Yes Bank crisis: On 6th March morning, PhonePe founder and CEO Sameer Nigam acknowledged that the outage was due to the RBI restrictions on Yes BankBusinessToday.In | New Delhi, Saturday, March 7, 2020 | 16:22 ISTphonepe_505_060320114152.jpg Yes Bank crisis: After banking partner Yes Bank was put under restriction by the Reserve Bank of India on Thursday evening, payments firm PhonePe suffered an outage. PhonePe users were unable to pay using the platform.

The platform acknowledged the outage and said that the services were temporarily unavailable but did not say that it was due to the restrictions on its banking partner. “We are temporarily unavailable. We are going through an unscheduled maintenance activity. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We will be back soon,” it had stated late night on Thursday. On Friday morning, founder and CEO Sameer Nigam acknowledged that the outage was due to the RBI restrictions on Yes Bank. “Our partner bank (Yes Bank) was placed under moratorium by RBI. Entire team’s been working all night to get services back up asap,” it stated.PhonePe is a UPI-based payments system and digital wallet company based in Bengaluru. Founded in 2015, PhonePe was acquired by Flipkart in 2016 to build its payment business.On Thursday evening, RBI placed restrictions on cash withdrawal for Yes Bank customers. The apex bank capped withdrawals for depositors at Rs 50,000. RBI superseded the Yes Bank board and appointed Prashant Kumar as the administrator of the bank. The RBI stated that it is satisfied that it must issue certain directions to Yes Bank to protect the interest of the depositors.Yes Bank will also not be able to renew or grant a loan or make any investment or transfer any of its properties or assets. The apex bank also assured the depositors that their money would be fully protected. “The Reserve Bank will explore and draw up a scheme in the next few days for the bank’s reconstruction or amalgamation and with the approval of the Central Government, put the same in place well before the period of moratorium of thirty days ends so that the depositors are not put to hardship for a long period of time,” the RBI said.

In Swami and Friends by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of disobedience, conflict, control, authority, power, rebellion and independence. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Narayan may be exploring the theme of disobedience.Jul 18, 2018

The protagonist of the story is a 10-year-old boy. He is an unconstrained, indiscreet, wicked but then also an exceptionally honest child. His character is a kid in the fullest feeling of the world. How he grows up, his mischiefs which made his family irritated, his wonder, growing pains and innocence and many aspects are being portrayed in the novel. He lives in a universe of bossy grown-ups. He is a student at Albert Mission School. It is a British established school where importance is given to Christianity and English education.

One of the most watershed moments in the novel is the time when Rajam joins the school and he becomes friend with Swami. That was a life-changing stage for him. But later he breaks his friendship due to some reasons.

Everyone can relate R.K. Narayan’s account of childhood games and friendship. It’s an age where friendship is more important than family and more urgent than school. Also, holidays are heaven on earth during those days. The author effectively sketches those days through Swami and Friends.

The Innocence of Youth is the fundamental theme of Swami and Friends. Swaminathan and his friends are 10-years-old at the beginning of the book, and are prone to all the typical behaviors of young children: they are fascinated with toys; they daydream in class; they take their families for granted, and they disdain schoolwork. Rather than plotting or planning out their adventures with deliberate intention, these boys participate in the risk-taking and spontaneous mischief characteristic of young children. At their youthful age, they are not yet fully equipped to understand the world around them, the class differences that already work to inevitably divide them, or to understand the repercussions of their actions. For example, Swaminathan does not understand why an angry mob gathers after the arrest of the Indian politician Gauri Sankar in Chapter Twelve, and he cannot anticipate the consequences of shattering his headmaster’s windows with a rock. In running away, he does not understand that in doing so he might miss the M.C.C. match and irrevocably damage his friendship with Rajam. These are but a few cases that illustrate the central theme of Swami and Friends, where youthful innocence wrestles with increasing tension against worldly complexity and conflict..

This thesis entitled “Myth of Innocence and Purity of Childhood in R. K. Narayan’s novel Swami and Friends” examines how childhood not only embodies fun and laughter, purity and innocence but also equally self centeredness, snobbery, vanity, callousness, cruelty and jealousy that can be seen among adults. It also assesses the novel critically and brings the hidden realities of childhood days into light that children are also not free from vices. Narayan, with the skillful use of humour, tries to capture the world of children as reflected in the growing up of Swaminathan and his companions, and their adventure and misadventure in the mythical town of ‘Malgudi.’ By providing the realistic glimpse of childhood, Narayan shows that children also have contrary qualities and are not free from multiple human natures as can be found in grown up people. As Narayan he writes in his autobiography—My Days, those children are capable of performing greater cunning activities than grown up and he beautifully puts this belief in Swami and Friends.

The Political and the Personal Under British Colonial Rule                  

Set in a fictional town in south India circa 1930, Swami and Friends is defined by the pressures and complexities of British colonial rule over India. While the book’s events revolve around common childhood trials and tribulations, the personal experiences of the protagonist and his friends are colored by their political context, even when the characters themselves have little understanding of it. By examining British colonial rule through the lens of an ordinary boy’s relatable…

Education and Oppression

Difficulty within educational settings is one of Swami’s constant conflicts throughout the novel. Rather than simply depicting the ordinary childhood struggles of homework and unfair teachers, Narayan uses these familiar obstacles to enact a smaller version of the colonial oppression that suffuses the book. For Swami, school is a place of both growth and restriction, where rigid rules come into conflict with Swami’s nuanced inner life. Throughout, Narayan’s depictions of Swami’s school days add…

 The Fluidity of Identity

Although little more than a year passes over the course of Swami’s story, his identity and those of his friends change and develop many times throughout the novel. By demonstrating how malleable his characters’ essential traits and roles are, Narayan casts doubt on the idea of objectively “true” identity, instead seeming to argue that even core characteristics like goodness and badness can be changed and chosen according to the desires of individuals and groups…

Innocence, Family, and Growing Up

Just as Swami’s story reveals the somewhat illusory nature of personal identity, so too does it slowly strip away conventional notions of childhood innocence. While Swami seems at first to embody the quintessential idea of a carefree child, his growth over the course of the novel shows that even children of his young age are burdened by serious concerns and real-world threats. Narayan demonstrates this gradual loss of innocence in large part through his…

Just as Swami’s story reveals the somewhat illusory nature of personal identity, so too does it slowly strip away conventional notions of childhood innocence. While Swami seems at first to embody the quintessential idea of a carefree child, his growth over the course of the novel shows that even children of his young age are burdened by serious concerns and real-world threats. Narayan demonstrates this gradual loss of innocence in large part through his portrayal of Swami’s relationships with the members of his immediate family, which grow increasingly complicated and less protective over the course of the story.

At the start of the novel, Swami is almost wholly dependent on his family. He blithely takes them for granted while also calling on them to support his whims and desires, and their firm but kind presence grounds the seeming innocence that Swami enjoys in the early chapters. Swami’s mother and father, though strict at times, offer him safety and resources to pursue his academic and social goals. Even when Swami meets Rajam, whom he views as a role model, he still requires his father’s room and his mother’s cooking in order to host Swami at his home. Thanks to his parents’ help, the visit goes well, and Swami feels independent in his friendship with Rajam even as he relies on his family to support it. Swami’s Granny, whom he considers unsightly and senile but nevertheless loveable, also offers him unquestioning comfort. She affirms Swami’s stories even when they are implausible, and although she tells him stories from the family’s past, Swami dismisses her words as “old unnecessary stories.” Swami views his relationship with his grandmother as simply “snug and safe,” but Narayan makes clear that this perception relies on Swami’s ability to ignore the more complex, challenging stories that his grandmother wishes to tell. In describing the conflict between Swami and his headmaster at the mission school, Narayan hints again at the deeper reality that underlies Swami’s outwardly innocent reliance on his family. After Swami brings in his father’s letter complaining about Ebenezer’s treatment of Swami, the Mission School Headmaster scolds Ebenezer but then tells Swami that he was “foolish to go to [his] father about this matter.” The headmaster requests that Swami turn to him instead of his father about future problems, foreshadowing the novel’s later events in which Swami’s father is powerless to protect him.

As the novel progresses, Swami’s feeling of security with his family begins to erode, as both he and the reader discover evidence that his innocent trust in his own safety may have been an illusion all along. When Swami’s mother gives birth to an unnamed baby boy, Swami is initially indifferent to his new brother, calling him “hardly anything.” But as time passes, Swami realizes that the baby is now the center of the household. Although Swami soon comes to love his brother, he is also forced to admit that he is no longer the sole focus of his parents’ and grandmother’s love and attention. Around the same time, Swami notices that his father has changed to become “fussy and difficult.” His father begins to take a more active role in making Swami study for his exams, and Swami resents the realization that his father’s role is not only to protect him but also to pressure him toward growth. In the middle of the novel, Swami enters into a conflict with the son of a coachman who tricks Swami into giving him money. This episode in particular illustrates the tension between Swami’s youthful innocence and his dawning knowledge of the genuine danger of the world around him. The episode begins with Swami’s intense desire to get a hoop, a childish wish based only on a love for simple play. However, that innocent impulse soon transforms into a violent conflict with the coachman’s son; Mani beats Swami in an attempt to get the boy’s attention and then, when they confront him, his neighbors throw rocks and chase them off with dogs. Most significantly of all, Swami encounters the son again while visiting his father’s luxurious club, but finds that his father is oblivious to the danger. He decides to “seek protection” by telling his father, but quickly reverses his choice, deciding that “his father had better not know anything about the coachman’s son, however serious the situation might be.” As Swami moves away from his father’s protection, Narayan demonstrates more forcefully that Swami’s family is not truly the refuge that it initially appears to be.

By the novel’s conclusion, Swami has experienced the genuine danger of the world around him and, at the same time, come to realize the limitations of his family’s ability to comfort him and keep him safe. Through this process Narayan shows that Swami shares in the universal realities common to all coming-of-age stories, even within the unique sociopolitical context of India under English colonial rule.

After Swami and his friends form their cricket team, Swami discovers that his grandmother does not know what cricket is. Although he is upset by her “appalling ignorance,” he is nonetheless patient with her because he remembers his recent, irrational fear that “she was going to die in a few minutes” because he refused to bring her a lemon. Swami’s shift toward caring for his grandmother and her feelings marks a reversal of his previous belief that his family are the ones responsible for him. When Swami goes missing, a chapter from his father’s perspective reveals that he is completely powerless to find Swami and, given that Swami actually ran away, save him from himself. His father’s desolation and inability to alter the situation underscores the fact that Swami must now take responsibility for himself, rather than relying innocently on his family. When Swami is rescued by Mr. Nair, he is initially confused and calls the man Father. He is unable to understand his situation, thinking: “Who was this man? Was he Father? If he was not, why was he there? Even if he was, why was he there? Who was he?” This internal breakdown of Swami’s ability to comprehend his father’s role in his life represents a moment of profound growth in Swami’s self-efficacy and maturity. Later, he laments that he forgot to say goodbye to the Officer, hinting at the core truth that one cannot appreciate childhood simplicity until it is gone. Swami still lives with his family at the novel’s end, but he has lost the illusion that his life there is innocent or free of worry.

Swami’s Cap

Swami’s cap becomes important to the story as he begins to develop a political consciousness. Swami thinks little of his clothes until the night that he and Mani stumble on a protest against British oppression, and Swami realizes that some of his clothing may be made by British manufacturers at the expense of Indian craftspeople. When a bystander suggests that he is “wearing a foreign cap,” Swami is ashamed and throws the cap into the fire—his first act in support of Indian liberation. However, the cap also comes to symbolize Swami’s naivete about political matters. The next morning, Swami thinks not of his devotion to Indian independence, but of the anger his father will feel when he sees that the cap is missing. Then, even after his intense experience at the protest, Swami continues to view his fledging political activity through the narrow lens of his own self-interest, telling his father that the cap was burned by someone else in the crowd rather than owning up to his own actions. Finally, Swami’s father informs him that the cap was Indian-made all along, undermining Swami’s passionate destruction of what he believed to be a symbol of England. The cap thus underscores Narayan’s point that Swami’s actions are tied to a political context even when he is only able to engage with that context in a childish, haphazard way.

Swami’s cap represents his good but misguided and uninformed intentions, which often lead him to trouble. He destroys his cap in a fit of anti-colonial anger, believing it to be English-made. His father later corrects him, revealing it was actually an Indian-made cap, leading to Swami getting in trouble with his father and later, with his school.

Cricket

The game of cricket is the story’s most potent symbol of the complex way that English colonization plays out in the lives of Swami and his friends. As a quintessentially English activity, cricket is closely tied to England’s presence in India, but instead of rejecting it for its oppressive associations, Swami and his friends—particularly team captain Rajam—embrace the game as a means of gaining self-determination, dominance over opponents, and interpersonal connection. This paradoxical pursuit demonstrates the ways in which colonized peoples like Swami and his friends must necessarily adapt to the influences of the colonizer, even embracing aspects of the oppressive culture and subverting them into mechanisms of liberation. However, the friends’ cricket team has both positive and negative effects in Swami’s life; it initially helps him put aside his political differences with Rajam, but it also tears apart their friendship when Swami misses the crucial match. Through this symbol, Narayan seems to recognize the unstable and sometimes dangerous role that even the appealing aspects of colonizing nations play in the lives of the colonized.

Not only is cricket a reminder of the colonial influence of Britain in India, it is also a symbol of competition, and on the cricket field is where Rajam and Swami actually come to a head. Rajam uses a threat against their friendship in order to control Swami’s behavior, but Swami cannot help but feel that it is wrong to skip school so that they can compete. The match represents Rajam’s emotionally desperate understanding of “victory” as an important goal. Cricket highlights the conflict between Rajam and Swami and heightens the stakes, ultimately leading to them breaking up.

Cricket is a symbol of Swami’s friendships, especially with Rajam. Swami enjoys cricket and works hard at it, just as he enjoys his friendship with Rajam and works hard to maintain it, much in the way he devotes time to practice. When Swami misses the the first match, he and Rajam both take it as a personal slight, rather than one against the team as a whole.

The Book of Fairy Tales

Swami’s somewhat surprising choice of a book of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen as a going-away present for Rajam acts as a symbol for the crossroads of maturity at which the two boys find themselves. Swami has struggled to enjoy reading through the novel, while Rajam has excelled at it, so Swami’s sensitivity to the kind of present that Rajam would appreciate demonstrates the way that he has begun learning to think outside of himself and his own desires. However, the fact that the book includes fairy tales rather than true facts indicates that the boys’ reality is still largely shaped by fantasy. Even as Swami is forced to face the painful fact that Rajam is moving away without repairing his friendship with Swami, he relies on the power of a book of imagined realities to bridge the gap between them. Finally, Swami thinks that the book is too full of “unknown, unpronounceable English words” for him to ever understand it himself, again hinting that mysterious foreign influence is present in every corner of his life, even the parts that concern fantasy rather than reality.

Geography (Symbol)

Geography is one of the subjects that Swami and his classmates learn at school, and they spend a lot of time memorizing the capitals of foreign countries and copying maps. His friend Mani spends many hours copying maps of Europe, India, and Africa in preparation for their exams. Learning geography is an important part in their colonial education in orienting and knowing the world, with Europe at the center. The setting of the novel, the town of Malgudi, is fictional, however, and thus Narayan refuses to map the village.

The Protest (Symbol)

The protest can be argued to represent many things, but first and foremost, it symbolizes the frustration that exists in India because of the colonial presence of the British who dominate the nation as a second-class society. The British represent the broken forces that exist among closed-minded people with economic interests. Among the problems is that India has become chronically poor because its resources are drained by the British.

Escape

Escape is a motif that continually resurfaces as Swami escapes from the headmaster in the Albert Mission School and then later at the Board High School. Escape is Swami’s usual method of dealing with difficult or painful situations, but he often ends up getting lost, or in a worse situation than before.

The Cane (Symbol)

When the headmaster of Swami’s school rejects his request to leave early for his cricket game, Swami becomes angry and throws his cane out of the window. This demonstration is a symbol because the action represents the value of the moment in Swami’s real life. The stick becomes a symbol of freedom because the stick goes where Swami wants to go—outside of the walls and hierarchal order of school.

Fire-Eyed

1. K. Narayan writes, “He shuddered at every thought of school: that dismal yellow building; the fire-eyed Vedanayagam, his class teacher” (3). The emblematic fire-eyedness renders the class teacher an uncompromising individual who will not bear disruptive behavior from his students. Accordingly, he arouses dread in his students due to the authoritarian persona which his eyes indicate.

Tail

Swami’s old friends, who feel like they have been abandoned by Swami, begin calling him “tail.” A “tail” is a long thing that attaches itself to an ass or a dog, as he learns in Chapter 4.

Broken Window Panes

The headmaster’s office window panes, and their shattering, are one of the more concrete symbols of the book. After Swaminathan destroys the window, his future is permanently changed though he does not know it at the time. The broken glass serves to represent that Swaminathan has defied the established order, causing a break that he cannot repair, and crossing a point of no return…

Swami’s younger brother represents his relationship to his family, without the distractions or impediments of school, class…

Swami

Swami is the ten-year-old protagonist of the novel. Swami is a schoolboy living in 1930, in the fictional town of Malgudi in the South of India under British colonial rule. At the start of the novel, Swami is a typical child who seems outwardly innocent, with only trivial concerns such as homework, impressing his classmates, and avoiding disappointing his father. Swami is considered average among his friends, neither especially clever nor stupid, brave nor cowardly. He is generally good-natured and gets along well with his peers and family, although he can be arrogant or deceitful at times, and is easily swept up in the plans and enthusiasms of others. As the novel progresses, Swami becomes more aware of his own identity and political consciousness and begins to define himself more in terms of his friendships and national identity than his family relationships. Swami is also a naturally good cricket bowler and prides himself on being nicknamed “Tate,” after a famous cricket player.

          Swami is the central character of the plot. He is also the protagonist of the play. As a child, he goes to school where he does not like studies and gets bored easily. He is an honest boy of seven but, on the other hand, he also does not hesitate telling lies to his father. He loves his granny’s stories. He is good at cricket and is nicknamed “Tate.” He saw the revolution phase of Indian independence. Later in the course of the novel, he became bolder and socially prominent.

The protagonist of the novel Swaminathan (Swami) is a school going boy. He belongs to a South Indian middle-class family. His family comprises of his grandmother, mother, father, and mother. In the initial trenches of the story, his younger brother was born. He epitomizes the innocence of a youth mischievousness that childhood necessitates.

The plot of Swami and Friends revolves around Swaminathan, the central protagonist, who initially typifies the innocence of youth and all the mischievousness that childhood entails. He prefers cricket to school, takes his family for granted, and attempts to play out childhood fantasies in the often reckless games and stunts he pursues with his shifting group of friends. Initially coming across as passive and timid–more likely to follow than to lead the crowd (as we witness in the mob scene of Chapter 12)–and overshadowed amongst his peers by the more self-assured Mani and Rajam, Swaminathan, however, becomes bolder and more socially prominent over the course of the novel. The most vital player on the cricket team, it is ultimately, Swaminathan, and not Rajam or Mani that holds the key to M.C.C.’s victory. And though his rebellion against the headmaster results in childish flight, he openly and boldly defies the central authority figure of his school without waiting for Rajam’s support, and without the support of an angry mob to fuel his courage. While the novel centers on a brief period in Swaminathan’s life, in this brief journey, we witness the revolutionary change happening in India, and the subtle revolution of character and understanding that takes place within Swaminathan…

Rajam

Rajam is the son of the Police Superintendent and one of Swami’s closest friends. Rajam is new to Swami’s school at the start of the novel, and initially Swami and Mani view him as an enemy due to his quick wits, fine clothes, and fearless nature. However, Rajam quickly becomes friends with Rajam and Swami and acts as their ringleader for the remainder of the novel. Rajam does well in school and is liked by most of his classmates, and he draws confidence from his father’s prominent position (Rajam’s father is the Police Superintendent), although it also causes him to oppose the political activity that his friends support. Rajam sometimes bullies his friends and acquaintances, but more often he unites them and urges them toward new goals, most notably the formation of a cricket team. Swami loves and admires Rajam but comes into conflict with him, first because Swami supports political action that opposes Rajam’s father, and later because he doesn’t live up to his promise on Rajam’s cricket team. Rajam is so angry at Swami for missing the cricket match that he stops speaking to him, and it is unclear at the novel’s end whether the two friends have reconciled.

Rajam is the new kid at the Albert Mission School and is Swami’s rival turned best friend. Rajam is good at studies, speaks English “like a European,” and is the son of the police superintendent, which gives him more attention and status at school. He is witty and fearless in nature and naturally assumes authority in social settings. It is his idea to start a cricket team. The character of Rajam: Rajam was the guy with an endearing personality. He is smarter and grown-up than Mani. He believes in self-respect. Rajam is very sincere in academics. He likes assisting or helping his friends in academics. Mani possesses a propensity for domination amongst every one of his age but Rajat didn’t feel that within him. In fact, Rajam tries to put forward a hand for friendship with Mani. He wanted to settle the enmity with Mani and this signify the nobility Rajam has got with him.

Mani

Known as “the Mighty Good-For-Nothing,” Mani is Swami’s other closest friend. Mani is a fearless troublemaker who never does his homework, sleeps in class, and frequently resorts to violence to solve his problems. However, he is also a loyal and affectionate friend, and Swami is proud to be allied with him. Mani often plays a supporting role in Swami and Rajam’s friendship, though at the end of the novel it is Mani, rather than Swami, who takes on the role of Rajam’s best friend. Mani lives with a frightening uncle, but little else is known about his family or background.

Another close friend of Swami, Mani is described as the “Mighty Good-For-Nothing.” He is a bold and strong figure in his class. He is not good at studies and purposefully slacks off, but he likes fighting and no one dares to challenges him, even the teachers. Mani likes to dominate the whole class and also bully some of his classmates.

Swami’s Father

Swami’s father, W.T. Srinivasan, is an imposing figure who works at the courts and is usually strict with Swami. Swami sometimes feels afraid of his father, but at other times he turns to him for help and support. Swami’s father encourages Swami to study hard and helps him with homework and, notably, provides Swami with a study space within his own room. Late in the novel, Swami’s father reveals that his concern for Swami’s wellbeing outweighs his frustrations with his son, as shown when he searches for Swami all night and welcomes him home without punishment.

Swaminathan’s father is a lawyer by profession. He is stern and authoritarian, but caring. He worries about his son’s studies and encourages him to study hard. Sometimes he is overly strict, but later in the novel he also shows his concern for the well-being of his son.

Swami’s Mother

Swami’s mother appears in the novel only occasionally, usually in the context of providing Swami with something he wants or backing him up in an argument with his father. She is presented as a mild woman who is mostly concerned with her family and managing the household. She loves Swami deeply and also gives birth to a baby boy, Swami’s brother, who occupies her attention for much of the novel.

Swaminathan’s mother is in charge of the house and cares for Swami both materially and emotionally. She defends Swami in his arguments with his father. However, her appearances are occasional. She is the character that Swami misses the most when he runs away from the house.

Swami’s Grandmother / Granny Quotes in Swami and Friends

Swami’s paternal grandmother, whom he calls Granny, is an old woman who lives with Swami and his mother and father. Swami views Granny as ancient and sometimes embarrassing, but she is also a source of comfort and security during times of change, particularly when Swami’s brother is born. Granny sometimes tries to tell Swami stories about the family’s past, but he usually refuses to listen, indicating his preoccupation with his own present concerns. Swami grows more concerned with Granny’s needs over the course of the story, beginning to see himself as a caretaker for her and making more of an effort to meet her needs.

Granny is described as a sweet and sleepy lady whom Swami will often go to and tell stories about his day. She is a religious woman. She tells Swami the stories of her past. Her relationship with Swami changes throughout the novel.

Swami’s grandmother was a short and fat and a slightly bent woman. She was a notably a religious woman. She had inner beauty intact with her rather than physical. She was not an attractive woman as she herself says she wasn’t pretty. He lived with her in his childhood days. He describes her as a good friend of his. She used to wake him up during the school days and prepare breakfast for him. After the breakfast is being done his grandmother hand over the pen, wooden slate, and earthen ink-pot to him. While Swami attended school his grandmother would study the scriptures in the temple which his nearby his school

Swami’s Brother

Swami’s unnamed baby brother is born midway through the novel. While Swami at first thinks little of his brother, he soon grows fond of him and admires how quickly he learns and grows. Swami’s brother also presents a unique challenge to Swami, in that he occupies the family’s attention and makes it so that Swami is no longer the sole focus of his parents’ and grandmother’s affection.

He is the only sibling to Swami. He is born midway through the novel. He captures the prime attention of his family. Swami too cares for his little brother. However, this character has no major role as he remains a child throughout the novel.

Rajam’s Father

Rajam’s father is the Police Superintendent and acts as a powerful figure in the community. Swami and Mani are initially very excited to be associated with the Police Superintendent through their new friend Rajam, and Swami is impressed with the luxury of his household. Later, Rajam’s father becomes a symbol of political conflict when Swami witnesses him ordering the police force to violently break up the crowd of protesters. However, Rajam’s father remains kind in person to Rajam and his friends, and plays an important role in rescuing Swami at the novel’s conclusion.

Somu

Somu is one of Swami’s friends from the Mission School. He is the class monitor and gets along well with everyone, students and teachers, although he does not excel academically. Swami thinks of Somu as the “uncle of the class.” When Somu treats Swami unkindly, the experience is one of the first times that Swami is forced to admit that the people around him are more complex than he might have guessed. Later in the novel, Somu disappears from the group of friends after failing an exam, and thus not being promoted to the next grade.

Somu is Swami’s school friend from the Albert Mission School. He is the monitor of Swami’s class and carries himself with an easy and confident air. Swami calls him the “uncle of the class.”

Sankar

Sankar is one of Swami’s friends from the Mission School, known as “the most brilliant boy of the class.” Swami admires Sankar’s intelligence and relies on him for guidance at school. Sankar eventually leaves Malgudi when his father is transferred to a new town, and although he writes to Rajam and his friends intend to reply, they fall out of touch after realizing that they don’t have Sankar’s new address.

A classmate of Swami, Sankar is known as the “the most brilliant boy of the class.” Swami admires Sankar’s intellect and takes his guidance. Later, he leaves Malgudi as his father is transferred to another town.

Mission School Headmaster

The Mission School Headmaster is a primary antagonist for Swami in the novel’s early chapters. Although he confronts Ebenezar about his mistreatment of Swami, he also calls Swami foolish for telling his father what happened in scripture class and asks Swami to rely only on him in the future. Later, the headmaster’s intimidating interrogation of the students who participated in the protest goads Swami into renouncing the Mission School and ultimately transferring to the Board School. However, in comparison to the abhorrent Board School Headmaster, Swami eventually comes to think of the Mission School Headmaster as dignified and respectable.

Mr. Ebenezar

Mr. Ebenezar is the fanatical Christian scripture teacher at the Mission School. Although Swami and his friends sometimes finds his classes amusing, he uses his lectures to degrade Hinduism and argue for the superiority of Christianity. After Swami reports Ebenezar’s behavior, the Mission School Headmaster scolds the teacher, but ultimately it seems that Ebenezar is allowed to carry on teaching as before. Later, Ebenezar appears only as a benign figure in the school crowd, one who Swami even comes to view fondly after his troubles at the Board School.

He is Swami’s scripture teacher at the Albert Mission School. He is a Christian fanatic and degrades Swami’s religion, Hinduism, and considers Christianity superior to other religions. Later, he is scolded by the headmaster of the school.

The Coachman

The unnamed coachman is an acquaintance of Swami’s who promises to help him acquire a toy hoop in exchange for money. He claims to be able to turn copper coins into silver, but it becomes clear that he is lying to Swami in order to get his coins. The coachman’s son also becomes a menacing presence to Swami after this episode. Swami’s experiences with the coachman are an early example of his increasing acquaintance with the evils and dangers of the world.

The Coachman’s Son

The coachman’s son is a young boy who begins to taunt and threaten Swami after his father successfully scams Swami out of his money. Rajam forms a plan in which Mani will kidnap the son with Swami’s help, but the plan goes awry when the son tricks Mani and runs away with his toy top. Soon thereafter, Swami discovers during a visit to his father’s club that the coachman’s son works at the club, and Swami is overcome with fear that the son will attack him. This episode is one of the first instances in which Swami feels that his father is not able to protect him from harm.

Karrupan

Karrupan is a young boy who is bullied by Rajam, Mani, and Swami while out driving his cart. The three friends harass Karrupan and pretend to be government agents, frightening the boy before sending him on his way. The behavior of Swami and his friends toward Karrupan demonstrates their internalization of the colonized state’s brutal power structures.

Samuel (or The Pea)

Also nicknamed “The Pea,” Samuel is Swami’s classmate and friend. Both Swami and the Pea are close friends until the Pea changes his school. Both remain friends as they both play cricket together. He is the only Christian friend of Swami.

Dr. Kesavan

Dr. Kesavan is a physician whom Swami goes to in an effort to get a medical certificate saying he can miss school drill practice in order to go to cricket. Dr. Kesavan laughs at Swami’s self-diagnosis of delirium and pronounces him healthy, but says that he will talk to the Board School Headmaster to get Swami excused from drill practice. However, Dr. Kesavan does not talk to the headmaster at all, which leads to Swami’s punishment and eventual departure from school. Swami curses Dr. Kesavan for lying, and this episode is another of Swami’s formative experiences of betrayal.

Ranga

Ranga is the cart man who finds Swami unconscious after his night wandering lost in the wilderness. He rescues Swami by bringing him to Mr. Nair, thinking himself too simple to know what to do. Ranga is one of few peasant characters in the novel, and notably, Swami knows little of his role in the rescue and does not think to thank him later.

Mr. Nair

Mr. Nair is the District Forest Officer who helps Swami return home after being lost. Swami initially confuses him with his own father, indicating the sense of loss and disorientation that Swami undergoes as he matures. Later, Swami feels guilty for forgetting to say goodbye to Mr. Nair and worries that he did not show appropriate gratitude for his role, again drawing a parallel between Mr. Nair and Swami’s actual father. However, Mr. Nair also lies to Swami about the day of the week, presumably to keep him calm, and causes him not to realize he is missing the cricket match until it is already over.

The central theme of the novel is growing up of young Swami. He is a spontaneous, impulsive, mischievous and yet a very innocent child. His character is a child in the fullest sense of the world. Through Swami’s eyes the reader gets to peak in to the pre-independence days in South India. The life portrayed in the novel is accurate in its description of the colonial days – the uprisings, the rebellions, the contempt and the reverence the natives had for their subjugator, together with varied elements that have become one, such as cricket and education.

Unlike many colonial and post-colonial writers Narayan does not directly attack or criticize the colonial system, although elements of gentle criticism and irony directed towards the colonial system, are scattered through out Swami and Friends and all his other novels. He has rather directed his creativity at depicting the life of the people at the time. It is almost as if he is charmed by these unsophisticated and simple, yet eccentric people and their lives. It is unclear if he refrained from an all out attack on the British colonial system out of choice or reverence. But it seems at this point in his career, (and during this particular point of India’s history), when he is starting out as an author, he would write to the English speaking audience in India and for the vast audience abroad. Hence it would be folly to attack the very system that would sustain him as a novelist, his career of choice. Asked about why he was unbothered about the prevailing political crisis and other happenings during the time, Narayan replied in an interview thus ” When art is used as a vehicle for political propaganda, the mood of comedy, the sensitivity to atmosphere, the probing of psychological factors, the crisis of the individual soul and its resolution and above all the detached observation which constitutes the stuff of fiction is forced into the background.” Beyond this, he also had tremendous regard for the English language and literature as an aesthetic past time, and was not blind to its value in that regard.

The absence of criticism on the colonial system maybe also due to the fact that Narayan simply believed the colonizer and the colonized could live together in harmony, benefiting each other. Most Englishmen and the natives certainly seem to do so in his novels, such as Mr Retty (Swami and Friends) and Matheison (Waiting for the Mahatma). The rice mill owner Mr Retty was “the most Indianized of the ‘Europeans’….and was the mystery man of the place: nobody could say who he was or where he had come from: he swore at his boy and his customers in perfect Tamil and always moved about in shirt, shorts and sandaled feet.” Mr Matheison feels strongly for Indians and considers himself Indian. “You see, it is just possible I am as much attached to this country as you are.” Only Mr Brown seems to be the ‘black sheep’ in this regard. His Western mind is only capable of “classifying, labeling and departmentalizing…” And the gentle criticism and irony directed towards him was in the same way directed towards his fellow countrymen. In his mind British or Indian, they were all human beings with prejudices, follies, errors, kindness and goodness, each in varying degrees.

and Friends is an Indian book written in English published in 1935. The work was the first novel ever published by the famous Indian author R. K. Narayan. Narayan’s friend, Graham Greene, recommended his manuscript to a publisher, and it was finally published by Hamish Hamilton in 1935. The original title of Swami and Friends was Swami the Tate, but it was changed during the publishing process to Swami and Friends likely so that it could have more literary identification with Rudyard Kipling’s Stalky & Co (1899) and thus appear more marketable as part of a sub-genre of English schoolboy fiction. The novel is the first of a trilogy of novels. The second is entitled The Bachelor of Arts and the third The English Teacher. The trilogy, which counts among his earlier fiction, focuses largely on problematic social practices, such as the institution of schooling and culture of punishme

Main thing is “Friendship” and how kids react differently to the different situations. I love the story. Swami is a little boy who has a good heart but little bit a coward. Think it’s same for all the kids in that age. Swami loves his friends and ready to anything for them but his cowardliness and bad temper made the trick every time. Anyway think the most important thing in that story is simpleness. Swami is a normal boy who can find in every country and every time. He doesn’t have anything special but I think the author should give him a chance. Though he is a good cricket player he hasn’t got a chance to show it to others and it seems the only special skill he has.

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF   AZKABAN

1.Who is the protagonist in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?

Harry Potter, “The Boy Who Lived,” the savior of the wizarding world and the only living wizard to defeat Lord Voldemort, is the protagonist of J. K. Rowlings series of novels.Oct 5, 2020

2. What character traits does Harry Potter have?

Harry- Brave, Quick Thinking, Witty, Honourable, Self-Reliant, Confident, Instinctive and extremely stubborn/strong willed/determined. Harry is often at the front line and will protect who he loves. He fights for the good of the wizarding world and is determined to kill the man who killed his parents.

3. What is the Prisoner of Azkaban about?

Harry Potter’s (Daniel Radcliffe) third year at Hogwarts starts off badly when he learns deranged killer Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison and is bent on murdering the teenage wizard. While Hermione’s (Emma Watson) cat torments Ron’s (Rupert Grint) sickly rat, causing a rift among the trio, a swarm of nasty Dementors is sent to protect the school from Black. A mysterious new teacher helps Harry learn to defend himself, but what is his secret tie to Sirius Black?

4 Who is the bad guy in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?

. After reuniting with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry learns that Sirius Black, a convicted supporter of the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, has escaped Azkaban prison and intends to kill him.

What is the main conflict in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?

major conflict The major conflict is the search to catch Sirius Black, an escaped convict from the wizard prison Azkaban, to protect Harry from him, and for Harry to come to terms with Black’s supposed role in his own parents’ death.

Why is the Prisoner of Azkaban the best?

Why was Prisoner of Azkaban widely considered the best of the Harry Potter films? POA was my favorite book, and when I watched the movie, I immediately loved it. The music and emotional scenes are awesome, as well as some awesome cinematography, such as showing the Whomping Willow while seasons changed.

Where is Hogwarts in Harry Potter?

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was the British wizarding school, located in the Scottish Highlands. It accepted magical students from Great Britain and Ireland for enrolment.

What happens in Harry Potter Prisoner of Azkaban?

After reuniting with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry learns that Sirius Black, a convicted supporter of the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, has escaped Azkaban prison and intends to kill him. … Draco exaggerates his injury, and his father Lucius Malfoy later has Buckbeak sentenced to death.

What is the moral of Harry Potter?

One of the morals of the story is that you never know what you are capable of until you try. Harry was faced with extraordinary circumstances, and he was able to rise to the challenge. He found reserves of bravery within himself, as well as special abilities. Harry Potter had no idea that he was a wizard, of course.

How old was Emma Watson Prisoner of Azkaban?

When “Prisoner of Azkaban” bowed, Emma Watson was 14, Daniel Radcliffe was 13 and Rupert Grint was 15.Jun 4, 2014

What year is Prisoner of Azkaban set in?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

December 1993 – Harry receives the Marauders’ Map from Fred and George Weasley. June 1994 – Harry Potter discovers Sirius Black and finds out he’s innocent, rescues him but loses Peter Pettigrew.AprA 30, 2020

Why is Prisoner of Azkaban so different?

Harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban seems a bit different because it was directed by another director. Chris Columbus directed the first two movies(philosopher’s stone and chamber of secrets) keeping the theme and direction as close as possible to the books. … So the first two movies and Goblet of Fire seems same.

• The Injustice of Legal Systems. This book makes several moral attacks on a legal system that is controlled by men like Lucius Malfoy who bully people until he gets his way. …

• The Duality of Life. …
• The Importance of Loyalty

.

Good vs. Evil

In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry begins to understand that the world is not divided into a simple binary of good versus evil or people who do only good things or only bad things. Harry and his friends are thirteen now, breaching adulthood, and the new cast of significant characters forces them to question their ideas of cut-and-dry, black-and-white morality.

A shining example of this new perspective is when Harry challenges Snape’s claims that his father, James Potter, was “exceedingly arrogant.” Harry tells Snape to shut up. He says, “I know the truth, all right? He saved your life! Dumbledore told me! You wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for my dad!” (p. 284-285). But Snape has another side of the story. He says, “Have you been imagining some act of glorious heroism? Then let me correct you—your saintly father and his friends played a highly amusing joke on me that would have resulted in my death if your father hadn’t got cold feet at the last moment. There was nothing brave about what he did. He was saving his own skin as much as mine” (p. 285). Harry has to account for this new information and consider the idea that his father, who died while Harry was still an infant, and who he only knew through photos and the stories told by those closest to him, might not be as perfect as he thought he was. His idealized vision of his father is suddenly challenged by a plausible story of someone who he loathes, Professor Snape.

Fear

The feeling of fear assumes a physical form with the introduction of Dementors, creatures who feed on hope and happiness and instill fear in anyone they approach. Once Harry encounters a Dementor, they become his greatest fear (as demonstrated by the fact that the Boggart turns into a Dementor when Harry faces it). The fact that Harry’s greatest fear is a Dementor attack means that his greatest fear is that which instills fear—in other words, he fears “fear itself,” as the popular adage goes.

The ominous and omnipresent Dementors are Rowling’s way of introducing a more tangible and adult version of the fear and trauma that Harry has endured in his life. Voldemort, though notably not present in the novel, looms in the distance; Harry, for the first time, must confront the night his parents died and the complex betrayals that led to the tragedy. At the same time, the Patronus charm is introduced as a way to physically combat the Dementors; Patronuses are inherently good, light things, battling fear and darkness and giving Harry a power he had not previously possessed. Since Patronuses can only be powered by the happiest of memories, it is easy to see what Rowling is saying, here: you won’t sink into despair or lose yourself in fear if you remember the happy, light things in your life that motivate you to keep fighting.

Friendship and Loyalty

This third installment of the Harry Potter series introduces a major conflict between Ron and Hermione, which ignites before the school year even begins. Ron’s rat Scabbers has been ill, and Hermione decides to buy a pet cat after it attacks Ron in the pet store. Throughout the book, Hermione is forced to be the voice of reason, keeping Harry’s safety her top priority, while Ron and Harry would rather focus on having a good time, going to Hogsmeade, and flying on the best and fasted broom ever made. Hermione constantly reminds Harry that he shouldn’t be leaving the castle, threatens to tell McGonagall about the Marauder’s Map, and does tell McGonagall about the Firebolt sent to Harry without any indication of who sent it.

Harry and Ron shun Hermione for much of the novel, which increases her anxiety—already heightened by her inordinate workload. Hagrid calls the boys to his cabin for tea and reminds them that they should value their friend more than rats and broomsticks, and tells them that even with all her homework, Hermione made time to help him prepare for Buckbeak’s trial (something that Harry and Ron promised they would do, too, and forgot).

Friendship and Growing Up. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban introduces the reader to two generations of friendships: those between Harry and his friends in the present day, and those between Harry’s father, James, and James’s crew while they were students at Hogwarts.Feb 23, 2019

The Injustice of Legal Systems

This book makes several moral attacks on a legal system that is controlled by men like Lucius Malfoy who bully people until he gets his way. Due to liability and general xenophobia, Buckbeak is sentenced to execution for harming Malfoy, when every reader saw that Malfoy deserved to be scratched. Furthermore, once Black is caught, only Dumbledore believes that he is innocent, since nobody else cares to listen to a story supported by no evidence other than the words of Hermione and Harry. Cornelius Fudge even says at one point how bad losing track of Black will look for the Ministry of Magic. None of these are fair choices; they are just easy ones. A third choice involving this injustice is the assumption that Crookshanks killed Scabbers. This assumption was supported by evidence. In the cases of this story, the big people are framed, and yet the system won’t bother to notice.

The Duality of Life

As shown by Lupin, who spends much of his time as a respectable professor, and then another part as a man-eating werewolf, we understand that everything is capable of having two sides. We see this again when Black is innocent, Hermione begins breaking rules, and Buckbeak’s execution is reversed through a simple intrusion through time. Nothing in these stories is ever what it seems; everything stands in a position to surprise. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, every story has two sides, and in a world where time may change, we have to believe that both of them can be true.

The Importance of Loyalty

The reason Harry feels such personal hatred toward Black is the thought that he betrayed his best friend, James Potter. When it turns out that Pettigrew had done it instead, Lupin and Black turn snarling on him. “YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!” Black yells at him, “DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!” Harry finds himself facing Black in the first place because he went down the Whomping Willow to rescue Ron. One of the greatest and most repeated messages in this series is summed up by Hagrid’s sobering advice to Harry and Ron in chapter fourteen: “I thought you two’d value yer friend more’n broomsticks or rats.” Human relationships are the core of this book.

Friendship and Growing Up

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban introduces the reader to two generations of friendships: those between Harry and his friends in the present day, and those between Harry’s father, James, and James’s crew while they were students at Hogwarts. By exploring the contours of the different friendship generations and how the friendships evolve over time, the book positions how a person treats their friends as an indicator of maturity and selflessness—or as an indicator of a lack thereof.

For much of the novel, Hermione finds herself at odds with Ron and Harry. Ron is understandably angry when Hermione chooses to adopt Crookshanks, an orange cat intent on murdering his rat, Scabbers, while both boys are beside themselves when Hermione tells Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt broom that Harry receives mysteriously at Christmas. For Hermione, particularly in the case of the Firebolt, her close friendships with Ron and Harry are worth sacrificing in order to keep the two safe and healthy (she suspects the Firebolt came from Sirius Black, whom they believe at that point is trying to kill Harry). This suggests that at times, being a good friend means going against a friend’s wishes with the understanding that, eventually, the angry friend will appreciate the gesture and concern. However, for most of the novel, this concept is lost on Harry and Ron. Instead, they blame Hermione for their misery and refuse to speak to her, which means that Hermione is alone and effectively friendless at a time in her life when, thanks to her use of the Time-Turner, she could really use camaraderie. Eventually, Hagrid takes it upon himself to talk to the boys about Hermione and their treatment of her. He disappointedly tells them that he’d hoped they’d know enough to prioritize friendships over objects, which is the kick that Harry and Ron need to make up with Hermione and move in the direction of a more mature view of friendships and relationships.

The novel explores these ideas in a slightly different way in the case of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, who are adults or deceased in the present but attended Hogwarts a generation before the trio. Lupin was allowed to attend Hogwarts in spite of the fact that he’s a werewolf–in the wizarding world, werewolves are shunned and experience discrimination, as they’re believed to be subhuman and dangerous. The Shrieking Shack and an accompanying tunnel, guarded by the Whomping Willow, were constructed so he had a safe place to transform every month, and Lupin’s true identity was kept secret from the student body. Lupin’s friends, however, became understandably curious about where and why he disappeared every month. When they learned the truth, rather than shunning him, they set out to figure out how to turn themselves into Animagi, humans who can transform into animals at will.

Because of the dangers associated with turning oneself into an Animagus, Lupin sees this as the ultimate sacrifice on the part of his friends–they could’ve died or suffered permanent damage had things gone wrong, let alone the fact that attempting the transition without Ministry supervision is illegal. However, at the time, this also appeared to be the ultimate act of friendship. James, Sirius, and Peter weren’t in danger around the werewolf Lupin in their animal forms, which enabled them to turn Lupin’s horrifying monthly transformation into something exciting, fun, and, most importantly, something he didn’t have to go through alone. With friends, the experience became bearable.

It’s important to note that in the novel’s present, Lupin and Sirius acknowledge that what they did as teens was shockingly dangerous and immature of them–their gallivanting could have easily resulted in Lupin biting someone, while becoming Animagi in the first place represented a similarly dangerous lack of judgment. In the present, Harry and Ron’s choice to ignore and be mean to Hermione comes across as stubbornly immature to both the reader and the adults in the trio’s lives. By offering the adults’ mature perspective on their own teenage friendships, however, the novel offers the hope that Harry and Ron will one day recognize their immaturity at this point in time. In the same vein, the progress that the friends do make in this regard over the course of their third year acts as proof that they are well on their way to growing up, developing adult relationships, and acquiring increasingly more mature critical thinking skills.

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling uses symbols in form of creatures presented in the story. For example, a large black dog which was the animagus form of Sirius Black. A dog is a symbol of loyalty, but the black dog was presented in the story as an omen of death.

• Hermione’s Time-Turner (Symbol) Hermione’s Time-Turner, which takes the form of a small hourglass on a golden necklace chain, symbolizes the precious value of time. …
• The Grim (symbol) …
• Mystery (Motif) …
• Dementors (Symbol) …
• The Rat (symbol)

What do dementors symbolize?

When a Dementor From ‘Harry Potter’ Lives in Your Mind. I forget where I read it or heard it, but the dementors in “Harry Potter” are the embodiment of J.K. Rowling’s depression. A depression that makes you feel cold and numb and sucks all the happiness out of the world.

Dementors Are A Metaphor For Depression

They’re hopeless, horrible creatures who literally suck the life out of their victims, leaving them as empty shells; they drain happiness from the atmosphere, and they’re completely immortal.

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling uses symbols in form of creatures presented in the story. For example, a large black dog which was the animagus form of Sirius Black. A dog is a symbol of loyalty, but the black dog was presented in the story as an omen of death.

Names

Almost all of the names in the Harry Potter series are significant. Sirius Black means, virtually, Black Dog; the name Remus Lupin has its origins in the Latin word wolf, and in a co-founder of Rome, Remus, who was suckled by a wolf. Take also, for example, Lucius Malfoy: the “mal” in numerous languages is rooted in the word “bad,” and his first name, Lucius, is similar to Lucifer. Other names, like Dumbledore, have actual definitions—in this case, bumblebee in old English. One can liken this to Dumbledore, who is an ancient, wise wizard who works well and hard to sustain his community, the “hive” of Hogwarts. Professor Trelawney’s first name is Sibyll, the ancient prophet of mythology. Furthermore, Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail, and Prongs all are indicative of the animal they represent.

Quidditch as a social indicator

The Quidditch game between Gryffindor and Slytherin represents each of the teams perfectly. The Slytherins attempt to injure Harry the week before the game, and when the day of the match arrives, they play a dirty game, knocking players from their broomsticks during the game, grabbing Gryffindor heads and broomsticks instead of simply the balls. The Slytherins fly poorly on very good broomsticks (bought by Malfoy’s father so that Malfoy could play on the team). Futhermore, the Slytherin team is not integrated at all: they have a team of only boys, unlike the Gryffindor team, compiled of seven highly skilled, well-practiced girls and boys, flying on a full array of differently-priced broomsticks. Gryffindor plays fairly but retaliates hard, and Harry beats Malfoy to the Snitch, despite Malfoy’s many efforts to halt Harry’s progress.

• Harry Potter

• James Potter

• Lily Potter

• Ron Weasley

• Hermione Granger

• Voldemort

• Remus Lupin

• Sirius Black

• Hagrid

• Peter Pettigrew

• Albus Dumbledore

• The Dursleys

• Sybill Trelawney

• Aunt Marg

Harry Potter

The hero and protagonist, Harry is a twelve-year-old boy with messy hair and glasses who became famous within the wizard community by surviving the curse of a powerful wizard. Harry frequently finds himself entangled in dangerous adventures but he always lives to tell the tale. Harry’s character represents good intentions, innocence, and the fantasies of childhood. Harry Potter, “The Boy Who Lived,” the savior of the wizarding world and the only living wizard to defeat Lord Voldemort, is the protagonist of J. K. Rowlings series of novels. In this third installment, Harry heads back to Hogwarts with the threat of an escaped convict, Sirius Black, who according to the Ministry of Magic wants nothing more than to add Harry to his long list of alleged murder victims.

Lily Potter

Harry’s mother who sacrificed herself to save Harry from Voldemort; Harry can hear her screams when Dementors are near.

James Potter

Harry’s father, also killed by Voldemort; his animagi stag becomes the shape of Harry’s patronus. One of the creators of the Marauder’s Map.

Ron Weasley

Ron is one of Harry’s best friends and is his partner in crime. Ron comes from a huge wizarding family, the Weasleys. What they lack in wealth, they make up for in love and kindness. Ron’s relationship with Harry is sometimes strained by the notion that he is merely a “sidekick,” and he falls short of his friend’s talent and athleticism on the quidditch field. But Ron is always loyal and courageous when he needs to be.

Ron is tall, red-haired, and from a respected but poor family. Ron is one of Harry’s two best friends at Hogwarts. He is loyal to Harry, and belligerent to their enemy, Malfoy. Ron uses experience and a process of trial-and-error to solve most mysteries. Ron’s character is often overshadowed by Harry’s, but Ron always manages to succeed.

Hermione Granger

Hermione Granger is Hogwarts’ cleverest pupil and Harry’s other best friend. She learns spells easily and is always the first to solve problems and crack mysteries. Hermione’s academic ambitions play a prominent role in this book, because she requires the use of a time-turner to take more classes than is possible in the normal constraints of time. Her time-turner serves a higher purpose at the end of the book when she and Harry go back in time to save innocent lives.

Hermione is always the top student in her class. She is clever and well-read. Most spells come easily to her and remain in her encyclopedic mind.. However, she is in principle a rule-follower, and so in this story she often alienates Harry and Ron by reporting or threatening to report them to Professor McGonagall, in cases such as Harry’s gift of the Firebolt, or his possession and use of the Marauder’s map.

Voldemort

Once a student who attended Hogwarts fifty years prior to Harry’s time, Voldemort molded himself into the most powerful dark wizard the world has ever seen. Twelve years before, he killed Harry’s parents and tried to kill Harry, only to have his curse backfire and render him powerless. It is generally believed that Sirius Black turned Harry’s parents over to Voldemort, although in truth, Peter Pettigrew is guilty.

Voldemort. Once a student who attended Hogwarts fifty years prior to Harry’s time, Voldemort molded himself into the most powerful dark wizard the world has ever seen. Twelve years before, he killed Harry’s parents and tried to kill Harry, only to have his curse backfire and render him powerless.

Remus Lupin

Remus Lupin is the newly appointed teacher of Defense against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. He quickly becomes a favorite teacher among students for his “hands-on” approach, teaching the students to cast spells instead of having them use their textbooks. Since he was a boy, Lupin has suffered from being a werewolf. He was best friends with Harry’s dad at Hogwarts, and together with James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew, created the Marauder’s Map.

Lupin is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and he is very competent and likeable. He teaches Harry how to defend himself against Dementors, but he is forced to leave Hogwarts at the end of the year on account of his being a werewolf. He is one of the creators of the Marauder’s Map.

Sirius Black

Sirius Black is the titular prisoner of Azkaban who is wrongly accused and convicted of causing Peter Pettigrew’s death and the death of thirteen Muggles. Harry learns over the course of the novel that Sirius Black was his father’s childhood best friend, the best man at his parent’s wedding, and his own godfather. Sirius is also an Animagus and is able to transform into a black dog at will.

Once James Potter’s best friend, now an escaped convict from the wizard prison Azkaban, Black is suspected to be the cause of twelve Muggle deaths as well as the indirect cause of the deaths of Harry’s parents. He is a threat on the frontier of this story, one of the premier good wizards turned bad, although in the end he is revealed to be innocent in addition to being Harry’s godfather. Also, Black is able to transform himself at will into Padfoot, a large black dog that Harry mistakes for the Grim. One of the creators of the Marauder’s Map.

Hagrid

The gamekeeper at Hogwarts and a good friend of Harry’s, Hagrid is a giant, hairy man with an inimitable accent, and he has a great liking for strange and dangerous creatures. In this book, he is the defender of Buckbeak, a hippogriff that is placed on trial for injuring Draco Malfoy.

Peter Pettigrew

Peter Pettigrew was a childhood friend of James Potter, Lupin, and Sirius Black. He is an Animagus and can turn into a rat at will. The particular rat he turns into happened to fall into the hands of the Weasleys twelve years ago, after he framed Sirius for selling the Potters out to Voldemort and killing thirteen Muggles.

The fourth in the group of friends that included James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin, Pettigrew betrayed Lily and James, turning their whereabouts over the Voldemort, then blowing up a dozen Muggles, framing Black and turning himself into a rat so that he could escape. Another of the creators of the Marauder’s Map. Disguised as Scabbers, he has lived many years as Ron’s pet rat.

Albus Dumbledore

The impish, seemingly all-knowing Headmaster of Hogwarts. Dumbledore is beyond upset by the fact that Dementors are patrolling the grounds of his school, but he recognizes that they are a necessary evil to maintain the safety of his pupils.

Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, is a wise, powerful, elderly man with a long silver beard, and he is one of the most impressive characters Harry has ever met. He has a calm, secretive demeanor and is extremely intuitive, tolerant, and trustworthy.

The Dursleys

Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Harry’s cousin Dudley make up the Dursleys of Number 4 Privet Drive. The Dursleys are Harry’s only living relatives, and they are Muggles who hate everything having to do with magic and forbid Harry from talking about the wizarding world. Harry’s life with the Dursley’s is miserable, but he’s forced to live there every summer. Uncle Vernon is a beefy drill salesman, Aunt Petunia is a stay-at-home gossip, and Dudley is a spoiled, gluttonous teenager who enjoys nothing more than watching his dad verbally abuse Harry.

Sybill Trelawney

Trelawney is the professor of Divination at Hogwarts. She teaches students the imprecise art of seeing the future, reading palms and tea leaves, and gazing into crystal balls. The narration suggests strongly that Trelawney lacks the “inner eye” until the end, when she appears to have a real prophecy. The catch is that she doesn’t actually remember having the prophecy.

Aunt Marge

Vernon Dursley’s visiting sister; a loud, beefy, nasty-tempered Muggle woman who adores attack dogs and enjoys insulting Harry and his late parents.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban What’s Up With the Title?

By J.K. Rowling

         Third Person (Limited)

The third installment in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is written from the point-of-view of 13 year-old Harry Potter. The title refers to convicted criminal, Sirius Black, who has escaped Azkaban, a wizard prison.

In the series, this was the first title that mentions a person rather than an object. This title also stands out for being the most misleading in the series thus far… which happens to be really fitting. Azkaban is largely a mystery story (with elements of fantasy and Bildungsroman – a fancy German word for a coming-of-age story). The title helps set up the mystery elements of the novel from the get go – who is this prisoner? What did he do, and what does he want now?

Of course, just when we, and Harry, think we have the whole thing figured out, the novel throws us for a loop and we learn that we were wrong about everything. The Prisoner of Azkaban (as in, the character, not the title) isn’t the real villain of the story at all. Consider our minds blown.

This title also ties in two more of the book’s major themes – family and the past. As we learn more about the prisoner, one Sirius Black, we start to get an entire story-within-the-story – a history of the conflict with Voldemort, a crash course in the lives of James and Lilly Potter, and the strong family ties that Harry, one of the most famous orphan characters of all time, still has in the wizarding world. The Prisoner of Azkaban starts to work as a kind of metonym, which is a fancy way of saying a word or short phrase that stands for an entire concept or idea (try busting that one out on your next AP exam!). The Prisoner here stands for the entire first war with Voldemort and the ways in which Harry’s personal history is closely linked to that conflict.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban What’s Up

with the Ending?

Harry Potter books tend to follow a certain formula, which is cool to consider. They start off with Harry’s birthday. And they end with Harry returning to the Dursleys’ house for yet another summer. The ending of this book is no exception to this format. After yet another adventure, Harry and his BFFs journey home on the Hogwarts Express, and Harry manages to sneak in another “gotcha!” moment when he reunites with the Dursleys. This year it’s “Oh, did I forget to mention that my godfather is an escaped convict?” Good times, Harry.

However, this ending does stand out a bit from the previous two books in that Harry now has new family members in his life and a connection to his parents that he didn’t have before. Sirius’s letter to Harry at the end points to how things are going to be changing for Harry in the future – he’s connected not only to his past but to the entire wizarding world more fully now (through his knowledge and through his ties to Remus Lupin and Sirius). The ending of this novel fittingly sets the stage for the more adult novels to come in the series.

“SMALLPOX; CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND PREVENTION”

Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by the two variants of the virus, namely Variola major and Variola minor. It was capable of spreading from one person to another. Smallpox was proven fatal for about every third person in ten patients.

The people who survived this disease have remained with permanent scars on their bodies. It had no known origin, but it spread over all the globe through trade and travel.

This disease had several stages as it tends to increase. Every stage showed its own salient features. The first stage included the time period of no visible symptoms. In this stage, the virus resided the body without causing any harm. This stage was known as the Incubation period. This usually lasted seven to nineteen days.

Once the virus started invading the body, initial symptoms started to appear which included high fever, body aches, and occasional nausea, sometimes vomiting. This phase was partially considered contagious.

The early rash phase started as the rashes started to appear as red spots on the tongue and mouth. These spots tend to spread the virus into the whole body through mouth accompanied by fever. After these spots break and burst into the mouth, these spots start appearing on the whole body.

Gradually the spots started filling with an opaque fluid forming a dent in the center. The skin sores were changed into bumps. This stage was considered highly contagious. As the days passed, the sores changed into the pustules which were solid and firm to touch and appeared like pus under the skin.

The pustules then transformed into the scabs that then fallen off in the next stage, leaving a mark behind on the skin. Till here, the disease was observed as contagious. In the last stage of being non-contagious, all the scabs left the body.

The infection is spread through direct and indirect contact with sick people. It was also capable of advancing through the airborne medium. The survey shows that the disease escalated through the infected fluid of an infected person. Direct contact through physical means, the droplets from their nose and mouth as a result of sneezing or coughing.

The scabs or pustules which were filled with fluids contained a variola virus that contaminated not only the patient’s body but also the objects held by the infected person. When a healthy person touched the contaminated belongings of the ill person, the chances of being infected increased. Scientists researched that smallpox tended to be spread through the air medium only.

The only prevention to avoid the disease was to get vaccinated, but when the smallpox outbreak occurred, there was no vaccine to get cured that resulted in an extensive death toll rate. The naturally occurring case was reported back in 1977. After which no other case has been turned up till now.

” THE FIGHT BEGINS AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES”

”  Infectious diseases introduced with Europeans, like smallpox and measles, spread from one Indian tribe to another, far in advance of Europeans themselves, and killed an estimated 95% of the New World’s Indian population”

– JERISHA. S

“TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WHILE WORKING FROM HOME”

In the era of COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are struggling to open and more people continue working from home.

While many lost their jobs, modern technology through advancements created many new. Technology brings ease in our daily life as we can collaborate with team members and can share business documents safely and securely.

However, the combination of quarantine and constantly staying online has some negative impacts on mental health.

Before the pandemic, 81 percent of the remote workers expressed that they feel exhaustion, mental suffocation under longer working hours and 19 percent online workers revealed they feel loneliness.

Pandemic just brought more anxiety, fear of having an infection and social isolation in the community.

In order to fight against loneliness, anxiety, exhaustion and keeping the mental health in check during working from home, one must bring a balance in their lives and here is how;

1 – SEPARATE YOUR WORKSPACE:

In normal life when you leave the office you basically distance yourself from work. But in the pandemic, if you are having a meeting on the couch or opening your email in the living room and sticky notes floating as you sit in the lounge will always give you a feel that you are in the office and it will not be possible to distance yourself from work.

In this situation, experts advise to build a separate workspace in your house and do all of your work-related activities in that particular area.

No matter how much you decorate your working table to make it less depressing if it’s right in front of you every time you feel depressed.

To improve your mental health it’s very necessary to withdraw from the workspace at the end of the day.

2 – HAVE DEDICATED COMMUNICATION TIME SLOTS:

Emails, messages, and notification are the ones that can easily deviate your focus from work. These tiny distractions are a barrier to being productive. In order to avoid being distracted, you need to schedule a time slot in which you are going to reply to all the messages, notifications and can check emails.

Choose the time slot which is least productive. There are some people who like to work in the morning and then there are those who are productive in the nighttime. So if you are a morning person choose a slot that does not disturb your efficiency.

3 – CREATE A ROUTINE:

There is a lack of routine structure for the remote workers in the coronavirus pandemic as they need to take care of their kids, spouse, parents, and daily routine household activities.

To balance family life, you need to create a routine and follow it strictly. Make a timetable of your daily tasks and improve your mental health and deal with both the house and work-related activities accordingly.

4 – MARK YOUR BOUNDARIES:

Whether you are a freelancer dealing with challenging clients or employed as an office worker following your supervisor, it is necessary to express your limit.

The pressure of being available 24/7, responding to customers even after the office hours or handling one more task at the end of the day you feel pressure and anxiety. In order to make secure your mental health, you need to first safeguard your personal time.

All you have to do is express your concern to your supervisor regarding your availability of office hours and clarify what qualifies as an emergency. By doing that it will spark a light of positivity.

Finding an equilibrium while work from home is a difficult task but by making effort you will succeed eventually.

” THINK POSITIVE”

– MEREZJA F

A Typing Mistake worth $18.5 million ?

We are all well known to the seven letter word ‘mistake’. All human beings commit mistakes quite naturally. But what if a single mistake costs 80 million dollars to a country?

History’s most expensive mistake

At Kennedy Space Center in America everyone was in a hurry-scurry because it was a special day. It was 27 August 1962 and NASA’s most ambitious interplanetary spacecraft Mariner-1 was all set for launch. Everything was double checked and at 1721 hours Mariner-1 was launched successfully.

But exactly after 3 minutes and 32 seconds of launch scientists at the space station got some crucial information. After almost 5 minutes Mariner-1 blasts off in air.

There was no issue either with the rocket or with calculations. The fault was a minute mistake in the code.

Whenever a spacecraft is launched into the outer space a code is used to preprogramme it with the path trajectory. Due to any unspecified reason, in the code of Mariner-1, a bar was missed that was needed to be put above R which is the radial velocity. When spacecrafts travel on their trajectory they keep moving and changing their trajectory due to various unavoidable reasons. Thus they are preprogrammed to ignore minute changes until and consider the mean trajectory. As the bar was missed in the code of Mariner-1, as soon as it was launched it started to overcorrect the minute changes in its trajectory which led it to spin randomly. Hence, Mariner-1 was destructed to prevent damage to inhabited areas on Earth.

Thus a single typing mistake was worth almost 18.5 million dollars, the cost of the spacecraft.

When good things happen, we boost our ego. “We did this, we did that.” When bad things happen, we lose heart. We lose patience with ourselves and we blame ourselves for everything.

That’s no way to live. up’s and down’s are a pattern of life and is a evidence of the fact that we are alive.

Find the stability in your life, discover it and hang on it. Hang on to the good in you.

Khushi Agarwal

Man is the only creature in the entire universe blessed with a body and a mind. It is this, which makes him the crown of creation. While a healthy body is necessary, but in absence of a healthy mind, he is no longer a human being, but is more akin to an animal. Thus in my opinion a healthy mind is more important than a healthy body.

While the body is subject to ageing, the mind is not. Thus a healthy person may with a passage of time, grow old with age. On the other hand, the mental faculty of a person not only increases with age, but he becomes more mature, wiser and experienced.

So, in my opinion, a healthy mind plays a very significant role in one’s life to conquer all the barriers and challenges.

Khushi Agarwal

“Easy Ways to Avoid an Argument”

Arguments never help people to solve a problem or reach a compromise. Arguments always implicate tension and reciprocal irritation, which aggravates misunderstanding between the parties and turn things into great problemsArguments can be like storms – enough bad ones over a long period of time and it can really start to weather away at things

The author in this essay gives three situations to avoid an argument. Once he went to an ice cream shop with his child and demanded for 3 liters of ice cream for which the girl in the shop said ‘Do you know how hard it is to scoop three liters?’ She wanted to question that girl but instead she understood the situation that it was too rush and she was the only girl to serve everybody. The girl felt comfort and relaxed by her words. So the author avoided the situation of an argument. The author gives three techniques in which we can avoid an argument and she calls them as ‘Tongue Fu’.

Handle hassles with humour:

The author once happens to see a tall young man walking in San Francisco Airport. People around him were laughing because his T-Shirt says ‘No I am not a Basket ball player’ and at the back it was ‘Are you a Jockey?’ The author chased him and asked for which the tall man said that he has a whole drawer full at home. The author was surprised to hear this. But the tall man said that one should not bother what others say about him and if he finds that they are making fun of him then to sometimes few catchy quotations or cartoons are put on to change the attitude of the people.

When people complain, don’t explain:

The author says there are situation where we come across complaints in that situation we should not start explaining otherwise it will lead to argument. Like when somebody is ringing to the office and complaining about the catalogue, instead of explaining about the delay its better say sorry and till them that you will get to them back soon. Another example is a man was waiting an appointment with the doctor at 3 o’clock. But when it was time he got angry and started shouting. But the receptionist replied him in a polite voice and convinced him.

Exit gracefully:

In a dinner table there was an argument about the highways. The father-in-law does not like and the son-in-law said it is good to have highways. The father-in-law does not like and he existed from the dinner table.

Another example, there was a talk going on between the author and his friends regarding the election and each one was favouring his own favourite party. When they asked the opinion of the author, the author didn’t say anything and came out of that place. Thus the author says one can avoid argument if he remembers these three steps in life because ‘A spoken word flies; you won’t catch it’. It is waste of time only. So we have to avoid fruitless arguments.

As a central concept in the present day international scenario, GLOBALIZATION is hard to define. Still, scholars have made attempts to provide a basic understanding of the concept. Globalization is a significant factor in competitive world that integrate and mobilize cultural values of people at the global level. In the age of rapid technical progression, many countries are unified and transformed due to the process of globalization. The concept has got inextricably linked with the process of transformation touching upon every aspect of SOCIAL, POLITICAL, and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT around the globe. It can be seen as a process by which the POPULATION of the world is increasingly bonded into a single society. GLOBALIZATION has a huge impact on cultural, social, monetary, political, economic, and communal life of countries. But, WHAT IS THIS GLOBALIZATION? HOW IT HAS IMPACTED RHE THE WORLD? HOW HAS IT IMPACTED US? THE PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY?

Well, In Broader sense, the term “GLOBALIZATION” means combination of economies and societies through cross country flows of information, technology, ideas, goods, services, capital, finance, and people. In the SOCIAL front, globalization signifies closer interaction of people and homogenisation of culture and values and the world being transformed into a “GLOBAL VILLAGE”. POLITICALLY, it refers to the complex networks of global governance and shared Political values resulting in the development of a tendency towards homogenisation of global Political culture. ECONOMICALLY, it is manifested in the form of LIBERALISATION tendencies, privatisation, deregulation leading to a FREE MARKET REGIME.

The term GLOBALIZATION encompasses various aspects including expanded international trade, telecommunications, monetary co-ordination, multinational corporations, cultural exchanges of new types and scales, migration, and refugee flows, and relations between the world’s rich and poor countries. Globalization is marked by LIBERALISATION, PRIVATIZATION, FREE TRADE, DEREGULATION OF TARIFF BARRIERS, INTERNATIONALISATION OF NATIONAL ECONOMIES, GLOBAL MOVEMENT OF CAPITAL, INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY. Therefore, Globalization signifies: * Opening up of national economies to foreign capital, foreign direct investment and foreign technologies. * Efforts of integrating national economies with the global economy. * Free trade, meaning free flow of trade and removal of tariff and trade barriers, protective regimes including granting of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status. * PRIVATIZATION is the key to LIBERALISATION which means less and less control of state over ownership of means of production and distribution. * Globalized social movements have resulted in global civic activism and range from movements for human rights, women’s issues, Greenpeace and other environmental movements to HIV/AIDS.

“GLOBALIZATION AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATE”. The WESTPHALIAN MODEL OF STATE SYSTEM has come under the threats of Globalization. Though the states, still surviving, exercise their power and authority in certain respects, but the core of the WESTPHALIAN MODEL, that is, the CONCEPT OF SOVEREIGNTY, has deeply undermined in a fast globalizing world. The concept of sovereignty pertains to a specific reference, to a specific territory where governments exercise absolute authority. But the FORCES OF GLOBALIZATION have rendered the territorial limits useless. In other words, there has been a deterritorialization of the world. The state in a globalizing world has to work along with the forces which are not under its control even such as surveillance by global governance agencies, nationalism, global ecological problems, satellite communications, electronic money transfers, multinational companies, migration, information flows, technology transfers and most importantly, nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction. Scholars have pointed out that the concept of ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY was developed under conditions of relatively low level of interdependence among the states. However, the complex level of interdependence with large flow of capital, labour, technology and information across borders has now emerged within the changing patterns of SOVEREIGNTY and its meaning and conditionally are continuously changing in a FAST GLOBALIZING WORLD.

The GLOBAL GOVERNANCE SYSTEM has also limited the STATE SOVEREIGNTY. In several fields, Ranging from conflict management, to human rights and environmental movements more than the state it is now the agencies such as THE UNITED NATIONS, THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF), the WTO, the WORLD BANK, and various regional arrangements have significant roles to play.

Global Social Movements have also now come to undermine the SOVEREIGNTY OF STATES. These Social Movements to some extent succeed in bringing about changes in the policies of the states.

Hence, it might seem that under such circumstances, Globalization has really brought an end to state sovereignty. But, experiences show that STATES do continue to be the most powerful actors and, in times of turbulence, such as global economic crisis states have again reaffirmed their authority as ultimately it is the governments who are providing bailout packages for the financial institutions in their respective countries.

“In no way have STATES become less SIGNIFICANT”.

On 4th June 2021, the finance ministry of Russia has announced the removal of the ‘Dollar’ from the National Wealth Fund. National Wealth Fund is an accumulated fund of oil reserves of Russia. Currently, the dollar accounts for nearly 35% of this fund which is expected to be changed into currencies such as the euro, yuan etc. The total worth of the national wealth fund is $186 billion now will be changed into other currencies. Russia has taken these steps in response to the economic sanctions imposed by the USA in April alleging Russia’s role in the 2020 US elections. The US has also alleged Russia of being involved with large scale computer network hacking and other illegal activities. Due to the sanctions, the US banks and institutional investors cannot invest in the Russian government ruble-denominated bonds. The analysts believe the new set of sanctions may damage the Russian economy to a significant extent. But according to the ‘wall street journal’, the decision to convert dollar holdings into other currencies is Russia’s clear message to the US that it will not fear any of sanctions imposed by the US.

Sovereign wealth funds are state-owned investment funds that help governments in investment, the flow of wealth, crisis management etc. These funds are generally for investment in bonds, stocks, gold and real estate, etc. Almost every big economy maintains one or more national wealth fund. According to the world economic forum, by January 2021, the Norwegian government pension fund is the world’s richest sovereign wealth fund worth $1.1  trillion. China investment cooperation fund is the second richest in the world with a valuation of around $1 trillion.

The emergence of the dollar as a global currency for trade

From 1870 to the first world war, the pound sterling was used extensively across the globe. This period was dominated by the economies of the UK and the US. But between WWI and WWII gold standard collapsed and the importance of the pound sterling also declined. The economic turbulence during the interwar period had made world leaders worried about the future of the global economic system. After the end of the second world war, 700/representatives from 44 countries met in a high-level conference at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in the united states. The objective of this conference was to create a new global agreeable financial system. The Bretton woods conference established two important financial institutions- the world bank and IMF. This conference also declared the US dollar as an international reserve currency. The reason behind the US dollar being declared as an international reserve currency was its exceptional control over the global gold reserve.

Russia has intensified ‘de-dollarisation’ in the post-2014 period when its relations with the west is continuously deteriorating. With continuous deteriorating US-Russia relations, Russia’s relations with China is substantially improving. Since 2014, Russia is also working on an international monetary transfer system like china. Slowly Russia is decreasing its trade-in dollar and increasing the use of the euro and yuan. Both Russia and China have declared to take joint initiatives to end western dominance on the international payment system and the dependence on the US dollar. On 26th April 2011, Bloomberg reported that the line in global exports, the share of US currency has dropped by as much as 50%.

Livelihood of human being has been mostly affected during the times of Pandemic. The natural reason for the negative impact is due to lockdown and safety measures taken by the government to keep health of every human being safe and secure. During this time, Students have suffered a lot in terms of getting the proper education . Parents have become a slave of school, they have to pay the hefty amount of fees to school. They don’t have an option to do anything against the school and education system. Online classes is the only way to continue our education in the lockdown. Many problems have a single solution i.e., new ways to continuously learn and grow without wasting any single year.

Online classes do have multiple benefits as it is the only choice left for us. Schools and colleges were shut due to the fear of spreading virus rapidly. Despite of several advantage, It has made our education system more lazy towards fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. Even students have lost their interest due to virtual classes which give us performing multiple task simultaneously. Being at home, It is nearly impossible for everyone to follow the time table set by schools and colleges sincerely. Both Teachers and students have faced many challenges as some doesn’t had proper system for taking online classes like Laptop, Internet, Tripod, etc.

Quality of education has decreased due to the pandemic. Many students are not able to focus and learn virtually. Even the online exams conducted by schools and universities have given students several chances of not studying properly. There are so many ways to cheat in the online exams. In the upcoming future, Our Education system needs to think more ways to provide the best education to the students. The government needs to take more strict actions in implementing the education compulsory and easily available for all. Due to pandemic, Our lives have taken a u-turn which is not leading us to our brighter future. It will take a lot of time for us to overcome the negative impacts it is leaving .

Education sector needs more attention and strictness. In order to keep the students think new and creative ideas, We should encourage them in pursuing what them dream to do in the right direction.

Air is important for living things .Breathing is a part of a process called respiration .During respiration ,a living thing takes in oxygen from tge air and gives out carbon dioxide .the process gives animals and plants the energy to eat ,grow and live life.

importance uses of air

• Sustain life and growth
• combustion
• maintain temperature
• supplier of energy
• photosynthesis

while the ocean contain most of the plants water water also exist as ice and water vapour .Air is important because it helps water move between their states in a process scientist call the water cycle .Heated by the sun surface water vapours into the air and becomes water vapour .

All living things need air .Animals and plants would die withou

   The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc in India, devastating especially on the not so affluent sections of our society. The intermittent lockdowns and the resultant economic fallouts have left the poor to fend for themselves. With the enormity of numbers that we are witnessing in the second wave, even the capacity to afford private healthcare is becoming increasingly immaterial. The entire system is getting crushed under the rapidly rising toll of the pandemic. Swift and widespread vaccination of almost the entire adult population could thwart this catastrophic wave of sickness and death. Though the Union government has allowed vaccinations of everyone above the age of 18 from May 1, there still linger some genuine concerns.

Allowing everyone above the age of 18 to get vaccinated and making the vaccines available on such a large scale is not the same thing. Furthermore, affordability is one of the major concerns. A survey conducted by Gaon Connection, a rural media platform, found that the paramount concern for a large section of the population in rural India was the issue of affordability, with about 36% of the respondents of the survey expressing their unwillingness to pay for the vaccine. Since the question of affordability is one of the primary reasons for vaccine hesitancy, it needs to be addressed with urgency.

Many states have announced that vaccinations will be provided for free through state funded hospitals and health centers. Whether they’ll be able to keep their word depends on whether they can procure sufficient doses. As for private hospitals, the Union government has taken a free-market approach, by allowing them to procure vaccinations directly from the manufacturers.

A single dose of vaccine could be free, or could cost anywhere between Rs 700 and Rs 1,500 depending on where you get your vaccination and which vaccine you choose. The lack of a holistic approach and a uniform strategy in terms of vaccination has resulted in chaos, and the system is breaking down under the stress of policy incertitude. There is no clarity on how the manufacturers will handle the supply chain distribution between the state governments and private hospitals. Most state-owned hospitals, where the vaccines can be administered free of cost, are facing a dire shortage of vaccines. This has put the poorer sections of our society at a distinct disadvantage in our fight against the pandemic. Apropos of this, there is an increasing debate on whether the right to such lifesaving vaccinations should be part of basic human rights.

If we look at the issue from a political perspective, it is evident that a modern day Welfare State should ensure the protection of basic human rights. It should provide social services to its citizens, including in the matter of public health. All citizens, irrespective of their financial status, must be beneficiaries of these services. Consequently, the political actions of the government should among other things, be aimed at facilitating social policies for disease prevention and cure.

In India, the right to health is not explicitly referred to under the Constitution as a fundamental right, but the apex court of the nation has many a time emphasised the importance of this right. Through its landmark judgments in cases like Bandhua Mukti Morcha v Union of India & Ors, Consumer Education and Research Centre v. Union of India, and Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity & Ors. v. State of West Bengal, the Supreme Court had interpreted the provision of Article 21 of the Constitution as including a right to health. Even from the economy’s point of view, there is a case to be made for providing free vaccinations. A healthy population is fundamental to a healthy economy. Perhaps this is the reason why even nations favouring free market capitalism like Switzerland are providing free COVID-19 vaccines for their residents.

The counterargument oftentimes is that India does not have the financial or economic means to execute such a large scale welfare program. This argument lacks substance, considering we as a nation have time and again in the recent past splurged sizable resources on several vanity projects. India’s poor track record of healthcare spending is well documented. It is estimated that the public spending of our country in the health sector has remained stagnant at just above 1% of the GDP for the past decade, which is one of the lowest in the world. The National Health Policy of 2015 estimates that more than 63 million people are faced with poverty every year due to healthcare costs. Surely, free vaccinations for all the citizens would be a bare minimum that is expected of the government to make amends to these derelictions.

In addition to the sickness many have contracted, the repercussions of the economic slowdown due to the pandemic in India have left scores of people without a means of livelihood. If the government aims to rehabilitate the general population and help them get back on their feet, the first step would be to ensure free vaccination for all its citizens.

Lokpal, yes it’s the same forgotten institution that led to fall of the UPA In 2014. The word which let one of the biggest movements of India and leaders like Anna Hazare, Kejriwal, the present Chief Minister of Delhi amongst many others shone bright. Due to popular support it was finally passed in 2013. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas act, 2013 was the beacon of hope against corruption. After a long wait of many years, several debates and failed bills, the moment of victory of justice was here.

Though the act was passed, it remained on paper for the about five months. The argument for the dawdle was given as delay in appointments of chairperson and members of Lokpal. Since no one could be recognised as leader of opposition after 2014 general election, the committee responsible for selecting members of Lokpal could not be formed. However in March 2019 chairman of the commission was appointed by the president on recommendation of a four member selection committee the devoid of leader of the opposition. Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose became the first chairman of the ombudsman. Further, the centre refused to disclose the deliberations of selection committees meetings. Central information Commission has taking account of the fact and this investigating the matter upon appeal by Ms. Bharadwaj who filed an RTI request. The information Commission gave its decision after two years. department of personnel and training stated that the minutes of the selection committee was confidential and henceforth was exempted under Section 8 of the RTI act. Ms. Bharadwaj Countered the argument sing that the larger public has a right to know about the basis on which their Lokpal or Lokayukta was selected. Finally in February, 2021 the final verdict was in favour of the centre. The verdict was substantiated by citing Supreme Court decision on local search committee and committees for selecting information commissioners.

The latest update about Lokpal has raised many ears. After 2 long years, anti-corruption ombudsman submitted its first annual report to the President. As per the report, Lokpal received 110 corruption complaints. Among them 4 were against remember yourself parliament in the year 2020 -21. 1,427 complaints were reported in 2019-20.

Back to basics: overview of Lokpal

• First recommended by administrative reforms commission of India (1966-1970) inspired by Scandinavian countries and New Zealand. It is notable that the commission kept judiciary outside the view of Lokpal and Lokayukta
• More than 10 official attempts were made before the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act was passed in 2013
• Few States had established Lokayukta even before the act was passed like Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan etc.
  composition -Chairperson and 8 members in which 4 should be Judicial members (50% members from SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women)
  Appointed by President on recommendation of a selection committee
• Members of selection committee for selection of Chairperson-

1. Prime Minister
2. Speaker of Lok Sabha
3. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
4. Chief Justice of India
5. Eminent jurist nominated by President of India on the basis of recommendation of first four members of the selection committee

• Search committee to help selection committee – 50% members from SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women
• Jurisdiction extends to group A, group B, group c and group D officers and employees of government, institutions fund partially or fully by government (excluding government aided agencies), entities receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs. 10 Lakhs per year . Prime Minister is also under its purview.
• Power of superintendence and direction over investigation agencies (like Central Bureau of Investigation)
• Well defined time periods for preliminary enquiry (3 months extendable by 3 months), investigation (6 months extendable by 6 months) and trial (1 month extendable by 1 year)
• Lokayukta should be set up by state governments within a year from the date of commencement of the act.
  

The watchdog agency is an important organ for a corruption free democracy. There are a few drawbacks regarding the transparency of procedure while dealing with cases related to Prime Minister. In addition, anonymous complaints are not allowed. This threatens the privacy of whistleblowers who file complaints against powerful people. Also there is a heavy penalty for false complaints which can deter people. There are some flaws which should be repaired.
The transparency in selection of Chairman of Lokpal is being questioned. The Lokpal movement might be getting a new lease of life after it faded away in 2014. The organisation was made for the people of India and hence it belongs to the people. Every fact related to it should be put to display for public. This will be the mantra of creating a strong and trustworthy Lokpal.

Role of private hospital of vaccination

The Supreme Court was worried about the role of private hospitals in COVID-19 vaccination, saying whether they would prefer profit over public health. The court’s anxiety is real and present as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Monday revealed that private hospitals would retain their capacity to buy 25% of vaccine stock from the manufacturers.The court had advised the government to maintain a strict vigil over private hospitals in a May 31 order. It had raised an apprehension that private hospitals would sell the vaccines they procure at higher prices unless they were “regulated stringently”. It had reminded the government that private hospitals, though they provide public health service, have profit at the  core of their existence.

A Bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, L. Nageswara Rao and S. Ravindra Bhat said, “Further consequences of vaccination by private hospitals under the liberalised vaccination policy relate to a simple issue at the core of their existence: that while they provide a public health service, they still remain private, for profit entities. Consequently, they may sell the vaccine doses procured at a higher price, unless regulated stringently.The court was also worried about transparency. “Private hospitals also may not sell all their vaccine doses publicly through appointments on CoWIN, but rather sell them for lucrative deals directly to private corporations who wish to vaccinate their employees it said.Access to private hospital to those who live in small cities and villages, have limited access to private hospitals. “Private hospitals are not equally spread out across and are often limited to bigger cities with large populations. As such, a larger quantity will be available in such cities, as opposed to the rural areas it However, the court clarified that it was not against private hospitals playing a role in the vaccination drive. It accepted the Centre’s point that they would reduce the burden on government facilities.The Centre was providing private hospitals with vaccines in the inoculation of those above 45 years of age. These hospitals were in turn allowed to charge patients a nominal fee .The Prime Minister said private hospitals could only charge up to ₹150 as service charge over the cost of the vaccine.In its May 31 order, the court wanted the Union to detail the “manner in which Central Government will monitor the disbursal of vaccines to private hospitals, specifically those who have hospital chains pan India”.

By : G Gnana Priya dharshini

Listening is a Soft Skill that allows people to understand what others are conveying. However, listening skills is the toughest job, but it has the highest priority beyond other skills. Hearing is a physical process, but listening is both physical and psychological. There are several purposes for listening. If you are a good listener, it will be greatly helpful for your bright future. Another best benefit of being a good listener is expressing your information and communicating with others.

How to improve you listening skills ?

It is very important to evaluate your current listening skills, and you have to select areas that you can improve. Here are some suggestions that may help you to improve your listening skills:

> Pay attention and make eye contact with the speaker.
> Respond appropriately.
> Providing feedback.
> Discussing questions in class.
> Ask open-ended questions.
> Request clarification.
> Don’t interrupt.
> Summarize the Data.
> Pay attention to nonverbal cues.
> Practice listening

Maroju Sanjana

Have you ever sat on the window sill or looked out of your balcony, with a cup of steaming hot tea while there are light showers in the city? The feeling is unbeatable especially with the earthy smell because of the rain. A minute of silence to those who haven’t experienced the feeling. The feeling of ecstasy goes over the roof if we have our favorite song playing in the background.

We always have that one song which, no matter where we hear it, takes us back to the specific memory associated with that song. Music has always played that role in our lives, to heal us, to soothe us, and to make us stand back up when we are down. It doesn’t matter which kind of music you listen, no matter who judge you for it, the feeling you get when you are immersing yourself in the out-of-world is what we need, especially when life doesn’t treat you right, or the world is in shambles, like right now.

It doesn’t matter if you like hardcore rock music, or just a simple violin or piano piece or a favorite song from a movie, it always has the potential to put you in a good mood. Many of might realize, the language doesn’t matter, it is the feeling that does.

There are people in the world who cannot sleep or cannot function without listening to music. Some might say it is just a sound, but for those who cherish it, that exact sound might be life-saving. It has been scientifically proven that the fetus in the womb responds to soothing music and it has been recommended to pregnant women to listen to relaxing music for healthy growth of the baby.

When we talk about music, there is a pretty common misconception that most of it is just played through guitar, piano, violin. There isn’t enough awareness about most of the bizarre instruments from different parts of the world. There are more than thousands of music instruments in the world, but what we are aware of is just a handful of it.

Music has been an integral part of human civilization since times unknown. When we think of tribal music, we think of a huge bonfire, people dancing around it and singing merrily. That is the beginning of the evolution of music.

For those beginners around there, there are many genres of music. For example, Classical, which is predominant in India as Carnatic music, Pop, Rock Music, Country music etc. The beautiful thing about music is that, there has been so much inspiration from part of world to another that the evolution has always been a good thing.

Seriously, there is no such thing as bad music if it is experienced by the correct person. The type of music you hate might be so dear to someone else. So, if you don’t like a particular genre of music, don’t listen to and don’t judge the person who listens to them. We all need to respect each other’s tastes and like music always does, heal everyone whenever you can.

Air is important for living things .Breathing is part of a process called respiration .,a living things take in oxygen from the air and gives out carbon dioxide .The process gives animals and plants the energy to eat,grow ,and live life

importance uses of air
* sustain life and growth
*combustion
*Maintain temperature
*supplier of emergy
*Photosynthesis

while the ocean contain most of the plantes water .water also exists as ice and water vapour .Air is important because it helps water move between these states in a proceess scoentisr call the water cycle .Heated by the sun surface water vapour into the air and becomes water vapour
All living things need air.Animals and plants would die without it .Air also holdsairplanes and kites above the ground ,and it is used to inflate tires and ballons air surrounds earth.

Air is pulled into the body by lungs and used to fill tiny air sacs that allow blood cells to pick up oxygen ,which is then distrubuted across the body cells .

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam(About this sound listen); 15 October 1931 – 27 July 2015) was an Indian aerospace scientist who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and studied physics and aerospace engineering. He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and was intimately involved in India’s civilian space programme and military missile development efforts. He thus came to be known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology. He also played a pivotal organisational, technical, and political role in India’s Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974.A. P. J. Abdul KalamA. P. J. Abdul Kalam.jpgOfficial portrait, 200211th President of India In office 25 July 2002 – 25 July 2007Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Manmohan Singh Vice President Krishan Kant Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Preceded byK. R. Narayanan Succeeded by Pratibha Patil Personal details Born Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam 15 October 1931Rameswaram, Madras Presidency, British India(present-day Tamil Nadu, India)Died 27 July 2015 (aged 83)Shillong, Meghalaya, India Resting place Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Desiya Ninai vagam, Pei Karumbu, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India Nationality Indian Alma mater St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli (BEng)Madras Institute of Technology (MEng) Profession Aerospace Scientist Author Awards Full list Notable work(s)Wings of Fire, India 2020, Ignited Minds, Indomitable Spirit, Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji Signature Website Official Website Scientific career Fields Aerospace Engineering Institutions Defence Research and Development Organisation Indian Space Research Organisation Kalam was elected as the 11th President of India in 2002 with the support of both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the then-opposition Indian National Congress. Widely referred to as the “People’s President”,he returned to his civilian life of education, writing and public service after a single term. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.While delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, Kalam collapsed and died from an apparent cardiac arrest on 27 July 2015, aged 83.Thousands, including national-level dignitaries, attended the funeral ceremony held in his hometown of Rameswaram, where he was buried with full state honours.

The Indian Premier League, also known as IPL was started in the date 9th April 2021. At the same time the corona virus also took the strength back slowly. The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect. The corona virus is spreading all over the world but in India it is high so they took this decision. It was spreading in India in a heavy speed within that IPL has finished 29 matches. There were many effects in this corona virus because many are affected and died in this time they are keeping some things raised, and also many players also affected by virus. Then this corona virus took speed before this IPL match they also kept election for 5 states. They must not keep election during this pandemic that to this virus will spread in air knowing all the election was held. There were no rules followed said by Government no one cared about it so the level has risen. The people are affected so much and some have died there is no place to bury. To sought out this problem they declared lockdown because of this many daily wage people and smallest working to all the working men and women are affected. To help the people who are working for less wages and those who don’t have food government is giving rupees 2000 to support the family. The people survive with this amount as per the full lockdown death rate and affected people rate is low but necessary things rate is high. Every people cannot buy all things needed to recover from this state it at least takes few months because all should earn. This IPL match give all people a relaxation because all are disturbed in each and every all need is relaxation. All people in India will watch this game interestingly as a family. In a stadium with people it is the wish of all of the people. It will be a great stress buster and all people can enjoy this match. All people after their terrible trouble of life now the virus speed is slow but the researchers found that there is another type of virus which speed is heavier than this beta and delta. Eventhough no one is caring about the virus all are thinking it will come to them because they are stronger. We cannot judge anything we may think we are stronger and we have immunity an all because some people are having immunity but are affected. In India they have stopped playing cricket matches because some players are affected by corona virus. So the council, sponers etc had a meeting. In that meeting they discussed where and when the rest of the matches should be held. As per the decision the rest of the matches are going to happen from September month all people are so excited. All are excitingly waiting when will the match will took place within that time this corona pandemic situation also will reduce.

The Indian Premier League, also known as IPL was started in the date 9th April 2021. At the same time the corona virus also took the strength back slowly. The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect. The corona virus is spreading all over the world but in India it is high so they took this decision. It was spreading in India in a heavy speed within that IPL has finished 29 matches. There were many effects in this corona virus because many are affected and died in this time they are keeping some things raised, and also many players also affected by virus. Then this corona virus took speed before this IPL match they also kept election for 5 states. They must not keep election during this pandemic that to this virus will spread in air knowing all the election was held. There were no rules followed said by Government no one cared about it so the level has risen. The people are affected so much and some have died there is no place to bury. To sought out this problem they declared lockdown because of this many daily wage people and smallest working to all the working men and women are affected. To help the people who are working for less wages and those who don’t have food government is giving rupees 2000 to support the family. The people survive with this amount as per the full lockdown death rate and affected people rate is low but necessary things rate is high. Every people cannot buy all things needed to recover from this state it at least takes few months because all should earn. This IPL match give all people a relaxation because all are disturbed in each and every all need is relaxation. All people in India will watch this game interestingly as a family. In a stadium with people it is the wish of all of the people. It will be a great stress buster and all people can enjoy this match. All people after their terrible trouble of life now the virus speed is slow but the researchers found that there is another type of virus which speed is heavier than this beta and delta. Eventhough no one is caring about the virus all are thinking it will come to them because they are stronger. We cannot judge anything we may think we are stronger and we have immunity an all because some people are having immunity but are affected. In India they have stopped playing cricket matches because some players are affected by corona virus. So the council, sponers etc had a meeting. In that meeting they discussed where and when the rest of the matches should be held. As per the decision the rest of the matches are going to happen from September month all people are so excited. All are excitingly waiting when will the match will took place within that time this corona pandemic situation also will reduce.

The silent killer that takes lives without warning, punishment, or any sympathy; depression is truly one of the most prominent mental illnesses in the world. Depression is defined as a mental illness inducing a severe and staunch feeling of sadness. The term depressed is coined in English as a temporary sadness that everyone experiences in their life. Despite that depression is more active in women, it is still one of the most common mental illnesses in the world. It affects anybody, regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing. Regardless of all these facts, surprisingly little is known about depression, however, scientists have been able to hypothesize major causes, effects, and treatments for the disability.

The things that help the most are the things that are the most difficult to do. There is a big difference, however, between something that’s difficult and something that’s impossible. While recovering from depression isn’t quick or easy, you do have more control than you realize—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. The key is to start small and build from there. You may not have much energy, but by drawing on all your reserves, you should have enough to take a walk around the block or pick up the phone to call a loved one, for example.

Taking the first step is always the hardest. But going for a walk or getting up and dancing to your favorite music, for example, is something you can do right now. And it can substantially boost your mood and energy for several hours—long enough to put a second recovery step into action, such as preparing a mood-boosting meal or arranging to meet an old friend. By taking the following small but positive steps day by day, you’ll soon lift the heavy fog of depression and find yourself feeling happier, healthier, and more hopeful again.

While artists work from real to the abstract, architects must work from the abstract to the real. Architecture, beneath all its limitations of engineering, safety, function, climate and economy, arouse us with designs in space and light achieved in the abstract.
Architecture is a passion, a vocation, a calling — as well as a science and a business. It has been described as a social art and also an artful science. Architecture must be of the highest quality of design. Architecture provides, in the words of Marcus Vitruvius, the great Roman architect and historian, “firmness, commodity and delight.
Architecture has the ability to materially affect outcomes: it can affect the way we relate to each other, increase business productivity, support communities and neighbourhoods, improve health, and even decrease crime.
Architecture is everywhere. Each and every building: home, school, office, hospital and supermarket were designed for their particular purpose. It is of vital importance that these buildings, and in turn the environments they form and the neighbourhoods and cities they are a part of, are designed to be the best possible buildings for their specific context, use and the people who use them.
Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and other physical structures. A wider definition often includes the design of the total built environment from the macro level of town planning, urban design, and landscape architecture to the micro level of construction details and, sometimes, furniture. The term “Architecture” is also used for the profession of providing architectural services.

BUILDING VS BUYING A HOUSE – WHICH ONE IS A BETTER OPTION?

Everybody wishes for a private place where they can loosen up and enjoy a happy life. One of the most contentious issues in the real estate market is whether to build our own home or buy one that is already built.

Each alternative has its own collection of benefits and drawbacks. We’ll go through all of these advantages and disadvantages in this article so you can make an educated decision about your home.

BUILDING A HOUSE
Building a home necessitates beginning from the ground up. You just have a small plot of land to work with. Starting the foundation of your home can be a thrilling experience, particularly for those who have always desired their own dream home.

It’s also a great choice for those with a vivid imagination who want to create something themselves.

However, there are some advantages and disadvantages to building a home.

ADVANTAGES OF BUILDING A HOUSE
There are many benefits to constructing a home. Among the benefits are the following:

The demand for readymade homes is extremely high, especially for high-ranking properties. On the other hand, when you build your home, the rivalry steadily diminishes.

Customization is one of the most appealing aspects of home construction. You can customize the design of the house to your taste and preference, unlike ready-made houses. You can easily customize the architecture, interior, paints, fixtures, and the house’s theme, as well as the lights and the garden.

For example, since many ready-made houses do not come with a basement, building your own house gives you the freedom to build one.

The most recent building standards are used in new homes. When people build their own homes, they strive to make them as modern and functional as possible. As a result, it’s fair to assume that newer homes are more energy efficient and secure. People are now installing the most up-to-date smart devices in order to make their homes more secure and effective. These features are not present in older homes.

You won’t have to worry about repair and maintenance costs for a few years after you build a house. A leaking roof, a faulty heating system, or a clogged drainage system aren’t causes for concern. There are a plethora of construction companies that provide high-quality construction services at a fair price.

DISADVANTAGES OF BUILDING A HOUSE
Aside from the numerous advantages, building a home is a very complicated operation. In short, there are disadvantages to building a home as well.

A house takes between seven to eight months to build minimum. As a result, if you need a place to live right away, building a house might not be an option.

According to statistics, building a home is more expensive than purchasing one. When building a home, it’s easy to overspend on items you don’t need. For example, costly tiles or a filthy kitchen. All of these factors add up to make building more costly. To summaries, constructing a home is a difficult activity.

When buying a home, there’s a good chance you’ll have to negotiate the price. This is not the case when constructing a home. Since there is no third party involved, you are unable to compromise and reduce the total cost of the land.

BUYING AN EXISTING HOUSE
Is it really money well spent of your hard-earned cash to buy a home?

ADVANTAGES OF BUYING A HOUSE
Buying a house has a number of advantages, the most prominent of which is that it is much cheaper than constructing it from the ground up. When building a house, you must first purchase land and then choose a home design, among other things. You’ll have to think about every last detail of the building. When you buy a home, however, all of these things have already been taken care of for you.

Consider purchasing a house if you don’t want to spend countless hours worrying about its design. It takes less time and is less exhausting. You can choose an already built house if you are a busy person who does not have time to supervise the building.

When purchasing a home, you have a good chance of negotiating a lower price. If you aren’t a natural negotiator, hire a professional real estate agent to assist you in getting the best deal possible.

If you need a place to live right away, purchasing a house is a viable choice. People typically move into their new home within a month of purchasing it.

Buying a house is more cost-effective and budget-friendly, according to statistics. When you buy a home, you save a lot of money because you don’t have to pay for items like raw materials, an architect’s fee, and so on. You can also easily upgrade your home based on your budget and preferences.

DISADVANTAGES OF BUILDING A HOUSE
Building a house is simple and stress-free, but it does have some disadvantages, such as the possibility of having to deal with maintenance problems, as old houses are prone to leaks and other problems. However, you should always seek the advice of a licensed home inspector when it comes to maintaining your home. They will find the problems and save you a lot of money.

Yes, you can improve the building, but you won’t be able to dramatically alter it. As a result, your renovation choices are limited.

The house does not have the most up-to-date features and technology, such as security systems and energy-saving systems, to help you save money on your utility bills.

So, these are some of the most important considerations to make when constructing or purchasing a home. In the end, the decision is purely based on your personal preferences and financial situation.

– JERISHA. S

“5 DAILY EXERCISES TO STAY FIT FOR LIFE”

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, everyone must do some daily exercises. A daily habit of exercising strengthens the muscles of the body and enables the human body to perform the daily tasks effectively. Daily small physical activities normalize the heart rate and boost the metabolism rate in the body which is compulsory for the maintenance of health. Moreover, the habit of exercise in daily routine ensures the smooth flow of the blood in the whole body, helps in digestion and lubricates the joints. Therefore, fitness and well-being are dependent on daily physical activities. Some of the important daily exercises are highlighted here.

WALK-OUT PUSH-UP

This exercise accelerates the heart rate by the integration of multiple planes of movement. To perform this exercise, one has to stand straight, stretch the hands straight in the air and start bending slowly. Keep bending the body until the hands touch the floor. Afterward, one has to move his body in a forward position until the body gets parallel to the floor. It will be the right position to start the pushups. Do a set of pushups and start again. It is a healthy, easy and effective exercise because it stretches the body and strengthens the back and vertebrae.

LUNGES

Improvement in functional movement is essential to perform daily routine tasks. Lunges exercise is effective for functional movement. It improves the strength of the legs and glutes. One can perform this exercise by standing with feet spaced shoulder-width apart. Plus, arms should be in the down position. Now, the right leg has to move forward with the bend of the right knee. At last, push up off the right foot and return to start position. Now repeat the same with the left leg.

PUSHUPS

Pushups are among the top daily exercises because they are very important for people who want to lose bodyweight and strengthen the core of the body. It incorporates effective bodyweight movements because all muscles of the body are involved in performing this exercise. First of all, the plank position is required to perform this exercise. Now, one has to bend the elbows on the floor and have to lower the body down to the floor. Repeat the up and down movement of the body.

JUMPING JACKS

Jumping Jacks is important for the maintenance of cardiovascular health. This exercise activates the muscles of the body. It is the perfect warm-up exercise. In performing this exercise, one has to stand in a straight position by joining the feet together. Now start jumping by spreading the arms and legs at the same time. Open the legs and bring the arm to the head with each jump.

BALANCING TABLE POSE

Balancing Table Pose is a yoga pose that is very effective for the human body. This exercise is beneficial for the spine. It also helps an individual in improving his memory and enables them to perform assigned tasks with full concentration. To do it, one has to balance his body in table pose to perform this yoga. At each movement, one has to take a breath and raise the left leg parallel to the floor while raising the right arm in a parallel position to the floor. Again, take a breath with lowering the arm and leg.

” BE STRONG”

– MEREZJA F

What does it take to unleash your creative potential?

As I mentioned in my article on threshold theory being in the top 1 percent of intelligence has no correlation with being fantastically creative. Instead, you simply have to be smart (not a genius) and then work hard, practice deliberately.

As long as you meet a threshold of intelligence, then brilliant creative work is well within your reach. In the words of researchers from a 2013 study, “we obtained evidence that once the intelligence threshold is met, personality factors become more predictive for creativity.”

Creative thinking requires our brains to make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. Is this a skill that we are born with or one that we develop through practice? Let’s look at the research to uncover an answer.

In the 1960s, a creative performance researcher named George Land conducted a study of 1,600 five-year-olds and 98 percent of the children scored in the “highly creative” range. Dr. Land re-tested each subject during five year increments. When the same children were 10-years-old, only 30 percent scored in the highly creative range. This number dropped to 12 percent by age 15 and just 2 percent by age 25. As the children grew into adults they effectively had the creativity trained out of them. In the words of Dr. Land, “non-creative behavior is learned.”

Similar trends have been discovered by other researchers. For example, one study of 272,599 students found that although IQ scores have risen since 1990, creative thinking scores have decreased.

This is not to say that creativity is 100 percent learned. Genetics do play a role. According to psychology professor Barbara Kerr, “approximately 22 percent of the variance [in creativity] is due to the influence of genes.” This discovery was made by studying the differences in creative thinking between sets of twins.

All of this to say, claiming that “I’m just not the creative type” is a pretty weak excuse for avoiding creative thinking. Certainly, some people are primed to be more creative than others. However, nearly every person is born with some level of creative skill and the majority of our creative thinking abilities are trainable.

Now that we know creativity is a skill that can be improved, let’s talk about why—and how—practice and learning impacts your creative output.

Saying no is sometimes seen as a luxury that only those in power can afford. And it is true: turning down opportunities is easier when you can fall back on the safety net provided by power, money, and authority. But it is also true that saying no is not merely a privilege reserved for the successful among us. It is also a strategy that can help you become successful.

Saying no is an important skill to develop at any stage of your career because it retains the most important asset in life: your time. As the investor Pedro Sorrentino put it, “If you don’t guard your time, people will steal it from you.”

You need to say no to whatever isn’t leading you toward your goals. You need to say no to distractions. As one reader told me, “If you broaden the definition as to how you apply no, it actually is the only productivity hack (as you ultimately say no to any distraction in order to be productive).”

Nobody embodied this idea better than Steve Jobs, who said, “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.”

There is an important balance to strike here. Saying no doesn’t mean you’ll never do anything interesting or innovative or spontaneous. It just means that you say yes in a focused way. Once you have knocked out the distractions, it can make sense to say yes to any opportunity that could potentially move you in the right direction. You may have to try many things to discover what works and what you enjoy. This period of exploration can be particularly important at the beginning of a project, job, or career.

We do not know the exact source of the current outbreak of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but we know that it originally came from an animal, likely a bat. But exactly we don’t know where it came from there are many sources researchers told that it came from animals. Researchers have confirmed that if we know that we are affected by corona virus we should not be closely attached to animals. As we all know it spreads through air we should be very careful because if we are affected by this virus our family members will be also affected. In India few days before only the corona virus speed is low before an all it was in a high many people were affected some died. It was a pain for all people in India to hear the news that there is no bed, no oxygen facility, no doctors, no medicine it was a horrible experience. Still some people hesitate to wear a mask some people are thinking that we can save this money for some use. But some people who are manufacturing and selling the required items for the people are raising the value of the product, all the people in the world are suffering all need some time to recover from this pandemic situation in this time raising the value of the product all are suffering. Some people don’t have money are food because they are daily wage people if there is no work no food. In each person life there are problems but now all people have one problem it is this corona virus. We all want this corona virus to go away because it is spoiling our day to day activities we cannot do anything as per our wish. If we are not following the rules which government told us till that this situation will not change, it will reduce and rise again and again we cannot control it because in India we are facing second wave of corona virus it is called as delta. Another wave it is heavier than this second wave the researchers have found this in India. So this pandemic situation is getting heavier not lower because it started spreading over animals one tiger had died. All are taking steps to control this situation. We are people so we will hear the rules of the government but it is not possible in animals it need some time to train. Now it is spread in animals those who are in zoo if it passes to the roadside dogs, cats etc then it will be in big danger. This corona virus came because of bat a research is telling if it was really a true message then it worst thing that happened in this world not even before. It is bird and animals how to control them all there is no money no medicine no oxygen itself how we are going to save the life of the animals and birds.

“So let us try to be safe if only we are safe we can save others to”