MIND-TREE

Volume-I | Issue-9 | May 201

Image Courtesy: www.freedigitalphotos.net

Mind-Tree,
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 MIND-TREE
Volume-I | Issue-9 | May 2011

We are eager to have your valuable opinions @ vijayanbee@gmail.com or vijayanbee@rediffmail.com

Bhakthi Yoga
Bhakthi Yoga teaches people the
path of Love – to love all as you Bhagwan Sathya Sai Baba is one of the
love yourselves, and prosper by rarest Karmayogis India has ever pro-
love. Then no harm can come to duced. He has
you. It will only spread joy and wiped the
happiness to all. God is present tears from the
withered faces
of the poor
and the mar-
ginalised Indi-
ans. For his be-
lievers, he was a demi-God who had
definite mesmeric powers. Surpris-
ingly, he could also attract millions of
human beings towards his abode. May
be he had several critics who used to
uncharitably criticise him and his
charitable disposition. But that did
not dissuade him from his destined
spiritual duty and yeoman’s service to
in all beings as Love. They all en- the people around him. Undoubtedly,
deavour to merge their love with he will be remembered for the amaz-
the Ocean of Love that God is. ing spiritual service and the philan-
Wherever Love is evident, take it Happiness cannot be experienced
that it is God’s own Love. God is through spiritual practices.
the greatest Lover of mankind. It can be experienced only through
Therefore, when anyone decides Divine Love. – Baba
to serve humanity whom He
thropic works he could undertake for
loves, God showers Grace in
the welfare of the mankind, whereas
plenty. When the human heart his die-hard critics had only one-
melts at the suffering of others point agenda to “bare” him naked.He
and expands as a result of that showed that serving the mankind is
sympathy, believe that God is tantamount to serving the God in all
present there. That is the sign of respects. Probably, there are few par-
the validity of the path of devo- allels in the world for his unique way
tion (Bhakthi Yoga). of spirituality.

Mind-Tree,
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 Divine Speak What water can do, gasoline cannot and
what copper can, gold cannot. The fra-
A plum once said, 'just because a banana gility of the ant enables it to move and
lover came by, I converted myself into a the rigidity of the tree enables it to stay
banana. Unfortunately, his taste rooted. Everything and everybody has
changed after a few been designed with a Pro-
months and so I became portion of uniqueness to
an orange. When he said serve a purpose that we
I was bitter I became an can fulfill only by being
apple, but he went in our unique self. You as
search of grapes. you alone can serve your
Yielding to the opinions purpose and I as I Alone
of so many people, I have can serve my purpose.
changed so many times You are here to be you...
that I no more know who Just YOU.
I am. How I wish I had remained a plum
and waited for a plum lover.' There was a time in this world when a
Just because a group of people do not ac- Krishna was required and he was sent; A
time when a Christ was required and he
You are a Masterpiece was sent; a time when a Mahatma was
required and he was sent; a time when a
cept you as you are, there is no necessity J.R.D.Tata was required and he was sent.
for you to strip yourself of your original- There came a time when you were re-
ity. You need to think Good of yourself, quired on this planet and hence you
for the world takes you at your own esti- were sent. Let us be the best we can be.
mate. Never stoop down in order to gain
recognition. Never let go of your true In the history of the universe, there has
self to win a relationship. In the long been nobody like you and to the
run, you will regret that you traded your infinity of time to come, there will be no
greatest Glory - your uniqueness, for mo- one like you. Existence should have
loved you so much that it broke the
mould after making you, so that another
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of your kind will never get repeated.
You are original.
mentary validation. Even Gandhi was You are rare.
not accepted by many people. The group You are unique.
that does not accept you as YOU is not You are a wonder.
Your world. You are a masterpiece.
Your Master's piece.
There is a world for each one of you, Celebrate your Uniqueness.
where you shall reign as king /queen
by just being yourself. Find that world... Coutesy: Shri JAYAPRAKASH NAIR
<jnair_afk@rediffmail.com>
In fact, that world will find You.

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Mind-Tree,
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Anna Hazare
Along with members of the India Against Corrup-
tion movement, former justice of the Supreme
Court of India and Lokayukta of
Karnataka N. Santosh Hegde and
Prashant Bhushan, a senior law-
yer in the Supreme Court,
drafted an alternate bill called
the Jan Lokpal Bill (People's Om-
budsman Bill). This bill provides
more stringent provisions and
wider power to the Lokpal
(Ombudsman). Hazare began a
fast unto death from 5 April 2011
at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to press for the demand
to form a joint committee of the representatives of
the Government and the civil society to draft a new
bill with stronger penal actions and more inde-
pendence to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas
(Ombudsmen in the states), after his demand was
rejected by the Prime Minister of India Manmohan
Singh. He stated, "I will fast until Jan Lokpal Bill is
passed". The movement attracted attention in the
media, and thousands of supporters. Almost 150
people reportedly joined Hazare in his fast. He said
that he would not allow any politician to sit with
The story of Hazare’s transformation began
in 1964 at a Delhi railway station bookstall
after he bought a book on Swami Vivekan-
anda. Enthralled by the great sage’s life and
by his dictum that the noblest thing a man
can do is work for the good of others,
Hazare avidly began reading religious texts
and biographies of social reformers. And af-
ter his escape from the Sabre jets at Khem-
karan, in September 1965, Hazare became a
vegetarian, gave up cigarettes and liquor,
and vowed to remain a bachelor devoting
himself to public service.
him in this movement. Politicians like Uma Bharti
and Om Prakash Chautala were shooed away by
protesters when they came to visit the site where
the protest was taking place. Social activists, in-
cluding Medha Patkar, Arvind Kejriwal, former IPS
officer Kiran Bedi, and Jayaprakash Narayan lent
their support to Hazare's hunger strike and anti-
corruption campaign. People have shown support
in Internet social media such as Twitter and Face-
book. In addition to spiritual leaders Sri Sri Ravi
Mind-Tree,
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Month’s
Mind
Shankar, Swami Ramdev, Swami
Agnivesh and former Indian crick-
eter Kapil Dev,many celebrities
showed their public support through Twit-
ter. On 6 April 2011 Sharad Pawar resigned from
the group of ministers formed for reviewing the
draft Lokpal bill 2010. The move-
ment gathered significant sup-
port from India's youth, visible
through the local support and on
social networking sites like Face-
book and Twitter.[46] There have
also been protests in Bangalore,
Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad,
Guwahati, Shillong, and Aizawl,
among other cities of India. On 8
April 2011 the Government of In-
dia accepted all demands of the movement. On 9
April 2011 it issued a notification in the Gazette of
India on formation of a joint committee. It ac-
cepted the formula that there be a politician Chair-
man and an activist, non-politician Co-Chairman.
According to the notification, Pranab Mukherjee
will be the Chairman of the draft committee while
Shanti Bhushan will be the co-chairman. “The Joint
Drafting Committee shall consist of five nominee
ministers of the Government of India and five
nominees of the civil society. The five nominee
Ministers of the Government of India are Pranab
Mukherjee, Union Minister of Finance, P.
Chidambaram, Union Minister of Home Affairs, M.
Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Law and Jus-
tice, Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Re-
source and Development and Minister of Commu-
nication and Information Technology and Salman
Khursheed, Union Minister of Water Resources
and Minister of Minority Affairs. The five nominees
of the civil society are Anna Hazare, N. Santosh
Hegde, Shanti Bhushan Senior Advocate, Prashant
Bhushan, Advocate and Arvind Kejriwal. On the
morning of 9 April 2011 Hazare ended his 98-hour
hunger strike by first offering lemon juice to some
of his supporters who were fasting with him.
Hazare then broke his fast by consuming some
lemon juice. He addressed the people and set a
deadline of 15 August 2011 to pass the Lokpal Bill in
the Indian Parliament. Real fight begins now. We
have a lot of struggle ahead of us in drafting the
new legislation, We have shown the world in just
five days that we are united for the cause of the
nation. The youth power in this movement is a
sign of hope. Anna Hazare said that if the bill does
not pass he will call for a mass nation-wide agita-
tion. He called his movement as "second struggle
for independence" and he will continue the fight.
4
 and wrote four works in-
India cluding one on astronomy.
The last ruler of this dy-
nasty was Lakshamanasena
under whose reign the Mus-
Medieval History of India lims invaded Bengal, and
For a period that has come to be so strongly associ- the empire fell.
ated with the Islamic influence and rule in India, Me- The Pratihara
dieval Indian history went for almost three whole The greatest ruler of the
centuries under the so-called indigenous rulers, that Pratihara dynasty was Mihir
included the Chalukyas, the Pallavas, the Pandyas, Bhoja. He recovered Kanauj (Kanyakubja) by 836, and
the Rashtrakutas, the Muslims rulers and finally the it remained the capital of the Pratiharas for almost a
Mughal Empire. The most important dynasty to century. He built the city Bhojpal (Bhopal). Raja
emerge in the middle of the 9th century was that of Bhoja and other valiant
the Cholas. Gujara kings faced and de-
The Palas feated many attacks of the
th th
Between 8 and 10 centuries Arabs from west.
A.D., a number of powerful Between 915-918 A.D,
empires dominated the east- Kanauj was attacked by a
ern and northern parts of In- Rashtrakuta king, who dev-
dia. The Pala king Dharm- astated the city leading to
pala, son of Gopala reigned the weakening of the Prati-
th
from the late 8 century A.D. hara Empire. In 1018, Kan-
to early 9 th
century A.D. nauj then ruled by Rajya-
Nalanda University and Vik- pala Pratihara was sacked
ramashila University were by Mahmud of Ghazni. The empire broke into inde-
founded by Dharmpala. pendent Rajput states.
The Senas The Rashtrakutas
After the decline of This dynasty, which ruled from Karnataka, is illustri-
the Palas, the Sena ous for several reasons. They ruled the territory vaster
dynasty established its than that of any other dynasty. They were great pa-
rule in Bengal. The trons of art and literature. The encouragement that
founder of the dynasty several Rashtrakuta kings provided to education and
was Samantasena. The literature is unique, and the religious tolerance exer-
greatest ruler of the cised by them was exemplary.
dynasty was Vijaysena. The Chola Empire of the South
He conquered the whole of Bengal and was suc- It emerged in the middle of the 9th century A.D., cov-
ceeded by his son Ballalasena. He reigned peacefully ered a large part of Indian peninsula, as well as parts
but kept his dominions intact. He was a great scholar of Sri Lanka and the Maldives Islands.
The first important ruler to emerge from the dynasty
DID YOU KNOW? was Rajaraja Chola I and his son and successor Rajen-
dra Chola. Rajaraja carried forward the annexation
…...that theCholas are featured in the History of policy of his father. He led armed expedition to dis-
the World board game, produced by Avalon tant lands of Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.
Hill? The successors of Rajendra I, Rajadhiraj and Rajendra
II were brave rulers who
……that Rashtrakuta literature and inscriptions fought fiercely against
show that Kannada was not only popular in the the later Chalukya
modern Karnataka region but the linguistic kings, but could not
change had spread further north into present check the decline of
day southern Maharashtra and to the northern Chola Empire. The later
Deccan by the 8th century ? Chola kings were weak
and incompetent rulers.
…..that the power of the Gurjara Pratihara army The Chola Empire thus lingered on for another cen-
that effectively barred the progress of the Mus- tury and a half, and finally came to an end with the
lim invaders beyond the confines of Sindh? invasion of Malik Kafur in the early 14th century A.D.
Source : http://india.gov.in/knowindia

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 Caravel
CHARAKA A caravel is a small, highly maneuverable, two-
The Father of Anatomy or three-masted lateen-rigged ship, created by
Charaka, sometimes spelled Caraka, born c. 300 BC was the Portuguese and used also by them and by
one of the principal contributors to the ancient art and sci- the Spanish for long voyages of exploration
ence of Ayurveda, a system of medicine and lifestyle devel- from the 15th century
oped in Ancient India. He is sometimes referred to as the The caravel was developed in the Atlantic un-
Father of Indian Medicine Ac- der the order of Henry the Navigator and be-
cording to Charaka's transla- came the preferred vessel for Portuguese ex-
tions health and disease are not plorers. Initially, the Portuguese used carracks
predetermined and life may be to explore along the west African coast and into
prolonged by human effort and the Atlantic Ocean. The carrack (or nau) was
attention to lifestyle. As per the state of the art in late medieval shipbuild-
Indian heritage and science of ing. But these larger, full-rigged square-sailed
Ayurvedic system, prevention of ships could not always be sailed with the preci-
all types of diseases have a more prominent place than
sion necessary for inshore surveying in un-
treatment, including restructuring of life style to align with
known waters. The explorers soon came to pre-
the course of nature and four seasons, which will guarantee
complete wellness. Charaka was the first physician to pre-
sent the concept of digestion, metabolism and immunity.
According to his translations of the Vedas, a body functions
because it contains three dosha or principles, namely move-
ment (vata), transformation (pitta) and lubrication and
stability (kapha). The doshas are also sometimes called hu-
mours, namely, bile, phlegm and wind. These dosha are
produced when dhatus (blood, flesh and marrow) act upon
the food eaten. For the same quantity of food eaten, one
body, however, produces dosha in an amount different
from another body. That is why one body is different from
another. For instance, it is more weighty, stronger, more
energetic.
Further, illness is caused when the balance among the three fer the caravel, as well as the barge (barca) or
dosha in a human body is disturbed. To restore the balance the balinger (barinel) of around 50 to 200 tons.
he prescribed medicinal drugs. Although he was aware of Being smaller, the caravel could sail upriver in
germs in the body, he did not give them any importance.
shallow coastal waters. With the lateen sails
Charaka knew the fundamentals of genetics. For instance,
attached, it could go fast over shallow water
he knew the factors determining the sex of a child. A ge-
and take deep wind, while with the square At-
netic defect in a child, like lameness or blindness, he said,
lantic-type sails attached, it was very fast. Its
was not due to any defect in the mother or the father, but
in the ovum or sperm of the parents (an accepted fact to- economy, speed, agility, and power made it
day). esteemed as the best sailing vessel of its time.
Charaka studied the anatomy of the human body and vari- The exploration done with caravels made possi-
ous organs. He gave 360 as the total number of bones, in- ble the spice trade of the Portuguese and the
cluding teeth, present in the body. He wrongly believed Spanish.
that the heart had one cavity, but he was right when he
considered it to be a controlling centre. He claimed that
the heart was connected to the entire body through 13 main
channels. Apart from these channels, there were countless DID YOU KNOW?
other ones of varying sizes which supplied not only nutri-
ents to various tissues but also provided passage to waste ... that in 2008 Hewlett-Packard created
products. He also claimed that any obstruction in the main
a prototype of the theoretical fourth
channels led to a disease or deformity in the body.
Under the guidance of the ancient physician Atreya, Ag-
and last passive circuit element, the
nivesa had written an encyclopedic treatise in the eighth memristor, that may one day revolu-
century B.C. However, it was only when Charaka revised tionize electronics, although the theory
this treatise that it gained popularity and came to be was devised in 1971?
known as Charakasamhita. For two millennia it remained a
standard work on the subject and was translated into many

Mind-Tree,
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 Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of
machines and the branch of computer science that
aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as
"the study and design of intelligent agents" where
an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its
environment and takes actions that maximize its
chances of success. John McCarthy, who coined the
term in 1956, defines it as "the science and engi-
neering of making intelligent machines."
The field was founded on the claim that a central
property of humans, intelligence—the sapience of
Homo sapiens—can be so precisely described that
it can be simulated by a machine. This raises phi-
losophical issues about the nature of the mind and
the ethics of creating artificial beings, issues which
have been addressed by myth, fiction and philoso-
phy since antiquity. Artificial intelligence has been
the subject of optimism, but has also suffered set-
backs and, today, has become an essential part of
the technology industry, providing the heavy lifting
TOPIO, a humanoid robot, played table tennis at
Tokyo International Robot Exhibition (IREX) 2009
for many of the most difficult problems in com-
puter science. AI research is highly technical and
specialized, and deeply divided into subfields that
often fail to communicate with each other. Sub-
fields have grown up around particular institutions,
the work of individual researchers, the solution of
specific problems, longstanding differences of
opinion about how AI should be done and the ap-
plication of widely differing tools. The central
problems of AI include such traits as reasoning,
knowledge, planning, learning, communication,
perception and the ability to move and manipulate
objects. General intelligence (or "strong AI") is still
among the field's long term goals.
Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org
Mind-Tree,
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Euclid
Euclid , also known as Euclid of Alexandria, was an
Egyptian Greek mathematician, often referred to as the
"Father of Geometry". He was active in the Greek colony of
Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I (323–283 BC). His
Elements is one of the most influential works in the history
of mathematics, serving as the main textbook for teaching
mathematics (especially geometry) from the time of its
publication until the late 19th or early 20th century. In the
Elements, Euclid deduced the principles of what is now
called Euclidean geometry from a small set of axioms.
Euclid also wrote works on perspective, conic sections,
spherical geometry, number theory and rigor. Euclid's con-
tributions were built on the Greek culture of philosophical
investigation into which he was born, relying on the works
of thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Eudoxus, and
Theaetetus .
"Euclid" is the
anglicized ver-
sion of the Greek
name (Εὐκλείδης
— Eukleídēs),
meaning "Good
Glory".
Little is known
about Euclid's
life, as there are
only a handful of
references to
him. The date
and place of
Euclid's birth
and the date and
circumstances of
his death are unknown, and only roughly estimated in
proximity to contemporary figures mentioned in refer-
ences. No likeness or description of Euclid's physical ap-
pearance made during his lifetime survived antiquity.
Therefore, Euclid's depiction in works of art is the product
of the artist's imagination.
The few historical references to Euclid were written centu-
ries after he lived, by Proclus and Pappus of Alexandria.[8]
Proclus introduces Euclid only briefly in his fifth-century
Commentary on the Elements, as the author of Elements,
that he was mentioned by Archimedes, and that when
King Ptolemy asked if there was a shorter path to learning
geometry than Euclid's Elements, "Euclid replied there is
no royal road to geometry."[ Although the purported cita-
tion of Euclid by Archimedes has been judged to be an
interpolation by later editors of his works, it is still be-
lieved that Euclid wrote his works before those of Ar-
chimedes. In addition, the "royal road" anecdote is ques-
tionable since it is similar to a story told about
Menaechmus and Alexander the Great. In the only other
key reference to Euclid, Pappus briefly mentioned in the
fourth century that Apollonius "spent a very long time with
the pupils of Euclid at Alexandria, and it was thus that he
acquired such a scientific habit of thought."[13] It is further
believed that Euclid may have studied at Plato's Academy
in Athens.
Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org
7
 Events in MAY
May 1 is Labor Day in many countries.
May 1 is May Day in the United Kingdom, how-
ever the public holiday is held on the first Mon-
day in May.
May 3 is when the Polish Constitution Day is
celebrated in Poland.
May 3 is Japanese Constitution Day Japan
May 4 is the day of Remembrance of the Dead
in the Netherlands
May 4 is Liberation Day in Denmark
May 5 is when Cinco de Mayo or the Batalla de
Puebla is celebrated in Mexico.
May 5 is the Children's Day in Japan and Korea
May 5 is Liberation Day in the Netherlands
May 5 is Europe Day in Europe
May 8 is VE Day in Western Europe
May 9 is Europe Day in the European Union
May 10 is Golden Spike Day
May 10 is Mother's Day in Mexico, Guatemala,
and El Salvador.
May 12 is International Nurses Day.
May 12 is the day of the Finnish language in
Finland.
May 12 is International Awareness Day for
Chronic Immunological and Neurological Dis-
eases (CIND).
May 15 is the beginning of Tourette Syndrome
awareness month.
May 17 is Norwegian Constitution Day.
May 21 is when the Battle of Iquique is cele-
brated in Chile.
May 24 is when Eritrea celebrates its Inde-
pendence Day .
May 25 is the May Revolution (or Revolución de
Mayo)
May 25 is Towel Day, in tribute to Douglas Ad-
ams.
The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day in
the United States.
Each year in May, the Eurovision Song Contest
is held.
The Indianapolis 500 is held on the Sunday be-
fore Memorial Day.
Labor Day in Queensland, Australia, is cele-
brated on the first Monday in May.
In Canada, Victoria Day is celebrated on the
last Monday on or before May 24.
The last Monday of May is Memorial Day in the
United States.
Mind-Tree,
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MAY
May is the fifth month
of the year in the Gre-
gorian Calendar and
one of seven Gregorian
months with the length
of 31 days. May is a
month of autumn in the
Southern Hemisphere
and spring in the Northern Hemi-
sphere. Therefore May in the South-
ern Hemisphere is the seasonal
equivalent of November in the
Northern Hemisphere and vice
versa. The month May has been
named for the Greek goddess Maia,
who was identified with the Roman
era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea,
whose festival was held in May. Con-
versely, the Roman poet Ovid pro-
vides a second etymology, in which
he says that the month of May is
named for the maiores, Latin for
"elders," and that the following
month (June) is named for the iunio-
res, or "young people" (Fasti VI.88).
In both common Western calendri-
cal systems, no other month begins
on the same day of the week as May.
This month and June are the only
two months that have this trait,
though the first day of August in a
common year and the first day of
October in a leap year are also
unique. No other month ends on the
same day of the week as May.
MAY SYMBOLS
Birthstone - Emarald
Birth flower - Rose
8
 RELIGION
GOD IN HINDUISM
HINDUISM
For Hindus God, as is, is beyond any attributes of form,
color, shapes ... That is, God does not have any specific
form or name. In this state God is referred to as nirguNa
brahman (attributeless god). However God takes forms as
perceived by humans and this perceived form is called
saguNa brahman (god with (good) attributes). These
forms could range from calm to fierce to yogic (1). Each
form has its significance. For example when one is de-
pressed and sees the form of God Strong and Powerful,
the seeker feels the moral boost that God would definitely
be the support for the right thing. Similarly when in an
auspicious ceremony would like the God to be the calm
provider of boons. In a spiritually elevated state, the
choice would be the yogic form of God. The forms pro-
vide a basis for the Hindu worshipper to easily pursue the
otherwise incomprehensible Supreme. So Hinduism sup-
ports both form as well as formless worship of the God.
Whether one worships in saguNa or nirguNa way, it is
ultimately the same God
Svayam Bhagavan
Svayam bhagavan is a Sanskrit theological term that
refers to the concept of absolute representation of the
monotheistic God as Bhagavan himself within Hindu-
ism.
It is most often used in Gaudiya Vaishnava Krishna-
centered theology as referring to Krishna. The title
Svayam Bhagavan is used exclusively to designate
Krishna.[ Certain other traditions of Hinduism consider him to be the source of all
avatars, and the source of Vishnu himself, or to be the same as Narayana. As such, he is
therefore regarded as Svayam Bhagavan.
The term is seldom used to refer to other forms of
Krishna and Vishnu within the context of certain reli-
gious texts such as the Bhagavata Purana, and also
within other sects of Vaishnavism.
When Krishna is recognized to be Svayam Bhagavan,
it can be understood that this is the belief of Gaudiya
Vaishnavism, the Vallabha Sampradaya, and the Nim-
barka Sampradaya, where Krishna is accepted to be the
source of all other avatars, and the source of Vishnu
himself. This belief is drawn primarily "from the famous
statement of the Bhagavatam"(1.3.28).
A different viewpoint, opposing this theological concept
is the concept of Krishna as an avatar of Narayana or
Vishnu. It should be however noted that although its is
usual to speak of Vishnu as the source of the avataras,
this is only one of the names of god of Vaishnavism, who
is also known as Narayana, Vasudeva and Krishna and
behind each of those names there is a divine figure with
attributed supremacy in Vaishnavism.
The theological interpretation of svayam bhagavān
differs with each tradition and the literal translation of the
term has been understood in several distinct ways. Trans- ...that Hinduism first came to Muscat in
lated from the Sanskrit language, the term literary means 1507 from Sindh?
"Bhagavan Himself" or "directly Bhagavan". Gaudiya
Mind-Tree,
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Vaishnava tradition often translates it within its per-
spective as primeval Lord or original Personality of
Godhead, but also considers the terms such as Supreme
Personality of Godhead and Supreme God as an equiva-
lent to the term Svayam bhagavan, and may also choose
to apply these terms to Vishnu, Narayana and many of
their associated Avatars.
Earlier commentators such as Madhvacharya translated
the term Svayam Bhagavan as "he who has bhaga-
vatta"; meaning "he who has the quality of possessing all
good qualities". Others have translated it simply as "the
Lord Himself".] Followers of Vishnu-centered sam-
pradayas of Vaishnavism rarely address this term, but
believe that it refers to their belief that Krishna is among
the highest and fullest of all Avatars and is considered to
be the "paripurna Avatara", complete in all respects and
the same as the original. According to them Krishna is
described in the Bhagavata Purana as the Purnavatara
(or complete manifestation) of the Bhagavan, while other
incarnations are called partial.
Brahman
The Vedantic school of Hindu philosophy also has a no-
tion of a Supreme Cosmic Spirit called Brahman, pro-
nounced [brəhmən]. Brahman is the impersonal aspect
of Absolute Truth. Absolute Truth is realized in three
stages: as Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan, Brahman
realization is the first step of the Hindu transcendental-
ist. The path which leads to this realization is called
Jnana, usually followed by Shankara-Acharya mayavadi
philosophers. Hinduism advises against speculating
about the Absolute (as it may long for millions of life-
times), but straight to get to bhakti-yoga, as it is a direct
path and includes both Brahman and even Paramatma
realization (attained by yogis through mystic meditation
on four-handed Narayana or Vishnu on Vaikunthalo-
kas). Even Shankaracharya himself, being a greatest im-
personalist supported this viewpoint: one has to give up
jnana and take to worship of Parabrahman, Govinda -
that is Krishna. See also: Bhaja Govindam.
Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org
Did You Know?
...that There are many Hindus in Arab
states, many due to the migration of In-
dians to the oil-rich states around the
Persian Gulf?
...that Hindu temples have been built in
Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates,
Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen and Oman?
9
RELIGION

ISLAM
God in Islam
In Islamic theology, God (Arabic: as a unified whole, with God being a single concept
Allāh) is the all-powerful and all-knowing creator, that would describe or ascribe all existing
sustainer, ordainer, and judge of the universe. Islam things:"God is the First and the Last, the Outward
puts a heavy emphasis on the conceptualization of and the Inward; God is the Knower of everything
God as strictly singular (tawhid). God is unique (Sura 57:3)" Some Muslims have however vigorously
(wahid) and inherently One (ahad), all-merciful and om- criticized interpretations that would lead to a monist
nipotent. view of God for what they see as blurring the distinc-
Creation and ordering of the tion between the creator and
universe is seen as an act of the creature, and its incom-
prime mercy for which all patibility with the monothe-
creatures sing God's glories ism of Islam.
and bear witness to God's The indivisibility of God im-
unity and lordship. According plies the indivisibility of God's
to the Islamic teachings, God sovereignty which in turn
exists without a place. Ac- leads to the conception of uni-
cording to the Qur'an, "No verse as a just and coherent
vision can grasp Him, but His moral universe rather than an
grasp is over all vision. God is existential and moral chaos
above all comprehension, yet (as in polytheism). Similarly
is acquainted with all the Qur'an rejects the binary
things" (Qur'an 6:103) modes of thinking such as the
God responds to those in idea of duality of God by argu-
need or distress whenever ing that both good and evil
they call. Above all, God Name of Allāh written in Arabic calligraphy generate from God's creative
guides humanity to the right by 17th century Ottoman artist Hâfız Osman act and that the evil forces
way, “the holy ways.” have no power to create any-
According to Islamic tradition there are 99 Names of thing. God in Islam is a universal god rather than a
God (al-asma al-husna lit. meaning: "The best names") local, tribal or parochial one; an absolute who inte-
each of which evoke a distinct attribute of God. All grates all affirmative values and brooks no evil.
these names refer to Allah, the supreme and all- Tawhid constitutes the foremost article of the Mus-
comprehensive divine name. Among the 99 names of lim profession. To attribute divinity to a created en-
God, the most famous and most frequent of these tity is the only unpardonable sin mentioned in the
names are "the Compassionate" (al-rahman) and "the Qur'an. Muslims believe that the entirety of the Is-
Merciful" (al-rahim). lamic teaching rests on the principle of Tawhid
Islam teaches that God, as referenced in the Qur'an, Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org
is the only God and the same God worshipped by
members of other Abrahamic religions such as Chris-
tianity and Judaism. Did You Know?
Oneness of God
Oneness of God or Tawḥīd is the act of believing and ...that about 13% of Muslims live in
affirming that God (Arabic: Allah) is one and unique Indonesia, the largest Muslim coun-
(wāḥid). The Qur'an asserts the existence of a single try?
and absolute truth that transcends the world; a
unique and indivisible being who is independent of ...that Converts and immigrant com-
the entire creation. According to the Qur'an: munities are found in almost every
"Say: He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, part of the world?
Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And
there is none like unto Him." (Sura 112:1-4, Yusuf Ali) ...that Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob,
Thy Lord is self-sufficient, full of Mercy: if it were God's
will, God could destroy you, and in your place appoint
Moses and Jesus and his apostles are
whom God will as your successors, even as God raised all confirmed as being Muslim by the
you up from the posterity of other people." (Sura 6:133, Qur'an?
Yusuf Ali)
According to Vincent J. Cornell, the Qur'an also pro-
vides a monist image of God by describing the reality

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 10
 RELIGION God in Christianity
CHRISTAINITY
trine has been stated as "three Hypostases (or, less
precisely, persons) in one God", all three of whom, as
In the Christian religion, one definition of God is the distinct and co-eternal persons, are of one indivisible Di-
eternal being that created and preserves the universe. vine essence, a simple being. The majority of Chris-
The Bible never speaks of God in an impersonal tians are Trinitarian and regard belief in the Trinity as
sense. Instead, it refers to him in personal terms—as a test of true orthodoxy of belief.
one who is, who speaks, who sees, hears, acts, and "Father, Son and Holy Spirit"
loves. God is understood to have a will and personal- "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" is a quotation of Jesus'
ity and is an all powerful, divine and benevolent be- words as recorded in the Great Commission: “Go there-
ing. He is represented in Scripture as being primarily fore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
concerned with people and their salvation. in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
God is believed by most Christians to be immanent Holy Spirit.” The names in similar order later appeared in
(meaning that he is with and the Apostle Paul's apostolic
benediction: “The grace of
within all things), while oth-
ers believe the plan of re-
Twelve Apostles
The
the Lord Jesus Christ and
Traditionally, the twelve Apostles include Peter the love of God and the
demption in scriptures
(whom some denominations consider the "Prince of fellowship of the Holy
show he will be immanent
the Apostles"); Andrew, James the Greater, James
later as seen in 1 Corin- Spirit be with you all."
the Lesser, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
thians 15:28, Colos- Since the first century,
Thomas, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot. Ju-
sians 1:19-20, and Ephe- das had been one of the twelve, but he betrayed Christians have called
sians 1:10, and most be- Jesus and committed suicide. With Judas gone, upon God with the name
lieve he is also transcen- Matthias became one of the Twelve. In the Synop- "Father, Son and Holy
dent (meaning that he is tic Gospels, Mark names the Twelve, Matthew fol- Spirit" in prayer, baptism,
outside space and time, lows Mark, and Luke substitutes Jude for Mark's communion, demon exor-
and therefore eternal and Thaddeus. John refers to the Twelve without nam- cism, hymn-singing,
unable to be changed by ing them all, adds the name Nathanael, and uses preaching, confession, ab-
forces within the uni- the term "beloved disciple (presumably for John). solution and benediction.
verse), though God the Son Jesus' inner circle of twelve disciples probably cor- Trinitarian doctrine
was on earth during the responds to the twelve tribes of Israel. In the Syn- In Christianity, the doc-
Ministry of Jesus and will optic, Jesus selects Peter, James, and John to wit- trine of the Trinity states
return to earth in the Sec- ness his divine Transfiguration and to be with him that God is one being who
when he prays at Gethsemane. In Mark, the exists, simultaneously and
ond Coming of Christ.
Twelve are obtuse, failing to understand the impor- eternally, as a mutual in-
God is usually held to
tance of Jesus' miracles and parables. The book of
have the properties of ho- Acts recounts the deeds of the apostles in the dwelling of three persons:
liness (separate from sin the Father, the Son
years after Jesus' crucifixion.
and incorruptible), justice (incarnate as Jesus of Naz-
(fair, right, and true in all areth), and the Holy Spirit
his judgments), omnipotence (all powerful), omnis- (or Holy Ghost). Since earliest Christianity, one's sal-
cience (all-knowing), omnibenevolence (all-loving), vation has been very closely related to the concept of
omnipresence (everywhere present) and immortality a triune God, although the Trinitarian doctrine was
(eternal and everlasting). not formalized until the 4th century. At that time the
God is understood by Trinitarians as Father, Son, and bishops of the Christian Church, which had been re-
Holy Spirit; a single infinite being who is both within cently legalised by Emperor Constantine, held the
and beyond nature. Because the persons of the Trin- Council of Nicea and formalized the Trinitarian doc-
ity represent a personal relation even on the level of trine.
God to himself, he is represented by all Christian de- Most Christians believe that God is spirit, an uncre-
nominations to be personal both in his immanence ated, omnipotent, and eternal being, the creator and
(in his personal relation toward us) and in his tran- sustainer of all things, who works the redemption of
scendence (in his personal relation toward himself). the world through his Son, Jesus Christ. With this
[citation needed]
Less commonly, nontrinitarian theologies background, belief in the divinity of Christ and the
exist in various denominations which define the Fa- Holy Spirit is expressed as the doctrine of the Holy
ther, the Son, and the Holy Spirit differently. The Trinity, which describes the single Divine substance
Trinitarian doctrine is considered by most Christians existing as three distinct and inseparable persons: the
to be a core tenet of their faith. Since the 4th century, Father, the Son (Jesus Christ the eternal Word), and
in both Eastern and Western Christianity, this doc- the Holy Spirit. Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 11
 RELIGION
God in BuddhisM
BUDDHISM
The refutation of the notion
of a supreme God or a prime
mover is seen as a key distinction between
Buddhism and other religions. Hence, Bud-
dhism is often aptly described as a "spiritual
philosophy" whose sole aim is the complete
alleviation of stress in samsara, called nir-
vana. The Buddha explicitly rejects a creator,
denies endorsing any views on creation and
states that questions on the origin of the world are worth-
less. Some theists beginning Buddhist meditation
believe that the notion of divinity is not in-
compatible with Buddhism but belief in a
Supreme God is eminently considered to
pose a hindrance to the attainment of nir-
vana the highest goal of Buddhist practice.
Despite this nontheism, Buddhists consider venera-
tion of the Noble ones very important, although the
two main schools of Buddhism differ mildly in their
reverential attitudes. While Theravada Buddhists
view the Buddha as a human being who attained nir-
vana or arahanthood, through human efforts, some
Mahayana Buddhists consider him an embodiment of
the Dharmakaya, who was born for the benefit of oth-
ers, and not merely a human being. In addition, some
Mahayana Buddhists worship their chief Bodhisattva,
Avalokiteshvara and hope to embody him. Buddhists
accept the existence of beings in higher realms (see
Buddhist cosmology), known as devas, but they, like
humans, are said to be suffering in samsara, and not
particularly wiser than us. In fact the Buddha is often
portrayed as a teacher of the gods, and superior to
them
God in early Buddhism
As scholar Richard Hayes describes, "the attitude of
the Buddha as portrayed in the Nikayas is more anti-
speculative than specifically atheistic," although
"Gotama regarded the belief in God as unhealthy." As
Hayes describes it, "In the Nikaya literature, the ques-
tion of the existence of God is treated primarily from
either an epistemological point of view or a moral
point of view. As a problem of epistemology, the
question of God's existence amounts to a discussion
of whether or not a religious seeker can be certain
that there is a greatest good and that therefore his
efforts to realize a greatest good will not be a point-
less struggle towards an unrealistic goal. And as a
problem in morality, the question amounts to a dis-
cussion of whether man himself is ultimately respon-
sible for all the displeasure that he feels or whether
there exists a superior being who inflicts displeasure
upon man whether he deserves it or not . . .the Bud-
dha Gotama is portrayed not as an atheist who claims
to be able to prove God's nonexistence, but rather as
Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011
a skeptic with respect to other teachers' claims to be
able to lead their disciples to the highest
good."
Citing the Devadaha Sutta ('Majjhima Nikaya
101), Hayes remarks "while the reader is left
to conclude that it is attachment rather than
God, actions in past lives, fate, type of birth
or efforts in this life that is responsible for
our experiences of sorrow, no systematic ar-
gument is given in an attempt to disprove the exis-
tence of God.
Brahma in the Pali Canon
Brahma is among the common gods found in the Pali
Canon. Brahma (in common with all other devas) is
subject to change, final decline and death, just as are
all other sentient beings in samsara (the plane of con-
tinual reincarnation and suffering). In fact there are
several different Brahma worlds and several kinds of
Brahmas in Buddhism, all of which however are just
beings stuck in samsara for a long while. Sir Charles
Eliot describes attitudes towards Brahma in early
Buddhism as follows:
There comes a time when this world system passes
away and then certain beings are reborn in the
"World of Radiance" and remain there a long time.
Sooner or later, the world system begins to evolve
again and the palace of Brahma appears, but it is
empty. Then some being whose time is up falls from
the "World of Radiance" and comes to life in the pal-
ace and remains there alone. At last he wishes for
company, and it so happens that other beings whose
time is up fall from the "World of Radiance" and join
him. And the first being thinks that he is Great
Brahma, the Creator, because when he felt lonely and
wished for companions other beings appeared. And
the other beings accept this view. And at last one of
Brahma’s retinue falls from that state and is born in
the human world and, if he can remember his previ-
ous birth, he reflects that he is transitory but that
Brahma still remains and from this he draws the erro-
neous conclusion that Brahma is eternal
Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org
Did You Know?
...that Buddhism in Austria is a legally
recognized religion and has 10,402 fol-
lowers according to the 2001 census?
...that the Mahayana sutras were trans-
mitted in secret?
...that Mahayana Buddhism flourished in
India from the 5th century CE onwards,
during the dynasty of the Guptas ?
12
 Part-IV
cal implications of Cosmic Ray Time Variations.
1. Raman, Sir C.V.: (1888-1970) Eminent In- 6. Sen, P.K. (Dr): is the Indian surgeon who
dian Scientist (F.R.S.) Na- performed Asia’s first heart transplant operation
tional Professor of Physics in Mumbai.
and founder Director of 7. Susruta: was
Raman Research Institute, a fourth century
Bangalore. He was Hindu surgeon and
awarded Nobel Prize for physician. He
his discovery of ‘Raman wrote an impor-
Effect’ (Feb 28, 1928). His tant book on
work on study of crystal medicine and also
structure is of unique im- a thesis on the
portance. Feb 28 is cele- medical properties
brated every year as Na- of garlic.
tional Science Day. 8. Varahmihira: (505-587) was a distinguished
2. Ramanujan, Srinivas: (1887-1920) Indian Indian astronomer, mathematician and philoso-
mathematician who con- pher. He was one of the nine gems of the court
tributed to the theory of of king Vikramaditya.
numbers, theory of parti- 9. Vyasa is a central and
tions, and the theory of revered figure in the ma-
continued fractions. jority of Hindu traditions.
3. Ray, Sir P.C.: (1861- He is also sometimes
1944) founder of Indian called Veda Vyasa (the one
Chemical Society and Ben- who compiled the Vedas)
gal Chemical and Pharma- or Krishna Dvaipayana
ceutical Works Ltd., and (referring to his complex-
author of ‘Hindu Chemis- ion and birthplace). He is
try’. His work about nitrous acid and its salts the author as well as a
deserves special mention. character in the Hindu
4. Saha, Dr Meghnad: epic Mahabharata and considered to be the
(1893-1956) late Palit Prof of scribe of both the Vedas, and the supplementary
Physics, University College texts such as the Puranas. [Concluded]
of Science and Technology,
Calcutta University—well
known for his researches in
nuclear physics, cosmic rays,
spectrum analysis and other
branches of theoretical
physics.
5. Sarabhai, Dr Vikram
A.: former Chairman of In-
dia’s Atomic Energy Com-
mission and the Indian
Space Research Organization
(ISRO) died on December
30, 1971. Dr Sarabhai was an
eminent physicist mainly
interested in the astrophysi-

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 13
 problem developed. Instead of the satellite
How leaders should going into orbit, the whole rocket system
plunged into the Bay of Bengal . It was a big
manage failure? failure. That day, the chairman of the Indian
Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish
At Wharton India Economic fo- Dhawan, had called a press conference. The
rum , Philadelphia, March 22,2008 launch was at 7:00 am, and the press confer-
the Former President of India APJ
Abdul Kalam was asked this ques- ence -- where journalists from around the
tion. His reply to this throws light world were present -- was at 7:45 am at
into his deep insight and enlight- ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota
enment [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof.
Dhawan, the leader of the organization, con-
L et me tell you about my experience. In ducted the press conference himself. He
1973 I became the project director of India's took responsibility for the failure -- he said
satellite launch vehicle program, commonly that the team had worked very hard, but
called the SLV-3. Our goal that it needed more techno-
was to put India's 'Rohini' logical support. He assured
satellite into orbit by 1980. I the media that in another
was given funds and human year, the team would defi-
resources -- but was told nitely succeed. Now, I was the
clearly that by 1980 we had to project director, and it was
launch the satellite into my failure, but instead, he
space. Thousands of people took responsibility for the
worked together in scientific failure as chairman of the or-
and technical teams towards ganization. The next year, in
that goal. July 1980, we tried again to
By 1979 -- I think the month launch the satellite -- and this
was August -- we thought we time we succeeded. The
were ready. As the project whole nation was jubilant.
director, I went to the control Again, there was a press con-
center for the launch. At four ference. Prof. Dhawan called
minutes before the satellite me aside and told me, 'You
launch, the computer began to go through conduct the press conference today.' I
the checklist of items that needed to be learned a very important lesson that day.
checked. One minute When failure oc-
later, the computer
Shri Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam), curred, the leader of
program put the the organization
launch on hold; the usually referred to as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam,
owned that failure.
display showed that was the 11th President of India who
When success came,
some control compo- served from 2002 to 2007. During his term he gave it to his team.
nents were not in or- as President, he was popularly known as
The best management
der. My experts -- I the People's President
lesson I have learned
had four or five of did not come to me
them with me -- told me not to worry; they from reading a book; it came from that ex-
had done their calculations and there was perience.
enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the com-
puter, switched to manual mode, and Contributed by Mrs. Lekha Nair
launched the rocket. In the first stage, every- <lekha.nair@adityabirla.com>
thing worked fine. In the second stage, a

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 14
Facebook has become the most
popular social network in the inter-
net among the young as well as the
old. Even the companies are using
Facebook to popoularaise their prod-
ucts and services. Then what is Face-
book? Read further.
Internet Users can create profiles number of features with which users
with photos, lists of personal inter- may interact. They include the Wall,
ests, contact information, and other a space on every user's profile page
personal information. Users can that allows friends to post messages
communicate with friends and other for the user to see; Pokes, which al-
users through private or public mes- lows users to send a virtual "poke" to
sages and a chat feature. They can each other (a notification then tells a
also create and join interest groups user that they have been poked); Pho-
and "like pages" (formerly called "fan tos, where users can upload albums
pages", until April 19, 2010), some of and photos; and Status, which allows
which are maintained by organiza- users to inform their friends of their
tions as a means of advertising. Mark Zuckerberg co- whereabouts and actions. Depending
To allay concerns about privacy, created Facebook in his on privacy settings, anyone who can
Harvard dorm room.
Facebook enables users to choose see a user's profile can also view that
their own privacy settings and choose who can user's Wall. In July 2007, Facebook began allow-
see specific parts of their profile. The website is ing users to post attachments to the Wall,
free to users, and gener- whereas the Wall was
ates revenue from ad- Popularity previously limited to tex-
vertising, such as ban- tual content only.
ner ads. Facebook re- As of April 2010, according to The New York Times, On September 6, 2006, a
quires a user's name countries with most Facebook users are the United News Feed was an-
States, the United Kingdom and Indonesia. Indone-
and profile picture (if sia has become the country with the second largest nounced, which appears
applicable) to be acces- number of Facebook users, after the United States, on every user's home-
sible by everyone. Users with 24 million users, or 10% of Indonesia's popula- page and highlights in-
can control who sees tion. Also in early 2010, Openbook was established, formation including pro-
other information they an avowed parody website (and privacy advocacy file changes, upcoming
website) that enables text-based searches of those
have shared, as well as Wall posts that are available to "Everyone", i.e. to events, and birthdays of
who can find them in everyone on the Internet. the user's friends. This
searches, through their enabled spammers and
privacy settings. Fall-
Fall-outs other users to manipu-
The media often com- late these features by
pare Facebook to Writers for The Wall Street Journal found in 2010 creating illegitimate
MySpace, but one sig- that Facebook apps were transmitting identifying events or posting fake
information to "dozens of advertising and Internet
nificant difference be- tracking companies". The apps used an HTTP refer- birthdays to attract at-
tween the two websites rer which exposed the user's identity and sometimes tention to their profile or
is the level of customi- their friends'. Facebook said, "We have taken imme- cause. Initially, the News
zation. Another differ- diate action to disable all applications that violate Feed caused dissatisfac-
our terms".
ence is Facebook's re- tion among Facebook
quirement that users give their true identity, a users; some complained it was too cluttered and
demand that MySpace does not make. MySpace full of undesired information, while others were
allows users to decorate their profiles using concerned it made it too easy for others to track
HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), while individual activities (such as relationship status
Facebook only allows plain text. Facebook has a changes, events, and conversations with other

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 15
sponse, Zuckerberg issued an apology for the sends a notification to the friend
site's failure to include appropriate customizable that they have been tagged, and
privacy features. Since then, users have been provides them a link to see the
able to control what types of information are photo.
shared automatically with friends. Users are now Facebook Notes was introduced on
able to prevent user-set categories of friends August 22, 2006, a blogging feature that allowed
from seeing updates about certain types of ac- tags and embeddable images. Users were later
tivities, including profile changes, Wall posts, able to import blogs from Xanga, LiveJournal,
and newly added friends. Blogger, and other blogging services. During the
On February 23, 2010, Facebook was granted a week of April 7, 2008, Facebook released a
Comet-based instant messaging application
called "Chat" to several networks, which allows
users to communicate with friends and is similar
in functionality to desktop-based instant mes-
sengers.
Facebook launched Gifts on February 8, 2007,
which allows users to send virtual gifts to their
friends that appear on the recipient's profile.
Gifts cost $1.00 each to purchase, and a personal-
ized message can be attached to each gift. On
May 14, 2007, Facebook launched Marketplace,
which lets users post free classified ads. Market-
place has been compared to Craigslist by CNET,
which points out that the major difference be-
tween the two is that listings posted by a user on
patent on certain aspects of its News Feed. The Marketplace are seen only by users in the same
patent covers News Feeds in which links are pro- network as that user,
vided so that one user can participate in the whereas listings posted on Craigslist can be seen
same activity of another user. The patent may by any to develop.
encourage Facebook to pursue action against On July 20, 2008, Facebook introduced
websites that violate its patent, which may po-
tentially include websites such as Twitter.
One of the most popular applications on Face-
book is the Photos application, where users can
upload albums and photos. Facebook allows us-
ers to upload an unlimited number of photos,
compared with other image hosting services
such as Photobucket and Flickr, which apply
limits to the number of photos that a user is al-
lowed to upload. During the first years, Face-
book users were limited to 60 photos per album.
As of May 2009, this limit has been increased to
200 photos per album.
Privacy settings can be set for individual albums,
limiting the groups of users that can see an al- "Facebook Beta", a significant redesign of its user
bum. For example, the privacy of an album can interface on selected networks. The Mini-Feed
be set so that only the user's friends can see the and Wall were consolidated, profiles were sepa-
album, while the privacy of another album can rated into tabbed sections, and an effort was
be set so that all Facebook users can see it. An- made to create a "cleaner" look.[97] After initially
other feature of the Photos application is the giving users a choice to switch, Facebook began
ability to "tag," or label, users in a photo. For in- migrating all users to the new version beginning
stance, if a photo contains a user's friend, then in September 2008. On December 11, 2008, it was
the user can tag the friend in the photo. This announced that Facebook was testing a simpler

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 16
signup process. Research In Motion both provide
On June 13, 2009, Facebook introduced a Facebook applications for their
"Usernames" feature, whereby pages can be own mobile devices. More than
linked with simpler URLs such as http:// 150 million active users access
www.facebook.com/facebook as opposed to Facebook through mobile de-
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php? vices across 200 mobile operators
in 60 countries.
USERS’ PRIDE On November 15, 2010, Facebook announced a
new "Facebook Messages" service. In a media
Facebook (stylized Facebook) is a social net- event that day, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, "It's
working service and website launched in Febru- true that people will be able to have an
ary 2004, operated and privately owned by Face- @facebook.com email addresses, but it's not
book, Inc. As of January 2011, Facebook has more
email." The launch of such a feature had been
than 600 million active users. Users may create
a personal profile, add other users as friends,
and exchange messages, including automatic
notifications when they update their profile.
Additionally, users may join common interest
user groups, organized by workplace, school or
college, or other characteristics. The name of
the service stems from the colloquial name for
the book given to students at the start of the
academic year by university administrations in
the United States to help students get to know
each other better. Facebook allows anyone who
declares themselves to be at least 13 years old to
become a registered user of the website.
Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg with
his college roommates and fellow computer sci-
ence students Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Mosk-
ovitz and Chris Hughes. The website's member-
ship was initially limited by the founders to
Harvard students, but was expanded to other
colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and
Stanford University. It gradually added support
anticipated for some time before the announce-
for students at various other universities before
opening to high school students, and, finally, to
ment, with some calling it a "Gmail killer." The
anyone aged 13 and over. system, to be available to all of the website's us-
A January 2009 Compete.com study ranked Face- ers, combines text messaging, instant messaging,
book as the most used social networking service emails, and regular messages, and will include
by worldwide monthly active users, followed by privacy settings similar to those of other Face-
MySpace. Entertainment Weekly included the book services. Codenamed "Project Titan," Face-
site on its end-of-the-decade "best-of" list, say- book Messages took 15 months to develop.
ing, "How on earth did we stalk our exes, re- In February 2011, Facebook began to use the
member our co-workers' birthdays, bug our hCalendar microformat to mark up events, and
friends, and play a rousing game of Scrabulous
the hCard microformat for the events' venues,
before Facebook?" Quantcast estimates Face-
book has 135.1 million monthly unique U.S. visi-
enabling the extraction of details to users' own
tors in October 2010. According to Social Media calendar or mapping applications.
Today, in April 2010 an estimated 41.6% of the As of April 2011 Facebook users now have the
U.S. population had a Facebook account. ability to make live voice calls via Facebook Chat
allowing users to chat with others from all over
id=20531316728. Many new smartphones offer the world. This feature which is provided free
access to the Facebook services either through through T-Mobile's new Bobsled service lets the
their web-browsers or applications. An official user add voice to the current Facebook Chat as
Facebook application is available for the iPhone well as leave voice messages on Facebook..
OS, the Android OS, and the WebOS. Nokia and

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 17
 Dance in India covers a wide
range of dance and dance theatre forms, from the Hindi films
ancient classical or temple dance to folk and mod- Dance in early Hindi films, was primarily modelled
ern styles. on classical Indian dance styles and particularly
Three best-known hindu deities, Shiva, Kali and those of historic northern Indian courtesans
Krishna, are typically represented dancing. There (tawaif), or folk dances. Modern films often blend
are hundreds of Indian folk dances such as Bhan- this earlier style with Western dance styles (MTV
gra, Bihu, Ghumura Dance, Sambalpuri, Chhau or in Broadway musicals), though it is not unusual
and Garba and special dances observed in regional to see
festivals. Western
India pop and
offers a adapted
number c l as si c al
of classi- d a n c e
cal In- numbers
d i a n side by
dance side in
forms, the same
each of film. The
which hero or
can be heroine
traced to different parts of the country. The pres- will often perform with a troupe of supporting
entation of Indian dance styles in film, Hindi Cin- dancers. Many song-and-dance routines in Indian
ema, has exposed the range of dance in India to a films feature unrealistically instantaneous shifts of
global audience. location and/or changes of costume between
Classical Indian dance verses of a song. If the hero and heroine dance and
Each form represents the culture and ethos of a sing a pas de deux (a French ballet term, meaning
particular region or a "dance of two") often
group of people. The cri- staged in beautiful natu-
teria for being considered ral surroundings or archi-
as classical is the style's tecturally grand settings,
adherence to the guide- referred to as a
lines laid down in Natya- "picturisation".
shastra by the sage Indian films have always
Bharata Muni, which ex- used what are now called
plains the Indian art of "item numbers". A physi-
acting. Acting or natya is cally attractive female
a broad concept which character (the "item
encompasses both drama girl"), often completely
and dance. unrelated to the main
Indian classical dance is a cast and plot of the film,
misnomer, as actually performs a catchy song
dance refers to natya, the sacred Hindu musical and dance number in the film. In older films, the
theatre styles. Its theory can be traced back to the "item number" may be performed by a courtesan
Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni (400 BC). The San- (tawaif) dancing for a rich client or as part of a
geet Natak Akademi currently confers classical cabaret show. The dancer Helen was famous for
status on eight "dance" forms:[citation needed] her cabaret numbers. In modern films, item num-
Those who worship Vishnu are considered bers may be inserted as discotheque sequences,
Vaishnavas. The dance style performed by Sri dancing at celebrations, or as stage shows.
Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) and the gopis in Indian producers now release music videos, usually
Vrindavan is called rasa-lila, and is considered as a featuring a song from the film. However, some
form of devotional dance. Many other Indian clas- promotional videos feature a song which is not
sical dances are used to illustrate events from the included in the movie.
Puranas related to or describing Vishnu.

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 18
 BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE
Our Birth is our Opening Balance!
Our Death is our Closing Balance!
Our Prejudiced Views are our Liabili-
ties
Our Creative Ideas are our Assets
Heart is our Current Asset
Soul is our Fixed Asset
Brain is our Fixed Deposit
Thinking is our Current Account
Achievements are our Capital
Character & Morals, our Stock-in-
Trade
Friends are our General Reserves
Values & Behavior are our Goodwill
Patience is our Interest Earned
Love is our Dividend
Children are our Bonus Issues
Education is Brands / Patents
Knowledge is our Investment
Experience is our Premium Account
The Aim is to Tally the Balance Sheet
Accurately.
The Goal is to get the Best Presented
Accounts Award.
Contributed by Shri GA SIRWANI
<ga_sirwani@yahoo.co.in>
Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011
ARE YOU RICH?
When I was a kid in
Minnesota, water-
melon was a delicacy.
One of my father’s
buddies, Bernie, was
a prosperous fruit–
and–vegetable wholesaler, who operated a
warehouse in St. Paul. Every summer, when
the first watermelons rolled in, Bernie would
call. Dad and I would go to Bernie’s warehouse
and take up our positions. We’d sit on the
edge of the dock, feet dangling, and lean over,
minimizing the volume of juice we were about
to spill on ourselves.
Bernie would take his machete, crack our first
watermelon, hand us both a big piece and sit
down next to us. Then we’d bury our faces in
watermelon, eating only the heart – the red-
dest, juiciest, firmest, most seed–free, most
perfect part – and throw away the rest. Bernie
was my father’s idea of a rich man. I always
thought it was because he was such a success-
ful businessman. Years later, I realized that
what my father admired about Bernie’s wealth
was less its substance than its application.
Bernie knew how to stop working, get together
with friends and eat only the heart of the wa-
termelon.
What I learned from Bernie is that being rich
is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how
much money we have, will never be free
enough to eat only the heart of the water-
melon. Others are rich without ever being
more than a paycheck ahead.
If you don’t take the time to dangle your feet
over the dock and chomp into life's small
pleasures, your career is probably overwhelm-
ing your life.
For many years, I forgot that lesson I’d learned
as a kid on the loading dock. I was too busy
making all the money I could.
Well, I’ve relearned it. I hope I have time left
to enjoy the accomplishments of others and to
take pleasure in the day. That’s the heart of
the watermelon. I have learned again to throw
the rest away.
Contributed by Shri Hrishikesh Apte
<hgapte@yahoo.co.in>
19
 Blood Pressure
The force applied by circulating blood on the walls of
blood vessels is known as blood pressure. The most
common blood pressure values for a healthy adult
human are approximately 120 mmHg systolic and 80
mmHg diastolic. However, normal blood pressure
varies from person to person. In some people, the
blood pressure levels fluctuate widely, either rising or
falling to abnormal levels. As this may lead to other
health problems such as heart disease, it is important
to always keep blood pressure under control.
PREVENTION IS POWERFUL
One third of all the cancers can be avoided by
preventing tobacco, increasing activity levels
and decreasing the fat in the diet.
High blood pressure usually develops due to
faulty lifestyle, obesity, sedentariness and less
of fruits & vegetables and excess of refined
foods, processed foods and salt.
High blood pressure is thus preventable to
a large extent.
We should aim to promote the healthy behav-
iours throughout the life course. This approach
combines health promotion, disease prevention
and disease management. We should reinforce
healthy behaviours which already exist in our
society & prevent changing to unhealthy behav-
iours. We should also help people revert back
from unhealthy to healthy behaviours.
Some common steps to reduce high blood pres-
sure are:
• Stop smoking
• Keep your body weight at a healthy level.
• Follow a healthy diet, stressing on fruits, vegeta-
bles and low fat dairy foods
• Get involved in some physical activity.
• Consume alcoholic drinks in moderation.
Some common tips to prevent low blood pressure
are:
• Dehydration minimizes blood volume, which
causes a drop in pressure. Hence, drink plenty of
water.
• Go for a walk after meals. This helps in bringing
Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011
the blood pressure level up to normal.
• After exercising, take some time out to cool
down. A sudden stoppage in the middle of an
exercise routine can lead to a fall in blood pres-
sure.
• Salt is good for people with low blood pressure.
Increase in salt consumption may vary from per-
son to person.
• Drinking alcoholic beverages is harmful to people
with a low blood pressure condition. Such indi-
viduals should drink healthy juices or non-
alcoholic drinks only.
Before undertaking any of the above steps, re-
member to first consult your doctor.
http://india.gov.in/citizen/health/
How can I control my blood pressure
without medicines?
1 Non-pharmacologic therapy for high blood
pressure is significant in the management of high
blood pressure. In most cases, drugs are not neces-
sary and lifestyle changes, followed religiously, can
be adequate to bring the blood pressure to target
levels. In others, medicines may be required, but
the dose of the medicines required will be much
less with better blood pressure control, when com-
bined with rigorous lifestyle measures.
2 Weight reduction: if you are overweight
then you must lose weight. Calculate your
BMI and also measure your waist.
3 Diet plan - Restrict your calories as soon as
the pointer goes there, calculate the calories which
you need to consume each day so that you take
only as many calories are required. Include a vari-
ety of fresh fruits and vegetables , include nuts
in your diet and switch from refined grain foods to
whole grains and whole pulses and the diet
should be low on saturated fats and total fats. You
can achieve 8-14 mm of Hg reduction in blood
pressure through this diet.
Restrict salty foods. Your total salt intake in a day
should not exceed 5 grams (approx 1 teaspoon).
Don't put extra salt in the salad & foods on the
table.
20
I cursed the day. Today is one of the
worst days in my life, I thought. Every thing
I am doing today lead me into trouble. To
start with, I had an awful fight with my wife
in the morning. Reason... who knows... as CRIME STORY
usual. I thought I should have controlled
my tongue. I did not take breakfast, not
even a glass of water...... That hurt me a lot
later. …….
I went to office... I was late as usual... I knewWWWWhat…?
Manager was fuming, I could see the smoke ……...
coming out of his cabin...ha... ha... What to “I am on my way... I will reach there by mid-
do? He waved his hand signaling me to night”
come inside his cabin. *****
“Don’t worry Raj... late is our birth right,” My village was a remote one. After 9.00 PM,
commented Rizwani, smiling at me. no one can reach my Village. But I had to go
at any cost. The bus dropped me at 10.00 PM
Sebastian Selvaraj in a nearby city. I thought I might get a
transport... a jeep... at least a bullock cart...
I entered the Cabin only to find his smiling No way... I cursed the Politicians who always
face... promised us light, road, transport, water
Good Morning Sir... etc., once in five years from when I was five
Bad Morning dear... you are fired... collect years old.
your cheque... get lost...
Even an Earthquake followed by Tsunami I can’t wait till morning; hence, I decided to
would not have given me this Jerk... walk. The thought of walking 10 long Kilo-
But I was a short tempered man. I may meters to reach my home gave me a shiver.
starve and die but I will not tolerate this. I I cursed myself for not getting a drink...
had my self belief; I knew I can get a brand Crap... I started walking.
new job. Hell with this one... especially with
this idiot...
“Thanks,” I said, banged the door and went
out of the office like a vampire amid stares
behind my back.
*****
When I got up from the shadow of a tree in
the Park, it was evening 6.00 PM. The four
large I had taken in the afternoon was disap-
peared. My head was aching. I wondered
what next? I hate to go home either... Since I knew the place very well, I had no
My mobile rang. I saw the number, it was a problem. After around 5 Kilometers, I
new one. Wondering who the hell it would looked at my watch... It said... 11.45 PM. I
be... I said “hello.” I could scarcely recognize knew the other three Kilometers is a difficult
my voice... it was rough... one... where I had to cross even a Graveyard.

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 21
 FOOD PRICES SOAR
Just three years after the 2007-08 food crisis, the
food security of poor people and vulnerable groups,
especially women and children, is again threatened as
the prices of basic food items increase rapidly and
become more volatile. Expanding biofuel production,
rising oil prices, U.S. dollar depreciation, export re-
strictions, and panicparticular detriment of the world’s
poorest consumers, who spend some 50-70 percent
of their incomes on food. While global food prices
dropped slightly in March, they remain 37 percent
higher than they were one year ago.
Research shows that when food prices change
quickly, as they continue to do at present, poverty
increases in the vast majority of cases. High food in-
flation is affecting
not only small The thought of crossing a Graveyard at mid-
countries but also night gave me a feeling of chill crawl up my
those with large
numbers of poor spine.
people such as *****
India, China, and When I neared the Graveyard, it was mid-
Indonesia. For
night 12 O clock. Faint smoke of a burnt
example, food in-
flation rose to 10 body gave me a sweat. I had a look around.
percent in China and 18 percent in India between No one could be seen. The place looked
December 2009 and December 2010. It is often said dark & deserted. Even during the day no
that poor agricultural producers benefit from higher
food prices through higher incomes, but this is only
one dare to cross the place alone. That too
possible if they are net sellers of food and if their in- in the night, even a ghost would not dare to
put costs do not also rise. In recent years, however, be there alone. I thought of running. But
the cost of inputs such as fertilizer and transport has told myself to stay calm. I started a brisk
also been high and volatile. Increasing costs, coupled
with the uncertainty that stems from excessive price walk. The abnormal sound of my own feet
volatility in input and output markets, can reduce increased my sweat. I heard the howling
farmers’ profit margins, distort long-term planning, sound of a dog somewhere. Now I was
and dampen investment in improved productivity.
Decisive action is needed to prevent recurring food
scared. Scarred enough to run... So I ran fast
crises. Given the complex web of factors affecting so as to cross the graveyard as soon as possi-
global food security, governments and international ble. Suddenly, I heard a hissing sound be-
organizations must adopt a comprehensive approach. hind my back for the first time as if some
Such an approach should incorporate seven principal
elements. purchasing are again driving up food
one following me right behind my ear. My
prices—to the entire body felt shiver. I came to a grinding
1. Effective policies and technology investments to halt and slowly I looked behind.
minimize food–fuel competition.
No one was there… I did not want to stand
2. Social protection, especially social safety nets, for
the most vulnerable groups. any more. I started running again. I heard
3. Transparent, fair, and open global trade. the hissing sound again and again at my
4. A global emergency physical grain reserve. back. I ran faster… the sound followed me…
5. Policies and investments to promote agricultural
growth, in particular smallholder productivity, in the
I turned again and saw what that was… I saw
face of climate change. a white smoke… a pure white smoke… I fell
6. Investments by national governments in climate down…
change adaptation and mitigation using the full poten- *****
tial that agriculture offers.
7. An international working group to regularly monitor
the world food situation and trigger action to prevent Narsi... That is how he was called. Narasim-
excessive price volatility. han- a local politician. He was on his way to
Apr 28, 2011 by S. Gustafson
town in his bike. Suddenly he spotted a per-
Courtesy: foodsecurityportal.org
son lying near a well which was covered with

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 22
bushes hiding the deep water. He looked
around. That place was deserted. He came
closer to the well. Stopped the vehicle and
had a look at the person lying near the well.
He was shocked to find Raj on that pose. He
did not expect that Raj who was working in a
multinational company in city to lie near the
well that too in this condition. He went
near him. He placed his hands near his
nose. There was breath. He was happy to
note that Raj was alive. He tried to wake
him up.
Raj... wake up... what happened?
Raj opened his eyes and saw Narsi... there
was anger in his eyes. Narsi did not expect
this. He asked Raj again. What happened,
Raj? Why you are sleeping here?
Raj was on his feet now. He had an un-
friendly look at Narsi...
Narsi... Did you think I will not come back?
You should not have done this to us. You do
not deserve to be here. Come to our world.
Narsi... could not understand a word in it.
“What are you talking about?”
Without answering his query, he pushed
him very hard into the well.
Totally unexpected of this, Narsi fell inside
the well which was covered in bush. He
never came back later.
Raj was looking into the well. Feeling satis-
fied came near the Bike and pushed it into
the well and walked away.
Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011
*****
When I regained consciousness, I was still
lying near the Graveyard. I looked at my
watch. It was 10.00 AM. The place still
looked deserted. The sunshine gave me
courage. Last night horror came to my
mind. What a horrible experience it was! I
was unconscious for the past 10 Hrs. My
god! I got to my feet and somehow reached
home. There, I was very pleased to see my
mother, who was seriously ill yesterday, sat
in the arm chair. I went near her and upon
seeing me she hugged tightly with profound
affection. The maternal hug offered me the
much needed soothe. I sobbed and softly
kissed on her forehead.
*****
Next day’s local news paper read: Mystery
killings
Nov. 12. Narasimhan, a local politician, was
found dead in the Deadly Well together with
his Motor Cycle. It is not known whether he
Committed Suicide or was murdered. The
readers may recall that last week the bodies
of Ragini & Rajesh, local love birds, were
found in the same well in a mutilated condi-
tion. Postmortem report later revealed that
Rajesh was assaulted and Ragini was raped.
Inspector Vijay told reporters that the police
suspected a link between the two incidents
and further investigating the case.
*****
After attending the funeral of one of my old
friends, a local politician, who committed
suicide or was killed... I went back to my city
in two days. My wife was very joyful to see
me back after two days. She fervently
hugged me and said, “Sorry, Honey... I will
never pick up a fight with you”. I tenderly
kissed her on her forehead, saying “That’s all
right, sweet heart.”
The end.
Mr. Sebastian Selvaraj can be contacted
at sebastianselvaraj@gmail.com
23

Do you believe
that each day
promises a
fresh beginning?
This morning I woke up with a horrible feel- at any moment. And that the death of a
ing in the pit of my stomach. Still not fully
awake, I lay wondering what caused it. My
mind, unbelievably, still in our life before
Aug 2010. And then I realized (or woke up
fully). Tejaswee. I tried to think what made
this morning more difficult than other
mornings, and then I knew.
I had opened Tejaswee’s laptop for the first
Indian Homemaker
time yesterday. It look a long time and many
tries before I could remember the password.
There was nothing new on her laptop actu-
ally, except that it was hers. Most of yester-
day was spent going through photographs
and videos not seen for a long time.
And hearing her voice after months.
Here she is with her favorite turquoise
bracelet, also seen in the header and on the
sidebar.
How easy it was to take for granted on 12th
October 2009 that the child who sat on the
Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011
kitchen counter, modeling her newest shop-
ping, chattering endlessly, while I added
tarka to her favorite dal, was going to be
with us all our lives.
I am reading ‘When life changed forever‘ the
author says, life was not meant to be pre-
dictable or planned, anything might change
DID YOU KNOW THAT ?
child changes the parents forever. Accept-
ing that we will never be what we were,
might make it easier to live with our
changed selves. I am realizing that some of
the changes are subtle. Some changes come
slowly as the realization sinks in. Maybe
some of the changes are reversible. But this
much is true, now we have two lives, our life
before Aug 11, 2010 and this life after Aug 11,
2010.
Ricky Taylor says,
“Our friends and family, and we
ourselves, wanted us to get back
to ‘normal’. But ‘normal’ had
been fiendishly changed….
But it also became very obvious to us that
what he had thought of as ‘normal’ was
phantom. It existed only in our minds. The
reality was that each day promises a fresh
beginning…”
‘The reality was that each day promises a
fresh beginning...’
I don’t know how to see that. Sounds posi-
tive if one didn’t consider what one has lost.
Do you believe that each day promises a
fresh beginning?
Cortesy:
24
 Middle-Class
Bane or Boon?
The assertion of the social activist Arundhati
Roy that corruption was presented as a moral
issue rather than a political one to Hazare's
supporters who thronged Jantar Mantar, can-
not be brushed below the carpet merely be-
cause she suffers from LSS (Limelight Seeking
Syndrome). The fast-unto-Death undertaken
by Anna Hazare has touched the nerves of the
people unlike never before. But the people
have a holier-than-though attitude in fighting
corruption. It is like my-small-corruption is
less serious than your-big-corruption attitude.
Unless the citizens make deliberate attempts
to clean the society of the gangrene of corrup-
tion, the rot will continue. The Lokpal can aid
and restrict the menace only in a limited way.
The neo-liberalism has unleashed hidden po-
tentials to tap the hidden resources for looting
the public assets unprecedentedly and self-
aggrandisement. She is right in saying that it
is the middle class which benefitted the most
from the liberalisation and globalisation. The
Bichu Muttathara
very same middle class does not spare any
chance to hijack any social campaign and to
demonstrate its desire to be a part of the
agenda to espouse and/or championing the
cause célèbre. This may be due to the middle-
class guilty conscience and upward mobility to
stay afloat in the social order. For example, the
middle class was always in the frontline in
such burning issues as Mandal Agitation, Lok-
pal Campaign, etc, though both are for differ-
ing arenas. AT the same time, the middle class
would like to have the cake and eat it too, i.e.
they would like to reap the benefits of the eco-
nomic liberalisation and at the same time
would like to be seen as championing the so-
cial causes. One day they would hail DR MMS,
the PM, very other day they have no com-
punctions in pelting stones at him mercilessly.
This is the most ironical situation in today’s
social campaigns.
Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011
Middle-Class ?
The middle class is any class of people in the
middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian
socio-economic terms, the middle class is the
broad group of people in contemporary society
who fall socio-economically between the work-
ing class and upper class.
The common measures of what constitutes mid-
dle class vary significantly between cultures. In
urban India, for example, a family is considered
middle class if it resides in an owner-occupied
property. In the United States, many families
where the primary income-earner is employed
in a blue collar job consider themselves middle
class, when in fact they are working class by the
classic Weberian definition.
In the United Kingdom, the term middle class
implies those people who typically have had a
good education, own a family house, and hold a
managerial or professional post. Those holding a
senior role in a profession or ownership/
directorship of a corporation may be regarded as
upper middle class, but in England this is as
much dependent on background and education.
The upper class is generally regarded as the aris-
tocracy and landed gentry; very rich financiers
buy country estates in order to qualify. It was
commonly held that to join the landed gentry
required a distance of least three generations
from the time at which money was made
(especially if through trade) and that those en-
tering into its rank acquired the manners and
mores of those already established.
• A persistent source of confusion surround-
ing the term "middle class" derives predomi-
nantly from there being no set criteria for
such a definition. From an economic per-
spective, for example, members of the mid-
dle class do not necessarily fall in the middle
of a society's income distribution. Instead,
middle class salaries tend to be determined
by middle class occupations, which in turn
are attained by means of middle class values.
Thus, individuals who might fall in the mid-
dle ground on a societal hierarchy as defined
by sociologists do not necessarily fall into a
middle ground on an economic hierarchy as
defined by economists. As a result, intuitive
colloquial and journalistic usage of the term
casts a wide net and does not necessarily
coincide with an academic sociological or
economic definition.
25
users).
The Falkland Islands
In Wolf (Dusicyon aus-
tralis), also known as
the Warrah and occa-
sionally as the Falkland Islands Dog, Falkland Is-
lands Fox or Antarctic Wolf, was the only native
land mammal of the Falkland Islands. This endemic
canid became extinct in 1876 (on West Falkland is-
land), the first known canid to
have gone extinct in historical
times. It was the only modern
species in the genus Dusicyon.
Original research supposed that
the most closely related genus is
Lycalopex, including the Culpeo
and his domestic forms (perro
fueguino, perro yagán), which
itself has been introduced to the
Falkland Islands in modern
times. But 2009 research con-
ducted by a scientific team di-
rected by Graham J. Slater, a
post-doctoral researcher at the
University of California, Los An-
geles, confirmed that the Falk-
land Island wolf's closest living relative is actually the
Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) - an unusually
long-legged, fox-like South American canid, from
which it separated about 6.7 million years ago. It was
known from both West and East Falkland, but it is
unknown if the varieties were much differentiated.
The fur of the Falkland Islands Wolf had a tawny col-
our. The tip of the tail was white. The diet is un-
known. Due to the absence of na-
tive rodents on the Falklands, its
diet probably consisted of ground-
nesting birds such as geese and
penguins, grubs and insects, as
well as seashore scavenging.[4] It
was sometimes said to have dwelt
in burrows
The first recorded sighting was by
Capt. John Strong in 1692. Captain
Strong took one of the animals on
his ship, but during the voyage back to Europe the
creature became frightened by the firing of the ship’s
cannon and jumped overboard. Louis Antoine de
Bougainville, who established the first settlement in
the Falkland Islands termed it a loup-renard ("fox-
wolf"). The name "warrah" is a corruption of the term
aguará (meaning "fox" in Guaraní, a Native American
language ), because of its similarity with the Maned
Wolf ("aguará guazú"). The warrah's Latin name
translates into 'foolish dog of the south,' because of
Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011
its apparent lack of fear of people.
When Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1833 he
named the species Canis antarcticus and described it
as common and tame. However, at the time of his
visit the animal was confined to West Falkland and
its numbers were in massive decline. He predicted
that the animal would join the Dodo among the ex-
tinct within "a very few years." The settlers regarded
the wolf as a threat to their
sheep and organised poisoning
and shooting on a massive
scale. The absence of forests
led to the speedy success of the
extermination campaign. This
was facilitated by the animal's
tameness, as is common in in-
sular species due to the ab-
sence of predators - trappers
would lure the animal with a
chunk of meat held in one
hand, and kill it with a knife or
stick held in the other. How-
ever, it would defend itself oc-
casionally if it needed to, as
Admiral George Grey noted
when they landed on West Falkland at Port Edgar
(Falkland Islands) on December 17, 1836 -
"I landed in the creek and had hardly put a foot on
shore, when one of the foxes of the country was
chased by Pilot. I ran up as they were fighting and
came to the poor dog's assistance who had nearly met
his match, and a rifle ball soon settled the business,
but the Pilot had received a terrible bite in the leg."
A live wolf was taken to London
Zoo, England in 1868, but survived
only a few years. In 1880, post-
extinction, Thomas Huxley classi-
fied it as related to the Coyote. In
1914, Oldfield Thomas moved it
into the genus Dusicyon, with the
Culpeo and other South American
foxes. (These other canids have
since been removed to Lycalopex.)
Current researchers in 2009, also
found that the four Falklands wolf samples that they
examined shared a common ancestor at least 70,000
years ago, which suggests that they arrived on the
Falkland islands before the end of the last ice age and
before humans ever made it into the New World
(Graham J. Slater et al. 2009.
Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
26
re-

rado, New Mexico, and

Alaska), Canada (Quebec
and British Columbia),
China, Japan, and Korea.
Polyozellus is a fungal The disjunct distribution of
genus in the family Thele- this species in North Amer-
phoraceae, a grouping of ica and East Asia has been
mushrooms known collec- noted to occur in a number
tively as the leathery of other fungal species as
earthfans. A monotypic well. Polyozellus multiplex
genus, it contains the sin- is also found in the Queen
gle species Polyozellus Charlotte Islands, where it
multiplex, first described is commercially harvested
in 1899, and commonly Edibility
known as the blue chan- Polyozellus multiplex is edi-
terelle, the clustered ble, and is collected for sale
blue chanterelle, or, in in Asian countries such as
Alaska, the black chante- Korea, Japan, and China. In
relle. The distinctive fruit North America, it is some-
body of this species com- times collected recreation-
prises blue- to purple- ally, and commercially. The taste is described as mild,
colored clusters of vase- or spoon-shaped caps with and the odor as mild or aromatic. Mycologist David
veiny wrinkles on the undersurface that run down the Arora claims the flavor to be inferior to Craterellus.
length of the stem. Fruit bodies may be preserved by drying.
Polyozellus has had a varied taxonomic history and
has been reclassified several times at both the family Bioactive compounds
and genus level. The range of Polyozellus includes The compound polyozellin—a chemical which can be
North America and eastern Asia, where P. multiplex isolated and purified from P. multiplex—inhibits pro-
may be found growing on the ground in coniferous lyl endopeptidase (PEP), an enzyme that has a role in
forests, usually under spruce and fir trees. It is an edi- processing proteins (specifically, amyloid precursor
ble species, and has been harvested for commercial protein) in Alzheimer's disease. Chemicals that in-
purposes. Polyozellus multiplex contains the bioactive hibit PEP have attracted research interest due to their
compound polyozellin, shown to have various physio- potential therapeutic effects. Further analyses of ex-
logical prop- tracts from P. multiplex revealed similar dibenzofu-
erties, in- ranyl derivatives of polyozellin, each with different
cluding sup- chemical properties, including kynapcin-12, kynapcin-
pressive ef- 13 and -28, and -24. A total synthesis of kynapcin-24
fects on was achieved in 2009.
stomach Antitumor properties
cancer. Research conducted in 2003 suggests that extracts
Polyozellus from Polyozellus multiplex may have suppressive ef-
multiplex is fects on stomach cancer.The study showed that feed-
an ectomy- ing a low concentration (0.5% or 1%) of the mush-
corrhizal room extract enhanced the activities of the enzymes
species, meaning that the hyphae of the fungus grow glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase,
in a mutualistic association with the roots of plants, and increased the abundance of the molecule glu-
but the fungal hyphae generally do not penetrate the tathione. The extract also augmented the expression
cells of the plant's roots. The species grows in conifer- of the protein. All of these substances protect the hu-
ous woods under spruce and fir, and more frequently man organism against cancer. Additional studies re-
at higher elevations. It is most often encountered in ported in 2004 and 2006 attribute the anti-tumor
summer and fall. properties to polyozellin.
This species is northern and alpine in distribution, Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
and rarely encountered. Collections have been made
in the United States (including Maine, Oregon, Colo-

Mind-Tree,
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Sports P i l avu l l a ka ndi The k -
keparambil Usha((born June 27,
1964), popularly known as P.
T . Usha, is an Indian athlete from the
state of Kerala. P. T. Usha has been asso-
ciated with Indian athletics since 1979.
Athletics
It is a collection of sporting events that in-
volve competitive running, jumping, throw-
ing, and walking. The most common types
of athletics competitions are track and
field, road running, cross country running,
and race walking. The simplicity of the
competitions, and the lack of a need for ex-
pensive equipment, makes athletics one of
the most commonly competed sports in the
world.
Organised athletics are traced back to the
Ancient Olympic Games from 776 BC, and
most modern events are conducted by the
member clubs of the International Associa-
tion of Athletics Federations. The athletics
meeting forms the backbone of the modern
Summer Olympics, and other leading inter-
national meetings
She is regarded as one of the greatest
athletes India has ever produced and is
often called the "queen of Indian track
and field". She is nicknamed Payyoli Ex-
Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011
press. Currently she
runs the Usha School
of Athletics at Koy-
ilandy in Kerala.
P. T. Usha was born in
the village of Payyoli,
Kozhikode District,
Kerala. In 1976 the
Kerala State Govern-
ment started a Sports
School for women,
and Usha was chosen to represent her
district.
In 1979 she participated in the National
School Games, where she was noticed by
O. M. Nambiar, who coached her through-
out her career. Her debut in the 1980
Moscow Olympics proved lacklustre. In
the 1982 New Delhi Asiad, she got silver
medal in the 100 m and the 200 m, but at
the Asian Track and Field Championship in
Kuwait a year later, Usha took gold in the
400 m with a new Asian record. Between
1983-89, Usha garnered 13 golds at ATF
meets. She finished first in the semi-finals
of the 400 metres hurdles in the 1984 Los
Angeles Olympics, but faltered in the fi-
nals. In almost a repeat of Milkha Singh's
1960 feat, there was a nail-biting photo
finish for the third place. Usha lost the
bronze by 1/100th of a second. She be-
came the first Indian woman (and the
fifth Indian) to reach the final of an Olym-
pic event by winning her 400 m hurdles
Semi-final.
In the 10th Asian Games held at Seoul in
1986, P. T. Usha won 4 gold and 1 silver
medal in the track and field events. Here
she created new Asian Games records in
all the events she participated.She won
five golds at the 6th Asian Track and Field
Championship at Jakarta in 1985. Her six
medals at the same meet is a record for a
single athlete in a single international
meet.
Usha has won 101 international medals
so far. She is employed as an officer in the
Southern Railways. In 1985, she was con-
ferred the Padma Shri and the Arjuna
award.
Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org
28
 In most countries, Mother's Day is a recent
MOTHERS’ DAY observance derived from the holiday as it
has evolved in America. When it was
THE MODERN MOTHER'S DAY IS CELEBRATED adopted by other countries and cultures, it
ON VARIOUS DAYS IN was given different
MANY PARTS OF THE meanings, associated
WORLD, YET MOST to different events
COMMONLY IN MARCH, (religious, historical
APRIL, OR MAY AS A or legendary), and
DAY TO HONOR MOTH- celebrated in a differ-
ERS AND MOTHER- ent date or dates.
HOOD. Some countries al-
FATHER'S DAY IS THE ready had existing
CORRESPONDING DAY celebrations honoring
FOR FATHERS AND FA- wikimedia.org motherhood, and
THERHOOD. their celebrations
CELEBRATIONS OF MOTHERS have adopted several exter-
AND MOTHERHOOD OCCUR nal characteristics from the
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD; US holiday, like giving car-
MANY OF THESE CAN BE nations and other presents
TRACED BACK TO ANCIENT FES- to your own mother.
TIVALS, LIKE THEGREEK CULT The extent of the celebra-
TO CYBELE OR THE ROMAN tions varies greatly. In some
FESTIVAL OF HILARIA. THE countries, it is potentially
MODERN US-CELEBRATION OF offensive to one's mother
MOTHER'S DAY IS NOT DI- not to mark Mother's Day.
RECTLY RELATED TO THESE. In others, it is a little-known
festival celebrated mainly by
Modern antecedents immigrants, or covered by
One of the early calls to the media as a taste of for-
celebrate a Mother's Day in wikimedia.org
eign culture (compare the
the United States was the celebrations of Diwali in the
"Mother's Day Proclamation" by Julia Ward UK and the United States).
Howe. Written in 1870, it was a pacifist reac- India
tion to the carnage of the American Civil Mother's Day is celebrated on the second
War and the Franco-Prussian War. The Sunday of May. It is quite famous in urban
Proclamation was tied to Howe's feminist areas, where gift giving to mothers is ob-
belief that women had a responsibility to served.
shape their societies at the political level. The festival of Pâthâre Prabhu is celebrated
International Women's Day was celebrated on the same day only in Mumbai (previously
for the first time in 28 February 1909, in the Bombay), the Southern part of India
US, by which time Anna Jarvis had already (concretely Konkan and the districts below
begun her national campaign in the US. It is the Western Ghats). The Pathare prabhu
now celebrated in many countries on March caste always celebrates this holiday.It is
8. based on a legend about a mother whose
children kept dying after only one year of
International history and tradi- living and it has a very remote origin. Al-
tions though it's also called "Mother's Day", it is
unrelated to the modern celebration and is
Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 29
celebrated in the whole country. ing what she saw as an abuse of the celebra-
tion.
Commercialization Later commercial and other exploitations of
Nine years after the first official United the use of Mother's Day infuriated Jarvis and
States Mother's Day, commercialization of she made her criticisms explicitly known the
rest of her life. She criticized the practice of
Terrorism purchasing greeting cards, which she saw as
a sign of being too lazy to write a personal
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror espe- letter. She was arrested in 1948 for disturb-
cially as a means of coercion. At present, there is
ing the peace while protesting against the
no internationally agreed definition of terrorism.
Common definitions of terrorism refer only to commercialization of Mother's Day, and she
those violent acts which are intended to create finally said that she "wished she would have
fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological never started the day because it became so
goal (as opposed to a lone attack), and deliber- out of control ...".
ately target or disregard the safety of non- Mother's Day continues to be one of the
combatants. Some definitions also include acts most commercially successful U.S. occa-
of unlawful violence and war. The history of ter-
rorist organizations suggests that they do not se-
lect terrorism for its political effectiveness. Indi-
vidual terrorists tend to be motivated more by a
desire for social solidarity with other members
of their organization than by political platforms
or strategic objectives, which are often murky
and undefined. The word "terrorism" is politi-
cally and emotionally charged, and this greatly
compounds the difficulty of providing a precise
definition. Studies have found over 100 defini-
tions of “terrorism”. The concept of terrorism is freedigitalphotos.net
itself controversial because it is often used by
states to delegitimize political or foreign oppo-
sions. According to the National Restaurant
nents, and potentially legitimize the state's own
Association, Mother's Day is now the most
use of terror against them. A less politically and
popular day of the year to dine out at a res-
emotionally charged, and better defined, term
taurant in the United States.
(used not only for terrorists, and not including all
those who have been described as terrorists) is For example, according to IBISWorld, a pub-
lisher of business research, Americans will
violent non-state actor. Terrorism has been prac-
spend approximately $2.6 billion on flowers,
ticed by a broad array of political organizations
$1.53 billion on pampering gifts—like spa
for furthering their objectives. It has been prac-
ticed by both right-wing and left-wing politicaltreatments—and another $68 million on
parties, nationalistic groups, religious groups,greeting cards.
revolutionaries, and ruling governments. One Mother's Day will generate about 7.8% of the
form is the use of violence against noncombat- U.S. jewelry industry's annual revenue in
ants for the purpose of gaining publicity for a
2008, with custom gifts like mother's rings.
group, cause, or individual.
It's possible that the holiday would have
Courtesy: Wikipedia withered over time without the support and
continuous promotion of the florist indus-
tries and other commercial industries. Other
the holiday became so rampant that Anna
Protestant holidays from the same time, like
Jarvis herself became a major opponent of
Children's Day and Temperance Sunday, do
what the holiday had become and spent all
not have the same
her inheritance and the rest of her life fight-
level of popularity. Courtesy: Wikipedia

Mind-Tree,
Tree May 2011 30