Question : Even a layman can transform a society
(2019)
Answer : Change is the eternal law. History and science bear ample testimony to the fact that change is the law of life. Stagnation is death. They tell us stories of man’s rise and growth from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age, then to the Stone Age and next to the Copper Age, etc. On the stage of the world, scenes follow scenes, acts follow acts, and drama follows drama. Nothing stands still.
Change is an ever-present ....
Question : Information is not knowledge
(2019)
Answer : The genius of Albert Einstein’s quotes seems to be their timeless nature. Einstein is often also quoted as saying, “Information is not knowledge.” Interestingly, the rest of that original quote ends with, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” Another great quote on the subject is by John Naisbitt, author of Megatrends, “We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.”
This is even more true in a hyper-connected world where access to information is abundant. ....
Question : Caring for the Aged
(2017)
Answer : Elderly is a reference to old people who have crossed middle age. This is a reference to the characteristic of old age as an adjective. The old age is an integral part of human life. It is the evening of life. It is unavoidable, unwelcomed and problem ridden phase of life. It is interesting that everyone wants to live a long life but not to be old. It is ironical that however undesirable it is ....
Question : Participating in sports helps develop good character.
(2014)
Answer : The method for learning principles of good character varies for each person. A child may pursue science, music or writing, depending on her interest level. Each of these subjects provides opportunities for learning perseverance, commitment and discipline, but perhaps playing a sport more than any other activity gives a child the tools she needs to understand human relationships and a model for positive behavior in society. As a character-builder, a sport tests the link between ....
Question : Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.
(2014)
Answer : Some things we can measure. Some things we can’t. And just because we can measure something doesn’t make it more real or significant. Something that counts is equal to something that has meaning. It is impossible to count all the possible variables of ‘everything’ that have meaning. That is even if you can define what has meaning.
The phrase “what counts can’t be counted” suggests that it is impossible to measure what is important. This statement ....
Question : Inventions generate necessity
(2011)
Answer : It has been rightly said that necessity is the mother of inventions. Most of the inventions and discoveries owe their successful operation to necessity. Unless there is want we cannot struggle to attain the goal. The history of human progress in all walks of life is the history of man’s endeavour to reach new goals.
When man felt hungry, he started hunting and till land. The need for shelter lead the man to built huts and ....
Question : Are traditional forms of protest no longer effective?
(2010)
Answer : A protest is an expression of bearing witness on behalf of an express cause by words or actions with regard to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations.
Protesters may organize a protest as a way of publicly making their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policy, or they may undertake direct action in an attempt to directly enact desired changes ....
Question : To feed our increasing population, forest areas need to be cleared to increase land area available for cultivation. Do you agree?
(2010)
Answer : Food security is a fundamental problem India is world today. Despite substantial increases in food production in India, a large section of our population still suffers from malnutrition. Growing populations and the decreasing availability of arable land may lead poor farmers in India to seek new land in forests to grow more food. Some government policies encourage the conversion of forests to pastures and others encourage large resettlement schemes in forests. There is nothing inherently ....
Question : Ragging: should it be distinguished from brutality or criminality?
(2009)
Answer : Ragging occurs in many forms. Some examples are: dress code-related (dictating what students must wear), verbal abuse (caste, class, other prejudices), silly acts to be performed (climb tree, shout, marry your classmate), sexual abuse (asking students to shed clothes), financial abuse (paying bills), physical abuse (carrying bags, finishing extra assignments), mass ragging sessions (juniors being asked to stand on benches, etc). Besides physical fatalities, these incidents cause a lot of emotional trauma. “Victims experience conflicting ....
Question : “Sweet are the uses of adversity.”
(2009)
Answer : This famous maxim is from Shakespeare’s classic play “As you like it“. They are spoken by the duke senior in the forest of Arden. This statement contains a profound truth - adversity or difficulty brings the best in man as he learns to cope with his trials. Man’s real worth is put to test in adversity. It develops fortitude and courage in him.
Difficulties are in fact gifts bestowed by god upon man. It during these ....
Question : “Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty”.
(2007)
Answer : As used in official national documents, the term “liberty” is understood as a right and carries a negative content. Liberty in that sense means to be free from somebody or something. “Liberty” has a strongly negative meaning. It denies, at least by implication, the idea that liberty includes liberty for and responsibility for anything or anybody. It is not understood as being correlative with duty under constant vigilance. The effect is to promote individual selfishness ....
Question : The Culture of Modesty
(2007)
Answer : Modesty is not just about covering up or wearing specific clothing. By definition, modesty is about respect. A provider who takes cultural modesty into account is someone who shows respect and caring in the highest degree. Though we often associate modesty with the prescriptive doctrines of certain religions, modesty in many cultures often means showing propriety in speech, dress, or behavior and lack of pretentiousness. In many cultures, modesty demonstrates essential goodness in a person ....
Question : Should Mercy-Killing be Legalized for Terminally ill Patients?
(2007)
Answer : For the protagonists of mercy killing, this is perhaps the right cause and the perfect time to allow the patient to embrace death and put an end to his unbearable pain for an eternal peaceful abode.
If human beings have the freedom to live with dignity should they be deprived of their right to die in dignity? After all as an individual, we decide where to marry; we decide where to work, and at the last ....
Question : Importance of a Work-Ethic
(2007)
Answer : Work ethic has to do with the set of values and guidelines a person determines to pursue a task, activity, or project pertaining to life or career.It is the practical demonstration of hundreds of little character traits that flow from a person’s heart into the work they do, whether it be taking out the trash, cleaning the house, writing a book, completing a homework assignment, or cleaning the windows of an office building. Work ethic, ....
Question : Heritage Tourism is Good for Us
(2007)
Answer : Culture and heritage tourism plays a critical role in building the visitor economy and goes even beyond that. In India we have a number of heritage sites and most of them attract tourists from different parts of the world. Culture and heritage tourism we usually visit cultural heritage attractions such as: historic buildings and other historic attractions; archaeological sites; state, local, or national parks; art galleries or museums; concerts, plays or musicals; ethnic or ecological ....
Question : Internet as Virtual Library
(2006)
Answer : A virtual library is a digital space that keeps and organizes virtual books and their associated documents. It also can refer to a space where the books can be read. These spaces can include computers, mobile devices and the Internet. Some virtual libraries can be accessed for free, and others require subscriptions.
An advantage of using a virtual library is that it is able to store many books in a small amount of space. Physical books ....
Question : Are we Aggressive and Rude People?
(2006)
Answer : India is a collectivist culture, where group harmony and traditional values matter most. America is a individualist culture where uniqueness and self-determination are prized.
India is highly ranked on the power distance index. That means Indians accept the fact that power inequality exists (which makes sense given the legacy of the caste system). This means Indians will defer to their superiors: the leader must resolve a dispute, and everyone else knows their place. It’s not viewed ....
Question : Television and its Impact on Youth
(2005)
Answer : Television has now become a debatable issue as some question its influences on the attitude and psychological development of today’s youth. Nowadays, the world of television has been discovered by children at very young age. As we know, television is an effective educational tool. With programs showcasing wildlife, scientific theories etc, it helps these children to be broad-minded and also have a better understanding about the world around them. However, we have to remember and ....
Question : ‘All That Glitters is Not Gold’
(2004)
Answer : All that glitters is not gold is a well-known saying, meaning that not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so. This can apply to people, places, or things that promise to be more than they really are. Outward appearance can be greatly misleading. Gold is a very valuable metal. It has an attractive glittering appearance too. But it does not mean that everything which glitters like gold should be precious.
There are ....
Question : Freedom of Expression
(2003)
Answer : The Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantee the right to freedom of expression, both in Article 19. Freedom of expression is not only important in its own right but is also essential if other human rights are to be achieved.
At an individual level, freedom of expression is the key to the development, dignity and fulfillment of every person. People can gain an understanding of ....
Question : Science and Religion
(2002)
Answer : Science and religion generally pursue knowledge of the universe using different methodologies. Science acknowledges reason, empiricism, and evidence, while religions include revelation, faith and sacredness whilst also acknowledging Philosophical and Metaphysical explanations with regard to the study of the Universe. Despite these differences, most scientific and technical innovations prior to the scientific revolution were achieved by societies organized by religious traditions. Much of the scientific method was pioneered first by Islamic scholars, and later by ....
Question : Knowledge is power
(2001)
Answer : Knowledge is the awareness of a fact or a situation. It is a rich and a unique possession that cannot be stolen or plundered. Knowledge doesn’t decrease when it is given. In fact, knowledge is power. Our knowledge is the amassed thought and experience of countless human beings. Those who have wide-range of knowledge and experience can capture power and influence. The possession of knowledge gives them a distinct advantage over the semi educated people. ....
Question : Value of yoga
(2001)
Answer : From a Yogic perspective this means to live life fully, to flow with life and to accept whatever life brings, rather than fighting against life and the circumstances that we live in. Yoga, as an age-old system, has always been a practical science of living which teaches us the tools for a balanced, harmonious life. It is a system which explains the functioning of the human mind and the various levels of consciousness with the ....
Question : Science and human happiness
(2001)
Answer : Man, however, worships science not so much because it has given him new and free ideas, but because it has provided him with great material comforts and amazing facilities.
There is no doubt that science has been the greatest boon to man so far. But the achievements of science have not come to man as a ripe apple falls in the lap of a man sitting under an apple tree. Science is not just the result ....
Question : Man is saved not by faith but by work
(2000)
Answer : As you saw so you reap is the teaching we find in the Ramayana. In fact action is the duty. There is no doubt that we should work without any care for the result. Work is not only counted in this world but counts something for the next world also. Good people are always praised in this world. On the other hand bad workers are cursed everywhere. No doubt they are famous for their bad ....
Question : Contribution of Science to human progress
(2000)
Answer : The present era is the era of science. Science has undoubtedly done a great service to mankind. Man, a rational being, has been curious to explore mysteries of nature and this led to many discoveries being made in various part of the world.
But he is never satisfied with the acquired knowledge and is always keen to unravel mysteries of the universe. He has conquered the land and air. His incredible lust for knowledge has revolutionised ....
Question : Political reform you want in India
(2000)
Answer : Few political problems are common to all the democracies of the developing countries. India is not an exception to it. Political reforms - minimum educational qualification for ministers need to be set and dynastic rule should be stopped - are absolutely needed. Moreover political reforms are absolutely needed in Indian democracy. There is a long pursued demand that there should be a minimum educational qualification requirement for any person who wants to contest an assembly ....
Question : Laughter is the best medicine
(2000)
Answer : Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring one’s mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens burdens, inspires hopes, connects one to another, and keeps us grounded, focused, and alert. With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and ....