PHYSICS STUDYING TIPS YOU SHOULD TRY

Following these tips and suggestions will take more time and effort than does a casual reading of the text, but they will pay off in a savings of time when you do the problems, in a better understanding of physics, and in increased confidence on exams.

General tips

• Keep up with the course. Once you fall behind it is very difficult to catch up. If you ignore this advice and do fall behind (it happens to the best of us sometimes), and if you cannot manufacture the time to do a thorough job of catching up, then skim the passed-over course material for its most important points and move on to a thorough study of the current course material. Attempting a thorough study of last week's material usually results in being one week behind for the entire semester.
• Do the reading before attending the lectures. This way way you won't need to take notes on everything the lecturer says, because you will already understand some of the material and you will know that some of it is treated well in your textbook. If you follow this advice, then you can use the lecture for what lecture is good at: asking questions, following the demonstrations, discovering how this week's material fits into the overall structure of the course, and gaining a conceptual understanding of the material under study. At the same time you can use the text for what text is good at: presenting derivations and sample problems, and getting the details right.
• Devote a little time to studying physics each day, rather than a large amount of time once a week: this allows the material to sink in.
• Make some friends in the course and work through the material in small groups. Use these groups for discussion, problem suggestions, and companionship. Throw ideas into the group's "pot" as well as drawing ideas from it. Do not use your study group as a crutch.
• Attend the course's conference sessions to learn informal techniques that are not well-taught through the lecture method.
• Do not memorize. In almost all cases, the temptation to memorize indicates a simple a lack of understanding. In the words of Charles Misner: "The equation F = ma is easy to memorize, hard to use, and even more difficult to understand."

Tips regarding reading

• Read aggressively. The amount of reading assigned in a physics course will be far less than the amount of reading assigned in a literature or a sociology course, but the reading is much denser and your teacher expects you to read it thoroughly, thoughtfully, and critically. Read with pencil and paper in hand, and follow the algebra yourself. Keep a list of questions and of points that you don't understand.
• Take notes in your book. Mark the most important points and record why they are important. The act of deciding what is important is the first step in turning reading from passive page-turning into active, aggressive--and rewarding--penetration. (Some students take notes by highlighting with a yellow marker. This is all right, but don't fall into the trap of highlighting everything in your book!)
• Examine the sample problems carefully.
• If the reading is too dense, try skimming it once to get an overview of what's going on, then coming back and reading in detail the second time.
• The active, aggressive reading advocated here is very time-consuming. Reserve it for the most important parts of your textbook. You might be able to get your teacher to list for you the most important sections, or you might have to decide for yourself.

Tips regarding lectures

• Listen aggressively. What you get out of lecture is proportional to what you put into it. If you follow the lecture, think about the material, ask questions, and care about what's going on, then lecture will be an active, productive learning experience for you. If you sit slumped in your seat, then lecture will give you a backache and little more.
• Come to lecture armed with questions for your teacher, developed from doing your reading.
• Some students are used to rewriting their lecture notes or taping lectures and then listening to them twice. We discourage such practices, not because they are useless, but because they are less profitable than other practices advocated here. (In particular, taping a lecture does not record the all-important blackboard display.)
• On the other hand, many students do find it useful to review each lecture by making a simple list of the most important topics, and also a different list of the puzzling aspects that need clarification. This review can be done through your notes or in your memory or with your study group, but it is best done soon after the lecture.

Tips regarding problems

• Do the reading and listen to the lectures before attempting the problems.
• Do not put off the problems until the night before they are due. In particular, take a stab at the problems before conference sessions, so that you can ask well-formulated questions there.
• Read the problem carefully to make sure you understand what is being asked.
• Do not rush into solving a problem. Instead, first formulate a strategy for solving the problem. Usually this is as simple as classifying the problem according to its method of solution. Is it a "constant acceleration" problem? A "work-energy" problem? A "Gauss's law" problem?
• If you find yourself writing pages of words or working reams of algebra, then you are off on the wrong track. Stop, reread the problem, think, reformulate your strategy, and then start over again from the beginning.
• Think of the problems as mystery stories. How would Sherlock Holmes approach this problem?
• Don't search through your book for "the right equation". You will not be able to solve your problem by finding an appropriate equation and then plugging numbers into it. No self-respecting college-level teacher would assign such a problem.
• If the final answer called for in the question is a number, then you will ultimately have to plug numbers into an equation. But even in such cases it is almost always easier and less error-prone to keep the quantities as symbols until the very end. (For one thing, it is easier to do algebra with the symbol "m" than with the value "2.59 kg".)
• Sometimes the problem statement will give you more information than is needed to answer the question. Sometimes it will give you less information than is needed, and ask you not for an answer but for a list of the unknown information required to find an answer. Sometimes the problem will be a short narrative from which you need to extract relevant information. Students often find such problems exasperating, but in fact they develop an important problem-solving skill called building a mathematical model. Problems that arise in the world outside of your textbook usually come with more or less data present than needed to solve the problem. The ability to recognize which data are needed and which are irrelevant is an important practical skill.
• Review your problem solutions when they are returned (or when model solutions are handed out). Why did you make the mistakes you did? How could you have avoided them? This review should be quick (after all, you have new material piling up) but five or ten minutes spent in this review can save hours by preventing similar mistakes in the future.
• More suggestions are avaliable in the page Solving Pr oblems in Physics.

Tips regarding lab work

• Skim the lab instructions before coming to lab. You won't be able to understand things fully without the equipment in front of you, but you'll get a general overview that will serve you well and ultimately save you time.
• Don't be afraid to fiddle with lab equipment unless you have been specifically warned away from it. Many students are reluctant to play with electrical equipment because they're afraid of being shocked. Unless you are told otherwise, the stuff used in lab won't hurt you.

Tips regarding exams

• Keep up with the course. Don't cram at the last minute.
• Get a good night's sleep. Even if you ignored the advice above and have to cram, limit cramming in favor of sleep.
• Prepare a one-page summary of the material being examined.
• Don't memorize. Your teacher expects you to work with ideas and solve problems, not plug numbers into equations.
• Bring to the exam a calculator (fully charged) and several pens or pencils (sharpened).
• As you read an exam problem, place a check mark beside the given data and underline the unknown quantity to be found. This will help you prepare a strategy and help you avoid answering a question that is similar to but different from the one that is asked.
• Make a sketch or graph to familiarize yourself with the situation. Make sure you understand the problem before plunging in.

HOW TO GET OUT MOST OF YOUR STUDENT YEARS

This blog will be talking about how as a student, you can effectively juggle the 3 most important things in your life!
With the dawn of every birthday, we are expected to become more and more adept at juggling the whole school-studies-friends-family balance. Yet each year, with the increase in syllabus, parental expectations and changes in our social surrounding, we feel like we are letting life slip by without gaining much in return.
How does one then, strike a balance between studies, friends and family?
Learn to Prioritize:
Making a list of the most important things for you is highly recommended. You know that school and studies are the most important things on which your focus needs to be unwavering. Doing well in school, and acquiring the right study skills that will help you become a continuously seeking learner will lay a strong foundation for your future. It is important that you place everything that will help give a direction to the future you have been dreaming about, foremost.
Spend time with your family:
Remember, your family is the one unit in your life that will always stand by you, unwavering in the face of adversity and rejoicing in every little victory. Try to spend as much quality time with them as you can. Your parents understand the pressures of growing up and will be able to give you more freedom to make your decisions when they know that you know your roots even as you are seemingly taking giant steps towards realizing your dreams.
Studies:
You have to realize that to achieve your dreams, however different they may be from others, you need to have a strong foundation. This will be the reservoir that will see you through throughout your life. Your basic education- primary, secondary and higher education, all contribute towards making your dreams come true.
So don’t make excuses like: I don’t like this subject and that is why I can’t seem to score well enough in it. If you don’t like a subject try to delve deeper into the reasons. Is it because of the way you are taught the topic? Is it because you don’t like to read about it in the old black and white format? Is it because however hard you try, you are not able to get those marks in that subject? Maybe its time you did things differently. Like, how about attempting to study online –with videos and graphics thrown in good measure – to help break monotony and for easy understanding?
The next time you do not understand a topic in Maths or Science go online, locate a video tutorial on the topic and see how well it gets entrenched in your mind!
The next step would be to  whatever you have learnt to let the topic leave an indelible imprint on your mind. Take regular tests based on all that you have studied and we are sure you will begin to develop an interest in the subject. Try it!
What about friends?
Of course you need to be with people your age , to discuss, dream, boast, complain, comfort, and in general spend time together with the hope of making all those problems that come your way a little easier to deal with. Do spend time building and nurturing these relationships.. If you have your priorities in place there is nothing stopping you from being able to successfully manage this circle

VEDIC MATHS TRICKS

Math is a subject that one cannot afford to ignore. However, for many school kids (and a lot of grown -ups too!!),the fear of Maths is predominant to the extent of being counter -productive. Just the mention of the subject is enough to cloud many a student minds with thick clouds of anxiety. Math anxiety is one of the most widespread anxieties among students.

Developing competent Maths skills also paves the way for  students to become better problem solvers in life in general. Many problems are multi-step and require some type of a systematic approach. These are exactly the kind of skills that are sharpened as you do Maths. Working with Mathematics can be both fun and easy at the same time. Take a look at the following Maths tips which would help you do calculations in your head really fast and help you build your confidence in dealing with numbers.

• Fraction - Addition and Subtraction:

Working with fractions can get messy with a lot of rough work. Take a look at the image below for a quick way to solving fraction problems.

courtesy: moveitmaththesource.com

• The 11 Times Trick:

We all know the trick when multiplying by ten – add 0 to the end of the number, but did you know there is an equally easy trick for multiplying a two digit number by 11? Here’s how:
Step 1: Take the original number and imagine a space between the two digits (For example lets use 52)

5_2

Step 2: Now add the two numbers together and put them in the middle

5_(5+2)_2

Step 3: You have the answer: 572

But what to do if the numbers in the middle add up to a 2 digit number for e.g. 99 ??
Step 1:                                                                       9_(9+9)_9
Step2: Just insert the second number and add 1 to the first
Step 3:                                                                (9+1)_8_9 = 1089 

                                                                                        Try It!

• Words in Math

While some may find math word problems easy and fun to solve, others may actually find them difficult and confusing. Take a look at the image below to know the hidden words and their meaning to quick solution of maths word problem.

 

  We hope you find these tricks helpful. If you liked what you read, do share your own Maths tips and tricks in the comment box below and help everyone fall in love with Maths!

PUNCTUATION RULES IN ENGLISH

*via- http://www.posterenvy.com
While this example was a humorous one, it helps to emphasize the importance of appropriate punctuations – whether in our written or spoken sentences. Punctuation is one of the most important aspects of  the English language and yet, it is one that is taken lightly, almost too casually! It is in fact this feature of writing that gives meaning to the written words, much like the pauses and changes in the tone of voice while speaking. An error in punctuation can convey a completely different meaning to the one that is intended. You only have to look at the example in the beginning of this blog to realize how one little comma can change the meaning of a perfectly innocent remark!  So how does one, who is habituated to the emoticon, sms-lingo and acronyms get his punctuations in place? It is simple. Follow the cardinal rules given below and watch how your well punctuated sentences help you express yourself so much more effectively!   *via- http://www.thenaughtyseat.co.uk  1. Period/ Full Stop (.)

• To be used to indicate the completion of a sentence

e.g. The activists have been arrested.

•   Is also used when you shorten a word

e.g  Contd. – Continued
        Dr. – Doctor
2. Comma

• To be used when you want to indicate a pause during a written or verbal communication

eg. Hi, I am here to help you with your daily chores.

• Also used to separate a list of words in a sentence

e.g. Reena, Sheena, Diven and Saksham are going to watch a movie.
3. Semi Colon (;)

• Represents a pause of greater importance and length than a comma. It is used to separate closelyrelated independent clauses.

e.g. He was a tall, gallant warrior; we all loved him.

• One more very common use of the semi-colon is to join two clauses using a transition suchas however, therefore, or on the other hand.  

e.g. Rohit is an Indian; however, he lives in the United States.
4. Colon (:)
A colon also represents a pause – more complete than a semi colon – but less than a full stop. It is generally
used before a list or an explanation.
e.g. The following students have won a scholarship for this year: Alka, Pratyush, Dhruv and Saira.
e.g. “Elephant (noun): a large grey mammal found in Africa and India.”
5. Question Mark (?)
A question mark is the sign of the interrogative and is used after direct questions.
e.g. Would you like to have a cup of tea?
6. Exclamation Mark (!)
The exclamation mark is used after sentences used to express emotions or a wish, and interjections.
e.g. O Father! In heaven ….
7.Inverted Commas/ Quotation Marks (“ ”)
These are used to depict quoted or spoken language. They are used when the words of the speaker are quoted
verbatim.
e.g. The Principal said: “All teachers are required to be present for the staff meeting.”
So you see, it is very important to be able to punctuate your sentences properly. Otherwise life would just be one big blubbering party where all your sentences will mean the same and convey no emotion. Without punctuations there would be never-ending sentences, nothing exciting, no comic timings. There would be prolonged & winding conversations that would most definitely put people to sleep. Zzzzzzzzzz…
Also, you wouldn’t ever be able to get in word in between because nobody would ever stop talking! Imagine that! We hope that by now you get the general drift on the importance of correct punctuation marks. Psst.. These little language signs would also help you score better and help you score brownie points with your English language teacher. Have you ever had any punctuation related goof ups? Share with us in the comment space below –we could all do with a good laugh. What say?

PREPARATION TIPS FOR CLASS 10th

SA2 is in the air and all you students must be engrossed in your books & revision notes, juggling between reading the chapters and practicing those questions. Most of you by this time must have finished screening the syllabus, and might be well underway some serious revision sessions. However, if you are still feeling the nerves and are a little jittery about the upcoming exams, then do not fret, cos’ we at Meritnation are here to help you fix it.
Theis is a typical situation and most students appearing for exams face it during the last days of their preparation. Let’s analyze the situation and prepare a way deal with it head-on. Take a look at a few generic preparation tips to race up those grades for better results.

Preparation Tips for Mathematics

1. Make a sheet of important concepts/formulae.
2. If you are in CBSE Board and you want to score well in mathematics, it is very important to be completely in sync with your NCERT book.
3. On the day of the exam, write down what you are given and what you need to find on the rough corner of the answer sheet along with the formula to avoid in blanking out in between or losing track of the question
4. Practice is important .Once you are thorough with your revision, start working through the practice papers, unsolved papers and previous years’ sample papers.
5. Show all your work, even if you know the final answer is wrong. Don’t erase your calculations because you may still get some marks for using the correct procedure (despite not getting the correct answer in the final step)
6. In Math, it is either wrong or right. So, always start with problems you can easily solve and then go on to those that appear slightly tricky or challenging.

Preparation Tips for Science

1. Create a complete list of derivations, formulae and experiments and keep the list handy.
2. Schedule your time table in such a manner that you get to practice and revise your diagrams, formulae, derivations & experiments in a time frame of 2-3 days .
3. Make a habit of writing the definitions in your own language without altering the meaning. Remember, definitions should not contain the word being asked to define.
4. On the day of the exam, make diagrams & process charts wherever possible, even if you don’t recall the answer completely. In science visual representation fetches you better scores.
5. Practice the previous year sample papers, ideally adhering to the prescribed time limit.
6. Learn to identify clue words in order to understand what the question demands and structure/organize your answer accordingly. Here are a few such words with their implicit meaning.


7.  In true-false questions, be alert for qualifying words words such as all, none, always,never which generally make a statement false and words like most, some, usually, and seldom which tend to make a statement true.
We wish all our users all the best for their SA1 exams.  If you liked what you read, than spare a moment to  share your  preparation tips in the comments below

EFFECTS OF LATE NIGHT STUDYING

Everyone encounters a situation where sleep must be sacrificed for the sake of success. Exam season is here and most of the students pull of an all-nighter frequently during this time.
According to a research 20% of young students have significantly poor quality sleep during examinations bringing it to an average of 7.9 hours on week nights. But the more startling news is that waking up the whole night can not only affect your health but can also negatively impact your grades too!



Many people prepare themselves by drinking coffee, listening to music, midnight snacking and the likes to keep them going (see info graphic below). But according to experts, the effect of all night studies doesn’t go away so soon. Chronic sleep deprivation can cause a few imbalances in the body and in severe cases can cause irreversible damage to your health. For instance
1. Lack of sleep reduces memory.
2. Lack of sleep is a leading cause for attention deficit amongst pre-teens and adolescents.
3. Sleep deprivation makes it difficult to digest glucose from the body causing irreversible damages like diabetes and blood pressure.




So the question arises, how to study effectively, take a break and still manage to ace the exams?? Here are a few tips recommended by experts that may be followed during exams:
A.  The most important, try to get 8-9 hours of sleep every night.
B.   Try Chunking: A method to learn and improve memory by splitting content into short and easy bits and use of mnemonics to prepare quick revision notes. This method is effective when the body is tired.
C. Take a break during early afternoon (12 noon- 1:30 pm), as this is the time of least alertness.
D. Power naps: Another effective way to break the fatigue spell, so that a student can remain alert and concentrate on learning , without suffering a memory blackout.



Hope these tips would help you keep energized, refreshed and help you ace those examinations with ease. If you liked what you read then do spare a moment to share your examination blues with us in the comments below.

IMPROVING YOUR HANDWRITING

Jotting down an essay, writing a birthday card, taking down school notes or completing a form, handwriting is an integral part of our daily lives. It is on show to others and may even be used to make judgements about us
Writing has a very long history. It began as simple pictographs drawn on a rock, which were then combined to represent ideas and developed into more abstract symbols. Just like our writing today, early symbols were used to store information and communicate it to others.
In recent years, modern technology has dramatically changed the way we communicate through writing.However, despite the increased use of computers for writing, the skill of handwriting remains important in education, employment and in everyday life.In schools, teachers lay emphasis on proper and neat handwriting. Since marks continue to be very important in the scheme of things, parents and teachers insist that students produce a neatly written answer paper so that bad handwriting does not put off the examiner who corrects the paper!

For A Neater, More Legible Handwriting

Following are some measures that you may want to consider for a legible handwriting that will make the teacher happy
1. Line Quality:
When we write for long during examination, the written text tends to get fainter, giving it an impression similar to a bad photocopy. Make an effort to maintain the quality of pressure exerted on the pen / pencil to produce  sentences which do not become faint at the end.
2. Alignment:
Do your sentences tilt up or down on the page? Be watchful of this and practice balance of wrist and elbow. Tilting of text could also be the signs of physical weakness at the forearm level and/or bad posture.  It also wastes paper and  promotes a bad handwriting.
3. Slanting Text:
Some students write in a manner that the words slant towards the right or left .Though a balanced slant gives it a calligraphic appearance, over-slanting makes the letter stick too close to each other and hence makes the handwriting seem illegible. Be watchful of the same by rotating the angle of the answer sheet a little towards opposite site to avoid cramped letters.
4. Spacing:
If your letters and words are too close together, they blend into one another. Too far apart and they get lost in space. It is important for students to understand the adequacy of spacing within a paragraph for easy reading. Practicing spacing helps a reader understand the communication intended by the writer and also gives an impression of consistency.
5. Letter Formation:
This rule usually applies to lower case letters, distortion of which is more of a habit than any physical inconsistency. A minor alteration in the formation of letter ‘G’ can cause a spelling error. Be more mindful of such errors. See the example below

So you see, legible writing that can be produced comfortably, at good speed and with little conscious effort, allows a student to communicate and convey thoughts far more effectively and with greater clarity. Handwriting is important when assessments are based on written work, particularly in time-bound written examinations, which is the selection norm for most formal entrance examinations. Without fast and legible handwriting, students may miss out on learning opportunities and under-achieve academically.

Good to know facts about your handwriting

There is a theory that handwriting is deeply personal. We develop our own handwriting styles in concert with the way our brain signals fire in unique patterns that are remarkably different and constant for each person. Handwriting is a primal and unconscious act that can be tough to change . Also known as Graphology, it is a branch of handwriting analysis, defined as the study of handwriting, used to infer a person’s character. Ever wondered why handwriting varies from student to student?
Many believe that your handwriting reveals the essentials of your personality and character.
Well to put it simply what we write comes from the conscious mind; How we write comes from the subconscious mind.
Take a look below what the formations of simple letters reveal about you!

*courtesy: http://www.handwritingpro.com/examples.html

Take a look at the info graphic below and decide what your handwriting  reveals about you!

Remember! A good handwriting mirrors your understanding of the topic. Of course, you reap the rewards too when the teacher gives you an A+
If you like what you read you can share your thoughts on importance of handwriting or your experiences on the same.

FIVE MOST BEAUTIFUL AUTHORS WHICH YOU WILL LOVE A LOT

 PART- 1

Get Lost in the hills with Ruskin Bond!

Hi people!
Book Cafe is back with another exciting author! We hope you enjoyed reading our previous blog on Enid Blyton. This time we will talk about India’s best loved writer, the inimitable, Ruskin Bond.

Ruskin Bond’s short stories, novellas and novels have always been part of our student lives. Some schools teach his  short stories in the lower classes and a lot of boards have incorporated some of his novels in their curriculum for English. In fact, Ek tha Rusty, the tele series on his stories on Doordarshan has been a personal favourite.
What is it about this 79 year old author that makes us want to read his books at every age?
Ruskin Bond’s greatest charm lies in the fact that all his characters are everyday, relatable people doing things that come naturally to them. His characters are the rickshaw wala bhaiya who drives you to school, the kite maker at the end of the gully you live in, the old grouchy uncle above your flat, the gardener, the nanny, the class teacher, the pesky neighborhood aunty and uncle.. the list goes on and on.
Of course there are also mad Ranis who offer delightful chocolates, mischievous ghosts that can even upset your stomach, the clever parrot who just refuses to talk, the ubiquitous and eccentric uncles, affable policemen and mysterious guards who can chill your bones with the scariest of ghost stories! His stories fill you with the desire to walk through the hills, inhale the freshness and become one with nature.
We are compiling a rich mix of some of Ruskin Bond’s best works and hope you will enjoy them as much as we have.
Panther’s Moon:

This is a light thriller which narrates the story of young Bisnu who loses his pet dog to a man eating panther that has been a menace in and around his village. As he comes back from school, Bisnu realises that the threat now extends to his mother and sister too.
Ruskin Bond uses everyday activities of the Kumaonis and the hardships faced by them, the wild animals around, the degeneration of the forest cover due to industrialization to weave a beautiful story about human will and the symbiotic relationship between Man and the fragile ecosystem around him.
Angry River:

This novel is one of the widely acclaimed books written by Bond. The Angry River is about young Sita who lives with her grandparents in a mud hut on an island surrounded by the friendly but mighty river. Her only friend is her doll Mumta. Krishan, an orphan befriends her and they embark on a beautiful friendship. However, one day the mighty river swells up due to heavy rains and with it, carries away Mumta and Sita’s grandmother. How do Sita, Krishan and Sita’s grandfather cope with this loss?
An emotional ride, this novel talks about the might of human will against calamity, companionship, friendship , loneliness and loss. A must read.
Room on the Roof:

This was Ruskin Bond’s debut novel which won him the prestigious John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize at the age of 17! The novel is about young Anglo Indian Rusty who runs away from the house of his strict guardian, Mr Harrison to live with his young and more fun Indian friends. You must read this book to understand why Ruskin Bond is so dearly loved.
Night Train to Deoli and other Stories:

A beautiful collection of stories that focus on the innocence and awkwardness of the turbulent teenage years. There is the shyness of first love, the adventure that can only be experienced by young people on the hills, the long drawn train rides and the interesting people the author meets on his way to his grandmother.
Our Trees still grow in Dehra:
This novella is semi autobiographical and borders on the nostalgia associated with Bond’s deceased father. Young Ruskin and his father sow some seeds on a small island between the river and hope to one day come back and see them growing. It is a beautiful account of the time the author spent with his father. An older Ruskin comes back to Dehra to find all those seeds becoming big trees pulsating with life.
The Woman on Platform Number 8
This story is one of the best loved short stories written by Bond. You might have read it in your textbooks too. A young Arun finds the company of a mysterious but motherly lady in a white sari and changes the whole concept of not talking to strangers for us.
The Thief:
Another emotional read, The Thief is about a boy who comes to live with an author and steals from him. Slowly he realises that the author knew he was a thief but never let on the knowledge to the police. Instead he showered him with love that only a family can bestow on a child. This book is about the journey of the thief who becomes honest and hardworking in the end. The best part about this book is that it is not preachy yet it is able to subtly send across a powerful message.
A Flight of Pigeons:

This novel revolves around the time of Partition where a young and beautiful Anglo Indian is abducted by a Pathan. It effectively portrays the confluence of two cultures, ideals and political stances.
This is just the beginning. Over the years he has written so many books that it is hard to keep count of all of them!
Go on, read up on this wonderful author and tell us which one of the books you liked.

GANDHIJI'S LETTER TO STUDENTS

Dear Children,

It feels very odd to have something as big as a national holiday declared on your birthday. I am humbled at the love and respect that you all have for me. I do believe however, that everyone is equal so we should not try to idolize anybody… but that is another story

We are a great nation. The Indian subcontinent being larger geographically than most developed nations. There is a rich variety in the climate, vegetation, soil quality and river systems which are the key factors in creating the diversified cultures that are co-existing today. Over a billion people inhabit the country and I’m sure all of you have talents that are unique and very important in helping build the country’s cultural, economic, academic and political forces.

I look at India today, after 67 years and I am very happy to see how quickly it has adapted to the growing demands of a quickly globalizing world. However, there are some things that still need to be worked upon on a priority basis to help India realise its full potential.

Tolerance: Yes yes. I know we are a secular, democratic nation but are we completely tolerant of everything and everybody around us? Are we ready to look beyond ourselves to let others also live in peace? Are we democratic in our personal relationships? Let me give you an example.

If you say you are democratic and treat everyone equally, but you still ostracize your domestic help, their children, the watchman, the garbage picker etc and are rude to them most of the time, are you really treating them equally? You take them for granted and expect them to pick up after you.

Is that fair?

These people work for a living and deserve to be respected. They may not be born to some of the privileges that you enjoy but they are doing the best they to earn in a dignified manner. They are helping you keep your life in order! So give them their due respect.

Now let’s talk about your parents. If they feel the need to intervene in your life, it means that somewhere you may be moving away from your original goals. Trying to see things from another person’s perspective, evaluating your current position will help you take informed decisions and that might just be more effective a solution than shouting and breaking all modes of communication.

You have a classmate at school who is from a culturally different back ground or looks different, has a different outlook in life or does not behave like most other children. Should you boycott them just because they think and talk differently?

What about those people who bully, you ask. Remember, bullies were bullied too. They did not have friends who could help them escape that phase. What should you do in such a scenario? Stand up to them if they are in the wrong or are hurting you or somebody. But never hurt anybody just to take revenge. Violence is never the solution. An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. It only embitters and further weakens opportunities to develop the relations. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Speak the Truth: All my life I walked on the path of truth and that was the reason I can fearlessly fight for any cause. This means that not only was I unafraid to speak the truth but I was also open to criticism and to the suggestions to improve myself. If you have not done your homework, instead of making up excuses, tell your instructor why you could not do it and promise to do it and get it for evaluation the next day, (with his permission of course.)

I had once stolen some money from my father and I was so ashamed that I could not meet his eyes at all. How could I steal from the very people who trust me implicitly? I could not speak to him so I decided to write him a letter telling him the truth and apologizing for my mistake. I never thought I would be forgiven, but I was. My father appreciated the fact that I had the courage to admit my guilt.

In the newspapers we hear about students running away or ending their lives because they could not do well in exams and so could not face their parents. I t pains me to see that we have become so weak. I understand how difficult it is to face broken expectations but running away from the problem is never a solution. It only makes you more insecure about yourself. It will only lead you to hurt others more.

Become Independent.

“How do we become independent? We are only children.”

Independence means to depend on no one to do the work you are supposed to do.

You are young and that is the best age to develop independence! Stop depending on your mother or your older/ younger sibling to arrange your bed, your clothes, do your homework for you, pick up your plate or your books after you are done eating or studying. These are small things that you can do yourself. They bring in discipline and focus that is important for making you into a self reliant and strong individual. When you stop taking people for granted and stop expecting things to be handed to you, you will realize how happy and successful you truly are.

Respect every person’s freedom to live, speak and practise faith. It is their fundamental right. Work hard to pursue your dreams. If you want to top your class, choose the best possible way you can to achieve that goal. If you want to dance, work hard and dance your way to the top. If you want to get into sports, practise hard. Remember, a man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes. Lastly, always be open to feedback from your family and friends. This will help you grow.

I wish you all the best

Bapu

GLOBAL WARMING

The earth climate uas undergone changes both on regional and global scale particularly in last few decades. India has also unpredictable weather this year . The winteras have lasted longer than usual ultimately rains before cuting of crops and sudden rise of temperature during the day. America and europe had also unprecedented snowfall. The intensity of cyclones had also increased . The change of climate over is being attributed to global warming.

GLOBAL WARMING

It is the phenomenonin which temperature of earth is incrasing due to burning of fossil fuel . The gases produced by burning this fuel are called greenhouse gases. These are carbon dioxide , nitrous flouride , CFCs and hexaflouride

INVOLVMENT OF UN

The united nations constituted an Inter-Governmental panel on Climatic Change in 1988 with two aims first to study the climatic change which earth is undergoing and secondly to study its social, economical and cultural impact.

FINDINGS OF REPORT

The panel gave following report:
1. Emission of carbon dioxide upsets the natural flow of energy.
2. Deforestation increases global warming.
3. Rise in global temperature between 1.5 to 4 degrees by end of this century.
4. Rise in sea level.

KYOTO PROTOCOL

The historical meeting was held in kyoto (Japan) in 1997. It was attended by representatives of 180 countries. The protocol commits 38 developed countries to cut their emission of green house gases by 5.2% at 1990 level by 2008-12 level. Now the protocol will expire on 2020 as of doha, china meeting. Broadly europian union by 8% , USA by 7% and japan by 6% . India and china had been exempted from protocol because of their developing economy. However, India has retified the protocol by taking adequate measures to safeguard the environment.
Main points:
1.Many of developed countries including USA and Australia have not signed the protocol.
2. USA president Jeorge W.Bush has not signed by saying that the protocol exempts 80% world population including china and india major centers and deal will surely bring down our economy
3. While the fact is that America emmits 1/4th of green house gases in world.
4. India and china combined not making 1/2 of greenhouse gases emmited by USA.

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

The following effects:
1. Faster melting of glacier both on mountains and in Arctic and Antarctic . Gangotri glacier is melting by 17 meters every year. This will surely lead to reduction of wter in summers. Their will surely be scarcity of drinking water. Melting of glaciers will also rise the sea level and can threaten many of the countries. India will also be affected as india has 7560 coastline.
2. Due to intense heat their will be more frequent rainfall and also result in flash floods.
3. Due to intense heat their the agriculture sector and would face scarcity.
3. Many diseases including Malaria would multiply.
4. Biodiversity would be affected and many of the species would be endangered.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE

Countries should not waste more time and start taking action to cut down the emission of greenhouse gases. Tjey should have to look alternatives to fossil-fuels. The technologies of automobile engine, aircraft emission and working thermal power plants should have to be reviewed. Many developing countries including indoa and china have to be included post kyoto protocol 2012 . USA which has not retified should be encouraged to do same.

GLOBAL DIMMING

Like global warming global dimming is also the outcome of burning of fossil-fuels. When fossil fuels are burnt on the one hand it releases green housse gases and on the other hand it releases partoculate matter such as soot and ash in atmosphere which change the properties of clouds . As a result large size droplet is formed which reflect sunlight back and which causes globao dimming.
In a recent UN Human Development report certaimln important facts are:
1. The world must cut down their emission of greenhouse gases by 50% by 2050. India and china must cut down emission by 20%.
2. 15% of the population of developed countries is emitting 50% of the greenhouse gases.
3. Cuting down of emission will cost 1.6% of annual GDP to the world.

CONCLUSION

Climatic change is a global problem and needs a global solution. It should be the prime duty of every nation to prevent further deteriorating of situation by controlling their emission. Increasing energy efficiency and shifting to renewable sources of energy should be the first priority. We should adjist to climatic  chang like conserving soip and water , constructing sea walls or flood walls. This would help coastal settlement and agriculture