Motivational Stories from various Sources

[P.J.]

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Six teenagers Of Indian Origin Receive Google Science Fair Awards

Six teenagers Of Indian Origin Receive Google Science Fair Awards




Six teenagers of Indian origin, including three Indian-Americans, are among the winners of the 2015 Google Science Fair awards announced late last month.

Google announced Sept. 22 the winners of its fifth annual Google Science Fair, the web giant’s online science contest for teen researchers from around the world. Some 22 finalists between 13-18 years of age were honored at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California.

The three award-winning Indian-Americans are Anurudh Ganesan, 15 from Maryland, Deepika Kurup, 17 from New Hampshire and Pranav Sivakumar, 15 from Illinois. The three won the Lego Education Builder, National Geographic Explorer and Virgin Galactic Pioneer awards, respectively.

Lego Education, National Geographic and Virgin Galactic, are partners in the Google Science Fair.

The three other award-winners of Indian origin were Girish Kumar of Singapore, Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai from Odisha, India, and Krtin Nithiyanandam of the United Kingdom. They were honored with the Google Technologist, Community Impact and Scientific American Innovator awards.

The grand prize went to Olivia Hallisey from Connecticut for creating a novel way to detect Ebola.
“In all of these finalists and the thousands of submissions from students in 100+ countries, we see something common. These students are inventive, thoughtful, and determined to help make the world a better place.

All they need is a chance and a platform to do so. And, unlike some of us adults, they are ready to try things that other people think are “impossible.” I find them inspiring,” Mariette DiChristina, Editor- in-Chief of Scientific American, who was the chief judge at the science fair, said.

Girish Kumar won the Google Technologist Award for helping improve learning through auto-generated study questions while the National Geographic Explorer Award went to Deepika Kurup for her idea to use solar-powered silver to create clean drinking water.

Krtin Nithiyanadam’s project focused on improved diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and won him the Scientific American Innovator Award while Pranav Sivakumar’s automated search for “gravitationally lensed quasars” earned him the Virgin Galactic Pioneer Award. Anurudh Ganesan took home The LEGO Education Builder Award for his unique twist on effectively transporting vaccines.
DiChristina wrote in Google’s official blog that it is “imperative for us” to support and encourage young people to explore and challenge the world around them through scientific discovery.


“We’re especially glad that Ahmed Mohamed—the 14-year-old clock maker from Texas—took us up on our invite to attend this year’s event. Curious young scientists, inventors and builders like him should be encouraged and empowered,” she said referring to Ahmed who was arrested in September after rigging a homemade digital clock inside a case and showing it to a teacher who thought it was a bomb and alerted police. He was released later and was invited by President Obama to come to the White House.


“The past decades have brought tremendous innovations and challenges, and none of us knows what the future of scientific discovery holds. But I can tell you one thing: it’s going to be better thanks to these kids. They will be part of building a brighter future for us all—and as they do, those of us at Scientific American, Google, LEGO Education, National Geographic and Virgin Galactic will be cheering them on.”


http://www.newsindiatimes.com/six-t...m_campaign=NIT-OCT+9th,+2015&utm_medium=email

 

[P.J.]

9 Celebrities Who Work For A Cause, Not Applause

9 Celebrities Who Work For A Cause, Not Applause



1. Akshay Kumar

Akshay was in news for announcing a donation of Rs 90 lakh (Akshay's team donated Rs 15 lakh to 30 widows on his behalf and plans to donate the same amount every month, for the next five months) which would suffice well enough to support 180 families of farmers who committed suicide in drought-hit Marathwada. He and his team again managed to raise funds for 100 farmer families within 15 minutes at an event in Delhi!

2. Nana Patekar

Veteran Actor Nana Patekar established a foundation and donated Rs. 15,000 each to the 62 families of farmers who committed suicide. He himself paid a visit to 112 farmers' families in Marathwada. His future goal includes 700 more in the areas of Nagpur, Latur, Hingoli, Parbani, Nanded, Aurangabad, etc.

3. Angeline Jolie and Brad Pitt

According to tax records, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt donated more than $8 million to charity in 2006 alone. In May, 2014, she made a $50,000 donation to the Red Cross flood relief efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. And now the couple is reportedly adopting a Syrian refugee. It was after Angelina met the child, one of three brothers, on one of her visits to the war torn nation that she made this decision. Incredible, isn't it?

4. Shahrukh Khan

When it comes to charity, King Khan has time and again proved that he has a big heart. Apart from all the major and minor charity work he has done in last decade, it was in 2012 that he adopted 12 villages during NDTV’s show Greenathon!Also, not many know that he is the only Indian to receive an award from UNESCO for his charity work. In 2008, he took part in The Rock On For Humanity concert along with other Bollywood stars. The concert raised over INR 30 million for helping the children affected by the Bihar floods.

5. John Abraham

Apart from supporting PETA in various campaigns, John is also actively involved with Habitat for Humanity, which is an annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. A generous heart that he is, John has successfully managed to raise funds for the low-income group of India. He is one awesome man, isn't it?

6. Anil Kapoor

Not many know that Anil Kapoor handed over entire Slumdog Millionaire fee to Plan India. Plan India is an organization which helps underprivileged kids in the country. Later in an interview, he confessed that it was his own humble upbringing which became a larger inspiration for him to take such a step! He added, "I told Danny, 'I can identify with (lead character from the slums) Jamal Malik.' It's almost the same thing because I started from a very simple background. Not slums exactly, but a 200 square metre cubicle with common bathrooms and I never wore shoes, always bare feet running around."

7. Nafisa Ali

This Former Miss India, a national swimming champ and actress also exposed various government scams. She also leads various women’s associations

.8. Rahul Bose

Even though his career in Bollywood was never a stable one, Rahul Bose is a man who would inspire you to great heights! He is associated with several charitable organizations such as Teach for India, Akshara Centre, Breakthrough, Citizens for Justice and Peace and the Spastics Society of India. He is closely associated with the Teach For India movement to eradicate inequity in education. He became India's first Indian Oxfam global ambassador in 2007. He is the founder and chairman of The Group of Groups, an umbrella organisation for 51 Mumbai charitable organisations and NGOs.

9. Shilpa Shetty

Apart from this, Shilpa Shetty had also donated half a million pounds to Prince Charles' charitable trust after her team Rajasthan Royals won the British Asian Cup



http://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/9-celebrities-who-work-for-a-cause-not-applause-245742.html

 

[P.J.]

பனை மரங்களை வளர்க்கும் பணகுடி பள்ளி மாணவ

பனை மரங்களை வளர்க்கும் பணகுடி பள்ளி மாணவர்கள்

October 3, 2015

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பணகுடி திருஇருதய மேல்நிலைப்பள்ளி நாட்டு நலப்பணித்திட்ட மாணவர்கள் பனங்கொட்டைகளை விதைக்கும் பணியில் கடந்த 3 ஆண்டுகளாக ஈடுபட்டுள்ளனர்.


தமிழரின் வாழ்வில் ஒரு அங்கமாக இருந்தது பனைமரம். அதன் அனைத்து பாகங்களும் பயன்படுவதே இதற்கு காரணம். எத்தனை ஆண்டுகள் ஆனாலும் தண்ணீர் இல்லாமலேயே வளரும் தன்மையுடைய பனைமரத்தை, காடு, தோட்டம் என வித்தியாசம் இல்லாமல் வயல் ஓரங்களிலும், வேலி ஓரங்களிலும் விவசாயிகள் வளர்த்தனர். இப்போது அவை அழியும் தருவாயில் உள்ளன. அடுத்த தலைமுறைக்கு பனைமரம் காட்சிப்பொருளாகிவிடுமோ என்ற நிலை உருவாகியுள்ளது.



இதனிடையே பனைமரங்களை வளர்க்கும் பணியில் பணகுடி திருஇருதய மேல்நிலைப்பள்ளி நாட்டு நலப்பணித்திட்ட மாணவர் கள் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளனர். கடந்த 2 ஆண்டுகளாக இவர்கள் விதைத்த பனங்கொட்டைகளில் ஆயிரத்துக் கும் மேற்பட்டவை முளைவிட்டு வளர்ந்திருக் கின்றன. நடப்பாண்டு ஆயிரம் பனங்கொட்டைகளை குளக்கரைகள், ஓடைப்பகுதி, புறப்போக்கு நிலங்களில் இப்பள்ளி மாணவர்கள் விதைத் திருக்கிறார்கள்.

நாட்டு நலப்பணித்திட்ட அலுவ லர் ஆர்.ரெக்ஸ் கூறும்போது, `வரும் சந்ததிக்கு பனைமரங்களை அடையாளம் காட்ட வேண்டும் என்ற நோக்கத்தில்தான் இதைச் செய்கிறோம். பனை வைத்தவன் பாக்கியவான் என்பார்கள். பனைமரத்தின் எப்பகுதியும் கழிவாக ஒதுக்கப்படுவதில்லை. கடந்த 3 ஆண்டுகளாக சிவகாமிபுரத்தில் 3 ஆயிரம் பனங்கொட்டை விதைகளை விதைத்திருக்கிறோம்.


இக்கிராமத்தை சேர்ந்த பூதப்பாண்டி வனச்சரகத் தில் பணி யாற்றும் வேட்டை தடுப்பு காவலர் பி.பாண்டித் துரை என்பவர்தான் சுற்றுவட்டார கிராமங்களில் பனங்கொட்டைகளை சேகரித்து எங்களுக்கு இலவசமாக அளிக் கிறார். நடப்பு காலாண்டு விடுமுறையில் நடத்தப்பட்ட நாட்டு நலப்பணித்திட்ட முகாமின் போது மாணவர்கள் வெவ்வேறு இடங்களில் அவற்றை விதைத் தனர். குளக்கரைகள், ஆற்றங்கரை களில் பனைமரங்களை வளர்த்தால் மண்அரிப்பு வெகுவாக தடுக்கப்படும். வரும் ஆண்டுகளிலும் பணகுடியை சுற்றியுள்ள பகுதிகளில் பனங் கொட்டைகளை விதைப் பதை முக்கிய பணியாக மேற்கொள்வோம் என்று உறுதி தெரிவித்தார்


http://tamil.thehindu.com/tamilnadu/

 

[P.J.]

He Charges The Poor Only Re 1 For A Full Meal, While Making A Loss At His Restaurant

He Charges The Poor Only Re 1 For A Full Meal, While Making A Loss At His Restaurant

August 31, 2015

What can Re 1 get you in these days of escalating costs? A full meal!

thehindu

A full meal no less, at a mess run by a service-minded man here for attenders of poor patients at the government headquarters hospital here. Venkataraman, owner of AMV Homely Mess has been providing the Re one meal for the past eight years, besides the regular "tiffin" in the morning and night. He recalls an incident in 2007 which moved him to take the decision and says an old woman came to his mess to buy idlis for her ailing husband when there were none available. To his suggestion that she buy threedosas for Rs 10, she said it was costly and even if she managed to do so, she would have to share it equally with husband and it would be inadequate.

How he began his charitable journey

vegmomos

Venkatraman said he immediately gave her six dosas for the same price and since that day started giving tiffin and meals at low rates to attenders of Government Hospital patients. "In 2007, I visited Government Headquarters Hospital here and enquired about patients with the in-charge nurse there. I was told by their attenders that almost all patients are from poor families and they could not take food daily due to poverty and only tea or bread at noon and night."He then decided to grant food at low rate to attenders of patients. He visited the GH the next day, met nurses and senior doctors and told them he would provide meals at Re one to an attender. From that day, he and his wife visit the hospital daily and grant 10 tokens to attenders. "Now for the past few months the number has been increased from 10 to 70 daily. In the morning I give 10 tokens, for which three dosas and two idlisare given for just Re one. In the afternoon, 40 attenders are given meals (for Re one), comprising five items and at night 20 attenders are given dosa and chapati


.Eventually, he plans to feed 700 people, at heavy losses

sundayindian


"We have decided to increase the number from 70 to 100 in the coming years," he says. His wife said they charge Rs 50 per meal for the public and that they are continuing the Re one meal scheme, despite incurring heavy losses. Venkatraman employs eight workers at his mess and there is no service on Sundays. "I am ready to grant the food free of cost, but if I collect at least Re one, the buyer will not waste it. The food is given in packets and none is allowed to eat inside the mess, but are advised to take it to the hospital, where some others also share the food." The couple have two girl children, one of whom is married and the other an engineering student

http://www.indiatimes.com/news/indi...e-making-a-loss-at-his-restaurant-244723.html

 

[P.J.]

How This 25-Year-Old Fought Off A Drunk Molester

How This 25-Year-Old Fought Off A Drunk Molester


Taking a stand against harassment, one 25-year-old senior executive for J W Marriott gathered her wits, chased, and nabbed a drunken pervert who felt her up in the middle of a bustling street on Tuesday night.


She chased him on auto

Bangalore Mirror


High drama ensued on Bangalore's Vittal Mallya Road as Remi Rusha Sen was walking home from work around 8.45 pm. Moments after she crossed the road from the Marriott hotel to her apartment - about 150 metres away - an unidentified pervert sitting in the backseat of a passing auto rickshaw grabbed her backside and tried to pull her skirt down. Sen screamed and turned around to see the auto speeding away towards Lavelle Road. Wasting no time, the victim hailed another auto and told him to follow the first vehicle; they caught up with the first auto half a kilometre away, in front of Navnit Motors on Lavelle Road and forced them to stop.

He then begged for mercy


As a huge crowd gathered around in support of the victim, Remi screamed at the pervert and called her colleague, who informed the Cubbon Park police. "I called my F&B director, Jolly, and told him what happened. He then called the police and all of them rushed to the spot to help. There was a strong stench of alcohol emanating from the pervert, and he began pleading for mercy claiming he hailed from a good family, and was married with children, but I refused to listen," Sen told Mirror."


Apprehending the pervert and filing a complaint would send out a strong message."


She then accompanied the police back to the station, where she lodged an FIR against the accused. Cops who found the pervert's driver's licence identified him as Ajmal Ahamed A M, a former auto rickshaw driver, whose vehicle had been seized due to irregularities a few months ago.


"The police were very cooperative and encouraging of my actions. They said most victims of eve-teasing did not stand up for themselves, whereas apprehending the pervert and filing a complaint would send out a strong message. Police are also collecting CCTV footage from the camera installed at the exit gate of UB City as evidence; and the pervert was produced in front of a magistrate on Thursday and sent to prison," she added. A native of Kolkata, Sen has been a resident of Bengaluru for 10 years, and this is the first time such an incident has taken place with her.

"If this can happen to someone just crossing the road home from their workplace on a busy street like Vittal Mallya Road, I shudder to imagine what could happen anywhere else. I'm grateful that the police reacted instantly," she said. Meanwhile, when contacted, deputy commissioner of police (Central), Sandeep Patil confirmed the incident and said, "The victim showed great presence of mind in chasing him, and the accused was arrested immediately."(Originally published in the Bangalore Mirror)


http://www.indiatimes.com/news/indi...rise-up-and-fight-for-whats-right-245880.html

 

[P.J.]

சக மாணவர்களை காப்பாற்றி ஹீரோவான முன்னாள&

சக மாணவர்களை காப்பாற்றி ஹீரோவான முன்னாள் ராணுவ வீரர்!

(04/10/2015)

க்ரிஸ் மின்ட்ஸ், அமெரிக்காவின் ஆரகன் மாகாணத்தில் உள்ள ரோஸ்பர்க் நகர மக்களின் இன்றைய ஹீரோ. கடந்த வியாழக்கிழமை ரோஸ்பர்க் நகரின் அம்ப்குவா கம்யூனிட்டி கல்லூரில் நடந்த கண்மூடித்தனமான துப்பாக்கிச்சூட்டில் ஏழு குண்டுகளை தன் உடலில் வாங்கி, பல மாணவர்களின் உயிரை காப்பாற்றியவர்தான் இந்த க்ரிஸ் மின்ட்ஸ்.

க்ரிஸ்டோஃபர் ஹார்பர் மெர்சர் என்பவரால் நடத்தப்பட்ட இந்த இரக்கமற்ற துப்பாக்கிச்சூட்டில் எட்டு மாணவர்களும், ஒரு ஆசிரியரும் உயிரிழந்தனர். ஒன்பத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் படுகாயமடைந்து மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டு சிகிச்சை பெற்று வருகின்றனர். அவர்களில் க்ரிஸ் மின்ட்ஸும் ஒருவர்.

அமெரிக்க ராணுவத்தில் 10 ஆண்டுகள் சேவை புரிந்த க்ரிஸ், சமீபத்தில்தான் இந்தக் கல்லூரியில் மாணவராக சேர்ந்தார். கடந்த வியாழக்கிழமை அன்று, ஆட்டிசம் குறைப்பாட்டால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட தன் ஆறு வயது மகன் டைரிக்குக்கு பிறந்த நாள் வாழ்த்தைக் கூறிவிட்டு கல்லூரிக்குச் சென்றுள்ளார் க்ரிஸ். கையில் துப்பாக்கியுடன் மாணவர்களை மெர்சர் சுட ஆரம்பித்தவுடன், உடனடியாக நூலகத்துக்குச் சென்ற க்ரிஸ், அலாரத்தை இழுத்து, மாணவர்களை ஓடுமாறு எச்சரித்துள்ளார்.

அதன்பின், மெர்சர் வகுப்பறைக்குள் செல்வதைத் தடுக்க, வகுப்பறையின் கதவுகளை மூடியுள்ளார் க்ரிஸ். இதனால் ஆத்திரமடைந்த மெர்சர், க்ரிஸ்சை மூன்று முறை துப்பாக்கியால் சுட்டுள்ளார். கீழே விழுந்த க்ரிஸ், இன்று என்னுடைய மகனின் பிறந்தநாள் என மெர்சரிடம் கூறியுள்ளார். ஆனால், அதை பொருட்படுத்தாத மெர்சர், மீண்டும் நாங்கு முறை க்ரிஸ்சின் உடலில் துப்பாக்கியால் சுட்டுள்ளார். படுகாயமடைந்த க்ரிஸ்சுக்கு ரோஸ்பர்க் நகரில் உள்ள மெர்ஸி மருத்துவ நிலையத்தில் சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்பட்டது.

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காவல் துறையினருடனான போராட்டத்துக்குப் பின், மெர்சர் தன்னைத் தானே சுட்டுக்கொண்டு உயிரிழந்தார். காயமடைந்த மாணவர்களுக்கும், ஆசிரியர்களுக்கு சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. சிகிச்சைக்கு மறுநாள் தன்னுடைய முகநூல் கணக்கில் ''காயமடைந்தவர்கள் அனைவரும் நலமாக உள்ளதாக நம்புகிறேன். நான் நலமாக உள்ளேன்" என பதிவிட்டுள்ளார் க்ரிஸ். மேலும், தனக்கு உறுதுணையாக இருந்த அனைவருக்கும் தன் நன்றிகளையும் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

க்ரிஸ்சின் சிகிச்சைக்காக நிதி திரட்ட “gofundme” எனும் வலைதளத்தில் பக்கம் ஒன்று உருவாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அவரது சிகிச்சைக்கு 10,000 டாலர்கள் தேவைப்பட்ட நிலையில் பலர் க்ரிஸ்சுக்காக அளித்த நிதியின் மொத்த மதிப்பு ஏழு லட்சம் டாலர்களை தாண்டிச் சென்றுள்ளது. ஆனால், இதைக்கூட விரும்பாத க்ரிஸ், தன் முகநூல் பதிவில் ''நான் எனக்கு சரி என்று தோன்றியதை மட்டுமே செய்தேன். எனக்காக மக்கள் யாரும் நிதி வழங்க வேண்டாம்" எனப் பெருந்தன்மையோடு பதிவிட்டுள்ளார்.

உண்மையான ராணுவ வீரன் என்பதை நிரூபித்துள்ள க்ரிஸ், தற்போது ரோஸ்பர்க் நகர மக்களின் ஹீரோவாகி உள்ளார்.

- ஜெ.விக்னேஷ்

http://www.vikatan.com/news/article.php?aid=53248

 

[P.J.]

Indian-American couple gifts $100 million to New York University

Indian-American couple gifts $100 million to New York University

Oct 5, 2015,

WASHINGTON: An Indian-American couple has announced a $100 million gift to New York University's School of Engineering in what is believed to be the singe-largest philanthropic donation by the community.

The gift — which will principally support faculty hiring and academic programs — is intended to build on the engineering school's existing practice of cross-disciplinary innovation and entrepreneurship and achieve new levels of academic excellence in engineering, NYU president John Sexton and Katepalli R Sreenivasan, dean of the School of Engineering, said of the announcement.

The school will be renamed the NYU Tandon School of Engineering in recognition of the Tandons' generosity and their belief in the school's mission and promise, they added. The University has agreed to a challenge from the donors to raise an additional, separate $50 million, which will be principally focused on scholarship aid.

Chandrika Tandon, who happens to be Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi's sister and is also an accomplished singer, is a member of the board of overseers of NYU's business school, a member of the NYU board of trustees, and leads the NYU president's global council. A former partner at McKinsey and Company, she is chair of Tandon Capital Associates, a financial advisory firm she founded in 1992.

She also is a Grammy-nominated musician, with an album, Soul Call, nominated for Best Contemporary World Music in 2011. Her husband, Ranjan Tandon, is an engineer by training and a graduate of the Harvard Business School. He is founder and chair of Libra Advisors, a hedge fund he founded in 1990 that is now a family office.

The Tandons' donation is believed to be the largest philanthropic gift by a member of the Indian-American community. Among other major donations in recent years, Harvard Business School in 2010 received a gift of $50 million from the Tatas, the largest from an international donor in the School's 102-year history.

Indian-American physician and entrepreneur couple Kiran and Pallavi Patel donated $17.5 million some years ago to the University of South Florida. More recently, Anand Mahindra gifted $10 million to Harvard University's humanities center in honor of his mother Indira Mahindra.

"We feel privileged to be able to participate in the transformation that is happening at NYU and at the School of Engineering. The imagination and inventiveness of the students and faculty as they worked together on real world problems; the cutting-edge work being done both within the school and collaboratively across schools in such diverse areas like the arts, medicine, education, incubators; the entrepreneurial spirit that pervades the place — all this inspired us so," Chandrika Tandon said about the donation.


"More broadly, Ranjan and I are great believers in STEM education, in the applied sciences, and in the analytic and creative disciplines that such an education develops. And we want to give back to the city that has given us so much. Our hope is that this gift will bring many more of us together to reinvent engineering, advance New York's efforts to become a science and tech capital, and foster the talents of young innovators, applied scientists, and entrepreneurs. We believe this is just the beginning," she added.

Engineering was only recently restored to NYU after a 40-year absence when NYU merged with Polytechnic University in 2014. It is among several major engineering schools in the US headed by Indian-American deans and chairs, including at one time or the other, MIT (Subra Suresh) and Harvard (Venky Narayanamurti).

Since affiliating, the University said it has invested approximately $100 million in engineering, with improvements in facilities, faculty hiring, admissions, and fundraising, and has also established the related Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP). This gift will accelerate the School of Engineering's academic advancement, enabling it to develop new areas of strength in engineering and to hire additional faculty.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...book.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TOI

 

[P.J.]

Kolkata slum kids battle it out for ‘World Cup’ berth

Kolkata slum kids battle it out for ‘World Cup’ berth

Oct 6, 2015,






KOLKATA: If things go according to plans, underprivileged kids from over 68 countries will converge in the city to play football in 2016. The world cup soccer tournament for underprivileged kids, organized by the Scotland based foundation called Homeless World Cup, has tied up with the Nagpur based slum soccer, a national initiative that has been working to use football as a platform to better the lives of children on the streets. The world cup happened in Amsterdam this year and the city has been chosen as next year's venue because of the city's famed love affair with soccer and also because it is among those cities of the world with the largest slum kids concentration.

The preparations have already started. Since Friday, the city has been holding a slum soccer tournament that will end with the finals at Don Bosco Park Circus on Tuesday. Hundreds of boys and girls belonging to slums of Rajabazar, Tikiapara, Lake Gardens, Monoharpukur, Gobindopur, EM Bypass, Krishnagar and Kanchrapara were divided into teams that have been playing soccer at the Khalsa High School since Friday to qualify for Tuesday's finals. This is part of the Daan Utsav that the country has been witnessing now, of which the city has been a part for the past three years. This is the first time that slum soccer is being organized as part of the Daan Utsav that is being organized by six partners, all high placed corporate executives.

Slum soccer is an initiative that started in Nagpur a few years back by Vijay Barse, who has created waves all over with this project that aims to get all street and slum children into a football programme to keep them off streets and an eventual trafficking. The initiative has found partners in several cities and though it did make a small beginning last year in the city with two boys from the Tikiapara slum having gone for training to Manchester United, this year it has reached the desired proportion. "Slum Soccer is a movement that cannot be restricted to one small center in one slum. We have to create teams and weave together as many slums as possible so that underprivileged kids find a new meaning and enthusiasm in life. We have been able to connect with at least five NGOs working among underprivileged children in the city to bring players for the tournament. We deliberately kept rules simple to make the maximum number of children participate," said P.K. Madappa , one of the organisers of the ongoing initiative.

No boy-girl distinction was made while teams were formed and all 17 teams had mixed players, though age wise distinctions were made from 13 to 16 years. NGOs that have associated with slum soccer in Kolkata are, Anando, Calcutta Social Project, Changemaker and Premashree. "The idea is to teach them gender equality. Hence, we mixed up boys and girls in each team," explained Madappa. "I was thrilled when they said that I would get a jersey and keds to play football in a team. I have grown up playing with boys in my neighbourhood and hence my parents did not mind either!" said an excited Heena Parveen a child from the Rajabazar slums. "We have never trained under any coach but have always played by instinct. I was so happy that the seniors here appreciated the way we play," said little Gopal Sardar. What perhaps excited them more was the community feasting that happened after the match.

Football coach Homkant Surandase, who is an integral part of Barse's slum soccer programme in Nagpur is in the city and has been training the underprivileged children techniques of the game. "Kolkata is the mecca of soccer. Almost every child is talented here. It lies latent in them. Underprivileged children have all the shine because of the unbridled physical activities that they are exposed to from a very young age. I am honoured to be in this city and be a part of the project that has finally reached Kolkata," said a happy Surandase. David Leidig, a German soccer enthusiast, who is in Kolkata to study its art and culture as part of an exchange programme, has also associated himself with the effort. "It feels emancipated to see so many underprivileged kids give in to unalloyed fun and games," he said.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kolkata-slum-kids-battle-it-out-for-World-Cup-berth/articleshow/49236298.cms?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=digest_section

 

[P.J.]

Sikh Group Shows A True Mark Of Humanity.

Sikh Group Shows A True Mark Of Humanity.

Oct 7, 2015

Iraq and Syria have been in a major state of disarray right now. Every day thousands of people of try to flee the horror and every day more migrants lose their life to either man or nature.


Yazidis whose life is commonly at gunpoint of Islamic State Of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) lived in many parts of Syria and Iraq in an attempt to ‘purify’ the non-Islamic influences are counting their days of hunger and starvation.

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While most of us sit back and worry about the condition that is worsening every day, a Sikh community has taken up a never before initiative to help them out. They have set up their traditional langar with the name Langar Aid about 10 km from the Syrian border in the Pesh Harbour area.

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This group constitutes of many NRI Punjabi Sikhs as well as some European volunteers who have come forward to help the migrants. Instead of a traditional kitchen, they have set up a bakery and are providing fresh bread to nearly 14,000 refugees every day.

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The IS were destroying any food that was coming in for the refugees, therefore a UK based NGO Langar Aid took from help from the local government to set this up.

They are also getting some help from Serbia and Greece which are the neighbouring European countries.

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The CEO of Khalsa Aid, Ravi Singh told TOI, “Refugees often mistake us for IS because of our appearance. I was there about two months back and it was a very overwhelming experience. It was poignant to meet a family that had fled from their homes with their 10-month old child and they were pleasantly surprised to find aid in the middle of nowhere. Then there was an elderly lady who still wanted to return to her village she had built after years of hard work. The situation will get more challenging as winter sets in.”


A UK based volunteer of Indian origin Indy Hothi said, “We set up a bakery at a refugee camp for Yazidi people to provide a self-sustaining solution. We are also trying to set a school for 5,000 local children on the Lebanon-Syrian border.”

Now that’s a service to God in the true sense. We are so proud of you.


News Source: The Times Of India

http://www.storypick.com/syrian-crisis-langar/

 

[P.J.]

Illiterate Karnataka Farmer Uses Windmill To Ensure Uninterrupted Electricity

Illiterate Karnataka Farmer Uses Windmill To Ensure Uninterrupted Electricity

October 7, 2015

While the state government is worrying about the shortage of electricity, an illiterate farmer near Naragund, in Gadag district, has uninterrupted power supply for his family. He has no magic wand, but an indigenous windmill installed in his fields for the past six years.

Siddappa Huljogi, 46, has been successful in carrying out experiments like setting up a mobile recharging unit using a tractor battery, and playing radio and tape recorder using a bicycle's dynamo. A resident of Bandemmana Nagar, 7km from Naragund, which has hardly 8-10 houses, he was denied a Hescom connection over a decade ago. That made Huljogi think about other sources of electricity. Besides, windmills installed on the hills of Naragund had got him thinking: if he could replicate them, he would have power.

Siddappa was quoted saying that he started an experiment in 2008. "In the beginning, we could switch on lights at the windmill, but the house was 50-60m from the mill. After repeated efforts, I was successful in 2009. Now, we get sufficient power for two CFL bulbs of 11 W each, a colour television and a mixer. When the wind speed is slow, we reduce usage." Siddappa's wife Bheemavva said their home got a Hescom connection six months ago. "When our windmill was rooted out by a storm, we took this connection as an alternative. As we are producers of electricity, we use it very cautiously," she added.

Son Naganand said Siddappa was also successful in generating power through a water mill, erected in a nearby stream, in 2011. Siddappa claimed he bought three new metal sheets for the windmill and an inverter of 600 W. Shantalinga Swami of Doreswamy Virakta Mutt in nearby Bhairanahatti village, who has been observing Siddappa for the past 15 years, said though he is illiterate, he has a good grasp and power of observation. YY Kodatageri, assistant director of agriculture in Gadag, said Siddappa thinks about proper utilization of local resources.

(Originally published in The Times of India)

http://www.indiatimes.com/news/indi...rupted-electricity-for-his-family-245948.html

 

[P.J.]

Meerut's 'Google Boy': 5 year old Anmol Swami knows it all

Meerut's 'Google Boy': 5 year old Anmol Swami knows it all

He could barely speak by the time he turned 3, but now his brain has become the storehouse of G.K information, which most of the grownups also do not remember. Anmol Swami from Meerut who lives in Gandhinagay colony, received the title 'Meerut's Google Boy' last year in 2014 by a city-based school as at the age of 3, he remembered the name of the capitals of almost all the countries in the world.

As per newspaper reports, when asked the name of India's prime minister, he listed the name of every prime minister, starting right from Jawaharlal Nehru to the present PM Narendra Modi. People in his neighbourhood and in and around the city are awestruck by his capacity to remember things.


After observing his extra-ordinary grasping memory and talent, the BJP's UP chief, Laxmikant Bajpai, has written to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, requesting him to give Anmol some incentive for carrying on with whatever he wants to.

After he was given the title, all the three children of the Swamis were given admission to the Adhyyan School in Meerut and were promised free education, stationery, uniform and conveyance until they completed their schooling.

Initially his parents were worried as even after he turned 3, he could not speak. On consulting doctors, they were suggested to get his admission done in a school, so that he may start interacting and talking by staying in between children of his age group. After he joined the school, he not only started speaking but also surprised his mother one fine day while she was teaching his elder sister.


His mother was teaching her names of countries and their capitals. He was in the same room listening to all of it. The next day she started asking her the same questions, Anmol started answering all of them.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/google-boy/1/491546.html

 

[P.J.]

70,000 digits in 9 hours 27 minutes!

70,000 digits in 9 hours 27 minutes!



A 21-year-old Indian student has set a Guinness World Record by memorising 70,000 post-decimal digits of Pi, beating a Chinese who had held the record for 10 years.




Rajveer Meena, a resident of Mohocha village in Swaimodhapur district of Rajasthan, had in March this year set the record by reciting post decimal Pi values up to 70,000 digits in 9 hours 27 minutes. He was awarded the certificate of Guinness World Record for memory on October 1. "The most decimal places of Pi memorised is 70,000, and was achieved by Rajveer Meena (India) at the VIT University, Vellore, India, on 21 March 2015. Rajveer wore a blindfold throughout the entire recall, which took nearly 10 hours," the official website of the Guinness World Records states.

Breaking China's record

thehansindiaRajveer, who has a BTech degree participated in the 'Most Pi Places Memorised' hosted at the university on March 21. Earlier, the record was held by Lu Chao. He had recited post decimal Pi values up to 67,890 digits in 24 hours and 7 minutes in 2005. While talking about his memorising power,


Rajveer said the left side of human brain is capable of storing visual memories for longer period and he had prepared pairs of digits, enabling him to quickly recall their sequence.He further claimed that he can memorise thousands of digits by sequencing it into an episode or transforming it into an object. Rajveer said that his memorisation tips can help students learn complex formulae of science to crack competitive entrance examinations

http://www.indiatimes.com/news/indi...mashes-china-s-guinness-world-record-for-memo

 

[P.J.]

The Science of Standing Out

The Science of Standing Out

March 18, 2014

Anyone who has felt like the odd duck of the group can take heart from new research from Harvard Business School that says sticking out in distinct ways can lend you an air of presence or influence.

Standing out in certain circumstances, like wearing sweats in a luxury store, also appears to boost an individual's standing.

One obvious way people signal what the researchers called "status" is through visible markers, like what they wear and what they buy. Previous research has largely examined why people buy or wear branded items.

Less work has focused on what others think of those who try to communicate that they are different or worthy of attention. Efforts to be different are interesting because humans are wired to conform and be part of a group.


In a series of studies published in the Journal of Consumer Research in February, Silvia Bellezza, a doctoral student, and two Harvard professors sought to examine what observers thought of individuals who deviated from the norm in the workplace and in a retail setting. Some of the work was conducted in the lab on students. Other studies took place in the community and involved passersby or attendees of a seminar. Most of the studies included about 150 participants. What they found was that being a little different can socially benefit people—in some situations.

"The problem is that conforming to norms is an easy and safe spot to be in," Ms. Bellezza said. "If you're willing to deviate, there are upsides." It's also long been known that people veer from what's expected after they've built up enough trust within a group. But, she says, acting differently risks losing the benefits that come with conforming, such as shared group identity and automatic group trust.

In their first study, they asked shop assistants and pedestrians in Milan to rate what they thought of people who walked into luxury stores wearing gym clothes. The subjects also rated those who wore outfits typically considered more appropriate, like a dress and fur coat.

Pedestrians were more likely to think that a well-dressed individual was more likely to have the money to buy something in the store. Shop assistants thought the opposite. Those more familiar with the luxury retail environment were more likely to assume that a gym-clothes-wearing client was confident enough to not need to dress up more, and therefore more apt to be a celebrity making a purchase than someone wrapped in fur.

The same pattern emerged in subsequent studies conducted in other settings: Students afforded more respect to a fictitious bearded professor who wore a T-shirt than to a clean-shaven one who wore a tie. Candidates entering a business-plan competition who chose to use their own PowerPoint presentation background were tabbed more likely to win than those who used the standard background.

There are boundaries to the benefits of looking different, the Harvard work showed. If an individual was viewed as accidentally out of sync with everyone else, such as mistakenly wearing a red bow tie rather than black at a formal event, that erased positive feelings about him among those surveyed. Those opinions only improved when the survey group believed their contrarian acted differently on purpose.

"In order to think that the person's a big shot, you have to understand that the person is willingly engaging in this nonconforming conduct," Ms. Bellezza says.

In addition, the environment must give cues that suggest a person's talent or wealth. Standing in the front of the classroom or walking confidently into a luxury store already imply some level of belonging. But when an observer didn't know whether the person they view is part of the group, eccentric dress was seen as a negative, according to the researchers.

People who tend toward the offbeat themselves show extra fondness for freethinking behavior in others. Francesca Gino, an associate business administration professor at Harvard Business School and an author on the paper, decided to test the theory outside the lab as well. She wore red Converse sneakers to teach a one-day event on small business management education. Dr. Gino found that those who identified themselves on a questionnaire as having a higher need to be unique were more likely to give her higher ratings than those who didn't.

"They inferred, 'She's so autonomous, she must do whatever she wants,' " Ms. Bellezza says.
There are times when communicating high rank and competence becomes more important, such as during a shake-up in management at work. Signaling one's place in a group reduces uncertainty, but sometimes the goal may be to fit into the group, and sometimes to signal that one is a high-status person in the group, says David Dubois, a marketing professor at Insead in France and Singapore.

Willingness to deviate can be useful for groups as well, particularly when it comes to decision-making, says Charles Pavitt, a University of Delaware communications professor who studies social influence.

The person who brings up alternative points of view to make sure the group has sufficiently examined all options can help the group reach a better decision. If the group trusts the individual's intentions, this perspective will be considered seriously and the individual will still be considered part of the group, he says.
Perhaps the best strategy for preserving your place in the group while presenting offbeat ideas is to state explicitly that you are playing devil's advocate, Dr. Pavitt says.

Marshall Scott Poole, a communications professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, cautions that while groups tend initially to make an evaluation of status based on external characteristics, over time people focus less on those characteristics and more on behavior.

Dr. Poole's best practical advice: "Don't talk a lot if you have high status. People will assume you're competent and when you talk, they will listen to you."


http://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB20001424052702304017604579445140870078088

 

[P.J.]

Rehab centre for special people to be started

Rehab centre for special people to be started

October 8, 2015

Sri Velukkudi Krishnan, founder of Kinchitkaram Trust, left, and Vasudha Prakash, founder of V-Excel Educational Trust, interacting with children in Tiruchi on Wednesday. Photo: M. Srinath

A vocational training centre will be started in Srirangam to benefit differently-abled persons aged above 15 for ensuring a sustained empowerment and social inclusiveness for them all through their life.


Called Abhyasa Centre for Rehabilitation and Empowerment, it will be a joint effort by Kinchitkaram Trust and V-Excel Educational Trust and will cater to the needs of adults with special needs.


Sri Velukkudi Krishnan, founder of Kinchitkaram Trust, said that although Tiruchi and surrounding areas accounted for about 30 institutions working for people with special needs, most of them took care of the differently-abled persons only up to the age of 15.


“The Abhyasa Centre will ensure a sustained empowerment and rehabilitation for such adult persons – even well beyond the death of the parents,” he said.


Although the rehabilitation centre for the adults was available in metros, similar facility was not available in smaller cities such as Tiruchi. It has been planned to open similar centres in smaller towns in course of time, he said.


Vasudha Prakash, founder of V-Excel Educational Trust, said the rehabilitation would be individual-specific, regional-specific, and disability-specific.


“We do not want to impart stereotyped training such as making of areca leaf plates. We will impart important life skills to the adults,” she said.


They said that the centre would offer training on various activities such as yoga, sports, occupational, and physiotherapy.


Sri Velukkudi Krishnan said the Kinchitkaram Trust would provide adequate infrastructure such as building for running the centre and V-Excel Educational Trust would organise rehabilitation programmes.


The centre would be inaugurated at a private building in Srirangam on October 22 and application forms would be issued at Ranga Bhavana Marriage Hall on Puli Mandapam Road, Srirangam, from October 8.


Interested persons may call 9094788135 or 9500694622 for details.
Special school managements welcome


At an interactive session later, a number of directors and trustees of various special schools in and around Tiruchi, said that the centre for differently-abled adults was a felt-need.


“We take care of children only at the intervention period between 3 and 15. Although we impart some vocational skills, the adults, who stay at their homes, turn inactive posing a grave concern for their parents,” said K. Geetha, Director of Pravaag, a special school here.


An interaction with a few differently-abled children was held in which the skills of each and every child was ascertained.


http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...ecial-people-to-be-started/article7736657.ece

 

[P.J.]

Living Alone at 98, She Gets a Free Lunchbox Delivered to Her Everyday

Living Alone at 98, She Gets a Free Lunchbox Delivered to Her Everyday

Updated: October 06, 2015

MUMBAI: Angela Fernandes lives by herself in Mumbai's western suburb of Borivali. A retired school teacher, she is able to run a house on her monthly pension. At 98, she can't cook for herself anymore. But in 58-year-old Mark D'Souza, Ms Fernandes has found a friend whose free tiffin service keeps her covered.

"I'm not a drag on any of my children as far as money is concerned. I manage with my pension, so I was even prepared to pay," says Ms Fernandes.

Mark, started the tiffin service three years ago. For 25 senior citizens in the area like Ms Fernandes, Mark's tiffin service is more than just food.

"He doesn't make you feel like he is giving you free food," Ms Fernandes said. "He comes so happily. I say to him, 'you come as if it's a party'."

Mark had lost his parents at an early age. He says the tiffin service was "just a thought" and credits his wife for her support in starting it.

"She gave me [FONT=RupeeForadianRegular !important]Rs. 5000 from what she had earned from taking tuitions, and said, 'if you want to do something, start now'," Mark recalled.

The whole D'Souza family is now a part of the process; from buying vegetables to cleaning, cooking and packing the tiffin boxes. Starting with a handful of tiffins to preparing a meal for over 25 people today, the family spends roughly [FONT=RupeeForadianRegular !important]Rs.[/FONT] 15,000 every day.

Even to this day, Mark makes sure he personally delivers all the tiffins.

"When you're old is when you realise what old age means and how people feel trapped within the four walls. When I deliver the tiffins, they say thank you and god bless. The two words have a big meaning," he said.

Like Angela Fernandes, 85-year-old Perdita D'Souza also lives by herself after she had lost both her husband and her son. A visit from Mark is a big highlight of her day.

"It is a relief I don't have to go to the bazaar anymore. The tiffin is the best on Sundays when there is fish and meat," she said.

It's the smiles, the letters of gratitude and the kind words that are undoubtedly Mark's biggest reward.

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/livi...ee-lunchbox-delivered-to-her-everyday-1225820[/FONT]

 

[P.J.]

IAF completes 83 years of Service to the Nation

IAF completes 83 years of Service to the Nation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4781QfPr8WQ


Published on Oct 8, 2015
Asian Defence News

 

[P.J.]

He Beat Both Cancer And Paralysis To Become India's First Wheelchair Bodybuilder.

He Beat Both Cancer And Paralysis To Become India's First Wheelchair Bodybuilder.

April 21, 2015

28 year Anand Arnold is not one to let go of his dreams. It's only his determination and passion that helped him become 'India's First Wheelchair Bodybuilder' after suffering from a life threatening spinal cancer at the age of 15.Anand found his passion for bodybuilding when he was 13 and won his first title in the same year. But two years later he was diagnosed with cancer. He had to undergo immediate surgery to save his life which left him paralyised from neck down with only his hands having some mobility. His family stuck by him and helped him to a tough phase.

Barcroft TVAnand decided that he will not be defeated by his condition and started training yet again; all the while being confined to his wheelchair. He was already weakened by his treatment and even chances of him ever standing straight were negligible. You can see him working out in this video from July 2012:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WKcwITvccE


Anand pursued his passion with incredible fervour and soon began competing asIndia's First Wheelchair Bodybuilder.

He soon started winning titles and today his tally consists of 3 Mr India titles, 12 Mr Punjab titles and 27 other major titles.In a world where many fully-abled individuals fail to realise their potential, Anand is truly an inspiration. In Anand's own words," To succeed, turn your weakness into your strength!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4Jwk_kYFYs


http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/theres-no-stopping-indias-own-anand-arnold-indias-first-wheelchair-bodybuilder-who-overcame-both-cancer-and-paralysis-to-win-more-than-40-titles-232064.html

 

[P.J.]

ராமேசுவரம் மீனவப் பெண்ணுக்கு அமெரிக்க க&

ராமேசுவரம் மீனவப் பெண்ணுக்கு அமெரிக்க கடல்சார் விருது

October10, 2015

மீனவப் பெண் லெட்சுமிக்கு சீகாலஜி விருதை அதன் நிறுவனர் டாக்டர் பால் ஆலன் காக்ஸ் வழங்கினார்.

​

​

கலிபோர்னியாவில் நடைபெற்ற விழாவில் ராமேசுவரம் மீனவப்பெண் லெட்சுமிக்கு அமெரிக்கா வின் கடல்சார் சுற்றுச்சூழல் விருது வழங்கப்பட்டது.


அமெரிக்காவில் உள்ள கலி போர்னியாவில் சீகாலஜி என்கிற அமைப்பு செயல்படுகிறது. இது அரசு சாராத அறக்கட்டளை அமைப்பு. இது 1991-ல் தொடங்கப்பட்டது. இந்த அமைப்பு கடல்சார் வளங்களைப் பாதுகாப் பதற்கான ஆய்வு செய்து வருகிறது. அதன்படி கடல்சார் வளங் களை பாதுகாக்கும் முயற்சியில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள தனி நபருக்கு இந்த அமைப்பு சார்பில் ஆண்டுதோறும் சீகாலஜி என்கிற விருது வழங்கி வருகிறது.


கடல் வளங்களை பாதுகாத் ததற்காக கடந்த ஆண்டுக்கான சீகாலஜி விருது வழங்கும் விழா கலிபோர்னியாவில் நேற்று நடைபெற்றது. அதில் ராமேசுவரம் அருகே பாம்பன் சின்னப்பாலம் பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த மீனவப் பெண் லெட்சுமிக்கு சீகாலஜி விருதை அதன் நிறுவனர் டாக்டர் பால் ஆலன் காக்ஸ் வழங்கினார். இந்த விருதுடன் ரூ.6.5 லட்சம் ரொக்கம், சான்றிதழ்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டன. இந்தியாவைச் சேர்ந்த ஒருவர் சீகாலஜி விருது பெறுவது இதுவே முதல்முறை.


http://tamil.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-tamilnadu/

 

[P.J.]

These Mothers, Victims Themselves, Together Battle Against Child Marriage And Traffic

These Mothers, Victims Themselves, Together Battle Against Child Marriage And Trafficking


October 9, 2015

A lack of education has not stopped a group of 12 women from steadily transforming the Wadala transit camp. Together, they battle against child marriage, trafficking and a high dropout rate in their community's schools. Past victims themselves, they work closely with the NGO Aangan, which works towards strengthening India's child protection system. Their intent is clear — they don't want future generations to suffer the same fate they did.

The PACT moms, preventing the young

The Wadala transit camp is home to a population of approximately 22,000 migrants. Some are project-affected persons. Others had lost their homes to false promises of redevelopment. With the state refusing to recognise their existence, law and order has only deteriorated in this community. Child trafficking is an open secret. From a young age, children drop out of school to work as busboys, while others sniff glue in dark alleys. The fear of sexual predators has forced families to confine their daughters. Many girls aren't even allowed to attend school.

aanganindia.org

A dozen women, though, are slowly bringing hope to this dystopian world. Working under the guidance of Kalpana Mistry, an Aangan facilitator and child safety specialist, the adult volunteers of this group have come to be called PACT (Parents and Children Against Trafficking) Moms, and the younger girls amongst them are referred to as 'Activators'. Vineeta More, 40, is the oldest PACT Mom in the community. She was married off at just 16 and never went to school. "When I first joined Aangan, I wondered about what I could do to help the community. I did not even know the meaning of sexual harassment. Here, I learnt about all the laws and how we can protect ourselves and each other."

Spreading awareness

Having recently helped conduct a survey which saw the team visiting each house to record exactly how many children attend school, she says, "We found that only 50 per cent of children go to school. We met the parents of those who didn't. We managed to convince many to change their mind." In the last six months, PACT workers in Wadala have ensured that 121 children are either enrolled in schools or vocational training courses.

aanganindia.org


Under the aegis of Aangan's Shakti programme, PACT mothers and activators help educate adolescent girls about their rights, gender issues, the right to work and the advantages of learning. Though these women also handle cases of child trafficking, they did not wish to speak of particulars as some of these cases were still sub judice. "But now we know how to register an FIR and what sections must be applied. When we visit the homes of people, we can sense if there is something wrong. We talk to them, and slowly they reveal what has happened. It is emotionally draining, but we have Aangan members to guide us," says Nazia Shaikh.

'Child marriage'- a huge problem

One of the biggest problems plaguing the transit camp is child marriage. Many of the PACT Moms, who themselves had become mothers in their early teens, are now working hard to correct this social ill. Priya Sharma, who is pursuing a management degree, recently convinced her friend's family that their daughter was too young to get married. "My classmate's family was forcing her to drop out of school so they could get her married. I approached the family and spoke to them. I told them it was very important for my classmate to complete her education. I also told them about how dowry is against the law.

Today, my classmate is going to college without anyone stopping her," says Priya. "A woman is viewed as someone whose duty is to follow orders, to sit behind locked doors and sacrifice for her brothers. This is a very backward attitude. Women are strong beings who have tremendous capacity. They can build a life for themselves and be independent," says Reema Ghatge, another PACT Mom. What does her husband think about her views? "Every day when I return from my work, he asks me what I learnt. He listens intently and says, 'Keep up the good work. You make me proud'," she says with a smile.


(Originally published in Mumbai Mirror)


http://www.indiatimes.com/news/indi...ves-together-battle-against-child-marriage-an

 

[P.J.]

18-Year-Old Raman, the World’s Youngest CA

18-Year-Old Raman, the World’s Youngest CA

Raman, who is originally from Chennai, India, started his CA education in December 2012 and finished the course in three years in June 2015 by clearing 14 papers in the first attempt in Dubai. Initially, he decided to study for ACCA because he wanted to gain more knowledge in the field of accounting and finance. But he did not know that he would end up clearing it so fast.

According to Khaliji Times, Raman, hailing from a family of chartered accountants, used to get up at 6:00 am every day to study – even on holidays!

And to make sure his luck follows him to the examination hall, this superstitious boy wore the same shirt, pant, vest, socks and shoes and ate the same type of curries and rice, with potatoes, on all exam days.

Raman managed his CA studies along with his school and college studies. He usually took an average of 3.5 months to study for each exam which is held every June and December.






Many students fail to clear this hard-to-crack exam even after repetitive attempts, but Raman managed to pass all of his papers in the first attempt itself. He will now be working for three years as a CA to become a full-fledged ACCA member.


The London-headquartered ACCA has over 1,78,000 members and 4,55,000 students in 180 countries. While most of the ACCA candidates only start their journeys at 18 years of age, Raman has shown exceptional performance in the field.

He wants to obtain an MBA degree from the US, and eventually wants to follow a career in the field of investment banking.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/36086...ail&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-e478dcebcc-73747833

 

[P.J.]

She Showed How It Is Possible for ONE Girl to Transform an Entire Village

She Showed How It Is Possible for ONE Girl to Transform an Entire Village

Oct 11, 2015

Education was the last thing on the minds of Mallahipurva villagers. Especially for girls, who were considered as just extra hands to support the family. But one girl, Gudiya, fought all odds and became the first one in her village to pass Secondary School. She did not stop at just this. She started a school for other kids in her own house and made sure they embraced the gift of education too. This is how she brought about the transformation.

Mallahipurva village, located 150 kilometres from Uttar Pradesh’s state capital, Lucknow, is a perfect example of neglect and deprivation. Dominated by the mallahas, an impoverished lower caste fishing community,

education was the last thing that children here had access to and women were only seen as extra working hands to make fishing nets and munj (wild grass) ropes. An added curse was the rampant production and consumption of country liquor made from the abundant Mahua flowers of the region.

It’s here that Gudiya, who is now in her mid-twenties, ushered in change by establishing a small school a few years back. She says, “I grew up in an environment where girls had no hope of ever leading a respectful life; even their mothers were alcoholics. The village boys, too, saw no scope in building a future and took to drinking early and aimlessly whiling away their time. Life was really tough. Just to get a square meal a day my parents had to make all of us work.”

Then when the mid-day meal scheme started in a nearby school Gudiya was sent there just so she would get something to eat – at least her parents had one mouth less to feed.

“That turned out to be a life changing decision. When I went to school, I realised what a wonderful thing education is and I decided to continue going to school,” she recalls.

Once her mind was made up, there was no turning back for this youngster, who hails from the only Brahmin family in her village and is one of 10 children – five girls and five boys. However, before going to school could be a regular thing she had to get her father, Babu Lal Sharma, to agree to her plan.

“It was not easy to convince my father. He had put me on the job of spinning the ‘munj’ ropes, which when sold got us some money to feed our family. But I didn’t back down and eventually he gave in,” she shares.
Gudiya paid for her schooling by making munj rope in her free time and her single-minded dedication was rewarded when she became the first girl in Mallahipurva to pass the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam in 2008.

Her father, Babu Lal, says, “I was tongue-tied when she told me the news and then gave the SSC certificate in my hand. It was a source of both happiness and apprehension for me. People in the village kept telling me that I was wrong in allowing her to do all this, but my heart said that this was her destiny, that she was meant to do this.”

But passing an examination was not Gudiya’s sole ambition. She had bigger plans – she wanted to start a small school for all those children who could not afford formal education right in her village.

When she gathered the courage to speak to the elders about it and requested that some dedicated space be given to her to run the school, they flatly refused. So she once again went to her father to seek permission to allow Mallaha children to come into their home.

Being Brahmins this was considered not only sacrilegious by her parents but was also expressly prohibited by local religious heads. Nevertheless, Gudiya managed to coax consent out of her parents and to take classes IN the family verandah.

The next big hurdle she had to overcome was getting the children to actually come. With around 100-odd families living in Mallahipurva and almost all the parents being addicted to country liquor, motivating them to send their children to study was far from easy.

“I went from house to house collecting children and getting them to class. Their parents were not happy and resisted my entreaties, but I never gave up. Then when a scheme called Child to Child Education was introduced by the New Delhi-based social organisation, Girija Devi Foundation, I signed up for it and attached my school to it. They helped me get books, food and even medical aid, all free of cost, for all those who came to study. Owing to this, support from parents too began to grow,” elaborates the inspiring young educator.

​

Of course, Gudiya did not abandon her school even after she got married and moved to Kanpur. In fact, she continues to keep a tab on what’s happening at her school from a distance, having handed over the reins to her younger sister, Soni. “My sister has studied up to Class Eight and is handling the school very well,” she says with a smile.

This school has proved to be a great hit with the students, who quickly finish up their household chores and rush to Gudiya didi’s classes – they are still called that.

What makes this classroom doubly beneficial for the little ones is the fact that those suffering from medical problems can avail of immediate and free treatment, thanks to the added benefits of the Foundation’s education initiative. -

For instance, Nita, who is in her teens, has been able to get rid of her squint just because she joined Gudiya’s classes. She was 10 years old when she underwent an eye surgery through the medical aid provided for the children at the school. Indeed, according to Nita, Gudiya’s school has been a godsend. “Before the operation I had a squint and could not see very clearly. I used to overhear my mother tell my father that I would never get married because of the way I look and would have to work all my life spinning ropes and chopping fodder for the cattle. Then I joined school and during a medical check-up the doctor suggested an operation to correct the squint. These days, I can see and read properly and don’t feel shy about meeting people,” she says.

There are noticeable changes in the attitude of the local community as well. Says Gudiya, “In the beginning I had faced a lot of ridicule and hostility. Some even threatened me and my family, saying that I was ruining the established way of life in the village. The same people, however, are extending full support today. Earlier, the children were completely neglected – they would not eat food on time, wash or dress properly. There was a lack of sanitation that contributed to illnesses. Since both parents used to get drunk from the morning onwards, there was no one to take care of the kids. It’s a very different story presently. The children have learnt a lot and come to school neat and clean. They know how to take care of themselves and their siblings as well.”


​

Adds Nanhu, a former Pradhan of Mallahipurva, “The school has definitely made a difference. People still consume Mahua liquor but they have understood that their children should not do the same. Some have even started giving up their drunken ways and make sure to bring their children to the school at Gudiya’s home. I hope this change continues.”

Meanwhile, Gudiya has great hopes not just for herself but for her students, “I hope that one day each child from this school takes on the responsibility to teach others.” This young woman, who became a teacher almost by accident, has understood clearly the difference a dedicated teacher can make.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/36139...ail&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-4f00cfdcff-73747833

 

[P.J.]

Maharashtra Bus Conductor Won 3 Gold Medals At Australian Master Games.

Maharashtra Bus Conductor Won 3 Gold Medals At Australian Master Games.


Oct 12, 2015

No more than a very small percentage of 1.2 billion people is willing to devote their life to judo, fencing, javelin throw and the like.

Abasaheb Gaikwad is not a part of the ‘great Indian middle class’. He is just a humble bus conductor who belongs to Shetjale village in Sangli, Maharashtra.

A district, state and national level athlete, Abasaheb, had won two gold medals in javelin and discus throw in Torino International Masters Games, held in Italy in 2013.

​

And now, he has struck gold medal again at the Australian Master Games, currently being held in Adelaide.

​

He did this without a coach. Since there was no monetary help from any sports federation, his friends pooled in funds to support his sport and the cause.In the category of 30-35 age group, he participated in three sports – shot put, discus throw, and hammer throw. He won gold by beating players from seven countries, including Australia.

Speaking from Adelaide, Abasaheb narrated his journey to Pune Mirror:

‘Before embarking on the trip Down Under, I had to go through a qualifying round in Mumbai, where I performed outstandingly and got chosen for the tour. My friends and colleagues helped me a lot, both in terms of gathering funds and preparing for the tournament. The cost of the tour is huge. Everyone collected a sum of Rs 2.5 lakh. After tasting success in Turin, I found my confidence and decided to give the Australian Master Games a shot. I continued my practice along with my job and, as usual, got much support from seniors and family members.’

And, here’s what his proud wife had to say:

‘Despite an odd job and a poor financial condition at home, my husband continued his training without a coach. Now, he has once again proved himself.’


http://www.storypick.com/bus-conductor-wins-gold-medal/

 

[P.J.]

This Auto Driver Might Have Saved PM Modi's Life

This Auto Driver Might Have Saved PM Modi's Life

12 October 2015


On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city, cops in Navi Mumbai went into a tizzy after the Mumbai anti-terrorism squad (ATS) contacted them about a tip-off from an auto driver about a conversation between three passengers he picked up from Mulund.

reuters"Even Kasab's family was being looked after well"

mid day

Their exchanges indicate that the trio had sort of terror links, the auto driver told the ATS. "The auto driver us that he had heard the passengers talking in Malay and Urdu about a job. One of them wondered what would happen to his family if he carried it out. The others, in turn, tried to assuage his worries, saying that even Kasab's (26/11 Pakistani terrorist) family was being looked after well," said a senior ATS officer.

This is what they look like

The auto driver had earlier worked in Malaysia and hence understood both the languages. He later dropped the passengers at Airoli on Saturday evening. "We have drawn sketches of the three suspects based on the description provided by the auto driver. We are also in the process of talking to the auto driver and conducting an inquiry," he said. The Navi Mumbai anti-terrorist cell carried out combing operations on Saturday at various points in the city. They set up road blocks and examined the CCTV footage from the Airoli toll plaza. An official connected with the operation said, "We have kept religious leaders of various communities in the loop and sought their cooperation to prevent any attempt to disrupt communal harmony."


(Published in the Times of India | Cover image for representational purposes only)

http://www.indiatimes.com/news/indi...-about-terrorist-plot-to-kill-him-246158.html

 

[P.J.]

Indians Donate Rs 13 Lacs For Sick Karachi Girl.

Indians Donate Rs 13 Lacs For Sick Karachi Girl.

Oct 13, 2015

Humanity is a strong enough bond that can wash away political divide.

An emotional crowd funding appeal to collect a few lacs for a rare, potentially fatal disease of a Karachi teenager was making rounds on both sides of the India-Pakistan border for a long time.

15-year-old Saba Tariq Ahmed was diagnosed with a very rare condition called Wilson’s Disease, a disorder that results in the poisonous accumulation of copper in the body.

The Bluebells Community, an NGO in Mumbai, decided to put up a crowdfunding appeal online and Indians, especially Mumbaikars, donated nearly Rs 13 lakh for her treatment.

​

She was being treated at the Jaslok hospital on Pedder Road in Mumbai for the last 49 days.

This is what Dr. Aabha Nagral, a liver specialist, who was treating the teen had to say after they left for Pakistan:

‘When Bluebells Community volunteers received Saba at Mumbai airport on August 24, she was wheelchair-bound, could not speak and had tremors and abnormal involuntary movements due to the severity of the disease. But we started her on physiotherapy as well as the alternative drug, Trientine (which helps remove copper accumulation from the body). Procuring the drug was not easy as it is not manufactured in India and 100 capsules cost Rs 84,000. Saba and her mother, Nazia, boarded an afternoon flight for Karachi. They were extremely happy about how well the treatment worked for Saba.’

What makes this heartwarming story even more special is that Indians reached not just once, but twice to help her financially, after she needed a change of medication.

This is India Meri Jaan. Let there be many more such examples from both countries.

Source: The Times of India

http://www.storypick.com/india-donates-13-lacs/

 

[P.J.]

A Cobbler Father Who Can't Afford Shoes For His Gold Medal-Winning Sprinter Daughter

A Cobbler Father Who Can't Afford Shoes For His Gold Medal-Winning Sprinter Daughter

October 13, 2015





In what could be described as a hard-touching irony, Mangesh Mhaishune of Mumbai mends shoes for a living and his daughter Sayali sprints barefoot to win gold medals at school level. One of the best joys you could get as a schoolkid would be to come first in a sprint, be it 100-metre, 200m, 400m or 3000m. Sayali experienced this unparalleled joy when she claimed her maiden gold medal by completing 3000-metre run in 12:27.8 seconds in the Under-17 event at the District Sports Office inter-school athletic championships on Monday.

Hours later, when her father heard the good news, he was repairing shoes and polishing wornout dull footwear at his shop in Dadar. "I knew she was representing her school at the athletics meet. I wanted to go, but couldn't because feeding my family is more important than going to watch her run," Mangesh is quoted by Mid-Day.He was elated with his daughter's feat but rues that he can't shut his shop during the day to watch a glimpse of his daughter winning laurels for her school. Mangesh earns between Rs 3000-10,000 a month."Whatever little I earn goes into my two daughters' education. My elder daughter Mayuri (17) is doing a diploma in Information Technology, while my wife Savita keeps ill frequently. Sayali though, has made me very proud today," he said.

For the 9th-standard student Sayali, competing barefoot at the Priyadarshini Park was an arduous task. "I'm used to training barefoot at the Naigaon Police Ground track. As I practice on mud, running on this rough synthetic surface was very tough. The track was very hot too as our races were around noon. Around the halfway mark, I was dehydrated, but somehow kept running. I didn't expect to win a medal, my aim was simply to finish the race. Spikes would have definitely helped me run faster here," she said. Sayali also races in other state-level competitions in Maharashtra which involve prize money in a bid to earn some extra cash for the family.

Mangesh cannot afford expensive gifts for his proud daughter but vowed to bring home her favourite chocolates and encourage her as she hopes to represent the country one day



http://www.indiatimes.com/news/spor...d-medal-winning-sprinter-daughter-246183.html