Indians who had won beauty pageants maximum times.A.R. Rehman had taken Indian music to another level.Zakir Hussain,and many more through their contributions to classical music made India proud in global stage.
In recent time,Indians also registered their names in Booker and Pulitzer Prizes.F.M Hussain,S.H. Raza dominated the field of art in international level.Even in the field of sports India is tightening its nuts and bolts.
India has the largest poll of engineers,doctors,and scientists throughout the world.Even U.S.A Presidents once asked his people to start learning Mathematics and Science so that Indians does not acquire their jobs.IITS and IIMS made their presence felt.Though MIT,STANFORD,OXFORD are best in world but still IIT entrance paper is considered toughest in the world.
All these indicate that India is heading in the right direction and will be able to create a new image for itself as a responsible power.
way to go India.......
From the desk of a Ganguly fan
Sourav Ganguly____the name is not new in the world of cricket nor it is worth forgetting. A legend who gives batting a new definition. A captain who teaches world how to lead like a king.But these is not all we can say about this batting legend who crossed 10,000 run mark in record matches.He is a man of strong heart,well determined and knows how to bounce back on his critics.
He is the one who introduced many cricketers{Yuvraj Singh,Mohammad Kaif,Harbhajan Singh,Irfan Pathan,Zaheer Khan,Ashish Nehra} to international cricket and in the process of building a strong team to fulfill the dream of every Indian of getting world cup to India he lost his place in the team.Greg Chappel {most likely to be known as former coach of Indian cricket team}theory says ''survival of the fittest" when this batting legend was not in the best of form and made every arrangement for his exit from international cricket but this man deserves something better than this.He made the selectors think on his prospect once again through his performances in domestic and county cricket and made a re-entry to team{this time more powerful and focused than before}and gave his critics a set back.
Though India made a shameful exit from world cup but still no body demurred on his performance and capabilities.
Since most likely many changes can be seen in Indian dressing room, we can hope to see this legend once again leading the team from the front and more important can see India winning matches.......
He is the one who introduced many cricketers{Yuvraj Singh,Mohammad Kaif,Harbhajan Singh,Irfan Pathan,Zaheer Khan,Ashish Nehra} to international cricket and in the process of building a strong team to fulfill the dream of every Indian of getting world cup to India he lost his place in the team.Greg Chappel {most likely to be known as former coach of Indian cricket team}theory says ''survival of the fittest" when this batting legend was not in the best of form and made every arrangement for his exit from international cricket but this man deserves something better than this.He made the selectors think on his prospect once again through his performances in domestic and county cricket and made a re-entry to team{this time more powerful and focused than before}and gave his critics a set back.
Though India made a shameful exit from world cup but still no body demurred on his performance and capabilities.
Since most likely many changes can be seen in Indian dressing room, we can hope to see this legend once again leading the team from the front and more important can see India winning matches.......
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