MAN AND LIFE - A PAS SEUL?

              Death. It is an event less celebrated than perhaps it deserves to be. We people have a plethora of perspectives when it comes to death. Some believe it to be the "end of life" , while others think of it to be the end of the "Mortal Phase" of life. While some believe that emptiness follows death, others believe that the journey of "true life" finds its predecessor in death. There are an infinite beliefs surrounding it.
However, in their most basic form, they ( the beliefs ) can be subdivided into two generalizations.
              In order to avoid further complications of the matter and to sum any such further perspectives, I have prepared 2 graphs which, according to me, denote the above mentioned generalizations.
In the graphs below, the X-axis represents time, while the Y-axis represents various aspects of life such as Quality, "The Journey", and so on.... The origin (0) represents birth.

      I now return to the root of why I was dwelling upon the uncelebrated event. In many cultures, Death is supposed to be the event wherein a man meets his Creator. It is oft believed to be the "time of ultimate judgement" when a man's merits are weighed against his sins.
      When I asked myself who God was, the answer I received was unclear. However, over time, it has become apparent that the question to be asked was not 'Who is God?' but rather 'Is God a who or a what?'. To find this answer, each individual must look within himself and follow what his or her heart tells them. However, the ultimate question is this-" Did God create us or did we create God?"
     From ancient times, man has looked for a higher power to absolve him of his problems. When the power was realized, the search for its personified form began....and it continues till date.
                         TODAY WE KNOW IT AS THE PROCESS OF SELF- DISCOVERY.

Indian Culture and tradition

 India has been home to an array of civilizations, languages, traditions and religions. Hence, it is quite a task to define the 'Indian culture', for the Indian culture has evolved over time to develop into a culmination of several traditions, ideas, languages, festivals and beliefs.
 Right from the primitive civilizations like the Indus valley civilization, to the Aryans, the Huns, the Turks, The Persians, the Afghans and the British have invaded India and flourished here making her a land of diversity - regional, religious and linguistic. This diversity has continually contributed to the Indian one of the richest and most diverse and multifarious cultures of the world. Moreover, the fact that India is the origin of four major religions of the world and that she is , even today, home to a large population of Muslims, Christians, and Jews is testimony to the conclusion that the Indian culture is a culture that has constantly undergone revolution and has always welcomed change.
 However, there also prevail certain evils claiming to be part of the Indian culture, thus, threatening to tarnish it's image. It needs to be understood that no culture ever promotes sinister tradition. Any such practice is a misinterpretation by man, that has to be put away. The Indian culture shows not a trace of conservativeness. On the contrary, history is witness to the statement, that it is quite liberal. Upholding true honor and beauty of our culture, it is the responsibility of us Indians to defeat all the obstacles that stand in the path of its development and fame.

Hope

Hope blesses the eager drops of the river
With the boon that they'll meet the sea
And motivates the caged bird to live
So that one day he'll be free.

Hope gets the empty, naked Tree
To stand the cold winds of winter
Hope gets the Sun to set at night
So He could rise again even brighter.

Hope steers the soul of the impoverished man
From childhood through youth to the waning age
Hope inspires the most troubled of poets
To start anew on a brand new page.

With Hope the salmon fights the river
To see her young ones grow
While teaching us all along
To never let Hope run low.

My heart beats for Mumbai

     Mumbai is a land apart a destination like no other, mysterious, colorful, exotic and always memorable. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and is one of the cosmopolitan cities. With special cuisine of vada pav available on almost every street of Mumbai, it is a big package of culture and legend that never fails to captivate the imagination of the visitor.
     Called the city of dreams, Mumbai rates in one of the highest populated city and migrations in the country. Mumbai is a land of fascination! Millions of tourists from all around the world find contentment in on the dazzling long Queen's necklace at Marine Drive, Juhu Beach and Hanging Gardens. Blessed with one of the most believed Lords -Ganpati at Siddhivinayak, this place will also give you a sense of peace and religious fervor. A trip to the sightseeing of Mumbai will never be complete without a look at Jalsa, Mannat and other houses which adorn the names of celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan.
It is said that Mumbai never sleeps, true, even at 3 in the morning you'll see highways teeming with cars.
     However, Mumbai, presents a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, historical sites and cuisines and the glamorous Bollywood. Mumbai; always warm and inviting is a place of infinite variety- in a true sense, Mumbai is a city of dreams and I being a true Mumbaikar. 

∞ INFINITE ∞

Short and sweet, yet long and beat

Incandescent yet evanescent

This my friends, is THE paradox

that has wise ones grappling with their locks

Every night, we sit and yawn

at what may be, the price of dawn.

We think only, of our lives finite

but reconsider, is it right?

Time gleefully passes

as the benefits we reap,

But remember this, O friend!

The greedy will always weep.

The abundant infinity

may one bemuse,

Yet the infinitesimal time we have

won't ever cease to amuse.

Better live NOT knowing

which moment be your last.

ALIVE to the infinite mystery of it all,

you might enjoy LIFE at last!

Computers have replaced Man

View
Computer are a boon to mankind. They do all the hard work while we lounge in the sunshine. They calculate answers in seconds which takes us minutes or hours even. Through computers, we can send e-mails, pictures,etc instantly. You don't have to wait for days for a message to reach it's destination. We can talk with our relatives who live far away through computers. We can video call them. The can actually be present at a function without travelling thousands of miles. Computerization has saved so much paper ! Documents don't necessarily have to be on a hard copy. Information of Ten thousands of paper can be stored on a single Pen drive. Information on any subject can be obtained with the click of a mouse. It is the wish-fulfilling tree of knowledge.
Counter-view
Computers have many disadvantages. There is unemployment because of computers. There is no need of a post man since e-mail was invented. Post men have lost their jobs which was a source of income for the whole family. Information stored on the computer can be destroyed with a single virus. Moreover, it can be hacked by strangers and used. What is the use of learning Mathematics if you are going to use a calculator...? What is the use of teachers if you can get the same information off the Internet ?

Farewell speech for Xth std

 My dear friends,

  Today, we enjoy our last day of school. More than half of our life has been spent within these walls. Today we say 'Goodbye' to it. But fear not, mon amis, Because Goodbye is not forever. Goodbyes are inevitable. Goodbye isn't the end. Its just a way of saying "I'll miss you till we meet again." And meet again we will.
  When we used to get up, we knew what we had to do. Go to school. But now that school has ended that routine will get disrupted. I haven't quite imagined life without going to school. In vacations, you like the fact that you don't have to go to school at first but at the end of the vacation you are eager to go back to school. Imagine a vacation, that will last forever. Can you stay away from school then ? If we don't come to school, how will we tease our friends or bunk periods or roam in the corridors ?

   10 years ago, my parents admitted me in this school, expecting me to come out with a bundle of certificates, learn good manners, make life-long friends and be a good citizen. So did yours. Because of the wonderful teachers we have got good manners and I am sure everyone will be good citizens. We have made life-long friends and we all are at least going to have a passing certificate. Other than that the school has given us ample of opportunities to get certificates.
   Even though we promise that we will keep in touch, sometimes we can't. People drift apart. Friendships are lost. But what's lost can be found. All you need is the perfect memory. So make the best use of this time and make tonnes of memories to remember these good times by.
   But today, we must say Goodbye to this school. Not only a good bye but also a Thank you. A Thank you for all it has taught us may it be discipline, studies, manners, humility,etc Thank you.
   

Travel Broadens the Mind

   Travelling is not merely going from one place to another and back. It is the journey and observations that matter.
   A country always thinks the other country as a blood-thirsty, war waging Spartans because of stories from ancestors. But unless you go to that country, how will you know the sameness of the two countries and chip off the baggage left by you ancestors ?
   During travel you will see things beyond you imagination. Right now, your world as students is school. But if you go out and explore the world, your world will be a tiny speck of mud in the whole bog or marsh. A needle in a haystack.
   In school, there is competition to be friends with the most popular kids. In the outside world, that doesn't matter. As you travel, you will make many friends and colleagues. You will see hundreds of the 'Popular kids' go by.
   Travel changes your perspective of the world. Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekanand travelled the whole length of India. They had come for a reason to India but as they travelled they found another thousand reasons to stay.
   Travel broadens your perspective and mind. It helps you to think outside of your safe little bubble of a world. But to do this you must travel and take the initiative. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.
  Why do you go away ? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you from with new eyes and extra colours. And the people there see you differently too. Coming back to where you started is not the same thing as never leaving.

Report - Food Mela

                               Rainbow-licious Food !

By a Student Reporter-

PTVEM, Dec. 17 : A Food Fiesta was organized on the PTVEM ground on 15th December. The students of Grade 9 participated. The catch was the food had to be related to Rainbows !

   A lot of different, Delicious but nutritious and home-made food-stuffs were seen. ' The Crock Of Gold' stall  adopted the idea of the legend of the crock of gold at the end of the Rainbow. There were gold coins made of chocolate being sold. There were rainbow-colored cakes and some awesome fruit punches and smoothies being sold. The 'Leprechauns' have foodstuffs that was minuscule. Mini-Burger, Mini-smoothies complete with a Mini-umbrella !

   There were around 25 stalls. The best decorated stall went to 'VIBGYOR'. They had many shiny rainbow cut-outs stuck all aver the place.Seven lengths of cloth of different rainbow colors were spread from top to bottom. At the foot of these cloths there were cricks of cold spewing with Gold Confetti and gold coins.The most profitable stall went to the ' Leprechauns'. Apparently, the customers are fascinated by minuscule foodstuffs.

   The food Fiesta ended at eight in the evening. Ten thousand rupees were raised for charity. A box to donate money was kept at the entrance and exit. Another two thousand rupees were raised by this for charity. This money will go to the National Institute for the Blind.

   All in all, It was a wonderful Food Fiesta !

Failure is an opportunity for Success

       The man is rising. Commended by those around him, he takes in as much success as he can. Now well established, the man has adapted to being appreciated if not anything else.
       Cue,the game changer:Luck. Everything changes overnight;from rags to riches, from zeniths of glory to pitfalls of despair, the man appears to be in a vicious downward spiral, seemingly unending. It is indeed at times like this when a man's conviction is truly tested. Someone, whom I know not, had once said :- A measure of a man's success is not how he climbs, but rather how hard he bounces back on falling. Failure, i believe, awakens in a man a burning desire to prove to his peers that he still has what it takes. It gives the person a chance to make amends on his way to success. Failure opens up a whole new perspective towards life. Some of the most eminent personalities reached the peaks of their respective careers after having undergone tremendous lows. A few notable individuals include Madhu Dasa Pandit, the founder of 'Akshaya Patra', who came close to committing suicide, Thomas Alva Edison, who failed innumerable times while trying to invent the electric bulbs as well as the honorable Jamshetji Tata, the industrialist who went bankrupt not one, not twice but thrice! What we ought to learn from these examples is that however dark a tunnel may seem, there is always light at its end. The trick is to remain undeterred by the darkness and reach for the light.
        It is of utmost importance to have a conviction that no path is too bumpy, no sea is too stormy, no storm is too violent if we look at it from an optimistic perspective; And whether we choose to accept it or not, failures remain an integral part of our lives for it is the failures that inspire us to give it our best shot, to push ourselves to the limit and it is failure that moulds a part of our character that we do not even know exists. It is a new, bright morning that follows the darkest hour.

Perks and cons of Friendship

Sometimes, in life, there are really bonds formed that can never be broken.You find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. You may find it in a spouse or parent but there is also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, one person who knows you sometimes better than yourself, is the same person who's been standing beside you all along.
In school or college, you say you are friends forever. But do you really mean that ? Will you always there for the other person whenever he or she is in need of help ? 

If you find a person who will always stand by you, who will have no judgement in their eyes when they look at you, who will correct you when you are wrong, who knows you better than yourself then you can call that person a friend. A friend is someone who you trust your life with. You can't just call someone a friend over a day's acquaintance. Because trust cannot be handed over, It has to be earned. You should not make a friend of a person who walks behind you. You may not lead. You should not make a friend of a person who walks a head of you. You may not follow. Make a friend of a person who will walk beside you.
Having a false friend, is dangerous but not fatally so. When you lose them it doesn't hurt as much. They stab you in the back. You don't know when it's coming. Maybe that's why it becomes easy. An insincere and evil friend is more feared than a wild beast. A wild beast may wound your body, but and evil friend will wound your mind. But having a true friend can also be harmful. When you lose them, it hurts the most. The wound takes more time to heal. They stab you in the front. Leave you alone in the universe. But not intentionally.
Abraham Lincoln once said, " Am I not destroying my enemies by making friends of them ? " So true are his words. Helen Keller said, " It is better to walk with a friend in the dark, than to walk alone in the light. " Friendship is valued. It cannot be bought. It has to be earned. 

Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, More intelligently !!!

   Every animal that the earth is home to, is prone to making mistakes. God is yet to create a being that would commit no errors. A bird can sit on the wrong branch, a lion can misjudge it's prey's speed and a fish can lay eggs at the wrong location. Man does not stand as an exception to this rule. He can commit an array of mistakes which would inevitably result in failure;a failure that can  dishearten, depress and demoralize.
However, God has gifted man with the ability to think on, recognize and correct his mistakes much faster and accurately than other species.
   Failure is a stepping stone to success. One should not consider failure to be the end of the world for this could deter the individual from hard work. Since optimism and hope pave the path to success, one should never befriend pessimism and kill hope by embracing failure and considering it to be the end of the road. However, if he thinks before giving up and fights on with the pranks of anger, disappointment and defeat that his mind plays on him, he is certain to find himself on a red herring and get him back to where he had started from. Failure should be accepted with the highest sportsman spirit that one can muster and should be welcomed as an opportunity to retrace your mistaken steps and get back to the right path. Failure, hence, should be perceived as an opportunity to atone for your wrong-doings and alter your mistakes.
   However, during the process of atonement, you cannot afford to forget your failure and your mistakes. Make your dreaded mistakes your beloved teachers and you will definitely attain your goals. Mistakes are meant for you to learn from, not to regret for. Hence when you begin with a new attempt to attain success and make a new start to make good the opportunity failure has bestowed upon you, do so wisely and intelligently.
   Highly successful people are those who treat failure as not more than a temporary situation!!!!!      

The Idea of Success

   So true are the words - success is not just about being and becoming. The idea of success is often mistaken for success is not just about what one attained but also about how he attained it. It is always the journey that matters and the path that inspires and a very large obstacle in your path is not a towering mountain but an even deeper trench. In this trench only criticism reverberates. They insult you. They make allegations ridden with falsehood. Here, you are surrounded only by the darkness of your own regret for having even started this journey. At this crucial juncture, you are quite likely to beat the retreat and all you could have been remains just an unfulfilled dream - a destiny forever lost.

   However, to succeed, it is such tedious trails, you have to take and walk out of the doom to see the day.
In this trench, your might lies in your will-power and power to endure...

   It does not make you wise to flee from those you fear, but to fight them not with haste and anger but with patience and persistence. With your actions you ought to crush every allegation. And with your actions only, you have to prove yourself!

   It is certain that the words they fling at you and the tries they make to pull you down would inflict immense pain and torture. It is certain that they will invoke anger and hatred. But it is upon you whether to retaliate hastily or give up, or to patiently continue your efforts to stand up to your aims and ends. It matters not whether you sit and sob for a brick they threw at you. It matters not even whether you pick up the brick and throw it back at them. What matters is whether you catch the brick, put it on the ground and start building banisters to get out of the trench!   

Poem - Poverty

What a notorious idea - Truth!
What a devastating fact - Truth!
Is it just the devil's imagination,
Or a part of an evolution?
An evolution, that has been,
as we all have seen -
Eternal!

Poverty is that fact,
With which they have signed a pact,
And have embraced it as a mandate
That has been put down upon them by fate.
This imposition appears to be, as we all can see -
Eternal!

It is an epidemic for humanity
Ending it overnight, much beyond it's ability.
It aches me to say so,
for the poor ain't be my foe.
Then why should they have to lead,
a life with no memories to keep?
While I rejoice, my happiness -
Eternal!

Why for them a silent cry,
a muffled tear, a hopeless sigh?
Why for them a sleepless night,
Why not a single ray that bright
To make them hope they'd win the fight.
A fight that has ruined what they could've been
A fight so eternal.

If God is just,
I demand he must
End their misery,
The mockery their lives have been.
Let prosperity prevail
And the happiness ale
Reign for an eternity

Let the ecstasy that life is be unveiled... 

Message

Hello, Readers.
We have to new authors - Advait Maduskar And Arnav Deshpande. That is along with me. I am hoping for yet another author to join us.
Toodles,
Siddhi Dhingra,
Admin.

Poem - To My National Flag

You stand tall and proud,
Saffron for Sacrifice,
White for Science and Peace,
Green for the Farmers and Prosperity,
And for that I salute Thee.

No combination
Of twenty-six letters,
Can describe the admiration
Held by my fellow men for the country,
And it is only because of Thee
And for that I salute Thee.

On Independence and Republic Day
When You are unfurled,
You look as regal as the stories say,
Courage and pride wells up in me,
And for that, O National Flag, I salute Thee.

For the Republic Day

Thou be the epitome of power I seek
Why just me,all-whether mighty or meek
Thou be the light to lift us from the dark
The gloom ignorance bestows.

Thou be the emblem that defines me
I pledge my loyalty as I surrender to Thee
Thou be my solitary master
Hail Thee for an eternity!

We all have trudged through tyranny
And have staunchly fought misery
To establish higher and higher than ever
Thy exalted and commanding glory.

I promise Thee, I shall further toil
To ward off every imbecile
Poverty, Ignorance, Hunger and Grief
That desires to bring you to turmoil.

Time doth play merciless tricks
Those tiring, dirty, callous gimmicks
To rise above them is my test
I shall not flee, I'll try my best.

My Flag, I salute Thee on Republic Day
May Thy spectre ever expand its sway
Down with those who intend to harm
And pull Thee back to the realm of the Dark.

Many hands make light work

Many hands make light work is true in many facets of our lives. It is always easier to finish a job when several people pitch in to get it done. It is the concept of teamwork. Most companies boast of how teamwork is the backbone of the company. That is because they have figured out that when you have “many hands” in the job it makes for a much lighter workload for everyone.

You can see this come to light when you try to lift something heavy. If you try to lift it on your own, it isn’t just hard to do, it can cause you a great deal of injury. If you get more people involved in the process, the item becomes far less heavy to the one person who tried to lift it before. The more people involved in lifting the heavy object, the lighter it becomes until it could hardly be called hard work at all.

You can do work by yourself. You may even make some progress. That doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t be easier if you had more people involved in it. There are those people that think working alone is much better. They feel that others get in the way and hold them up from anything being accomplished. That is only true if one of the team members is being lazy. If everyone works together, great things can get done in an amazingly short amount of time.

Future Career

          At the age of 15, you have to decide what you want to become. Or at least what stream you want to go to. What if you want to change to the decision you made at 15 ? 15 years may seem like a long time to decide, but is not. Should I go in Medical ? Or perhaps Commerce ? Maybe Engineering ? Sometimes, people instinctively know what they are good at. But most of the times... people wonder.... I am good at this...but I am also good at this..It consumes the mind and haves ill-effects on the child's mind. A inferiority complex develops. Others have already chosen. Why can't I ? They have laid a definite path for their future. Why can't I ? Another reason for this confusion is pressure from other people. Legacy from parents, expectations from relatives and friendship from friends. Some people don't like to live up to expectations. They believe that "Right Now" is just a phase to pass through.
            These decisions of career and life should be prolonged till at least 18 years old, when he is no longer a child but an independent adult. So later in life, the concerned person can forgo the question, " I have a Medical degree, But I feel I would have done better in Commerce." Or any other field concerned.

Counter view - Modern Gadgets have simplified our lives

                                                          Electronics - Our Fatal Flaw

Electronics have many advantages but as many disadvantages. Electronic are not reliable. One small malfunction and you have to buy a whole new machine. When you go to a online store to buy something, we can't check if the product we are buying is what they say it is. We just have to believe what the manufacturers tell us. With online shopping there is much use of credit and debit cards. This leads to many problems as hackers can access our account and steal what they want. Ever heard of the washing machine and dryer ? Once a long time ago people used to have a job of washing clothes and drying them. Ever heard of the postman ? He used to deliver letters. It was a job. It would support his family. Now all you have to do is send a message on Whatsapp and its free ! The post men have lost their job. A rise in use of technology has given rise to unemployment.New types of mobile phones have launched. It has become a need to have the latest model of the mobile phone. Hence there is a rise in private expenditure which has led to inflation. Electronics may be a boon but it is also our condemnation.