all is well i no u will miss aryan and his fictious stories a lot but nothing to worry he will be there for u on saturdays with a new trendy and memoir column of amity days... ya the golden memories...
after thinking alot i was not able to decide what should be the name of the new column on saturdays but seeing the conflict of thoughts i named it as 'cease fire'. hope you will like that too....
with this its Aryan signing off
Take care love you all and wishing you a blossoming career ahead
with this its Aryan signing off
Take care love you all and wishing you a blossoming career ahead
Cheers Amity!
Blog, a simple word, from web and log: log – a journal, record of events, thoughts, inspirations, opinions, and since they happen to be on the internet, so a blog. Yes, an easy, simple word that reminds one of other simple words like fire, water, air; all simple yes, and all representative of immense power, primal force, the stuff of creation itself. Like a fire that begins slowly then blazes out of control, blogging began in 1983 with message boards that were used to convey simple information that changed from time to time – calendars, lists, agendas.
Blogging has diligently progressed to the forefront of digital communication in a historically expeditious rate of speed. As early as 1983, threads of message boards dotted the internet with newsworthy postings, including the infamous World Wide Web. By 1994, some were using the web as their daily diary or sounding board. People began to pay attention. By 1997, these personal homepages became sources of news. Who are we listening to out in cyberspace? It is true that most believe what they read or see on television. After all, these people have our best interest at heart! Don’t they? Or is there an agenda they serve of their own? The dangers of a world of information and socializing through blogging can leave a questionable impact that’s left to be decided.
The daily diaries of 1997 soon spread from journals of self-satisfying thoughts to a belief that people were actually interested in things they said. And many were. The web world grew from personal blogging to videos, thus the web-cam. Soon the legal and corporate world began to hire bloggers. The question remained in some of our eyes, what kind of person would post their life for all to see? Or was it their life they were posting?
The daily diaries of 1997 soon spread from journals of self-satisfying thoughts to a belief that people were actually interested in things they said. And many were. The web world grew from personal blogging to videos, thus the web-cam. Soon the legal and corporate world began to hire bloggers. The question remained in some of our eyes, what kind of person would post their life for all to see? Or was it their life they were posting?
In the 90’s blogging exploded, and in the words of one writer, “There is no end in sight.” Simple information turned into highly impact banks of information with the potential to create change. Truckloads of data, to borrow a term from the recently defunct Industrial Age, were loaded on the web followed by storefronts from every type of business everywhere. Desktop publishing, graphics, music, media all went through explosive growth and change. So imagine a web surfer back in the 90’s moving from one static storefront to another when suddenly confronted with many and cheap opportunities to express feelings, thoughts, and opinions with others who have similar interests.
Many have followed that opportunity to connect with others of similar tastes, and that, in and of it, are magnetic; the ability to find someone that shares interests no matter how outlandish, how rare, and even how evil those interests may be. Presidential candidates, Hollywood celebrities, neighbors, friends, co-workers, corporate America, dog lovers, pool players, heroes, leaders, charlatans and thieves have spoken, conned, shared, lied, maneuvered politically, exposed, gossiped, made bunches of money, lost bunches of money, triumphed, and fallen via blogs. The marketing and political potentials are limitless and those limits are being pushed. Dichotomies and ideological clashes occur in every area. For instance, one is horrified by the blogs the child predators use and daunted by the efforts at some of the crime blogs that are working to keep the children safe.
In short the blog and its effects are a type of re-living of human history. The relationships between humans, the sacred and the profane, the good and the evil have always been there, only now things are going quite a bit faster. What would take months to cross the country in the late 1800’s and went only to people of privilege is now there instantly for anybody who can access a computer. In a way the blog is even faster than nature. We usually know when a hurricane is coming or when a tornado is nearby. Since the blog is operating at mental speeds, you know a hurricane hits when you’re in it.
Consider that all the tools are present – creative, marketing, technological - at a very affordable price for anyone to say whatever they want about literally anything and anyone. Add to that the ability to find people that have an affinity with you no matter what you’re saying or why, and you have a mighty tool with which you can further a cause, make a name, make lots of money, destroy a reputation, build a reputation, and any number of options limited only by the human menu of possibilities. That’s powerful.
EFFECTS: The immediate fears of children and teens in the blogging world are an ongoing debate. In the eyes of the teen, cyberspace has become a text heaven, taking the place of baby boomers talking on the phone. In the eyes of the parent, the teen is foreboding prey of the parasites feeding on the innocent lying in wait on the end of a text from a “friend” accepted. The law seems to stay one step behind the predator in these cases and children stay one step in front of the parent in finding the scum. This social impact that has taken the younger generation into places their parents never thought of falling is all brought to us by the wonderful world of blogging. In the latest American Presidential race, blogging has given the voting public a progressive, new look at candidates they never considered in the past. Overnight, Ron Paul became a viable candidate, when most didn’t recognize his name the day before. Isn’t this a questionable way to choose a person we are to trust with our country? If enough people get on the web and blog an interest, I could become Prime minister. People are too busy to research candidates themselves, so they take the word of bloggers, who may also be the predators that are on your children’s bedroom computers.
In defense of the world we have created on the web, we have the opportunity to learn, prosper, and discover the world at our fingertips. Students have a wealth of knowledge, while we can stay at home and do everything from graduate from college to shop at our favorite stores. The positives are abundant and obvious, while the negatives hide and pop out at us while we enjoy the good.
We’ve grown full circle from allowing idiot box the right to tell us what to believe, where to shop, and what to buy. We now have any Tom, Dick, or Harry into our lives by means of the web, as we shop and educate ourselves and think we are minding our own business. Blogging is a distinct and valid social impact on the world and decidedly so. The positive aspect is there are signs of boredom in the blogging world; soon there will be another source for the intruder. Maybe one day we will have a mind of our own and use it.
When the primal force known as humanity makes use of a potential like this, as is happening now, even as we wonder about it, we certainly have the ingredients for a butterfly effect – a moth flapping its wings in Japan sets off a series of events that fuels a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. Can we and our children use that power for the good? We hope so. And while we must use our technology wisely, is it our technology we need to sorry about, or is it how we plan to use it?
CONFUSION: With the confusion between the functions of a blog and web site persisting, it has proved more difficult for many online marketers and entrepreneurs to use the two very different online tools properly in their marketing plans. Yet it is extremely important for everybody to understand the key differences between a blog site and a web site so as to understand best the key strengths and weaknesses of the two and what marketing functions each will tend to accomplish best.
The key differences between a blog and a web site are that a blog’s main function is being a web log or online diary. As the term "online diary" suggests, this is where a blogger can generate a lot of interesting personal comment and intimate details and information about a particular niche subject or topic that they have chosen to cover. Blogs are quick and easy to set up. Blogs are a less expensive way of advertising your business to the online community. A web site on the other hand is the official address and location of a web-based business. Just the place you would expect to find ecommerce tools and landing pages where customers can make a purchase online. Blogs and websites can work hand in hand with one another.
The truth is that a blog is hardly the place where you would want to reach for your credit card. Yet a blog is not less important. Blogs are classified as being increasingly important to any web based entrepreneur because it is where all the action is. In actual fact traffic is generated in large quantities at blogs and then re-directed to web sites for the actual sales transaction to be consummated.
In conclusion none can really totally replace the other and both blogs and web sites have their individual very important key roles to play in the marketing success of any online enterprise.
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." Abraham LincolnHey friends. How are you? It’s pretty long since we interacted. I am so sorry my dearest readers actually these days Aryan is too busy. Aryan was involved in the Rajasthan’s only media fest; yup you guessed it right SANCHAAR of Amity School of Communication. For Aryan and his peers’ SANCHAAR means a lot; after all we all are ASCoites rather Hard Time Journalists. Aryan wants to thank the guys and gals from the other courses who contributed to the success of SANCHAAR2010 but only thanks is not enough for their dedication and the unintentional support. Aryan ki bhasha mein bole to ‘Hats off’ friends.
“There might be difference in our thinking but when it’s time to action we are one”; the status on the Aryan’s fB wall a day before SANCHAAR 2010. Almost all of the Aryan’s friends liked the status but a comment from a worthy friend ‘to whom are you referring – ASCo or…?’ confused Aryan. What does this comment mean? What do these three dots (…) mean? Baffled Aryan when posed the same question to the guy personally; the smart and intelligent reply ‘are yaar ASCo or AMITY’ came that too with a laughing tone. This irritated Aryan too much hence ended up in a shallow trifle. No no nothing serious, all is well. But what is difference between AMITY and ASCo? ASCo is only the part of it like other courses. ASCoites are Amitian first. Chalo koi nahi hota hai…. everything is ok…
Now, SANCHAAR 2010 is over and the stage for end semester exams is all set to rock AMITY from 13th of December. The examinations are not real test of one’s caliber but one of the way to judge your learning skills. So my dearest and beloved fellow Amitians ‘get set go’ bole to phod do. Aryan wishes all his fellow Amitians ‘ALL THE BEST’ for the end semester exams. May you all shine like the brightest star of the universe and make us all proud to be AMITIANS - WE NURTURE TALENT. So till then take care Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte…
CHEERS HABEEBI!!!
"Neither by explaining omens and prodigies, nor by skill in astrology and palmistry, nor by casuistry and expositions of holy texts let him (a Sanyasi) at any time gain his support." (Mann, vi, 50.)
Aryan was searching for a subject to write for his column but to no use. As he was not able to concentrate well on anything. Miss Goodino always says God signals deta hai par hum samaj nahi pata similar thing happened with Aryan. you can say by luck or by chance while waiting for the bus an old man yelled on Aryan and his friend Mr. Muser "seedhe jana", but why did the old man yelled on them? Aryan was bit confused but he was happy. yes! he got what he wanted.
The belief in omens has existed in all ages and countries. Traces of it still linger in the most civilized and enlightened communities, and such belief pervades all classes in India. The most unobservant traveller cannot fail to be struck with the peculiar objects, some most grotesque and some most obscene, that are placed in gardens and fields to protect the crops from the evil eye. In order to protect her child from the same baleful influence a mother decks it with charms or some peculiar ornaments. The obscene figures that are sometimes seen over the gateways of Hindu temples are placed there from the same motive. Such superstitions as a belief in the good or evil influence of certain stars or the conjunction of certain planets have a wonderful hold upon the Hindu mind amongst men of every rank and station. The influence of certain numbers is largely believed in by the people ; odd numbers are thought to be lucky, whilst even numbers are unlucky; so it becomes a matter of very great anxiety to a candidate in any public examination whether his number in the list of candidates should turn out to be an odd or an even one. Certain gems are believed to have a good or evil influence on the wearer.
Any one who has had occasion to sell a horse to a Hindu will have noticed with what care the animal was examined to see if it had certain marks. These marks are not, as one might suppose, signs of breed or soundness ; but certain configurations of the hair, showing whether the animal is a lucky or an unlucky one. The position and number of certain natural twists in the hair are taken as an indication of the real value of the animal. A horse with unlucky marks is thought to be certain to bring misfortune, and hence it is very difficult to sell one to a Hindu if it is deficient in these marks. These and numerous similar things which might be alluded to, serve to show how superstition-ridden the Hindu is, even in these days of intellectual progress.
A knowledge of omens is considered an art or science amongst the Hindus generally, and there is a book in Telugu, translated from the Sanskrit, upon this subject. The three divisions of this book are palmistry (smudrikam), or the interpretation of spots on the body and of creases in the hands ; enquiry (prashnam), or divination tried by dipping the hand into the " Ramayanam "; and omens. There is a class of people who are learned in omens and kindred subjects ; the chief of these are the astronomers or astrologers (jyotishka) who, as their name implies, are learned in the stars and occult matters.
There are no less than forty-three different things enumerated as prognosticating good and thirty-four evil, if any of them should happen just as a person sets out on a journey. For instance, it is a good omen to overhear a pleasant conversation, to hear musical instruments; to see a good. blaze of fire ; to meet a company of dancing girls, or a few young women, to meet an elephant, a horse, or a bullock, or even a corpse, to meet two Brahmans, or four Komaties, or a Sudra with a stick in his hand ; to see in front of one an umbrella, fans, mirrors, a harp, diamonds, gold, weapons, fruit or flowers; to bear the braying of an ass from the east, south, north or north-east. It is lucky, if a crow, a parrot, a stork, a heron, or a jackal. passes from the left to the right ; if a brahminy kite, a hawk, an owl, an iguana, a deer, a musk-rat, a dog, or a mongoose passes from right to left ; and if a lizard's cry is heard from the right, or from overhead.
It seems strange that it should be a good omen to meet a corpse, but it is the case. To dream of a corpse, of a blaze of fire, of flowers, of fruit, of having stepped into filth, or of having any filth fall on one's body is considered to be a good omen. To dream of any thing red, such as red flowers, a red cloth or blood is bad.
It is a very anxious time when a good Hindu leaves his ,home to start out for a journey. He will naturally look and listen carefully for some good sign. A pandit friend tells me that there is no definite distance laid down beyond which bad omens have no effect ; but perhaps twenty or twenty-five yards, or even less, may be considered enough as a test. After the traveller gets out into the main street, if the house started from is in a side street, it will not matter much if anything of the nature of a bad omen happens. The setting out, therefore, is the anxious time. It is a bad sign, if any one tries to persuade the departing traveller not to go, or says he had better take some food before starting, or offers to accompany him, or enquires as to where he is going, or pulls his garment to keep him back. It is considered a bad omen when a person sets out, to meet, or to see in front of him, any of the following :—a woman with plaited red hair 1, a widow, a new pot, a whirlwind, drops of rain, a bundle of firewood, a single Brahmin, an oil-monger, a pariah, a lame man, men quarrelling, men in suffering, men with dishevelled hair, a hunchback, a leper, invalids, buttermilk, oil, empty pots, grass, bones, a bundle of dirty clothes, smoking fire or various other things which are mentioned. It is not a good sign to see an ass either to the west, the north-west, the south-west or the south-east with its head hanging down and braying ; or to see a crow, a parrot, a stork, a heron, or a jackal pass from the right to the left.
If any of these bad omens appears to a pious Hindu when he is setting out on a journey, especially if the journey is an important one, he will certainly turn back home again. On entering his house he will carefully wash his feet and then perform achamanam, which is sipping of water three times, repeating the following names of Vishnu, Keshava Svala! hail Krishna, Narayana Svaha hail Narayana, Madhava Svaha ! hail Madhava. After this is over, and after spending some time in quiet meditation, he will again set forth. If after a succession of attempts he still meets with bad omens the journey will be deferred entirely for the day, if not altogether given up. If the traveller is a Sudra, he will not be able to repeat the words mentioned above, when performing his achamanam, as they are taken from the Vedas, and none but a twice-born must take such holy words within his lips. The Sudra will sip the water and say Govinda! Govinda! or Siva! Siva! according as he is a Vaishnava, or a Siva, a worshipper of the god Vishnu, or of the god Siva.
SNAKE OMENS.
In a country like India where serpent worship is so common, the movements of these reptiles are looked upon as ominous. The vital statistics of the Indian Government show an annual loss of life by snake bite alone, averaging from twenty to twenty-five thousand. It is not then to be wondered at that the serpent should inspire a dread which leads on to propitiatory worship. They thus form a natural subject for omens.
To see two snakes fighting denotes a quarrel between the beholder and his relatives ; to see two snakes making off in the same direction forebodes poverty. One snake swallowing another is a sign of famine. It is a good omen to any one who sees a serpent climbing up a green tree, for he is sure to be an emperor. It is a sign of coming misfortune to a king, if he sees a snake climbing down from a tree ; but the same thing is to other than kings a good omen. The entrance of a snake into a house denotes wealth to the householder ; but just the reverse if it is seen departing from a house. If a cobra is seen with its hood expanded and its tail erect, going across from the left to the right, it is a good sign ; if only its hood is expanded as it thus proceeds, it denotes a good meal for the beholder. If a snake comes towards a person from the right side it foretells success ; but it is a bad sign if it should come from the left. If anyone sees a snake crawling about in the road in front of him, it denotes success to his projects ; but evil will follow if the person halts. If when the snake sees anyone it expands its hood and erects its head, it foretells wealth and prosperity ; but, if it crawls into its hole, it denotes wealth to the poor, but poverty to the rich. To see a dead snake lying on the ground foretells news of death. Should a farmer on arriving at a field see a cobra with hood expanded and head erect, it shows that the field will yield a good crop; but if it should crawl away on seeing him, it denotes a bad crop. It is a sign of a good crop, if a cobra is seen with hood expanded and head erect when the farmer is sowing his seed. A snake crawling into the entrance of a village denotes good to the villagers ; but it denotes evil to them if it is seen running away from a village. To hear a serpent hiss on entering a village is a good omen ; but when on a journey it is bad to hear it hiss. If any one sees the trail of a snake on the ground, he must walk backwards along it, rubbing it out with his foot.
CROW OMENS.
To one at all acquainted with the Indian crow, it is not at all a matter of surprise that the ways of that wily bird are thought to be highly ominous. The very glitter of its wicked beady black eye is suggestive of evil. The Hindus think, from the peculiar squinting way the crow has of looking at a thing—turning its head from side to side in a most uncanny fashion—that it can only see with one eye at a time, but that it has the power of transferring vision from one eye to the other at will. According to this theory, one eye must, for the time, be only a dummy. As may be. expected, the crow is a proverbial bird amongst the Hindus. They say, for instance, " The crow's chick is dear to the crow," or, as the English proverb has it, " Even a beggar loves her brat " ; " The crow is black at birth and black when grown," or, " What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh" ; " To kill crows and throw them to kites," or, " To rob Peter to pay Paul."
Though the crow is certainly interesting from some points of view, and perhaps in personal appearance somewhat deserving the high sounding name (corvus splendens) with which naturalists have endowed him, the moral character of the Indian crow is truly of the lowest. He is a very Ishmaelite amongst birds. For cunning craftiness, for untiring pertinacity, for fiendish cruelty, and outrageous impudence, perhaps no feathered creature in existence is its equal. The jackdaw of Rheims would be far behind in competition with it, either in cleverness or in wickedness. It is, therefore, perfectly natural that the crow should be placed in the Hindu list of creatures of augury. Thus, if on setting out for a journey a crow comes in front of a person and caws, it denotes the defeat of the object of the journey. If it caws first on the left hand side, and then on the right it shows that robbers may fall upon the traveller in the way ; but if it caws first on the right side and then on the left, it foretells wealth and the accomplishment of one's designs. If a crow caws on the left hand, and. then follows after the person, it prognosticates an access of riches ; but if, after cawing on the left hand, it comes towards one from the front, it foretells difficulties on the journey. On the other hand, this last omen is good for those who are not setting out on a journey. If a crow coming towards a person caws and then goes behind to the right, it foretells suffering from ulcers. If anyone is fortunate enough to see one crow feeding another, it bespeaks happiness to the beholder.
DOG OMENS.
The dog of the country, the ordinary " pariah " dog as it is called, is such a poor miserable thing that it is rather surprising to find so much space occupied with them in the book on omens. There are good dogs in India and sometimes specimens of really well-bred creatures are seen. A thoroughbred brinjari dog or a really good poligar is an excellent animal and suits the country ; but the dog of the East is a miserable creature, and the word dog is univerally used as a term of contempt. Such terms as " a lucky dog " or " a jolly dog," with the implied strain of compliment rather than reproach, are unknown in India, and probably the same may be said for the East generally.
It is a good sign, if a dog comes near anyone with a piece of old shoe in its mouth ; and it bespeaks wealth to a person who sees a dog with some flesh in its mouth. If a dog passes by with a raw bone in its mouth it is a lucky sign ; but if a dog has a burning stick or a dry bone in its mouth, it foretells death. If a dog enters a house with a dry bone in its mouth, the householder will be in great danger of death ; if on so entering it has ropes, or leather straps in its mouth, it shows that the householder will be put into prison. It is good, if a dog comes from the right towards a person about to start on a journey ; or if it should come towards him from the front when actually on a journey. If a dog shaking its ears jumps upon a traveller, or walks behind him treading in his footsteps, it denotes that difficulties may happen. When a dog stops a traveller in the way and prevents his proceeding, it means that he will fall among robbers or be stopped by enemies. If any one sees a dog scratching itself, it denotes disease to the beholder. Evil also will happen to anyone who sees a dog lying down with its tail cocked up. A journey is foretold to a person whose shoes a dog smells. It also predicts danger from enemies or from robbers if a dog smells a person's shoulders.
CAT OMENS.
A cat is evidently not thought to be such a very portentous creature, as but little is said about it in the book on omens. The following is all that is said :—" Should a cat be in front of anyone when he may be considering any business, that business will not prosper. If anyone sees a cat, just on awaking in the morning nothing he may do that day Will prosper. A cat coming towards anyone who is leaving home shows that the object he had in view will fail. Should a cat follow anyone who is leaving the house, the object in view will be accomplished without any hindrance. It is a good omen to hear a cat cry from the side towards the west."
SNEEZING REGARDED AS AN OMEN.
A sneeze at the important rite of a marriage ceremony is regarded as an unpropitious sign.' If a good Hindu sneezes he snaps his fingers and then makes some earnest exclamation like chiranjeeva (live a long life) or shatayussu (live for a hundred years) in order to avert any evil. It is said that to sneeze many times denotes the accomplishment of one's desires ; it is also a good sign to cough after sneezing. On -the other hand, it is a sign of evil to sneeze just once and then stop. A person must not blow his nose immediately after sneezing, as that would be a sign of death. After a single sneeze, or if a man unwittingly blows his nose immediately after sneezing, it is well to cease thinking about any business that may have been occupying his attention and immediately to lie down and be quiet for a time, having first expectorated ; in this way the evil may be nullified. It is a good omen to hear sneezing when taking betel, or when about to take food, or upon going to bed. If when thinking about some important business, any one hears a fourfooted beast sneeze, or if such a thing occurs when he happens to be contemplating a journey, it would be a sign of death, or some equally great calamity. It is a good thing to get up whilst sneezing ; but it is an omen of delay in one's business to sit down whilst doing so. It is a sign that his object will be accomplished, if he sneezes whilst holding in his hand bell-metal, copper, or gold ; but it is the very opposite, if the metal in the hand should be of iron or silver.
It is good to hear young children, infants, prostitutes, pariahs, or the lame sneeze ; but it is a sign that many troubles will happen to any one unfortunate enough to hear any of the following women sneeze:— a married woman, a widow, one who is blind, dumb, or maimed, a washerwoman, or one of the toddy drawer caste, a Madiga (workers in leather) woman, a woman of the Yerukala caste (gypsies), -or one carrying a burden. It is also a bad sign if a person when sneezing should -happen to see a woman.
YAWNING.
Yawning is not properly speaking regarded as an omen, but Hindus have some very peculiar ideas about it. It is thought that when a person yawns, the life may leave the body ; whether merely from the effects of the spasmodic action, or from any other cause is not clear. Hence it is usual on yawning, to snap the fingers and say Krishna! Krishna! or Siva ! Siva! in order to avert any evil that may otherwise result: So strong is the belief that the life may leave the body through a hearty yawn, that. to yawn' is sometimes used as a euphemism for 'to die.' If a baby yawns, the mother, or someone near, who has observed it, snaps the fingers saying, Krishna! Krishna! or Siva! Siva!
It is probable that the superstitious ideas with reference to yawning, and sneezing' also, had their origin in the fact that any spasmodic action may be of itself physically somewhat dangerous. This presumption is strengthened from the fact that a slokam on the subject also includes falling down. It is as follows :—
"On sneezing, falling, or yawning,
Snap the fingers and say, live arise
It is fit even for a younger to do this to an elder.
This is for the reviving."
The third line in the verse is an allusion to the well-known impropriety of a younger person presuming to bless an older one. In the three possible events mentioned, the danger is considered such as to warrant this departure from what is ordinarily considered to be right and proper.
There are many more omens ; but I have given enough to show how the Hindu people are tied and bound with the chains of superstition. Doubtless there are many who pay little heed to these things ; but, taking the people as a whole, this belief in omens is universally prevalent throughout the country, and exercises great sway over the daily life of the masses. The material harm this superstition does is great, for a fatalistic belief in impending evil often brings about its own fulfilment by paralyzing the endeavour that might prevent it.
Though, Aryan hardly believes in superstions and omens but yesterdays incident made Aryan to think and update himself along with his esteemed friends. just chill my dear friends...
Finally, Aryan is back that too with a different style and vogue. What is he up to? What is he going to write? Questions were troubling me but Aryan had decided something good. Aryan joined college some two years back; joined as a junior, and then he became senior and now a super senior. Things and time both have changed but Aryan still misses those humble days of his first year when he was a fresher rather junior himself. Kya baat le ke baith gaya tu Aryan aaj kya hua woh bata?? Oh! Okay, what happened today really made Aryan to get lost in the thoughts of thoughts...
Aryan was just wandering with his friends when a humble, unrecognised sweet voice greeted with a sentence that brings dignity, pride and responsibility in you.... yes friends you guessed it right -‘Good Morning Sir’. Aryan was so confused who is wishing him in this manner as all his juniors now wish him very informally usually ‘bhaiya’ but ‘sir’, who this can be? Any way Aryan responded to the voice but still with the confusion.
In the afternoon, one of Aryan’s junior told him about the arrival of the juniors. At this Aryan spoke out ‘oh! I see’. Any way it was really good to see your juniors becoming seniors in other words getting matured. Aryan’s expectations from the young guns have also now taken wings. But where is that excitement, zeal and that fire? A difficult question for Aryan to answer but the things will not remain same always, time will take a turn. New torch bearers of Aryan’s department will soon realise it. At the moment Aryan’s juniors are offering all sorts of help to their juniors exactly what Aryan wanted. So cheers!! My dearest juniors rather betas, as I often call them.
Now a small piece of advice from the Aryan to the fresher rather his super juniors. First of all ‘tension lene ka nahi denay ka’. Secondly, be happy. Thirdly, follow all the university protocols and lastly, if any problem or difficulty arises consult your mentors or your seniors. It’s just the beginning of your college life so just chill and do whatever you like but not at the cost of your academics. You will be spending the best days of your life in Amity University Rajasthan so my dearest ones make them really the best. It is you who can make your university great, be a proud student of this marvellous university. Once again welcome to AMITY. Live it to the full ‘jo hoga dekha jaye ga’.... are Aryan bhul gaya kya kal rakhi hai ... are haan “Happy Rakhi” to all brothers and sisters...
M.Z.ZULFI
ASCO, AUR
New Delhi, June 2, 2010: Haier, one of the largest home appliances and consumer electronics brands, with a Global no.1 ranking in major appliances, announced the appointment of Bollywood actor John Abraham as its Brand ambassador in India. John will feature across all brand communications as well as product advertising for Haier’s wide range of consumer durables and electronic products. John personifies Haier’s youth full imagery and exemplifies value with the youth but also mirrors the dreams of millions of youngsters owing to the value and morals that he stands for. This association further looks at strengthening the bond between consumer and the brand.
Haier India started its commercial operations in January 2004 and is a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Haier Group. The India launch was started with innovative products which were designed keeping the day to day customer needs in mind. Haier India launched BMR technology for the first time in India followed by the Double Drive which is a newly patented technology. The India operations already has an established dealer network of approximately 1600 dealers all over the country, which is backed by a strong service and after sales service network. Haier Products are available at all major retail outlets and in most of the modern retail chains. As part of the company's plans to expand operations in the country, Haier in August 2007 had acquired a manufacturing facility, located at Ranjangoan in Pune district of Maharashtra. Spread over 40 acres of land, the plant has capability to manufacture Refrigerators, CTVs and Washing Machines and as a result Haier achieved its 2009 turnover of Rs.350 crore by the month of May 2010.
As a part of its aggressive market strategy Haier continues to display its success stories of more that 200 % growth in 1st quarter of 2010. Targeting 100 Haier experience centers and zones in 2010, the company is also focusing on its service support through haier Insta cares. Haier has recently tied up with a new call center to further strengthen its customer response time.
Taking “you inspire us” forward, haier today forayed into a new product category – small kitchen appliances. These include blenders, toasters, citrus juicers and electric kettles. A film featuring John Abraham for LED TV’s was also launched. The film shows its Haier’s new LED TV with real life images and stylish aesthetics. LED Edge Light, Full HD, 120Hz with USB2.0, memory card reader and SRS Trusurround XT, are some of the features.
When asked about the appointment of a brand ambassador, Eric Braganza, President Haier India said, “Since, the last TVC revoked a great response and hence improving our rankings in the market, we were enforced to think for having a brand ambassador and John represents the Haier target audience, the youth with its many attributes that includes self-expression, excellence, confidence, style and technology know how. Moreover, John’s quality and depth of work as well as versatility as an actor have made him a much loved and respected actor in India today. Much like on all our brand communication, John has an impressive and unrivalled history but the best is still yet to come. We are indeed very proud and privileged to have him as our Brand Ambassador and welcome him to the Haier family and look forward to a long and successful association”
While talking about the association with the Haier, John Abraham commented, “Haier is one of the youngest brands globally that has made a mark in the industry by reaching the global number one position in a very short span of time. I feel proud to endorse the brand in India and help in contributing to its success. This youthful brand is known for its innovative product offerings and advanced technology worldwide.”
While answering to a query, John said, “Personally, I look for the brand growth, positioning, class and the status in the market. Haier had everything to my liking. For me Haier means Higher.”
The company also launched a special consumer offer for soccer fever ‘Free kick offer’. It is a scratch a card scheme where on purchase of any LED/LCD TV above 81cms, a customer can win 100% cash back or an Adidas track jacket with an autograph from John, worth Rs. 2290. This offer is valid from 5th June to 15th July.
Haier today also launched new models nation wide inspired by consumer experiences across product categories as a step forward in achieving its ambitious growth plans. These include the new range of ultra- slim 117 inch full HD LED backlit TV’s and a 140 cm LCD. Haier introduced a new refrigerator model in the side by side segment in red for the first time in India with glassy look. The company also launched new range of BMR Plus refrigerators, a 5-star AC model and 3 water heaters in economy segment. Haier launched a new and unique washing machine called ‘Tiana’, which means Princess in Greek. With its unique design, this machine stands tall and offers an effortless wash with a higher porthole. The ‘Tiana’ is equipped with Near Zero Pressure technology (NZP) which works at the lowest water pressure.
M.Z.Zulfi
ASCO, AUR
ASCO, AUR
Education in our country is fast expanding rather by leaps and bounds but the quality and standard of education is deteriorated. The main purpose of education is to help seekers to develop to the best of their ability and to find a suitable and satisfying vocation. And examinations are the only means of judging how far that purpose has served. They thus occupy a very important place in the system of education. In a country like India where degree is valued more as a passport to a job than as evidence of academic attainments, they require added importance and the word ‘qualification’ inserted in advertisements of job vacancies is generally taken to mean degrees or diplomas gained through examination.
‘Practice makes a man perfect but no one perfect so why practice ’
There is hardly any system devised by man which can be called perfect. Our examination system is no exception. In fact, it has more than its share of defects. The whole idea of judging a student’s worth during three hours of performance is psychologically wrong sometimes even a brilliant student fail to make their mark in the examination hall, where as the dull students fare better often with the help of foreign aid (unfair means). The present process of examination lays too much emphasis on cramming work. Students learn something by role and disgorge it on the paper in the examination hall. After the examination is over they forget everything, they had so diligently learnt. Cram work saps the source of original thinking. One of the greatest defects of the present system of examination is that students stop thinking for themselves. They do not develop the creative faculties. Their mental growth is stunted.
Examinations at present are best test of memory only and there is a technique of making the grade in them. Those who have mastered, that technique secure good marks even without any preparation which should enable one to stand in the queue for a job. If it is to be real test of an individual’s qualities of head and heart an examination must test his ability to think creatively, comprehend quickly, judge accurately and express clearly. But our examinations have an entirely different orientation. They are mostly crude essay type. There is a premium on parrot like memorization at the cost of reason and intelligence. Even in the highest degree of examinations, subject centered and role-learning counts while original thinking is at a discount. Instead of encouraging thinking for himself, the student is often punished for it.
A candidate taking an examination in English literature is safe as he confines himself to quoting famous critics. But as soon as he ventures to express his own opinion, he is on dangerous ground. Chances are that the examiner who is himself incapable of original thinking and has all his life taken pride in being able to quote a hundred critics from memory well treat the candidate’s attempt as a piece of sheer arrogance and penalize him for it. The miseries do not end here. After the candidate has answered the question paper, he is at the mercy of the examiner. The examiner’s predilections can also cause distortions and play havoc with student’s career. After all examiner too is a human being and as fallible as any one else. But the mistakes he makes are costly. They can cause acute mental agony to candidates on whom he delivers wrong judgment. And yet he presumes to stamp a student a failure or give him a third, second or first class just in about seven or Eight minutes. How reliable this method of testing candidate’s ability can be what is the student doing under present system of Examination? They just burn mid-night oil one month before the examination with the attitude of a gambler. They prepare some guess papers and just cram few topics in order to pass the examination. Examination is often a terror for the students especially for Kashmiri ones. As they have seen turmoil during their elementary stage. Going to the examination hall is for majority of students is like a poor goat’s going to a slaughter house. At mere mention of the word examination student begin to tremble and show signs of dejection and unsatisfaction.
A degree achieved by such type of faulty examination system is not necessary to be a great writer or genius. Great men; world has ever produced never went to colleges and universities. Genius sometime flourishes outside the camping influence of educational institutions. Kalidas, Leo Tolstoy, William Shakespeare. Michael Faraday, Charles Robert Darwin and the list goes on. These people were mighty brains which shook the world. Thomas Alva Edison the greatest of all scientist failed in class 4th four times. Bill Gates owner of Microsoft international is only high school drop out. The fact is university education is not absolutely necessary for fashioning the future of a person and making him a literary giant. There can be not two opinions about urgent need for reform in our examination system. Universities have to adopt other measure also to improve their education standards and techniques of testing the candidates. First of all they must take step to reduce the number of failures. There is no virtue in a candidate being able to get through all subjects in a single comprehensive test of a brief duration universities must not make light of throwing young people’s out of the game of life. Simply because they are not able to pass the examination. The student must also be allowed to choose a vocation and provided facilities to acquire the necessary skill follow it so that when he leaves, portals of his alma-mater he is well equipped to face life and does not feel like bade in the wood. So at last we can say that examinations are not true test of one’s ability.
ALL THE BEST AMITIANS!!!!
 "Beautiful eyes are worthless if they present the dreams in black and white." Every night he dreams and every morning aryan has to listen. One day aryan told him about his dream. “Oh, you too dream”, he asked. aryan lost his nerve and wanted to slap him. How can he talk like that? Everybody can dream and aryan is no exception. However, Aryan kept his cool and waited for him to speak. He was lost in deep thoughts. Finally he opened his mouth. He wanted to know whether aryan too had black and white dreams like him. aryan smiled and then burst into laughter. No, aryan has rangeen dreams. Now the word rangeen conveys a lot. He was shocked. “You are kidding”, he said. But aryan was serious and had a handy answer. “What is the fun of having black and white dreams? Unless the dreams are rangeen, there is no fun having them. It is like stressing your eye balls for a 19th century black and white movie”, aryan replied. The problem with aryan’s friend is that he believes that dreams can never be rangeen. aryan had a tough time making him understand the difference between coloured and rangeen dreams. aryan’s friend is not colour blind. He has a beautiful and pair of eyes. They are deep as well and can drown anybody who dares to look into them. aryan feels sorry for him. There are people with Phuti Phuti eyes but they enjoy their dreams. aryan has finally come to the conclusion that beautiful eyes are worthless if they present the dreams in black and white. aryan’s friend mostly dreams about mountains, rivers, boats and trucks. Nobody in his family has been a trekker or a trucker. He does not own a boat either. aryan fails to understand the reason behind his grave defect. Only a counsellor can help him now. It is believed that dreams are a reflection of what the person sees or thinks during the day. aryan, on the contrary, dreams about………. . It is top secret. aryan is not interested in losing his secrets. However, aryan can tell the esteemed readers about the dream of his another friend. He saw a beautiful buchi with a golden chain in her delicate hands. She was walking slowly towards him trampling the lush green turf beneath her feet. aryan’s friend waited anxiously. His heart was beating rapidly and loudly. Finally the dame came closer and hung the golden chain around his neck. This is when he opened his eyes. The dame had vanished into thin air. He saw his mother waiting for him with a bag in her hands. “Get up. It is getting late. Take this bag and get us some bread from the baker”, she screamed. aryan’s friend came out of his fantasies. He took the bag and gave his mother a scornful look. She ignored the look and walked away slowly. A number of people were waiting at the baker’s shop for their turn. Smoke emanating from the tandoor caused irritation in his eyes. aryan saw him and in typical Rajesh Khana style said: “Tumhari aankhoon main pani.” |
Aryan is very busy guy as his friends always comment!!!!But the real thing is that he always wants to be busy rather involved in some work... woh kya hai na neendh nahi aati na. Leave this all yeh sab us ka personal matter hai but what happened last night er...er Saturday night was really interesting. Aryan was chatting with one of his good old friend. His friend got upset with Aryan as the chatting lead to some serious jokes which made her (Aryan’s friend) annoyed. No doubt she understands Aryan well but yaar limits bhi koi cheez hoti hai na. Aryan feels sorry for that but kambakth dosti aur limit strange combination!!! Actually, he believes friendship occurs with eccentric people and with the span of time they become just like your heartbeats. But here the case is little different... Aryan pinched her on some serious issue and ... he is sorry for that now!!!
Aryan is proud of his this friend as she at least knows tehzeeb wa tamadun rather sanaskar but the case is not like this every time. Take the example of Sunday morning when Aryan along with his friends were chilling at nearby dhaba when highly educated, modern and high-society bucchi, aryan’s polite name to modern women came. Aryan was surprised when she asked for cigarette from the vendor!! Thing even became worse when Aryan expressed his views among his peers. All in one chorus Ultra modern gals hain yaar you are journalist not social worker!!! So Just Chill!!! Very true!!! But in the hearts of hearts Aryan compared his worthy friend to them. In fact she is much superior to these bucchies who always blame Indian government for their suffering instead of asking themselves. I am really proud of you dear!! May you live long so our friendship.... All the best for your coming exams...!!!!
