Archives October 2013

We live in an age in which companies equivalent in wealth to countries call the shots and control much of the earth's resources. Because corporates intervene in so many areas of social life, they must be responsible towards society and the environment. In India, as in the rest of the world, there is a growing realization that capital markets and corporations are, after all, created by society and must therefore serve it, not merely profit from it. And those consumers and citizens' campaigns can make all the difference. In the age of globalization, corporations and business enterprises are no longer confined to the traditional boundaries of the nation-state. One of the key characteristics of globalization is the spread of the market and the change in the mode of production. The centralized mode of production has given way to a highly decentralized mode of production spread across the world. In the more...

That formidable force that makes one believe that one needs what one usually only desires; that mind-set that is really more of an entity that sits on ones shoulder, and relentlessly  screams 'further, further', that asset that makes those who are not zealous, jealous... That is ambition. Ambition has been the backbone of every army! Through. those great ancient Egyptian wars, through Persia, through Hastings, through Waterloo, through the native American/greedy colonist battles, through the world-wars, through the Balkans, and through every other great conflict that has ever existed, each party was blessed by pure and passionate ambition...ambition to win at whatever cost necessary. Surely only the collective force of ambition found in a battle is liable to cause as much suffering and damage as has been caused by all battles that have ever been lost or won? Even the weakest, most injured warrior who persevered has been lunched not more...

Fifty-five years of development' have spurred on unplanned urbanization, extensive industrialization and the building of a series of big dams. In the process, India has landed bang in the middle of an ecological crisis. We have lost half our forests, poisoned our waters, eroded our lands and rendered millions homeless, resource less and more impoverished. Three of our cities are amongst the 15 most- polluted cities in the world. Several of our plant and animal species are extinct. Why and how has this happened? And how can the situation be remedied? What is the difference being made by government legislation and people's movements for the environment? India's entire development process has been distorted by the structure of inequality outlined above. Adapted almost wholesale from the West and characterized by unrestricted, large-scale industrialization, urbanization, consumerism and materialism, today's path towards progress is quite evidently causing severe environmental destruction and resource depletion. more...

In a developing country like India proper planning for the country's overall progress and prosperity, assumes a great importance. Planning in India derives its objectives and social promises. A Resolution of Govt. of the India set up the Planning commission in 1950. It has its credit for seventh five-year plan (1985-1990) under implementation. The seventh plan has contributed significantly to the progress of the country. The objective of seventh five year plan evolved from the common minimum programme of Govt. and the Chief Minister's conference on basic minimum services, an aggregate outlay of Rs 348,148 crore with a public sector outlay of Rs 180,000 crore ended with an average rate of growth of the gross domestic Product (GDP) at 5.3 percent per annum. Which was well above the targeted rate of 5 percent. The final year of seventh five year plan (1989-90) saw the growth of national income largely contributed more...

Democracy in India is relatively new Way of conducting the business of Govt. It is relatively new to the Autocratic history of this Great Nation. Democracy is the Govt. from the people, for the people and by the people.' It was due to the colonial rule of Britain that conscience of Indian masses well directed by the great leaders like, Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and other expressed it's enthusiastic willingness to adopt the democracy as the way of running govt. Today we have already completed more than fifty years with this very arrangement which entails the fruits of sustenance and raise of socio-political security and development for present and future generations of this country Political set up of a Country depends not only upon interstate affairs of national importance but also International relations of that country. India is rapidly developing country. Today our nation has earned a respectful position and is more...

The word 'psychology' comes from the Greek 'psyche' (or soul) and 'logos' (or study), which came to be known as the 'study of the soul'. Scientific study is a valid way of coming to an understanding of life, and can be very useful in every area of life. Science develops theories based on what is observed. It examines each theory with rigorous and scrupulous tests to see if it describes reality. The scientific method works well in observing and recording physical data and in reaching conclusions which either confirm or nullify a theory. During the mid-19th century, scholars (although at that time probably termed philosophers) wanted to study human nature with the aim of applying the scientific method to observe, record, and treat human behaviour that was deemed as unnatural. They believed that if people could be studied in a scientific manner, there would be a greater accuracy in understanding more...

Today, the Olympic Games are the world's largest pageant of athletic skill and competitive spirit. They are also displays of nationalism, commerce and politics. Well-known throughout the world, the games have been used to promote understanding and friendship among nations, but have also been a hotbed of political disputes and boycotts. The Olympic games started thousands of years ago and lasted over a millennium. The symbolic power of the Games lived on after their demise, and came to life again as the modern Olympic Games, being revived in the last century. Both the modern and Ancient Olympics have close similarities in there purpose and in their problems. The ancient Olympics had some differences from the modern Games. There were fewer events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete, instead of athletes from any country. Women where not allowed to even watch the games on penalty of death let more...

The Constitution of India is one of the most rights-based constitutions in the world. Drafted around the same time as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Indian Constitution captures the essence of human rights in its Preamble, and the sections on Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy. The Constitution of India is based on the principles that guided India's struggle against a colonial regime that consistently violated the civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of the people of India. The freedom struggle itself was informed by the many movements for social reform, against oppressive social practices like sati (the practice of the wife following her dead husband onto the funeral pyre), child marriage, untouchability etc. Thus, by the mid-1920s, the Indian National Congress had already adopted most of the civil and political rights in its agenda. The movement led by Dr B R Ambedkar more...

People are often known with the way they do things. They are not only admired for their way of doing things but sometimes are also hated for their unpopular way of doing it. Every individual has his own approach to handle different tasks and situations. At a given point of time you would find thousands of ways to solve a single complex problem. Those who do it in the most efficient way turned out to be the leaders in their respective businesses. People who have bulldog persistence, who can grab something and not let go, have an essential success quality. Most of the time we are consumed with the negative thoughts and influences but instead those who believe 'there is a way to solve this problem' generate numerous followers. Let us take an example. We say, 'Well, that's the way the hall bounces, 'and let it go at that'. Now more...

Examinations are a vital part of our education system. They help in evaluating the yearlong preparation of a student. In India, examinations are much emphasized, as their result decide the mental capability of a child. The annual academic session beings from April and ends in March with the commencement of examinations. The cycle begins when a student is 3-4 years and continues till the student is 20-21 years old and every year the children go through the same process of preparing for examinations. Whatever, they study it is essential to judge their knowledge. In this competitive world, every child in expected to perform similarly, to obtain the maximum marks which of course is not possible if students as well as teachers try to perform their best. Every child is expected to score around 90%, irrespective of their mental calibre. This pressure keeps on increasing year after year and children are more...