health wise – Page 42 – Take off with Natarajan

Rice could be the answer to China’s pollution problem…..

December 9, 2015December 9, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

China has long had an issue with pollution. It is claimed to contain the greatest amount of pollution, with that over 1 million deaths in 2010 as a result.

Beijing is widely reported to be one of the most polluted cities in the world. With China’s industrial economy, this is perhaps not so surprising.

However, a large amount of pollution comes from an area which one might not expect: agriculture. The use of nitrogen-based fertilizers has had dramatic effects on air, water, and soil quality in China.

“With only 7% of the world’s farmland, China uses 35% of all the world’s nitrogen fertilisers. This is beginning to have severe environmental consequences.”

Rice: Nitrogen Related Pollution

Excess nitrogen can have a number of negative effects on the environment. It can kill fish and other marine life, reduce crop productivity, and poison the water supply.

A major consequence of nitrogen fertilisers has been air pollution. When nitrogen oxides react in the air, they interact with industrial pollution to form a dense fog known as smog. Not only can smog cause health problems such as asthma, its presence in the air promotes global warming.

Rice is a staple of the Chinese diet. It needs nitrogen-based fertilisers in order to grow effectively. However, this may soon be about to change.

Traditionally, a great deal of Chinese rice is grown in the northern provinces. The genetic make-up of the rice grown in northern China means that it cannot easily absorb nitrogen-based substances from the soil. Because of this, Nitrogen-based fertilisers are used to provide these vital nutrients.

However, with genetic modification, this could no longer be the case. Scientists have proposed cloning a gene from indica rice, and placing it into the native species. The gene is known as a ‘nitric booster’, and it improves the ability for plants to absorb nitrogen-based nutrients from the soil. As a result, much lower levels of fertilizer need to be used.

“Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that when genetically modified, the rice species could achieve the same yield with only half as much fertiliser. Thus, reducing related pollution by half.”

This scientific breakthrough could have a significant effect on pollution. By reducing fertiliser usage, nitrogen pollution will decrease. This will contribute towards a reduction in smog, reducing the incidence of pollution-related health complications.

Also, China’s contribution to global pollution will decrease, and marine life will be less at risk. Although this is only the beginning, developments like this may help promote a shift towards a greater desire to tackle pollution in China.

Though it has yet to be implemented, it shows steps in the right direction. With a rapidly aging population, even small pollution prevention suggestions are better than nothing.

Read the original article on BRIC+. For more news, views and insights into culture and commerce from the emerging world, BRIC+. BRIC+ is also available on Facebook. Copyright 2015. Follow BRIC+ on Twitter.

Source……www. businessinsider.com

Natarajan

Black Pepper Benefits: More than Just a Spice….

December 9, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The next time you relegate black pepper to the back of your shelf, think twice. The humble spice holds more benefits than you’d imagine. It belongs to the Piperaceae family, and is processed in different ways to yield different kinds of peppers. For instance, the cooked and dried unripe fruit is black pepper, the green pepper is from the dried and unripe fruit, and white pepper are the seeds from the ripened fruit of the plant.

While pepper originally belongs to South India, it’s grown in other tropical countries as well. It’s played a vital role in history, and has been considered as an important spice from time immemorial. In ancient Greece, it was also used as currency. In later years, it became pivotal in the spice trade across the world.

Incidentally Vietnam is considered to be the largest grower and exporter of pepper. India, Brazil, and Indonesia follow suit. Black pepper, while used in cooking and garnishing in cuisines the world over, comes with lots of health benefits.

Here’s are six reasons to sprinkle some more –

1. To prevent cancer: The piperine in black pepper can be credited with the prevention of cancer, and becomes twice as potent when combined with turmeric. The spice also hasVitamin C, Vitamin A, flavonoids, carotenes and other anti-oxidants that help remove harmful free radicals and protect the body from cancers and diseases. The best way to eat pepper to harness maximum benefits is to eat freshly ground pepper, and not cook it along with food.

2. Stimulates digestion: Again, the piperine in black pepper eases digestion and stimulates the stomach, which then secretes more hydrochloric acid that helps to digest proteins in food. So a bit of pepper in food will actually help you to digest it faster.

3. Relieves cold and cough: Black pepper is antibacterial in nature, and therefore helps tocure cold and cough. A teaspoon of honey with freshly crushed pepper does the trick. It also helps to alleviate chest congestion, often caused due to pollution, flu, or a viral infection. You can add it to hot water and eucalyptus oil and take steam. And given that black pepper is rich in Vitamin C, it also works as a good antibiotic.

4. Enables weight loss: You might not want to believe this, but black pepper is brilliant when it comes to extracting nutrients from food. And it’s outermost layer contains phytonutrients, which helps to break down fat cells, and also increases metabolism. If you eat fresh pepper, and begin to perspire, that’s the pepper helping your body to get rid of excess water and toxins. But you need to control consumption – a pinch with your food (one meal) is enough.

5. Improves skin: Did you know that crushed pepper is one of the best exfoliators nature has provided us? Don’t use it directly though; add a bit of honey, curd, or fresh cream to it. It also enables blood circulation, and provides the skin with more oxygen. Adding it to your food also takes care of unwarranted skin wrinkles. Black pepper is known to help in the cure of Vitiligo, a condition where the skin loses pigmentation, and creates white patches.

6. Addresses depression: It’s said that the piperine in black pepper helps to deal with depression. It stimulates the brain, and helps it to function properly by making it more active.

Store it well

To take maximum advantage of the benefits of black pepper, it’s important that you store in the best way possible. It’s recommended that you buy whole peppercorn and crush it at home. This not only makes sure that the spice retains its flavour, but also that it lasts longer. Store it in an airtight glass container, and always in a cool, dry, and dark place.

How to use

The use of black pepper in food is limitless. Pongal, a breakfast food in South India, contains whole black peppercorns, which adds a delicious fieriness to the dish. Rasam with whole peppers is not only tasty, but is also cure cold and blocked nasal passages. Something as simple as fried rice can be spiked with pepper for additional flavour. Freshly crushed pepper can be added in almost anything — from salads, sunny side-ups, and soups, to pastas, and even buttermilk. You can use it to spice up sauces for steaks or curries, or use it to coat meats such as duck or chicken before grilling it. But most experts will recommend that you cook pepper as less as possible; it’s the freshly ground ones that are most beneficial. Therefore, invest in a good pepper mill, and keep it on the table — you never know when you might need it.

Source……..Priyadarshini Nandy, in http://www.ndtv.com

Natarajan

சென்னை வெள்ளத்துக்கு காரணம் என்ன?….

December 9, 2015December 9, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

சென்னையில் ஏற்பட்டுள்ள பெரும் வெள்ளப் பெருக்கு, திட்டமிடப்படாத வகையில் நடந்துள்ள நகரமயமாக்கலின் விளைவே என்று இந்தியாவின் அறிவியல் மற்றும் சுற்றுச்சுழலுக்கான மையம் கூறியுள்ளது.

விளை நிலங்களில் வீடுகளை கட்டியதால் பலர் வெள்ளத்தில் சிக்கினர்

கடந்த நூறாண்டுகளில் இல்லாத அளவுக்கு பெய்துள்ள மழை நகரை முழுமையாகப் நிலைகுலையச் செய்துள்ளது என செண்டர் ஃபார் சயன்ஸ் அண்ட் என்விரோன்மெண்ட் அமைப்பின் தலைமை இயக்குநர் சுனிதா நரெயின் வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிக்கையில் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இயற்கையான நீர்நிலைகளை பராமரிப்பது தொடர்பில் உரிய கவனம் செலுத்தப்படாதது, தற்போது சென்னையில் ஏற்பட்டுள்ள நெருக்கடிக்கு முக்கியமான காரணம் என்று அவர் தனது அறிக்கையில் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

சிறிய சாலைகள் கூட வெள்ள நீரில் மூழ்கியுள்ளன

சென்னை மட்டுமல்லாமல் டில்லி,கொல்கத்தா, மும்பை, ஸ்ரீநகர் ஆகிய நகரங்களும் இத்தகைய நெருக்கடியை எதிர்கொள்ளும் அபாயம் உள்ளதாகவும் அவர் கூறுகிறார்.

இயற்கை நீர்நிலைகளும், வடிகால்களும் முறையாக பராமரிக்கப்பட்டிந்ருதால், சென்னை இப்படியான வரலாறு காணாத நெருக்கடியைத் தவிர்த்திருக்கலாம் என அந்த மையத்தின் அறிக்கை சுட்டிக்காட்டுகிறது.

வெள்ள நீர் எந்த அளவுக்கு தேங்கியிருந்தது என்பதற்கு இந்தப் படம் ஒரு உதாரணம்

சென்னை,மும்பை போன்ற பெரு நகரங்களில் போதுமான வகையில் அடிப்படை கட்டமைப்பு வசதிகள் மேம்படுத்தப்படாமல், திட்டமிடாத வகையில் நகரம் வளர்ந்து கட்டிடங்கள் கட்டப்படுவதால், வெள்ளம் ஏற்பட்டதும் தாக்குப்பிடிக்க முடியாமல் திணறுகிறது என சுனிதா நரெயன் கூறுகிறார்.

இப்படியான அதிவேக நகரமயமாக்கல்கள், இயற்கை வடிகால்களை அழித்துள்ளன என்றும், சென்னை போன்ற நகரங்கள் இதன் தாக்கத்தை இப்போது உணர்ந்துள்ளன எனவும் அந்த அமைப்பு தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

.Image copyrightbbctamil

Image caption…வடிகால்கள் சரியாக பராமரிக்கப்படாததால் அடையாறில் வெள்ளம் ஏற்பட்டது

சென்னை தனது இயற்கை வடிகால் வசதிகளை பராமரிக்கத் தவறியுள்ளது எனவும் சி எஸ் இ அமைப்பின் அறிக்கை கூறுகிறது.

கடந்த 1980களில் சென்னையில் 600 நீர் நிலைகள் இருந்தன, ஆனால் இப்போது அதில் மிகச் சொற்பமானவையே எஞ்சியுள்ளன என்றும் சுனிதா நரெயின் தனது அறிக்கையில் கூறியுள்ளார்.

முன்னர் ஏரிகள் இருந்த இடங்களில் வீடுகளை கட்டியவர்களின் நிலை இதுதான்

நீர்நிலைகள் மற்றும் வடிகால் அமைப்புகளை பேணிப் பராமரிக்காத நிலையில் பருவநிலை மாற்றத்தால் அசாதாரணமான அளவுக்கு மழை பெய்யும்போது, நிலைமை கட்டுக்கடங்காமல் போகிறது எனவும் அந்த அறிக்கை கோடிட்டுக் காட்டுகிறது.

பாரிஸில் பருவநிலை மாற்றம் குறித்த உச்சிமாநாடு நடைபெற்று வரும் வேளையில், இப்படியான விஷயங்கள் உடனடியாக கவனிக்கப்பட வேண்டியது மிகவும் அவசியமாகிறது என அந்த அறிக்கையில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சென்னையிலுள்ள பல சுரங்கப் பாதைகளில் நீரின் அளவு குறையவில்லை

நீர்நிலைகள் எப்படி சீரழிந்து போயுள்ளன என்பதற்கு போரூர் ஏரி ஒரு உதாரணம் எனக் கூறும் அந்த அறிக்கை, அப்படியான நீர்நிலைகள், நிலத்தடி நீர் மீண்டும் ஊறுவதற்கும், வெள்ளம் ஏற்படும் போது அதை சமாளிப்பதற்கும் பெரும் உதவியாக இருந்திருக்கும் எனவும் மேலும் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

ஈரநிலப்பகுயில் எப்படி கட்டுமானங்களுக்கு அனுமதி அளிக்கப்படுகின்றன எனும் கேள்விக்கு ஒருநாளும் பதில் கிடைத்தது இல்லை எனக் கூறும் அந்த அறிக்கை, அப்படியான நிலங்கள் நகர நிலச் சட்டங்களின் கீழ் மிகவும் அரிதாகவே பதியப்படுகின்றன எனவும், அதன் காரணமாக பலருக்கு அது தெரியவருவதில்லை எனவும் சுனிதா நரெயின் தமது அறிக்கையில் கூறியுள்ளார்.

நீர்நிலைகளின் கரையோரங்களில் இருந்தவர்களின் நிலை மிகவும் மோசமானது.

அனுமதி கோரி மனுக்கள் வரும்போது மேலோட்டமாக நிலங்களை மட்டுமே அதிகாரிகள் பார்க்கிறார்கள், அதிலுள்ள நீராதாரங்களைப் பார்ப்பதில்லை, எனவே பேராசை பிடித்த கட்டுமான நிறுவனங்கள் அதை தமக்கு சாதகமாக்கிக் கொள்கின்றன எனவும் சி எஸ் இயின் அறிக்கை தெரிவிக்கிறது.

தமிழக அரசின் ஆவணங்களின்படி கடந்த 1980களில் 19 பெரிய ஏரிகளின் பரப்பளவு 1,130ஹெக்டேர்களாக இருந்தது, 2000ஆம் ஆண்டுகளின் முற்பகுதியில் 645 ஹெக்டேர்களாக சுருங்கியுள்ளன, அதன் காரணமாக அந்த ஏரிகளின் கொள்ளளவு குறைந்து போயின என்பதையும் சுட்டிக்காட்டியுள்ளது.

பல வீடுகளின் கீழ் தளங்கள் முழுவதும் நீர் புகுந்து பயன்படுத்த முடியாத சூழல் ஏற்பட்டது.

சென்னையின் பல இடங்களில் மழைநீர் கால்வாய்களில் குப்பைக் கூளங்களால் அடைப்புகள் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளன, அவை உடனடியாக தூர்வாரி சரிசெய்யப்பட வேண்டும் எனவும் அந்த அமைப்பு கோரியுள்ளது.

சென்னை மாநகரில் 2,847 கிமீ நீளத்துக்கு சாலைகள் உள்ள நிலையில், மழைநீர் கால்வாய்கள் 855கிமீ மட்டுமே உள்ளன என்றும், இதுவே பெருமழையின் போது, சாலைகளில் நீர் ஓடுவதற்கும் தேங்கி நிற்பதற்கும் காரணமாகின்றன எனவும் அந்த அறிக்கை கூறியுள்ளது.

சாலைகளில் ஓடும் நீர் முற்றாக வடிய பல நாட்களாகலாம் எனக் கருதப்படுகிறது

மனிதர்களால் உருவாக்கப்படும் வடிகால் அமைப்புகள், ஒருநாளும் இயற்கை வடிகால் அமைப்புகளுக்கு மாற்றாக இருக்க முடியாது எனவும் அந்த அறிக்கை வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளது.

சென்னையில் கூவம், அடையாறு போன்ற நதிகளை இணைக்கும் இயற்கை கால்வாய்களும், வடிகால்களும் இருப்பதை தமது ஆய்வுகள் காட்டுகின்றன என்றும் அந்த அறிக்கை கூறுகிறது.

ஏரிகள் முன்னறிவிப்பின்றி திறந்துவிடப்பட்டதால் பல முக்கியச் சாலைகள் நீரில் மூழ்கின.

உதாரணமாக, நகரின் 75 குளங்களில் நீரின் அளவு உயர்ந்து கொள்ளளவைக் கடக்கும்போது, அந்த நீர் கூவத்தில் கலக்கவும், அதேபோல் 450 குளங்களில் உள்ள உபரி நீரும், செம்பரம்பாக்கம் ஏரியின் அளவு உயரும்போது அதிலுள்ள உபரி நீரும் அடையாற்றில் கலப்பதற்கு வசதிகள் இருந்தன என்று அந்த அறிக்கையில் விளக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

புறநகர் பகுதிகளில் வீடுகளைக் கட்டும்போது நில ஆவணங்கள் கவனமாகப் பார்க்கப்படுவதில்லை எனக் குற்றச்சாட்டுகளும் எழுந்துள்ளன

கடந்த நூறாண்டுகளில் இல்லாத வகையில் சென்னையில் இந்த ஆண்டு நவம்பர் மாதம் மட்டும் 1,218 மிமீ மழை பெய்துள்ளது.

இது சராசரியாக ஆண்டொன்றுக்கு கிடைக்கும் மழையின் அளவைவிட மூன்று மடங்கானது.

Source….www.bbc.com.tamil Photos Credit …bbc tamil

Natarajan

” Chennai floods: Saved by Muslim man, Hindu couple names Newborn after Rescuer…”

December 9, 2015Natarajan1 Comment

Among tales of humanity emerging from rain-battered Chennai is a story of a Hindu couple who have named their newborn after a Muslim who came to their rescue when the crisis blew them over.

Chitra and Mohan, hailing from Urapakkam which suffered one of the worst flooding in the city’s southern neighbourhood, named their daughter Yunus after the MBA graduate, who rescued the pregnant woman from neck-deep waters and moved her to a hospital.

The couple thanked Yunus by naming their daughter after him, with the businessman now promising to take care of his namesake’s educational expenses.

Narrating the experience, Yunus said, “I hail from Nungambakkam and I realised on the night of December 2 something is not right and I thought of helping my friends in Urapakkam area, which was one of the worst-hit areas due to the heavy rainfall.”

The screams of a woman in the area initially sounded like a frightened reaction to Yunus and his friends, but “later I realised she was undergoing labour pain”, Yunus told PTI.

At first, my objective was to take her and the family to a safer place and we moved her to nearby Perungalathur by boat. That 15-minute journey is unforgettable,” he said.

However, he got the surprise of his life when Mohan informed him that he has named his daughter Yunus.

In a text message to Yunus, Mohan informed him of the birth of his daughter and his decision to name her after the Muslim postgraduate.

“We take pride in this,” Mohan had told him.

Having himself been a victim of a disaster, Mohan has vowed to contribute 50 per cent of his salary for the needy.

Asked whether he had time to pay a visit to the child, Yunus said he was still helping those affected with his 15-member team.

“The full credit goes to the team, my friends and the fishermen from Besant Nagar beach. They were there with me always and still helping to take part in the relief efforts”, he said.

“As far as the child is concerned, I will definitely pay a visit soon. Through you, I wish to inform them that the child’s education fees would be fully borne by me,” he said.

Source…..www.rediff.com

Natarajan

” Occupation: Mother! ….”……

December 8, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The officer at the driving license counter asked the lady: “What is your occupation?“

The woman, seeking a renewal of her license seemed to be puzzled.

so the officer said “Ma’am, are you employed, have your own business or…”

“Oh yes!‘ The woman replied, “I do have a full-time occupation. I am a mother!“

The officer rolled his eyes: “We don’t have ‘mother’ as an option for occupation. I’ll write it down as ‘housewife’. That takes care of all questions.”

This had happened long ago, and was forgotten. Years later, when I (the woman in the story, if you hadn’t guessed) went to get my license, the public relations officer was a somewhat pompous woman.

“Your occupation?” she asked in a rather authoritative tone.

I just had a moment pf inspiration and replied “I am a researcher in the field of child development, nutrition and inter-personal relationships.”

The lady officer stared at me in amazement.

I calmly repeated my statement and she wrote it down verbatim. Then, unable to conceal her curiosity, she politely asked “What exactly do you do in your profession, ma’am?”

I was feeling good about having described my occupation so calmly and confidently. so I replied “My research projects have been going on for a number of years (mothers NEVER retire).

My research is conducted in the laboratory as well as in the field.

I have two bosses (one is god and the other is my entire family).

I have received two honors in this field. (a son and a daughter)

My topic is considered to be the most difficult part of sociology.

(all moms will agree).

I have to work more than 14 hours every day. Sometimes even 24 hours are not enough and the challenges are tougher than many other professions. My compensation is in terms of mental satisfaction rather than money.”

I could see that the officer was thoroughly impressed. After completing the

licensing formalities, she came to the door to see me off.

This new viewpoint about my occupation made me feel much better on my way back home.

I was welcomed by my 5-year-old research assistant at the door. My new project (my 6-month old baby) was energetically practicing her ‘music’.

I had earned a small victory over the governmental red tape today. I was no longer merely ‘a mother ‘. Instead, I was now a highly placed functionary in a service vital to mankind – motherhood!

‘Mother ‘ – isn’t it a great title? Fit to be added to the nameplate on the door?

By this standard, grandmothers deserve to be called senior research officers, and great- grandmothers qualify as ‘research directors ‘. Aunts and other ladies of that age group can be called ‘research facilitators’!

Please share this with all mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, all ladies currently holding posts like this – they deserve it!

Photos courtesy of: Ambro, David Castillo Dominici / freedigitalphotos.net

Source……….. Alejandra B.…in http://www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…”Keep your eyes pure. Fill your ears with stories of Divine; don’t allow them to listen to calumny. Use your tongue for uttering good, kind, and true words”

December 8, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

People have taught the eye, ear, and tongue the luxury of constant novelty. Now do the opposite. Turn your mind towards the good and examine every minute’s activities. Each deed is a chisel stroke shaping the rock of human personality. A wrong stroke may disfigure the rock. Therefore even the tiniest of acts must be done with great care and devotion. For a drowning person, even a reed is some support. So too to a person struggling in the sea of inborn desires (samskara), a few kind words might be of great help. No good deed is a waste; every bad deed has its consequence. So strive to avoid the slightest trace of evil activity. Keep your eyes pure. Fill your ears with stories of Divine; don’t allow them to listen to calumny. Use your tongue for uttering good, kind, and true words. Let it always remind you of God. Such constant effort will grant you victory.

This Engineer from a Village in Karnataka Won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award in London

December 8, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Have a hobby that you love? Pursue it with passion and hard work. That is exactly what Raviprakash, an engineer from a small village in Karnataka, did. And his efforts were recognized in London, where he won a very prestigious award for wildlife photography. Here is what he has to say to other aspiring photographers.

“It is a dream come true,” says Raviprakash SS — last year’s winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award in the ‘Amphibians and Reptiles’ category. “I won the category award for the picture titled Divine Snake – a shot of a green vine snake clicked from behind it, focussing only on the eye. That is the most memorable picture I have taken till now. It has always been one of my favourites,” he adds.

Born in Hosahalli village, located in the Malnad region of Karnataka, Raviprakash grew up amidst the beauty of the Western Ghats.\

Raviprakash SS

He was surrounded by rich biodiversity and a picturesque environment. It was there that he first developed his love for exploring nature and wildlife.

Raviprakash is interested in Macro Photography

“I was very interested in photography since childhood. During my high school days my father bought me a point and shoot camera, with which I used to capture all family functions or outings.”

Building upon this hobby later in life, Raviprakash began exploring macro photography techniques.

Divine Snake

“The macro mode interested me. I started by capturing flowers, butterflies, dew drops, etc. My interest went on developing. Based on the suggestions of my friends and mentors, I bought a DSLR camera about seven years ago,” he recounts. Macro photography is extreme close up photography of small objects; it captures them in such a way that the size of the subjects appears larger than the life size in the photograph.

On October 21, 2014, at the Natural History Museum in London, 37-year-old Raviprakash’s talent was recognized and he received the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award.

The prestigious award

Considered to be one of the most prestigious honours for wildlife photography, this award ceremony, which dates back to 1965, is organized every year by the Natural History Museum. The photographs are showcased at an exhibition in the Museum and appear on their website. They are also published in BBC Wildlife Magazine and other leading publications. Last year was the 50th year of the award, and the exhibition attracted nearly 1.5 lakh visitors.

A popular choice award was also introduced and Raviprakash won the second prize, based on worldwide voting.

The Museum calls for entries every year and participants can enter up to 24 photos. Last year, the competition received about 43,000 entries from 96 countries. The panel of judges includes people from different fields related to photography and the environment. There are 14 categories, with four finalists in each. Winners receive a cash prize of £ 1,250, and the trip to London is also sponsored.

Raviprakash is a software engineer by profession. Photography for him was always a weekend hobby.

Macro photography is very beautiful and colourful but very few people are exploring it well.

“The support given by my family and friends encouraged me to take it up more passionately. I did some reading and watched online videos. I had many mentors too, some of whom are guiding me even now. Once in a while, I used to visit my hometown, just to spend my days shooting. And after the award I started taking it a lot more seriously.”

Initially, after taking many pictures for about three years, Raviprakash felt that he was only documenting things — like seeing a butterfly and capturing its image. This became somewhat boring for the artist in him. Then, one of his mentors, Ganesh H. Shankar, formed a website called Creative Nature Photography.

The aim was to capture things in a unique and artistic manner, rather than just documenting them.]

“It has become a very interesting journey from then on. I am not really interested in capturing all the details of the subject. I am more interested in capturing in an artistic way,” says an enthusiastic Raviprakash. Currently posted in Bangalore, he plans to take up wildlife photography full time in the future.

Speaking about the equipment he uses, Raviprakash says, “I feel a lot of photographers these days think that only a high end camera can result in good pictures. But my award winning pictures are from an old Nikon D5000 camera.”

He also has some useful tips for amateur photographers who want to take up wildlife photography as a career.

1. Understand your equipment well because you don’t need expensive cameras. I am not against someone buying an advanced camera that will definitely help in taking better pictures. But ultimately it’s the person behind the camera who matters the most.

2. Some people think that wildlife photography is all about big cats and elephants. But you don’t need to visit wildlife sanctuaries to become a good photographer. Macro photography is very beautiful and colourful but very few people are exploring it well.

3. Understand your location and subject(s). Pay attention to factors like light, angles and moods.

4. Learn to click, click to learn — click as many pictures as possible for practical knowledge.

5. Background is as important as subject. Choose it carefully.

6. Share your pictures on various forums that are frequented by good photographers and be open to criticism.

7. Shoot in aperture/shutter priority/manual modes. Control your output rather than leaving everything to the camera to decide.

8. Don’t get bogged down by technical terms and details.

9. A two-hour field trip along with good photographers helps you gain more knowledge than two days of indoor workshops or online learning.

“Hard work always gives the right dividends. I hail from a small village. That’s where my journey started. I want to highlight that the result may not be visible overnight but if someone is interested in something they should pursue it passionately and should be open to criticism and learning,” concludes Raviprakash.

Source….Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia .com\

Natarajan

” : I Lost Everything in the #ChennaiFloods but It Still Left Me with Gratitude…”

December 8, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Our home was destroyed. We were stranded. But wave upon wave of humanity kept our spirits high and our belief in the Indian people afloat.

It was Tuesday morning. I woke up at 6 am, made breakfast and bid goodbye to my husband who left for office at 7:15 am. I was still trying to get my house back in order since the first wave of floods had hit us the week before. The cleaning and washing seemed to be never ending. I started the washing machine and lay down next to my 5-year-old daughter, checking to see if there was anything about the incessant rains in the news. There was nothing – the media seemed to be obsessed with how Aamir Khan had the right to be afraid of living in India, and the twists in the Sheena Bora case.

The rain was still at its peak. At 8 am, I looked outside. The water level had reached the main gate. I knew my maid wouldn’t come now, so I thought I’d clean the dishes first. I had barely done two dishes when I felt the urge to look out again.

The water had touched the porch now.

I left the dishes and started putting our clothes in a travel bag. Thankfully, I had the keys to an empty second floor flat. I went upstairs and left our clothes there, then packed the induction cook top, electric kettle, a few utensils, my laptop, a couple of rice and daal packets, and biscuits. After carrying this bag upstairs, I thought I’d wake up my baby and give her breakfast. But by the time I came back to the ground floor, water had started entering the verandah. I woke up my kid, took six bottles of water and her brush and toothpaste, and rushed her to the second floor.

After settling her there, I came back and tried to put as many of our belongings as I could on the beds and on the top shelves of the cupboards. By this time the water was about to enter the house. I thought I’d drag a mattress and a few blankets upstairs but suddenly the power went off. I got worried that my daughter would get scared in the dark, so I just picked up three blankets and rushed to the second floor. Around this time my husband called and said he was leaving office to come back home. His office is an hour away so I was praying that he would reach us safely.

I kept trying to call for help. Taxi services were busy. Rescue teams assured me that they would send help. But none was forthcoming as yet.

My daughter was hungry by now. I had raw food but no resources to cook it. I kept standing near the window, waiting for my husband. Suddenly, I saw four young men going through the water on the other side of the road. I thought they were the rescue people sent for me. I called out for help. At first they did not hear me but when they passed by a second time they did. I asked if they were from the rescue team.

“We are not a rescue team ma’am but we will help. Tell us what you want,” said one of them.

These were four unknown boys. I was not sure if I was doing the right thing but I called them in. My husband was stuck in a water wave in the lane next to our house. His phone was not reachable now.

The boys came in. I asked if they could get the gas stove and cylinder to the second floor. Without wasting a second, they started helping me.

I gathered more food while they were trying to take the stove upstairs. They also helped me get the drinking water can to the second floor.

After ensuring that my daughter and I were alright, they left, smiling and giggling.

The four boys who helped without expecting anything in return – Sagar, Suresh, Jagan and Gopal

The water was rising so fast, that by this time it had reached knee level inside my house. Thankfully, my husband reached home by 2 pm and started rescuing as many of our belongings as he could. Things like the fridge, washing machine, sofa and bed had started floating.

By 5:30 pm, it was so dark that it was impossible to see anything inside the house. We went back up to the second floor, waiting for the rain to stop. But it kept raining…

Next morning.

The entire ground floor was under water!

A few families from the ground floor flats had shifted to their neighbours’ homes on the first floor. But this morning they just wanted to get out of there. It was only a matter of a few hours before the water would reach this floor too.

We finally saw a boat at the entrance of our area at 9 am. The boat rescued just one family and went away. People kept whistling, clapping and calling out for help. Later on, I came to know that it was the family of the municipality head of our area. No helplines were working. The next boat came at 1 pm. It did not stop anywhere else but only at a house next to our flats. The family was rescued. We pleaded with the boatman to come back, and he said he would, but never did!

I could see from our terrace that a couple on the terrace behind ours was desperate to leave. I asked them if they were alright and they said they had climbed up to the first floor without any food or water. We started sharing food with them. But water was too limited!

By 5:30 pm it was almost dark and we lost hope of getting any help now. Several helicopters had flown by during the day but food and water had not yet been distributed.

Next morning.

The water level was going down. We could see the boundary walls of the ground floor houses now. Our neighbours decided to walk through the water once it came down to hip level. We were in a dilemma whether to do the same but finally decided to go ahead. We were about to leave when a small boat carrying two elderly ladies passed us from the backyard. We called out for help. When we told them that we have a kid with us, they allowed us to get in.

The boat left us till the main road where an ambulance was ready to take people to a government school. All this was being done by an organization called TMMK.

When we asked them where we should go, one of them offered us his own home.

We kept looking for hotels and finally got a room in one. Once our family was safe, my husband went back to our area to help others.

In the meantime, my friends were using social media to the fullest extent possible to help me. Some had tagged as many as they could on Twitter. Others had posted my address on Facebook. One friend had even arranged for us to join her relative in his hotel room.

There were friends who kept calling helpline numbers and sending me the same too. My employers ordered food for us, called up the disaster management team, and managed to speak to a boat guy to come rescue us.

All this time, I don’t know why, but I was pretty relaxed. We were happy about all the positive things that were happening with us amongst all the chaos.

Here are 6 lessons I learnt:

1. The water level in our area rose so suddenly, not due to rain, but because the canal water had to be opened by the government. We don’t know why this decision was made but perhaps we could have been alerted.

2. When the lady from the balcony opposite ours came out and saw me on the second floor, she exclaimed: “Thank God, you are safe.” She is Tamilian and I am North Indian (as she knows). Yes, Tamilians and North Indians feel happy when they see each other safe!

3. The four young boys who helped me did not know my name, status or religion. Yes, young boys are good people too. And there are still people who will help without expecting anything in return.

4. My husband risked his life to reach us and kept struggling till the end to save our belongings. Yes, though men don’t show their emotions, they can go to any extent to save their families.

5. I have always understood the plight of farmers and tried to help them. But this time, when my house was sinking with all the little things inside it that my husband and I had put together through our efforts in the past seven years, I could feel the pain that a farmer goes through every year his crop is destroyed.

6. When government boats decided to rescue only important people, a common man’s organization came forward to help the needy. Do you know what TMMK stands for? Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham. They did not ask if we were Hindus or Muslims or Christians. So this whole debate about India being intolerant is just a news and social media creation. During the three days, whenever I switched on my phone to check for important messages, all I saw was that my Hindu, Muslim and Christian friends were equally concerned about me. I did not see any intolerance anywhere.

When actors say they don’t feel safe in our country… I just pity their thinking.

Jai Hind!

Source….” My Story ” of a Chennai Resident as reported by Manabi Katoch in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

” A Mall Santa Goes The Extra Mile For A Boy With Autism….”

December 8, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

After Erin Deely learned of her three-year-old son’s autism diagnosis, she knew that there would be a number of “normal” things that he’d never be able to experience — and right near the top of the list was meeting Santa. Because of the noise, lights, and people, it simply would probably be too much for him to handle, and it broke her heart to know Brayden wouldn’t be able to experience this childhood rite of passage.

Until she heard about the Caring Santa program, that is. This annual program — brought to families byAutism Speaks — brings special Santas to malls around the country each year who know how to make children with autism comfortable and happy. Jumping at the chance, Erin brought Brayden to the event in Charlotte, North Carolina, and captured a moment that she’ll never forget.

“I thought we would never get those holiday pictures with him because it’s something he can’t handle — the noise and the pressure. He gets anxious if you ask him to smile. It’s all too much for him,” said Erin.

Autism Speaks

“Brayden was shy and inched his way over slowly, and then Santa just slowly got out of his seat and got on the ground. He began playing with the toys that my son brought.”

Autism Speaks

The result was something truly adorable, and forever memorable. “Oh my gosh, to be able to do something that other families do was wonderful. Normally, a lot of things are harder for us as a family, and we got to do the same tradition as everyone else. We just did it on the floor,” she laughed.

Want to learn more about this amazing program? Check out the video below:

In the end, Brayden got the Christmas experience that he and his family had always wanted. “I just want to hug this man. He’s so wonderful!” she said. We do, too!

Source……..www.viralnova.com

Natarajan

வெளியில் தெரியாமல் போன ஒரு தமிழ் நேசரின் இறுதிப் பயணம்…

December 8, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

மனைவி சங்கராந்தியுடன் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸ்

கொட்டித் தீர்த்த கனமழை சென் னையை வதம் செய்தது மட்டு மல்லாது வரலாற்றில் தடம் பதித்த சில முக்கியப் பிரமுகர்களின் மரணத்தைக் கூட அடுத்த வீட்டுக்குத் தெரியாமல் அடக்கிப் போட்டுவிட்டது.

ஸ்ரீநிவாஸ் – தமிழர்கள் அரசியல் அடிமைத்தனத்தை விட்டு தமிழால் முன்னுக்கு வரவேண்டும் என்ப தையே மூச்சாக கொண்டிருந்தவர். வி.எஸ்.என்.எல். நிர்வாகத்துடன் இணைந்து இணையம் வழியாக வும் பொதுத்தேர்வு முடிவுகளை வெளியிட வைத்ததில் பெரும் பங்காற்றியவர். இணையப் பயன்பாடு பணக்காரர்கள், கார்ப் பரேட் முதலாளிகளுக்கு மட்டுமான சொத்து என்பதை தகர்த்து சாமானி யர்களும் அதைப் பயன்படுத்தும் வகையில் தமிழ் மென்பொருட் களை அறிமுகம் செய்தவர்.

சைவத் தமிழ்

`தெய்வமுரசு’ ஆன்மிக மாத இதழின் பதிப்பாளராக இருந்த இவர், எஸ்.ஆர்.எம். பல்கலைக் கழகத்தின் தமிழ் பேராயத்துடன் இணைந்து சைவத் தமிழ் பட்டயப் படிப்பை நடத்தியவர். ஸ்ரீநிவாஸ் இப்போது உயிரோடு இல்லை என்ற செய்தி அவரைச் சார்ந்தவர்களுக்கே கூட தெரியாது. ஆர்ப்பரித்து ஓடிய அடையாற்று வெள்ளம் அவரையும் அவரது மனைவி சங்கராந்தியையும் இணை பிரிக்காமல் இழுத்துச் சென்றுவிட்டது. இரண்டு நாட்கள் கழித்து ராயப்பேட்டை அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் அடையாளம் காணப்பட்ட இருவரது உடல்களும் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை மாலை, பெசன்ட்நகர் மின் மயானத்தில் தகனம் செய்யப்பட்டன.

ஈக்காட்டுத்தாங்கல் மாஞ் சோலை தெருவில் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸ் வீடு. பக்கத்து தெருவில் அவரது தம்பி கந்தசாமியின் வீடு. அடையாற் றில் வெள்ளம் வந்து கொண்டிருந் ததால் தம்பியின் வீட்டுக்குள் தண்ணீர் புகுந்துவிடுமோ என்று செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை இரவு முழுக்கத் தூங்காமல் உழன்று கொண்டே இருந்திருக்கிறார் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸ். புதன்கிழமை பொழுது விடிந்ததுமே அலைபேசியில் தம்பியைத் தொடர்புகொண்டவர், அவரை தனது தெரு முனைக்கு வரும்படி சொல்லியிருக்கிறார்.

அப்படிச் சொல்லிவிட்டு தனது வீட்டைவிட்டு இறங்கி தெருவில் இறங்கி நடந்தவரை பேயென பாய்ந்து வந்த வெள்ளம் அதன் போக்கிலேயே இழுத்துச் சென்று விட்டது. இதைப் பார்த்துக் கதறித் துடித்த சங்கராந்தியையும் விட்டு வைக்கவில்லை அடையாற்று வெள்ளம்.

தங்கர் பச்சான் புகழாரம்

தனது நண்பர் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸுடனான தனது நினைவுகளை `தி இந்து’ விடம் பகிர்ந்து கொண்டார் திரைப்பட இயக்குநர் தங்கர் பச்சான். 2004-ல் `தென்றல்’ படம் எடுத்தபோது ஸ்ரீநிவாஸோடு எனக்கு அறிமுகம். தமிழில் குடமுழுக்கு விழாக்களை நடத்த வேண்டும் என்ற முழக்கத்தை முன்னெடுத்த அவர், உலகத்தில் 16 இடங்களில் கோயில்களைக் கட்டி அங்கெல்லாம் தமிழ் வழிபாட்டுக்கு ஏற்பாடு செய்ததுடன், அங்கே தமிழ் முறைப்படி திருமணம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு இலவசமாகவே (திருமண) மண்டபமும் ஏற்பாடு செய்து தந்தார்.

அவரிடம் உதவி கேட்டு வரும் இளைஞர்களுக்கு தன்னுடைய சர்வதேச தொடர்புகளை வைத்து, இருந்த இடத்தில் இருந்தபடியே வேலை வாய்ப்புகளை அவர் ஏற்படுத்தித் தந்ததைப் பார்த்திருக் கிறேன்.

`தமிழ் வணிகர்களின் முன்னேற்றத்துக்காக’ தமிழ் தொழில்முனைவோர் மையம் என்ற அமைப்பையும் தொழிலில் நலிந்துபோன தமிழர்களுக்கு தோள் கொடுப்பதற்காக ஒரு தனி அமைப்பையும் ஏற்படுத்தியவர் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸ்.

தமிழர்களை அரசியல் அடிமைத் தனத்தில் இருந்து மீட்பதற்காக இந்திய முன்னேற்றக் கழகம் என்ற அரசியல் சார்பற்ற அமைப்பை அவரது ஏற்பாட்டில் டிசம்பர் 7-ல் நானும் தமிழருவி மணியன் அண்ணனும் முறைப்படி தொடங்கி வைப்பதாக இருந்த நிலையில் அதற்கு ஒரு நாள் முன்னதாக நிவாஸை எரியூட்டும் கொடு மைக்கு இயற்கை எங்களை ஆட்படுத்திவிட்டதையும், தமிழுக் காக தன்னையே அர்ப்பணித்துக் கொண்ட அந்த மாமனிதருக்கு ஏற்பட்ட இறுதி முடிவு யாருக்குமே தெரியாமல் போய்விட்டதையும் என்னவென்று சொல்வது?’’ வலியுடன் வார்த்தைகளை முடித் தார் தங்கர் பச்சான்.

“தமிழ் எழுத்தில் எண்களைக் கொண்ட கடிகாரம், தமிழ் எண் நாள்காட்டி, தமிழ் கடிகாரத் துக்கு மொபைல் செயலி உள்ளிட்டவைகளை உருவாக் கிய ஸ்ரீநிவாஸ், பன்னிரு திருமுறை களையும் மொபைலில் படிக்கும் வசதியை உருவாக்கும் முயற்சியில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்தார். அதற்குள்ளாக அவருக்கு இப்படியொரு முடிவு ஏற்பட்டுவிட்டது’’ என்று வருத்தப் பட்டுச் சொன்னார் ஸ்ரீநிவாஸின் சகோதரர் கந்தசாமி.\

Source……..குள.சண்முகசுந்தரம் in http://www.tamil.thehindu.com

Natarajan