EDITORIAL Dear reader, Greetings from the editorial team of Crucibles…! We take in the immense pleasure to introduce you to the 32nd edition of E-zine.The month of August brought in many festivities. Firstly, we would like to wish all the siblings, a very Happy Raksha Bandhan. As every brother is tied with the silken thread of virtuous love by their sisters, may God shower and bestow his benedictions on this beautiful relation. On the auspicious moment of Ganesh Chaturthi, We adjure that May Lord Ganesha remove the obstacles of our lives and bless us with intellect and wisdom. Talking about the beacons of light in our lives, teachers, who laid the foundation for creating enlightened citizens of our nation. Here we are wishing all the pioneers, a very happy teacher’s day. As rightly said by Irina Bokova, UNESCO ,Director General “literacy is much more than educational priority-it is the ultimate investment in the future and the first step towards all the new forms of literacy required in the 21st century.” Literacy is a right and a foundation for lifelong learning. As we also observed international literacy day on 8th September, 2014, we focused on NGOs who provide a helping hand and who contribute towards the transformation of dreams into reality, thereby making the cover story. For 40 years now, UNESCO has been celebrating international literacy day, reminding everyone that literacy is a human right and foundation of all learning. We are happy to let you know that we have a few new external contributors writing for us. They are:
P Srikanth, C.L.P. Officer, Assembly Nauman Shareef, Volunteer, Aikarthya Tejas Mishra , Seller Support Associate, Amazon Pavan Sharma, PGP/SS/14-16, Ex-President, HYA Divya Ghanathe, Volunteer, Teach for Change Edulla Lahari, PR Head, The Green Nest Syed Haris Andrabi, M.A., Islamic University
I would take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support. Hope this association is there in future as well. Thank you all for the contribution made towards this edition. A special mention, the cover page is designed by Mr. Mukhpreet Khurana, I would like to thank him for his efforts and also Miss. Zoya Naaz for all her support in publishing the Magazine. I would like to end on a note, ““The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” ― Phil Jackson Happy reading!!!
TEHMINA AHMEDI PGP/SS/14-16
TABLE OF CONTENT S.No.
Topic
Page Number
01.
Leaders – Then and Now
02
02.
Caricature’istic
03
03.
Breweries Industry – Story behind Do’s and Don’ts
05 – 06
04.
Discreet Diaries
06
05.
Educating Children – Cradling Futures
09 – 14
06.
Exploring the Unknown – The undying spirit of Kashmir
16 – 18
07.
Frozen Frames
18
08.
Spikes over Smokes
20
09.
Pro-Kabaddi League – A Sport; Lost and Found
21
10.
Get specified – A new definition to being a Bookworm
23
11.
A star in the Galaxy of Comedy
24
12.
Grapevine
25
1
POLITICS
“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.” ― Thomas Jefferson
“LEADERS – Then and Now” Our country India has got vast history of politics. Indian politics has begun before Christ. For example we can refer to the ancient regimes viz., the rule of the great emperor Ashoka, Sri Krishna Devarayalu, importantly the great emperor’s period that is during Chandra Gupta’s period where in Chanakya was an Indian teacher, philosopher, and royal advisor. Originally a professor of economics and political science at the ancient Takshashila University, Chanakya managed the first Maurya emperor Chandragupta's rise to power at a young age. From then several countries have adopted the chanakya’s political theories. After Independence, the Indian political situation was in good position. The leader’s were having ethics and morals. For example, Sri Lal Bahadur Sastry, Late Prime Minister, has resigned for his post on moral grounds just because a rail accident occurred and some passengers have lost their lives, where he felt he was responsible for the accident, this shows their commitment towards the country. But unfortunately, in present scenario, the Indian politics have polluted due to various reasons like corruption and criminal activities. In the current situation of our country, the persons entering into politics with money and muscle power, without having any knowledge of politics nor having any educational qualifications. They are literally threatening the people or managing the voters in several manners and getting elected to the highest houses of our country like Rajya Saba, Lok Sabha in the Centre and to the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly at the State level. Their motive is only to make money and they are not concentrating on the development of the country. In the past several years our country’s great leaders have been facing several allegations such as corruption and money laundering etc. For example Coal Scam, Boffors Scam, Fodder Scam, 2G Scam, misuse of funds in various issues where in the Minister’s are involved. None of them are holding responsible for these scams. In the present scenario, the leaders are feeling that if they are involved in any scam and are sent to jail, they have achieved a great goal. Every National and Regional Party, states that the youth must actively participate in the politics and lead the country. But, when it comes to accordance of party tickets, the preference is given to the seniors as such depriving the youth. Finally our suggestion is that the youth must come forward and actively participate in the politics in the interest of the country. Similarly the seniors must encourage youth in providing an opportunity in politics and guide them in the development of the country. The youth role is to make India the most developed country rather than still being a developing country.
P. SRIKANTH C.L.P. OFFICER ASSEMBLY 3
“CARICATURE’ISTIC” What Sparked This Violence? Tensions were ignited in June when three Israeli teenagers, one with American citizenship and all seminary students, were kidnapped while hitchhiking in the West Bank and killed. They were kidnapped on June 12 and their bodies were discovered June 30. Israel accused Hamas of kidnapping the three teens, which the militant group denied. Within days, Israel arrested more than 300 Palestinians, many of them members of Hamas. At least 10 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,000 private homes were raided.
Website courtesy: twitter.com Picture Courtesy: @TheObamaDiary
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BUSINESS
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” ― Sun Tzu
“Breweries Industry - Story behind all the Do’s and Don’ts” In a country, like India, consumption of alcohol is considered as a taboo. We all grew up picking up the benefits and detriments one would face due to alcohol use. Despite, all the dos and don’ts, the breweries market continue to grow with an impressive rate of 8.1% leading to 3.7 billion litres by 2014. This industry generated a revenue of $13.1 billion in 2009 with a CAGR of 12.5% to a decelerated pace of CAGR of 9.9% during 2009-2014 and is expected to grow up to $22.3 by the end of 2014. Rising acceptability of social drinking is a major contributor to the industry’s development. The alcohol market can be classified into four categories: IMFL, CL, Beer and Imported Liquor. The revenue generated from IMFL and CL segments are higher when compared to the Beer segment. Although Indian Alcohol Industry has been overshadowed by stronger spirits (IMFL), but over the years’ beer has cleared a chump in the industry and has been able to establish its presence felt. The Indian beer market is dominated by United Breweries with a market share of 50%, followed by SABMiller with around 25% and Carlsberg with around 10%. Talking about brands in particular, Kingfisher is the market leader followed by Haywards 5000, Knock Out and Tuborg. The players are leaving no stone unturned, be it coming up with new flavours to spice infusions or be it, opting for fancy names, they are practicing it all. This scenario changed drastically with the launch of different microbreweries in 2008, with many cities experiencing their presence. It is calculated that about 75 – 100 new breweries are getting up in the metros and tier II cities across India.
The rising awareness has also acted as an important function to aid the development. It delivers more health benefits as it has less alcohol content and hence, consumed with wine or spirits in moderate amounts. Such growth rates and relaxation on rules on FDI has attracted many foreign brands like Corona, Budweiser, Fosters, Carlsberg, Heineken and Carling to invest in this sector. These days, Craft beer, has been creating a buzz in this industry. This is crafted and brewed freshly by a brew master and is counted among one of the best quality beers, thereby gaining popularity in the Indian market. Apart from all these, Banning on direct advertising of alcoholic beverages in India has paved way for innovative concepts to position their products. This has changed their approach to engage the consumers and hence, made the innovative advertisements to align with sports. This is clearly evident in case of Kingfisher Premium, has associated itself with five teams of
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IPL. Another trend catching up is the advent of offering liquor online on websites like www.letsbuydrink.com and www.boozzr.com. The Indian alcohol distribution structure is complex and varies from state to state. Since, the liquor industry is subjected to very strict distribution control; it has three types of market. States like Assam, West Bengal and Pondicherry deal with open markets, States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala fall under government regulation whereas States like Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab fall under the auction market structure. Like every other industry, it too has its own strong points and failings. Where growing population, which helps as a ready available market and favourable distribution conditions, serves as strengths of the industry, we also have high taxes, ban on direct advertising, high pricing of the products and derisory state of market infrastructure serving us challenges. This industry does not face shortages of raw materials, i.e., Barley as it occurs just after rice and wheat production which is grown in sufficient amounts by the body politic. Talking about opportunities’, India consumes 1.64 litres beer, which is very little when compared to different states like China, US which consumes 37 litres and 78 litres per person rep. The per capita use has risen at a pace of 9%, sparking off a rise in beer consumption up to 256 million cases in 2012 from 170 million cases in 2008. Beer exported rose from INR 383.1 million in 2008 to INR 1777.8 million in 2013, showcasing a rise of 36%. Imports of beer have shown a rise of 19% over the same period and generated revenue of INR 281.6 million in 2013. Different demographics along with increasing focus on product range and climb in societal acceptance are assumed to be one of the reasons for rise in demand in the upcoming age. It is observed to originate on a conservative estimate rate of 12% year after year and achieve 452 million cases by 2017.
ZOYA NAAZ PGP/SS/13 – 15 Sr. Public Relations Executive; CRUCIBLES
“DISCREET DIARIES” 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
“YAHOO” is an acronym for “Yet another Hierarchical Officious Oracle”. Cereal is the second-largest advertiser on television today, behind automobiles. The new car smell is composed of over 50 volatile organic compounds. 64%of consumers have made a purchase decision based on social media content. Victoria`s secret is the most-selling product of all time. The iPhone is second. Steve Jobs is credited as an executive producer on Toy story. Twitter CEO Dick Costolo used to work as an improve comedian. Tom`s of Maine is owned by Colgate Palmolive.
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EDUCATION
“EDUCATION is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.” ― Robert Frost
“EDUCATING CHILDREN – Cradling Futures” In today’s paced up and highly competitive world, one of the most important aspects that contribute towards the growth of any and every individual is education. Education forms the deep rooted grassroots of one’s development which happens over time. Be it the developing or the developed nations, strong emphasis is laid on education. Education, a dream every individual experiences from childhood, is not far away. With different initiatives been taken up in the country and a lot of support, cooperation and contribution from these initiatives have made it possible for the country to come a few steps ahead to transform this dream into reality. We received a few NGOs who contributed to our companionship in society to bring about a change among us. Let’s determine how and when it all began!! 1. AIKARTHYA – Your Helping Hands Aikarthya was started in the year 2010 as a non-profit and a non-partisan youth led social service organization. The organization was setup to promote education to the under-privileged individuals, empower youth, improve the condition of women, promote awareness on thalassemia and to fight against social discrimination. Aikarthya works to bridge the gaps in the society by uniting youth from diverse backgrounds, equipping them with leadership, problem solving and teamwork skills and finally engaging them in community service.
At Aikarthya, our vision is to create a poverty-free community driven by the next generation of home-grown leaders. Aikarthya’s programmes are focused at providing supplementary education to children, and avenues for our volunteers to develop themselves through the following programs: a. Educate a child programme involves funding educational expenses for children studying in low income private schools and to provide mentorship to these children. b. Be someone's super hero is an endeavour from our side to donate blood to poor children suffering from Thalassemia to improve the life-expectancy of Thalassaemic children (currently Thalassaemic children from poor financial background who cannot afford the expensive blood transfusion and medication, die in their 20’s). We assign volunteers who join under this project to a thalassaemic child to help get constant and safe blood throughout .We work in association with Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society, Hyderabad. c. MY World post 2015: Aikarthya is an Official Partner of the United Nations MY World Campaign – a Global Survey for a Better World. It is crucial that the next development framework comes from a truly open and
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inclusive process that engages people from all parts of the world and all sections of society. Our volunteers understand the need of this goal and seek votes from other citizens on issues that concern them the most. d. Learning centres: The network of government schools in the country is more than a million. These schools address the educational needs of the poor in India. In India, over 96% of all children in the age group 6 to 14 years are enrolled in schools. However, the public school system in India lacks on many fronts and the ills of the educational system are felt most acutely by the poor, especially in rural areas, where the vast majority still attend government-run public schools. The ASER 2012 report states that “More than half of all children in Std. V are at least three grade levels behind where they should be�. It is obvious that the country is facing a learning deficit and there is an urgent need to address this. Secondly, schools in India start from Class 1. Children do not have exposure to a literacy environment or development of their cognitive skills till the age of 6. According to a recent study by the World Bank, by the time poorer children in many countries reach school age, they are at a significant disadvantage in cognitive and social ability. Pre-school education is taken for granted by a vast majority of people in Urban India but this service is available to only the rich in rural India who send their children to nearby private schools. Aikarthya has come up with a solution to this issue. We want to increase access to services and programs that improve the learning of children in rural India at economically affordable cost. To achieve a solution to this problem, we will establish education centres - Two education programs will be offered at these centres: a Toddlers program for children aged 3-6 and an after-school program for children in Classes 1-5. If you are interested in changing lives and serving unmet community needs, register as a volunteer at www.aikarthya.org.in or at hi5@aikarthya.org.in 2. YUVATHA – Awakening the Generation
NAUMAN SHAREEF; AIKARTHYA
It all started with a desire of one individual who wanted to bring out some change and also give something back to the society. Yuvatha was founded by Saketh Kothamasu in June 2010 while he was studying B.E. in Vignan University, Guntur. It initially started off with activities and event in Guntur and then a chapter of Yuvatha was unleashed in Hyderabad in July 2010. Basically, Yuvatha operates with two verticals, Eco Hub and Helping Hands. Eco hub, as the name suggests deals with all the environmental aspects of the society. Our first event, under this vertical was to make people aware of the effects of the use of plastic. We all set out in a group and personally, made people understand what takes to use plastic and the cons of it. We had visited each and every shop in the stretch of areas like Chikkadpally, Himayatngar, Secunderabad. Another vertical of Yuvatha is Helping hands. This vertical of the organization visits orphanages, old age homes and helps the needy. Three years down the lane, Yuvatha has been able to pull off numerous events which included visiting orphanages, old age homes, blood donation camps for children at MNJ cancer
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hospital, blankets distribution during winters, educating youth and people the importance of voting during elections by conducting street plays across the stretch of Necklace road, distribution of clay idols during Ganesh Chaturthi. Yuvatha recently celebrated its 3rd year anniversary on June 29, 2014 by conducting a day long fun fair “Aamantran” for children hailing from four different orphanages. The children from these orphanages were brought together under one roof and celebrated this day. The day included several events for the children including games, magic show, dance and singing competition. On this day, Yuvatha launched its third vertical, “Gifting future”. This vertical of Yuvatha focuses on providing education to children who cannot afford. As a team, we adopted children and sponsored their education. On a broader perspective, this vertical also concentrates on identifying children with talent and coaches them accordingly. I would conclude on a note, “It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa. 3. TEACH FOR CHANGE I.
What made you to join this NGO?
Teach for Change is an initiative launched by Passionate Foundation, Hyderabad, India to create a pool of dedicated and committed volunteers who have a passion to teach at Government schools. As a part of the Teach for Change Initiative, selected volunteers would teach Leadership and English Program in Government schools. Passionate advocates for education believe that quality education with a focus on leadership is crucial in our Government Schools. Although India is amongst the ten fastest growing economies in the world, it still has a third of the world’s illiterates. The condition of government schools in India is pathetic. The children in these schools come from the poorest of families those who cannot afford to send away their young to private schools elsewhere, as do most Indian families who have the means. Even though many children attend schools, they remain ill-equipped. There is a need for urgency. Education levels need to be improved. India with the second largest population in the world cannot develop with such a bad indicator. Illiteracy leads to other problems such as poverty and unemployment. II.
Motto for the NGO - High quality primary education for all, Regardless of their family’s
III.
What it is all about? How it is contributing to the society?
Teach for change is a non –governmental organization, which help government students, by providing them better training through its volunteer network. Passing over 10 schools in the first stage was an initiative of passionate foundation. The first phase of TFC covered the government schools at Bowenpally , Kukatpally , Jntu , Jubilee hills , Ameerpet , D.K. road , Yousufguda, Hitech city , Banjara hills, Sec-bad and Madhapur. We
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would choose three students from the each school and send them to residential schools in Tirupathi. 70% of the students in the country study in government school. TFC’s aim is to help in teaching and methodology. Anyone with a passion to teach at government schools can apply at TFC. IV.
What all impact you’re made so far?
Teach for change experience is so powerful that it changes you as a person, it helps to mould yourself as a person to become a person to look up to. V.
Any initiatives that you took for a rise in literacy rate?
We all are proud of our country, but we do lack in so many things, and the only way to change is to increase the literacy rate. There is a wide gender disparity in the literacy rate, when compare to men and women. The low female literacy rate has had a dramatically negative impact on India. Studies have indicated that female literacy is a strong predictor of empowerment of the society. I believe in the power of girl education, as it changes the society. According to me; it empowers them, and I take initiatives from teach for change for a change. VI.
Conclusion - Now, it is just my time to give back.
4. STREET CAUSE Hyderabad – We Care Street Cause Hyderabad is a student run NGO, with 30 divisions. With every division working on Education, social impact, environment, old age homes and orphanages, working towards creating a social impact. The education dept. in every division starts off with a survey. They go to different villages, visit different government schools, orphanages, slums and see the literacy level in that area. The president of every division then analyzes these statistics and decides who needs the most attention. The villages have many people wanting to study but not able to do so, the women especially. Volunteers are sent down to these villages to teach basic Math and English. Once this is done then self help groups are formed to make sure they can help out as many people as possible. In slums, there are many kids who really want to become something in the future. Classes are taken for them also; if possible they are made to join schools for education. Most of the orphanages lack stationary items, so we end up providing them with books, pens etc. also tuitions are set up for them. Government schools are places where we put in a little more effort as the strength is huge. We have ended up providing computers, then teaching them how to use them, science labs, and libraries. We end up doing science exhibitions, hold counselling sessions and so on to make sure the kids have a brighter future The biggest problem we face in slums and villages is the parents are not willing to let their kids go to schools; they prefer their kids to work and earn money. Now some of the parents do this because they can’t afford a 12
government school, to these parents we end trying to provide financial aid or else there are many people who are willing to pay for kid’s education so we end introducing to them. Now this was the easy part, the other type of parents don’t want their kids to study at all, they feel it’s a waste of investment, so to tackle this problem we end up providing them counselling sessions to try and make them understand the importance of education. In today’s world, every individual is expected to be well educated and how capable one is to take on life and its challenges as they come. Education plays a vital role in the development of any individual; it builds the foundation of life from the very basics to the skills one adopts as time passes by. 5. THE GREEN NEST – Work, Serve, Enlighten (A) ABOUT US The Green Nest is a youth based NGO currently operating from four different cities of Hyderabad, Chennai, Vellore and Delhi successfully. Our mission is to provide underprivileged children with the basics of the English language and in turn instil a sense of knowledge, power and responsibility towards a greener and cleaner environment. And our vision is to see an educated and greener India by becoming one of the top social service entities of the nation, and provide the youth with a platform to encourage and uplift the underprivileged. (B) OUR PROJECTS: BOOK WINGS GO GREEN (C) PROJECT BOOK WINGS: All our children are like clay. We at TGN believe that with patience, love and meticulous care children can be moulded into beautiful statues. When these children grow up to be the torch bearers of India’s future, they need to be given the candour to think big. They must have the strength to pursue their dreams. We teach underprivileged children at various centres begetting 416 children in three cities - Chennai, Hyderabad and Vellore. We aim at the overall development of the children which would help them discover and achieve their dreams. Our teacher-children volunteer is 1:2 providing utmost care and attention to every child. Our sessions of 3 hours are divided into three subparts: 30 minutes - Zeroth Hour; 90 minutes - Activity based teaching; 30 minutes - Kids Innovative and Development Session (KIDS).
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(D) PROJECT GO GREEN: The greatest use of a human is to be useful. Not to consume, not to watch, but to do something for someone else that improved their life, even for a few minutes and that’s what we exactly do in our Go Green events. We clean, we spread awareness, we plant saplings, and eventually we strive to protect our environment. (E) OUR JOURNEY SO FAR: Visit to Blue Cross - Animals' World: Our Volunteers visited The Blue Cross Chennai and spent some wonderful time with all the animals. Litter Free City - The Beginning: Our members have managed to clean the litter in Thiruvanmayur and make the place a beauty from a dumpster. A Day at the Orphanage: The day spent with the whiz kids of the Bala Gurukulam orphanage was astounding. These kids aged between 2 and 15 were very adorable. Beach Clean Up - For a Better City: Beaches are the Pride of Chennai! Hence, we decided to clean up the city's famous Marina Beach! We managed to collect 12 bags of dumped waste and segregated it! Plant Your Future: The Green Nest successfully completed 'Hyderabad Ecstatic' campaign with a plantation drive at a government school. We planted saplings along with the kids, had environmental education classes and painted the blackboards at the school. Heal the poor: The Green Nest conducted a medical camp for the poor people at the slum in Hyderabad. We also demonstrated first aid lessons to the children. Help & Educate the Slum: The Green Nest conducted an event at a slum in Hyderabad where we gave clothes to most of the slum people and the children in the schools in the slums. Helping The Poor: We provided food for all those poor people on the streets of Hyderabad. We also gave footwear. Dreams Unlimited: We have begun our campaign, Hyderabad Ecstatic with a splendid event with the underprivileged children by teaching them new activities and taking the passion of a child to the next level. CONTACT (TGN): EMAIL: info@thegreennest.in; PHONE: +91 9700666644, +91 9176578861
YUVATHA – TEJAS MISHRA Seller Support associate; Amazon
TEACH FOR CHANGE – DIVYA GHANATHE Volunteer
STREET CAUSE Hyd– PAVAN SHARMA Ex-president
THE GREEN NEST – EDULLA LAHARI PR Head & Book Wings Head 14
SOCIAL
“Excessive interest in pathological behaviour was itself pathological” ― Arthur C. Clarke
“EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN – The Undying Spirit of Kashmir” Kashmir’s development has been appropriately conceptualized as a process which improves the quality of life. But its socio-cultural development is jigged up in the history of complexities mainly through a historical perspective. Many developmental programmes are being undertaken in India, in a planned way with the main objective of enhancing the quality of life of general masses by providing them basic necessities as well as improvement of their socio-economic well-being & gutting a bust to make Kashmiris forget what they have been demanding throughout the independent years of India.
Youth of the Kashmir think it’s a sweet swap which equivocally means you give something & get something in return to it. But there is no visible indication that these ‘developmental’ achievements have been able to reduce substantially the turmoil which partly gives a sense that development might mean little here. Sociocultural development, by definition, is not a predetermined state but it is a continuous process of improvement of level of living. So this development here becomes a multi-dimensional process and its impact cannot be fully captured by any single indicator, easily these indicators don’t provide a comprehensible picture of reality. With respect to socio-economic development, Kashmir is found to be better developed in comparison to other states of India despite, it’s long standing conflict. Kashmir has the abundance of natural resources but suitable action is needed to be undertaken to utilize them & meet the potential target. The conflict in Kashmir has been going on for over 60 years. Clearly, there is no simple solution to the problems that exist, and because the conflict is not just territorial, a military solution is out of the question. Youth of Kashmir face the toughest of time here because of many factors like unemployment, army occupation, unpredictability of being attacked by any group anytime. The large deployment of troops’ further impacts economic activities as it restricts crucial movement between fields and the market. The talent and intellect of the Kashmiris, which were once at their zenith and possessed by majority, are now at the verge of extinction if things go on as they are now. Kashmir, once a sovereign princely state, is now a point of contention for three nuclear nations, India (Indian administrated Kashmir – Kashmir), Pakistan (Azad Kashmir), and China (Aksai Chin). From its partition in 1947, it has remained one of the hottest war zones and most contested land masses of South Asia. The cataclysmic events are destroying the peace not only of Kashmir but also of South Asia. The conflict in Kashmir has become a piercing thorn for academia there. Its problems must be addressed to bring peace to South Asia. Education, which can enlighten, must be rescued and strengthened to help bring peace and survival. Intellectuals, who form the foundation of society, have 16
also suffered from the present problems in Kashmir and are a neglected organizational dimension. This calls for immediate efforts so that they can become elements of organizational and societal excellence. The intellectual sector of Kashmir is suffering because access to information is closed due to political turmoil and other causes. Strikes, curfews, protests, and other actions have hindered education. Corruption remains unchecked. The money that could have been spent on research and development and towards the betterment of education has gone to corrupt government officials. Kashmiris have been denied an accountable government, which has affected the educational arena greatly. Increased funding to the military has deprived the educational sector. Managing the intellectual resources of Kashmir is an urgent need because of the uncertain future. Witnessing rapes or sexual mutilations, killings, threats to life and dignity, loss of family members, custodial killings, disappearances, and all sorts of human rights violations have become routine in Kashmir and the people are caught in a cycle of unending violence. Conflicts in the valley have resulted in the destruction of educational infrastructure, deterrence of students from attending classes, and a lower priority on allocation of funds for educational organizations. The people of Kashmir are in the hope of enticing and wish they could have their Kashmir back the way used to be when they were small children--a place where truth dominated and a land like the one found in William Wordsworth's golden vale of daffodils. Once a beautiful place with happy people, Kashmir has now become a wailing state ruined by violence. Kashmir was once a beautiful hoard of saints, philosophers, writers, poets, intellectuals. Berneir, the first European visitor, rightly said, "in truth, the kingdom surpasses in beauty all that my warmest imaginations had anticipated" (Young husband, 1996). Kashmir has always attracted attention, and knowledge-seekers have visited to seek education. Eminent personalities from around the world have visited Kashmir, because of its beauty and the serene environment that have made it a seat of Buddhist learning, with the Sarvastivadan school dominating. Having talked about the achievements in the life of a Kashmiri man in a conflict driven zone one needs a numerous platforms to decide it. Kashmir as one of the most conflicted oriented states in India has crumbled the large developmental process in a larger perspective. Insurgency is a factor which results in the adverse effects in Kashmiri society to which youth are the most vulnerable. In many a ways it has given rise to many ills like psychological trauma they face, made to abject poverty, lack of facilities etc. Notwithstanding this the people of Kashmir who are being fried up in the bigger political tension perform well economically, educationally, & socially. They struggle & work harder to let their own & children’s dreams been given a shape. As have marvelously been shown by some people, like Dr. Shah Faesal who despite many odds fought the miseries and qualified the much coveted Indian Administrative Exam (IAS) and that too on
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the first rank in India. Another typical example of a successful story is of a middle class boy Parvez Rasool, who worked by leaps & bounds & got his place in the A-class Indian Cricket team. There are many more magnificent stories of success to tell which go on an endless list like Kashmiri doctors, engineers, writers, journalists, businessmen etc. working abroad. They have really placed themselves very well. In the dark curfew nights of Kashmir, people worked as hard as like a blindfolded person playing a game of trying to build a great tower of cubes. The tower symbolizes the achievement of a man’s life in Kashmiri society. “When you catch a glimpse of your potential that is when the passion is born (Zigzagler)”
SYED HARIS ANDRABI M.A. (literature) Islamic University, Kashmir
“FROZEN FRAMES” “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” ― Rabindranath Tagore
Equipment: Nikon D3100 + Tamron 70300mm(f/4-5.6) Aperture: f/4 Shutter Speed: 1/500 ISO: 200 White Balance: Auto Post Processing: iPhoto Location: Commercial Street, Bengaluru
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SPORTS
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” ― Babe Ruth
“SPIKES OVER SMOKES” Sports are the most followed religion worldwide. It is a wonderful feeling to always be the show what millions of people love to follow throughout the calendar. Being a sportsman is a special feeling. It is a refined combination of physical & mental strength channelized in a controlled process. Participation has united many nations bounded by the best talent which has been carried forward through encouragement. Since ages, there are no retakes in sports that is what makes a sportsman a real hero. Other than an army man only a sportsman would know how it feels to represent the nation on behalf of millions and that special & proud moment when their respective national anthem are played, before the game begins.
They are the best examples for being passionate, committed, consistent and fit. I was taught the value of a fraction of a second in an exclusive way by my 9th standard mathematics teacher. He asked me, to go and ask my dad what all could happen in a fraction of a second. My dad being an athlete explained it to me in such a beautiful manner. It was dramatic to witness that in the end a gold medal winner was decided in a fraction of a second. Failure in sports means not trying harder. Human abilities are best showcased in sports. Let’s not regret the opportunities not taken and start experiencing the overwhelming feeling of being a winner. Sports teach an individual discipline. He becomes organised because a sportsman’s routine reflects on his game. It is a perfect narration of training, adaption, overcoming and achieving. There is a sportsman in each one of us who doesn't accept defeat easily, who trains himself harder on regular basis to be the best, who overcomes obstacles in order to reach his destination. Sportsman believes in persistence that makes him super human on field. All these qualities are applicable in a day to day life for efficient functioning. Let us all set free the sportsman inside us. There is no defined age limit for being a sportsman. All that matters is how passionate are you towards your super power. To all the great people who have been inspiring us all this time. I salute and applaud them from bottom of my heart. I would conclude on a note, "PLAY HARD; MAKE WINNING AN HABIT".
AKSHAY KARAN PGP/SS/14-16 Sr. Public Relations Executive; CRUCIBLES 20
“PRO-KABADDI LEAGUE: A Sport; Lost and Found” With viewer numbers crossing the 500 million mark, the Pro-Kabaddi League has indeed left its mark in the hearts of every individual, hereby embarking a landmark comeback of the long lost sport. From children who can barely pronounce the word Kabaddi to the aged senior citizens, the sport has come back to life with this amazing league concept. Mashal Sports took the initiative of implying the Indian Premier League concept to Kabaddi and Anand Mahindra, co-promoter of Mashal Sports, the organisers of the league, was surprised by the response himself. "We have genuinely been overwhelmed by the support Kabaddi has received from all quarters, be it the media, film fraternity, sportspersons or the government. The viewership data further reinforces the fact that Pro-Kabaddi is India's new sports revolution," said Anand Mahindra.
The entire concept in a nutshell is eight teams competing by playing against each other, earning points in order to keep their hopes and positions intact on the points table. Director Charu Sharma quoted "It was a visual spectacle which caught the fancy of the people. I think our success lies in not only retaining rural fans, but making it appealing for the urban audience at the same time. I think it did the trick”. With state of the art technical equipment that bagged 14 cameras - ultra-slow motion cameras magnifying the smallest details on the field, crane cameras for overhead shots contributed in delivering the game on a silver platter and a treat to the viewers. Not only were the organizers into deep surprises with respect to the response the league achieved, but veteran players witnessed a proud moment, a similar one being by veteran Kabaddi enthusiast Ranjit Dalvi in his words "The fact that Kabaddi was never considered a prime time sport for the urban audience was the reason for its grand success”. The League also welcomed support and initiatives from celebrities and activists, a few of them being Priyanka Chopra, the Bachchans, veteran singer Usha Uthup, ace actor Shatrughan Sinha and the list goes on. The sport that was once played to celebrate politicians' birthdays or to mark the silver or diamond jubilees of Clubs is now en route to becoming a sport recognized across the globe. The Pro-Kabaddi League served as the stepping stone for the sport to establish itself as a world class game. With expertise from the training staff to the skill adopted and marvellously displayed by the players, the once national sport of the country is back on track grabbing eyeballs, with a lot of recognition and support waiting for it in the coming days.
MUKHPREET KHURANA PGP/SS/14-16 Sr. Creative Event Planners; CRUCIBLES 21
LIFESTYLE
“People are like animals. Some are happiest penned in, some need to roam free. You go to recognize what's in her nature and accept it.” ― Jeannette Walls
“GET SPECIFIED - A new definition to being a Bookworm” If you are already addicted to social media, then knowing about the book bucket challenge is something common. The real insight to this challenge is that it’s an initiative taken up by One Library per Village, an NGO based in Kerala. This challenge is not only about nominating your friends for listing '10 books that have made an impact on them or their lives'. Instead, it is to make a list of the books an individual is willing to donate to libraries or needy people. The best book bucket challenge any MBA student could take up or give is by grabbing a few of the most trending books that fill shelves even today. 1. Freakonomics: Freakonomics, written by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, applies economic principles to situations that are generally away from economics by miles. The subtitle is, "A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything." The book triggers unconventional thinking along economic foundations. One reason to read this book is that an individual will be able to relate economics and business. 2. Stay Hungry Stay Foolish: Penned by Rashmi Bansal, the book is a collection of 25 stories. Every story gives insights on how jobs are dumped to hop into entrepreneurship. It is a perfect mixture of valuable guidance and inspiration. With MBA, entrepreneurship as a career can be opted without any ambiguity. A simple reason for grabbing this book is to relate to the experiences and insights given and to see how well they mould you for the good. 3. The Intelligent Investor: Written by Benjamin Graham and complemented by commentary by Jason Zweig, the book is a guide for careers in finance. The main objectives of the book are to encourage rational investing and to protect the investor from errors of any and every sorts. 4. The Winning Way: This book talks on the relationship between sports and business. The book explores why some teams continue to do well while others face a decline over time. The main objective is to understand what makes a winning team in sports and business. Anita and Harsha Bhogle are the renowned authors of the book. 5. Connect the Dots: Written by Rashmi Bansal, the book describes 20 entrepreneurs who have succeeded in business without MBA degrees. The book argues that the distinction between those business students who succeed and those who merely work is creative and original thinking. The best way to use this book to an advantage is by taking the insights and implementing them efficiently to expand creativity and using knowledge in the best way possible.
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“A star in the Galaxy of Comedy” Remembering Robin Williams
The moment when the world stood still to bid adieu to a man who changed and influenced many individuals, groups and a large audience, a man who always brought a smile on people’s faces every time they saw him, either on screen or off screen, a man known for his generosity and humanity, a man who was always glued to the earth and kept ambition at bay, the world united in prayer as comedian, actor and film maker Robin Williams breathed his last on August 11, 2014. Setting his foundation by a stand up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Robin Williams entered the limelight with the show Mork & Mindy (1978 - 1982). Feathers were added to his cap as he grabbed The Academy Award, two Emmy awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actor Guild Awards and five Grammy Awards. The best award he ever got was the love and respect people possess for him even today. He made us laugh every time he came on screen or made a public appearance. Every time he visited a place he just spread laughter. People loved him unconditionally and he showed his gratitude by making them smile and laugh. His brilliance was astounding and his relentless energy was thrilling to see. He acted with ease and never gave up experimenting with his roles. His acts had unexpected turns which gave the audience something new every time he came on stage and he always delighted them with his high energy comedy. He was not only a good performer but also a brilliant dramatic actor. From Popeye to Happy Feet, Robin Williams has indeed succeeded in grabbing the attention, appreciation, love and respect of every individual. Though he has left this mighty world, his presence in the form of his work and contribution to the society is acknowledged even today.
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Event: IPSUMIZED A Management fiesta brought to us by Team CRUCIBLES through B-Quiz and biz. Plans.
Event: ECO-FRIENDLY GANESHA CHAVITHI An effect that brought all the opinions together to join hands to pull in the idols of Ganesha of the merry moment of GANESH CHATURTHI.
Event: ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE A moment of splash with ice cubes all over. All the students of IIPM were found rejoicing over the challenges and a few ending up donating bills. An initiative, by club PHOENIX.
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