Happy Chaitra Navratri 2018 to All Indians

India will celebrate Chaitra Navratri from 18th March to 26th March. Navratri is a Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine avatars for a period of nine days. There are four Navratris in a year, out of which two are celebrated widely. One is Sharad Navratri, or Maha Navratri, which coincides with the popular Durga Puja and concludes with Dussehra and is celebrated around September-October. The other is Chaitra Navratri, which is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra, which falls around March-April.

Happy Holi India 2018

Happy Holi India 2018

Indian Joint Family Concepts

Joint Family is the Best Way to live

 

In countries like Pakistan and India, with increase in population and resources like land and space becoming scarce, the families and individuals are leading a life filled with stress and worry. On the other hand the situation in developed countries is similar for different reason. In developed countries like USA and Australia. the individuals are stressed out for different reasons. Some of the major problems that people living in developed countries face are – job insecurity due to unstable economy, difficulty in raising children while pursuing career ambitions, young adults having difficulty starting out on their own. Therefore whether living in developing countries or in developed part of the world, the model of ‘joint family’ has potential benefits that can lead to secure, healthy, stress free and affluent individuals.

I also believe that having experimented with ‘nuclear families’ and having experienced its drawbacks, we are capable of developing a model that draws on the benefits of ‘nuclear family’ and ‘joint family’. We might even be forced to do so when resources become more and more scarce with passage of time. We will certainly do it when our survival is at stake.

Joint family system vs. Single family system

Today, as a person from the generation that broke out of the system in the hope of immense freedom, I look behind and ask myself ‘what has my generation really and truly gained from the quest for freedom and what has it lost.

one and only major gain that I see from the ‘nuclear family’ system is the opportunity it provides us to create an identity of our own – something we as human beings crave for and are born for. On the loss side there are several –

Being physically far removed from the family members and as a result inadvertently getting disconnected from their hearts and minds,

stresses in bringing up our children only relying on child care centers. In Indian cities and towns, it can be even more difficult where there are not enough facilities available for care of children.

coping with all problems – big and small on our own as we are unable to afford the privilege of sharing and downloading worries on someone (other than spouse) whom we feel close and connected to. This has led to increase in several problems in the society like depression, suicides and heart disorders due to highly stressed lives.

missing out on celebrations and festivities that binds us to our culture and gives us a sense of being at home. This is more relevant to those living out of the country.

having difficulty in passing on the cultural values to our children. Cultural values are learnt and taught by seeing them in action.

facing great difficulty in even passing on our own language to the next generation

Here are some things that can be done differently from the old system to make the ‘joint family system’ a success

1. One of the major reasons why my generation was desperate to break out of the joint family was the attitude of the older generation to impose their views and thoughts on us. In some families the father’s word would be the final word and nobody could dare say or do anything against it. Such an autocratic style of leading a family leads to repression and suppression giving rise to feelings of discontentment and unhappiness.If the joint family system is laid on the founding stone of mutual and genuine love and respect for each and every member (including children) then the system is guaranteed to be a success. It helps to keep in mind that love, respect and affection are things that can be only commanded and not demanded. We command these precious things by GIVING them first. For example – you cannot expect your son or your daughter to have respect for your advice and suggestions if you cannot demonstrate understanding, love and respect to them through your actions and words and by being sensitive to their individual aspirations and ways of thinking.
Family members need to communicate openly and honestly with one another. The elders in the family must encourage and create an environment conducive to open communication. In the absence of such an environment, family members can feel repressed and suppressed that can lead to discontentment. Non-judgmental listening and demonstrating mutual trust are necessary to help family members open up to one another.


One of the things that disintegrated the old joint family system was the constant interference and meddling by elders in the matters of youngsters. Learning from the past mistake, another important aspect of communication is knowing when NOT to communicate. In other words, it is important to give one another space and respect the boundaries of each other. Living under one roof does not have to be about transgressing the personal space of the members. Personal space is more mental than physical. If a joint family system has to succeed, recognizing and respecting this space is crucial.
 
It is important that members in a joint family system feel accepted for who they are and as they are. The crucial part of acceptance of one another is acceptance of our own weaknesses and limitations and that of others. By doing this, expectations of members of one another become more realistic. Realistic expectations help us to be more tolerant of weaknesses of one another. Having unrealistic expectations of others is often the root cause of disappointments and discontentment with others.


When more than one family live together, it brings together members of different strengths. One of the great advantages of this (when compared to a nuclear family) is that different strengths of different members can be potentially enriching to the family and in turn provide a sense of fulfillment to the members. For a joint family system to be a place where the members feel valued and nurtured, acknowledgement of the strengths and different positive aspects that each member brings to the family and being grateful for the same is useful and even necessary.
 

CBSE class 10th and 12th Board Exam 2018 are coming

The date for CBSE board exams date sheet has been released, now the time has come for the exam preparations. Students are confused with how to prepare for the board exams and eventually end up messing the exam days Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Try and get rid of all distractions, and make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible.
Visual aids can be really helpful when revising. At the start of a topic, challenge yourself to write down everything you already know about a topic -- and then highlight where the gaps lie. Closer to the exam, condense your revision notes into one-page diagrams. Closer to the exam, condense your
One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practice taking past versions. This helps
Develop a study routine that works for you. If you study better in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or, if you're more productive at night time, take a larger break earlier on so you're ready to settle down come evening.
Remember that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. Make sure you keep drinking plenty of water throughout your revision, and also on the exam day.
Keep your body and brain well-fueled by choosing nutritious foods that have been proven to aid concentration and memory, such as fish, nuts, seeds, yogurt and blueberries. What you eat can really have an impact on energy levels and focus so keep your body away from junk food.
Jot down important notes and formulae that you come across during your studies. This will help before the exams as you can just grab the subject notebook and revise the portions you want.
Do not study anything new or from a new book right before exams, as you may get confused. Revise what you have studied and glance at important notes and formulae. Make note of important formulae and keep them handy so that you can take a look at them as an when you want. Make a weekly revision plan once you have completed the entire syllabus.
Follow your class lessons properly to cover your syllabus in a systematic manner. After coming home, revise whatever is taught in the class, as the topics will be still fresh in mind. In case of confusion, clarify with your teacher the next day.
Highlight important points and formulae on textbooks and reference books to locate them easily. Revise the points as and when you get time

Holi a festival of colors and vibrant colors our aim educate all

Holi a festival of colors and vibrant colors our aim educate all

Holi, known as the ‘festival of colors’ is celebrated on the full moon day falling in the month of Phalguna (Feb-Mar). Various colors and water are thrown on each other, amidst loud music, drums and lots of masti to celebrate Holi. Like many other festivals in India, Holi also signifies a victory of good over evil. As per ancient mythology, there is a legend of King Hiranyakashipu with who Holi is associated.

History of Holi

Hiranyakashipu was a king in ancient India who was like a demon. He wanted to take revenge for the death of his younger brother who was killed by Lord Vishnu. So to gain power, the king prayed for years. He was finally granted a boon. But with this Hiranyakashipu started considering himself  God and asked his people to worship him like God. The cruel king has a young son named Prahalad, who was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Prahalad had never obeyed his father’s order and kept on worshiping Lord Vishnu. The King was so hard hearted and decided to kill his own son, because he refused to worship him. He asked his sister ‘Holika’, who was immune to fire, to sit on a pyre of fire with Prahalad in her lap. Their plan was to burn Prahalad. But their plan did not go through as Prahalad who was reciting the name of Lord Vishnu throughout was safe, but Holika got burnt to ashes. The defeat of Holika signifies the burning of all that is bad. After this, Lord Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu. But it is actually the death of Holika that is associated with Holi. Because of this, in some states of India like Bihar , a pyre in the form of bonfire is lit on the day before Holi day to remember the death of evil.

But how did colors become part of Holi? This dates back to the period of Lord Krishna (reincarnation of Lord Vishnu . It is believed that Lord Krishna used to celebrate holi with colors and hence popularized the same. He used to play holi with his friends at Vrindavan and Gokul. They used to play pranks all across the village and thus made this a community event. That is why till date Holi celebrations at Vrindavan are unmatched.

Holi is a spring festival to say goodbye to winters. In some parts the celebrations are also associated with spring harvest. Farmers after seeing their stores being refilled with new crops celebrate Holi as a part of their happiness. Because of this, Holi is also known as ‘Vasant Mahotsava’ and ‘Kama Mahotsava’.

Holi is an ancient festival

Holi is one of the oldest Hindu festivals and it had probably started several centuries before the birth of Christ. Based of this is, Holi is mention in ancient religious books like, Jaimini’s Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutra.

Even the temples of ancient India have sculptures of Holi on walls. One of this is a temple from the 16th century in Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagar. The temple has many scenes from Holi sculpted on its walls showing princes and princesses along with their maids holding pichkaris to squirt water on royals.

Many medieval paintings such as a 16th century Ahmednagar painting, Mewar painting (circa 1755), Bundi miniature all depicts Holi celebrations in one way or the other.

Earlier, Holi colors used to be made from flowers of ‘tesu’ or ‘palash’ tree and known as gulal. The colors used to be very good for skin as no chemicals were used to make these. But amidst of all definitions of festivals, the definition of colors for sure have changed with time. Today people have started using harsh colors made from chemicals. Even fast colors are used to play Holi, which are bad and that is why many people avoid celebrating this festival. We should enjoy this age old festival with the true spirit of festivity.

Holi celebrations

Also, Holi is not a one day festival as celebrated in most of the states in India, but it is celebrated for three days.

Day First – On full moon day (Holi Purnima) colored powder and water are arranged in small brass pots on a thali. The celebration begins with the eldest male member who sprinkles color on the members of his family.

Day Second- This is also known as ‘Puno’. On this day Holika’s images are burnt and people even light bonfires to remember the story of Holika and Prahalad. Mothers with their babies take five rounds of the bon- fire in a clockwise direction to seek the blessing of the God of fire.

Day Third- This day is known as ‘Parva’ and this is the last and final day of Holi celebrations. On this day colored powder and water is poured on each other.The deities of Radha and Krishna are worshipped and smeared with colors.

Educate Every one why we celebrate Valentine day

Educate Every one why we celebrate Valentine day

There are many stories that individuals have linked to the Valentines Day’s celebration. Although it is very obvious that the real man behind this holiday is St. Valentine. According to among the stories linked to the celebration of Valentines Day is this fact is the day when St. Why we celebrate Valentine day, Valentine passed away in his jail confinement. Before his death St. Valentine’s had written a letter to a girl to whom he loved a lot. He ended up his message together with his last wordings that are “From Your Valentine” together with his signature. Why we celebrate Valentine day, After his death thinking about him a real lover, lover around the globe have adopted this expression as a means of expressing their sincere love to themselves. These days, around the world, use these wordings on cards as well as on gift cards. Which means that you’re relating your deep passion for your girlfriend or even boyfriend with the real love of St. Valentines for his girl.
In the current society, lots of people use Valentine’s Day to show that they care for another person. They might do this by giving a variety of different romantic gifts. A few of the ideal gifts that are delivered on Valentine’s Day consist of candy roses along with a Valentine, which often comes in the type of a card. It is also feasible for you to be a little bit more innovative regarding giving a Valentine’s Day gift. Some individuals will send a message in a bottle, for instance, which is carried out using an Internet site that provides such a service.
Valentine’s Day is a holiday that’s celebrated on February 14, and it is sometimes known as the Feast of Saint Valentine. Even though this holiday is well known in lots of areas of the planet, it doesn’t usually result in a day off of work and many individuals are working on February 14, provided it doesn’t fall on a weekend. It’s believed that St. Valentine’s Day going in the early area of the first century. Why do we celebrate valentine’s day, The people who are honored to this day incorporate some individuals who carried the name Valentine, such as Valentine of Rome who had been a priest around A.D. 269 as well as Valentine of Terni. It’s a traditional holiday that’s been celebrated for centuries, but many individuals are certainly not interested in its history.

Condition Of Government Schools In India

Condition Of Government Schools In India: A Shocking Truth

According to global education report of 2004, India’s ranking was 106 out of 127 countries in the education sphere

Although India is amongst the ten fastest growing economies in the world, India has the largest number of illiterates by far -close to 40%. .Sixty years after independence, possibly the greatest challenge India faces now is the failure to educate its citizens, notably the poor.

Education is believed to be the only means for a developing nation like India to develop widely and hence the RTE (Right To Education) Act was implemented in the year 2009 enforcing free and compulsory education to all children between 6 to 14 years. RTE Act’s main goal has been to achieve 100% literacy rate across the country and increase the awareness levels.

The education spend in the country is largely lop-sided and as we showed last week in our post the private sector has only 11% contribution in the spending. This leaves the main chunk of responsibility largely on the government sector. We also discussed last week in our post that the quality of infrastructure and education overall needed much to be desired. Specifically talking about government owned schools, we found some disturbing data- it was sadly not unexpected.

On Government school infrastructure:

According to a recent survey conducted in 780 Government Schools across 13 Indian States key facilities (including toilets/ drinking water) were mostly found missing or in a poor condition. The survey further shows that while the RTE act called for sufficient infrastructure, less than 5% schools have all the 9 facilities mentioned in the act. Over 30% schools had no toilets (many girls quote this has a big reason for dropping out of school), over 60% had no playgrounds (it’s no wonder that we struggle with health and fitness both!)

On Government school quality of teaching:

Another survey from 2007 in rural India (across 16,000 villages) showed that while class enrollments were high, the quality of education, rather what children were learning was very limited. Most of the students could not read, write or do basic maths.

MIEF experience with government schools has additionally shown that many of the schools gladly accept help and are willing to work on awareness campaigns and programmes with non-profits and other agencies. We have had students very excited for the Tara Mandal and other such events. The key hurdle however is often bureaucratic, the schools often need circulars for allowing programmes to be conducted with them, something that is easy for a private school to do, as the decision making is more direct there.

We do not want to present just a grim image, we also want to inspire young people to see what the opportunities are. We want to use this as a reminder for ourselves, on finding where we can make a difference, what can have a big impact- when we’re on our way to changing an entire nation. It often begins with understanding the problems.

DISCLAIMER:

The sources for the surveys are from multiple worldwide agencies as mentioned and are not provided by us which does not hold any copyright or expertise on the actual numbers. rightsofeducation is sharing all the data with its readers with a belief that the first step is being aware.