"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."

- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

#Native

Star Citizens

Guardian of Nilgiris: K J Raju's 30-Year Crusade for Environmental Conservation

In a remarkable display of dedication and passion, 73-year-old K J Raju from Nilgiris has been leading a silent revolution to protect the species of his land and create awareness among the younger generation about the importance of environmental conservation. His mission involves removing invasive exotic species and planting natural shola plants to create more water sources across the Nilgiris district. A retired mathematics teacher, Raju embarked on this inspiring journey three decades ago after witnessing the indiscriminate felling of trees for firewood in Kotagiri. Realizing that simply urging people to stop deforestation would not be enough, he took a proactive approach. With the support of state and central government agencies, he provided LPG connections to 100 homes, effectively putting an end to their reliance on firewood. Raju's efforts attracted like-minded individuals, and in 1996, they established the Longwood Shola Watchdog Committee (LWSWDC). Together, they patrol the woods, inviting students and researchers to explore the unique Longwood Shola forest, nestled in the valleys of the southern end of the Western Ghats. The committee has successfully documented every living species in the forest and removed invasive eucalyptus shoots from a significant portion of the 250-acre area. By preserving the natural habitat and promoting the growth of shola forests, Raju aims to secure an additional 40,000 TMC water, as shola plants are known for their water conservation capabilities. The existing forest already serves as a vital water source for 50,000 people in 18 villages surrounding Kotagiri. Recognizing his remarkable work, an England-based organization has granted accreditation to the Longwood Shola forest. Additionally, the Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned Rs 5 crore for developmental projects in the area. Apart from his conservation efforts, Raju has also played a crucial role in educating thousands of children, transforming them into environmentally conscious individuals. Some of his protégés have even gained international recognition as eco activists. Raju's unwavering determination serves as an inspiration, proving that age is no barrier when it comes to making a positive impact on the environment.

2 Dec 2023
Star Citizens

Reforesting India: How Peepal Baba is Leading the Charge for a Greener Tomorrow

  In the quest to rejuvenate our planet and ensure its survival, Swami Prem Parivartan, fondly known as Peepal Baba embarked on a mission to cultivate an abundance of natural air-conditioning agents—trees. His organization, ‘Give Me Trees’, is at the forefront of a crusade to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable future for all of us. Give Me Trees connects with people and volunteers through a dedicated website and Facebook page. Once engaged, volunteers are encouraged to plant and care for trees in their respective areas. The organization provides essential training to ensure effective tree planting and conservation. From students to retired professionals, everyone is empowered to make a positive impact. To ensure the trees' survival, the organization solicits regular "Survival" reports from volunteers and teams working in specific regions. Peepal Baba outlines three fundamental principles guiding their efforts: selecting native trees, respecting the soil, and taking an oath to care for the saplings until they grow into sturdy trees. Peepal Baba asserts that the Peepal tree is considered sacred and has lots of religious significance attached to it. Since that provides automatic protection to the tree, he decided to plant lots of Peepal trees across India. Today, Give Me Trees, stands as one of India's most extensive community-driven tree planting initiatives. With an impressive force of more than 10,000 volunteers, it boasts a remarkable track record of planting in excess of 20 million trees, including a staggering 1.25 crore Peepal and Neem trees. Peepal Baba's message is clear: tree planting isn't a one-day event, but a daily ritual for a sustainable future. He urges everyone to join this green revolution, not just for ourselves but for our children and future generations. Together, we can make our planet a better place with clean air and abundant greenery. email: info@givemetrees.org.in  websites:  www.givemetrees.org                  www.peepalbaba.org

6 Sep 2023
Star Citizens

The Whys and Hows

Unraveling the Historical Naming Conundrum: Why Native Americans are Called Indians?

The term "Indian" has long been associated with the indigenous peoples of the Americas, commonly referred to as Native Americans. However, the historical reasons behind this naming conundrum are complex and rooted in a series of misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and historical events. When Christopher Columbus set foot on the shores of the Americas in 1492, he mistakenly believed he had reached India, hence referring to the indigenous people he encountered as "Indians." This misnomer arose due to the prevailing misconception at the time that the Earth was much smaller than it actually is, leading Columbus to believe he had arrived in the East Indies. The misidentification of Native Americans as "Indians" persisted even after subsequent explorers and settlers realized their mistake. The term became ingrained in Western vernacular, leading to a continued use of the term even after the true nature of Columbus's discovery became widely known. Another contributing factor to the misnaming of Native Americans is the lack of knowledge about the diverse cultures and identities of the indigenous peoples across the Americas. The European colonizers encountered numerous distinct tribes and nations, each with its own unique languages, traditions, and histories. However, due to a lack of understanding and appreciation for this diversity, they tended to categorize and generalize the indigenous peoples under a single, umbrella term. Furthermore, the colonial era witnessed the systematic marginalization and oppression of Native Americans, as European powers sought to assert dominance and control over the newly discovered lands. The imposition of foreign cultures, languages, and values on indigenous communities further eroded their distinct identities. The misnaming of Native Americans as "Indians" has had lasting effects on their cultural identity and self-perception. The term carries with it a legacy of historical inaccuracies and colonial domination. Today, many indigenous communities prefer to be referred to by their tribal or nation-specific names, emphasizing their unique cultural heritage and reclaiming their own narratives. Efforts have been made to rectify the misnaming and promote respectful recognition of Native American heritage. Organizations, scholars, and activists advocate for the use of appropriate tribal names and designations, highlighting the rich diversity of indigenous cultures and acknowledging their historical and contemporary contributions to society. These serve as reminders to honor and celebrate the unique traditions, languages, and histories of Native American tribes. They encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of the rich tapestry of indigenous cultures that have shaped the Americas for millennia. Additionally, they shed light on the historical context and the need for accurate terminology when referring to Native Americans and invites discussions and awareness about the impact of misnaming and the importance of using respectful and accurate designations.

15 Sep 2023
The Whys and Hows

Positive Reads

The Power of Miyawaki Plantations: Bringing Back Greenery to the Dense Metropolis

In the heart of Mumbai's concrete jungle, 64 Miyawaki forests have sprouted up, offering a ray of hope for the city's residents. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has been at the forefront of this movement, dedicating land and funds to establish these mini forests. These lush green spaces, ranging from 500 square meters to 7 or 8 acres, provide a welcome respite from the chaos of city life. The Miyawaki method, perfected by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1980s, has been adopted by the BMC, who has taken this innovative afforestation technique to new heights. The BMC will have finished planting four lakh trees using the Miyawaki method by March 2023. The city authority has gone a step further and mandated that 5% of the space on all properties larger than 10,000 square meters be set aside for Miyawaki plantations. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Thane Municipal Corporation, and New Delhi Municipal Corporation have all imitated this strategy by building their own Miyawaki forests. For years, Mumbai has been plagued by an abysmal per capita accessible open space ratio and a shrinking green cover. But now, the city has been recognized as the 'Tree City of the World' by the United Nations in 2021. The success of the Miyawaki forests has caught the attention of many civic bodies and has given Mumbai a new lease on life. As Jitendra Pardeshi, superintendent of BMC's garden and trees department says, "Indigenous varieties are better suited for the city." With this push, Mumbai is no longer just a city of concrete and chaos, but one of greenery and hope.

7 Feb 2023
Positive Reads

A Peek Into Some Popular Tribal Foods of India

The tribal people are a crucial component of Indian culture. These native tribes have a very distinct sense of who they are, with their own language, religion, festivals, cuisine, and dancing. It is difficult to estimate the number of tribes in India, although they undoubtedly span the country's whole shoreline and extend from East to West. Although we may not know much about their culture and tradition, many for sure must be inquisitive to know about their cuisine. Here are a few popular dishes of the tribals and without a doubt, they sound and look exotic! Dhuska Dhuska is a popular deep-fried snack relished all over Jharkhand. It is a savoury snack made of rice flour, urad dal and chana dal. Some may even add potatoes to it. This fried food is best enjoyed with green chutney. Chapda Chutney Chapda Chutney is enjoyed by the people of Chattisgarh. It is made by crushing red ants and their eggs. The taste is enhanced by the addition of garlic, coriander, chillies and tomatoes along with a pinch of salt and sugar. Thapdi Roti Dark in colour, Thapdi Roti is made from nachni or ragi flour. Also called Madua ki Roti, it is also popular in the Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh region. Maahni Made from the mand, or starch of rice flour, along with some jaggery and conventional spices, this spicy curry is from the state of Himachal Pradesh. Maahni is best enjoyed with rajma and steamed basmati rice. Teliya Maach Fish, onion, tomato, mustard oil, spring onions, and a medley of whole and ground spices are the main ingredients in this delectable Bengali dish with a spicy flavour. Teliya Mach is best enjoyed with steamed rice.

7 Nov 2022
Positive Reads

Exclude Sugar From Your Diet And Opt For These Natural Alternatives

Sugar certainly enhances the taste of your hot chocolate or your preferred dessert. But if consumed at an extensive rate, it will not only lead to weight gain but, also trigger diabetes and increase the chances of heart attacks. Sugar contains zero nutrition; therefore, it does no good to the body. Consuming sugar on a regular basis can also reduce your body’s capacity to combat infections. We often crave for something sweet in the middle of the day and consuming a chunk of chocolate might not be the right thing to do. The taste of anything sweet is so pacifying that after one bite we feel like eating more unaware of the amount of damage it can do to our body.   Today we will be talking about the natural substitutes of sugar which are healthy and also produces the sweet taste. So, let us have a look into the alternatives. Date Palm: This edible sweet fruit not only tastes good but also contain very little fat. Dates are even packed with vitamins, proteins, and iron. So, whenever you get the feeling of having something sweet, you can surely have a handful of dates. You can also replace your jar of sugar with date syrup which is easily available in the market. Maple Syrup: Most of you must be aware of maple syrup but, did you know it has anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties which work as a great alternative to sugar? A lot of you might like having your pancakes with a dollop of cholate spread but, it’s always better to make sugar-free pancakes at home and have it with maple syrup. Honey: The amount of Glycemic Index is low in honey when compared to sugar therefore, it does not give rise to your blood sugar that easily. It also contains polyphenols which are an antioxidant that keeps the heart healthy. But you have to be very cautious while buying honey, make sure it’s pure and is not adulterated. Natural Fruit Juices: What can be better than sipping on watermelon or chikoo juice on a hot summer day? Many of you may add sugar to your juices in order to enhance the taste but, it tastes more refreshing when you have it without adding anything. Fruit juices are natural sources of sugar which do wonders to your body Many of you may feel why coconut sugar is not included in this list. The reason is it contains a very minimal amount of fibre and minerals and may affect your blood glucose level. A lot of people also use stevia as a sweetener but, reports say that it might have many side effects. Therefore, it's better not to use it.  So, whenever you feel like having anything that includes sugar, think about all the demerits of it.

16 Apr 2019
Positive Reads

Good News

Koo Spreads Its Wings in Brazil and Becomes an Instant Hit!

India's Twitter rival Koo, a microblogging platform, rose to the top of the app charts in Brazil, 48 hours after its launch in the South American nation, according to a press statement from the firm on Monday. There are now 11 languages for Koo. In a post, Koo claimed that when Portuguese was made available as a language choice, the multilingual app entered Brazil which alone saw over a million downloads in just two days.  The post attributed to Koo founder Mayank Bidawatka states that only 20% of the world's population speaks English. The rest of the world's population speaks in their native languages.  A language-immersive experience for communicating with and engaging the world has not yet been developed. Koo identified this problem and felt the need to fill this gap. A press note released on November 21 announced that Koo witnessed 2 million Koos (or posts) and 10 million likes within 48 hours, by users in Brazil alone. It was the top app in both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in Brazil within 48 hours of being known in the country. Mayank Bidawatka said that they were proud to have started the movement of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ in the tech product world. He added that Koo intends to further consolidate its position in the global market by making the app available to more nations and launching in multiple global languages. Koo went on to say that the platform currently has well-known Brazilian celebrities including Rosana Hermann, Babu Santana, and singer Claudia Leitte.  

23 Nov 2022
Good News

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