Dr Vishwas Mehta presented a copy of his book Ati Jeevanam (Survival) to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzEXwCHoUOyrZyeUfuH5Iw3HJZ0mcGxgqnU4lDByx_YvKupk37anfXwRgS1ch3dQ9w3GT3QX3Zuv8CTP-aLWzifGmqT8Uk9-UUi_qzaw5jYOnTRF7DdE1VUL3d4RXRzCG6vwgGhyphenhyphen4BmNqZvD73vUGEbZPL3s3owJIze4lYZeRVrTDF3z38WNHscM2ioLl/s1024/DR%20VISHWASH%20MEHTA%20MEETS%20WITH%20KERELA%20CM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzEXwCHoUOyrZyeUfuH5Iw3HJZ0mcGxgqnU4lDByx_YvKupk37anfXwRgS1ch3dQ9w3GT3QX3Zuv8CTP-aLWzifGmqT8Uk9-UUi_qzaw5jYOnTRF7DdE1VUL3d4RXRzCG6vwgGhyphenhyphen4BmNqZvD73vUGEbZPL3s3owJIze4lYZeRVrTDF3z38WNHscM2ioLl/w400-h300/DR%20VISHWASH%20MEHTA%20MEETS%20WITH%20KERELA%20CM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>New Delhi / Thiruvananthapuram. </b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr. Vishwas Mehta, former Chief Secretary of Kerala and outgoing Chief Information Commissioner of the state and a native of Dungarpur in Southern Rajasthan, presented a copy of his book 'Ati Jeevanam' (Survival) written in Malayalam language to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Chief Minister's residence at Thiruvananthapuram.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while praising the commendable efforts of Dr. Vishwas Mehta, praised the many exemplary dimensions established during his forty years of service as the Chief Secretary of Kerala and the outgoing Chief Information Commissioner of the state.  He also said that the service rendered by Dr. Vishwas Mehta to the people of the state by working day and night during the period of Covid 19 can never be forgotten.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">Chief Minister Vijayan said that although many bureaucrats write their own books, Dr. Vishwas Mehta has won everyone's hearts by writing a book in Malayalam, the official language of his working place Kerala, and collecting many inspirational memoirs in it.  He also speaks and writes Malayalam very well.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">Vijayaj expressed hope that Dr. Vishwas Mehta has set an example by coming out of a poor family from a small town Dungarpur in Rajasthan and reaching the highest peak of civil services.  I am confident that this book of his, which has come as a summary of his administrative experiences, will become a guide book for the youth coming into administrative services.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">On this occasion, Chief Minister Vijayan's wife Kamla Vijayan and Dr. Vishwas Mehta's wife Preeti Mehta were also present.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">It is noteworthy that on February 19, Dr. Vishwas Mehta's book Ati Jeevanam (Survival) was launched by Kerala Governor Dr. Arif Mohammad Khan at Kerala Raj Bhavan.  The preface of this book of more than three hundred pages has been written by the Governor of West Bengal, Dr. CV Anand Bose, who was the first collector of Dr. Vishwas Mehta.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"> Dr. Vishwas Mehta completed three years of work as the Chief Information Commissioner of Kerala on Thursday evening.  Before taking oath on this constitutional post, he was the Chief Secretary of Kerala.  In view of his remarkable services, he was given this special responsibility for three years after retirement by the government.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b>--Neeti Gopendra Bhatt</b></p>

Dr Vishwas Mehta presented a copy of his book Ati Jeevanam (Survival) to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

New Delhi / Thiruvananthapuram.  Dr. Vishwas Mehta, former Chief Secretary of Kerala and outgoing Chief Information Commissioner of the stat...

Read more »

G20 Summit: US President Joe Biden to have bilateral meeting with PM Modi on September 8.

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "Lato Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "Lato Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIqmiOUT5OI9baeGQ6VTTyetxbT7FtDNw1fds01O8G4nnqlI0JP2PxhHyQ1VrzlzVj-Z8osxD2j7xaSahnMs_7AeEa4EdD1BEvoQj1SC6Y7a9h0GO9X5idJ0XCV0t84EoPLk795R31uyBunEYgZyfxEvDMlDOitnBmozQmwvEVoRRW6ZD-ZkD0gaywWvxH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIqmiOUT5OI9baeGQ6VTTyetxbT7FtDNw1fds01O8G4nnqlI0JP2PxhHyQ1VrzlzVj-Z8osxD2j7xaSahnMs_7AeEa4EdD1BEvoQj1SC6Y7a9h0GO9X5idJ0XCV0t84EoPLk795R31uyBunEYgZyfxEvDMlDOitnBmozQmwvEVoRRW6ZD-ZkD0gaywWvxH=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></strong></div><p></p><figure data-vars-mediatype="image" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; backface-visibility: hidden; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><figcaption style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; backface-visibility: hidden; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #757575; display: block; font-family: "Lato Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 20px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 8px 0px 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">US President Joe Biden to travel to New Delhi for G20 summit, will have bilateral meeting with PM Modi on September 8.<span> </span><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; backface-visibility: hidden; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">(AP)</strong></figcaption></figure><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "Lato Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><a style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; backface-visibility: hidden; color: #757575; cursor: pointer; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"></a>G20 Summit</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "Lato Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">: US President </span><a class="autobacklink-topic" data-name="Joe Biden" href="https://www.livemint.com/topic/joe-biden" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: "Lato Bold", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700 !important; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "Lato Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> is scheduled to travel to New Delhi from September 7 to 10 to participate in the </span><a class="autobacklink-topic" data-name="G20 summit" href="https://www.livemint.com/topic/g20-summit" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: "Lato Bold", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700 !important; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">G20 summit</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "Lato Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">. A White House statement released recently announced that US President Joe Biden will have bilateral meeting with PM Modi on September 8.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "Lato Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">Earlier during BRICS Summit, American national security advisor Jake Sullivan on August 22 announced that US President Joe Biden will participate in the G20 summit and engage in bilateral meetings with various leaders, reported Trend Today. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "Lato Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">During his visit, Biden will strongly advocate for the reform of multilateral development banks (MDBs), proposing measures to bolster these institutions' financial capacity. This move aims to address challenges related to poverty reduction, fostering prosperity, and combatting the climate crisis. Biden also intends to convey the message that the United States stands in solidarity with the global south.</span></p>

G20 Summit: US President Joe Biden to have bilateral meeting with PM Modi on September 8.

US President Joe Biden to travel to New Delhi for G20 summit, will have bilateral meeting with PM Modi on September 8.   (AP) G20 Summit : U...

Read more »

Toolkit case: Delhi court grants bail to activist Disha Ravi

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgeLFes8ZbE_t-zodG6NBuM7dv11dOY9kk3pl4DyR8-vCTZXijofqb4YRin-EmQ5T7ZsGnj2LbOxh_CPO0hWF6tteovY7dO6gNeAVusUdicahbhiivS0qcZBGcXqMcZd9k_EU0lc2aOFh/s900/Disha_ravi.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgeLFes8ZbE_t-zodG6NBuM7dv11dOY9kk3pl4DyR8-vCTZXijofqb4YRin-EmQ5T7ZsGnj2LbOxh_CPO0hWF6tteovY7dO6gNeAVusUdicahbhiivS0qcZBGcXqMcZd9k_EU0lc2aOFh/s600/Disha_ravi.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Sessions Court in Delhi Tuesday granted bail to climate activist Disha Ravi, who is among the three accused booked for sedition and other charges in connection with the case involving the toolkit related to the farmers’ protest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bengaluru-based Ravi, 22, was arrested on February 13 along with two other activists in connection with a toolkit on the farmers’ protest, which had been tweeted by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. Ravi used to volunteer for Thunberg’s Fridays for Future (FFF) organisation in Bengaluru. She was arrested in the 'toolkit' case earlier this month, was given bail on Tuesday afternoon, subject two sureties of ₹ 1 lakh each.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">who was produced before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma by police at the expiry of her three-day judicial custody on Monday, was remanded to one-day police custody. Her remand ended today. The Delhi Police has accused Ms Ravi, who was arrested from her home in Bengaluru last week, and activists Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk of collaborating with the pro-Khalistani group Poetic Justice Foundation for creating the "toolkit" - allegedly linked to the farmers' protest on January 26 - to trigger dissatisfaction against the government. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They have also accused the three of trying to revive a pro-Khalistani group. Who was produced before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma by police at the expiry of her three-day judicial custody on Monday, was remanded to one-day police custody. Her remand ended today.</div>

Toolkit case: Delhi court grants bail to activist Disha Ravi

A Sessions Court in Delhi Tuesday granted bail to climate activist Disha Ravi, who is among the three accused booked for sedition and other ...

Read more »

The Intricacies of Colombia’s War, Stitched Together in a Novel

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.3px; text-align: left;">By</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.3px; text-align: left;"> </span><span class="css-1baulvz last-byline" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.3px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Juan Gabriel Vásquez<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMijX6MFdEsvKaUCDxTSv3vpIBOMuCVe8_O4nxzAFtMJRD2EhYBQNxsEc5lMnIeW1pY_dlyh_MhuT-CUdysDZJVSyiMAGFcGzlepyuNz8eK4Tet4sqZyXpCTG1UC8jMh6BAoDvqvSEnWJ/s2048/18Vasquez-Cover-superJumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMijX6MFdEsvKaUCDxTSv3vpIBOMuCVe8_O4nxzAFtMJRD2EhYBQNxsEc5lMnIeW1pY_dlyh_MhuT-CUdysDZJVSyiMAGFcGzlepyuNz8eK4Tet4sqZyXpCTG1UC8jMh6BAoDvqvSEnWJ/w250-h400/18Vasquez-Cover-superJumbo.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>BOOK: MISSIONARIES By Phil Klay </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>“S</b></span>uccess was a matter of perspective,” says one of the narrators in Phil Klay’s superb story collection “Redeployment” (2014). “In Iraq it had to be. There was no Omaha Beach, no Vicksburg Campaign, not even an Alamo to signal a clear defeat. The closest we’d come were those toppled Saddam statues.” Reminiscent of the hard-earned and spare-worded wisdom of Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried,” the collection details the ways in which war has changed over the decades. Vietnam pops up as a source of ironic nostalgia, but the book is unwavering, even punishing, in its examination of modern warfare and the ethics of American intervention. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In “Missionaries,” Klay’s first novel, the same questions are taken a step further. Lisette, an American journalist as jaded as she is well-meaning, spends her time back from Afghanistan wondering where she should go next and eventually comes up with an idea: “any wars right now where we’re not losing.” Why, then, does she end up in Colombia? Doesn’t she know success is a matter of perspective? Klay’s understanding of Colombia, the main theater of war in “Missionaries,” is the chief source of admiration for this reviewer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There are no simple wars, of course, but the Colombian conflict is as intricate as they come. In 2016, the country went to the polls to approve or reject a peace agreement, painstakingly negotiated over four years by representatives of the government and the Marxist-Leninist FARC guerrillas. It was yet another attempt at ending a 50-year war that had killed, wounded, displaced or traumatized around eight million people. Over the years, the agents of violence (as well as their motivations) had multiplied: Against the backdrop of the guerrillas’ atrocities, right-wing paramilitaries massacred entire villages, soldiers in the army murdered innocent civilians and called them enemy fighters to inflate body counts, and common criminals fought over control of the drug trade — which financed both the guerrillas and the paramilitaries and corrupted everyone, from law enforcement to congressmen. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After the country sought U.S. aid in 1999, American military and technological assistance entered the landscape, and were still very much there in the months preceding the 2016 referendum. This is the all-too-real garden Klay has chosen for his imaginary toads. “Missionaries” investigates the lives of four characters leading up to that critical year. Two Colombians and two Americans: Abel, a paramilitary foot soldier, victim and perpetrator of violence, trying to get a second chance at life; Juan Pablo, a lieutenant colonel in the Colombian Army to whom war has given a sense of purpose and also a measure of frustration; Mason, an American Special Forces liaison, once a medic in Afghanistan and a witness to multiple kinds of horror; and Lisette, the aforementioned journalist, whose ambiguities and deep-seated contradictions (her strange mixture of cynicism and naïveté, of curiosity and skepticism) make her, to my mind, the most interesting character in the book. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> All four are damaged beings meeting in a damaged place; building a coherent novel out of such chaos-prone material requires order, structure, architecture. Klay is very disciplined, giving his characters regular turns at the microphone to tell their stories before having their paths cross in the novel’s version of hell: a small town in northern Colombia where all the forces of this particular war, including its politics, have come to clash. A transformation comes halfway through the book, and the novel then feels like a different creature. After the Colombian Army kills a high-ranking drug dealer using U.S. technology and tactics, the town becomes a place “where the second- and third-order consequences of the use of force” come suddenly alive. To watch these machineries at work is one of the pleasures “Missionaries” offers: first the illusion of control, then its slow unraveling, and finally the unintended (and invisible, for most participants) costs of intervention in a society where violence is shape-shifting.  </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We leave behind the first-person narratives that read almost like a series of confessions, and we move to the third-person voice that dominates the rest of the novel. It is a risky decision, flirting at times with the diction and style of conventional thrillers. But what the novel loses in intimacy and introspective, it makes up for in speed and breadth. It opens its arms to embrace a wider, richer take on the Colombian conflict, moving with ease from innocent students concerned with human rights to guerrillas who have been raped to gang leaders vying for power.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(Courtesy by New York Times)</p>

The Intricacies of Colombia’s War, Stitched Together in a Novel

By   Juan Gabriel Vásquez BOOK: MISSIONARIES By Phil Klay    “S uccess was a matter of perspective,” says one of the narrators in Phil Klay...

Read more »

I’ve discovered a list of the best books to read in 2020.

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>M</b></span>y reading list is always growing instead of shrinking, even though I average reading a book per week. I wish it weren’t the case, but every day it seems like a stumble on another great read.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I’ve recently discovered a list of the best books to read in 2020. The article includes key learnings from books like:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZkaj8egC_NGcKti9SV08F7Wn5-qs5RnHZu-AO9IH3RGyvbb8huqG1Dz59y4YbznBxzEBHcIjh0NaIngivW-a6S9yYADWn_wKRq_Yq2Z5EWwsBGVUTMn1uoC9YFm3DXJ5KLS7R1M2pYIW/s475/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZkaj8egC_NGcKti9SV08F7Wn5-qs5RnHZu-AO9IH3RGyvbb8huqG1Dz59y4YbznBxzEBHcIjh0NaIngivW-a6S9yYADWn_wKRq_Yq2Z5EWwsBGVUTMn1uoC9YFm3DXJ5KLS7R1M2pYIW/s320/image.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Gilbert offers insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• Finding Your Element by Ken Robbinson </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPOPGNxNleA8GqB7HtyT_vMKGfpIkit-YRPlfVFOqbwa9DUbCL_sR7ymusVu3zwSozVvcYD_EqLj3VMb1OPRMA3TFZRXk6KZj84l3meVNDjg0GKHRfPDBpouX1CRug89RojMKy4Fa-K3A/s499/51U%252BrBr91vL._SX325_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPOPGNxNleA8GqB7HtyT_vMKGfpIkit-YRPlfVFOqbwa9DUbCL_sR7ymusVu3zwSozVvcYD_EqLj3VMb1OPRMA3TFZRXk6KZj84l3meVNDjg0GKHRfPDBpouX1CRug89RojMKy4Fa-K3A/s320/51U%252BrBr91vL._SX325_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A book that is as relevant and imperative for the parents of a 12-year-old as it is for the CEO of a behemoth corporation. And with luck it will help you to find yours. Fans may glean some insight about understanding who we are as individuals and how we can have a better life that communicates our uniqueness to the world. Finding Your Element is an accessible, actionable guide for discovering what most matters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• Blink by Malcolm Gladwell </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant-in the blink of an eye-that actually aren't as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwxZnDP5WzRyDe2JEPOIuVQBWkXYSU07L6p50wqZxQ3H4iS-Ht94sKv5oYQIFfGXdtkKjWLJkOXgkEFBAEyWlzXm8f8TSwdOYNQsbA5hlfGjdzeIEzAcEqV-ZzC1xPxXDYLZw94GnTYOu/s499/blink_.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwxZnDP5WzRyDe2JEPOIuVQBWkXYSU07L6p50wqZxQ3H4iS-Ht94sKv5oYQIFfGXdtkKjWLJkOXgkEFBAEyWlzXm8f8TSwdOYNQsbA5hlfGjdzeIEzAcEqV-ZzC1xPxXDYLZw94GnTYOu/s320/blink_.jpg" /></a></div>How do our brains really work-in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, and in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others? In Blink we meet the psychologist who has learned to predict whether a marriage will last, based on a few minutes of observing a couple; the tennis coach who knows when a player will double-fault before the racket even makes contact with the ball; the antiquities experts who recognize a fake at a glance. Here, too, are great failures of "blink": the election of Warren Harding; "New Coke"; and the shooting of Amadou Diallo by police. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Blink reveals that great decision makers aren't those who process the most information or spend the most time deliberating, but those who have perfected the art of "thin-slicing"-filtering the very few factors that matter from an overwhelming number of variables. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• 21 Lessons For The 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYLCvJfUxtLVQhuwql9wXg3r1cqrYmiQoLxdf2Wij4Iu5Zbo-FRXn5ghjO95OoXfpAX6nw0MpTK1S-vnxE8hdZPpO4AvdSwRAwri6TwbRBqWkhfyv5E3kAi7mzXeiHzkMaafrig4RdBeV/s499/21lession_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYLCvJfUxtLVQhuwql9wXg3r1cqrYmiQoLxdf2Wij4Iu5Zbo-FRXn5ghjO95OoXfpAX6nw0MpTK1S-vnxE8hdZPpO4AvdSwRAwri6TwbRBqWkhfyv5E3kAi7mzXeiHzkMaafrig4RdBeV/s320/21lession_.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Yuval Noah Harari’s 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is a probing and visionary investigation into today’s most urgent issues as we move into the uncharted territory of the future. As technology advances faster than our understanding of it, hacking becomes a tactic of war, and the world feels more polarized than ever, Harari addresses the challenge of navigating life in the face of constant and disorienting change and raises the important questions we need to ask ourselves in order to survive. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In twenty-one accessible chapters that are both provocative and profound, Harari builds on the ideas explored in his previous books, untangling political, technological, social, and existential issues and offering advice on how to prepare for a very different future from the world we now live in: How can we retain freedom of choice when Big Data is watching us? What will the future workforce look like, and how should we ready ourselves for it? How should we deal with the threat of terrorism? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why is liberal democracy in crisis? Harari’s unique ability to make sense of where we have come from and where we are going has captured the imaginations of millions of readers. Here he invites us to consider values, meaning, and personal engagement in a world full of noise and uncertainty. When we are deluged with irrelevant information, clarity is power. Presenting complex contemporary challenges clearly and accessibly, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is essential reading.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegszCLGdbu9zaEBtxvdS_Yy-2J4eOP8XfFY1YsbFXg_Jy2Q3-dacARgImCmbxr4kjtEHejrHbpuZkFR3SVz9k1Dwtz-GztcthnU8lwfXgWptsbFl7BMQzU-_HgtQ2JwP_rSoSPfgeqPM0/s499/hph_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="303" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegszCLGdbu9zaEBtxvdS_Yy-2J4eOP8XfFY1YsbFXg_Jy2Q3-dacARgImCmbxr4kjtEHejrHbpuZkFR3SVz9k1Dwtz-GztcthnU8lwfXgWptsbFl7BMQzU-_HgtQ2JwP_rSoSPfgeqPM0/s320/hph_.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">After extensive original research and a decade as the world's leading high performance coach, Burchard found the answers. It turns out that just six deliberate habits give you the edge. Anyone can practice these habits and, when they do, extraordinary things happen in their lives, relationships, and careers. Which habits can help you achieve long-term success and vibrant well-being no matter your age, career, strengths, or personality? To become a high performer, you must seek clarity, generate energy, raise necessity, increase productivity, develop influence, and demonstrate courage. This book is about the art and science of how to cultivate and practice these proven habits. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whether you want to get more done, lead others better, develop skill faster, or dramatically increase your sense of joy and confidence, the habits in this book will help you achieve it. Each of the six habits is illustrated by powerful vignettes, cutting-edge science, thought-provoking exercises, and real-world daily practices you can implement right now. If you've ever wanted a science-backed, heart-centered plan to living a better quality of life, it's in your hands. Best of all, you can measure your progress. A link to a free professional assessment is included in the book.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• What I Know For Sure by Oprah </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0d0IgugtLES5MT4YFEKgROOq8-CT7Bh_AtSu66fNTUx7TIXxzFq-BeNHbg3CjijP8P5Ya_7LexSoLNzoKnqUSt0Lml4juQs0SWPi3_p9FgTggCg5nRt8WuOdMa8G8Lfit-hnDf4UZwKcq/s499/what_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="348" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0d0IgugtLES5MT4YFEKgROOq8-CT7Bh_AtSu66fNTUx7TIXxzFq-BeNHbg3CjijP8P5Ya_7LexSoLNzoKnqUSt0Lml4juQs0SWPi3_p9FgTggCg5nRt8WuOdMa8G8Lfit-hnDf4UZwKcq/s320/what_.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">As a creative force, student of the human heart and soul, and champion of living the life you want, Oprah Winfrey stands alone. Over the years, she has made history with a legendary talk show (the highest-rated program of its kind), launched her own television network, become the USA's only African-American billionaire, and been awarded both an honorary degree by Harvard University and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. From all her experiences, she has gleaned life lessons – which, for fourteen years, she's shared in O, The Oprah Magazine's widely popular 'What I Know For Sure' column, a monthly source of inspiration and revelation. Now, for the first time, these thoughtful gems have been revised, updated, and collected in What I Know For Sure, a beautiful book with a ribbon marker, packed with insight and revelation from Oprah Winfrey. Organized by theme – joy, resilience, connection, gratitude, possibility, awe, clarity, and power – these essays offer a rare, powerful and intimate glimpse into the heart and mind of one of the world's most extraordinary women, while providing readers a guide to becoming their best selves. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> • You Were Born Rich by Bob Proctor </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQY9Xdm-YS2XLd-3FYD2EPX-WLkVANHsIB2PWUWg5PiUKG458d0SC6N8EqdbFP4Ro7w1DpVYtWqQTHWh9BRvsoL3POug2fRKDjkpFpDKWoJqnDelW7KyxZN22LZHV4fVXV06N4e-cEMCj/s500/bob_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="497" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQY9Xdm-YS2XLd-3FYD2EPX-WLkVANHsIB2PWUWg5PiUKG458d0SC6N8EqdbFP4Ro7w1DpVYtWqQTHWh9BRvsoL3POug2fRKDjkpFpDKWoJqnDelW7KyxZN22LZHV4fVXV06N4e-cEMCj/s320/bob_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Zig Ziglar may be the master motivator, Mark Victor Hansen of Chicken Soup For the Soul, the master storyteller; Anthony Robbins may be the guru of personal development, but Bob Proctor is the master thinker. When it comes to systematizing life, no oneelse can touch him. He is simply the best. Bob Proctor collects thoughts like Imelda Marcos used to collect shoes. He strings them together in exquisite arrays; one thought leading logically to the next until a whole method has been constructed. In You Were Born Rich, Bob Proctor has done it again, this time taking you step by step to the surprising discovery that success is not always reaching out for something that you don't have but rather only reaching over and rearranging the pieces already there. The great value of this book is that you can instantly apply the conclusions to your own life. It will begin to impact you long before you reach the last chapter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNuOaL4fETMK-ttaePXw4FeYd276NmlBnR-jX_Mzwv4PURYU2clCmKnWK9iNaXl7fFR60eiDRxgDiea1TBHazeyXgbQWX5NQ-090juC8XE4LBExXlvr0xqKP6OpCY2ODNMQac4zVBZc8x/s300/HappinessProject10th-pb-c-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNuOaL4fETMK-ttaePXw4FeYd276NmlBnR-jX_Mzwv4PURYU2clCmKnWK9iNaXl7fFR60eiDRxgDiea1TBHazeyXgbQWX5NQ-090juC8XE4LBExXlvr0xqKP6OpCY2ODNMQac4zVBZc8x/s0/HappinessProject10th-pb-c-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Award-winning author Gretchen Rubin is back with a bang, with The Happiness Project. The author of the bestselling 40 Ways to Look at Winston Churchill has produced a work that is “a cross between the Dalai Lama’s The Art of Happiness and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love.” (Sonya Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want) In the vein of Julie and Julia, The Happiness Project describes one person’s year-long attempt to discover what leads to true contentment. Drawing at once on cutting-edge science, classical philosophy, and real-world applicability, Rubin has written an engaging, eminently relatable chronicle of transformation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81Y46gpkHDyoU56OfJzAIeCkFaOcpV0gAP8bkW2AffJP3pcC8A5UOfs7tbLWBSBXrIr95wVjbs1vNUiqVFSPLzWdptQtQCyQNR_MLTT2VxEW3n-AUC5-ZMEZZRGAGVZYkxIkqA50jmqF9/s1000/you.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="624" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81Y46gpkHDyoU56OfJzAIeCkFaOcpV0gAP8bkW2AffJP3pcC8A5UOfs7tbLWBSBXrIr95wVjbs1vNUiqVFSPLzWdptQtQCyQNR_MLTT2VxEW3n-AUC5-ZMEZZRGAGVZYkxIkqA50jmqF9/s320/you.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">YOU ARE A BADASS AT MAKING MONEY is the book you need if you've spent too much time watching money land in your bank account and then roll through your fingers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jen Sincero went from living in a converted garage to traveling the world in 5-star luxury in a matter of years, and knows all too well the layers of BS one can get wrapped up in around money, as well as what it takes to dig your way out. In this funny, fascinating and practical book she goes in-depth on how powerful our thoughts are and how our bank accounts are mirrors for our beliefs about money. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">YOU ARE A BADASS AT MAKING MONEY combines laugh out loud comedy with life-changing concepts, all boiled down into manageable, bite-sized tips so that YOU can put them into practice and get life changing results.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• Keep Going by Austin Kleon</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MubEadK82jaUO0klDQfmr-_NWlFPHOLiH7-p13KTmWJ8-ItV5yPB9rLz-tmyl1gz4XJCBnXBf_PhqjLC-ryp4qeRbN1uaNDWacITiWuoJISiC62uByGlCynzcn5Da97qo9Bbva3jM5TL/s500/keepgoing_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MubEadK82jaUO0klDQfmr-_NWlFPHOLiH7-p13KTmWJ8-ItV5yPB9rLz-tmyl1gz4XJCBnXBf_PhqjLC-ryp4qeRbN1uaNDWacITiWuoJISiC62uByGlCynzcn5Da97qo9Bbva3jM5TL/s320/keepgoing_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The world is crazy. Creative work is hard. And nothing is getting any easier! In his previous books - Steal Like an Artistand Show Your Work!, New York Times bestsellers with over a million copies in print combined - Austin Kleon gave readers the key to unlock their creativity and then showed them how to share it. Now he completes his trilogy with his most inspiring work yet. Keep Going gives the reader life-changing, illustrated advice and encouragement on how to stay creative, focused, and true to yourself in the face of personal burnout or external distractions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is how to Build a Bliss Station - a place or fixed period where you can disconnect from the world. How to see that Every Day Is Groundhog Day - yesterday's over, tomorrow may never come, so just do what you can do today. How to Forget the Noun, Do the Verb - stop worrying about being a "painter" and just paint. Keep working. Keep playing. Keep searching. Keep giving. Keep living. Keep Going. It's exactly the message all of us need, at exactly the right time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>• Echoes of the Getaway: Behind the dark shadows of the Valley by Ravindra Prabhat</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv97i_Bu2WIgb3tNAKw_ixrBdat-940UzbCuA16dpDgVs_Qr9wyaUTjnM4NjshbIKReFBjkwWuN7L2COO0BQMRK6SoJdH2vVmztjVcg9slJY69-23OtpvDbMtKoTgXrvoidHULldOz2xyS/s499/51t7tepnF3L._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv97i_Bu2WIgb3tNAKw_ixrBdat-940UzbCuA16dpDgVs_Qr9wyaUTjnM4NjshbIKReFBjkwWuN7L2COO0BQMRK6SoJdH2vVmztjVcg9slJY69-23OtpvDbMtKoTgXrvoidHULldOz2xyS/s320/51t7tepnF3L._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have some books that have been my favorite so far this year but I absolutely love the story line of the novel "Echoes of the getaway" and that’s what really made me love this book. I loved how throughout the story Latika stayed true to herself and didn’t let herself by swayed by anyone or anything. She stuck to her morals and was self respecting. I also love her development throughout the story. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><br /></div><div>Driver Sudesh didn’t act rashly in his duty. Mr. & Mrs. Kaul instead planned it out carefully and set up events. This is the best book of the year on the story of the dark shadows of the Valley. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is fact that the new generation in Kashmir has grown up in the long shadow of Pandits' exodus in 1990. And both Muslims and Hindus have gained memories from a generation that is slowly losing them. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Now, I don’t say writers are in any way better or smarter than non-writers, but I believe most great minds in history left us with books and even today, the majority of successful people in any field, may it be sports, entrepreneurship, nutrition, cooking or whatsoever, are writing books.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>By Nazia Rizvi</b></div></div>

I’ve discovered a list of the best books to read in 2020.

M y reading list is always growing instead of shrinking, even though I average reading a book per week. I wish it weren’t the case, but ever...

Read more »

'Oru Adaar Love' song takes Mapilapattu lovers by surprise

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13bsRKnGg0j1r45Pw8B78b3nxqL9wqwekSmRHyUGKE0kOQ98HD4bO217opeMBAsopk8KY9UCsyGzCWUDKxBzMm3jpXce-x_2SqKzlP2AuHwit8xFREFDCp41DHY_IyFKJaMMia8TrNZLV/s1600/PriyaPrakashVarrierWink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="660" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13bsRKnGg0j1r45Pw8B78b3nxqL9wqwekSmRHyUGKE0kOQ98HD4bO217opeMBAsopk8KY9UCsyGzCWUDKxBzMm3jpXce-x_2SqKzlP2AuHwit8xFREFDCp41DHY_IyFKJaMMia8TrNZLV/s640/PriyaPrakashVarrierWink.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: white; font-family: Fira-Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">On </span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: Fira-Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="color: #20124d;">February 11 and 12, the words ‘Priya Prakash Varrier’, ‘Priya Varrier video’, and ‘Priya Varrier Instagram’ were some of the most searched-for words on Google. Photo: YouTube screenshot  </span></span></div> <div class="ng_factbox infobox-container" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #fcfcfc; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(209, 206, 210); box-sizing: border-box; color: #505050; display: inline-block; float: left; font-family: Fira-Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: auto; margin: 7px 20px 28px 30px; outline: 0px !important; position: relative; width: 300px;"> <div class="infobox-heading" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #133b5a; box-sizing: border-box; color: #faf9f6; display: inline-block; font-family: Fira-Sans-Semibold, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto; line-height: 19px; outline: 0px !important; padding: 5px 15px; position: relative; width: 300px; z-index: 5;"> What is Mapilapattu?</div> <div class="infobox-description" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; outline: 0px !important; padding: 17px 23px 8px; width: 300px;"> <ul style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #282828; font-family: TundraWeb, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 0px -22px; outline: 0px !important; width: auto;"> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(180, 180, 180); box-sizing: border-box; color: #505050; font-family: Fira-Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 5px; outline: 0px !important; padding: 5px;">Mapilapattu or Mappila songs are Muslims folk songs popular in Kerala’s Mallapuram. While the lyrics are in Mappila dialect of Malayalam the songs generously use Persian, Arabic, Urdu and Tamil words.</li> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(180, 180, 180); box-sizing: border-box; color: #505050; font-family: Fira-Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 5px; outline: 0px !important; padding: 5px;">These songs possess a unique literary format as well as original modes of singing. Love and tenderness were the hallmarks of Mappila songs.</li> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(180, 180, 180); box-sizing: border-box; color: #505050; font-family: Fira-Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 5px; outline: 0px !important; padding: 5px;">The Mappila songs are integral part of the Malabar. There is a song for every occasion from marriage to separation, faith to rebellion.</li> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #505050; font-family: Fira-Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 5px; outline: 0px !important; padding: 5px;">The earliest known Mapilapattu dates back to 17th Century.</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: tundraweb, serif; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px; width: 600px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-size: 18px;">he controversy over picturisation of a song sequence in the upcoming Malayalam movie Oru Adaar Love has taken the Mapilapattu lovers across the State by surprise. The controversy over the song Manikya Malaraaya Poovi, a Mapilapattu originally penned by P.M.A. Jabbar in 1978, could have been avoided, they said. “Those who worked behind this song in the film could have used any other Mapilapattu. They should have been vigilant against playing into the hands of fundamentalists,” said Moosa Eranholi, veteran Mapilapattu singer whose rendition of Manikya Malaraaya had the widest appeal so far. finds nothing objectionable either in the song or in the picturisation. “In fact, that winking scene has captured the adolescent romance on a campus in its sublime beauty.</span></span></div> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: tundraweb, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px; width: 600px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: white;">But the movie makers should have cared for the sentiments of the people at large. There are all sorts of people waiting for an issue,” he said.</span></div> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: tundraweb, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px; width: 600px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Veteran Mapilapattu lyricist O.M. Karuvarakundu said that there was nothing much about the song to be made an issue. “We have been listening to this song for the past four decades. Although there have been some minor issues in both the lyrics and its tune, the song courted no controversy so far largely because of its popularity,” said Mr. Karuvarakundu.</span></div> </div> </div>

'Oru Adaar Love' song takes Mapilapattu lovers by surprise

On February 11 and 12, the words ‘Priya Prakash Varrier’, ‘Priya Varrier video’, and ‘Priya Varrier Instagram’ were some of the most sea...

Read more »

P.M. Modi asked me to join hands with Edappadi: Panneerselvam

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtqhku8iWEqoQ_hLIRf4Q9dlzpy4XutaDDZdWHPAt6un07wN9NFnvYASwGg9sI_6kA3ZUSQKraYQtTr-6sfWgEfZKe6HbwKwxLSLtHzG-fk9lNe2Lsww2QcEs7tIcoNkVu40JKiqVJ5_N/s1600/MODI-OPS+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="660" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtqhku8iWEqoQ_hLIRf4Q9dlzpy4XutaDDZdWHPAt6un07wN9NFnvYASwGg9sI_6kA3ZUSQKraYQtTr-6sfWgEfZKe6HbwKwxLSLtHzG-fk9lNe2Lsww2QcEs7tIcoNkVu40JKiqVJ5_N/s640/MODI-OPS+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Chennai, Spl. Correspondent:</b> Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has admitted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to merge his faction with the Edappadi K. Palaniswami and be part of the AIADMK government. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> At an AIADMK party meeting in Theni on Friday, he said he went and met the Prime Minister on a courtesy call before the merger. He said that at the meeting the Prime Minister told him that he had discussed party issues with Jayalalithaa earlier. “The Prime Minister told me that under the present circumstances, the two [factions] should merge to save the party,” </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Panneerselvam told the cadre. “I agreed for the merger and that should not be a problem. I told him I don’t want to be part of the government. For that he said, ‘No, no you should be a Minister and be part of the government.’ That is why I am a Minister now, ” the deputy chief minister said. “When I told this to my [present cabinet] colleagues Thangamani and Velumani. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> They also insisted that I have to be in the government. I don’t desire to be a Minister. Amma [Jayalalitha]) had made me an MLA four times and Chief Minister twice. I can live with that pride,” he said the cadre amid applaus</div> </div>

P.M. Modi asked me to join hands with Edappadi: Panneerselvam

Chennai, Spl. Correspondent: Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has admitted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to merge h...

Read more »

‘It's obvious' opposition doesn't want any organised discussion: Jaitley on RS disruptions

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <img alt="Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley " src="https://www.oneindia.com/img/2018/02/xarun-jaitley3-1517470994.jpg.pagespeed.ic.NKWTZx2xKM.jpg" /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday came down heavily on the opposition over the disruptions in the Rajya Sabha proceedings and said that opposition leaders do not want an organised discussion. Asserting that there is a "huge opportunity for discussing all political and economic issues in Parliament", Jaitley fumed at the way the Congress-led opposition is resorting to disrupting proceedings of the House. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "There is a huge opportunity for discussing all political & economic issues this week in the parliament. Instead, rules are to be violated, every day an effort has to be made to get the House adjourned, then it is obvious that they don't want an organised discussion," he told media.<br /> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> What Opposition parties have done in Rajya Sabha today led by Congress party is absolutely unprecedented. Congress and some other parties have tried to manufacture an issue when none existed," he added. The opposition on Tuesday boycotted the Rajya Sabha in the post-lunch session, complaining that their voice was being muzzled outside as well as inside Parliament. </div> </div>

‘It's obvious' opposition doesn't want any organised discussion: Jaitley on RS disruptions

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday came down heavily on the opposition over the disruptions in the Rajya Sabha proceedings a...

Read more »

Tactical nuclear weapons in South Asia

<span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Currently, Pakistan is deeply embroiled in its internal economic and security problems, and there are possibilities of India’s provocation over the issue of Kashmir</span> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The threat of nuclear terrorism in South Asia has resumed a greater profile as India and Pakistan continue to maintain a large number of nuclear facilities. The recent hostile attitude of Mr Modi’s government towards Pakistan once again put the process of peace and stability in the region at a spike. India has developed various types of tactical nuclear weapons that have threatened the security of the region. The test of Pakistan’s ballistic missile, Nasr, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, and India’s ballistic missile, Prahaar and others, complicated nuclear weapons race in South Asia. India’s tactical nuclear weapons are more dangerous than Pakistan’s. Indian nuclear missiles like Agni-I, Agni-III, VI and V present a bigger threat to the national security of the subcontinent. India has also launched various military and surveillance satellites to enter into an anti-satellite weapons and ballistic missile defence race with China. <br /> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> India’s ballistic missile Agni-VI’s range is believed to be 10,000 kilometres. This missile can target North Korea, Japan, China and Russia, while its new ballistic missile range is more than 15,000 kilometres, which can target North America. There are speculations in the international press that India is planning to embark on a covert uranium enrichment project to produce thermonuclear weapons. India is desperately seeking modern nuclear technologies to counter the threat of Pakistan’s tactical nuclear weapons. The country has signed nuclear deals with France, Mongolia, the US, Namibia and Kazakhstan.<br /> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The two states operate in a strategically competitive triangle that includes China. India is also a bigger challenge for China by developing nuclear missiles to achieve a strategic deterrent against that country. As a strong state, India has adopted a very hostile attitude and continues to create more difficulties for Pakistan and other neighbours. The 2008 Mumbai and the Line of Control incidents prompted deep distrust between the two states. In June 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to Pakistan: “I had told you on television that this is not Manmohan Singh’s government, it is Narendra Modi’s government. If you do something, we will also do but we cannot sit quiet.”<br /> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Indian Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised Pakistan and its support to extremist groups across the border. Mr Ravi Shankar demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. However, Pakistan-based terrorist groups used the same language against Mr Modi’s government. In its video message, an extremist group, Ansar-ul-Tawheed fi Belad Hind (Brotherhood for Monotheism in India) warned Mr Modi of retaliation for the Gujarat massacre. Moreover, India cancelled its talks with Pakistan on the pretext that Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Delhi had met Kashmiri Hurriyet leaders. The suspension of talks set off alarm bells in the US and China that are stakeholders in the relationship between both the states. <br /> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When Pakistani High Commissioner to India Mr Abdul Basit met a Kashmiri separatist leader without the consent of India, it further inflamed Mr Modi’s colleagues in parliament. During his Kashmir visit, Prime Minister Modi made a strong statement against Pakistan. In his Laddakh visit, Mr Modi said the Indian armed forces were suffering more casualties from terrorism than from any war. Mr Modi said that Pakistan continued to support a proxy war against India. Moreover, various politicians in India have issued irresponsible statements against Pakistan, creating a hostile environment in the region. In military circles, India’s new army chief, Dalbir Singh Suhag, also issued a stern warning to Pakistan and said that Pakistan is unable to intercept cross-border infiltration. <br /> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Experts of tactical nuclear weapons in South Asia understand that the ruction between the two states could pave the way for a nuclear crisis in the region. We understand that India and Pakistan are deeply concerned over the threat of nuclear terrorism or the use of nuclear improvised explosive devices but there are reports that they have adopted some professional security measures recently that may help prevent terrorists gaining access to their installations. Currently, Pakistan is deeply embroiled in its internal economic and security problems, and there are possibilities of India’s provocation over the issue of Kashmir. In these circumstances, extremist groups in Pakistan could start nuclear terrorism in South Asia.<br /> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The future of the nuclear weapons race between Pakistan and India is precarious as both states continue to develop modern tactical nuclear weapons. India has established its military bases in Afghanistan. On October 5, 2013, the foreign secretary of Pakistan said, “We have appraised India of our concerns on terrorism. If India has apprehensions about Pakistan then we have more apprehensions than India,” he said. <br /> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> As the situation is going to deteriorate in the region, India and Pakistan need to resume talks on all issues including the Line of Control and tactical nuclear weapons. They need to work with each other on these issues that could spark an abrupt nuclear war in South Asia. Notwithstanding all efforts of the international community to help secure the nuclear weapons of both states, and as nuclear facilities and infrastructure have grown, there are concerns that security measures may not be sufficient to protect their nuclear and biological installations. We hope that the involvement of the international community, particularly the US and China, will help to professionalise the security measures of their nuclear and biological weapons. These efforts are considered to be more effective if they also strengthen the mechanism of cooperation. Their cooperation against non-state actors or extremist groups trying to gain access to radiological and nuclear weapons might help their nuclear forces in building an effective security infrastructure around their nuclear installations.<br /> <br /></div> <h1 class="author-name" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1b5786; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </h1> <h1 class="author-name" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1b5786; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </h1> <h1 class="author-name" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1b5786; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: transparent;">Musa Khan Jalalzai</span></h1> <div class="author-description" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="color: #292929;"> The writer is the author of Punjabi Taliban and<br /> can be reached at<br /> zai.musakhan222@gmail.com</div> </div>

Tactical nuclear weapons in South Asia

Currently, Pakistan is deeply embroiled in its internal economic and security problems, and there are possibilities of India’s provocation o...

Read more »

Myths about Floor Tiles

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #757575; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="https://www.somanyceramics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Ceramics-floor-tiles1.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in; border: 0px; color: #eb1c29; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in;"><img alt="Ceramic Floor Tiles" class="size-medium wp-image-16813 alignleft" height="163" src="https://www.somanyceramics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Ceramics-floor-tiles1-300x163.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px 20px 10px 1px !important; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 25.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span><span style="font-size: 14px;">here are a few things that we all think are experts in and that there is probably no nobody who knows these facts better than we do. But I’m kind of here to break the ice and tell you that all that is popular, might not always be true. Talking specifically about floor tiles and how we think an expert’s help is going to do no good. Well, you might just be wrong. As you read this article I will try to debunk some of the most famous misconceptions about floor tiling and everything that might be hiding in the ‘always correct’ folder inside our brains.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> Firstly, everything that is costlier is better. This mantra is not always correct. We most often think that the more money we spend on a product, the better it will be, but as far as tiles are concerned, many ceramic tiles are less pricy and might be better suited for your needs. There are just so many options that we have concerning floor tiles that it is very easy to get confused. Do your research and know what suits your home best.<span id="more-16812" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="Floor Tiles" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-16815" height="198" src="https://www.somanyceramics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Floor-Tiles1-300x198.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; height: auto; margin: 4px 1px 10px 20px !important; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> More often people are under the misconception that the natural tiles made of limestone, mica and graphite are the best option under all circumstances which is in fact wrong. Naturals have their advantages and disadvantages as well and the requirements are actually determined depending upon the space use and size and many other parameters can also be considered.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> People often also believe that shinier tiles are better as they get cleaned easily. But this is also not quite correct. All tiles have almost the same technique of getting cleaned and there is almost no difference as far as cleaning is concerned.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> Debunk all the old ideas you have and do read a lot and research and find out what you want. Categorise your choices and then shortlist them according to situations and you are sure to make a correct decision.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: #999999;">Source: Somany</span></div>

Myths about Floor Tiles

T here are a few things that we all think are experts in and that there is probably no nobody who knows these facts better than we do. Bu...

Read more »

Lotus cars has announced their first Motorcycle

<span style="font-family: proxima-nova; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-top: 0px;"><img alt="Lotus.PNG" src="http://static.squarespace.com/static/52b6ca3ae4b0ca7bf1771b4e/53099ba3e4b035db7172518f/53099c06e4b0dbc78d15d509/1393138700907/Lotus.PNG?format=500w" /></span> <span style="font-family: proxima-nova; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-top: 0px;">German racing firm Kodewa and tuner Holzer Group together with the iconic British sports car brand<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></span>Lotus cars<span style="font-family: proxima-nova; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0px;">, has announced their first motorcycle.</span> <br /> <div style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 1em;"> <span style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">the ‘C-01′ which comes in the form of a V-twin 4-stroke engine with 200 horsepower and features a distinctive body crafted entirely from carbon fiber, titanium and aerospace<span style="font-family: inherit "important"; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background: none transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit "important"; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; position: static; width: auto;">quality </span><span class="kLink" style="background: none transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit "important"; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; position: static; width: auto;">steel</span></span>.</span></div> <div style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 1em;"> <span style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Height of seat is 710 mm, fuel tank capacity is 10.5 L and weighs 181 kg</span>.</div> <div style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 1em;"> <span style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">the C-01 will be available as an exclusive production run of just 100 units</span></div> <div style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> <a href="http://www.lotus-motorcycles.com/ready-to-roar/" sl-processed="1" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">Lotus Website</span></span></em></strong></a></div>

Lotus cars has announced their first Motorcycle

German racing firm Kodewa and tuner Holzer Group together with the iconic British sports car brand   Lotus cars , has announced their first...

Read more »

All you need to know about lord ganesha

<img align="left" src="http://www.ganpatimandal.com/images/about-ganesh.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; display: inline-block; font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 14px; height: auto; line-height: 22px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 60px; padding-right: 20px; vertical-align: middle;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; line-height: 22px;"></span> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>O</b></span><span style="font-size: 14px;">ne of the reasons that lord Ganesha is revered and worshiped everywhere in India and abroad is that the God is associated with the removal of all obstacles in life as well as giving success and prosperity. This belief and reverence is not something which can be seen in India only but also in many other parts of the world where Lord Ganesha is worshiped in various forms. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Here are many parts of India in which there is a very strong belief that lord Ganesha is not a bramhachari but a married man. His wives are supposed Siddhi (success or spiritual power), Buddhi (intellect) and Riddhi (prosperity). Hence, it is believed that if people worship lord Ganesha, these three qualities of spiritual power, intellect and prosperity automatically follows you and become a part of your life since being wives, they cannot stay separated from the Lord. There are many parts of India wherein the belief of the lord marrying Riddhi and Siddhi is very strong and in someway, they too areworshiped. </span></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">According to another set of beliefs, lord Ganesha is also associated with the goddess of culture and arts called ShardaMata or Saraswati Mata. This is a belief particularly in Maharashtra. He is also believed to have a consort in Lakshmi. Goddess Saraswati gives intelligence and Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth. Combining these two, there is always success and prosperity in whatever people do as long as they are worshiping the lord in the correct form and with complete devotion. </span></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">It is fervently believed that before every work no matter how small it is or how inconsequential the results may be, it is imperative to worship lord Ganesha in order to bestow upon us good luck, intelligence to deal with the situations and a spiritual bent of mind.</span></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "segoe ui"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> Ganpati Mandal is a place for all bappa !! Ganpati Bappa Morya!!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: #999999;">Source:</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: #999999;">http://www.ganpatimandal.com/about-lord-ganesh.php?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral</span></div> </span>

All you need to know about lord ganesha

O ne of the reasons that lord Ganesha is revered and worshiped everywhere in India and abroad is that the God is associated with the remo...

Read more »

PM Modi's soaring popularity

<h2 class="subheadline" style="background-color: white; color: #414141; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: -3px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"> The nation thinks Narendra Modi is keeping his word, and would vote in a saffron-led government with even more lawmakers than it did in the May elections if that exercise were to be repeated today.</h2> <cite class="byline vcard" style="background-color: white; color: #7d7d7d; display: inline-block !important; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 2.2em; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="provider org">Mail Today</span> – <abbr style="border: 0px;" title="2014-08-22T06:21:03Z">Fri 22 Aug, 2014</abbr></cite> <br /> <div class="first" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; padding: 0px;"> NEW DELHI: He was the face of the BJP's election campaign, connecting directly with the people by taking up common concerns and raising issues dear to their hearts. He made a covenant with India's voters: Elect me and I will deliver. <span class="yui-media yui-editorial-embed" style="height: 354px; width: 630px;"></span></div> <div class="yom-figure yom-fig-center" id="ymh-player-iframe" style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); clear: both; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; height: 354px; left: 0px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin: 20px auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 630px;"> <div class="yom-video-player" data-yom-embed-config="{width:630, height:354}" data-yom-embed-source="{media_id_1:79b93812-904f-34fa-a985-98ef235cb7a8,media_alias_1:modi-speech-083003447,media_path_1:/video/modi-speech-083003447.html?format=embed,media_autoplay_1:off}" id="yom-video-079b93812-904f-34fa-a985-98ef235cb7a8" style="height: 354px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 630px;"> <a data-rapid_p="1" data-ylk="rspns:;t1:a3;t2:ct-mod;t3:embd;sec:ct-mod;slk:play;elm:img;elmt:ct;itc:1;grpt:;g:56ba20f1-4a0b-3ace-8067-1822e99dcc3c;aid:79b93812-904f-34fa-a985-98ef235cb7a8;ct:3;cpos:1;" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #005790;"></a><br /> <div class="video-wrap show" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="yom-art-video" frameborder="0" height="354" id="iframeArticle_56ba20f1-4a0b-3ace-8067-1822e99dcc3c_0" mozallowfullscreen="true" name="iframeArticle_56ba20f1-4a0b-3ace-8067-1822e99dcc3c_0" scrolling="no" src="https://in.news.yahoo.com/video/modi-speech-083003447.html?format=embed&player_autoplay=false" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="630"></iframe></div> </div> </div> <cite class="byline vcard" style="background-color: white; color: #7d7d7d; display: inline-block !important; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 2.2em; vertical-align: middle;"><abbr style="border: 0px;" title="2014-08-22T06:21:03Z"><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">And as the 100-day mark of the NDA government draws near, the nation thinks Narendra Modi is keeping his word, and would vote in a saffron-led government with even more lawmakers than it did in the May elections if that exercise were to be repeated today.</span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">The people who voted overwhelmingly for Modi have kept their faith and patience in the NDA government. According to an India Today Group-Hansa Research Mood of the Nation opinion poll, the first after Modi took office, 57 per cent believe he is best suited to be prime minister, 48 per cent think he has made ministers irrelevant, and 47 per cent are sure he will be able to resist the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agenda.</span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">If Indians had to go to polls again, 48 per cent say they would vote for the BJP again which, though overwhelming, is less than Modi's personal popularity. </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">If a general election were to be held today, the BJP would get 314 seats in the Lok Sabha, an astonishing 32 more than it won on May 16. </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">Modi's personal popularity could be attributed to the fact that the largest bloc of respondents - 46 per cent - said he represents development; 70 per cent interpret his win as a mandate for development. </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">As far as Modi's Cabinet is concerned, as many as 78 per cent of respondents think it is a good Cabinet. On the topic of Modi and the RSS, the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP, there do remain many who think he is under RSS influence and hence will try to strike a balance. </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">Though many believe Modi is somewhat under the RSS influence, his victory is certainly not a boost to Hindu fundamentalism, three-fifths of respondents said. </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">When it comes to prevalent issues, respondents wanted Modi to address poverty (23 per cent), corruption (22 per cent) and price rise (18 per cent). </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">Women also wanted the Prime Minister to stop crime against the fairer sex (13 per cent). </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">Asked if people felt safe under the Modi government, 76 per cent of respondents said they feel safe. This was a feeling shared even by Muslims (68 per cent). </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">Responding to a question on who would benefit the most from Modi's premiership, 27 per cent believed it would be the poor. But 52 per cent believed that the performance of public services had remained the same. </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">On the educational front, a majority (69 per cent) believed that text books need revision, while 51 per cent called for sex education in schools. </span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">With regard to the question on which party the people would vote for if polls were held tomorrow, a vote contrast was witnessed in the Muslim community, with 29 per cent saying they would back the BJP and 24 per cent the Congress.</span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">Twenty-nine per cent of respondents said Rahul Gandhi is still the best prime ministerial candidate for the Congress, though not an undisputed choice. Twenty per cent though Sonia Gandhi was the best candidate. Sixty per cent also thought Rahul's style of leadership needs re-orientation.</span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;" /><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;">Cross-border terrorism was identified as the biggest threat to India's internal security by 54 per cent of respondents while Pakistan was named as the country constituting the biggest threat to India.</span></abbr></cite> <cite class="byline vcard" style="background-color: white; display: inline-block !important; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 2.2em; vertical-align: middle;"><abbr style="border: 0px;" title="2014-08-22T06:21:03Z"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;"><span style="color: #999999;">Source: yahoo News India</span></span></abbr></cite> <cite class="byline vcard" style="background-color: white; color: #7d7d7d; display: inline-block !important; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 2.2em; vertical-align: middle;"><abbr style="border: 0px;" title="2014-08-22T06:21:03Z"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px;"> </span></abbr></cite> <cite class="byline vcard" style="background-color: white; color: #7d7d7d; display: inline-block !important; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 2.2em; vertical-align: middle;"><abbr style="border: 0px;" title="2014-08-22T06:21:03Z"> </abbr></cite>

PM Modi's soaring popularity

The nation thinks Narendra Modi is keeping his word, and would vote in a saffron-led government with even more lawmakers than it did in the...

Read more »