Be the eco-friendly women!!

Few months back, we had cleaning activity in Srinagar, Banashankari 2nd stage government School as a part of Green club initiated by youth for seva. We had to take the students around the school to pick up all kind of wastes and clean the premises. Since there were so many students, we didn't have enough glouse to provide everyone, we decided to use hand wash after all the work. The work started, students were divided based on work and lead by individual volunteers, but later we found that we cannot continue the waste collection for certain category of waste with those small kids!! And we stopped this at certain places despite having hand wash to remove the dirt.

Can you guess what kind of waste that would be!!??

None of us could have concerned of it except those who have really experienced finding that waste piece of non-bio degradable material on road sides.

That is the disposable sanitary napkins used by all adult women!! Our team was concerned to get this touched by small kids.

The safe solution for the disposal of this waste is to burn completely. Most of us would dump it to the municipality vehicle or throw it in the areas where we consider the waste would be collected by corporation people. If it gets disposed safely that would be fine, if not this is a threat. The menstrual blood stuck on them becomes bed and butter to microbes. And those which gets on to the landfilling and reaches the mud in the road side could become the palace for bacteria and viruses. Contagious diseases are easily born and spread. It was more considerable fact when we found it in the school premises.

Approximately half the population of world are women. Two-third of them certainly uses disposable sanitary napkins. On an average if they use 4 napkins each month, 48 per year and 480 per decade. Chances of around 2000 napkins are used by each woman in her life time. Think of the whole women population generating this impossible waste. There can around 560 thousand tons of napkins getting added to the total non-decomposable waste every year. If it is burnt out, the air is polluted, ash generated, otherwise soil is polluted and the health of many living beings is also polluted.

What can be the remedy?

Use washable cloth napkins. We would have seen our mothers and grandmothers using it. We still think we may not be comfortable to run around and cannot travel comfortably. So, let us remember the names of all women warriors like Jhansi Lakshmi bhai, Chand bibi sultana, Marie curie, Mary Edwards walker, Queen Cleopatra, Mother Theresa, M S Subbalakshmi and many more who were existed before the introduction of disposable sanitary pads and their achievements and non-discontinued hard work. When it was possible for them, it is possible for us too along being green women.

You can make your own cloth pads. Now you can even get congenial washable cloth menstrual pads available in market. Find the link www.ecofemme.org or you can order writing at  aidsite@gmail.com from Jivika. You can also find more dealers online for cloth pads. The initial cost seemed to be high, but over the time and for the multiple uses, this is inexpensive. I have bought few from a shop called “Wellbeing” in Sahakarnagar, Bangalore and have used also. I am completely alright with it. You too can bear washing it for the sake of avoiding waste generation for land filling and contamination of water and soil. And there are lot of health advantages involved like less causing rashes, contact dermatitis for the sensitive skin in using the cloth pad(For more info -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloth_menstrual_pad).

We have cared for our beauty enough :), but this is also the time to care for beauty of Mother Nature and to become an eco-friendly woman.

Hope you all would find it sensible and take action immediately. And share it with others to spread the awareness.

Right solution for pain is to bear it..!

It was 5th March, Thursday; I was so much thinking of difficulties, especially of those downhearted I have ever observed. Everyone has one or the other pain including me, but to be happy or unhappy with it solely depends on each individual. Situations which are seemed ignorable to me is unbearable to somebody else, and sometimes those which are common to some people are surprising to some others!!. How do we tackle all these? Thoughts were moving on..Head was filled with this kind of thoughts for most of free time I had.

Sometime after came home from office, I comfortably sat on my chair cross-legged in front of computer table. It continued for more than half an hour. Now I got to walk out from the room, so woke up!! But unable to observe my right lower leg and feet have gone numb because of my body pressure which was on it for more than half an hour. Without knowing the inability of my nerves to control my right foot, I kept down the feet to stand on it without looking at it. Unconscious feet were not in proper position to carry the body weight, but were vertically hanging and I stood upon it. As soon as the body left its mass, the foot got wrenched to become flat and made a sound tutttt!!!, by the sound I realized some breakage happened, and looked down to see the hanging twisted foot. The pain was not sensible as still blood flow was not reached till the feet. I sat back on the chair to leave the blood circulation occur and see if it becomes normal. Within few seconds uncontrollably tears rolled down, the foot started swelling, and pain was unbearable!!

I didn't want to perturb my mother, so called up aunt to know how serious this would be. She suggested some home remedy and to consult the doctor next day as then it was late in the night. After sometime, as a saying “when you suffer, you suffer less” I calmed down myself with all my strength and wiped the tears, revealed my mother what happened and what did aunt say.

Obviously the mother of unconditioned love felt worried for the unfortunate accident happened not withstanding any big clash. She did all that which could sooth my leg the whole night. Next morning got medicated and now it’s recovering.

But as an addiction, my processor started to execute the thoughts of rest of the day where I was thinking of life’s difficulties, gave me a wonderful analogy of difficulties.

The pains are because of our mistakes. We cannot realize the mistake when we are unconscious of our behavior. Like the mistake that I was trying to operate an unconscious leg. We will not be aware of the pain we gave to others when we are insensitive to it. As I could not sense the pain until blood circulation started in that body part and it was not in the control of my nervous system. Once when nerves got energy to send signals to brain, the pain was unbearable!! And ultimately I was the one to bear it. Same way our whole surrounding should be seen as one body, each one is the organs of same body; by hurting anyone we will hurt ourselves.

The mistakes will happen when you have not awakened your consciousness to think what you are doing. When you awaken your consciousness you can sense the pain. So do just being conscious will help to solve problem? We have to be controlled to bear the pain, to bear all the evils. Then be strong to heal the wound and solve the problem. We should always be steady and know that unless anybody is too bad, everybody will always have a support like the mother I had!!. But however be the injury occur either consciously or unconsciously, pain has to be tolerated by that individual who committed mistake even though after a delay if not at that instant.

We cannot transfer our grievances to anybody. Difficulties make us more empathetic and efficient. For anybody, the only solution is to endure the pain till we get rid of it, but not to be depressed and weepy.

In all respect I wish we become conscious, gain control and know what are mistakes, bear the troubles and do not repeat the mistake for not to welcome the pain again.

"Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with courage and compassion, but never by blaming anyone"

To all my juniors who are going to face 10th and 12th grade public exam next month, my wishes for you to study well and do well in exams.

At present in February , most of the school students are left with one and half month for their public exams. They would be afraid that “it’s only one and half month!! What would they do and study only the ticked!! :P”

I take an interest to facilitate your calmness.You still have one and half month, don't get tensed, you can study everything with complete understanding.

Yesterday, the discussion class had to be summarized for this academic year as we were done with the whole syllabus and necessary revision for 10^th students at RK math,ulsoor. On last day, there was a story told to boost them up for their exam preparation which I am sharing right below.

This was the story of one of my teachers, GK master (Gopala Krishna Murthy sir who’s brain child was Discussion Class) which used to be told to inspire us to not to be apprehensive during exams.

When GK Sir was studying in 10^th class, he was least bothered of his studies and used to play most of the time. While he was playing “Goli” with some of his friends, one of his mother’s friends finds it and takes an interest to advise his mother. She tells her that “ Your Son is studying SSLC and one month is left for exam!.You have happily allowed him to play Goli!!.. Give him a smack and instate him to study seriously. Otherwise you have to face insults of your son being failed in exam!!”

His illiterate mother realizes that her son have not studied whole year and he has to study hard to pass through his exams. So she takes him to a famous teacher of that time in Bhadravathi CN Srinivasmurthy(who is known as CNS sir across there) and leaves her son to his responsibility.

CNS sir checks the boy's level of knowledge in his curriculum.  Poor boy doesn't even know to spell the word "Science"! For CNS, there was a question mark that how to prepare this guy to whom there is no question of imagining secondary school exam!!

But the teacher finds that the boy is insistent and doesn't want to give up. Because now he has realized he needs to pass through exam. CNS sir somehow decides to put some effort to push this lad through the school education. First day, assigns him to write only the word "science" repeatedly up to two pages. He writes and submits his learning of the word "science". Next day onward he’ll take him up on to learn maths formula,  one formula for each day up to two pages has to be written. GK Sir writes for two days and learns two formulas. Third day again, while his teacher is giving him third formula to learn for whole day, the bold boy takes the book, writes for 5 times and proves he has already learnt without writing it up to two pages . And then tells, “Sir, why only one formula for one day when I can learn more than that.” Teacher then understands fast learning ability of the boy; he develops confidence in him and decides to guide him to take through the exam.”

Around 25 days were left for exam, each day GK studied as per his teacher’s guidance. Finally exam arrived!! Exam was written. Exam finished and results came. Unbelievable!! GK sir had passed in first class and stood first in the school. (Those days first class (around 60%) could be the highest marks scored). In school, his teachers were not ready to give him the marks card suspecting “how a guy who has been the dumbest can come first to the school!!”. Then the boy had to get his teacher CNS Sir to convince them that he was guided by him and it was purely his effort to stand first in the school to get his result sheet.

When GK Sir could learn in one month right from the basics and complete his syllabus to pass an examination in first class, we who have been studying since a year can do more than that. GK Sir never advised us to leave the basics and study half just to pass through examination.

All those whoever is writing exams in coming months, my advice for you is “you still have time, study for the sake of gaining knowledge, you will get through any exam. Never let exam faces you, but face the exam.”

Prefer to eat well and sleep well, no matter of how your studies are!!. Give priority to care for your health and do study for your exams as well. All the very best :)

Theory of Relativity

Few days back at office, I and my colleague had to walk certain distance to reach our laboratory from our seats. He was walking faster than me and I felt I am not able to walk along him; his speed was moderate though. I told him “Sir, you walk too fast,” He replied “No, I don’t walk fast, my Boss is faster than me and he says I walk slowly and actually mine is neither slow nor fast, I am moderate”. Then I smiled, thought for few seconds and said “It’s actually relative sir, your boss walks too fast, so he says you are slow for him, with me you are faster and to compare to yourself, you are moderate!! haha :) ”

We entered laboratory. I am a kind of person who would be intrigued at any new things I find in our laboratory and I would ask to the scientist madam about that and finally comment on its shape, structure and all physical nature or create an analogy with my subject. This time I found thick white coloured card board tubes lying on the slab and I told my colleague “ Sir, this looks like silk worm cocoon, what for you are using it??” tried to banter. He considered this kind of analogical thoughts comes only to children and asked me “ Kousalya, when will you grow old, my child?.” It was enough to make me smile and say “We should be childlike, but never childish.” He happily welcomed my answer and said “bacchii jaiselagtiho (look to be a child baby)”. It was obvious for him to feel me as a child as we have quite difference between our ages. If the same attitude expressed by a person older than him, it would have been just a joke and he could even be irritated at him. It again illustrated that emotions and opinions are also relative with circumstances and the measuring person. But this is the only relativity which differs from person to person.

When I started looking at everything in depth, all resulted to happen in comparison. No quantity and quality could be explained and measured independently. Nothing seemed to be absolute. But there can be possibilities of finding absolution with very little things.

Everyday measurement we do, are not absolute. Every measurement has to have a reference. Each meter to measure the length is referred to the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second. In turn we would be trying to fix the speed of the light to 1 meter for 1/299792458 of a second. Grams are referred to certain things. Molecular mass is measured based on the fractions of Carbon-12 atom.

Though the speed can be quantified in numbers, the fundamental parameters yields to it are not absolute. Distance and time need to be referred. Time is the best example to explain theory of relativity. We don’t know on what basis the time is measured. Seconds, milliseconds, micro seconds, nano seconds and let’s consider even pico seconds are not known to major part of the world who uses time every day that on what basis they are considered? Few people feel sometimes, time is moving faster and some others would worry how to spend the slow moving time. Then what is that measures time, watch or people’s mind??

Newton’s inertial frame of reference will actually have no role in his mechanic rule, but a concept of relativity. On earth, a day is measured based on its rotation and revolution around earth. If we stay on Mars, we would be older than what we are now on earth. On Jupiter I would still be a two month old baby as it revolves and rotates slower than earth.

The effect of sound is also relative. You would tell your fellow to speak less loudly when you are in a silent area where as you can even ask to speak louder when you are amidst a noisy crowd. The people living in the vicinity of a drainage would have adopted to inhale the smell normally over period, but those who is been there from a far place could feel the smell more sensitively than the person who lives there. Intensity of all your sensation is relative.

Theory of Relativity must be common sense, but is made a complicated hypothesis in our text books.

We must thank Einstein, who at least identified this simple phenomenon which involves in everything around us for all those who are unable to recognize it. Kudos to Einstein!  He discovered it and made a new way for scientists and researchers. He showed that it is not just mathematics which involves every aspect of the universe, but also the theory of relativity.

Morality V/s Righteousness

On August 15th 2010, I was on even semester vacation, was staying in my hometown Bhadravathi. I would usually go VISL stadium for Independence Day celebration where most of the school children gathers and it was convenient after I started for participating in march-fast during my school days. But this time my aunt Sukanya took me to the Independence Day ceremony at a government school organised by her Women’s association to which she is the secretary. Agenda were as usual, flag hoisting, cultural program and sweet distribution.

There was flag hoisting done by the President of the association who is one of my aunt’s friends. PE teacher of the school gave kick for singing Janaganamana immediately after the flag hoist. I could observe there was not everyone singing seriously keeping all honors to the tri-color. The scattered ones were mostly the members of women’s association. I felt unsatisfied for that intensity of national anthem sung there. All those women were neither illiterate nor uneducated. They all knew how one should behave while singing our national anthem. Small children were more disciplined than them.

After national anthem, there was a song performance. Now the speech from an eminent person! Since it was organised by women’s association president of the association was requested to keep some words. But the president aunt being little soft said, our secretary would be better to speak. Secretary is my aunt in turn pointed at me that her niece is there who better can tell about independence and induce patriotism.

This cat who is pleased for the milk would utilize the opportunity. I would probably have told about the story of Gandhiji, Tippu sultan, Swamy Vivekananda and all those who about I know well. But this time I had recognised more important to tell than all these. I said “Today rather kids, I have an emphatic matter to tell you adults.” I turned to kids and asked how we should be while singing national anthem? One of the children said we should be in attention posture, look straight and stand firm for the whole time of singing the song. I continued “What these kids know, their elders including me must need to adopt, and my speech or that of anybody older than me will just touch the ear drums. But the important would be made by our actions. The elders who have to be the model have necessity to learn from them. Especially you aunties (I addressed them directly (It was in polite context as I spoke in Kannada)) were observed to be more scattered and such acts will not create unity among us which most importantly we need to feel on occasions like Independence Day. This is what all great freedom fighters did, they learnt from anybody and they conveyed through actions. That is because we got independence.” Mentioning this fact I continued my speech for some more time about respecting national symbols and freedom fighters, exact of which I have forgotten. And at the end of the speech sought apologies if anywhere I have hurt any of them.

After my speech, when I was returning from the stage my aunt gave a warm stare and I smiled gently knowing she is angry on me. Applause was given to the speech, sweets were distributed and came back home.

There started the important matter of this article. My aunt started, “If I get you the opportunity to speak considering that you better deserve to talk to kids, you insulted my friends??!! While many a time you don’t dare to speak single word to those who are insulting or blasting directly at you! Now what made you to do this?? You know how much all of them adore you for your academic results and good behavior!! Is it moral for you to say all these directly to them in a public place? What morality you know??

Then obstructed one ajji (old lady who is most respected in that street and who also attended the function with us) in the neighborhood “Stop Sukanya, whatever she told was right. You people need to understand such small things to follow. When kid goes wrong, won’t you correct him? Same way telling right doesn't mean disrespect for anyone.” Looking at me she said “I support you dear (putta), you are correct”

I took aunty from the veranda to inside to tell her “See aunty, an illiterate ajji can understand what is right and why not you?? It is not the morality that is important for life but being right. It is not moral to say against to those who like you, but how could you stay away from correcting your loved ones?? Morality may cause fear, but not righteousness. It will not make you lose for anyone. If I be quite for anyone scolding me is to correct them with the patience. But here I had to speak for them to realize about their actions.”

Then, it was so spontaneous I replied to my aunt without actually experiencing the sense of those words. But today after all dig to my intuition I could see that righteousness is the ultimate rather morality. For people many actions of those who have understood what is right look to be immoral and insane, but it will have meaning.

“Do not be inert for those who have facilitated you at once or try to comfort those to whom you caused harm in the past. Only present is the truth. Understand the nature of righteousness; take risk to be right, you are always protected.”

Rain..!! Rain..!! Bringing back the memories of hometown and Ecosophy!!

24/09/2014

Two months back, Mahalaya Amavasya(New moon day) in rain created nostalgia for my days at home town. This festival is celebrated to remember our ancestors and bait all variety of snacks and food in consideration to please them. Among my relatives, each of the family has to do pooja with incense, camphor and frankincense.

Before we shifted to Bangalore, this festival would create an unusual exultation in minds and homes of my family and relatives. In my home town, most of relatives had all our homes in one village. Especially during mahalaya I cannot count how many we all relatives together had to bait. In our home it was my grandparents, and in chikappa, doddappa, mama’s (Uncles) homes for their, those whoever has lost their lives. Since all of us had to do pooja for everyone, as soon as we finish at one home, had to jump to the next one. The fun is, it would be heavily raining all over, we would drench in rain either because of shortage of umbrellas or we wouldn't find one in the ado of festival.

We never bothered of being bemired and be wet because of rain. But recently one day in office, I and my colleague had to walk from one department to the other i.e., our dept in open space for around 50 meters. It was raining and not that we would completely be drenched of if we go in. Though, we didn’t step out and started searching for umbrella with everyone working there.  Later we couldn’t find umbrella, we ran in rain and destined. We found many over there felt irritated because of rain.

I was later started thinking, at my place people are very happy if it rains and this kind of rain is nothing for them. No rain would obstruct any of their works. I used to enjoy the site of lake and a big field of paddy farm opposite to that we had in our village, while either cycling or walking from school to home, sometimes with umbrella and many time without umbrella.

Today the rain here in Bangalore and the festivity gets me recollected all those memories back to see that we are kept humble and simple when we are living with the nature!!

Added to this, I have been to celebrate Diwali in rain at hometown this time. Rain avoided the crackers, consequently no smoke and no noise. Diyas (Oil lamps with oil filled in bowls) were lit and placed in the veranda and on compounds of every house in the evenings. Girls were decorated like buses of ayudha pooja (Custom of worshipping weapons and tools during Dasara festival) for Lakshmi pooja.

They avoid using plastic, and all irreducible wastes are burnt in fire wood stove in their bathroom to heat water. No piece of plastic would go out of house to harm any of the animals there. It was so clean to see around most of the houses. Aunt says bangaloreans has increased waste by not using such stove.

We wandered around the places and all greenish moments were about to mask all the memories I had with the noisy town and all that negativity of the mind. It gave the freedom from being conscious of the behavior and thoughts. I found complete calmness with taller trees instead tall buildings, loveliness with few street cows and dogs instead of smoke vomiting vehicles, with sound of prasseln instead horns and sirens.

The nature soothed the mind, and I felt as if I am lying in the lap of consoling mother. This would not happen only for me, every human and all living organism could sense this difference. Environment when balanced gives us balanced soul, and we feel serene and calm. But when it is polluted, minds are also become susceptive to get polluted attributing to the lack of resources and desire for more comfort and becomes stressed. Hence all of us must make our minds to contribute ourselves to create a balanced nature and balanced psyches. A small step taken for the greener world will make us eternal for larger extent both physically and metaphysically.

" Mother earth is been exploited for centuries, but now it’s time for us to give time to her to recover back and have comfortable life being lapped in the originality of Mother Nature and establish equality through contentment in everyone’s life."