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

- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

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Positive Reads

500-Year-Old Manuscript Unveils World's First Stand-Up Comedy Sketch, Full of Puns and Jokes

A 500-year-old manuscript has revealed what is believed to be the first recorded stand-up comedy sketch. The manuscript, which dates back to the 15th century, was discovered in the archives of the University of Bristol in the UK. The manuscript contains a comedic dialogue between two characters, where one tries to sell the other a magical potion that can cure all illnesses. The dialogue is full of puns, jokes, and wordplay, making it a precursor to modern-day stand-up comedy. The manuscript was written in Middle English, which makes it difficult to understand for modern readers. However, Dr. James Cook, a medieval literature expert at the University of Bristol, was able to decipher the text and recognize the comedic elements. According to Dr. Cook, the discovery of this manuscript challenges the notion that stand-up comedy is a modern invention. It also sheds light on the rich history of humor and comedy in literature. The manuscript is now on display at the University of Bristol's Special Collections Library. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of comedy in the 15th century and highlights the enduring appeal of humor and laughter across the ages.

5 Jun 2023
Positive Reads

The Smart Village of India

A village in Gujarat is breaking all stereotype of Indian villages by emerging as a smart village and setting an example of how a modern village will look like. Punsari village, situated in Sabarkantha district, 90 km away from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, boasts of amenities and modern facilities, some of which are present only in metro cities. To begin with, the village has concrete roads that are arrayed with solar powered street lamps. It has  RO water purification unit as well as a primary health centre. The drainage and sanitary system are managed very efficiently. There is a toilet in every house. Villagers can also avail of banking facilities. When we think of a village, the picture of a dysfunctional school comes to our mind, but the fully air-conditioned primary school is the pride of Punsari. It is equipped with smart education technology, whiteboards, CCTVs and WiFi connectivity. The school has its own bus service which is run by the village Panchayat. All these factors set the village apart. The credit goes to the Sarpanch of Punsari, Himanshu Patel who was elected in the year 2006. He had big dreams for the village which was realized by his sincere efforts to transform the small village into a Village Empowerment Model. When Mr. Patel took charge,  Punsari was like any other village lacking in the necessary amenities. The  Panchayat received meagre funds from the state, so it was decided to put whatever land was available to good use so as to generate extra revenue. With no NRI finance flowing in, Patel and his team of 11 Panchayat members decided to use the funds offered by the state government in the right direction. Their efforts bore fruit after eight long years as Punsari village transformed into a  smart village with all the modern amenities. The total expenditure incurred was about 16 crores. The inspirational work of Mr. Patel to urbanize his village didn’t go unnoticed. At the event of the third National Panchayat Raj Day held on November 2011, Mr. Patel was felicitated and honoured with the award for Best Gram Sabha from the former Chief Minister and current Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi. Soon, Punsari village became a model for other villages across 640 districts, all over the nation. On the insistence of PM Mr. Narendra Modi, more than 300 officials have studied the village maintenance and management in detail. The Secretary of the Rural Development Ministry, paid a detailed visit to the Punsari village to study and understand the layout and usage of the latest technologies. Mr. Patel claims that his model of a smart and modern village can be replicated with proper planning and smart use of resources. Smart people, appropriate planning and a corruption-free system are all that is needed to convert every village into a smart village.  

19 Sep 2017
Positive Reads

Star Citizens

Know More About the Man Who Painted the Barren Hills With Trees and Flowers to Make a Living Art

Moirangthem Loiya, a resident of Imphal would, as a child regularly visit the lush green Koubru peak in Senapati district. Once when he returned to the place after finishing his college, he was dismayed to see that the beautiful forest was devastated. Loiya made up his mind to replant the forest and started hunting for land to plant trees. He was guided by a local to the Maru Langoi hill range near Punshilok where all the trees were burnt down for rice cultivation. A Lonely Journey Loiya, who worked as a medical representative left his job, packed food and clothes and built a hut for himself in Punshilok. For six years, he toiled and planted numerous trees including oak, magnolia, teak and jackfruit. Soon friends and volunteers pitched in to clean weeds and plant more trees. The plantation flourished due to a natural spring nearby. Support From the Forest Department The land on which Loiya was working came under the state forest reserve region. However, the forest department offered him full support as he was working towards the creation and conservation of the forest cover. In fact, they helped him by clearing all encroachments around the area to protect the forest. Loiya roped in his friends and volunteers to create the Wildlife and Habitat Protection Society(WAHPS) which looks after the natural wealth of Punshilok. Thanks to their efforts, Punshilok forest encompassing 300 acres is now thriving with trees, shrubs and medicinal plants. There are around 25 species of bamboo plants. The forest has also become home to a variety of birds, snakes and wild animals. WAHPS along with the forest department has been instrumental in containing many forest fires, preventing indiscriminate cutting of trees and poaching. We need many more people like Loiya whose dream materialized after years of hard work into a forest that now attracts locals as well as international tourists who visit Punshilok to soak in its breathtaking beauty. For a living, Loiya now works as a pharmacist in his brother’s medical shop and does organic farming, but he calls himself a painter who uses the face of hills as his canvas and trees and flowers as paint to make a living art. Image Source: Patrika

1 Sep 2019
Star Citizens

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