August 2015 by James Paul

FROM EDITOR’S DESK

The virtual meets reality MAGAZINE ON EDUCATION VOLUME 03 | ISSUE 03 | AUGUST 2015

Managing Editor Dr. Varghese Panthalookaran CMI Editor James Paul Associate Editor Dr. Prasant Palackappilly CMI

Columns K. L. Mohanavarma Dr. K. N. Raghavan Dr. Jose Cletus Plackal Sajith Malliyoor Joe A. Scaria

Marketing Manager Varghese Kachappilly CMI Design Sajo Joseph

Contact: Rajagiri Media, Rajagiri Valley P.O, Kakkanad, Kochi-39. Phone : 0484 2973979 Mob : +91 9497711010 E-Mail : editor@rajagirimedia.com Web : www.pallikkutam.com

Cyberspace is the new mode of entertainment for the new generation. Parents and teachers are confused as the younger generation spends most of their time in the virtual world. The internet, or world wide web, has completely shaped the way we communicate, do business, learn, entertain, shop, and do just about anything in today’s world. Information, pictures, and data can all be shared at an amazingly fast rate. It helps to overcome the barriers of time and space. The Internet is a service through which everything under the sun is now at the fingertips of anyone who has access to it. For children, Internet provides a vast library of knowledge. The Internet, however, can be harmful to children and adults in quite a few ways. Online predators are always out preying on children who are willing to give away their personal information. Children may also “stumble” across sites that are inappropriate for them. Some problems for adults that are caused by the Internet are pornography, lack of real-life relationships, laziness, and gambling. There are thousands of pornographic sites on the Internet that can be easily found and can be a detriment to letting children use them. Parents and teachers have a greater responsibility than others in creating responsible netizens. Our students should have a responsible identity in the virtual world. All signs point to a future filled with virtual reality, and, according to Mark Zuckerberg, the potential applications are beyond count. A computer’s software or hardware generates an artificial environment called virtual reality. This virtual reality is created for making the user feel the artificial environment as real environment with the use of three-dimensional life-size images. If virtual reality becomes a part of people’s day-to-day lives, more and more people may prefer to spend a majority of their time in virtual spaces. As the futurist Ray Kurzweil predicted, somewhat hyperbolically, in 2003, “By the 2030s, virtual reality will be totally realistic and compelling and we will spend most of our time in virtual environments... We will all become virtual humans.” The idea of a life lived online, or outside of regular society, is largely seen as dangerous and unhealthy. According to Dr. Elias Aboujaoude, a Stanford psychiatrist and author of Virtually You, The Dangerous Powers of the E-Personality, “With the Internet and social media, we can have a ‘full life’ online, that can be quite removed from our own. It is possible, however, that virtual reality may drastically change a person’s social and emotional needs over time. We may stop ‘needing’ or craving real social interactions because they may become foreign to us”. One can differ with these opinions, but virtual world has become a reality. We should bear in mind that there has always been opposition to every kind of technological advancement.

CONTENTS GUEST COLUMN 54

CO VER ST OR Y COVER STOR ORY

25 Cyber entertainment A potential game changer New generation is obsessed with internet based entertainment. Cyber space provides unlimited entertainment, even though it is virtual. Parents and teachers are confused as younger generation spends most of their time in virtual world. We discuss the positive and negative aspects of cyber entertainment.

on students, 26 Impact teachers and parents

36 Socialization: From village to web

Meera Kalithodi Ajith Varma

Bivin Peter

Social interaction with peers provides a forum for learning and refining socio-emotional skills needed for enduring relationships.

The entry of smart phone, made things more and more easy and complicated as well. Parents are at a loss to match the wits and expertise of the kids. The result is dreadful.

entertainment: 34 Cyber Future prospects

trap of 41 Web unlimited fun

Dr. D. Vinod Kumar

Reghu Varma P.K

Cyber knowledge is in application in every walk of human life in all fields without an exception.

Tender human love is the cement to hold father, mother and children together; when it is eroded, the home breaks up, leaving the children high and dry.

AUGUST 2015 INTERVIEW

There are alternatives for all problems James Paul

EXPERT COUNSEL PERSONAL

POLICY WATCH

NEWS................................. 06

To rise or not to rise Dr. K. N. Raghavan

INSIGHTS.......................... 08

Alone... in the crowded city

INFO TECH........................ 43

Sajith Malliyoor

STORIES OF LIFE

REGULARS

22 23

INNO VATIONS ................... 45 INNOV TIONS...................

Marriage selection, who is right, east or west?

SPORTS............................. 62

Dr. Jose Cletus Plackal

RAINBO W.......................... 64 RAINBOW

Untangling the ‘autonomy of higher education institutions’ Dr. D. Dhanuraj

CREATIVE LIVING

Prime your creative pump with suitable questions

SUBSCRIBE NOW TURN TO P AGE 10 PA

Dr. Varghese Panthalookaran

GUEST COLUMN

Cyber and Neymar K. L. Mohana Varma

ASPECTS

The story of a daring woman philosopher Dr. Augustine Thottakara

B +VE

CONTOURS OF CHANGE

Goldsmith by profession, an avid reader by vocation

When the brainy outclass the big Joe A. Scaria

REFLECTIONS

With a little bit of luck Jose Panthaplamthottiyil

For online subscription, log on to www.pallikkutam.com

NEWS

Christian MPs want community consulted for new education policy

oncerned at the government’s attempts to saffronise the education system and disregard the views of Christian community-run educational institutions while forming its new education policy, Christian MPs belonging to eight parties met with Cardinal Baselios Cleemis presiding over it. It was decided at the meeting that the MPs jointly, and representatives of all Christian institutions – schools, colleges, medical colleges, engineering colleges and technical education colleges – will write to HRD minister Smriti Irani to say that they should be consulted for the new policy that the government is planning. There are over 35,000 Christian-run institutions in the country. Apart from the participating MPs, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha also lent their support to the group. This the second meeting of Christian MPs and community leaders after March this year, when they had voiced their concern about attacks on churches at various places in the country including in Delhi. It was then decided that the MPs would meet during sessions, to take up specific issues, as they felt that the minority community was being targeted in many places and their voices were being ignored. At Thursday’s meeting it was decided that as representatives of their community, the Christian leaders from various fields would act in a positive manner, try to add to policy making and prevent negative situations from arising rather than just react to incidents or situations like the

attacks on churches etc. In case of the new education policy that the government is working on, the MPs who met on Thursday will communicate their inputs to the HRD minister before the monsoon session gets over on August 13, which will be followed up by communications from the educational institutions from across the country. At the meeting it was discussed that the secular fabric of India has been an integral part of the education system and now that it is under stress, “we (Christian MPs) want that the new policy should not tamper with it,” according to sources present at the meeting. The RSS’ suggestion that definition of minority institutions be changed to refer to those with 51% minority students or its affiliate VHP saying India will be a Hindu nation by 2020, were also issues that came up for discussion. Among those who attended Thursday’s meeting were Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P J Kurien, Oscar Fernandes and three others from Congress, Rabi Barnard and two others from AIADMK, Derek O’Brien from Trinamool Congress, Dilip Tirkey of BJD, Jose K Mani of Kerala Congress (M), P A Sangma (National People’s Party) and former Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio of the Nagaland People’s Front among others. “This is a great initiative and I am happy that we focussed on this one subject,” O’Brien said, when asked about the meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for the first week of August.

Ragging norms to cover racial bias

iscrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity or for being transgender and stalking will come for stricter punishment and will be part of the anti-ragging regulation in education institutions. Moreover, those ragging convicts who completed their punishment terms are now likely to get a second chance to complete their education from where they left. These and many more issues are to be deliberated and regulations to be recommended by the sub-committee set up under the chairmanship of Dr Rajendra Prasad, principal, Ramjas College, Dr Arun Agarwal, former dean, Maulana Azad Medical College and Pankaj Mittal, joint secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC). The committee was set up under the Raghavan Committee on anti-ragging and had its first meeting on July 13, 2015 at UGC. In the first meeting it was also decided that a 20-member expert group will be formed to formulate the new rules and amend UGC’s Antiragging regulations and other measures like publicity and awareness campaign.

According to Prasad the subcommittee is to submit a report with recommendations on whether convicts who has completed their punishment on charges of ragging should be allowed re-admission. The sub-committee is also working on discrimination on the basis of physical characteristics or on gender identity and to define them as punishable forms of racial injustice.

Pallikkutam | August 2015

OBITUARY

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

orn on October 15, 1931, at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, specialized in aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. Dr Kalam made significant contribution as project director to develop India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of Space Club. He was responsible for the evolution of Isro’s launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. After working for two decades in Isro and mastering launch vehicle technologies, Dr Kalam took up the responsibility of developing indigenous guided missiles at Defence Research and Development Organisation as the chief executive of integrated guided missile development programme (IGMDP). He was responsible for the development and operationalization of Agni and Prithvi missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through networking of multiple institutions. He was the scientific adviser to defence minister and secretary, department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with department of atomic energy, which made India a nuclear weapon State. He also gave thrust to self-reliance in defence systems by progressing multiple development tasks and mission projects such as light combat aircraft.

Pallikkutam | August 2015

As chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020 giving a road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation. Dr Kalam has served as the principal scientific advisor to the government of India, in the rank of Cabinet minister, from November 1999 to November 2001 and was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications. Dr Kalam was also the chairman, ex-officio, of the scientific advisory committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C) and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020. Dr Kalam took up academic pursuit as professor, technology & societal transformation at Anna University, Chennai from November 2001 and was involved in teaching and research tasks. Above all he took up a mission to ignite the young minds for national development by meeting

high school students across the country. In his literary pursuit four of Dr Kalam’s books - “Wings of Fire”, “India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium”, “My journey” and “Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India” have become household names in India and among the Indian nationals abroad. These books have been translated in many Indian languages. Dr Kalam was one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions. He was awarded the coveted civilian awards - Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (1997). He was a recipient of several other awards and fellow of many professional institutions. Dr Kalam became the 11th President of India on July 25, 2002. His focus was on transforming India into a developed nation by 2020.

15.10.1931 – 27.07.2015 He was always an inspiration to the new generation, visiting education institutions across India. Pallikkutam pays tribute to this modern sage. 07

INSIGHTS

REM sleep is critical, handle it with care

ccording to a study from Washington State University Spokane, rapid eye movement or REM sleep actively converts waking experiences into lasting memories and abilities in young brains. REM sleep actually locks in skills and experiences and is hence critical for development of young minds. The finding, published in Science Advances, broadens the understanding of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep needs and calls into question the increasing use of REMdisrupting medications such as stimulants and antidepressants. The researchers suggest that REM sleep acts like the chemical developer in old-fashioned photography to make traces of experience more permanent and focused in the brain. Experience is fragile. These traces tend to vanish without REM sleep and the brain basically forgets what it saw. Young brains, including those of human children, go through critical periods of plasticity - or remodeling - when vision, speech, language, motor skills, social skills and other higher cognitive functions are developed. The study suggests that during these periods, REM sleep helps growing brains adjust the strength or number of their neuronal connections to match the input they receive from their environment. Without REM sleep, permanent plastic changes to the visual cortex did not occur and the ERK enzyme did not activate. The study has big implications for our understanding of sleep in children. It helps explain why we should be cautious about restricting sleep in our

children. It is becoming more common for pediatricians to give compounds that affect brain activity earlier in life not just Ritalin for attention deficit disorder, but also antidepressants and other drugs. However, there are very little research data to tell us what these drugs are doing to developing brains in both the short and long term. Almost all of these compounds can potentially suppress sleep and REM sleep in particular. REM sleep is very fragile - it can be inhibited by drugs very easily, suggests the research.

Opening kids to the world of emotions

Brigham Young University research suggests that children show emotions much younger than they understand them. The study reveals that kids recognized pride in other people at age four and they could see it in themselves at age five. That gives parents a timeline for when children are ready to learn important coping skills. As children reach age four, they are ready for conversations about feelings to move beyond happy, sad or afraid. Parents can help them learn and navigate more complex feelings like pride, optimism, disappointment and frustration. The study also reveals how important it is for children to accomplish goals. Hence it is also important for parents to develop clear standards and goals with children that are doable yet challenging, suggests the study.

Unstructured use of Smartphones blocks learning

esearchers at Rice University and the U.S. Air Force have found that users felt smartphones were actually detrimental to their ability to learn. The research paper with this conclusion has recently reported by the British Journal of Educational Technology. The researchers were interested to see how students with no prior experience using smartphones thought they impacted their education. The research revealed that while users initially believed the mobile devices would improve their ability to perform well

with homework and tests and ultimately get better grades, the opposite was reported at the end of the study. There was a wide gap between the expectation of the students and the reality as rated by them. The study did not address the structured use of smartphones in an educational setting. The findings of the study have important implications for the use of technology in education. The study clearly demonstrates that simply providing access to a smartphone, without specific directed learning activities, may actually be detrimental to the overall learning process.

Pallikkutam | August 2015

INSIGHTS excessive use can distract kids from academics, spur loneliness and depression, and facilitate cyberbullying. Another popular site, study from Michigan State Twitter, has become a new literary University has found that high format that is improving learning for school and college students students. While any social network engaged in vigorous, intelligent debate site can be misused, there’s also a about scientific issues in a voluntary significant and underexplored Facebook forum. This leads to the opportunity to develop these spaces search for possibilities to employ as forums for learning, healthy social-networking sites such as academic debate and career Facebook to help students learn development, suggests the study. scientific literacy and other complex subjects that often receive short shrift in today’s time-strapped classrooms. The study is reported in the online journal Computers in Human hey grow up in the same home, Behavior. eat the same food, share the Informal learning not only could same genes (and sometimes the supplement the content knowledge same jeans), but somehow siblings are students acquire in class, but also often no more similar than complete strangers. According to a new study reported in the Journal of Family Psychology, parents’ beliefs about their children and the comparisons they make may cause differences to be magnified.

Facebook for online learning?

Siblings comparisons amplify differences

connect them with professionals and experts in the field, spur interest in careers and inspire civic engagement. Educators today struggle to take students’ spark of interest in something and develop it in ways that can serve them. If students had these kinds of niche communities to be part of, in addition to their formal curriculum that could really provide a rich environment for them. This appears to be the first study of social media forums that are voluntary and more informal. Students likely feel comfortable participating in the informal forum because it’s already part of their everyday lives and can be less hierarchal and forced than a forum mandated by an instructor. The findings make a case for popular online sites such as Facebook as possible learning tools. Facebook has more than a billion users, but critics say

Pallikkutam | August 2015

The researchers cautions about a chicken-and-egg scenario here. By the time siblings reach the teenage years, parents may have formed their beliefs about siblings’ relative smarts from years of experiences. So when parents compare adolescent siblings to each other, it may be based on differences that have existed for years. For

example, a mom or dad may think that oldest sibling is smarter because at any given time they are doing more complicated subjects in school. The firstborn likely learned to read first, to write first, and that places the thought

in the parent’s mind that they are more capable, but when the siblings are teenagers it leads to the siblings becoming more different. Ultimately, the sibling who is seen as less smart will tend to do worse in comparison to their sibling. The one exception in the study was when the firstborn was a brother and the second born a sister. In that case, parents believed the sister was more academically competent. So what should parents do to set up all of their children for success? It’s hard for parents to not notice or think about differences between their children, it’s only natural. But to help all children succeed, parents should focus on recognizing the strengths of each of their children and be careful about vocally making comparisons in front of them, suggests the research.

Sports engenders discipline

new study by University of Montreal suggests that regular, structured extracurricular sports helps kids develop the discipline they need in order to engage effectively in the classroom. There is something specific to the sporting environment - perhaps the unique sense of belonging to a team to a special group with a common goal - that appears to help kids understand the importance of respecting the rules and honoring responsibilities. The study found that children who were involved in sports at kindergarten, or in fact who were involved in any kind of structured activity, were likely to be involved in teams sports by age ten. However, involvement in unstructured activities at kindergarten had no bearing on the child’s future. It is found that those children who were specifically involved in team sports at kindergarten scored higher in self-regulation by time they reached fourth-grade. The researchers believe that sporting activities and attention skills go hand in hand and can be addressed simultaneously in school planning.

INTERVIEW

There are alternatives for all problems PEDAGOGY

James Paul

Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Founder and Chairman of V-Guard Industries and Wonder La Holidays is a well known industrialist, promoter of organ donation, author and philanthropist. In this exclusive interview, he explains his philosophy of life and business.

Do you consider Kerala as an investor friendly State. If not, what are your suggestions to attract investment to Kerala?

flourished in Kerala. But that is not enough. We need more successful business examples to attract investments to Kerala. A business friendly approach is most important.

As far as the history of Kerala is concerned, we were not industry oriented, like Gujarat or Maharashtra. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a business culture. We were basically agriculturists. But for the past 30 years so many industries have

What are the reasons for our industry backwardness?

Pallikkutam | August 2015

Labour cost is very high in Kerala comparing to other States. Land cost is also high. Tamil Nadu is more affordable for industries in terms of labour and land cost.

INTERVIEW Logistically Kerala is a remote place. It experienced such kind of voltage Kerala celebrates it in fullness. It is is also our disadvantage. These are variations in their countries. The built- mostly because of the attitude of the the reasons for our industry in stabilizers may be good for the politicians in Kerala. They are not backwardness. We have tremendous bothered about the progress of the scope in service industries like tourism State. It has definitely affected our and health. Highly educated growth. It is unfortunate. youngsters are our most valuable What is your asset. But for success manufacturing mantra? and chemical Quality is the basic reason for customers to buy I don’t have any industry, I think Kerala is not the a product. I insist on quality of all my products. mantra as such. Quality is most proper place. Transparency, quality consciousness important in Even though manufacturing. and straightforward attitude this is not a Quality is the place for contributed to my success. basic reason for industry, you customers to established diversified industries buy a product. I insist on quality of all here, from electronics to my products. Transparency, quality entertainment and hospitality. What consciousness and straightforward makes you to take such risks? attitude contributed to my success. My creativity also helped. I always add new I never thought of becoming an countries with moderate voltage features to my products. I convey these entrepreneur initially. But once I variations, but not fit for our kind of started business, my ambition never power fluctuations. That is why we are qualities to my sons and managers. You stopped. I started with stabilizers and can’t cheat people all the time. One still surviving in this sector. added more products. Our stabilizers should keep this in mind, if looking for a Do you think that ‘Hartals’ and survived only because of the long term success in business. ‘Bandhs’ affected our industrial inefficiency of governments who ruled What are the reasons for failures in growth? this State. Once voltage fluctuation business? stops, then stabilizers will become We have more number of I never believe in luck. useless. So I thought of other hartals and bandhs There are some scientific products like water heaters, pumps etc. compared to other reasons for failures and But voltage fluctuation continues till parts of India. successes. Financial today and our stabilizers are moving Even if it is an stability is very fast. all-India important in bandh, But, this is the period of built-in business. stabilizers. Has that affected your business? All our major electronic products including TV’s and refrigerators are designed by either Japanese or Koreans. They never

Pallikkutam | August 2015

INTERVIEW Financial discipline is the framework of every successful business. Many failed due to this. Many sincere and hard working entrepreneurs landed up in financial trap and failed. Unrealistic expansion is also a reason for failures. How do you face challenges?

What motivates you? Customer satisfaction motivates me. I value the appreciation from the

principle. Mangers are playing an important role in the company. He must be capable to rise to the occasion. Your sons are also into the business. Do you feel any difference in the approach of the new generation entrepreneurs?

Their approach I had many ups may be different and downs in Visitors to our amusement park go back with but the work business. We had even shut good memories. They wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel cheated. That culture in the downs. But I organization is gives me a feeling of satisfaction. Money is succeed. I tried the same. They alternative are continuing not the motivation, even though it is methods like with our policy. important for business. They have their outsourcing in own talents, the periods of they are well trained and they have trouble. There are alternatives for all more exposure to technology than my crisis. If there is no crisis, we will never generation. think of alternatives. I came across many difficult situations. But I take What is your advice to young challenges positively. There is entrepreneurs? customers more than anything else. definitely a solution for every problem. For example, visitors to our amusement Quality consciousness, straight forward My challenges changed in the course park go back with good memories. attitude, well being of the employees are of time. I played with few lakhs of They wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel cheated. That gives important for success. rupees in the beginning and now it is me a feeling of satisfaction. Money is cores of rupees. That means the What prompted you to donate a not the motivation, even though it is challenges are more. Now we kidney? important for business. are on a higher platform. If anything goes wrong, the What do you expect from a manager? I had an interaction with one of my relatives who had a kidney problem. fall also will be great. A manger must be trustworthy. He Then only I came to know about the must imbibe the culture of the confusion about kidney donations. organization. He should follow our

Pallikkutam | August 2015

INTERVIEW

Portrait of an entrepreneur as philanthropist

ochouseph Chittilappilly was born in 1950 in Thrissur District, Kerala into a family which was traditionally engaged in agriculture. He holds a Master’s Degree in Physics and began his career as a Supervisor in an electronics company. A multifaceted individual, Kochouseph has been spearheading the V-Guard Group from its inception.

Industrialist V-Guard Industries At the age of 27, the industrialist in him took shape with a borrowed capital of Rs. 1,00,000/from his father to set up a small

manufacturing facility for stabilizers. He had two workers to assist. Quality and reliability was the key focus and armed with an effective marketing strategy. The accent has also been on creating energy saving products and environment friendly products like the solar water heater.V-Guard soon became a household name. Today VGuard is a listed company with BSE and NSE having various electrical, electronic and electro-mechanical products and a turnover of Rs.1000crores. Wonderla Holidays Having set the company on wheels he toyed with the idea of diversification and a completely new course - a water theme park. Delivering on the quality of the rides, meeting international safety standards were all a daunting task but he decided to take it. In the year 2000, he started an amusement park in the name ‘Veega Land’, (now Wonderla – Kochi) which has become one of the most attractive destinations in Kerala. The success story of ‘Veega Land’ made him to venture another amusement park, ‘Wonderla’, in Bangalore. Since their inception, both parks have attracted more than 15 million customers, altogether. The success of the parks has resulted in two more new parks getting formalized near Chennai and near Hyderabad. V-Star Creations V-Star was another venture from the V-Guard stable, manufacturing inner wear for ladies and gents. With manufacturing facilities in Kerala and outside.

Pallikkutam | August 2015

INTERVIEW Veegaland Developers Veegaland Developers is a new venture floated by Kochouseph Chittilappilly in the realm of construction. He is acting as the Managing Director of the Company.

Humanitarian Kidney donation Ailing patients battling with kidney disease, the agony they go through, and the difficulty in finding a donor set him thinking on a different path. He decided to donate one of his kidney’s to a poor and needy truck driver whom he had never met before. Along with a charitable institution based in Kerala, The Kidney Federation of India, formed a kidney chain – the first of its kind in India. Kochouseph started this chain by donating one of his kidneys to the truck driver and one close relative of the recipient will donate his/her kidney and the next recipient’s relative would donate further thereby carrying forward this unique kidney chain. Thomas Chittilappilly Trust The Thomas Chittilappilly Trust was founded by Kochouseph Chittilappilly, in memory of his late father, C. O. Thomas. It is an extension of the philanthropic and responsible values espoused at V-Guard. It is dedicated to extending its reach to areas of health, education and care. The trust provides health insurance cover for over 2300 families from financially backward classes, across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The trust has also made substantial contributions to NGO’s working for various social welfare causes. An old age home for women, providing shelter and care for those who are unable to take care of themselves in Parappur Village, Thrissur, Kerala was also created. The facility accommodates 60 inmates at a time. All facilities are provided free of cost where the

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inmates spend the evening of their lives in dignity and comfort. More than 1800 lesser privileged students across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have been provided with study material, uniform, etc. to streamline their education. Author Kochouseph used to jot down inspirational thoughts over the years. This was then authored into a book called “Practical Wisdom -1”, a practical management guide that would come in handy to entrepreneurs and managers and students. It was also translated into Malayalam. The second edition,”Practical Wisdom -2" has already been completed and is ready for printing. He also compiled a collection of his childhood memories in a book called “Ormakilivathil”. The experience of donating a kidney is also taking shape in the form of another book, “A journey to one kidney”. He also blogs regularly, on current topics. Awards and Accolades Kochouseph is the recipient of numerous awards, which were bestowed on him for his exemplary performance in business and philanthropical work. Among others was the Samman Pathra Award for top income tax payer. He has also been awarded with Tourism Man of the Year 2011 Award, Businessman of the Year 2011 Award and also chosen as Manorama News Maker 2011. The Family He is married to Sheela who is heading and managing ‘V-Star Creations’ the apparel division of V-Guard group. The couple is blessed with two sons – Arun and Mithun. Arun is the Managing Director of ‘Wonder La’ and his wife Priya is the Executive Director of ‘Wonder La’. Mithun is the Managing Director of V-Guard Industries and his wife Joshna is the Executive Director of V-Star Creations.

I personally experienced the trauma they were passing through. Getting a donor from outside the family was difficult. I wanted to create awareness among public about kidney donation and I decide to donate my kidney. I donated my kidney to a truck driver at the age of 60 and both of us are still healthy. There is no risk in donating a kidney. I still tried to propagate the massage of organ donation. There is a lack of awareness among our people about organ donation.

You are a first generation entrepreneur, a well known philanthropist, a social activist, an author, a promoter of organ donation.....You have several roles to play. Which gives you the most satisfaction? I really enjoy all the roles. I can’t sit idle. At this age, I have a responsibility to give back to society what I have received. I borrowed only one lakh rupees from my home to start the business. All the rest I gained is from this society. Therefore, I am more into social activities these days and I enjoy it. It is a long way from a stabilizer manufacturer to a prominent entrepreneur in the State. Are you happy? I was always happy in life. In the initial stage I was working with a company for salary of Rs. 850. Then I started my own business. When I compared my earlier salary with the profit from the business, that made me happy. Then my business started picking up and I was happy. I am always a relaxed person. I am healthy even at this age. I am engaged in social activities and that also makes me happy.

EXPERT COUNSEL

To rise or not to rise Dr. K.N. Raghavan

ishiraj Singh is the most well Singh had shown disrespect to the warranting full fledged attention of the known officer presently Home Minister of the state by not media and clarifications and opinions working in Kerala Police. He only muddied the waters further. As has carved a name for himself by the matter started snowballing into a producing results in all the major controversy, Rishiraj Singh took responsibilities that have been the prudent step of meeting the Chief entrusted to him. He Minister and Home also takes efforts to Minister and inform the public at explaining matters, He is also reputed to be unfailingly large about the work which cleared the done by him and to air and closed the courteous in his personal interactions and controversy. interact with them, which in turn a true officer and gentleman when it comes This incident contributes to brought to my mind to observing the cannons of etiquette building his image in the advice that a the public mind as and behaviour. friend of mine gave well as to improve me when I was that of the posted on deputation to Kerala organisation he is working for. His Government about 15 years ago. I had sense of discipline, commitment to till then worked only in the department work and no nonsense attitude of revenue in central government, towards stragglers is well known. rising from his seat and saluting him where the hierarchy is very clear and during a function at Police Academy. He is also reputed to be unfailingly there is little chance of meeting and courteous in his personal interactions Soon the issue grew into a topic interacting with anyone outside the and a true officer bureaucratic setup. and gentleman I knew that I was when it comes to entering observing the unchartered waters cannons of in state etiquette and government and behaviour. He is sought the advice one of the few of a friend in officers who have Kerala cadre about won popular the conventions to awards besting be followed while even established meeting and cine actors and interacting with political political leaders personalities. and other men in public life. He told Hence, it came as me “all Ministers a surprise to read and senior MLA’s/ news reports that MP’s should be appeared in some called “Sir”, while sections of the other MLA/MP print and visual should be media that Rishiraj

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EXPERT COUNSEL addressed as MLA/MP; any person holding a designation in any capacity may be addressed using the designation; further ex Ministers should be called “Sir” and women should be addressed as “Madam”, irrespective of the post/designation they hold”. So I would address the Directors of the organisation I was

rise. In public functions, respect is shown by standing up when the person senior in rank enters and exits the venue. In this regard, I also remember a circular issued by Kerala government sometime in the early 2000’s directing officers to stand up and show respect when people’s representatives entered their

In public functions, respect is shown by standing up when the person senior in rank enters and exits the venue.

heading as “Director” and they, in turn, called me “MD”. My friend had his reasons for following this code “former Ministers were once addressed as “Sir” and so it would hurt and even annoy them if the respect that this mode of address carries is withdrawn; as far as possible no one of any importance should be called by name without any suffix as that would taken as a slight; moreover, the nasty amongst them would start calling you also by name!” I followed this advice meticulously through the four years that I worked in Kerala government and managed the meetings and interactions with persons outside bureaucracy without any major slipups. Regarding rising from seats, the norms are easier and better known. Here, the principle commonly followed is to get up from one’s seat when a person senior in rank or a woman is standing. I have seen this protocol being observed very strictly in functions organised by the armed forces where an officer would hurriedly request any lady who is standing to sit down as otherwise all senior officers too would

Pallikkutam | August 2015

chambers. The issue of this circular stood as testimony to the fact that this courtesy was not always extended to representatives of people in all offices of the government. My other experiences of protocol and courtesies in this regard were gained during my days in Indian High Commission at Singapore. In every country the officers of the Ministry of External Affairs are the last word when it comes to matters of protocol and propriety. However even here I found that there exist considerable scope for courtesies not withstanding rigid structure within which officials in the embassies function. Singapore government had a fixed system of receiving senior dignitaries like Heads of State, Heads of Nation, cabinet Ministers, Governors and Chief Ministers of states landing at their airport at a specially designed VIP complex, which was not accessible to other passengers. As a norm High Commissioner would receive only those guests who use VIP complex while others would be received by the Deputy High Commissioner or one of

EXPERT COUNSEL the First Secretaries like me. On one occasion a Minister of State was arriving and I was the officer coordinating his visit. We were having some difficulties in fixing the meetings as demanded by the Minister and one was slightly apprehensive while on the way to airport to receive him. When I reached the airport I was surprised to

that responsible officers in uniform would not commit acts of indiscipline or show discourteous behaviour towards those senior in rank as they know that such actions would undermine their own authority over the forces under them. The other lesson is that courtesy and discipline

Protocol and propriety are essential elements in the functioning of governments world over but they would never take precedence over core human values such as politeness and courtesy.

find the High Commissioner waiting there and told him so, to which he replied â&#x20AC;&#x153; I felt that a bit of charm would help mattersâ&#x20AC;?. The Minister was just as surprised to see the High Commissioner waiting for him and did not hide his joy. High Commissioner explained the difficulties we faced in fixing the itinerary as demanded by Minister and explained what we had managed. Minister, who was still savouring the high of being received by High Commissioner, accepted everything with a smile and the visit went off smoothly. Had High Commissioner stuck to the protocol and stayed in office, Minister would not have been so receptive to the schedule drawn up by us, which would have left its imprint on the entire visit.

should not be reserved only for senior officers and political leadership, but should also be shown to the common man, who is the final authority in a democratic society. Working as an officer of the government does not make one popular but small courtesies, such as greeting people who visit offices with a smile and being polite to them and responding to their concerns promptly, would go a long way to make them feel better, besides improving the image of the government. Protocol and propriety are essential elements in the functioning of governments world over but they would never take precedence over core human values such as politeness and courtesy.

The two and a half decades that I have spent in government has taught me two invaluable lessons. The first is

123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 The author is the Commissioner of 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Customs in Kochi, Kerala. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

Pallikkutam | August 2015

PERSONAL

Dearth of intimate friendships

Sajit Malliyoor

Alone... in the crowded city

personality attributes one possesses, am a twenty six year old man, friends, but they were all in a like introversion, shyness or social working as an office assistant in a superficial level. I was probably a anxiety. However that shouldn’t private concern. I hail from an loner all through my life. But I never hamper your attempts at establishing interior village in Kerala. I had my experienced any loneliness back relationships for ever. An introvert education in my native place and there. I am active in the Facebook person does not worked there until usually surround a year back, when I themselves with moved to the city I friends, but they live in now. I am The biggest problem I have is that I am also prefer to have a yet to get feeling very lonely over here. My life few intimate friends accommodated as opposed to lots with the ways of the has become very mechanical and of less – intense city life. The monotonous. friends for an biggest problem I extrovert. The have is that I am bottom line is, feeling very lonely whatever may be your personality over here. My life has become very and I have number of online friends, attributes, you still prefer to socialise. mechanical and monotonous. My but lately I have lost interest in that work environment is not really as well. I also love reading but that is However, you are unable to establish a nurturing relationship and that leads to challenging and I have again not enough to put away the loneliness. Hence, in today’s column plenty of spare time. loneliness I experience now. I have But I have no one to been thinking of resigning the job and we shall discuss a few points on how to strike and maintain a successful spend time with. I going back to my native place, but friendship. have no friends in that would jeopardise the financial the office and the situation of my entire family. I feel very We all know that friendship is a good place I live in. helpless. Could it be that I am thing. Most of us have a natural need There are times suffering from some psychological for intimate friends who share a major when I wouldn’t problems? chunk of our social life sphere. Friends speak to anyone also have a huge impact on our One thought that came to my mind except for the after reading your letter is that here is a happiness and quality of life. They essential office increase our enjoyment of life and man who wish to make close and communications, relieve feelings of loneliness. They intimate friendships, but who failed in for an entire even can help reduce stress and his attempts owing to a mixture of week! Even improve your health. Friends can help personality and situational factors. back in my Apart from an acute dearth of intimate you celebrate good times and provide native support during bad times. Having friendships, I don’t imagine you are place, I suffering from any other psychological good friends is especially helpful when never had you are going through any kind of issues. The letter describes how a circle of difficult it is for you to find a nurturing hard time: experiencing depression or close anxiety; living with a serious illness or relationship in your work setting. You friends. I disability; having a loss in your life; or also state that you rarely ever had did close friendships all through your life. just being under a lot of stress. At have times like these, good friends and wellThis fact might point out to the

Pallikkutam | August 2015

PERSONAL wishers can make all the difference. and accept you for who you are things about themselves with you. The Friends can also increase your sense without being judgemental. As the most important thing in a friendship is of belonging and how the relationship makes purpose and you feel – if the improve your selffriendship feels confidence and selfworth. We can go on good, it is a good eulogising the merits friendship. You also of a good friendship A friend is someone who share a deep level mention that you several online but am afraid it of understanding and communication with have friends, but that is would make this you; someone whom you trust. not helping you to column look like an essay on friendship. alleviate the Hence we will focus loneliness. Having on what makes it for many online friends is not the same as someone hard to having a close make friendships friend you can turn and how to overcome the problem. friendship work both ways, he is also to or be with in person. Technology someone who you feel comfortable can facilitate social opportunities by Ideally, a friend is someone who share accepting, helping you reconnect with old a deep level of understanding and friends, start new relationships with supporting communication with you; someone people around the world who share and whom you trust. He or she will sharing similar interests, and maintain be genuinely interested in relationships with friends who don’t what is going in your life live nearby. However, online friends can’t hug you when a crisis hits, visit you when you’re sick, or celebrate a happy occasion with you after work. Our most important and powerful connections happen when we’re faceto-face. So make it a priority to stay in touch in the real world, not just online. You’ll get a lot more out of an inperson conversation than you will over text or social media comments. Now, let us take a closer look at the ways on making new friendships. Making new friends can be exciting or intimidating, depending on your personality and your circumstances, but ultimately it is rewarding. For most of the people, friendships just happen without them taking conscious efforts to establish a relationship. However, if it doesn’t occur to you naturally, you will have to invest time and extra effort to get one. And most of the time this will be a worthwhile investment. To meet new people who might become your friends, you have to go to places where others are gathered.When looking for places to meet new people, try to be open to new ideas and experiences. Not everything you try will be successful but you can always learn from the experience and

Pallikkutam | August 2015

PERSONAL hopefully have some fun while you’re day. Now let us see what it takes to You’ll make far more friends by turn a casual acquaintanceship into a at it. The letter says that you are an showing your avid reader. A library interest rather than would be an ideal trying to get people place for you to interested in you. begin scouting for Once a friendship is friendships. Join a established through nearby community Friendships take time to form and even self-disclosure and library and visit the more time to deepen. In order to move from reciprocity, the glue place regularly. You binds is may eventually meet acquaintance to close friend, you need to that intimacy.Remember up someone who nurture and invest in that new connection. that making a friend shares similar is just the interests. Another beginning of the strategy you can journey into think of is friendship. volunteering. Offer Friendships take your time or talents time to form and even more time to true friendship. The friendship is at a hospital, place of worship, deepen. In order to move from museum, community centre, charitable characterised by intimacy. If you’d like acquaintance to close friend, you need to transition from acquaintances to group or other organization. You can to nurture and invest in that new friends, the best way to do so is to form strong connections when you connection. It’s a process that requires open up to the other person.In the work with people who have mutual early stages of friendship, this tends to time, effort, and a genuine interest in interests. You can also take a class or the other person. Treat your friend just join a club; go to community activities be a gradual, reciprocal process. One as you want them to treat. Be prepared person takes the risk of disclosing like sporting events, dramas, music to listen and support them just as you and art shows, poetry or book reading personal information and then ‘tests’ want them to listen and support you. whether the other reciprocates. You or even a political meeting. Above all, And always, be willing to forgive! No don’t have to reveal your most stay positive. You may not become one is perfect and every friend will closely-held secret. Start small with friends with everyone you meet, but make mistake. When there’s a bump in something a little bit more personal maintaining a friendly attitude and the road, try to find a way to overcome than what you normally discuss and demeanour can help you improve the the problem and move on. It will often see how the other person relationships in your life and sow the deepen the bond of friendship responds. The key to connecting to seeds of friendship with new between you. other people is showing interest in 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 acquaintances. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Send queries to them. When you’re truly interested in 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 The first stage of a budding friendship 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 malliyoor@outlook.com someone else’s thoughts, feelings, 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 is acquaintanceship. The people we 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 (Sajit Malliyoor regrets he can not 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 experiences, stories, and opinions, it 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 exchange small talk as we go about our enter into personal correspondence) 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 shows – and they’ll like you for it. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

Pallikkutam | August 2015

STORIES OF LIFE

Marriage selection, who is right, east or west? Dr. Jose Cletus Plackal

uring my recent visit to USA students about the different facets of emotional scars. In early search for and Canada I came across Indian families. One important aspect partners, one is likely to overlook the some families with whom I have of the Indian family was its emotional deficiency in the partner and on the had long friendly contacts. It was ecosystem, feeding on other hand one’s own emotional needs striking to note the evolution of young may dominate the search. This may families whose emotional ecosystem result in inter-generational(emotional) (Bowen M. 1985) was so shattered deficiencies. For example, a person beyond repair. On who is deprived of closer observation I motherly care and came to understand affection may easily that the broken On closer observation I came to understand fall in love with families’ stories are someone who that the broken families’ stories are not not exceptions but shows affection. more common exceptions but more common experience. Similarly, a person experience. There who was dominated are many families in by authoritarian emotional tatters. father may look for a very passive partner, etc. The consequences of A few years ago, when I was manager such problems appear in later life. The of a Grammar school (up to VIII std), I miss-match will not be tolerated due to had opportunities to interact with the interdependence as opposed to the the individual independence which the young students on varied subjects. Western family that promotes society promotes. This may give one One such lively topic clue as to the rampant was marriage selection divorce rate in East and West. When I Western societies. introduced the When two traditional matchemotionally damaged making tradition that is persons choose, at an still prevalent in India, early age, there is all and its implications, the likelihood of making entire class was on wrong choice. their toes and ready to shout me down. The youngsters, without exception, cried foul about the antiquated Indian system! Although I tried to show some merit to the system of arranged marriages, my students were too vociferous and pugnacious. They thought that the Indian system of arranged marriage didn’t do justice to the young persons, their freedom of choice, their individuality etc., etc. I explained to my

independence, early on. I also found another problem with early choice of life partners. Many of the youngsters came from broken families with

From a family systems perspective, it is better to synthesize the interdependence factor with healthy individual independence, giving due consideration for cultural and social components. East and West must meet in the dynamic ecosystem called family. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 The author is licensed clinical 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 psychologist (HRT), Jeevas Centre 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Aluva, Krala. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

Pallikkutam | August 2015

POLICY WATCH

Dr. D. Dhanuraj

Untangling the ‘autonomy of higher education institutions’

he debate on the quality of the reforms are proposed in the education colleges. According to the various educational institutions and the sector in order to meet these changing committee reports appointed to study this matter, the first step in the process courses they offer has been and circumstances. is the academic autonomy to be continue to be in the limelight for many granted. It gives the freedom to the years. The institutions to design demographic dividend is still an elusive The present university system in India the course, syllabus, examination time tables panacea given the is doomed to fail as it focuses more on etc. The evaluation and academic excellence assessment will be existing in the country. the administrative job than on the handled by the same Not many higher research and innovation. teacher who teaches educational institutions the students. This from India are listed in One of the priority areas of suggestion proposal is close to the theory of the global ranking of academic is ‘Autonomy’ to the colleges of education (it states that those who excellence while on the other hand; established track record. The teach are the best ones to evaluate meritocracy has given way to autonomy debate starts with what kind their wards) and the best practices in mediocrity and political intervention in of autonomy is meant for these most of the leading academic the running of academic institutions in institutions across the world. This most of the cases. India has adopted a Academic autonomy helps the highly centralised control in higher colleges to adopt to the changing education by constituting different demands and also invoke innovate (sometimes, overlapping) bodies to practices in the setting up the new manage the sector from the time of courses, bringing the best talents to independence. These structures are the faculty and the best practices and not well suited to take up the present utilisation of the campuses for challenges and the global demands in imparting the best knowledge to the the field of education sector. Various

Pallikkutam | August 2015

POLICY WATCH students by going away from the their administrative requirements different scenarios of both IITs/IIMs dictates of the present university where both the parties are not and Maharajas, it demands for a regimes. They could be able to raise autonomous in their core functions. higher education regulatory board and resources by introducing the courses not the government control through The recent controversies related to and by exposing both the teachers and autonomy debate are worth examining. their bureaucratic network. As long as students to the various industries and UGC continue to operate as a grand Objections are raised to the high market oriented avenues wherever dispensation agency, it could not handedness of Ministry of Human possible. In those traditional courses, work s as an effective regulatory Resource and Development (MHRD) the state could continue assuring the board in higher education sector. in the autonomous functions of IIMs support for such a reasonable time and IITs. The debate is more or less to Untangling â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Autonomy of Higher even if there are no takers for these retain the autonomous functions with Education Institutionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is very much courses citing the virtuous cycles and these institutions of national feasible by adopting certain practical the transient nature of success and importance and do away with the steps. Funds and scholarships could selection of the courses are concerned. proposed new framework of be instituted to fund the students The present university system in India administration by MHRD. At the same more than the colleges. The ease of is doomed to fail as it focuses more on time, more than a month long strike establishing and sustaining the higher the administrative job than on the educational research and institutions should be innovation. Most of the In Maharajas, the issues raised include more simplified under a universities have more board so than hundred colleges the fate of reservation and continued regulatory that the demand and affiliated to them. state patronage in the aftermaths of supply mismatch in the These colleges are by sector could be and large located far off the autonomy. minimalized. This from the universities could pave way for thus the distance was witnessed by Maharajas College, independence and establishment of hindering the sharing of the resources Ernakulam against the move to grand brand of the colleges on the basis of and responsibilities like faculty, library, autonomy to the college. the market tested qualities essential syllabus upgradation etc. The for the survival of both the graduates objectives and the goals of the In Maharajas, the issues raised and the institution. Academic freedom universities have given way to the include the fate of reservation and is essential for the success for any bureaucratic control over the continued state patronage in the kind of educational institutions. Along spontaneous order, free flow of ideas aftermaths of the autonomy. Both are leading to the creativity and very tenacious arguments as the state with the academic freedom, the need of the hour is to encourage these innovation. If India ranks poor in gazette notification by Kerala institutions to raise resources for producing Nobel laureates and filing government on Autonomy provides attaining its global standards and patents the reason is nothing but the the flexibility to go back to the status scale which are independent of any lack of autonomy in the universities quo ante on completion of five years and higher education institutions. So of autonomy. It also mentions that the political interference and academic the debate on autonomy to the autonomous institutions are bound by bureaucracy. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 colleges has another interesting the state rules until the new set of 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 The author is the chairman to 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 dimension such as this academic rules and regulations concerning the 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Centre for Public Policy Research, 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 autonomy is given to the colleges who autonomous institutions are 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Kochi. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 will still depend on the universities for formalised. But contrasting two

Pallikkutam | August 2015

Cyber entertainment A potential game changer

New generation is obsessed with internet based entertainment. Cyber space provides unlimited entertainment, even though it is virtual. Parents and teachers are confused as younger generation spends most of their time in virtual world. We discuss the positive and negative aspects of cyber entertainment.

COVER STORY

Cyber entertainment

Impact on students, teachers and parents

Meera Kalithodi Ajith Varma

children and youth; technology generates new patterns of expression, communication, and motivation.

Students

The cyber generation expresses different values, attitudes, and behaviors and think differently. These digital natives are described as optimistic, team-oriented achievers who are talented with technology. This technology-rich culture influences the skills and interests of teens in important ways. They are active in

rogress in this century will be determined by the thought, action and imagination of young people. This in turn, is shaped two major social institutions, the education system and a favorable home environment.

The role of technology in education has been an important question since 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Sociological studies explain the

The social construction of technologies Technology is a part of society and is created by social actors. According to a social construction of technology approach, it is important to note that individuals/groups differ in the extent of their access to technology, their skills, and the meanings they associate with technology. The same technology can have different meanings/use for different social

Social interaction with peers provides a forum for learning and refining socioemotional skills needed for enduring relationships. role of technology in the youth in two major perspectives â&#x20AC;&#x201C; technological determinism and the social construction of technologies. Technological Determinism The technological deterministic view presents the internet as an innovative force that has profound influence on

experimentation, are dependent on information technologies for searching information and communicating with others, and are eager to acquire skills needed to climb the ladder of material success.

groups of users. Technologies can and do have a social impact, but technological changes are a process. Cyber media The cyber media users experience the fading away of boundaries by reaching out to others according to specific interests and not only by virtue of residential similarity.

Pallikkutam | August 2015

COVER STORY The cyber medium has an important role in society as the users reach out with their innovative presentations to large and global audiences.

online, and can cause profound psychosocial outcomes including depression, anxiety, severe isolation, and, tragically, suicide.

When using the digital spaces like social networking sites, weblogs etc., the youth are becoming empowered in different social aspects like integration and cooperation, relationship formation and maintenance with their existing friends. Social interaction with peers provides a forum for learning and refining socio-emotional skills needed for enduring relationships.

Sexting

Today global connectivity through cyber technology enhanced learning opportunities. For example, Facebook and similar social media programs

Sexting can be defined as “sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photographs, or images via cell phone, computer, or other digital devices.” Many of these images become distributed rapidly via cell phones or the Internet. This brings about emotional distress with accompanying mental health conditions for victims. Facebook depression

Internet brings a conflict between the real life and the virtual life (conflict between the parents and students).The virtual space is a coherent social space that exists entirely within a computer space, and in which new rules and ways of being can emerge. Thus, a student operating within an online community may be geographically dispersed, share an identical interest, virtual space and rules, shared activities, and a common sense of belonging. Being online not only detaches individuals from the constraints imposed by location, but also frees them from the constraints associated with their offline personalities and social roles. They find it difficult to switch from the

The virtual space is a coherent social space that exists entirely within a computer space, and in which new rules and ways of being can emerge. allow students to gather outside of class to collaborate and exchange ideas about assignments. Some schools successfully use blogs as teaching tools, which has the benefit of reinforcing skills in English, written expression, and creativity.

Risk factors Cyberbullying and online harassment Cyberbullying is deliberately using digital media to communicate false, embarrassing, or hostile information about another person. It is the most common online risk for all teens and is a peer-to-peer risk. Cyberbullying is quite common, can occur to any young person

Pallikkutam | August 2015

Researchers have proposed a new phenomenon called “Facebook depression,” defined as depression that develops when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook, and then begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression.

virtual space to real space. It is a threat in today’s world as the gap is widening between these two spaces. The impact of excessive use of cyber media

♦ The most important impact of excessive internet use is physical. Excessive internet use bring in poor posture, potential for repetitive strain injury. It affects the ‘sleep hygiene’ among students. Excessive screen time

COVER STORY and absorbing artificial light at night can affect natural body rhythms and hormones; social or gaming activity is very stimulating to the brain and can make it hard to ‘wind down’.

Changing role of teachers

enhances the learning outcome. This acts as an inward eye that helps them The changes in cyber medium have to construct their learning better. brought about changes in the roles According to Sugata Mitra, famous played by the teachers in schools. I educational scientist, “The Learning wish to share a situation here: A Construction occurs when the ♦ The most important impact of teacher took a crumpled paper (made children actively construct their excessive internet use is social. of normal paper) and a normal flat knowledge rather Some of the than simply studies indicate absorbing ideas that there is a spoken at them by state of isolation teachers. It posits and alienation that children brought about in actually invent their the excessive use ideas. They of internet. On the assimilate new contrary, there information to exists a view that simple, pre-existing it enhances the notions, and modify relationships to a their understanding great extend. in light of new data. In the process, their Only a teacher can ideas gain in shape the thinking complexity and of generation next. power, and with Students of this appropriate support century are they develop experiencing rapid and instant changes paper in both hands. She dropped critical insight into how they think and than ever before. Today’s society is both the papers from her hand from the what they know about the world.” characterized by speed, change and same height and asked the students material aspiration. Children expect which is heavier. 60 % of the class The rise in technologies and the change all the time. answered that the crumpled paper is range of ways that they can be

Cyberbullying is quite common, can occur to any young person online, and can cause profound psychosocial outcomes including depression, anxiety, severe isolation, and, tragically, suicide. There should be a real paradigm shift in the field of education to provide a knowledgeable shield to the students protecting them from the risks of cyber world and to enhance learning outcomes. The integration of cyber media in education to strengthen the required skills for the future has to be a consideration in all educational institutions. The research evidence over the last forty years about the impact of digital technologies on learning consistently identifies positive benefits. There is no doubt that technology engages and motivates young people.

heavier. The teacher asked to justify their answer- The children explained that the crumpled paper reached the ground faster than the normal paper and so came to a conclusion that crumpled paper is heavier. Here we can see that the students construct their own learning with their own experience and observation. The students design their own learning. Technology has to be used to detect this alternate concept formation. Misconceptions like this will act as a block for further learning ladder. Here an individualized and adaptive approach that detects the learning levels of each student can be provided by technology which in turn

used in diverse educational settings across the spectrum of learners, coupled with the pace of change of technology makes the task of finding the impact of cyber technology in learning outcomes much hard. The focus should be to analyze the general impact to the specific differences that digital technologies make to teaching and learning contexts and interactions with regard to different learners. Case Studies have proved that the use of learning tools in Maths and science have brought about a huge difference in strengthening of basic

Pallikkutam | August 2015

COVER STORY concepts and application of concepts. Computer assisted instruction has a positive impact on reading achievement.

more positive impact than those technologies either adapted from the commercial market or those that merely used the technology as a delivery system. This may be because of the alignment between intention and outcome being clear and focused. This helps teacher to attain the objectives in a more effective way. An association between high ICT use and higher pupil attainment in primary schools was also reported in an earlier Teacher Training Agency study .

The range of impact identified in the studies suggests that it is not whether technology is used (or not) which makes the difference, but how well the technology is used to support teaching and learning. However this benefit is only an advantage for learning if the activity is effectively aligned with what is to be learned. It is therefore the pedagogy of the Collaborative use of technology (in application of technology in the pairs or small groups) is usually more classroom which is effective than important: ‘the how’ individual use, rather than ‘the though some what’. Many pupils, especially turnaround from the younger children, use of technology in may need Case Studies have guidance in how to learning as it is less likely to bring big collaborate proved that the differences. It should effectively and encourage us to be use of learning responsibly. cautious in the face of tools in Maths and Teacher’s technological monitoring and solutions to guidance is vey science have educational for the brought about a imperative challenges. Careful best learning thought is needed to huge difference in outcomes. The use technology to question on the strengthening of impact of digital best effect. The challenge is to ensure technologies and basic concepts that technology is learning outcomes used to enable, or and application of has always been a make more efficient, difficult one and concepts. effective teaching and thus many learning practices. researches revolve The technology around the various should be in sync variables that with the pedagogy so bring changes in that theory and its the learning application go together in a outcomes. Technology can be powerful harmonious design. but focused intervention is essential to Findings by a research team (Moseley improve learning, particularly when et al. 1999) on primary school children there is regular and frequent use (about three times a week). was that more effective teachers (and more effective schools) tended to use more innovative approaches. Choosing more appropriate online resources, rather than that the technology itself was the major cause of the differences in pupil performance. Technologies that were created by a research team had a much

Pallikkutam | August 2015

Remedial and tutorial use of technology can be particularly effective for lower attaining pupils or those with special educational needs or those from disadvantaged backgrounds in providing intensive support to enable them to catch up with their peers.

COVER STORY In researched interventions, technology is best used as a supplement to normal teaching rather than as a replacement for it. This suggests some caution in the way in which technology is adopted or embedded in schools. In findings from experimental and quasi-experimental research studies, where gains in knowledge or understanding for groups of pupils using ICT has been compared with gains for groups learning the same content without technology, results again tend to show positive benefits for ICT. These have been reviewed using a narrative approach with consistently positive conclusions. A Meta-analysis of the Effectiveness of Computer-Assisted Instruction in Science Education, study detected a significant relationship between CAI effectiveness and instructional role of computers. Effect sizes were higher when computers were used as a supplement to the regular instruction and lower when the computer entirely

replaced the regular instruction. A systematic search of the research literature from 1996 through July 2008 identified more than a thousand empirical studies of online learning. Analysts screened these studies to find those that

The guided use of well cyber media can allow this autonomy and independence for the students and the development of skills to its optimum.

(a) contrasted an online to a face-toface condition, (b) measured student learning outcomes, (c) used a rigorous research design, and (d) provided adequate information to calculate an effect size Results of the research: Learning outcomes for students who engaged in online learning exceeded those of students receiving face-toface instruction. Instruction combining online and face-to-face elements had a larger advantage relative to purely face-to-face instruction than did purely online instruction. The mean effect size in studies comparing blended with

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COVER STORY face-to -face instruction was large. This effect size is larger than that for studies comparing purely online and purely face-to-face conditions. The observed advantage for online learning in general, and blended learning conditions in particular, is not necessarily rooted in the media used per se and may reflect differences in content, pedagogy and learning time.

mastery of their environment, and that the internalization of values, behaviours, and attitudes in the social surround is a spontaneous, natural process. SDT research focuses a great deal of attention on individual differences in motivationally relevant behaviour, it

Parents Selfdetermination theory(SDT) uses the concept of innate, universal, psychological needs to understand human motivation. All human beings have the fundamental needs to feel related, competent, and autonomous in order to develop and function optimally. The paramount importance given to the need for autonomy is the core feature of SDT. It refers to the experience of freedom in initiating or endorsing behaviours. Autonomy is about harmonious, and integrated

has also increasingly adopted individual methodologies to examine the variations of need support, need satisfaction, and adaptation over the course of every day. Cyber technology caters to this individual differences and the choice can attain satisfaction.

recognising the feelings and perspective of the child;(3) offering choices and encouraging initiative; (4) minimising the use of controlling techniques. Autonomy support concerns how structure and involvement are provided by parents (e.g., the extent to which consideration of the child’s perspective and needs is displayed). Autonomy support is thus entirely compatible with high levels of parental involvement and structure; indeed, the combination of autonomy support with a developmentally appropriate level of parental involvement and structure is considered the ideal for fostering positive child development. Parents’ implicit belief about their child’s ability to develop in an autonomous fashion is the psychological factor that may allow parents to behave in an autonomysupportive rather than controlling

The Internet is a wonderful place for learning and entertainment, but like the world around us, it can pose dangers/ risks if it is not used carefully. functioning, in contrast to more pressured, conflicted, or alienated experiences. The guided use of well cyber media can allow this autonomy and independence for the students and the development of skills to its optimum. It develops skills of integration, cooperation. Selfdetermination theory suggests that children have an innate ability toward

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Autonomy Supportive Autonomy support refers to the active support of the child’s capacity to be self-initiating and autonomous and it is one of the main components of successful parenting. Autonomy support by parents are by (1) providing rationale and explanation for behavioural requests; (2)

ways. Parents who trust that development occurs naturally will have relaxed rather than rigid goals for the development of their child, and will feel less stressed about their child reaching these goals. The autonomy-supportive parenting behaviours will foster better parent and child adaptation.

COVER STORY Psychological control Psychological control is defined as parental control that intrudes on the child’s psychological world (Ryan, 1982). This type of control aims to change the child. Parents can pressure their child to think, feel, or behave in particular ways by using a

with providing autonomy and motivational support, parents are much involved like educational institutions in becoming good digital citizens with the cyber/internet resources. The Internet is a wonderful place for learning and entertainment, but like the world around us, it can pose dangers/

personal information of friends and family and not sharing anything about others that is potentially embarrassing or hurtful. Empower your children to handle issues: Your children may deal with situations online such as bullying, unwanted contact, or hurtful

Remind your children to be good “digital friends” by respecting personal information of friends and family and not sharing anything about others that is potentially embarrassing or hurtful. variety of techniques, such as guilt induction, love withdrawal, and invalidation of authoritative parenting (i.e., provision of structure in a warm and democratic way) has often been found to be associated with the best child outcomes. Factors associated with controlling parenting A variety of factors can lead parents to be controlling rather than autonomy- supportive. Today’s parents are seen to be more controlling as the pressure upon them is increasing. One recent study suggested that parents’ perceptions of external threat in their child’s environment as reflected in worries about the future, limited resources, and unpredictability were also associated with controlling behaviours. Children’s behaviour can also contribute to the pressure experienced by a parent and contribute to controlling parenting. It does seem likely that children with motivational or self-regulatory deficits will elicit more controlling and less autonomy-supportive behaviour from parents. SDT would predict, however, that the consequence of parents responding to their children’s poor self regulation with controlling strategies would be to forestall positive developmental change amongst these children. Along

risks if it is not used carefully. Allowing free access puts your child, your computer and your personal data at risk. Remain positively engaged: Pay attention to and know the online environments your children use. Surf the Internet with them. Appreciate your children’s participation in their online communities and show interest in their friends. Try to react constructively when they encounter inappropriate material. Make it a teachable moment. Support their good choices: Expand your children’s online experience and their autonomy when developmentally appropriate, as they demonstrate competence in safe and secure online behavior and good decision making. Explain the implications: Help your children understand the public nature of the Internet and its risks as well as benefits. Be sure they know that any digital info they share, such as emails, photos, or videos, can easily be copied and pasted elsewhere, and is almost impossible to take back. Things that could damage their reputation, friendships, or future prospects should not be shared electronically. Help them be good digital citizens: Remind your children to be good “digital friends” by respecting

comments. Work with them on strategies for when problems arise, such as talking to a trusted adult, not retaliating, calmly talking with the person, blocking the person, or filing a complaint. Agree on steps to take if the strategy fails. A combined efforts of parents, teachers and students is essential to build a safe generation. Global world then can be safe and here the goal of humanity (self actualization) can be achieved. Bibliography: Higgin.S, 2001- Does ICT improve learning and teaching in schools. Sugata Mitra - Children and the Internet: New Paradigms for Development in the 21st Century. Mesch S Gustavo. - The Internet and Youth Culture. Rene´e Landry and Richard Koestner, McGill University- A SelfDetermination Theory Perspective on Parenting. Coffield Frank, Moseley David, Hall Elaine, Kathryn Ecclestone; Learning styles and pedagogy in learning: A systematic and critical review. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 The author is Sociology teacher at 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Sharjah College, and a trainer for 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 teachers to use online Math 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Learning tool. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

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COVER STORY

Take few privacy precautions in web

eople say they don’t like to give out personal information on the Internet; however, according to a new survey, they often do – unintentionally or not. Meeting people on the Internet is becoming increasingly common and accepted, but how safe is it really to talk to strangers online? What about meeting the strangers you talk to? Safety is of the utmost importance when talking to strangers on the Internet. A survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that while an overwhelming majority of Web surfers worry about strangers getting personal data about them, few take basic precautions. In fact, a majority of Internet users are willing to give Web sites the same information they claim they want to keep private, the study said. Much of the worry stems from a fear of the unknown, rather than a sweeping mistrust of Internet businesses. The study found new users were more concerned about privacy than online veterans.

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Tragedies can and do happen, and they occur because of online irresponsibility and lack of supervision and guidance. Every day, pedophiles surf Internet chat-rooms and popular blogging Web sites, searching for young girls and boys who might agree to a meeting. These meetings with strangers met online often end in tragedy. Many Web sites create user profiles containing such data as e-mail addresses, favorite books or clothing sizes. Some sites also track users’ surfing habits, often without their knowledge, to better target ads and products. Internet companies argue that such tracking is often performed anonymously and helps them customize sites and content to match users’ interest.

But only 27 percent of Internet users accept the industry’s claim that tracking is helpful. Fifty-four percent consider it harmful, and 11 percent believe it both helps and hurts. According to another survey, 86 percent of online users are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about others getting their personal information. Sixty-two percent of users with less than six months of experience are “very concerned,” compared with half the users online for three or more years. But only 10 percent of all users set their Web browsers to reject cookies, the basic tools that sites use to track surfing habits. Fifty-six percent do not even know what cookies are. Only 5 percent use special software designed to permit anonymous surfing. And 54 percent of users have chosen to give personal information such as a name or e-mail address, with another 10 percent willing to do so. That’s nearly two-thirds of Internet users agreeable to giving up their privacy.

COVER STORY

Cyber entertainment

Future prospects Dr. D. Vinod Kumar “The wisest mind has something yet to learn” George Santayana (Spanish Philosopher) The magic word ‘cyber’ is synonymous with computer or internet. The word cyber draws its name by metamorphosis of “cybernetics’. First used by “Plato”

in the context of “Self-Governance” a study of governation or governing systems. In the contemporary context it is a study of control and communication in machines, humans and animals. Nobert Wiener, an American mathematician, introduced this term cybernetics to the contemporary world in his book of the same name Cybernetics in 1948. After the invention of computer in early 50’s cybernetics have influenced diverse fields without an exception. In this era of modernization and technology the new buzz word ”digitalization” is also hovering around the world. The world has become a global village and “citizens” have become “netgens”. The usage of the word cyber has invaded the culture of the people to the tune of even in day to day activities the words-cyber talk, cyber art, cyber café, cyber fashion, cyber crime, cyber extortion, cyber sex, cyber terrorism etc. are discussed. Cyber knowledge is in application in every walk of human life in all fields. Science and technology, banking industry, manufacturing industry, administrative governance, defense, and commerce – without an exception.

With reference to entertainment and cyber entertainment we could visualize the transgression of entertainment in the hands of humans from ancient times to the present ‘web’ days. In olden days, traditional and simple forms of entertainment used to prevail like music, dance, story telling, circus, magic show, street plays, drama, book

Cyber knowledge is in application in every walk of human life in all fields without an exception.

reading etc., with the advancement of technology with industrial revolution during the post world war period, modern ways of entertainment started like, radio, television, cinema, Amusement parks etc., present digital era of rocket age the human entertainment is growing by leaps and boundaries. Cyber entertainment is a multi crore business now with billions of people longing and enjoying cyber entertainment like video games, music,

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COVER STORY web designing, cyber graphics, internet chatting and smart phones etc. Cyber graphics has gone to the zenith with ever changing cyber knowledge. Movies like Jurassic Park series, Terminator series, Inception,

monstrous proportions. Every nation is framing ‘Cyber laws’ of nation and also International Cyber Laws with the cooperation of all countries where the cyber net work is in usage. Sincere efforts are being made to nab the culprits and also to contain the

infrastructure without harming people or buildings physically. Conclusion Before the world nations engage in cyber war in future - The citizens of all nations should evolve cyber culture, cyber ethics, cyber

Cyber security if of major concern for all and the famous Wiki Leaks, which jolted the whole world in recent times, was a blatant example of the lacunae in cyber security. I-robo, Avatar and recent Indian mega hit movie ‘Bahubali’ they are all testimony of visual feast where in the graphics are used in full blown form. As science is a double edged weapon, any scientific research and advancement is not without negative thrust. The “magic wand” cyber power now a days increasingly being waved indiscriminately by some vested interested and anti social elements of every society. The menace of cyber crime is a very serious “global problem” of

Pallikkutam | August 2015

plague of cyber crimes and unlawful cyber activities. Cyber security if of major concern for all and the famous Wiki Leaks, which jolted the whole world in recent times, was a blatant example of the lacunae in cyber security. In future there is another threat of war that is cyber War. Already USA has launched a project called “CHAMP”. CHAMP is an acronym (Counter electronics, High powered, Advanced, Missile Project). This missile uses microwaves to knockout electronics near where it hits and completely shutting down cyber

discipline, strengthen cyber security and get away from cyber phobia. Cybernation be accepted as necessary accompaniment of human life in future. Cyber entertainment is a boon for those who really use it in right spirit and it is a bane for those who perceive and practice it with a perverted intent. Choice is left to the discretion of the individual.

123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 The author is Additional Director, 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Central Govt. Health Scheme, 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Ministry of Health and Family 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Welfare, Kerala and Lakshadweep 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 region. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

COVER STORY

Socialisation

From village to web Bivin Peter

serene village with no pretentions near Chalakudy – that was where I spent my childhood. It brings me wonderful nostalgic feelings, a house almost in the centre of our sprawling property,

trees, birds, rare worms, what not, even to, current events, happenings etc. etc. the snake which was a regular visitor Interestingly, our mom always used to under the cashew tree. be there as an active member as one amongst us but act as a moderator to As every house has, we too had a discern the good and the bad. We had fairly big grind-stone (Ammi) outside nothing to hide or any secrets to keep, the kitchen with a platform. Without

The entry of smart phone, made things more and more easy and complicated as well. Parents are at a loss to match the wits and expertise of the kids. The result is dreadful. away from the main road. These isolated surroundings made us (5 siblings) so close that we were our own friends. We named almost all the

fail, we used to gather around it every morning and evening. It became a habit. We discussed everything under the sun during this informal meetings – the people and friends whom we met, saw, talked

hence we had a very rare chance of going down the wrong path. My brother-in-law, who became so fascinated by these gatherings during his rare visits, named this get-together “Ammi Sabha” (grind-stone council). Whatever it may be, looking back, I know that it was one of the rare occasions we shared whatever limited knowledge we acquired. As the years went by, times also changed. The arrival of Internet created a revolution of knowledge and

Pallikkutam | August 2015

COVER STORY STORY COVER entertainment. Internet has been considered as the biggest invention after man found out fire and wheels. If the industrial revolution materialized after the invention of steam engine years before, Internet paved the way for an information revolution that opened the door for wonderful knowledge and entertainment. It provides plenty of ammunition for the good and the bad. But it depends upon how one uses it. Any sharp tool was used by men in the stone age for hunting anything for food. But when hatred and enmity engulfed the very same tools were used as weapons to kill friends and foes. That was the same story with the invention of nuclear energy. It brought tremendous growth and drastic change in energy and health spheres, but it became a weapon to annihilate the rival, even a whole

anything with just one click. At the same time it makes magic with entertainment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; music, film, sports and any other entertainment on your finger tip. Wonderful indeed. That is the bright side of it.

But if one uses it for the wrong cause, it will lead to destruction. An Internet survey surprisingly shows that 53 per cent of the users watch blue films and

About 80-90 per cent of the rapists are regular visitors of these sites. They get inspiration to commit more crimes. There were reports that a child rapist who was apprehended in Delhi had watched pornography, just hours before committing the crime. We also heard about a student, who did the crime together with his friend, filming it on mobile for sale! Another recent shocking effect is piracy. Students were caught and charged for uploading pirated copy of a film recently. Some students do this just for fun and to impress their peers, and then slip into trouble. Many are simply caught in this trap even without knowing the seriousness of the deeds.

According to a survey conducted by Microsoft, India stands third in the world on cyber bullying. A major percentage of the victims hesitate to share the incidents with their parents and it makes them depressed. country. Again, the right and wrong emerge, depending upon how one utilizes the resources. The same theory applies to the usage of Internet. It can make or break oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. As far as students are concerned, the cyber world opens up unimaginable opportunities to attain knowledge on

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porn and other vulgar sites. The number of students opting this way is alarming. The entry of smart phone, made things more and more easy and complicated as well. Parents are at a loss to match the wits and expertise of the kids. The result is dreadful.

The emergence of social media was a shot in the arm for the cyber world. It helped widen relationships all over the world to make the universe look very small, giving a feeling that everything is so near. This medium was widely used for sharing ideas and knowledge. Breaking news became more and more easier and faster. It has created a

COVER STORY telling effect in life that this media has become a part of life.

Charity organizations, groups and individuals are utilizing this in a great manner. Patients and hospitals are The so-called grapevine telegraph gained lightning speed with the advent getting timely help through this modus operandi. It brings out the best from of this media. Now almost 50 per cent the humanitarian aspect. of the people get the breaking news through this setup. What more, even With Facebook turning into an open the newsmen depend on this to get media where anyone could post and share news! anything at will makes it very difficult A study in the US revealed that about to know the veracity of the news and reports. Rumors are spreading like wild 59 per cent of the students use this media to discuss educational subjects fires here. It creates an “April Fool”

in the social media. American Journal of Family Therapy has found that the education standard of the students who spend about 30 minutes on this media is gradually dipping. Teachers, two out of three, are of the opinion that this won’t help students in their studies. They argue that it eats up the valuable time of the students. Yet another magic wand is WhatsApp. As all other tools this one too has two sides. But the present scenario is

If ragging is still a dangerous existing scenario in schools and colleges, cyber bullying is the new venomous trend. These social networking sites facilitate it quite comfortably. and sharing school assignments. No doubt, that this will spread all over the world in no time and we will witness this in our country soon.

atmosphere, confusing the masses about the truth and reality. On top of that are the fake IDs and stories emanating through them.

Amazingly this has become a weapon for both political and social movements. The recent protests in Delhi and even the extremists’ movements via this tool are the concrete examples of its growth.

Another study reveals the diminishing standard of the students who are more involved

alarming that this is more used in negative ways. We read reports about the uploading of vulgar photos of a notorious woman in Kerala and the police charges on the issue. This App has already become deep rooted among the grown-ups as well as teens. This wild fire is spreading beyond our control that parents are watching it helplessly. If ragging is still a dangerous existing scenario in schools and colleges, cyber bullying is the

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COVER STORY new venomous trend. These social networking sites facilitate it quite comfortably. Again the victims are students and it leads to suicides and suicidal tendency. It is just as bad as ragging and is affecting the children in the age group of 8 to 18 years.

should inculcate a habit in their children to use Internet when they are at home. In short, they have to supervise them, not creating a feeling that you are policing them.

Internet activities will be secret. They also immediately close the net when someone comes near to them. They are very secretive about their online activities. Their computer or phone usage will be late at night.

When I look back at my village and my family, I am proud of them. My siblings grew up and moved out in different directions from the serene atmosphere but we do continue with the so-called “Ammi Sabha” with a difference, it is online! 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

The children of this age generally do not like to be controlled. It is better to channelize them. If parents Recent observation in India has become more adamant the children brought to light that this trend is will definitely revolt. Friendly increasing and parents are either approach will not aware of it or help gain they don’t care confidence of the about it. children more than the readyAccording to a made commands survey conducted and orders. More by Microsoft, India and more stands third in the The children of interaction and world on cyber will bullying. A major this age generally discussions help the children percentage of the to open up their do not like to be victims hesitate to minds to their share the incidents controlled. It is parents. Then with their parents they will come better to and it makes them forward to reveal depressed. It also channelize them. If their problems, leads to suicides share them than parents become and drugs abuse. hiding them. more adamant the Let there be more The present scenario doubles children will and more the responsibility of discussions the parents towards definitely revolt. between parents their children. and children and Suddenly closing let there be more the accounts, and more “Ammi getting upset soon Sabhas” at home after closing the net, and our children his school grades may gain more and performance and more become worse and knowledge using the cyber facilities unable to sleep properly are some of to reach at the top of the world. the symptoms that are seen among the victims. If something to be done to maintain a balance, make no mistake, it should Such victims normally have several start from home. IDs, several contacts and their

Parents have to take extra care to make the children understand about the effects of cyber bullying. They

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COVER STORY

Rajagiri Round Table

Too early to judge R

ajagiri Round Table, an theatre. Social media, online games, appreciation to an art form. They can education forum of eminent and other time consuming things are watch a movie at their convenience educationists feel that cyber beginning to take over the youth. on mobile phone. It helped them to entertainment should be analyzed They spend more time in their virtual overcome the barriers of time and carefully by parents and teachers life than they do in their real ones. space. before reaching a conclusion. This is Misuse of cyber entertainment is Social media sites can make it more a new phenomenon, unknown to the always a point of debate. Parents and difficult for us to distinguish elders of our era. It is too early to teachers have no control over a between the meaningful relationships make a judgment we foster in the about cyber As with all things, virtual reality can be real world, and entertainment. But numerous no one can ignore, taken to unhealthy extremes, and the idea the casual as it is evident relationships of such a drastic shift – one that may everywhere. formed through entirely redefine social needs – may The Internet or the social media. The World Wide Web is immediacy cause unease. indeed a wonderful provided by and amazing addition in our lives. It social media is available to predators student spending most of his time in helps to overcome the barriers of time as well as friends. Kids especially are Facebook or Whatsapp. Parents are and space. It is a service through vulnerable to the practice of cybereager to know what their children which everything under the sun is bullying in which the perpetrators, doing on the internet, but they are now at the fingertips of anyone who anonymously or even posing as often restricted to the cyber world. has access to the Internet. people their For children, the internet victims trust, provides a vast library of terrorize knowledge. Entertainment is individuals in becoming a growing focus front of their for internet users. You can peers. The use the internet to play devastation of games, stream videos, listen these online to music, and even read attacks can leave books. This may be why deep mental everyone is so glued to the scars. screens. As with all Cyber space offers a things, virtual platform for everyone, reality can be through mobile, laptop, taken to desktop or tablet to enjoy unhealthy the form of art of their extremes, and choice. You can enjoy a the idea of such drama while sitting at your a drastic shift – room in a remote place of one that may Kerala, acting on a London stage Children wanted their freedom in the entirely redefine social needs – may through internet. Even though you virtual world. They rebelled once it cause unease. But amid all the enjoy it virtually in your computer was restricted. This has become a warnings, for many bored and lonely screen, you miss the quality of common problem in every house hold. souls, the promise of a virtual escape enjoyment at large, compared to a Cyber entertainment has changed the is not unsettling, but exciting. person physically sitting in the way of younger generation’s

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COVER STORY

Web trap of unlimited fun Reghu Varma P.K

“Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal” Albert Einstein In the modern period, as compared to all previous eras, there has been an enormous increase in human

knowledge with us, both theoretical and practical. But so far as end is concerned, we are concerned with folly. Bertrand Russell concludes with the remarks, “Unless men increase in wisdom as much as in knowledge, increase of knowledge will be increase of sorrow.”

children social Medias have become a very essential part of their life. There are a plenty of good things about social media, no doubt. But there are also potential dangers and things that parents want the kids to avoid.

Tender human love is the cement to hold father, mother and children together; when it is eroded, the home breaks up, leaving the children high and dry. knowledge. Knowledge has grown enormously, but has wisdom tarried? Bertrand Russell said, “We are in the middle of a race between human skill as to means and human folly as to ends.” We have created means, no doubt. We have plenty of efficient

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When the theme of Cyber Entertainment is discussed, the contemporary tragedy of knowledge growing enormously, but wisdom being tarried is what becomes evident. Much as the way telephones were important to us a few years ago, for

Technological advance has helped to achieve all round good of mankind. A few things that are very obviously noticeable due to technology overruling society are that there is no face to face communication. Entertainment has become more personalized, interactive and more

COVER STORY pervasive. The technology driven Cyber Entertainment will bring a host of economic and social problems in their wake. It is a multi million rupee business. Its impact on society and culture will be even larger than its multi million rupee investment. Children in their growing years are much attracted to such a form of entertainment. In order to escape from the humdrum and ordinary life, the children are always attracted to fantasies. The companies

talking or chatting ‘virtually’ to others and don’t realize the ‘value’ of family members who are present with them. Meaning and significance of life is lost and life will be reduced to ‘a tale told by an idiot’ in the words of Shakespeare. One cannot say that children shall not view cyber entertainment programme. Instead, allow some time for it too. Encourage students to participate in social

more and more people are afflicted with the craze for ‘organic’ cravings and satisfaction, unchecked and undisciplined; they seek only pleasure, more pleasure. That militates against their developing pure human love with which to envelope their children. Tender human love is the cement to hold father, mother and children together; when it is eroded, the home

The love of parents is needed for the children’s mental, emotional and spiritual development. The parents must love each other and thus create an environment of love at home, in which to rear their children. know the psychology of children. They thus design and unleash the full potential of cyber effects to attract children and encourage them to be glued to the ‘virtual reality’. The entertainment industry is focusing on larger client bases and are giving the viewer increasingly real, exciting, perilous and all absorbing ‘virtual reality experience’. This becomes an addiction. The whole personality is developed based on this virtual reality. The games on play station and other video games make the children frustrated at defeat and in turn in real life too they are not able to face disappointment and failure. This creates such a mind set that in real life they will be irritating, fearful, and insensitive and introverts. Even if all family members are present, the children will have no time for get together. They are all always busy

activities, in sports and games, in reading good books etc. Children of today must wake up to the realities of

the contemporary society and foster the idea of the home as a sacred place. The love of parents is needed for the children’s mental, emotional and spiritual development. The parents must love each other and thus create an environment of love at home, in which to rear their children. Today,

breaks up, leaving the children high and dry. The children then seeks the world of ‘virtual reality’ as in reality they are not getting the care, attention, love, guidance, inspiration and encouragement from parents. Students should develop physically. That is the basis of all other developments. Physical development means developing a healthy body through exercises, games and nourishing diet. Then mental health, which means cheerful attitude along with perfect inner discipline. The inner energies thus disciplined shall be converted into creative energy which is the need of the society. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 The Author was Additional Secretary 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 to Govt. in the Finance Secretariat. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Now engaged in social activities. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

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INFO TECH

Social media a marriage killer in China: Experts

hile social media was designed to bring people together, it can sometimes drive them apart – more Chinese people are switching their status from married to single and social media could be responsible, say experts. A report by the ministry of civil affairs in June found that 3.637 million couples divorced in 2014, up by 3.9 per cent from the previous year, Xinhua reported. Statistics from the ministry show the country has been witnessing a continuous rise in divorces since 2002. Su, a white collar worker from Shanghai, was stunned and furious after discovering her husband’s secret romances online. She found he viewed dating websites, and was in touch with many girlfriends on different social networks. Some relationships were more than a decade old, long before they got married. “Since we have a child, I will not consider divorcing. But our relationship is dead,” she told Xinhua. A man, requesting anonymity, said he uses social networks to look for dates while on business trips.

divorce, said Han Junmei, a commentator on www.workercn.com. “Incompatibility undermines marriages and social networks just increases the possibility of breaking up,” she wrote. Social media is not the only factor behind the rising divorce rate. The younger generation’s attitude toward marriage has also changed.

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ountry’s fourth largest software services firm HCL Technologies has said it will buy certain assets of Trygstad Technical Services in an all-cash deal. Trygstad is a US-based IT consulting services and solutions firm and has deep expertise in areas of core engineering, Internet of Things, embedded systems and Intelligent Systems. The financial value and terms were not disclosed.

“HCL Technologies has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire certain assets of privately “In the past, people were more held Trygstad Technical Services Inc conservative and saw it as a shame to in an all cash deal,” HCL said in a BSE get divorced,” marriage consultant Shu filing today. With this strategic Xin said. acquisition, HCL enhances its ability “Nowadays, people care more about to provide additional value and the quality of marriage and are more turnkey solutions to ecosystems of willing to break social norms for the large Independent Software Vendors sake of happiness.” (ISVs), it added.

Too much Facebook use leads to poor mental health among kids: Study

pending more than two hours daily on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram can put your kids at the risk of developing poor mental health, high psychological distress and even suicidal thoughts, new research shows.

“The findings send an important Yu Kun, a Beijing-based psychologist, message to parents and suggest an said among all extramarital affairs of his opportunity to increase mental health clients, about half of them were support service offerings on these initiated through the internet. websites,” said researchers Hugues But most experts said social media Sampasa-Kanyinga and Rosamund generally only affects relationships Lewis from Ottawa Public Health in that were already strained. Canada. In some cases, social networking apps can be a tool in dismantling an already fragile marriage, according to Chen Yiyun, an expert from the marriage and family research institute under the AllChina Women’s Federation. Social media is never the root cause of

HCL to acquire assets of US-based Trygstad

The duo compared time spent using social networking sites to the teenagers’ self-reports of psychological well-being and unmet needs for mental health support. They analyzed data on students in grades seven-12 from the “Ontario

Student Drug Use and Health Survey”. Nearly 25% of students reported using social networking sites for more than two hours daily. “However, this is where we see social networking sites, which may be a problem for some, and a solution for some,” said Brenda K Wiederhold from the Interactive Media Institute in San Diego, California. “Since teenagers are on the sites, it is the perfect place for public health and service providers to reach out and connect with this vulnerable population and provide health promotion systems and supports,” Wiederhold added. The paper appeared in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behaviour, and Social Networking.

INFO TECH

Internet.org turns one, Facebook announces expansion plans

acebook Inc plans to scale up its service to offer free basic internet on mobile phones, an executive said, after introducing the application in 17 developing countries over the past year. In a blog post released to mark the first year of the initiative, Facebook said it will open a portal allowing any mobile operator to offer the service under its Internet.org platform. Facebook currently partners with specific operators to launch the service in different countries. Internet.org has brought over 9 million people online over the past year, Chris Daniels, vice president of product for Internet.org, told Reuters on Monday. Facebook developed the platform with six technology partners to bring an estimated 4.5 billion unconnected people online, mainly in Latin America, Asia and Africa. It offers pared-down web services for free to users, along with access to Facebook’s own social

network and messaging services. Facebook’s blog post said that over the past year, the service had bought new users onto mobile networks on average over 50% faster and that more than half the people using Internet.org are paying for data to access the wider Internet within 30 days. “This is really a customer acquisition tool for mobile

The leading home-bred handset maker regained market share during the quarter mostly due to increase in sales from online sales channel, analysts at Counterpoint Research said. Intex, Lenovo and Lava grabbed the No. 3, 4 and 5 positions respectively, in the second quarter during which 25 million units were shipped, 34% up on-year and 25 % up sequentially. “The smartphone market regained its sequential growth mainly due to aggressive discounting and offers by the brands, retailers and e-commerce firms to clear out inventory accumulated from previous quarters,”

The Internet.org application, launched in India in February in partnership with Reliance Communications, faced backlash with a number of leading technology and Internet firms pulling out of the service after activists claimed it violated the principles of a neutral Internet. “I would say India is unique in that respect and very much an outlier. In other markets, Internet.org has been embraced as a pro-connectivity initiative that has garnered a lot of support,” Daniels said.

operators where the benefit to them of offering a very light amount of free data is to bring on more paying subscribers to their networks,” Daniels said, speaking over phone from Nairobi, where he is attending a summit.

Samsung retains top spot, Micromax follows amsung continues to lead the Indian smartphone market in the quarter ended June with 24.5% share on the back of flagship S6 and S6 edge launches but lost a little market share to No.2 Micromax which increased its share to 16.7%, according to Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research.

Facebook was not paying for any of the data being used to access the service, he said.

Tarun Pathak, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research said. The agency tracks handset market shares based on shipments into India. Analysts expect smartphone demand in online channel to rise as companies race towards launching more 4G LTE handsets. Meanwhile, overall shipments are also set to increase during the second half of 2015 as vendors plan their launches ahead of the festive season. Smartphones contributed close to 45% of the overall shipments in the second quarter this year. Intex has captured third spot with 9.9% , Lenovo including Motorola got 7.5% share and Lava ended flat with 5.3% share of the smartphone market. Xiaomi smartphone shipments increased sequentially during the quarter as the Chinese company became the third largest 4G smartphone vendor during the quarter, thanks to brisk sales of Redmi 2 4G and Mi Note 4G.

A committee of the telecoms ministry set up to examine the issue of net neutrality earlier this month recommended that collaborations between mobile operators and content providers that enable “gatekeeping” roles should be discouraged.

Next spectrum auctions likely in 2016

he Department of Telecommuni cations (DoT) is planning another bumper auction of telecom spectrum that may even surpass record sales in March. Likely to be held early next year, this will

include frequencies in the 2G, 3G and 4G bands. Spectrum in the prized 700MHz band for 4G may also be on offer for the first time ever.

Pallikkutam | August 2015

INNO VATIONS INNOV

Charming friendly bacteria

any legumes (alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lentils, soybeans, peanuts and others) contain symbiotic bacteria called Rhizobia within root nodules of their root systems. This leads to root nodules being formed in which the bacteria convert nitrogen from the air into ammonia that the plant can use for

growth. Exactly how these plants are able to distinguish and welcome compatible rhizobia for this selffertilising activity - while halting infection by incompatible bacteria has been a mystery. An international team of researchers has discovered how legumes are able to distinguish between helpful and harmful bacteria. The results are published in the international journal Nature. Using an interdisciplinary approach involving plant and microbial genetics, biochemistry and carbohydrate chemistry, the researchers have identified the first known exopolysaccharide receptor gene, called Epr3. They found that a membrane-bound receptor kinase encoded by the Epr3 gene binds directly with exopolysaccharides and regulates beneficial bacteria’s passage through the plant’s epidermal cell layer. This key mechanism allows a host organism to distinguish friendly bacteria from those that cause disease The research has implications for improving the understanding of how

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other plants, animals and humans interact with bacteria in their environment and defend themselves against hostile infections. These findings can have profound implications for both agricultural research and medical science.

The panda mystery

suite of energy-saving traits, including underactive thyroid glands, allows giant panda bears to survive almost exclusively on bamboo, according to a new study. The researchers measured the daily energy expenditure in these bears, which do not have stomachs designed for such low-nutrient, high-cellulose plants. Researchers studied five captive pandas and three wild ones, discovering that the animal’s daily energy expenditure was just about 38% of the average for a terrestrial mammal with the same body mass. The energy expenditure for giant pandas is substantially lower than those for koalas, for example, and more akin to those of three-toed sloths, according to the researchers. Researchers used GPS loggers to track the bears and found that giant pandas are much less active than other bears. Further research revealed that the animal’s brain, liver, and kidney are relatively small compared to other bears, and that its thyroid hormone levels are only a

fraction of the mammalian norm – comparable to a hibernating black bear’s hormone levels. Particularly low energy expenditures and thyroid hormone levels enable the carnivorous-looking panda bears to munch on bamboo all day.

Heat beneath Antartic ice

he amount of heat flowing toward the base of the West Antarctic ice sheet from geothermal sources deep within the Earth is surprisingly high, according to a new study led by UC Santa Cruz researchers. The results are published in Science Advances. It provides important data for researchers trying to predict the fate of the ice sheet, which has experienced rapid melting over the past decade. The ice sheet developed and evolved with the geothermal heat flux coming up from below – it’s part of the system. But this could help explain why the ice

sheet is so unstable. When you add the effects of global warming, things can start to change quickly. High heat flow below the West Antarctic ice sheet may also help explain the presence of lakes beneath it and why parts of the ice sheet flow rapidly as ice streams. Water at the base of the ice streams is thought to provide the lubrication that speeds their motion, carrying large volumes of ice out onto the floating ice shelves at the edges of the ice sheet. The geothermal heat flux is an important value for the computer models scientists are using to understand why and how quickly the West Antarctic ice sheet is shrinking. It is important that we get this number right if we are going to make accurate predictions of how the West Antarctic ice sheet will behave in the future, how much it is melting, how quickly ice streams flow, and what the impact might be on sea level rise.

INNO VATIONS INNOV

Tracking elephant movement

research published in the International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics by researchers of Karunya University, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India reports of an automated thermal detection system that can discern wild elephants from background and other animals in infrared images. This discovery could save lives in parts of the world where the animals roam free and often enter villages and other human habitation. Encounters between humans and elephants are a critical safety issue in the Western Ghats. The movement of wild elephants crossing the forest borders causes damage to the lives of both people and elephants. Researchers suggest that automated processing of infrared images from cameras placed at strategic locations might provide an early-warning system and reduce such

encounters to the mutual benefit of both elephants and people. The team has developed a clusteringbased image segmentation approach for accurate elephant recognition in infrared images. Segmentation is a process of grouping a set of objects into segments of similar characteristics. It has been extensively used in many areas, such as statistics, signal processing and pattern recognition, the team explains. The algorithm they have developed that uses this approach could serves as the basis for developing a very large scale integration (VLSI)-based system to detect elephants so that they can be safely prevented from crossing forest borders and entering villages. Tests with images of elephants, horses, bears, cattle and other animals likely to be in the forest gave a recognition rate of almost 95 percent.

e-waste dilemma

hile electrical and electronic equipment have never been more efficient, economical or in demand, consumersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; desire to own the best and the latest is contributing to an environmental issue of increasing seriousness and concern. E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in developing, emerging and developed regions. A latest report on e-waste is published in the journal Waste Management & Research. According to figures published in the Global E-waste Monitor 2014 and compiled by the United Nations University, last year an estimated 41.8 million metric tonnes of e-waste was discarded throughout the world. This comprised mostly end-of-life kitchen, laundry and bathroom equipment

Green buildings are healthy too

esearchers of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the US conclude that green buildings are indeed healthy buildings. They conducted the first comprehensive review of studies that focused on green buildings and summarized the health benefits for the people who work and live in them. The review is published in Springerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journal Current Environmental Health Reports. The green building movement has taken off in the past 10 years. According to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDÂŽ), which certifies green building standards, over 3.6 billion square feet or 69,000 buildings have so far been certified in 150 countries. By definition, the design of green buildings minimizes impact on the environment

by reducing the use of energy and water. Environmental disturbance is also limited during the building process and by the choice of the building site. The ways in which the design of green buildings improves human health are, however, less widely recognized or scientifically studied. The current work fills the gap. The indoor environmental quality measured in green buildings is better compared to typical buildings and, as a result, occupants have less exposure to allergens, pollutants and environmental contaminants such as the harmful gas formaldehyde found in some building materials. Green building occupants in one study for instance reported lower absenteeism and fewer lost work hours because of asthma and allergies.

such as microwave ovens, washing machines and dishwashers, although mobile phones, computers and printers also featured. That figure is estimated to rise by almost 20 per cent to 50 million metric tonnes in 2018, which is why waste management practitioners are seeking new technologies and approaches to deal with e-waste. Most developing countries do not practice waste segregation at the source. This means that municipal solid waste can contain up to 3% hazardous wastes, including e-waste, causing severe environmental pollution.

Pallikkutam | August 2015

CREA TIVE LIVING CREATIVE

Prime your creative pump with suitable questions Dr. Varghese Panthalookaran

Questions as the key The word “question” is derived from the Latin root “quaerere” which means “to ask” or “to seek”. It shares the same root with the word “quest”. A creative life is a sustained quest, and questions are the favorite tools in this pursuit. In fact, quest is enshrined in a question, which acts as an arrow that pierces the eyes of the creativity wellsprings. A well-asked question is already half the answer. “A prudent question is one-half of wisdom,” suggests Francis Bacon (1561-1626), the British statesman and philosopher. John Ruskin goes beyond the halfway mark and suggests: “To be able to ask a question clearly is two-thirds of the way to getting it answered.” “A good question carries its answer on its back just as a snail carries its shell,” comments James Stephens, the Irish Poet (1882-1950). In short, the “Question Mark (?) or the “Question Stop”, as it was known in 19th century, is an important instrument of creative quest. One needs to master the art and science of asking suitable questions that engender creativity. “Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential,” writes Tony Robbins, the American motivational speaker. It is not the abundance of answers we have that makes us creative; rather it is the quality of our questions. “Judge

a man by his questions rather than his answers,” recommends Voltaire (16941778), the French writer and historian. Asking questions is part of child development. “Asking questions is what our brains were born to do, at least when we were young children,” concludes Alison Gopnik, the Professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. “For young children, quite literally, seeking explanations is as deeply rooted a drive as seeking food or water.” It is fundamental to human nature. However, only creative minds carefully preserve the sense of wonder and curiosity of a child throughout their lives. They are “child-like” at all ages. ‘Who, what, where, why, when, and how,’ they never cease to ask questions. “The important thing is not to stop questioning,” quips Albert Einstein, one of the most creative minds the world has ever seen, reiterating this requirement. Claude Levi-Stauss rightly concludes: “the scientist is not a person who gives the right answers; he is one who asks the right questions.” “What people think of as the moment of discovery is really the discovery of the question,” observes Jonas Edward Salk, the American virologist, who discovered the first successful inactivated polio vaccine, supporting Levi-Stauss’s conclusion.

It is not the abundance of answers we have that makes us creative; rather it is the quality of our questions. “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers”. Pallikkutam | August 2015

CREA TIVE LIVING CREATIVE Today is an age of information. Parents questions much, shall learn much, and questions are used to build up and teachers need to perceive and retain much.” relationships. People generally appreciate a critical paradigm shift that respond positively to open questions, The art of asking questions is in the making. The skill to ask right building an ambient for open dialogue. questions is far more important for new Questions are asked for different Who likes to be lectured? Open purposes and accordingly there are generation students than the skills of questions allow others to be open to different ways of doing it. The art of answering pre-defined questions. your points of view. asking questions defines a creative Answers to most of the questions are 2. Funnel questions already present in the Internet. The mind. Given below are some examples: www is the ocean of information for Funnel questions are asked to gather 1. Open questions further information. You may either those, who are equipped with right Open questions are intended to bring narrow your funnel or broaden it. You questions. As Pablo Picasso, the get more and more specific or general, world-renowned 20th century Spanish people into conversation. It awakes respectively. Deductive reasoning is artist asserts: “Computers are useless. interest in people to reveal what they They can only used to narrow give you the funnel and inductive answers.” An educated man is one who has questions to reasoning is Computers cannot equip which nobody has answers. As Francis Bacon used to broaden it. A you with has said: “Who questions much, shall learn suitable series of questions questions may much, and retain much.” be needed to corresponding effect to the answers truly think and feel. Closed questions, funneling. It is extremely useful in they contain. We need powerful on the other hand, are asked to obtain diffusing the heat of a debate. For questions to churn the ocean of information. The big data remains futile single word answers, say: ‘yes’ or ‘no’. example, you may use funnel They may include some formal without suitable data-mining. questions to fathom the depth of the questions too, which do not require an grievance of your child or student. It is therefore insufficient that students answer at all. For example, to the formal This will not only distract them from are rewarded only for having good question “How do you do?” the their emotions, but will help you to answers at schools. They shall be identify a way to better reassure them. rewarded for asking good 3. Probing questions questions too. Our Probing education questions are system needs used for a complete discovery. It is overhaul. It basically asking needs for further adaption to details. You may address the seek clarification, requirements example, of the Age of purpose, Information. relevance, The definition completeness or of an accuracy. educated man Probing also changes accordingly. It anticipated answer is “How do you questions are powerful tools of incorporates the skill of asking suitable do?” itself. However, an open question learning new things. They shed questions more than becoming a elicits elaborate answers. For example, misunderstandings. They bring clarity. walking encyclopedia. An educated the question: “What all things you like They help you avoid jumping into man is one who has questions to at your workplace?” generates more conclusions, without proper which nobody has answers. Finally, as informal and elaborate answers. Open information. Francis Bacon has said: “Who

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CREA TIVE LIVING CREATIVE 4. Leading questions

people to reconsider their limits and 2. Dumb questions overcome barriers on the way. You Leading questions lead the respondent Dumb questions are blunt questions may empower them so that they to your way of thinking. In a of the sort asked by children born break their mental barriers using democratic discussion, there generally out of a desire to understand, out of empowering questions. emerge a number of options needing sheer curiosity. They are simple consensus. For example, you may challenge your questions that probe the obvious, child who is desperate after a and simultaneously challenge and You may try to lead the group by lackluster performance in direct our thinking. giving riders. For example, if there are examination, “Are you sure that you two options emerging in the George Bernard Shaw suggests: “No have exhausted your options?” The discussion, you may indicate your question is so difficult to answer as obvious answer is a sure No. preference for option 2 by asking: that for which the answer is “Shall we approve Option 2?” after a Creativity Enhancing Questions obvious.” Blunt questions target the detailed discussion on both options. obvious answers. Or, if there are a 3. Concentric host of questions suggestions, According to the short poem of Rudyard you may ask: Concentric “Which would Kipling, six universal questions that generate questions you prefer of explore rootall our ideas are: What? Where? When? Option 1 and cause of the Option 2?” This problem at Who? Why? How? may effectively hand. The reduce the strategy is to Questions have ability to pierce options into two. Leading questions ask the “Why” question five times in through the wellspring of creativity. are extremely useful, to develop a raw. For example, imagine your child They prime the creative pump. Let us consensus in a democratic discussion. is not good at studies. You may ask: list few examples of questions that 5. Rhetorical questions Rhetorical questions are statements phrased in question form. They don’t require an answer. For example, you may ask your child: “Are your teachers not wonderful?” to promote the child’s appreciation for his/her teachers. The expected answer is an obvious “Yes”. Such questions are useful to manage, coach or motivate somebody. They help get people to reflect and to commit to courses of action that you’ve suggested. For example, you may ask your child: “Wouldn’t it be great, if you study further?” indicating it your wish. 6. Empowering questions Many of us have beliefs which underestimate our true potential. Empowering questions challenge

Pallikkutam | August 2015

would generate creative options:

“Why?” “He cannot concentrate.” “Why does your child find it difficult to concentrate?” “He does not sleep properly at night.” “Why does your child not sleep properly at night?” “He goes to bed very late.” “Why does the child go to bed too late?” “We have a late

1. Kipling’s Questions

dinner.”

According to the short poem of Rudyard Kipling, six universal questions that generate all our ideas are: What? Where? When? Who? Why? How? Asking these questions in a systematic way will generate large number of creative options.

“Why you have a late dinner?” “We are used to it.” Just change your habit and let your child sleep well so that he concentrates well in class and performs well in academics!

GUEST COLUMN

Cyber and Neymar K. L. Mohana Varma It is a popular advertisement visual we see every day in TV. A long queue in airport. A young mother with a baby. All are bored by the long wait and

is adamant and doesn’t stop. People in the Q are disturbed. They stare at the mother with annoying look. Suddenly a young man two places behind them in the Q taps his cell phone and in seconds get the visuals and sounds of funny facial actions of a comic character and shows it to the child. The scenario is same in every house in Only one second. The child stares at it. Kerala. The His entire moment the child expression returns from changes. His crying For the 21st century, food is secondary school, he/she stops instantly. He throws the bag and book is an unavoidable smiles and then the on the floor, smile turns to occupational hazard. doesn’t think of laughter. changing the Everybody in the Q uniform or even follows suit, they look at the dining all smile and the tension is reduced. table. Just jumps to the I-pad or PC or Now they can face the boredom with lap top or cell phone, whichever is happier minds. Cyber entertainment at available and the fingers start moving its best. quickly, eyes become focused and a slow movement of the Q. Every one Ask children. On condition that they sudden transition takes place. He/she wants to express their emotion, but will not be punished, ask them to tell becomes the happiest living being on etiquette and age controls. But baby the truth. They will say they don’t earth. For the 21st century, food is has no such problem. He cries out secondary and book is an unavoidable loudly. Mother tries her best. The baby want to study. They want only two things in life. Food and play. Food is occupational hazard.

mma, wait. I am playing Neymar. Five minutes. Stop it, I say. Come and eat your food. It is already six. Your tuition master will come just now. Are you not hungry? Amma, wait. I will just complete. Ten minutes.

Pallikkutam | August 2015

GUEST COLUMN physical and play mental. But mothers attractive. The fight attracts all, and during the last five centuries almost changed priority. Food OK. Eat and eat the video games and its millions of redundant. The cyber world is more and get strong. Then study. variations in the cyber world is our becoming wider and larger every Study more and ensure better life. best and cheapest entertainment. moment absorbing new forms of Actually children want only enough network communication, such as food just to overcome the hunger and Walt Disney said: I would rather online communities, online multi-player entertain and hope that people learned not more. They want play to enjoy. gaming, wearable computing, social The five senses of eyes, ears, tongue, something than educate people and gaming, social media, mobile apps, nose and fingers, to appreciate colour, hope they were entertained. The cyber augmented reality, and texting. In 1963 world is the natural creation of internet sound, smell, taste, and touch urge Oxford English Dictionary coined the which has given a new path for them for play which is synonym for word Cyber and wrote: In the era of entertainment. Games were the best cyber, all the plows pull themselves entertainment from time immemorial. and the fried chickens fly right onto Not only for young, but for everybody. our plates. This example, and all War or battle was a serious business, others, up through 1995 are used to but viewing them support the was definition of cyber The five senses of eyes, ears, tongue, nose world as the social entertainment. We seldom like to conditions brought and fingers, to appreciate colour, sound, involve in about by serious physical smell, taste, and touch urge them for play automation and combat, but computerization. which is synonym for entertainment. would like to fake But the main point it. In every is that that cyber civilization, chess world is the electronically enabled and cards or some similar type of linkage of like-minded, but potentially games with local variations and geographically disparate and less adaptations was the most popular mobile persons. communication, entertainment and entertainment. business to the word. It has almost Cyber world gave the society a more The characters in all these games were made paper and printing which have attractive, cheap alternative to King, Queen, Minister, cavalrymen and been the backbone of knowledge and conventional entertainment with more soldiers and they were made to fight. thoughts and the basis of our scope for personal innovations and The chess/card player enjoyed it and scientific and industrial progress better use of creative talent. It is a even gave a high brow platform to much wider social and them. Now also it is the same. cultural movement The horse is still there, closely linked but the fast moving to advanced cars and fighter information planes and science hundreds of and new devices have joined to make the battle more

Pallikkutam | August 2015

GUEST COLUMN information technology. Its emergence, and younger from using any type of entertainment aspect diminishing the development and rise to social and digital technology. Older children and educational concept. Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use of cultural prominence between the 1960s teenagers were also being severely technology is booming around the and the 1990s were influenced at its restricted, with new laws stating world, and this is causing anxiety for genesis by those early users of the children aged 18 years or less will many. Governments and lobby groups internet who were frequently guided in internationally are making moves to their actions by the hacker ethics. restrict the ways children can use Manifestations of Cyber world include technology. In Australia, the Council various human interactions mediated for Children and Media is urging the by computer government to networks. They launch a debate are activities, regarding the age Online addiction among young people has pursuits, of ownership of reached epidemic proportions in almost games, places smart phones. and metaphors, every country and the good intentions Current figures and include a indicate that the of the authorities to make the diverse base of majority of applications. children cyber friendly children get their Some are first mobile supported by phones at about specialized software and others work the age of 10 years. This new lobby on commonly accepted web protocols. initiative is based on the premise that Now the advent of technology in a many children have unsupervised manner unseen or undreamt has access to technology, and use it not entered into our lives, and as is usual, only be permitted to use electronic only for entertainment and education, we are more apprehensive about the devices for a reasonable length of but also get a greater opportunity and negative aspects, serious efforts are time. If the child breaks the rules, inclination for cyber bullying. being made to search for solutions. severe fines are in place for the Taiwan recently made a move to ban Japan has moved in a similar direction parents. Actually, online addiction children two among young people has reached with parts of the country introducing a years epidemic proportions in almost every curfew that bans children from using smart phones and mobile devices after country and the good intentions of 9pm. Similarly, in a recent article in the the authorities to make the Huffington Post, a pediatric children cyber friendly for occupational therapist called upon quicker and better parents, teachers and governments to education has ban the use of all handheld devices for boomeranged to a large extent, children under the age of 12 years. Under the proposed guidelines, the children older than six would be allowed a total of two hours of

Pallikkutam | August 2015

GUEST COLUMN screen time, including television, per own literacy tools such as pens, paper day. These new laws, initiatives and and books. This is the knowledge pleas are motivated by the idea that economy, yet this plan is from the technology is bad for children, and dark ages. that only by restricting their access With banning devices also comes the will they be able to grow up happy need for surveillance. One might and healthy. This suggests that by envisage that parents or teachers the single (and seemingly simple) act would be expected to undertake this of removing technology from their lives, all children will be fit rather than overweight, and that mental health problems such as aggression and depression in childhood will diminish. Children’s health and happiness are essential We should accept that there is goals.

to these relationships at a cost to children. Technology is not going away. Locking children away in a tech-free tower until they are adults is not the answer. Why not shift gear to one of hope, potential and the pursuit of how to live well with these devices?

If children’s access to technology is restricted, long term implications for children’s opportunities for learning may arise. Long-term economic implications could also arise from this. How will children ready themselves for the job market when they are 18 years old if they have had little chance to develop deep knowledge of how to use technology to find, organize and communicate ideas? It would be like waiting until a child is 18 years old before they can own and use their

children, learning to grow well with technology rather than restricting it, may be more conducive to that goal. We should accept that there is a new generation of kids that will understand things in a sophisticated way at an early age and create innovations of tomorrow. Our generation should accept it and try to mould it in a way where the education is inseparable from cyber entertainment. 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

This doesn’t necessarily mean listening to all the advertising about technology and how it can change our lives, but rather taking a critical approach to considering the benefit it holds for our children and how a new to achieve it. Part of this is seeing generation of kids that will understand technology from However, magic things in a sophisticated way at an early the perspective of wand thinking is children to not going to get age and create innovations of tomorrow. understand the us there. Children value they find in may be young, its use and how this matches our own but this does not mean their lives are goals for them as they grow and simple. Technology is an intricate part develop. It also means understanding of life today and there is a lot of how technology can be managed in benefit to its use. Banning or role. Child/parent and child/teacher the home so that the complaints about restricting children’s access has far relationships are vitally important for children’s use do not remain the reaching implications for their health children. Research consistently tells and happiness. Not allowing children us that positive relationships with key unwavering focal point. Many families have developed to use devices or the meaningful strategies internet hampers their that work for children ability to engage with and adults. It is these the world they live in. families that should be Similarly, technology the starting point for offers many educational this understanding. benefits for children; school curricula around While Taiwan’s techthe world rely on laws have been technology for this introduced to support very reason. the wellbeing of

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adults have long term and unmatched implications on children’s self esteem, confidence and happiness. A government adding an unfathomable surveillance role of not allowing technology use (in our technology bound society) gives the message that children are not be trusted and will add significant strain

ASPECTS

The story of a daring woman philosopher Dr. Augustine Thottakara

his story is taken from Brhadaranyaka Up. III.6 and III.8.1-12. It introduces a very powerful and erudite woman philosopher, namely, Gargi, the daughter of Vacaknu. It has already been mentioned that Yajnavalkya was the most eminent philosopher of the Upanisadic times. Gargi, of course, had great respect for him, but at the same time was never hesitant to say what she thought right.

claimed that he is going to win the debate. Then many prominent philosophers like the High Priest Asvala, Artabhaga Jaratkaru, Bhujyu Lahya, Usasta Cakrayana, Kahola Kausitakeya, Uddalaka Aruni, and

The text

Then Gargi, the daughter of Vacaknu, questioned him. ‘Yajnavalkya’, said she, ‘when all this is pervaded by water, by what is water pervaded?’ ‘By air, Gargi’. ‘What pervades air?’ ‘The world of sky, Gargi’. ‘What pervades the world of sky?’ ‘The world of Gandharvas, Gargi’. ‘What pervades the world of Gandharvas?’ ‘The world of sun, Gargi’. ‘What pervades the Gargi Vacaknavi was an eminent philosopher world of sun?’ ‘The The context of the court of Janaka, who himself, as has world of moon, Gargi’. ‘What Gargi Vacaknavi already been mentioned earlier, though a pervades the world was an eminent of the moon?’ ‘The philosopher of Ksatriya, was a great scholar and saint. world of stars, the court of Gargi’. ‘What Janaka, who pervades the world of stars?’ ‘The himself, as has already been mentioned world of gods, Gargi’. ‘What pervades earlier, though a Ksatriya, was a great the world of gods?’ ‘The world of scholar and saint. Once he performed a Indra, Gargi’. ‘What pervades the great sacrifice, and many learned Vidagdha Sakalya questioned world of Indra?’ ‘The world of Viraj, Brahmins came for that from many Yajnavalkya. Gargi’. ‘What pervades the world of countries. King Janaka, as he very Gargi was one among them. In fact, Viraj?’ ‘The world of Hiranyagarbha, often used to do, decided to hold a unlike the other scholars, she dared to Gargi’. He said, ‘Do not, O Gargi, debate among these scholars on cross examine Yajnavalkya on his question too far, lest your head should Vedanta. The prize for the winner was Brahman-knowledge twice on two fall off. You are verily questioning ‘thousand cows, and on the horns of separate themes. The content of her about a deity, Gargi, who is not to be the cows was attached gold pieces discussion with Yajnavalkya is the known through reasoning. Do not ask weighing ten Padas’. Yajnavalkya subject matter of this lesson. too far.’ Thereupon Gargi, the daughter

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ASPECTS of Vacaknu, kept quiet (Brhadaranyaka Up. III.6).

mine. Now hold yourself steady for the next question’. ‘Ask, Gargi’.

This is the first encounter between Gargi and Yajnavalkya. Given below is the second debate between these two Upanisadic scholars;

Gargi asked him the same question as above. Answering her question Yajnavalkya gives a detailed description of Brahman.

pitiable. But he, O Gargi, who leaves this world after knowing this Absolute, is a knower of Brahman.

Verily this Absolute O Gargi, is never seen, but is the Seer; It is never heard, but is the Hearer; It is never thought, but is the Thinker; It is never known, O Gargi, the knowers of Brahman verily but is the Knower. There is no other describe it as the Absolute. It is neither seer than It, there is no other hearer coarse nor fine, neither short nor long, that It; there is no other thinker than It; neither redness nor oiliness. there is no other knower that It’. Under the rule of this very Absolute, O Gargi then said, ‘Venerable Brahmanas, Gargi, the sun and moon are held in you have (heard from) him; you may their own courses. Under the rule of now go after saluting him. Certainly this Absolute, O Gargi, heaven and none of you can ever defeat him in earth hold their own positions. Under expounding Brahman’. Then the the rule of this very Absolute, O Gargi, daughter of Vacaknu kept quiet

Then Gargi, the daughter of Vacaknu, said, ‘Venerable Brahmanas, with your permission I shall ask him two questions. If he answers those questions of mine, then none of you can ever defeat him in expounding Brahman’. ‘Ask, Gargi’. She said, ‘Yajnavalkya, I shall ask you two questions. As a resident of Benares, or the King of Videha, son of heroic line, strings his unstrung bow, takes in (Brahadaranyaka Up. III.1-8). hand two bamboo-pointed arrows, that can hurt the enemies very much, and The daring woman philosopher approaches close by, even so do I What strikes us in this episode is the approach you with two questions. personality of Answer those Gargi Vacaknavi. questions of He said, ‘Gargi, the unmanifested ether pervades The selfmine’. ‘Ask, confidence and that which, they say, is above heaven and below Gargi’. She courage she said, the earth, which is heaven and earth as well as exhibits are ‘Yajnavalkya, what pervades between them, and which was, is and will be’. exceptional. With ease and that sutra elegance she which, they say, interacted with the revered and is above heaven and below the earth, reputed scholars who have come which is heaven and earth as well as together for this assembly of between them, and which was, is and philosophers from all over Bharata. will be?’ He said, ‘Gargi, the moments, minutes, days and nights, unmanifested ether pervades that She launches the questioning session fortnights, months, seasons and year which, they say, is above heaven and with the words: “Venerable Brahmanas, are maintained in their respective below the earth, which is heaven and with your permission I shall ask him places. earth as well as between them, and two questions. If he answers those Whoever, O Gargi, leaves this world which was, is and will be’. She said, questions of mine, then none of you ‘Salutations to you, Yajnavalkya, who without knowing this Absolute is can ever defeat him in expounding have fully answered this question of

Pallikkutam | August 2015

ASPECTS Brahman” (III.8.2). She concludes her deliberations with Yajnavalkya with the words: “Venerable Brahmanas, you have (heard from) him; you may now go after saluting him. Certainly none of you can ever defeat him in expounding Brahman” (III.8.12). Her words here border arrogance and haughtiness. The underlying sense of her words is: ‘I know the arguments of Yajnavalkya better than anyone of you. And therefore, none of you can question him as I do that; if he answers my questions, it means that he can easily answer all your questions. I do have strong

the ultimate goal of all. Brahman is the infinite Spirit; source of all existence; the formless infinite substratum from which the universe has grown. Brahman is the ultimate, both transcendent and immanent, the absolute infinite existence. In Brhadaranyaka Up. III.8.8. Yajnavalkya describes Brahman as an attributeless Asbsolute. ‘O Gargi, knowers of Brahman describe it as the Absolute. It is neither coarse nor fine. It is not a measure, and is devoid of interior or exterior. It does not eat anything,

Brahman is conceived as the ultimate cause of all, the unifying and sustaining principle of the universe, the inner controller of all beings, and the ultimate goal of all. contentions against the arguments of Yajnavalkya’. Gargi Vacaknavi is definitely a towering personality of the entire gamut of Upanisadic deliberations. Women in the upanisads In the introductory part of this volume I have already mentioned that the Upanisads concede great respect for women and gives them equal status with men in the society, especially in circles of learned people. The second chapter of Aitareya Up. starts with the directive: “The pregnant women should go away from the place”(apakramantu garbhinyah). This naturally indicates that women, including pregnant women, were present in common debates and discussion where issues of philosophy, religion and spirituality were discussed. Nature and functions of brahman Brahman is conceived as the ultimate cause of all, the unifying and sustaining principle of the universe, the inner controller of all beings, and

nor does anything eat it.’ Then in the next section Yajnavalkya positively narrates the cosmic functions of Brahman. Under the rule of this Absolute Being sun and moon do their duties, heaven and earth are held in their courses, day and night, months and years and the seasons maintain their scheduled works. God is the creator, sustainer and saviour of the world. In this section his sustaining and maintaining work is extolled. The issue of the emancipation of women Internal evidences of the scriptures and other historical facts testify that women in the Sruti period, the first and most important phase of religious history of India, were regarded and respected as equal to men. As has already been shown above, there were eminent women philosophers, who fearlessly debated and discussed important issues of philosophy and religion with great men philosophers of the day. There are texts in Rgveda which refer to a ‘number of female

Pallikkutam | August 2015

ASPECTS scholars, mystics and poets. Women, in fact, composed portions of the Vedas, no less than twenty female seers and authors are cited’.

observe a fast. Her only duty is to obey and please her husband and she will for that reason alone be exalted in heaven” (MS V.158). “It is the nature of women to seduce men in this world; for that reason the wise are never

unguarded in the company of females” (MS II.213).

But things are changing now. The call for gender equality and gender justice has become loud and powerful. Through various organizations and movements, and through the efforts of many eminent women personalities, women are entering in all the areas of human life and activity, which were closed to them decked till now.

But this situation drastically changed in the second phase of the religious history of India, namely, in the Smrti period, especially with advent of the numerous Dharma-sastra texts. The division of the society into four hierarchical castes got “Women are to be respected and firmly established. by the fathers, by the brothers, by the Women have Duties and become competitive husbands, and by gods, who desire responsibilities in the fields of of the four to acquire prosperity in life” education, politics, states of life, law, economics, namely, technological skills, Brahmacarya, Garhasthya, scientific research, or any form of Vanaprastha and Sannyasa, were discipline, which had been defined and confirmed. Ritualism previously predominantly male makes a comeback at this stage. domain and male endeavours. Sacrifices and rituals become It would not be wrong to say that the important. Priests and priestly craft age of Gargi is being revisited today. become all powerful. With that rules In 1916, when Emily Murphy became and regulations were created to keep the first woman judge in the entire away women from official religious British Commonwealth, that was big matters. Reasons and devices were news. Today we have any number concocted to declare women impure women as political leaders, Prime and incapable of carrying out priestly Ministers, Presidents of nations, functions. Chief Justices, eminent writers and The laws of manu philosophers, astronauts, and what The Laws of Manu (Manu-smrti) very not. clearly and categorically state that This story, which portrays the women are always inferior to men; that successful career of a woman, stands their only duty is to serve and please out in these Upanisadic stories. The men; that they never deserve freedom protagonists of most of the stories and independence; that the criteria of are males. To hear a story of a very their religiosity is measured by brave, highly educated and naturally intensity of their faithfulness and fearless woman is refreshing and service to men. Some texts are quoted heartening. Let there be more women here: “In her childhood she is to be like Gargi! Manu, the law giver, is protected by her father, in her youth normally depicted as a woman-hater. she is to be protected by her husband, But he also has said very nice things in her old age she should be protected about women. “Women are to be by her sons. Woman never deserves respected and decked by the fathers, freedom” (Manu-smrti [MS] V.151). by the brothers, by the husbands, “Men may be lacking in virtue, be and by gods, who desire to acquire sexual perverts, immoral and devoid of prosperity in life” (Manu-smrti any good qualities, and yet women III.55). “Wherever women are must constantly worship and serve respected, there the gods are happy; their husbands” (MS V.157). “Women wherever they are not respected, have no divine right to perform any there all the rituals and sacrifices religious ritual, nor make vows or become futile” (Manu-smrti II.56).

Pallikkutam | August 2015

B +VE

Goldsmith by profession, an avid reader by vocation

e sailed through the rough waters of life with the wings of fantasy, obtained through reading. Characters from all over the world, penned by the great men of letters, used to visit his shabby workshop in his daydream. He travelled with them to the unknown worlds while bending over the salamander.

initially to read and understand English books. But the thirst for knowledge and love of letters helped him to conquer the barriers of language. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mysteries of life have always attracted me. I am in search of these mysteries in books. Books which describe life are dear to me.

Preman studied only up to the pre-degree, but finished almost all world classics by the age of 25. Preman Ammanth is a goldsmith at Alinchuvadu, a small suburb on the outskirts of Kochi. But his reputation is as a voracious reader. His love for letters and five decades of reading were honoured by people around his place at a public function recently. He says he is humbled by the acknowledgement as a reader by the learned community. As a person with only basic education, he found it very difficult

They make me alive and face life with confidence,â&#x20AC;? he says. His workplace is overloaded with books. Preman entered the world of letters at the age of 10 starting with reading simple Malayalam books and slowly entering the world of literature. When his friends went in search of playgrounds, Preman searched for libraries in the city. He studied only up

Pallikkutam | August 2015

B +VE to the pre-degree, but finished almost all world classics by the age of 25.

the experience of the cross. It doesn’t have any material benefits, but it enriches me.” Preman says he has had a good friendship with many Philosophy was tempting for him. He was Malayalam writers like Guru Nitya Chithanya never fed up with eastern and western philosophy, from Ramana Maharshi to Jiddu Yathi, K P Appan, O V Vijayan, M T Vasudenvan

There were failures in my life but reading helped me to overcome them. Krishnamurti, from Plato to Friedrich Nietzsche.

Nair etc. “I maintain my friendships with great writers through letters and phone calls.”

“I am searching myself in books. In that way, I am reading myself, even though the books are written by others. Books are like mirrors. I look into them to see my postures. There were failures in my life but reading helped me to overcome them. I find comfort in books. They give me peace of mind and courage. Reading is for the failed ones. I was interested in philosophy from early childhood. Reading is my prayer and defence. I read all kinds of books,” he says. “My reading was centered on libraries. I read almost all kinds of religious books. A good book gives

“Reading has chipped us and removed unnecessary things from us. People are more creative in a period of trouble in life. Dostoevsky’s life is the best example. I read Prophet by Khalil Gibran repeatedly. In Malayalam I have read O V Vijayan’s books many times.”

Pallikkutam | August 2015

Nikos Kazhandisakis, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Italio Calvino, Gabriel Gaza Markaze and Saramaghu are his favourite authors. He has created a musical album from M T Vasudevan Nair’s famous short story Vanaprastham.

CONTOURS OF CHANGE

When the brainy outclass the big Joe A Scaria ime was when the biggest teenage, having just crossed 10 years. of the shares of the two companies obviously reflects on the wealth of corporates in the world held When Facebook went public in 2012, their owners: In June, 2015, 66-year-old thousands of acres of its market capitalization was less than Christy Walton had a $37.1 billion plantations, large tracts or real estate, a half of Walmart’s but in only three fortune, while the 31-year-old vast fleet of ships, or factories to years it has surpassed Walmart’s Zuckerberg had galloped to a fortune produce a stream of manufactured market cap. The change of weightage of $38.6 billion in goods. What a just over a decade. transformation the In June this year, Facebook’s market st 21 century has As Bloomberg news capitalization soared to $238 billion, brought, with the service aptly put it, mind literally beating that of retail giant Walmart, which friends appeared scoring over matter. more valuable than

has over 11,000 stores across nearly 30 countries.

The largest sailing fleets, the biggest factories, the largest oil fields or the tallest buildings that can be rented out are no more the barometers for wealth. Instead, a powerful idea that can rewrite a sector’s rules can redefine the very notion of wealth in the new age.

For samples, look no farther than Facebook and Walmart. In June this year, Facebook’s market capitalization soared to $238 billion, beating that of retail giant Walmart, which has over 11,000 stores across nearly 30 countries. The numbers give the stark contrast between a brick-and-mortar operation like Walmart, versus a knowledge and communication company such as Facebook. Walmart, founded by Sam Walton in 1962 has been in existence for over half a century, while Facebook founded by Mark Zuckerberg with his Harvard college friends is not even in

family as the social media giant that Zuckerberg and friends had founded to connect friends stormed past the market capitalization of one of the largest corporates in the world, led by one of the wealthiest families. The rise of the knowledge companies across the spectrum is unmistakable. While cotton plantations, oil fields and mining companies once ruled the roost, the stock markets now give top rating to knowledge companies. So we have companies like Apple, Google and even a Berkshire Hathaway being touted as the new stars, while an oldworld but massive commodity company like Exxon Mobil is seen as far less glamorous in the knowledge era. What is indeed stunning is the faith that investors are putting in technology companies even when they have little to show by way of

Pallikkutam | August 2015

CONTOURS OF CHANGE bottom lines. In the first three months of this year, Facebook’s total revenue was $3.54 billion, while Walmart had a first quarter profit of nearly that amount, at $3.34 billion. Obviously, investors and apparently everyone else, too, seem to be valuing something more than merely the latest balance sheet. They seem to be looking at the future prospects, the

However, unlike the large brick-and-mortar companies which can often afford to sit pretty because of steep entry barriers for competitors, knowledge companies have no such luxuries. For all of Flipkart’s glitz, it has competitors such as Amazon and Snapdeal snapping at its feet in the India market. The surge of the information-communicationtechnology domain has been in evidence in the Indian markets as well, right from the mid1990s, when the likes of TCS, Wipro and

Flipkart, founded in 2007 by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, both alumni of the IIT, Delhi would be valued at $15 billion, or more than Rs. 90,000 crore in a mere eight years. scalability of the business and how a company’s business model holds the power to rewrite the rules of not only its own sector, but those of others, too. The Indian market is no different.

Infosys began capturing the limelight from the giants of the previous era like Tata Steel and Reliance Industries. And in the latest of those wealth status swaps, Sun Pharma’s DilipShangvi is poised to pass Reliance

Who would have thought that Flipkart, founded in 2007 by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, both alumni of the IIT, Delhi would be valued at $15 billion, or more than Rs. 90,000 crore in a mere eight years? That is what a petrochemical or electric power company would in normal course take a half century to achieve.

Industries’ Mukesh Ambani. Peter Drucker hit the nail on the head when he said, “Today knowledge has power. It controls access to opportunity and advancement.” The bright and brainy are proving it virtually every day. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890

Pallikkutam | August 2015

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SPORTS

Dhoni beats football superstars Messi and Ronaldo

ahendra Singh Dhoni may have given up the Test captaincy – but his presence in the shorter format of the games continues to make him one of the most marketable athletes in the world.

the best brands. The list took into consideration athletes’ brand value,

Those are not the only two names Dhoni is ahead of. NBA star Kobe Bryant, Wimbledon finalist Maria Sharapova and sprint king Usain Bolt also train in the wake of MSD.

In fact, even more marketable than football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – if you go by a study conducted by the London School of Marketing. MS Dhoni is ninth on the list of the sporting world’s top athletes when it comes to attracting

social media influence. Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo, who recently sold his image rights to another club’s owner – and reigning FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi are 10th and 13th respectively.

their annual income from sponsorships (as part of their total earnings), and

17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer topped the list and Tiger Woods, despite his extremely poor form – is ranked second. The study said that Dhoni’s total earnings stood at $31 million – out of which $27 million.

Bolt answers critics with season’s best

sain Bolt answered questions over his fitness ahead of the world championships with a season’s best of 9.87 seconds in the 100 metres with a workmanlike performance at the London Anniversary Games. With just under a month to go before he defends his world 100 and 200 titles in Beijing, the Jamaican showed he had recovered from a pelvic injury that has disrupted his season, although he was left with plenty to ponder in the rain-lashed capital. The world’s fastest man shook off the rust from his layoff – this was his first

100 for over three months and first competitive race since mid-June – to win his heat and the final in the same

final by three-hundredths of a second ahead of American Mike Rodgers (9.90) and fellow Jamaican Kemar Bailey-Cole (9.92). “In the final I got a really bad start, I kind of lost focus but I got it back,” Bolt told reporters after a routine lap of honour by his own showman standards. “I know I could have gone faster if I had just got my start.”

time, putting him equal sixth in the world this year. But he had to eat up the ground in the second half of both races, winning the

Asked about his fitness, Bolt added: “I’m good. I may go to see the doctor to make sure everything is fine but I’m feeling good. I’m still number one, I’ve never been number two.”

Pallikkutam | August 2015

SPORTS

FIFA faces long struggle to pass reforms

he high-profile person who will head up the task force established to finetune crucial reforms of football’s scandal-hit world governing body FIFA will be named very soon a source close to the organisation’s leadership said. However, any changes put to September’s meeting of the FIFA executive committee could, according to senior sources, face stiff opposition despite the calls from major sponsors for there to be serious reforms following the US authorities charging 14 people, including three former FIFA vicepresidents, of taking or giving millions of dollars of bribes in return for football marketing and television contracts. FIFA’s outgoing president Sepp Blatter announced on Monday that an 11-strong task force, with an independent chairperson, would prepare reforms including limits on terms for leaders, tougher background checks on executive committee members and the publication of salaries of top officials. Pressure from major sponsors has come in recent weeks for FIFA to name an independent commission led by a heavyweight figure to prepare reforms to be put to the congress when a new president is elected on February 26. Some officials even mentioned the name of Kofi Annan. But the former UN secretary general made it known through a spokesman that he already has a “busy schedule” and is not interested. However a source close to

Pallikkutam | August 2015

the FIFA leadership said that a name would be announced “very soon”. The source said the task force would have to get to work quickly to prepare a “succinct report” on the reforms to put to a FIFA executive committee meeting in September. The head of the group is to be named by Blatter and the heads of the six regional confederations within FIFA. The four main confederations – UEFA for Europe, the Confederation of

African Football, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean – will each name two members of the commission. “Despite everything that has happened many of these regional heads remain opposed to the new reforms,” said a former member of the FIFA executive committee. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic as negotiations are held on who will be FIFA’s next president. Blatter has repeatedly accused UEFA, led by French football legend Michel Platini, of blocking past reform efforts,

including stricter background checks on executive members. “But Europe is not alone in worrying about these reforms,” the former executive member told AFP. “Nearly all the regional heads have reasons to want to water down the measures. “Some have legitimate concerns about how the reforms will work and be applied. Some do not want interference in their territory. Some are worried about their own positions. “This campaign will take a long time, almost certainly beyond the election congress and it will be a tough battle. There will be efforts to water down these measures.” Platini, who has called for root and branch reform at FIFA, issued a statement welcoming the creation of the task force. He said it was: “an important step towards improving overall processes and transparency within the organisation. “We must now make sure that the reforms outlined... will be undertaken in a swift and effective manner.” Sponsors have not yet reacted publicly. But the Transparency International activist group said the task force would not restore trust in FIFA. “FIFA is a rotten democracy where votes can be bought, bribes can be made and money can be laundered. It has promised reform many times before and failed dismally,” said Neil Martinson, Transparency International’s director of communications.

RAINBOW

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The Lion and the Mouse

nce when a Lion was asleep, a little Mouse began running up and down upon him. This soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him and opened his big jaws to swallow him. “Pardon, O King!” cried the little Mouse, “Forgive me this time. I shall never repeat it and I shall never forget your kindness. And who knows, but I may be able to do you a good turn one of these days?” The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go. Sometime later a few hunters captured the King and tied him to a tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him on.

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The boy who cried ‘Wolf’

nce there was a shepherd boy who had to look after a flock of sheep. One day, he felt bored and decided to play a trick on the villagers. He shouted, “Help! Wolf! Wolf!” The villagers heard his cries and rushed out of the village to help the

Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, ran up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. “Was I not right?” said the little Mouse, very happy to help the Lion. Moral: Little friends may prove great friends. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121

The Milkmaid and her pail

atty the Milkmaid was going to market carrying her milk in a pail on her head. As she went along, she began calculating what she would do with the money she would get for the milk. I’ll buy some fowls from Farmer Brown,” said she, “and they will lay eggs each morning, which I will sell to the parson’s wife.. With the money that I get from the sale of these eggs, I’ll buy myself a new dimity frock and a chip hat; and when I go to market, won’t all the young men come up and speak to me! Polly Shaw will be so jealous; but I don’t care. I shall just look at her and toss my head like this.” As she spoke that, she tossed her head back and the pail fell off it, and all the milk was spilt! Moral: do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

shepherd boy. When they reached him, they asked, “Where is the wolf?” The shepherd boy laughed loudly, “Ha, Ha, Ha! I fooled all of you. I was only playing a trick on you.” A few days later, the shepherd boy played this trick again. Again he cried, “Help! Help! Wolf! Wolf!” Again, the villagers rushed up the hill to help him and again they found that boy had tricked them. They were very angry with him for being so naughty. Then, some time later, a wolf went into the field. The wolf attacked one sheep, and then another and another. The shepherd boy ran towards the village shouting, “Help! Help! Wolf! Help! Somebody!” The villagers heard his cries but they laughed because they thought it was another trick. The boy ran to the nearest villager and said, “A wolf is attacking the sheep. I lied before, but this time it is true!” Finally, the villagers went to look. It was true. They could see the wolf running away and many dead sheep lying on the grass. Moral: We may not believe someone who often tells lies, even when he tells the truth.

Pallikkutam | August 2015

RAINBOW

Sudoku 07

Sudoku 06 - Answer

Classroom Jokes Teacher to student: Have you learnt the multiplication table? Student: Madam, I have a calculator which is the easier way.

Teacher: How about history? Student: Madam, my Dad says they are rewriting history to suit the ruling party.

Teacher: Now, Geography. Tell me the borders of Kerala state. Student: I am told that the borders are expanding. There are Keralites all over the world. They create mini Kerala wherever they are!

Send your classroom jokes to editor@rajagirimedia.com

Pallikkutam | August 2015

REFLECTIONS

Jose Panthaplamthottiyil

With a little bit of luck

Roman Philosopher Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

ased on Pygmalion, a play written by George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Jack L. Warner produced a beautiful musical called My Fair Lady in 1964. With Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn in lead roles, this musical won 8 Oscars including the one for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The winner of this award was Stanley Holloway who played the hilarious part of Alfred P. Doolittle in the musical. Alfred Doolittle is the father of Eliza the flower girl whose role was immortalized by Eliza Hepburn. He appears in the movie for the first time after being thrown out of a pub for not paying for his drinks. “Well, Alfie, there is nothing else to do,” one of his cronies tells him. “I guess, it’s back to work.” “Work, don’t you dare mention that word in my presence again,” Doolittle snaps at his friend. Then he begins dancing with his friends singing, “The Lord above gave man an arm of iron/So he could do his job and never shirk.The Lord above gave man an arm of iron-but/With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck,/ Someone else’ll do the blinkin’ work!/ With a little bit...with a little bit.../With a little bit of luck you’ll never work!” Doolittle knew how to make money without working. In fact, he was even willing to give away his daughter for a British Pounds. However, he was not a fool who was not aware of his responsibility to make a living through hard work. On the contrary he knew very well that the “Lord above gave

man an arm of iron so he could do his job and never shirk.” But he didn’t like to work. So he didn’t want to work. He didn’t want to earn his livelihood by the sweat of his brow. Instead he wanted to enjoy life at the expense of others. Occasionally we come across people like Doolittle in our midst. They are

contribute anything to the society. However, we also come across so many people who are not only aware of their various responsibilities but also fulfil them with earnestness and commitment. When American President John of Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th president of the country. Even though he became the president of the United States unexpectedly nobody had any doubts about his competence and eligibility to become the leader of the nation. He was a hard worker with a very high sense of responsibility and commitment. While he was the Majority Leader of the Senate he used to work late into the night. Once a fellow Senator who had to work with Johnson asked him, “Why do you work so hard? Remember, Rome was not built in a day!” Then Johnson said with a smile, “When Rome was being built I was not its supervisor!” Of course Johnson didn’t mean that he would have built Rome in a day. He was just trying to underscore the importance of hard work and dedication which he always put into his job.

Like Johnson it is when we put hard work into whatever we do that we find aware of their responsibilities like success in life. On the contrary when studying, working and serving others. we pin our hopes on luck we hardly However, they don’t do any of these find success. Let us never forget that things. They are lazy to the core. They luck favors the prepared. As Roman can never imagine succeeding in life Philosopher Seneca said, “Luck is through hard work. Their hopes are what happens when preparation meets always pinned on luck! That is why we opportunity.” never see them succeed in life or

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