Why this discrimination??

Vs

How many Indians are feeling bad that India has not been selected for the semifinals of the FIH world cup? Maybe 10%? Or is that too much? I don't know. If this had been cricket what would the response have been? More than feeling bad for India's losing the FIH world cup, I feel bad for Indian's response to it, when their national game is hockey :-(

The birthday celebrations :-)

It was one of the happiest days of my life!! February 28. It was my friend Sanchu's birthday. I was invited to her house. And till the evening before I didn't know how I was going to go to her house or where her house was or what was the itinerary. But I knew I was going definitely. I had not gone to any friend's house till then. It was the first time.

The next morning I woke up and went to bath patiently and as soon as I came out I had a call from Visa, who was supposed to pick me up telling she had started from her house and I had to be there in 10 minutes. It was a record. I ate in 2 minutes and got ready in 2 minutes. I was halfway through eating when again Visa called to tell that she was already there. Somehow I got ready and went there.

When she called Sanchu to ask directions for her house she told her "Sneha won't come. She's going out somewhere. I don't know the full details. She told that she will call", just in front of me. And so it was a shock to Sanchu to see us both coming together. I had forgot to charge my camera battery, so I could not take my camera. But the others except Hamsi had camera and we all took pictures. First me, Visa, Sanchu and her sister went to temple. Then Sanchu went to one of her friend's house and then we got a call from Hamsi telling that she had arrived. So we consciously went slowly to irritate her.

And then the food. My stomach had no empty space for supper when I came back home. We ate so much. We played many games and took photos in various locations (not outside her apartment premises). Her flat mates had also come. We all enjoyed a lot. It was a great day in her life as well as in our lives.

Right spirit to celebrate a National holiday...

We say that India is a Republic nation. But do all of us know what a Republic is? No. Most of the students just mug up ‘India became a Republic on 26th January 1950’ just for the sake of writing exams and getting a good score. They don’t learn it with interest. They are taught about this from Class II. There lies the problem. They are too young to understand that they are learning about their motherland and that it must be done with a feeling of patriotism. They simply don’t understand the meaning of it and hence they feel it is a waste.

So what exactly is a Republic nation? The most common definition for Republic is a state without monarch. It means the head of the state will be elected for a short period and the office is not hereditary. Republic Day is celebrated to rejoice that India has become a Republic nation. We ought to know this and celebrate our Republic day with much zeal. It is a national holiday. There are people in India who see it just as a holiday and enjoy it, without thinking about their nation even for a second. This is completely the wrong way to celebrate this auspicious day. There are only two days in a year which could be celebrated by all Indians, irrespective of their religion, state, culture etc. One is Republic day and the other is Independence Day. Most of the people have a good knowledge about the latter. But about the former, very few know.

The prestigious Indian flag is hoisted in all institutions- banks, schools, colleges etc. But hardly half the people of the institution attend the flag hoisting. They wake up late as in a normal holiday and go on with their routine work. That’s not the right spirit. Attending the flag hoisting should be made compulsory. At first the people would be outraged. But as time goes, it will kindle their interests. In the interim, they will slowly develop an interest for their nation. School students could be made to perform certain events like march past, singing patriotic songs and dancing for patriotic songs. Competitions could be conducted on topics regarding the nation. Everybody could be given a chance to participate in at least one event. I tell this from my own experience. Attending Independence Day and Republic Day programs was made compulsory for us only three years ago. Till that I did not feel the respect I ought to feel for my nation. I chewed out everybody who made me practice march past the whole day. By the next year I developed an interest in attending the function. This time I practice for the march past with much passion than the first time. I don’t practice it because I want my house to win the competition. I do it to commemorate my country’s Republic day. I have developed the patriotic feeling in me without my knowledge.

I feel that I ought to put in my best effort to make India a better nation. I know that it is impossible to do so being a single person. It may be possible for characters like Anniyan and Michael (Aayutha ezhthu), but it is not possible in the real world. But I do try my level best for my mother country. I want to make my fellow countrymen realize that they are INDIANS and that they must work for the betterment of their nation in all fields. So what are we waiting for? Let’s start making preparations to celebrate our Republic day with the spirit of patriotism inscribed in our minds. At least try to salute the flag for a second if you are too busy to attend any Republic day program.

Twilight

Every pathetic reader has books of their own interest. I, being an ardent reader of adventures, had a break when I read the Twilight. It was a far cry from the other adventurous books I've read. It tells a peculiar story about vampires, werewolves and humans. Of course there are many fables woven around such myths, which are told to young children to make them eat, but this stands out because it is a tale which could also be enjoyed by adults.

The story begins as seventeen year old Isabella Swan goes to continue he studies at Forks, her father's hometown. She has an aversion toward that place. The sun gives the folks there a gift of its rays once in a blue moon. She feels out of place there. But the others doesn't seem to feel so and shower their friendship on her. She has a strange idea that Edward Cullen doesn't like her. But soon enough they become friends, but Bella notices strange things about him which others fail to notice. For instance he changes his eye colour and he suddenly shifts moods. Soon she finds the truth about him, that he was not human. He was a vampire. Yet she continues her friendship. She feels no anticipation. But soon enough she gets into trouble with a bunch of vampires who are trying to quench their thirst by her blood.

The writing has three sequels- New moon, Eclipse and Breaking dawn. New Moon narrates Bella’s reaction when Edward decides to leave her for her to have some human happiness. She is also chased by a deadly vampire. Her best friend turns out to be a werewolf. But this is not so interesting as Twilight. The story seems to drag in the middle, but soon enough, it gains momentum. I’m looking forward to read the Eclipse and breaking dawn. But I can do so only when I find the time for it.

Last but not least, I would advise you if you're planning to read the Twilight to start doing so only when time is at your disposal, because once you start reading it you will not be able to move away from it.

Do we need extra honing for boards..............???

"What! No tuition for 10th board! Are you kidding?" This is the response which I got from my friends when I told them about me not going for tuition.

Going to tuition in 10th and 12th has become something necessary. It is inculcated in today's young generation's minds as an integral part of life. Just like how they know that they should start schooling when they are four years and start their college when they complete school, it is imbibed in their minds that they must go for tuition when they go to 10th. Kapil Sibal was right when he told that students are getting over-stressed in 10th. But that does not mean we need not write the 10th board at all. Only if we write the 10th boards, we can have an idea how the boards will be, for otherwise we'll suffer in 12th which is more important. Its the 12th board which decides our future.

What is the purpose of school if it is necessary to go to tuition in tenth? Tuition teachers teach the same thing that is taught in school. You may tell we ought to go at least for the tests they keep. Well, don't they keep tests in school? If we understand the concept properly, then we can handle any sort of question. The only condition is we must understand the concept thoroughly and apply our brain. Tuition is meant only for weak students. In older days it was an insult if people went to tuition. But today it is vice versa. We need to concentrate in the class and do the daily portions as soon as possible. I know that it is impossible to complete the daily portions on the same day. But we should put in our best effort. I know a student who had Maths tuition from 6A.M to 7.45A.M, school from 8.30A.M to 4P.M, test in school from 4P.M to 5P.M. From there she would go directly to Physics tuition at 5.30P.M and Chemistry tuition at 7P.M. She would return home at 8.45P.M, have dinner and study for the next day's tuition and school tests till midnight. She would again wake up at four in the morning. As a result her marks in the first terminal exam reduced to 80% from 90%. She might have done better if not for this tight schedule.

Also the use of cell phones and internet. Why do school going students need mobile? If they have to have some doubts cleared they can use the land line and if it is not available, their parent's cell. They need not have a mobile of their own. They will be tempted to SMS their friends. In some cases, they will be tempted to sneak it into school, just for the fun of it. The parents must see to that they do not misuse it. Also the use of internet must be controlled.
For implementing all this lots of self control is needed. If these methods are followed, we can excel in our studies, without our knowledge and without any extra coaching.