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Meet the 86-Year-Old Who Has Helped 6 Lakh Patients Get Medical Treatment They Could Not Afford…

April 13, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Starting with a small donation of Rs 10, this man has collected over Rs 10 crores to help 6 lakh patients who cannot afford to pay for their medical treatment. Read the story of Naginbhai Shah, an 86-year-old man who still works with the dedication of a 20-year-old to bring relief and hope to the lives of thousands in Ahmedabad.

“Everyone lives. But to live while doing something for other people is what matters the most. I get complete satisfaction, loads of blessings and a lot of happiness. This is my meditation,” says 86-year-old Naginbhai Shah about his work.

Naginbhai is the founder of Dardionu Rahat Fund, an organization based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He has taken up the responsibility of helping patients who cannot afford medical treatment in hospitals – those who have no money to pay for their medicines, check-ups, surgeries, etc.

The Fund was born in 1964 with a small donation of Rs. 10 and, since then, Naginbhai and his group of volunteers have collected over Rs. 10 crores! They have helped with the treatment of more than 6 lakh patients.

Naginbhai (centre) with patients and volunteers

“My son was about three years old when he fell sick and had to be admitted to the hospital. I was a middle class man back then and was searching for a job. I didn’t have the money required for his treatment,” recalls Naginbhai about the time when he first became motivated to do something for the underprivileged.

He had his asthmatic son admitted to the hospital for treatment and went to an old friend to borrow some money. On returning with a sum of Rs. 25, Naginbhai encountered a woman who had come from a nearby village. She was there with her eight year old son and was weeping when Naginbhai met her.

“I asked her why she was crying. After some hesitation she told me that her child needed an operation and the doctor had informed her that the total expenditure would be Rs. 25. She had come with only Rs. 10 from her village. And now, she was left with just Rs. 6. I don’t know what came over me but without thinking for a second I immediately gave her the Rs. 25 that I had borrowed,” he says.

Naginbhai had to go out and borrow some money for his son once again but he was happy that the child he helped recovered after the operation.

Providing for the needy

“My son recovered too. And after some time I got a job as well. After that, I started believing that my job and my son’s health were all the result of the blessings of that woman,” he adds.

It was sometime around then that an idea began to take shape within him. “What if I came to the hospital for half an hour each day and helped one or two people with whatever money I could arrange?” he thought. The year was 1964. Naginbhai discussed the idea with some friends. He was amazed when he asked if they would be willing to help with Rs. 10 — they gave him Rs. 51 instead. “I was surprised. I was asking for small amounts and people were giving a lot more,” says Naginbhai.

And that’s how it all started. Naginbhai would regularly ride his bicycle to the hospital near his home, identify the people who needed help and take care of all their medical expenses with the money he had collected from his friends.

Naginbhai giving medicines to patients

Today, after about half a decade, this generous man is still dedicated to his service. He has a team of five volunteers and they go out every evening at 5 pm to Sheth V. S. General Hospital, Jivraj Mehta Hospital, and some other hospitals in Ahmedabad. In the general wards of these hospitals, they move from one bed to another, talking to the patients there. They chat with them to find out where they are from, their professions, how much money they make, etc.

In this manner, they are able to identify those who need their help the most.

A beneficiary

“We ‘adopt’ these people and help them with everything they need — be it an MRI, a CT Scan, some medicines, an operation, or anything else. But we make sure that the patient does not go home untreated.” The small team raises money by speaking to people across the city — friends, acquaintances, family, strangers – anyone who can help them with funds. “Sometimes, when we reach the hospital, we find the doctors, staff and some patients waiting for us. The doctors ask those who cannot afford treatment to wait till we come,” says Naginbhai.

“We know what we do is just a drop in the ocean. We cannot go out and help every poor person who cannot pay his/her medical bills. But we have decided that whoever we help, we will help completely and won’t leave that person’s treatment half way. The money involved could be Rs. 10,000 or Rs. 50,000, or more. But once we tell a person we will help, we don’t back out,” he adds.

Naginbhai lives with his son who is working in Ahmedabad. He is extremely frugal with his expenses.

His team works with him for free and there are three trustees who help him take care of the finances of the Fund.

My family does not support me a lot. But I have stopped expecting anything from them. The people support me. Donors send in money blindly. Last year, I collected Rs. 1.55 crores and spent Rs 1.48 crores on the patients. No money is spent on administration.”

His team also provides patients with fruits, hearing aids, artificial limbs, etc. It is mostly by word of mouth that donors reach Naginbhai. One such donor is Suresh Ruparel. He’s been associated with Naginbhai for the last five years.

“Once I visited a hospital and asked if I could donate money for someone and how I could find a genuine case. The hospital staff told me about Naginbhai. Actually, my mother died in that hospital and I could not reach in time. That’s why I really wanted to help someone there. Naginbhai maintains a very good relationship with all regular donors. I keep aside a portion of my salary for him every month,” he says.

Naginbhai sure has the blessings of the woman he first helped with Rs. 25. And many more now. We wish this 86-year-old a long life and many more years of dedicated service.

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

Natarajan

Image of the Day…Mars Rover Opportunity up high ….!!!

April 12, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Mars rover up high, spies a dust devil

After making the steep-ever climb of any rover on Mars, Opportunity looked back along its own tracks toward a swirling Martian dust devil in the valley below.

View larger. | From high on a ridge, NASA’s Mars rover Opportunity recorded this image of a swirling Martian dust devil on March 31. Image via NASA/JPL-Caltech.

During its recent uphill drive to the top of Knudsen Ridge on Mars, the tilt of the Mars Opportunity rover reached 32 degrees, the steepest-ever for any rover on Mars. In this image – taken on March 31, 2016, the 4,332nd Martian day, or sol, of the rover’s work on Mars – you’re looking backwards along the rover’s tracks, with its camera aimed toward a dust devil twisting through the valley below.

In the image, the rover – which was launched from Earth in 2003 – has just climbed the north-facing slope of Knudsen Ridge on Mars. The ridge forms part of the southern edge of Marathon Valley.

Why is NASA’s image in black and white, by the way? It’s because it was taken with the Navcam on Opportunity, a camera that’s essential for enabling the rover to make its way across the surface of this alien world … but which doesn’t have a color camera.

Look below to see how artist Don Davis remedied the lack of color with some processing here on Earth:

Color view of Opportunity’s great dust devil shot, by artist Don Davis. Read more on Davis’ Facebook page.

NASA commented:

Dust devils were a common sight for Opportunity’s twin rover, Spirit, in its outpost at Gusev Crater, but Opportunity has seen them only rarely.

Just as on Earth, a dust devil is created by a rising, rotating column of hot air. When the column whirls fast enough, it picks up tiny grains of dust from the ground, making the vortex visible.

Artist’s concept of the rover Opportunity on Mars. This rover – and its twin rover Spirit – were launched from Earth in 2003. Image via NASA

Bottom line: Mars Opportunity rover image of a dust devil, from a perch on Knudsen Ridge on Mars, part of the southern edge of Marathon Valley, acquired on March 31, 2016, the 4,332nd Martian day, or sol, of the rover’s work on Mars.

Source….www.earthsky.org

Natarajan

படித்து நெகிழ்ந்தது ….” பெரியவா பிரசாதம் …என்ன செய்தீர்கள் …” ?

April 12, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

எனது நண்பர் திரு. சுவாமிநாதன் ( ஜீ டிவி } அவர்களின் அனுபவம் … இமெயிலில் அவர் என்னுடன் பகிர்ந்து கொண்டதை நான் உங்களுடன் பகிர்ந்து கொள்கிறேன் .

நடராஜன்

12 04 2016

துபாயில் நடந்த 151-வது அனுஷ சிறப்பு வைபவத்தில் கலந்து கொள்வதற்காக சமீபத்தில் அங்கு சென்றிருந்தேன். மார்ச் 28 அன்று அனுஷம். அன்றைக்கு மாலை அங்கே நடந்த சிறப்பு பூஜையில் கலந்து கொண்டேன். துபாயில் இந்த வைபவத்தைத் தொடர்ந்து நடத்தி வருகிற என் அன்பு நண்பர் சூர்யா அவர்களின் அழைப்பின்பேரில் இந்தப் பயணம் வெகு சிறப்பாக அமைந்திருந்தது.

அனுஷ தினத்தன்று சூர்யா அவர்கள் எனக்கு ஒரு வேஷ்டி – புடவை வழங்கினார். இது அவர்கள் வழக்கமாம். ஒவ்வொரு அனுஷத்தின்போதும் ஒரு தம்பதிக்கு அவர்கள் இதை வழங்குவார்கள். துபாயிலும், உலகின் பிற இடங்களிலும் இருக்கிற மகா பெரியவா பக்தர்கள் போட்டி போட்டுக் கொண்டு இந்த வஸ்திரங்களை சூர்யாவுக்கு அனுப்பி, ‘இந்த பாக்கியத்தை இந்த முறை எங்களுக்குத் தாருங்கள்’ என்று அன்புடன் போட்டி போடுவார்களாம். அந்த வகையில், சிறப்பு அழைப்பாளனாக நான் அங்கு சென்றிருந்ததால், இவற்றை எனக்கு வழங்கியதாக சூர்யா அவர்கள் அந்த பூஜையிலேயே அறிவித்தார்.

துபாய் பயணம் முடிந்து சென்னையும் திரும்பி விட்டேன். ஒரு வாரம் கழித்து, சூர்யா எனக்கு ‘வாட்ஸப்’பில் ஒரு தகவல் அனுப்பி இருந்தார். ‘உங்களுக்கு ஒரு வேஷ்டி – புடவையும் பெரியவா பிரசாதமாக வழங்கினோமே… அதை என்ன செய்தீர்கள்? இப்படிக் கேட்கிறேன் என்று என்னை தவறாக நினைத்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டாம்’ என்று கேட்டிருந்தார்.

நான் பதிலுக்கு, ‘இதில் தவறு ஒன்றும் இல்லை. மகா பெரியவா பிரசாதமாக அனுஷ தினத்தன்று வழங்கி இருக்கிறீர்கள். எனவே, அவற்றை நானும் என் மனைவியும் எங்களது பயன்பாட்டுக்காக வைத்துக் கொள்ளலாம் என்று தீர்மானித்திருக்கிறோம்’ என்று செய்தி அனுப்பிய அடுத்த விநாடியே, ‘உங்களுடன் இப்போது பேசலாமா?’ என்று செய்தி அனுப்பினார்.

ஜீ தமிழ் படப்பிடிப்பு முடித்துத் திரும்பிக் கொண்டிருந்தேன். ‘பேசுங்களேன். நான் ஃப்ரீதான்’ என்று பதில் அனுப்பினேன்.

சூர்யா பேசத் துவங்கியபோதே அவரது நா தழுதழுத்தது. ‘கடந்த மார்ச் 25-ஆம் தேதி வெள்ளிக்கிழமை சென்னை சாலிகிராமத்தில் ஒரு திருமணத்துக்குச் சென்றிருந்தீர்களா?’ என்று கேட்டார்.

நான் ரொம்ப ஞாபக மறதி பேர்வழி. யோசித்தேன். சூர்யாவே ஆரம்பித்தார். ‘அன்றைக்கு அந்தப் பெண் வீட்டுக்காரர் உங்களுக்குச் சொந்தம்’ என்று எடுத்துக் கொடுத்தார்.

எனக்கு நினைவு வந்தது. என் மனைவியின் குடும்பத்துக்குச் சொந்தமான நண்பர் ரமானந்த் அவர்களின் மகள் திருமணம் அது. ‘ஆமாம்… நான் போயிருந்தேன்’ என்றேன் நினைவுக்கு வந்தவனாக.

சூர்யா ஆரம்பித்தார். ‘கல்யாணத்துக்குப் போனபோது மணமகன் வீட்டாரை நீங்கள் சந்திக்கவில்லை போலிருக்கிறது. மணமகனின் தாயார் பெயர் பட்டு சீனிவாசன். அவர்கள் எங்கள் துபாய் அனுஷ குரூப்பில் இருந்து வருகிறார். அவரிடம் ஓரிரண்டு நாட்களுக்கு முன் யதேச்சையாக பேசும்போது, ‘பையன் கல்யாணம் நல்ல விதமாக முடிந்ததா?’ என்று கேட்டேன். ‘எல்லாம் நன்றாக முடிந்தது. ஆனால், ஒரே ஒரு வருத்தம். அன்றைக்கு சொற்பொழிவாளர் சுவாமிநாதன் இந்தக் கல்யாணத்துக்கு மனைவியுடன் வந்திருக்கிறாராம். எனக்குத் தெரியவே இல்லை. அவர் வந்து விட்டுச் சென்ற பின்தான் எனக்குத் தெரிய வந்தது. ஆஹா… அவரை நாம் பார்த்திருந்தால் ஒரு வேஷ்டி – புடவை வைத்துக் கொடுத்து நமஸ்கரித்திருக்கலாமே என்று தோன்றியது. எனக்கு ஏனோ கொடுத்து வைக்கவில்லை’ என்று வருத்தத்துடன் சொன்னார்.

பிறகு என்னிடம் பட்டு சீனிவாசன் கேட்டார்: ‘இந்த அனுஷத்தில் ஒரு தம்பதிக்கு வழங்குவதற்காக வேஷ்டி மற்றும் புடவை அனுப்பி இருந்தேனே… வந்து சேர்ந்ததா?’ என்று கேட்டார்.

‘வந்து சேர்ந்தது. அதை வழங்கியும் விட்டேன். யாருக்குக் கொடுத்தேன் என்று சொன்னால் நீங்கள் ஆச்சரியப்படுவீர்கள்’ என்று சொல்லி இருக்கிறார் சூர்யா.

‘சொல்லுங்கள்… யாருக்கு?’ என்று பட்டு ஆர்வத்துடன் கேட்க…

‘25-ஆம் தேதி சென்னையில் நீங்கள் கொடுக்க முடியவில்லையே என்று கவலைப்பட்ட சுவாமிநாதனுக்கு 28-ஆம் தேதி துபாயில் கொடுத்து விட்டேன். நீங்கள் சென்னையில் விருப்பப்பட்டதை மகா பெரியவா இங்கே முடித்து விட்டார். நீங்கள் அனுப்பிய வஸ்திரம் பெரியவா கிருபையால் இப்போது அவரிடம் போய்ச் சேர்ந்திருக்கிறது’’ என்று சொல்ல… பட்டு சீனிவாசனுக்கு ஆனந்தம்.

இதனால்தான், ‘அந்த வஸ்திரத்தை என்ன செய்தீர்கள்?’ என்று சூர்யா கேட்டிருக்கிறார்.

மகா பெரியவா பக்தர்கள் என்றைக்கு எதை விரும்பினாலும், நினைத்தாலும் அதை அந்த மகானே முடித்துத் தருவார் என்பதற்கு இதை விட என்ன சாட்சி வேண்டும்?!

நன்றி திரு சூர்யா, திருமதி பட்டு சீனிவாசன்.

மகா பெரியவா சரணம்.

அன்புடன்,
பி. சுவாமிநாதன்

Incredibly Useful Websites You Don’t Know About…!!!

April 12, 2016April 12, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

The internet has changed the way we live and given us access to a wealth of information that was not previously available to us. However, despite the countless hours we spend ‘surfing’ the net, we don’t always stumble across the sites that are truly useful to us. Our list compiles some of the most useful resources you probably didn’t know existed, and there is something for everyone. Bookmark your favorites for future use!

1. Print Friendly

Printing a page from the internet can be problematic. Printouts will frequently include all the headings, subheadings and adverts which surround the actual information that you want to keep, wasting both paper and ink. It’s annoying! Luckily, Print Friendly provides the perfect solution in a matter of seconds. You simply copy the web address of the page into a box, click ‘convert’ and it generates an entirely print friendly version of it for you.

2. Manuals Library

Manuals Library Homepage

If you are anything like me, you won’t have a clue where the manual for your washing machine, dishwasher or computer is within weeks of the purchase. So what happens when something goes wrong or you need to know that special setting that you’ve never used before? You won’t necessarily have to rummage through every drawer in your house to find the paper manual, because Manuals Library has compiled a database containing thousands of official product guides that can easily be searched for by brand and model.

3. Flight Aware

Flight Aware

Flight Aware allows you to track pretty much any international flight around the world. So if are due to pick up a loved one from the airport, or just want to know whether or not they have landed, you can follow their progress using this useful resource. If you are stuck at the airport waiting to board a delayed connection, it can also provide you with crucial news. Let’s face it – airport information boards do not always provide a huge amount of information!

4. WeTransfer

We Transfer Home Page

If you have ever tried to send a series of photos by email, you’re probably aware of how difficult it can be. Photos tend to be big files, so they take an age to attach to your email message, and if you try and do several at once, they may not attach at all. WeTransfer provides a really simple answer to this common problem. It allows you to attach your photos and then converts them into smaller files that can be sent to an email address (or several email addresses) of your choice. Once the recipient has received them, they can download them quickly and easily onto their PC.

5. Two Foods

Two Foods Homepage

If you are struggling to decide between your two favorite breakfasts or keep agonizing over which ingredients to throw into your latest stir-fry, then Two Foods could be the site for you. Simply type in any two ingredients and it will provide you with all the nutritional information you need! It’s a great resource for monitoring your dietary intake.

6. Animoto

Animoto Homepage

Animoto allows anyone to make a professional-looking video, using their own footage or photos, in three simple steps. You can add music and effects to give the video a personal touch, and easily save it once you have finished so it can be sent on to friends and family. It’s a fantastic way to share your photos with loved ones in a creative way.

7. Supercook

Super Cook Home Page

f you are often stuck for what to cook and can neither be bothered to look up specific recipes or go to the shop, then Super Cook is a fantastic resource you need to know about. It allows you to search for recipes based on the ingredients you already have in your fridge and cupboards, so that you get plenty of ideas for new dishes without having to spend time and money rushing to the local grocery store.

8. Mailinator

Mailinator Home Page

Mailinator is a website that provides you with a quick and easy way of creating a temporary, disposable email address. It is designed to help you reduce spam in your permanent email address. If you need to fill in a form online but do not want to generate any annoying junk mail that could result from it, simply create a temporary email address and use it instead. Emails are automatically deleted a day later, although you can forward any responses you wish to your permanent address.

9. Polish My Writing

Polish My Writing is a resource that allows you to copy and paste a text you have written into a help box and run it through a spelling and grammar checker. Unlike review tools in Microsoft programs like Word, it is also designed to give you advice about your style of writing and tips for ensuring your text flows well. A simple explanation tool explains the reasons why specific mistakes were flagged and shows you how to fix them, so it’s a great educational resource as well as a checker.

10. Fuelly

Fuelly Home Page

Fuelly is a free service that allows you to track the amount of gas you use to power your car. You can also get great tips for saving fuel from the online community (you can seek out other owners of your model of car and see how they are doing) as well as set reminders so you know when, for example, your tires next need checking. In these times of high fuel prices, it’s a fantastic tool for drivers!

11. Join Me

Join Me Homepage

oin Me provides you with the power to share your computer screen with someone else over the internet. So, if you are on the phone with your son or daughter, and want to show them your latest photos, simply send them a request and they will be able to watch your screen as you flick through your photo gallery. It is also great for getting documents checked over before you send them or allowing someone computer-savvy to have a look at a problem with your PC.

There’s even a function that allows you to give the other person control of your mouse so they can move around your desktop from their computer and fix your problem for you.

Source…www.ba-bamail.com

natarajan

How to Boost Your Self Confidence…. ?

April 12, 2016April 12, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

When I was young, I was a very happy kid. I played around with other children, had many friends, and while I was slightly shy, I still had no problem talking to people. As I grew up, I learned that being chubby and smart made people dislike me for my appearance and envy me for my intelligence. As they began to shun me, I became quite lonely and withdrew to my room and my computer to ease the pain.

I had a few friends, and they made life a little brighter, but I was still unhappy and felt so bad about how I looked, also dumbing myself down so people would like me. By the time I was 18, nature helped me out. I grew into my body, and suddenly I wasn’t fat anymore, but that chubby little kid was still there in the back of my mind.

The young, hurt child inside of me kept me insecure about my looks, as well as forced me to play dumb, with the fear that I’ll lose friends and be lonely again if I was perceived to be too smart. I was failing school because I didn’t want to seem smart, I was failing at my love life because I had no self-confidence, and I started to believe that nothing other than bleakness awaited me in my future.

Lucky for me, I managed to pull myself out of the mire and learned a few ways to boost my self-confidence. I’m now happy, married and have a career that I love. I’m also blessed with many friends who love me for who I am. It’s now my turn to help those who might still be having problems with their own self-confidence by showing you a few methods to boost it.

First, you should identify what you’re good at: We are all good at one thing at least, so find what you can do well. You might not be the best in that field, but as long as you do what you do well, you can improve and take pride in your expertise.

Try expressing yourself through a form of art you like – this is a real confidence booster and a great way to meet like-minded people. Friends who share your interests can make you feel more accomplished and push you forward.

If you can’t think of anything you’re good at, think of something you’d like to do – then go and do it! It doesn’t matter if you succeed or fail, trying is the most important step!

Once you’ve taken that first step, you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel, and your confidence will start to grow.

Second, you must take pride in your good qualities: Yes, being humble is important, but if you’re good at something, don’t be embarrassed about it. Celebrate it and be happy that you possess such qualities – they make you a better person. Remember – you can take pride in your accomplishments and behavior while still retaining your humility.

If you start doubting yourself because of one weakness or another, remember that you have good qualities and strengths, and those are the things that define you, rather than your weaknesses.

Third, identify your insecurities: What do you think is holding you back? Is it that little voice in the back of your head? The way you look? Something you’re ashamed of? Find whatever it is that’s dragging you down and write it on a piece of paper. By giving it a name and writing it down on a piece of paper, you make it a tangible object. Next, TEAR THE PAPER UP! This is a psychological trick that makes your brain think that you’re ripping up the actual weakness.

Next, talk about it: Find a loved one or a friend that you trust and bare your soul. Sharing lightens the burden, and another person can offer perspective, pointing out things you might have missed. This is what friends and family are for! Even if that person can’t help you solve the problem, just talking about it can help.

Don’t let past mistakes bring you down: We all make mistakes constantly, but wallowing in self-pity after you make one only serves to make you feel bad about yourself. It’s a crippling behavior that ruins self-confidence and prevents you from actually learning from the mistake (believe me, I’ve been there too many times!). Remember that most billionaires had several failed business and moments when they thought it was all over for them, but they never let it stop them getting to where they wanted to be.

Turn negative into positive: The song goes: “when you’re smiling – the whole world smiles with you”, and it can’t be more accurate. Avoid the Debbie Downers and Negative Nancys. When you surround yourself with negative thoughts and people, you dictate the conversation of your life. If you keep telling yourself ‘no’ – you’ll never hear a ‘yes.’ Look for the silver lining in every situation. Finding a positive spin in a negative situation will help you get through hard times and identify opportunities in bad situations.

Avoid comparisons: Yes, there’s always someone better – they can be richer, prettier, in better shape, etc. That doesn’t mean you can’t strive to improve – instead of looking at people you think are “better” than you, look at how you can improve. You might not be as fit as that person in the gym, but if you keep exercising, you’ll lose weight, look better and feel better. Don’t be jealous of that person at work who seems smarter than you – find what you might be doing that needs improvement and work on that. Strive for improvement, not perfection.

Be grateful: When someone compliments you, take the compliment and thank the person. There’s nothing wrong with it and it doesn’t make you seem boastful. Usually, when someone compliments you, they’re showing appreciation of you. When you refuse to accept the compliment, you’re rejecting someone’s honest appreciation .

Help others: Many studies have shown that when we help others, it releases dopamine in our brain, making us happier. When you help other people, it gives you a sense of control, purpose and benevolence, and all three are amazing confidence-boosters.

Make eye contact: When you’re talking to another person, avoid looking at the ground or away. It sends a message that your confidence is low or that you don’t want to talk to them. Make eye contact instead – it shows them that you value them and makes them respond in kind, creating a positive cycle that builds confidence.

Take care of yourself: Personal grooming is a huge factor in confidence building. When you groom yourself and dress well, people say you “look like a million dollars”. Whether we admit it or not, our self-worth is influenced by our looks, so looking better makes us feel better!

Spend time with loved ones: Avoid people who make you feel negativity and spend more time with those who encourage and support you. These people build you up, push you on and help you grow confidence in yourself and in your actions.

Don’t fear the unknown:

Sticking to what you know will make your world a small and gray place. Try new things instead – take on new challenges, meet new people and try new food. It might not all work out perfectly, but you’ll gain experience, knowledge and maybe pick up a few new friends along the way.

Source….Jonathan P. in www. ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

” I survived …So can You …” Says Ankur Mishra !!!

April 12, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Hailing from a village having no electricity, this techie now runs two start-ups, educates his community, gives TED Talks and is on his third novel. This is Ankur Mishra’s journey.

Ankur Mishra exudes the kind of lucid candour and sincerity that can only be mustered by someone who has lived a life in every season, flavour and shade that India has to offer — for he has walked a thousand miles and chronicled many adventures.

Don’t take him for any other small-town boy with big dreams — for this entrepreneur, social worker, writer, poet and traveller went a step ahead, brought on his finest masonry to also build his road block by block.

Growing up in a village

Ankur grew up in a “pure” small village in Uttar Pradesh, as he likes to put it. “I say ‘pure’, because there was no electricity, and was surrounded by the mountains and a river.

“The school was small and the teachers, harsh. Coming from a very poor family, I almost didn’t get an education, had it not been for the God-given gift of scholarship. Even then, I read English in Class VI for the first time,” he explains.

Some incidents in school left an impression on him.

This catapulted him into action at the raw age of 16, with his ‘baba,’ one of the few members in his family that were literate, by his side.

A headstart

“I had experienced first-hand the impact that the right or wrong teacher could have on a child. Whether it was the moment when I was slapped by a teacher for merely standing up to read the board properly, or the general disinterest that was apparent in so many of the teachers at the village school, our school systems were lacking quality and soul,” he says.

Whilst in Class XII, Ankur felt that his weekends and all that free time could find much better use, so he started an initiative called Unique Educational Group.

He approached several heads of institutions and volunteered to take weekly sessions with students on subjects like Maths and Science. “Maths is my favourite. Kids are very keen to learn counting using different techniques, and I teach them the practical use of mathematics — how they can help their parents in budgeting, time management etc.,” he explains.

Starting out with two village schools, the students’ vigour and eager anticipation of their sessions made them locally famous, and within two years, their weeks had to be split between 17 villages and around 100 schools — something Ankur pulled off completely with his pocket money.

When the time came for Ankur to leave the village behind for his career, the same model was met with indifference from students in cities; but Ankur is keen on setting up in Gurgaon, where he now sips his beloved tea with 10 students weekly, alongside running his early-stage start-up.

First date with a computer

Believe it or not, this seasoned techie laid his claim to the computer only when he entered college for his BTech.

He worked for several MNCs including Microsoft after college as a programmer and developer, but he felt like his ‘tech-geekdom’ had another calling, namely, to help non-techies join the techwagon.

With Digital India especially, Ankur saw great value in helping non-techies “get” the web and do more business using it. Foreantech — ‘a start-up for start-ups,’ became his way of helping start-ups at designing, development and marketing, all at one place. “Today’s start-ups have a big headache of resources, especially, developers and designers.

“I wanted to solve this problem. When a start-up comes to us, their digital worries become ours,”Ankur explains.

The one-year-old company has successfully accomplished about 100 projects with start-ups like Wingo and Baniyagiri, as well as some government assignments.

Love with tech, but flirting with the quill

Scarring experiences from his school days encouraged Ankur to become a storyteller, and he began by publishing an expose on teachers when he was only 16.

The response was amazing and gratifying,according to Ankur, motivating him to write for newspapers and magazines over various social and political issues, until he decided to cast an even wider net, and debut as a novelist. He wrote two books — his first Love Still and l Flirt, his second Kshanik Kahaniyon Ki Ek Virasat,which was better received, and his upcoming one Love at Metro.

He also recently published a collection of Hindi poems.

Ankur started a website called Kavishala.in for poets to have an online mehfil of sorts. Only a month old, 50 poets have already contributed over 100 works to it.

Passing on the torch, and spreading the fire

Brimming with life — experiences of making it as a literate engineer, entrepreneur and multi-lingual writer from a powerless village, Ankur knew he must enlighten those seeking inspiration. “I have never really been afraid of speaking in public platforms,”he notes.

He speaks as a grassroots expert on politics, technology, and society, and has graced the stage at over 25 seminars and events like TedxPatna, Ignite Jaipur, Microsoft Tech Days, UEN Summit Patna etc.

The 25-year-old firework feels that ups and downs are just the way life is. “If I, a predominantly Hindi speaker, can now speak on big stages, write books, blogs and more on such a wide level, anyone can. Alone in an alien city, with barely enough funds to keep me fed, I survived. So can you,”Ankur concludes.

Source……..www.rediff.com

Natarajan

8 simple ways you can manage diabetes…

April 10, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Did you know that mushrooms can help you keep diabetes under check?

Maintaining blood sugar levels close to a healthy range can dramatically reduce the risk of serious complications of diabetes, such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and amputations (related to diabetic neuropathy).

Natural foods and supplements with medicinal properties is a cost effective way to achieve significant health benefits by preventing or managing diabetes.

Functional foods also help increase medication effectiveness, maintain your nutritional status and prevent adverse complications.

1. Ginger, lemon, cinnamon tea

Ginger is rich in active compounds called gingerols, which increase the uptake of glucose into muscle cells and may therefore assist in the management of high blood sugar levels. It can also help to delay the onset and progression of cataract, a common complication of diabetes.

Cinnamon and other common spices such as nutmeg, basil, garlic, bay leaf, oregano and others are found to play a role in lowering blood glucose, increasing insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases, one complication associated with diabetes.

To achieve these benefits only a small daily dose is essential, 1 to 1.5 teaspoons.

People with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent) can benefit greatly with a daily dose of ginger, cinnamon and lemon as these foods can help in long-term sugar control.

A tea can be made by boiling water with one-inch piece of ginger, strain in a cup and add 1.5 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.

2. Mushrooms

Several types of mushrooms have been identified and used as anti-diabetic agents, some of these medical varieties include, Oyster mushroom, Reishi, Cordyceps, Shiitake, Maitake, and white button mushrooms.

Medicinal mushrooms have been valued for their potential healing properties and as remedies for various diseases since thousands of years.

Mushrooms are low in calories, high in fiber, rich in B-Vitamins, Vitamin C, minerals, anti-oxidants and they are the only source of Vitamin D among plant foods. The bioactive metabolites in mushrooms directly act on glucose metabolism and related biochemical pathways and thus lower the blood glucose levels.

Incorporation of mushrooms as a daily food or in the form of supplements (SX fraction, Ganoderma herbal capsules, Oriveda, Reishi max capsules — marketed products with mushroom extracts) can assist in maintaining more normal cellular and immune function which will eventually help in normalizing blood glucose level.

3. Fenugreek seeds

Several studies over the past decades have proven the effectiveness of fenugreek seeds in lowering blood glucose.

Fenugreek seeds when taken with food can significantly improve glucose homeostasis in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes by delaying carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancing insulin action. The effect seems to come from the presence of soluble fiber in seeds, which can also help in reducing blood cholesterol levels.

Soak the seeds overnight and have at least 10 to 15 grams of the soaked seeds 15 minutes before lunch and dinner or alternatively you can use 2 teaspoon of powdered seeds, soak it overnight in a glass of water, strain and drink this water on an empty stomach. You can also use the seeds as spice in curries and lentils or alternatively add powdered seeds to the chapatidough.

4. Water

The first warning sign of diabetic hyperglycemia or high blood sugar is thirst sensation.

The kidneys regulate the blood glucose by excreting it in urine and that is why you need more fluids to throw away the extra sugars. Water is the best way to quench that thirst and bring down the sugar levels.

Maintaining hydration is very important for diabetics because even a small decrease in the hydration level can cause serious health problems. In older diabetics, the thirst sensation may go down, therefore it is important to keep sipping water at regular intervals, especially after exercising and during hot weather.

Do not drink fruit juices, fizzy sugary drinks and beverages as they are high in calories and sugar. Use sports drink only if you suffer from hypoglycemia after a workout.

Skimmed milk, low-fat milk, buttermilk and herbal teas are good options for a healthy beverage.

Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of clean water daily.

5. Multivitamin and mineral supplements

Most of the people with Type 2 diabetes suffer from deficiencies of Vitamin B-12, B-6, B-3, Vitamin D, folic acid, and mineral such as magnesium, zinc and calcium.

Restoring deficiencies can help in alleviating symptoms of associated disorders, such as Vitamin B-12 can reduce symptoms of nerve damage caused by diabetes.

Please consult your doctor on the appropriate use and doses, before starting any supplements.

6. Reduce total calorie intake

One of the most important factors in diabetes management is diet because it is the amount and kind of food that affects blood sugar the most.

Reduction in total calorie intake is of utmost importance for Diabetics who are overweight or obese. This will help them lose weight and eventually give a better control over their blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity (body’s insulin works better).

One simple trick to reduce calories is by taking small frequent meals at a gap of 2 to 3 hours and decrease portion size, for example if you eat 3 to 4 chapatis at one time then reduce it to 1 to 2, at one meal and include more vegetables, salads and or soup.

7. Say not to refined foods

Avoid all forms of refined foods such as white bread, maida products, cookies, biscuits, and bakery goods.

These foods lack fibre and have poor nutritional quality, besides these foods can cause a dramatic rise in your blood sugar levels.

Use whole meal bread or multi-grain flour, oats, barley, brown rice and fibre rich foods as far as possible.

8. Exercise

Regular physical activity has many beneficial effects — lowers blood sugar, improves circulation, helps to reduce body fat, build muscle tone and preserve bone mass (which is essential for strong bones at older age).

Exercise can also help to prevent long term complications of diabetes, especially heart problems.

Diabetics should aim for 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise — walking, jogging or running, and cycling — 4 to 7 days of the week.

Whether you are attempting to prevent or control diabetes, the most imperative step towards achieving well-being is to get physically fit.

This does not mean you have to lose all those extra pounds; a loss of 5 percent to 7 percent of your aggregate weight can also bring down your sugar and cholesterol level impressively.

Staying fit and eating healthy can also have a positive impact on your state of mind and vitality levels.

Shweta Singh is a dietitian. She holds a doctor of medicine in alternative medicine, with a specialisation in vitamin therapy, yoga and magnet therapy. She holds a certificate in Clinical Trial Management from the NUS, Singapore

Source….Shewta Singh in http://www.rediff.com

Natarajan

Image of the Day…” Busy Traffic at International Space Station …” !!!

April 9, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Expedition 47 Flight Engineer Tim Peake of the European Space Agency took this photograph on April 6, 2016, as the International Space Station flew over Madagascar, showing three of the five spacecraft currently docked to the station. The station crew awaits the scheduled launch today, April 8, of the third resupply vehicle in three weeks: a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, which will be the sixth spacecraft docked following its arrival and installation to the Harmony module on Sunday, April 10. Dragon is carrying 6,900 pounds (3,130 kilograms) of science, crew supplies and hardware; the largest payload is theBigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM). The BEAM will be attached to the Tranquility module a week after its arrival for a series of habitability tests over two years.

Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo craft, visible at the left of this image, was bolted into place on the Earth-facing port of the station’s Unity module on March 26, 2016. Although the SpaceX and Orbital ATK spacecraft have made 12 launches between them, this will be the first time that the two vehicles, contracted by NASA and developed by private industry to resupply the station, are connected to the space station at the same time.

Image Credit: ESA/NASA

Source…….www.nasa.gov

Natarajan

Red Lotus Lake…Thailand …!!!

April 8, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

There is lake called Nong Han Kumphawapi in northeast Thailand, north of the town of Kumphawapi, and about 50 kilometers away from Udon Thani. But locals call it Talay Bua Daeng which means the “Sea of Red Lotuses”.

Every year from November till March, the lake’s 8,000 acre surface sprouts millions of pink lotuses which reach full bloom in December. The perfect time to see them is in the morning when the flowers are fully opened, revealing their vibrant, pink color, but tourists take boat rides to admire the gorgeous scenery all throughout the day.

The freshwater Nong Han Kumphawapi Lake is very shallow, with an average depth of just one meter, but is the primary source of the Pao River, the lifeline for people of the Udon Thani province.

Photo credit: X-1/Panoramio

Photo credit: travel.mthai.com

Source…www.amusingplanet.com

Natarajan

No-fuel Plough Invented by UP Farmer Costs Only Rs 3000, Beats Expensive Bullocks and Tractors…!

April 7, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

A farmer in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, upcycled an old bicycle to make a low cost plough, and then inspired his neighbours to do the same.

50-year-old Ram Prasad hires farm lands following the Bataidari system, or sharecropping, where a landowner gives his land on rent to farmers who plough the land and share the sales with the owner, in Chahnehra village of Banda, about 130 kilometres south of Kanpur.

When the farmlands were facing serious droughts, he had to sell his bullock to feed his family. Without his bullock and less money to maintain tractors and such equipment, times were difficult. Add to that the unpredictable weather: sometimes grave droughts, and sometimes premature rains. When Prasad realised that all these factors only burdened farmers with rising costs and no returns, he was adamant that he had to improvise an economical way to sustain farming.

It took him seven years to experiment with various materials. He finally got a breakthrough by converting an old cycle he found in his backyard, with some pieces of iron, into a plough.

The ploughing machine that he invented would cost only Rs 3000 to 4000.

Compared to the cost of a mini plough, bullocks or tractors, this is a more economical option for farmers.

Representational image

The machine is simple, economical, and easy to assemble. With a single wheel, front and rear handles, and three diggers attached to it, the machine does not require fuel such as diesel or kerosene to operate.

“All it requires is two men,” said Prasad to Times of India, “I have also helped many farmers by converting their old bicycles into a ploughing machine.” He also adds that other than just ploughing, the machine also can be used for weeding and sowing.

Ploughs currently available in the market start at Rs 20,000, and are either manually operated, or mounted on a bullock or a tractor. But the cost only increases with bullocks and tractors. Generally, a pair of bullocks cost Rs 50,000, while a tractor costs as much as Rs 500,000. Along with that, there’s the variable price of fuel or fodder, which creates a dent in their finances.

Prasad’s innovation has caused a significant reduction in production costs. All it needs is a cycle. Plus, there’s no fuel requirement. In situations of droughts and economic crises, such an invention could change the lives of farmers tremendously.

Source….www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan