GLOBAL FINANCIAL DOWNTURN – OPPORTUNITY IN DIFFICULTY

Global Financial crisis has crippled literally every sectors of the world ranging from Manufacturing to Media. It is considered as one of the severest economic crisis in the world in past 70 years after the Great Depression in 1929. The financial horror has its roots in the deregulation of United States financial system in 1970s with focus on achieving wild growth rate. Because of Globalization, the US financial downturn has spread over most of the major economies of the world. But, our prudent Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with its remarkable, regulated, centralised financial system has well insulated our Indian economy from the vicissitudes of the world economy. We took pride in stating about the less influence of the crisis on our growth. But, multilateral sectors like trade and export, automobile manufacturing, tourism have faced the slump. For instance, World Bank predicts that world trade is expected to decelerate to 2.9 percent in 2009. Also, Our Indian economy gross domestic product (GDP) fell to 6.7 percent compared to previous year’s achievement of 9 percent. These tremors further leave influence in other sectors too. Though, US Government had announced bailout package of $700 billion to replenish US economy from recession, the responsibility of India to recover from its downturn is vested on us. Yet, we don’t hold the responsibility of causing it.
The great theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein says, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” With optimistic and growth-centred attitude, we can see economic crisis as an opportune time for India to recreate a perfect platform to bring its “Super-Power” dream into reality. With a dream of empowered India, we discuss various pivotal sectors which require special focus by striking it economically, technically, strategically and inclusively:

AGRICULTURE:
Agriculture and Agri-allied activities are life-line for most of the citizens of India. Nearly 65 - 70 percent of Indians depended on agriculture and related activities for their livelihood, but, it just contribute only 22 percent of GDP. India stands high in the parameters of irrigated land, but, its yield per hectare is at sub-standard level. To solve, the achievements of our Green Revolution during 1960s and 1970s have to be revived and we require another Green Revolution during current century to compete globally and to achieve the objectives of National Food Security Mission – to provide 25 kilograms of Rice or Wheat at Rs. 3 per kilogram for Below Poverty Line (BPL) citizens. We should make our Agriculturists and Researchers to learn the incredible achievements of Israel and Japan in farming industry. We have to show intense effort to introduce following measures in farming like SRI (System of Rice Intensification) technology, promotion of precision farming, micro-irrigation, restoration of soil health, supply of quality seeds to farmers, distribution of farm machineries, etc. for the betterment of farmers.

INDUSTRY:
Under current economical downturn situation, the industry has been affected the most, because of droop in trade and exports. Stimulus packages introduced by government should promote long-term investments along with the focus on short term goals. Long term activities include those like infrastructure development, training skilled workers, research and development, etc. Our investments in industry should strive to produce products which cause less strain on environment, biological friendly, recyclable etc. This has dual benefits: One, it helps in achievement of objectives placed by India before Copenhagen. Second, Eco-friendly products will enjoy less customs taxes in importing nations. Thus, it is helping in the blooming of trade and export of Indian state. Further, our government should follow special policies while importing bulk products from Industrial superpowers. Our import policy should insist the exporting foreign companies to procure at least 30 percent of their product’s components from native Indian companies. Such policies provide multinational partnership for lagging Indian industry sector and guides towards the birth of indigenous Indian technology.

SOCIAL SECTOR:
These are public goods to improve quality of life. The key social sector programmes needs to be concentrated are education, employment, urban poverty alleviation programme, rural health etc. Nearly 77% of Indian population are still vulnerable and deprived and our Human Development Indices are one of the lowest in the world. To eliminate poverty and satisfy vast social requirements, we require a sustained growth of at least 9 percent for next 25 years. If not dealt with urgency, the financial crisis turned economic crisis might lead to food crisis and cumulatively into security crisis. So, to recover and accomplish, we require shrewd planning of new policies in this humane sector which require vast investments, centralised control, accountability, and inclusiveness. Government over-conscious rural poverty elimination programme has failed to concentrate on urban poverty. The rise in urban poverty is fuelled by economic crisis compared to declining rural poverty. To rectify efficiently, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) requires new amendments to make it inclusive for urban region also, while retaining its success in rural areas.
Our policy towards education should be revamped with Dr. Abdul Kalam’s educational attitude which strives for transforming less-competent students into super technocrats, imbibe character to uplift Below Poverty Line (BPL) people, and realign their religious thoughts into a spiritual one to achieve social harmony.
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) which provides health insurance to all families Below Poverty Line (BPL) can be implemented in a fast manner. Thus, Primary Health Centres (PHC) can get advanced medical facilities without financial disparities through public-private partnership (PPP). We should provide better sanitary conditions and an improved microenvironment in the habitat and workplace.
In an environment of slowdown, we should initiate our action through public spending on development of basic infrastructure such as roads, bridges, power, ports and airports for urban and rural development which also revive the construction and allied industries. This will help to achieve 12 Million new work opportunities per annum and to manage growing unemployment in India side by side.

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them," says Henry David Thoreau. Though, India’s past accomplishments may be without perfect foundations, but, we can utilise this opportunity to perfectly lay foundations below constructions as Thoreau says. Our current growth rate of 6.7 percent during 2008 – 09 has placed our economy at top notch in world ranking. While world super powers are crippling under crisis, India is rising against crisis. Our successes are being recognized, our accomplishments are being appreciated, our growth rate is viewed remarkable and world has created a gap to fill ourselves as super power India. To end, we imbibe in our thoughts and actions following words, “Strength of nation is in strength of people and strength of people breeds in his strength of mind. Bring the minds in unison to conquer the world with empowered India.”

EYE FLOATERS - PSYCHOLOGICAL REMEDY

Eye floaters are specific physico-psychological problem, caused by the occurrence of slender, cell-like images in our vision. They are usually dead tissues floating in vitreous humor of eye ball. The vision being our important ingredient for our world interaction, the repeated occurrence of floaters hampers the eye’s efficiency. The frequent appearance of floaters and lack of proper medical treatments for eye floaters, make people psychologically and physiologically sick and lead a life which will be filled with tragedy and isolation. To find a solution to such problem, below is a story which inspires with following knowledge: “How mind can be propelled for the psychological treatment of eye-floaters.”

Born from an opulent family, he hasn’t lagged from anything in his life. But, after recurrent stomach ache, he was diagnosed for intestinal cancer at the age of middle forties. But, he had a deep desire for life, so, he tried every sphere to get back his health. But, he wasn’t able to find any improvement. Vexed about his failure, he moved to Buddhist monasteries in high mountains of Himalayas for final experimentation. Shivering with pain and expecting guidance, he spoke thus to a Buddhist monk, who was performing penance, “My life should not end short. I reached you to find solution to my problem. I want long life. Help me! I am eager to live long.” The monk emphatic about his condition, replied, “Son, your problem is simple and I have provided treatment to such sickness many times to my disciples.” Thus saying, he plucked leaves from specific vegetation and purified it by his prayers. The monk replied, “Eat them and I promise you, your health will reach its normalcy. Have a complete faith on it.” The man followed the recommendations strictly.

After some days, his doctors were astonished to find improvements in his health patterns. The doctors decided to understand the science behind the treatment. Reaching the abode of monk, the doctors expressed their appreciation for the treatment and enquired about the process of treatment. The monks laughed and replied, “His desire was deep and I actuated his desire by faith. And, that is the secret for his health.”

The Buddhist scriptures insist “mind to body” action rather than present medical world insist “body to mind” action. Thus, when desire is deep and intense it promote mind to control our body in right direction.

Disclosure: The content is sponsored by "EYE FLOATERS" website

INSPIRING WORDS

If we do what others are doing, we are just sighted,

If we do what others rarely do, we are praised, and

If we do what others couldn’t do, we are acclaimed.

 

Thinking of our past negativities is sometimes analogous to consuming liquor. Attraction towards liquor is due to uncontrolled senses, similarly, thinking about past negativities are due to uncontrolled thoughts.

 

Troubles are trainers; they train our mind to face future troubles, just like physical exercises train our physical muscles.

 

Karma Yoga of Bhagavat Gita: “Don’t focus on results of an action, focus with dedication only on action.”

 

Pain, Pain, Pain – words are painful to read,

Joy, Joy, Joy – words are joyful to read. 

ASHOKA – THE IDEAL LEADER

History identifies human who have turned the stone, which have been left unturned. So, let us take time to look at a personality, who changed the life of his people, although his society or environment or literature insist different behaviour.

Our imagniation has to shift to 273 BC to 232 BC, during the reign of Ashoka, the Great. Unlike contemporary rulers of his land, he is not acclaimed for his achievement in land acquisition, but, for his acquisition of hearts of his fellowmen. His philosophy or attitude or character had left a mark in the heart of his men during his time, to resonate his ideals along the time dimension. Samrat Ashoka, the emporer of Mauryan dynastry, started ruling like his contemporary rulers and had a bloodthirst objective of conquering lands. But, after famous Kalinga war, which led to vast destruction of human life, he shifted towards adoption of buddhism, where blood shed or desire for earthly pleasure is regarded as sin.

As a follower of Bhuddism, his objective changed completely and he utilised his authority for the welfare of his country. Ashoka’s totally new and inspiring ideal of kingship was found in one of his edict, which dictates his nature or attitude towards his fellowmen: “All men are my children”, “whatever exertion I make, I strive only to discharge the debt that I owe to all living creatures.”
Under his leadership, the Mauryan administration grown from country-centered nature to people-centered nature. He initiated numerous welfare measures for humans and beast. He promoted laws which uplift social and economic security. He propogated Bhuddism religion, not as a medium of self-expression, but for universal welfare. He discouraged social ceremonies, since, it entertained social rivalry. He destoryed Varna divison system of caste and implemented laws for abolishing superstitious beliefs.

Rightly, mighty Ashoka can be called as an Ideal Leader, whose ideals are to be inculcated in our life. “Many humans born and die, but, he who lives for others, never dies,” so explains the life of Ashoka.

PSYCHOLOGY – MEDIA CONDITIONING

When I was studying Psychology for my civil services examination (CSE) preparation, I came across some self-developmental wisdom which stroked my intellect to reflect a superior understanding.

Classical conditioning:
Ivan Pavlov, a Nobel-Prize laureate, conducted a famous experiment to manifest to the scientific world the conditioning behaviour in animals. He used his pet dog for his experiment. Every day, the specimen dog was kept hungry and after some time, it was fed with its favourite dish followed by a bell sound. For first few days, the dog didn’t show any observable response during bell sound, but, it showed its usual instinct of salivating on exposure to food stimulus. But, when the above process was repeated, the dog got conditioned to believe about “the bell followed by food” phenomenon and hence started to salivate at the very instance of hearing the bell sound. Thus, the dog got falsified and responded differently due to its conditioning.

Modern or Media conditioning:
In human cultures, similar conditioning behaviours are observable. Media like television, newspapers, cinema, magazines, periodicals, etc., promote such conditioning behaviours in human society. They hypnotize people with “false” teachings by taking advantage of human emotions and weaknesses. Most media portray attainment of pleasure or material wealth should be the ultimate goal in life, mesmerise people by stimulating false motivation, create hallucinating instances, etc. Such, exposure make people to get conditioned to “wrong way of life” mirrored as “true way of life.”

For eliminating such conditioning behaviours, our discerning wisdom should be invoked for our guidance. Spiritual and intellectual works can be used to destroy the habits formed by media conditioning. Moving towards media as an education guide rather than as an entertainment guide can be a better solution to such energy eaters. At last, we can boastfully say, “We are superior and intelligent creatures in earth; we aren’t endowed to get conditioned like animals. We are to conquer the world, not to be conquered.”

FORMATION OF CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA

In Indian society, people are divided on the basis of caste. A caste of person is decided based on the family in which he is born. With ignorance rooting in the minds of the men, caste division is sprouting in every spheres of life. People belonging to lower caste, aren’t provided with privilege of basic amenities, similar, to those enjoyed by the people of higher caste. Though, such disparities are not visible in cities and towns, in villages such differences are still observed. More severe are the cases involving inter-caste dispute, usually, inflicting pain on minority lower caste by the majority higher caste.

To observe the formation of caste system, we need to have a glimpse on the Aryan Civilization or Early Vedic Civilization, which started around 1500 – 500 BC.

Early Vedic life was organized in the form of a clan or vis. A clan includes group of members including men, women and children. Members of the clan will be associated through closer or broader relationships. Assembly or sabha is the committee which includes all the members of the clan. The assembly elects a chief or raja who is responsible for the well beings of the clan. The chief’s activities are monitored by the Assembly members. The main occupation of the early Vedic civilization was cattle rearing, which, includes rearing of sheep, goat, cow, etc. Cattle were considered as important resource and exchange of goods were done by exchange of cattle. Agriculture was in its infancy stage and shifting agriculture was practiced. Every clan had an army, headed by the chief. Usually, the army includes members of the clan. The armies, along with chief, frequently attack neighbour clans to acquire more cattle and other resources. The resources gained by such fight or attack will be equally shared by all the members of the clan.

Another group of members of the clan form the priest community or purohits. The perform sacrifices or prayers for the well being of the clan. Special sacrifices were performed to invoke divine blessing for the success in war. The form of living or politics was egalitarian, that is, every member was considered equal in status.

As the years followed, Iron was introduced into the Aryan society and this helped in sedentary agriculture method. Now, fertile lands were considered as important resource for living. More attacks were performed by chief and this improved his prestige or position. The priest performing sacrifices became pivotal for success in warfare. This practice added value to the priest category. The other clan members who were performed agriculture, pottery, carpentry, cattle rearing, etc., attained status based on their success in living. Those, who were successful became higher category, while, those who failed, became lower category. Thus, Varna system of categorizing people came into existence. The purohits or priest form Brahmana category, the chief or army members formed the Kshatriya category, the successful members in agriculture (they are also traders) became Vaisya category, and the failed members in society living as carpenters, farmers, etc., became Shudra category.

This analysis shows that division of caste is time imposed or situation based. Intellectually analyzing will show that we are fruit from same tree. People, who enjoy taste of sweet fruit remark, “The nature of the single fruit from a tree is sufficient to judge the quality of all the fruit from the tree.”

We should imbibe in life with motto of “No Caste, and no division in people.”

MOTIVATIONAL WORDS

Humans are powered with fuel, with which, 

He is capable of flowering smiles on others face, when he expresses love selflessly,

He is capable to lift others, when he uses his wisdom selflessly,

He is capable of becoming immortal, when he dies for universal cause selflessly, and

He is capable of becoming rich, when he shares his resources selflessly.

 

In the definitions of our life, we tend to consider only our “active” days, discarding our dormant, “idle” days.

 

A modern “Information Age” philosopher might say:

“Give me an individual’s personal computer; I will forecast how his future will be!”

TALK PERFUME - RELATIONSHIP BUILDER

In science, we have diffusion principle, which can be described as:

“The process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration, to areas of low concentration.”

In spiritual or philosophical concepts, diffusion principle can be observed in distribution of mental waves from our mind to our surrounding environment by principle of “Telemetry.” By making our thoughts more powerful or high concentrated by thinking, mental waves can be diffused for long radius from centered mind.
Such, mental diffusion can aid for enhanced relationship with neighbours intellectually.

Along with mental diffusion, physical diffusion, that is, by adding soothing flavours to our surrounding through "perfumes" can bring about phenomenal changes in our relationship. Vast list of perfumes products are available in markets, each flavor portraying various circumstances or bonding. Along with mental diffusion, physical diffusion can bring about tremendous difference.

I was using Black Market perfume to flavour my ambience and create better relationships with my friends, after I found such influence with my friends, who were using appealing perfume flavour.

We can share or learn such perfume experiences, by visiting a website "Talk Perfume," where discussion regarding various flavours, products in perfumes are available.

Add a flavor in life through thoughts, and bring about changes in relationships through perfumes.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by "Talk Perfume"

BITS OF INSPIRING THOUGHTS

While our position fetch us respect from others, it is our character that fetch respect from us.


Ultimate satisfaction is not gained by working with what we have, but, working towards what we don’t have.


“If you have an objective in life, you will make 1000 mistakes in life. If you don’t have an objective, you will make 50000 mistakes.” – Swami Vivekananda.


It doesn’t require “anything” to go against the law, but, it requires “something” to live along with law. The “something” is character.


Billion of men are born in earth, but, some are born for making histories, while, others are just born to fill histories.

NATURE OF EDUCATION IN INDIA

Last week, I had an opportunity to discuss with my friend about the importance of education in our human life. After a short time, my friend enquired about the reason for the recent clash between lawyers and policemen in my local town. After a brief discussion, he queried, “It seems lawyers and policemen are one of the highly acclaimed personalities in society, yet, they behave like laymen, by disturbing the life of common people. Education doesn’t influence their character and personality.”

After small discussion, we put forth various aspects, by which education in India could change to influence life of humans.

1. Moral education should be made imperative at every levels of learning. “Basic values of integrity” during childhood and “Pragmatic way of living with integrity” during adolescence and adulthood should be inculcated to citizens.

2. “Philosophy of success,” should be imparted to every individual after maturity in thinking.

3. Education should impart intelligence to differentiate “Spirituality” over “Religion.”

4. Education should help individual to identify their priorities in life.

5. Education should promote holistic understanding of living and universal brotherhood.

6. In every curriculum, complete life history of world fame personalities should be made compulsory.

After identifying these pivotal points, another friend listening to our conversation queried: “It seems your education demands intellectual or personality development as an important factor, but, today’s information revolution requires vast time schedule for technical learning. How your education is going to balance your intellectual and technical knowledge?”

My friend replied with radiance in his words, “If foundations are laid with perfection, massive top constructions can be easily designed with dedication.”

ACOBAY - SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITE

Social networking sites are the medium for enhancing our relationships with the world. “Our intelligence is limited, our accessibility is limited, and our resources are limited,” will not be the usual utterances for the people with internet in their hand.

Social networking sites are boon to the people who like to be in cyber world, share knowledge and intelligence, gossip about their famous personalities, express gratitude, share experiences, pictures, creativity and many more.

When people struggle for money, life, blood, knowledge, relations, joy etc, social networking sites comes as an aid, by satiating and quenching their needs. Acobay made entry in 2009 to create bonds of relationship beyond physical barricades. Acobay is a social networking platform for bringing heads or intelligence or experiences to the world sharing. Blogging contents can be posted in the site which enhances traffic towards our blog.

What more! New thoughts, new people, new products, new design, new exposure, new experience, new learning, and many more in this newly engineered medium: Acobay 

networking site

LAWS OF SUCCESS - POSTIVE MENTAL PICTURES

Our life activities are basically influenced by our day-to-day circumstances or situations. For instance, we get angry or joy based on how other people or situations are. If circumstances or people going to rule our life, we wouldn’t have revolutionized our life from caves to infrastructures. Also, most successful people aren’t situation moved or circumstances based. They handle life happenings effectively. How do they do that? Then, what factor has controlled our life or controlling our life or will be controlling our life?

It is the “mental pictures” which proactively designed by ourselves even when “physical pictures” differ.

Our physical pictures – our external environment, beyond our control like temperature, calamities, situations, people’s emotions, etc.

Our mental pictures – our internal environment, under our complete control like character, attitude, emotions, beliefs, health, thoughts etc.

Our internal environment is decided only on our mental pictures and is independent of physical pictures. Everlasting happiness roots from positive mental pictures by keeping it independent of degrading physical pictures.

Consider we are fired out of your job (due to fuelling economic crisis), our “peace of mind” depends on how we handle such contingencies. In this condition, the physical picture is negative. If this is allowed to rule our mental pictures, our peace of life will wither off. But, instead, if we take steps to design our mental pictures without influence of physical pictures, peace of mind flourishes. For a negative, adding a negative will make more negative. For a negative, adding a more positive will make positive. “Adding” is our responsibility.

Positive mental pictures are basis of our success. Even when world is filled with negativities, adding positivity at every instance changes our life.