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

- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

#WORD

Global News

Unearthing History: Dazzling Bronze Sword from 3,400 Years Ago Discovered in Germany and Still Shining Bright

A stunning ancient bronze sword has been discovered in Germany, providing a glimpse into the history of early European civilization. The sword, which was found in a river near the town of Hagenow, dates back to the Bronze Age, around 3,300 years ago. The sword is in excellent condition, with intricate designs etched into the bronze blade. Archaeologists believe that it may have been a ceremonial weapon used in religious rituals or for other important events. The discovery of the sword has excited archaeologists and historians, as it provides new insights into early European culture. The Bronze Age was a time of significant technological and cultural advancement, and the discovery of the sword is just one piece of the puzzle in understanding this period of history. The sword will be carefully analyzed by experts to determine its exact age and origin, and it will eventually be put on display in a museum. The discovery of the ancient sword highlights the importance of preserving history and the value of archaeological research. It is a reminder that the past is always present and that there is still so much to learn about our ancestors and the societies they built.

23 Jun 2023
Global News

Guess which is the Cambridge Word of the year 2022? And why?

The Cambridge Dictionary chose “Homer” as the word of the year for 2022, citing Wordle as its source of inspiration. In the first week of May 2022, when the answer for the word game Wordle was “homer”, people searched for it 75,000 times. The term "homer" in the context of the game does not allude to the Greek poet and author or a Simpsons character, but rather to an informal American English term for a baseball "home run." Over 65,000 searches were made on the dictionary website in a single day in 2022, according to Cambridge.  Homer was the Wordle word of the day on  May 5 this year, which is why it saw such a large increase in searches on that day. According to the dictionary website, British and American English use the same word in quite different ways. American English people readily recognized the word "homer" as a colloquial term for a baseball home run when it was the correct answer for the question on May 5’s Wordle. But many players outside of the US were unfamiliar with this term. Numerous players vented their dissatisfaction and frustration on social media, but many also visited the Cambridge Dictionary to learn more, according to the dictionary's blog. Homer was chosen as the Word of the Year 2022 because it "represented not just the enjoyment that so many of our users have found in being playful with language but also the challenges of learning English in an increasingly connected world," revealed the dictionary team.  

21 Nov 2022
Global News

Positive Reads

Ensure Privacy and Security of Your Smartphone With 5 Simple Steps

Be it watching movies, ordering groceries,online banking or booking cabs, we are so dependent on our phones that they have become an integral part of our lives. However, very few of us are concerned about the security and privacy of our mobile phones. Here are a few easy ways through which you can ensure the safety of your phone: Update the smartphone Users must update their smartphones regularly. The OS upgrades from smartphone manufacturers include security patches to address specific security flaws and vulnerabilities that might be exploited. It may seem inconvenient to upgrade the phone, but it actually helps. Stronger passwords are preferable Yes, it might be challenging to remember all the passwords and each one's unique set of requirements. But since one cannot avoid it, it is always preferable to use strong passwords rather than "password" or "123456"—which, incidentally, are two of the most popular passwords of 2022, according to cybersecurity company NordPass. Use unique passwords only. Never jot down your passwords in a document or on your phone or computer. Don't forget to log out of online shopping sites Don't forget to log out of your account after completing a purchase on a website, especially if you're using a public wifi network. Check before charging Juice jacking is a typical con used by hackers. When you put in your phone at one of their false charging stations, they can access your data or install malware, giving them access to your phone. Turn on remote-wiping Anyone can lose a phone, and when it does, there is that overwhelming concern: "What about the data, images, and everything?" The ability to remotely wipe the phone is available on both android and apple smartphones. Therefore, even if you lose your phone, you can be sure that no one has accessed your data.

8 Jan 2023
Positive Reads

Words of Indian Origin

During the industrial boom in India in the 17th century, the English merchants as well as Europeans- the French, Portuguese and Spanish came to India for trade, and along with raw materials and other products, they also picked up some Indian words which later got incorporated in the English language. The study of the origin of words is called etymology and it is an interesting linguistic discipline. The story of the origin of words is very fascinating. The word ‘palanquin’ is derived from the Oriya palanki and Sanskrit  palyanka while Cashmere is the anglicized name for Kashmir that stands for the fabric of the region. Here are some words that originated from India and have found its way into the English dictionary: Bandana: Bandana is a large, colourful scarf tied around the head. Its usage originated in the 18th century from the Hindi word ‘ bandhana’ which means to tie. Bangle: Bangle’s  connection with India seems to go unnoticed as it rhymes with some quintessentially English words such as dangle, mangle, angle. Bangle which means an ornamental band worn around the wrist was called bangle (a glass bracelet) in India. Catamaran: It is derived from the Tamil word ‘ kattumaram’ which means tied wood which was used as a raft. The word catamaran means yacht or a boat with twin hulls in parallel. Curry: Curry is a preparation of meat or vegetable in gravy which contains a variety of strong spices. It is said to be derived from the Tamil word ‘kari’ which means the same. Gunny: gunny is a rough fabric made from jute and used for preparing sacks. It comes from the Marathi and Sanskrit word ‘goni’ Opal: It is a gem. A precious stone is called ‘upala’in Sanakrit and the word opal is said to have derived from it. Shampoo: The origin of the word’ shampoo’ which is a liquid preparation for washing hair has been traced to the Hindi word ‘ Champo’ which means to massage. Bungalow: Bungalow originates from the Hindi word ‘bangla’ which according to the Oxford English dictionary is a type of cottage built for early European settlers in Bengal. Roti: India’s staple food, roti also known as Indian bread in English is also part of the Oxford English Dictionary. Juggernaut: It is another word for huge, powerful and overwhelming force and takes inspiration from Lord Jagannath an incarnation of Krishna, whose procession is taken out in the streets of Puri where devotees throng to pray and pay respects. Juggernaut, therefore, can mean a large heavy vehicle. Thus, India has not only given zero to Maths, it has also gifted many words to the English language.

24 Jun 2017
Positive Reads

Good News

An unique contribution by an Indian on the Independence Day of USA

Mangesh Ghogre deserves praise as his work got selected to be published in the New York Times. Ghogre, an alumnus of VJTI and NMIMS created a crossword which was published in The New York Times on July 4, the Independence Day of USA. Ghogre’s theme for the crossword was based on 'Fourth of July' which also forms the largest answer in the puzzle. He said that the competition has brought the two countries closer to a certain extent. This special puzzle was created in collaboration with an American crossword constructor. Ghogre said that bottom line of the puzzle was to prove how crosswords can cross national boundaries and bring people closer. The 37-year-old investment banker said that the crossword editor at The New York Times, Will Shortz selected the crossword because he found the theme of the puzzle and the construction very elegant. It was an idea that was never attempted before. Ghogre is an international crossword constructor. Several times he has been invited to judge the American Crossword Tournament held in New York. Apart from The New York Times, his puzzles have also found a place in other iconic dailies like The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times. He is the only Indian to have achieved such a feat.

5 Jul 2017
Good News

An NGO in Odisha is helping isolated villages to keep up with the world

Although Odisha is famous for its Sambhalpur saris, Olive Ridley turtles, the Konark temple and the beaches of Puri, the forested hills of Semiliguda Range in Koraput, home to many tribal communities, continue to remain unknown. The Adivasi communities are socially isolated and downtrodden, but an organisation have been mobilising the communities and making them aware of their rights and privileges for over 25 years. The Women’s Organisation for Rural Development, or WORD is based in the little town of Damanjodi. It works for those communities that are socially excluded and consequently, economically deprived. WORD helps them in their personal and communal development and empowerment.   WORD helped to empower women to involve themselves in decision-making for not just their own households but for the village as well. Potential members were recognized and trained for effective Panchayat functioning. WORD also took up the task of establishing indigenous seed banks where a woman from each village was given the responsibility of procuring, grading & preserving the seeds. Another significant project was the setting-up of a school, Adarsh Vidyalaya in Kudipadar village, exclusively for the children from the tribal communities. Today, it has 94 students who come from extremely poor tribal households and have to pay nominal fees.  This organisation has taken many efforts to improve the conditions of living of the isolated tribes.

27 Apr 2017
Good News

Archives