Philosophical

Answer : The genius of Albert Einstein’s quotes seems to be their timeless nature. Einstein is often also quoted as saying, “Information is not knowledge.” Interestingly, the rest of that original quote ends with, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” Another great quote on the subject is by John Naisbitt, author of Megatrends, “We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.”

This is even more true in a hyper-connected world where access to information is abundant. Having more information can, at the best, make you look smart at the tea party but it does not move a needle, unless you do something about what you already know.

The truth is – knowledge happens when information meets experience, values, contextual understanding about the specific situations, application, intuition and beliefs. Real knowledge is the synthesis of all these. The act of constant learning is the act of constantly synthesizing information with experiences. The act of constantly bridging the gap between what we know and what we do.

If you want to play with words and concepts little further, you could say: “Information is not knowledge and knowledge is not wisdom.” Knowledge provides a roadmap to address situations and contextual challenges. But are you solving the right problems for the right reasons? That is wisdom – the “why” of things we do. Information is “what” and knowledge is” “how”. There is a gap between information and knowledge and before it is matured into wisdom, there most likely needs to be some time, experience and application, before it slowly ferments into wisdom.

Our knowledge is never a burden. It is our ignorance that is a burden. Any time we feel that our knowledge is becoming a burden, know that this burden is not the result of our knowledge, but because our ignorance has disguised itself as knowledge. True knowledge never becomes a burden; it never pulls us down. It always keeps us light and ensures that we’re enjoying the process of life. So, what is this true knowledge?

Since we’ve been using the word “knowledge” loosely throughout human history, the word has become so common we have forgotten its true meaning. As the word itself suggests, knowledge comes from knowing which comes from the Greek root word ‘gnosis’ which comes from the Sanskrit root word ‘jnana’. Jnana (Pali word) means pure awareness. This pure awareness, this ability to perceive things just as they are, is ‘true knowledge’.

We need to understand the difference in knowledge and information. Our burden arises because now, instead of seeking knowledge, we are seeking information. In today’s language, when we are referring to knowledge, we are talking about information. We are thinking, “How much knowledge should we gain? How cautiously should we approach this? Will too much knowledge stop us from experiencing life in its purity?”

Right from our childhood, we have been gaining knowledge and information. So, let’s better understand the difference between these two. If I were to ask you about the details of your life— “Where were you born? Who are your parents? What are your friends’ names? What did you learn in your science class?”—You would answer with information. You would tell me names, places, and dates. Much of this information remains as a memory.

Knowledge is a consolidation of your entire life experience. Whether you can recollect it is not important. Since your knowledge blends into you, you can react appropriately to different situations. You cannot go back to how you were when you were five years old and respond to life in that way. Through growing up, your knowledge has become a part of you. This knowledge, however, can never block you from experiencing life in its purity.

Answer : Change is the eternal law. History and science bear ample testimony to the fact that change is the law of life. Stagnation is death. They tell us stories of man’s rise and growth from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age, then to the Stone Age and next to the Copper Age, etc. On the stage of the world, scenes follow scenes, acts follow acts, and drama follows drama. Nothing stands still.

Change is an ever-present phenomenon. It is the law of nature. Society is not at all a static phenomenon, but it is a dynamic entity. It is an ongoing process. The social structure is subject to incessant changes. Individuals may strive for stability, yet the fact remains that society is an ever changing phenomenon; growing, decaying, renewing and accommodating itself to changing conditions.

Social change is the change in society and society is a web of social relationships. Hence, social change is a change in social relationships. Social relationships are social processes, social patterns and social interactions. These include the mutual activities and relations of the various parts of the society. Thus, the term ‘social change’ is used to describe variations of any aspect of social processes, social patterns, social interaction or social organization.

Social change comes in many varieties. It’s not just news-making movements or curing disease. Much simpler acts, which might only affect one person, can have as much of an impact as larger actions.

Small, random acts of kindness—like smiling at a stranger or holding the door open for someone—can be a great way to make a social change impact. Sometimes these random acts of kindness even start a ripple effect that can spread far beyond the first actor. The great thing is that it doesn’t take much effort or planning to create a positive impact. Studies show that simple acts of kindness can actually make the person doing them happier and can even have positive health benefits. Even if the act itself is small, the impact for both the beneficiary and the actor can be large.

A mission-first business i.e. social entrepreneurship is a way business owners can make a social change impact. A mission-first business can still operate as a for-profit enterprise, but is oriented around a socially impactful mission. The business emphasizes making a positive impact on society and not just on profits. The more a mission-first business grows, the larger social impact it can make. Combining business success with social change can prove good for business. Customers will often seek out mission-first businesses based on the social impact created. Business owners looking to make a big social change impact should consider running a mission-first business.

You don’t have to start a new organization to make a positive impact on your community. Instead, you can volunteer with an organization working for social change. By volunteering your time, you can help these organizations and allow them to continue providing the services the community relies on. A specific skills set is often not needed. An organization might need help in serving meals, tutoring children, or handing out materials. While these are all simple acts, they can be very helpful to the organization and can make a significant impact on the community.

For example, in 1994, Kailash Satyarthi took an initiative and convinced several nations including India to introduce ‘Rugmark’, used in rugs or carpets, to ensure that the carpet is not made by any child labour. Later, the name of the certification changed as ‘Goodweave’. His initiative freed many children involved in the carpet industry primarily in areas like Palamu, Garhwa districts of Jharkhand.

Nobel peace prize winner Kailash Satyarthi once said that the people who are busy in their lives and couldn’t contribute much by taking part in social work, can also make a difference in society.The things they must do are to make sure if the items they are purchasing from the market are not manufactured by child labourers in anyway.

Therefore, positive social change can be accomplished in large and small ways. Social change can be as simple as a smile, holding a door, planting a garden, or supporting a socially conscious company. Regardless of the size of the gesture, big social change impacts are possible.

Answer : Elderly is a reference to old people who have crossed middle age. This is a reference to the characteristic of old age as an adjective. The old age is an integral part of human life. It is the evening of life. It is unavoidable, unwelcomed and problem ridden phase of life. It is interesting that everyone wants to live a long life but not to be old. It is ironical that however undesirable it is old age has to come. We are all compelled to face the pain and pleasures of life. Old age complete the life pattern. It has its own pleasures though different from the pleasures of youth.

A good deed is never lost. He who sows courtesy reaps friendship and he who plants kindness gathers love. Life is often about being taken care of. The lessons are often about nurturing, care and compassion. Many people do not want to take care of the elderly especially when they are ill as they generally have lots of emotional and physical problems required a lot of care. Giving the best possible care and understanding their changing needs should be the goal of caring for the elderly. Of course, it is not easy to take care but it is definitely hard to let someone we love slip away. Most people take care of the elderly, maybe knowing that they have to or that there just is no one else to do it.

Caring for the elderly requires a lot of patient, empathy and understanding. It is kindness that makes us take care of the elderly. We learn a lot from taking care and spending time with them. We gain experience as older people have a wealth of experience. We gain wisdom and knowledge as they have a lot more than any of us. Their experience that life takes them through yields a lot of wisdom.

We experience gratitude. It brings a smile on our face and most likely on theirs as well. We get to learn about morals, principles and value that we can develop on as we live on. We learn as they teach hoe to love, to care, to give, to forgive, to accept, o support and face life. We get an insight into a set of rules and regulation which we can outline for ourselves as we live. Caregiving often leads us into a world of love we possibly didn’t know.

We all need love no matter how old we are, who we’ve become, who we are with, what we do. Taking care of the elderly gives us an insight to unconditional love and help us love them in the same manner. It shows us that this kind of love does not exist anywhere else. It help us develop more compassion, empathy, courtesy and helps us build stronger and a more meaningful relationship and friendship.

The additional time that we care gives us a wonderful opportunity to create laughter and conversation with the elderly people who are lonely. We learn that elderly people can be grouchy because of worries and unwanted tension. Talking to the elderly gives them peace of mind and sense of security. It helps them by taking away their despair, depression, loneliness and so on. We can never understand how much it means to them to have someone by their side and care for them, however their eyes speaks of gratitude, love and happiness and it lifts their spirit.

Care giving or taking care of the elderly improves our self-knowledge and our identity. It develops potential and renews our self-esteem. It rewards us in ways we cannot see however providing the basis for our self-development. It also enhances our quality of being humane as humanity also plays a crucial role in taking care of the elderly. Most people do as it is the right thing to do. Caring should not only be due to humanity however it should come from our heart. After all, we are all bound to complete the cycle of life and face the old age, we’d all want someone to care for us.

Answer : The method for learning principles of good character varies for each person. A child may pursue science, music or writing, depending on her interest level. Each of these subjects provides opportunities for learning perseverance, commitment and discipline, but perhaps playing a sport more than any other activity gives a child the tools she needs to understand human relationships and a model for positive behavior in society. As a character-builder, a sport tests the link between principles and action in a safe setting that sets the stage for a child’s decisions throughout her lifetime. The principles of good character include honesty, courage, compassion, generosity, fidelity, integrity, fairness, self-control and prudence. These principles become characteristics when people practice them, which is the role sports play.

A sport provides a setting for children, and adults, to practice principles that help them develop good character in a fun and controlled environment.

A sport is a fun activity, but in the United States competition is an often insidious influence that shifts the emphasis from playing the game to winning. A child may feel pressured to perform to develop high social standing among peers or parents. The job of maintaining healthy focus on learning, understanding and enjoyment ultimately lies with the supervising coach and parents.

An adult cannot expect a child to understand the complexities of moral choices because he does not yet possess the ability to recognize ethical dilemmas and the potential decisions relevant to resolving them.

A coach or a parent is charged with the responsibility of monitoring behavior, spotting dilemmas and facilitating positive outcomes. She also must ensure the players understand the expectations and reinforce and develop the presiding culture in a positive and consistent way.

A teen who participates in sports in high school reduces her risk for taking illegal drugs and attempting suicide. The researchers conclude that because suicide attempts often accompany social marginalization, the involvement and belonging sports provide helps teenagers learn how to become a member of a community following principles of good character.

Sports and games are very important for human body and health. Health is wealth and if a person loses health then he will surely be left behind in mental work. We know that sound body has sound mind. Sports and games play an important role in the development of people, especially youngsters and school going children.

Team sports demonstrate children and youngsters that how to set goals and how to work together to achieve these goals. Sport also teaches youngster how to work together and have to show discipline. Children who do not participate in sports cannot learn sportsmanship and how to get along well with others. Children who participate in sports show better academies skills than those who don’t participate.

Accordingly, children who do not engage in sports are more likely to do abominable in school. Children who do not take part in sports are less likely set goals for themselves.

Sports also keep children and youngsters to away from being take part in bad activities like smoking, drinking, and using drugs. Sportsmen always stay away from smoking, drinking and using drugs. Furthermore, games and sports teach them the great qualities of self control, discipline and sportsmanship. This is the thing which makes children and youngster physically fit as well as mentally alert in all the fields.

Answer : Some things we can measure. Some things we can’t. And just because we can measure something doesn’t make it more real or significant. Something that counts is equal to something that has meaning. It is impossible to count all the possible variables of ‘everything’ that have meaning. That is even if you can define what has meaning.

The phrase “what counts can’t be counted” suggests that it is impossible to measure what is important. This statement is an extremal version of “not everything that counts can be counted.” The latter phrase states that it is difficult to measure what is important and measurements are likely to be incomplete. It is not true that ‘not everything that can be counted’ has meaning. Everything can be counted. By the measure of simply existing it can be subjected to computation. It only requires one of them to be counted.

First, not everything that counts can be counted.What this means is that many of the things that add business value in social media cannot be easily counted.

We know that there is value in brand awareness - that is what most TV and Billboard advertising aims at - yet we can’t directly tie that back to sales.Many studies show that the more we are exposed to a brand, business, product or person the more we like them (assuming that the experience isn’t negative) and the more likely we are to choose them when making a purchase.Even though we can’t measure the sales from brand awareness activities, we know that they lead to purchases.

The reason is that most people don’t make an immediate decision upon hearing about something or seeing it.Purchasing is a process and the things that build awareness; trust and ultimately equity can be difficult to measure, although they are factors that lead to an eventual purchase. Consider another example.A customer tweets about a positive experience “I love company X - they are amazing and have top notch customer service.”Did anyone immediately click on the link and buy the product?Probably not.Over time however, it may lead to purchases.

To conclude life is about the things that are sometimes not obvious or apparent as well as the things that are in plain view. You may think something is important when it really isn’t (not everything that can be counted counts). Sometimes it’s the things that are not tangible (emotions, etc.) that have real meaning in your life (not everything that counts can be counted).

Answer : It has been rightly said that necessity is the mother of inventions. Most of the inventions and discoveries owe their successful operation to necessity. Unless there is want we cannot struggle to attain the goal. The history of human progress in all walks of life is the history of man’s endeavour to reach new goals.

When man felt hungry, he started hunting and till land. The need for shelter lead the man to built huts and houses. The need for quick travel resulted in the invention of the fastest means of transport, making the world short. At the time of necessity, the human mind, which is creative and imaginative, thinks in a very quick manner.

In this age of science where a race is going on, deadly weapons are being manufactured due to necessity. The fear of the enemy has forced the power-hungry countries to invent such destructive weapons of death.

The proverbial crow’s necessity of water forced it to find out the way to quench its thirst. In the political life it is again the necessity which leads us to think of new forms of government-whether Socialistic or otherwise in pattern.

As new needs arise, fresh methods are devised to meet them New plans are hatched to find solutions to different problems. Necessity makes us bold, zealous and eager enough to fulfil our needs. Necessity is a blessing in disguise.

What is impossible in the world? Man can achieve anything he wants provided he puts in hard labour and sincere efforts. Where there is a will there is a way. Constant efforts do bear fruit. Where there is any necessity, there is some invention, some research, in order to fulfil that necessity. All our inventions and discoveries are the direct result of our pressing needs.

Answer : A protest is an expression of bearing witness on behalf of an express cause by words or actions with regard to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations.

Protesters may organize a protest as a way of publicly making their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policy, or they may undertake direct action in an attempt to directly enact desired changes themselves.

Where protests are part of a systematic and peaceful campaign to achieve a particular objective, and involve the use of pressure as well as persuasion, they go beyond mere protest and may be better described as cases of civil resistance or nonviolent resistance.

Today social media provides space and tools for the formation and the expansion of networks that the authoritarian government can’t easily control. It does so by sustaining both longstanding networks of labor opposition, by facilitating new connections among middle-class youth opposed to the regime, and by supporting the circulation of stories about regime repression and police brutality.

Social media functions to broker connections between previously disconnected groups, to spread shared grievances beyond the small community of activist leaders, and to globalize the reach and appeal of the domestic movement for democratic change. But it does not mean that traditional forms of protest are no longer effective. Some traditional forms of protests include silent march, satyagraha, non-violent protest like picketing, non cooperation movement, civil disobedience movement like disobeying government rules and regulations etc.

These are traditional non violent protests. Such protests are still effective today because they either allow the protesters greater control of their message, and even if meet with violent suppress from government, it still lowers the authority of the state.

For example, in Indian Non Cooperation Movement led by Gandhi in 1920’s, it included surrender of titles, resignation from nominated seats in local government bodies, boycott of government educational institutions, law courts and foreign goods. In addition, from March 1930 to April 1934, Gandhi also called the Indian people to process the Civil Disobedience Movement, which was known as Salt Satyagraha. Through these decades-long nonviolent struggles, India won its independence in from the British Empire.

On the other hand, non-violent protesters usually focus on the media to state their call, which means acting in self-defense, but sometimes they lose control of non-violence fight theme. In such situations the government can claim to be protecting law and order. And also, such protests put the protester on a higher moral level and may give the society to overlook the underlying causes of unrest and merely wish for law and order.

Answer : Food security is a fundamental problem India is world today. Despite substantial increases in food production in India, a large section of our population still suffers from malnutrition. Growing populations and the decreasing availability of arable land may lead poor farmers in India to seek new land in forests to grow more food. Some government policies encourage the conversion of forests to pastures and others encourage large resettlement schemes in forests. There is nothing inherently wrong with clearing forests for farming, provided that the land is the best there is for new farming, can support the numbers encouraged to settle upon it, and is not already serving a more useful function, such as watershed protection. But often forests are cleared without forethought or planning.But the deforestation most severely disrupts mountainous areas and upland watersheds and the ecosystems that depend on them. The uplands influence precipitation, and the state of their soil and vegetation systems influence how this precipitation is released into the streams and rivers and onto the croplands of the plains below. The growing numbers and growing severity of both floods and droughts in many parts of the world have been linked to the deforestation of upland watersheds.

This does not seem the good strategy to meet the demand of the increasing population in India. A regionally differentiated strategy, based on agro climatic regional planning which takes into account agronomic, climatic and environmental conditions, should be adopted to realize the potential of growth in every region of the country. The thrust should be on ecological, sustainable use of basic resources such as land, water, and vegetation, in such a way that it may serve the objectives of accelerated growth, employment and alleviation of hunger.

Rather, Selection of land for each category can be made the responsibility of a board or commission representing the interests involved, especially the poor and more marginalized segments of the population. The process must be public in character, with publicly agreed criteria that combine the best use approach with the level of development required to sustain livelihood. Classifying land according to best use will determine variations in infrastructure provision, support services, promotional measures, regulatory restrictions, fiscal subsidies, and other incentives and disincentives. Moreover, proper land use, use of bio and organic fertilizers, proper water management and prevention of soil resources may be undertaken to ensure food security.

Answer : Ragging occurs in many forms. Some examples are: dress code-related (dictating what students must wear), verbal abuse (caste, class, other prejudices), silly acts to be performed (climb tree, shout, marry your classmate), sexual abuse (asking students to shed clothes), financial abuse (paying bills), physical abuse (carrying bags, finishing extra assignments), mass ragging sessions (juniors being asked to stand on benches, etc). Besides physical fatalities, these incidents cause a lot of emotional trauma. “Victims experience conflicting emotions like a sense of betrayal, incompetence, powerlessness and self-destructiveness.

Ragging in India is a damaging form of interaction of the seniors in college or school with the juniors, newcomers or first years. It is similar to but not the same as hazing in the United States, it is not an initiation. It involves insults (simple or suggestive sexual, sarcastic and even physical), running errands for seniors, and many other complex activities. Highly reputed Indian colleges have a history of ragging especially Medical colleges. It has become increasingly unpopular due to several complaints of serious injury to the victims and strict laws regarding ragging. Ragging is now defined as an act that violates or is perceived to violate an individual student’s dignity.

Thus Ragging means causing, inducing, compelling or forcing a student, whether by way of a practical joke or otherwise, to do any act which detracts from human dignity or isolates his person or exposes him to ridicule or to forbear from doing any lawful act, by intimidating, wrongfully restraining, confining or injuring him or by using criminal force to him or by holding out to him any threat of such intimidation, wrongful restraint, confinement, injury or the use of criminal force. In plain English, it means plain bullying a new student. Hence it cannot be distinguished from brutality and criminality.

Answer : This famous maxim is from Shakespeare’s classic play “As you like it“. They are spoken by the duke senior in the forest of Arden. This statement contains a profound truth - adversity or difficulty brings the best in man as he learns to cope with his trials. Man’s real worth is put to test in adversity. It develops fortitude and courage in him.

Difficulties are in fact gifts bestowed by god upon man. It during these times that he realizes what he has missed by keeping himself confined to the life of comfort. He learns the value of life.

A student who gives up simple pleasures to focus on his studies comes out in flying colours. The little joys he has sacrificed yield him abundant happiness. In times of adversity people discover their true friends as the saying goes “ Prosperity makes friends and adversity tries them “.

Adversity trains us to appreciate the lessons of the life. It brings out the innate qualities of one’s personality, of which one is ignorant. The hardships endured by Harischandra and Lord Rama brought out the noble qualities in them. Thus, adversity does not always symbolize pain or difficulty. If one looks at the brighter side it actually serves to strengthen character and will power. It brings to the fore the dormant wisdom of man, for, as the saying goes ‘adversity is a blessing in disguise’.

Answer : Culture and heritage tourism plays a critical role in building the visitor economy and goes even beyond that. In India we have a number of heritage sites and most of them attract tourists from different parts of the world. Culture and heritage tourism we usually visit cultural heritage attractions such as: historic buildings and other historic attractions; archaeological sites; state, local, or national parks; art galleries or museums; concerts, plays or musicals; ethnic or ecological heritage sites; and suchlike attractions. These trips are more memorable than conventional holiday trips since they allow us to learn something new.

It helps build social capital for us. It promotes preservation of local traditions, customs and culture. UNESCO now recognizes intangible cultural heritage as being as important as buildings. A market for culture and heritage tourism experiences and traditional projects provides us the economic support for keeping these skills and traditions alive.

It promotes positive behaviour and helps improve the community’s image and pride. It is also helpful in promoting community beautification and builds opportunities for healthy and useful community relationships and partnerships. It also provides research, education and work-placement opportunities for students and creates enjoyable opportunities for both local residents and visitors attracted to the cultural arts, history and preservation. It boosts local investment in heritage resources and amenities that support tourism services.

Its environmental significance is also critical for us. It helps encourage a culture of preservation. It boosts awareness of the tourist site, attraction or area’s significance and helps encourage local residents and visitors to be mindful about their impact on the natural and built environment. Its economic benefits are also of much importance for us. Heritage tourism injects new money into the economy, boosting businesses and tax revenues and creates new jobs, businesses, events and attractions, thus helping diversify the local economy.

Answer : Work ethic has to do with the set of values and guidelines a person determines to pursue a task, activity, or project pertaining to life or career.It is the practical demonstration of hundreds of little character traits that flow from a person’s heart into the work they do, whether it be taking out the trash, cleaning the house, writing a book, completing a homework assignment, or cleaning the windows of an office building. Work ethic, then, is very important.

Why? It demonstrates who we are and what we believe. Our work ethic tells the world who we love and what we are about.If we are selfish, then our work ethic will reflect our selfishness. If we love other people and care about showing that love, then our work ethic will show it. If we care about being honest, our work ethic will demonstrate that by not cheating others.

Whether in school or work, we learn and accomplish most when we show up, on time and prepared. We can’t learn if we’re not there! And when we come late, it’s unlikely that we’re really ready to do our best work. Good attendance and punctuality are two important pieces of a good work ethic -and they’re easily addressed and accomplished.

Before we can accomplish our goals, we need to know what they are. People with good work ethics are goal-oriented and dedicated to achieving the success they envision. They understand that there are many steps to success and they’re willing to take them all. At the foundation of a good work ethic is a whole lot of hard work. In school, it may mean staying after for extra help from instructor or fine-tuning assignments to reach perfection. At work, we may want to come in a little early or stay late so we do the best job we can. Our positive attitude can set us apart from our peers -and it can be infectious, spilling over to other employees and making us welcome on any work project. Approaching every task-big and small-with a good attitude shows that we’re a team player dedicated to not just our own success, but also to the success of our company.

Answer : For the protagonists of mercy killing, this is perhaps the right cause and the perfect time to allow the patient to embrace death and put an end to his unbearable pain for an eternal peaceful abode.

If human beings have the freedom to live with dignity should they be deprived of their right to die in dignity? After all as an individual, we decide where to marry; we decide where to work, and at the last hurdle of our life, you should be allowed to choose how we want to end your life. Euthanasia or mercy killing is the bringing about of the gentle death of a patient in the case of a painful, chronic and incurable disease. It is a practice of ending the life of a person or animal in a painless or minimally painful way for merciful reasons usually to end the suffering of a patient before death.

Terminally ill patients, be it cancer, AIDS, accidental or traumatic coma, The children, old women and men afflicted with the diseases undergo excruciating pain In such a situation, if death is not imminent but sure, the question arises why not the patient be artificially induced for a “good death”, of course medically.

The essence of human life is to be able to live a dignified life but when some law forces you to live in intense pain and humiliation, there seems to be something wrong with our society. Who are we to prolong the life of one who is suffering when he has himself decided to end his life?

Answer : Modesty is not just about covering up or wearing specific clothing. By definition, modesty is about respect. A provider who takes cultural modesty into account is someone who shows respect and caring in the highest degree. Though we often associate modesty with the prescriptive doctrines of certain religions, modesty in many cultures often means showing propriety in speech, dress, or behavior and lack of pretentiousness. In many cultures, modesty demonstrates essential goodness in a person and is highly valued.

Purity of thought and manners is as important as physical/sexual purity - and in fact the two are inextricably linked. In collectivist cultures where the family is the center of all loyalty, obligation and status, social approval is very important. Shame and honor are highly emphasized because a person’s bad action dishonors their entire family, tribe, village, and so on. In a highly individualistic culture, this is lesser concern because a person’s behavior reflects more on himself or herself. In societies that place a high value on modesty, it is important for both sexes, but particularly emphasized for women. A woman’s sexual purity and chastity honors her entire family.

Understanding the cultural aspects of modesty is especially important when dealing with less acculturated individuals, especially recent immigrants and refugees. Though cultural values around modesty are stressed for sexes, purity, chastity, and lack of pretentiousness in women is greatly emphasized in many traditional cultures. It is important to realize that women in many cultures impose modesty on themselves and others as a way of keeping privacy and respect.

Therefore, expanding our assumptions about modesty is important to ensure successful cross-cultural interactions. This includes understanding the impact of acculturation and assimilation. To avoid stereotyping individual patients and family members, we may start by considering normative behaviors for less acculturated individuals first, but then we always expand our view and test our assumptions. We allow for a great diversity among human beings’ values, beliefs, and behaviors.

Answer : As used in official national documents, the term “liberty” is understood as a right and carries a negative content. Liberty in that sense means to be free from somebody or something. “Liberty” has a strongly negative meaning. It denies, at least by implication, the idea that liberty includes liberty for and responsibility for anything or anybody. It is not understood as being correlative with duty under constant vigilance. The effect is to promote individual selfishness and social conflict. It has the peculiar property of self-multiplication very much in the spirit and practice of the Pharisees. What started as a simple rule becomes a plethora of minute regulations that penetrate every aspect of life, inward as well as outward.Even the most ardent champions of liberty concede that it is not absolute. Few would deny that liberty ought not to be a cover for crimes such as murder, theft, rape, and arson. Not only are these crimes wrong in the eyes of the law but they are wrong per se.

Thus, an act might be legal but nevertheless immoral and therefore is (or should be) a restriction on liberty. This type of restriction is enforced not only by individual conscience but even more vigorously by public opinion. Strict conformity can be the result. It was this power of public pressure that worried most seriously that eminent advocate of liberty, John Stuart Mill.Whether restraints on liberty emanate from the law or from public opinion, they invariably lead to the restrained way of life, for every infraction must be interpreted and in turn lead to additional and more detailed interpretations.

The only way to avoid this predicament is to improve individual conscience so as to make both the rule and its interpretations unnecessary. Because the life of every individual is a gift from God, liberty cannot be conceived as a right, except in the sense that some such right is necessary to attain the destiny of man. But if it is “right” then it should be characterized by orderliness and that is possible under righteous vigilance which should be acceptable to us.

Answer : A virtual library is a digital space that keeps and organizes virtual books and their associated documents. It also can refer to a space where the books can be read. These spaces can include computers, mobile devices and the Internet. Some virtual libraries can be accessed for free, and others require subscriptions.

An advantage of using a virtual library is that it is able to store many books in a small amount of space. Physical books can take up a lot of space. By using a digital library, readers can access their entire personal libraries in one location, on either a computer or a mobile device. The need for physical books diminishes by using a virtual library, so digital libraries also have the benefit of helping to conserve paper resources. The term “virtual library” also can be used to refer to a collection of books that are readily available to be read on the Internet.

These books often can be read for free and are available under public domain. Any users who find a book under one of these circumstances can read it and use it within the terms set forth by the organization providing the books. They must also follow any laws connected to reading the book.

The Internet is a global network connecting millions of computers. More than 190 countries are linked into exchanges of data, news and opinions. Although a virtual library can be, hypothetically, used without the need for the world wide web, the Internet is often tied to digital libraries. Certain websites offer users the ability to catalog and organize their digital libraries.

They can also provide users with suggestions for new books to read, based on the content of their libraries, can give them the opportunity to connect with other users who share the same tastes. Some websites can implement community-based features, such as those that enable users to participate in virtual book clubs and read peer reviews of books.

Answer : India is a collectivist culture, where group harmony and traditional values matter most. America is a individualist culture where uniqueness and self-determination are prized.

India is highly ranked on the power distance index. That means Indians accept the fact that power inequality exists (which makes sense given the legacy of the caste system). This means Indians will defer to their superiors: the leader must resolve a dispute, and everyone else knows their place. It’s not viewed as passive in India, it’s being respectful. America is relatively low on the power distance index: we reject the idea of power inequality (though not nearly as much as other nations).As such, it is acceptable for a subordinate to rise up and question his boss, and speaking up and being independent and challenging others is fine. It’s not viewed as aggressive in America, it’s how things are done.

India is a high context culture where nonverbal communication is important. meaning are implied, and messages given indirectly. Lastly, Indians are polychronic, meaning time has no value to them. They will focus on their relationships and harmony building and forming long relationships which applies to their diplomacy as well.Look at our past, India has never invaded any country ever. We are peace loving people and a peace loving nation and an average Indian is way much less aggressive. we are already plagued with so many problems and if we get into any war, our fragile economy will get affected and thus it will affect the common man.

We have been as war loving or peace loving a people as any other ones in the world. Indians are not aggressive? The reasons are not far to seek. First,India ,as a nation ,in its present form, is only a few decades old.Earlier it was a collection of many small kingdoms /fiefdoms which hardly ever inspired a sense of a proud nationhood.Our mythology and history bear testimony to the fact that we have never been a country in its present form before 15th August 1947.Therefore we are still coming to grips with our nationhood and the pride and arrogance to take affront that comes with it.

Answer : Television has now become a debatable issue as some question its influences on the attitude and psychological development of today’s youth. Nowadays, the world of television has been discovered by children at very young age. As we know, television is an effective educational tool. With programs showcasing wildlife, scientific theories etc, it helps these children to be broad-minded and also have a better understanding about the world around them. However, we have to remember and be aware that the television also is seem to posses more negative effects than positive ones.

A day in a youth’s life will generally be filled with activities such as playing with friends, reading, doing homework and being physically active but this can be easily replaced with the presence of television. This is detrimental to their physical and mental development because studies show that the first two to three years of a child’s life is where he/she learns through observing, interacting, playing and also exploring new things. Thus if these children are glued and become addicted to these programs on television they will have lesser time to interact with human beings. This is crucial, as it can retard their normal physical and social development and skills. Hence, the burning question here is, do television programs affect the attitude of today’s youth?

If we look further into the issue, television programs do indeed affect the attitude of today’s youth as it enhances negative social development amongst youths, which may lead to aggressive or violent behavior, and they tend to affect self development and self esteem.

As we all know, youths are more likely to imitate and adapts ones behavior into their own because they can easily relate to what is shown on television. There surely will be a lot of behavioral changes in youths today if they are exposed to excessive violence shown on television. These kinds of programs will encourage these youths to be aggressive in both their behavior and in their thoughts.

Not only that, they will also be more likely to be influenced with what they have seen regularly like smoking and drinking scenes which are shown frequently in these television programs and even commercials. This will encourage the development of such unhealthy habits at an early age.

Answer : All that glitters is not gold is a well-known saying, meaning that not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so. This can apply to people, places, or things that promise to be more than they really are. Outward appearance can be greatly misleading. Gold is a very valuable metal. It has an attractive glittering appearance too. But it does not mean that everything which glitters like gold should be precious.

There are utterly valueless things that look like gold and taking them on their face value is unwise. On the contrary, some of the dull looking things possess immense value. Their appearance is in no way proportionate to the great value they have. This is true of human beings also.

A person may be good looking having an attractive character. But he may not possess any real ability or talent. He can even turn out to be unscrupulous too. A man must be judged on the basis of his abilities and not on his external appearance. Many of the truly good and great men are humble. Goodness and perfection do not go with gaudiness. Like shining glass pieces which dazzle and glitter like diamonds the appearance of men can be greatly misleading. Therefore estimation and analysis of people on the basis of mere appearance is an unwise approach.

Consumerism has become the order of the say. One often gets tempted towards buying consumer goods advertised in electronic and print media. One who cannot afford to buy most of the goods is easily tricked in to buying fake and imitation goods. These good flood the markets in most towns and cities in India. People get easily duped by these products.

Education and knowledge can improve awareness among the masses. A layman can be misled. But if he has knowledge about a particular thing, he cannot be cheated. One should use one’s discretion to judge persons and things. One should not misled by external appearance.

Answer : The Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantee the right to freedom of expression, both in Article 19. Freedom of expression is not only important in its own right but is also essential if other human rights are to be achieved.

At an individual level, freedom of expression is the key to the development, dignity and fulfillment of every person. People can gain an understanding of their surroundings and the wider world by exchanging ideas and information freely with others. This makes them more able to plan their lives and to work. People feel more secure and respected by the state if they are able to speak their minds.

At a national level, freedom of expression is necessary for good government and therefore for economic and social progress. Freedom of expression and freedom of information contribute to the quality of government in various ways:

They help ensure that competent and honest people administer the state. In a democracy, free debate about and between political parties exposes their strengths and weaknesses. This enables voters to form an opinion about who is best qualified to run the country and to vote accordingly. Media scrutiny of the government and the opposition helps expose corruption or other improprieties and prevents a culture of dishonesty They promote good governance by enabling citizens to raise their concerns with the authorities. If people can speak their minds without fear, and the media are allowed to report what is being said, the government can become aware of any concerns and address them.

They ensure that new policies and legislation are carefully considered. Through public debate, members of the public with helpful opinions on a subject can present the government with a ‘marketplace of ideas’ from which to choose. Free debate about new legislation also helps ensure that the eventual law has the support of the population, making it more likely to be respected.

They promote the implementation of other human rights. They help improve government policy in all areas, including human rights. They also enable journalists and activists to highlight human rights issues and abuses and persuade the government to take action. For all these reasons, the international community has recognised freedom of expression and freedom of information as some of the most important human rights.

Answer : Science and religion generally pursue knowledge of the universe using different methodologies. Science acknowledges reason, empiricism, and evidence, while religions include revelation, faith and sacredness whilst also acknowledging Philosophical and Metaphysical explanations with regard to the study of the Universe. Despite these differences, most scientific and technical innovations prior to the scientific revolution were achieved by societies organized by religious traditions. Much of the scientific method was pioneered first by Islamic scholars, and later by Christians.

Hinduism has historically embraced reason and empiricism, holding that science brings legitimate, but incomplete knowledge of the world. Confucian thought has held different views of science over time. Most Buddhists today view science as complementary to their beliefs.

Science and religion are based on different aspects of human experience. In science, explanations must be based on evidence drawn from examining the natural world.

Religious faith, in contrast, does not depend on empirical evidence, is not necessarily modified in the face of conflicting evidence, and typically involves supernatural forces or entities. Because they are not a part of nature, supernatural entities cannot be investigated by science.

In this sense, science and religion are separate and address aspects of human understanding in different ways. Attempts to put science and religion against each other create controversy where none needs to exist.

But the truth is that there can and is always a common ground between science and religion. Science can both falsify and verify claims of religion. When religions make claims about the natural world, they intersect the domain of science and are, in effect, making predictions which scientific investigation can either verify or falsify.

Religion is relevant to science in that it can furnish a conceptual framework in which science can exist. The whole scientific enterprise is based on certain assumptions which cannot be proved scientifically. In conclusion, we have seen that science and religion should not be thought of as foes or as mutually irrelevant. Rather we have seen several ways in which they can fruitfully interact. And that is why, after all, there is such a flourishing dialogue between these two disciplines going on today.

Answer : Knowledge is the awareness of a fact or a situation. It is a rich and a unique possession that cannot be stolen or plundered. Knowledge doesn’t decrease when it is given. In fact, knowledge is power. Our knowledge is the amassed thought and experience of countless human beings. Those who have wide-range of knowledge and experience can capture power and influence. The possession of knowledge gives them a distinct advantage over the semi educated people. Half knowledge is regarded as ‘the curse of god’ and also it is worse than ignorance.

Knowledge plays an important role in all spheres of human life and activity. It is a powerful factor which helps man to attain success, power and position in life. There is no doubt that physical strength and money are instruments of power. He who is physically strong or whose purse is full, commands power over others. But the power of knowledge is still greater. He is, however, a thinking animal. Knowledge directs his actions and enables him to find the difference between right and wrong, good and bad. It helps him overcome his weakness and faults and face dangers and difficulties with courage and confidence. It gives him mental, moral and spiritual advancement. Besides this, it is through knowledge that man has gained mastery over nature.

There was a day when man was in an uncivilized stage. He lived in caves and dens. He was afraid of wild animals. Gradually civilization came to human society and man acquired knowledge. With its attainment he became civilized. Now knowledge has made him ruler over nature. He has used the force of nature to his needs. Nothing remains unknown to him.

He has become a great scientist, skilful artist, a mighty creator of things and a noble path finder of life. Advancement of civilization and culture would be impossible without knowledge. Knowledge plays an important role in the progress of art, literature, science, philosophy and religion. So knowledge is power. It has led man for progress. Mighty minds with power of knowledge can rule the minds of millions.

Answer : From a Yogic perspective this means to live life fully, to flow with life and to accept whatever life brings, rather than fighting against life and the circumstances that we live in. Yoga, as an age-old system, has always been a practical science of living which teaches us the tools for a balanced, harmonious life. It is a system which explains the functioning of the human mind and the various levels of consciousness with the aim of unfolding the dormant potential in everyone. It offers practical ways of mastering the mind and evolving the consciousness from the gross to the subtle or super consciousness.

The true nature of every human being is love and joy. But due to pain and suffering the individual forgets about his/her true nature and feels emptiness inside. Because there is no peace, no harmony, no stability inside, we search these outside- in people, drugs, media, consumerism, power, money. A child expresses love and feelings freely in a natural way because he is yet to be exposed to the world.

Regular practice of Yoga over an extended period of time can help us to get in touch with our inner core. For example, the physical postures harmonize the body and balance the nervous system. The breathing practices calm and balance body and mind. The relaxation practices release tensions at various levels of the body and mind and lead to an inner sense of harmony. Other practices such as selfless service (karma yoga), truthful self enquiry, seeking the company of the wise or reading inspiring books, doing good and developing compassion, chanting sacred sounds (mantra), singing devotional songsand having an intensity of purpose are to open the protective shield that hides our true nature.

Answer : Man, however, worships science not so much because it has given him new and free ideas, but because it has provided him with great material comforts and amazing facilities.

There is no doubt that science has been the greatest boon to man so far. But the achievements of science have not come to man as a ripe apple falls in the lap of a man sitting under an apple tree. Science is not just the result of observation and experience. It is, on the other hand, the result of centuries of hard work done by man, even at the risk of his own life or health.

Today, man can fly in space. He can fly in the air like birds. He can swim on the surface of the sea like fishes. He can move on the earth at tremendous speed. More recently, he can keep sitting at home and do teleshopping. He can chat and learn a lot on the Internet and also express his own viewpoint through e-mail. If some outstanding scientific achievements of the twentieth century are to be mentioned, the discovery of electricity must perhaps come at the top. The electricity brings in its train innumerable devices like the fluorescent tube, the bulb, the fan, the desert cooler, the air-conditioner, the geyser etc.

Even the printing presses, textile and hundreds of other mills and factories and the cinematographs and computers and T.V. sets and the radio also work with electricity though the battery cells may also be used in some cases.

The most notable achievements of science are in the fields of agriculture, industry and medicine and surgery. In the fields of medicine and surgery, literally miraculous progress has been done. What are these-the bypass surgery, ballooning, heart and kidney and bone-marrow transplant? They are nothing short of miracles. Today, the people are greatly health conscious. Longevity has increased in most of the countries. Child mortality has been greatly reduced in number. We have so many health centers, gyms and slimming centers and nursing homes, hospitals and maternity centers.

In the field of education and dissemination of knowledge, we have the use of e-mail, e-class-rooms, better schools, new teaching and learning methods, study through cassettes and several video- audio methods. In fact man is still exploring the vast uncharted vistas on the earth and in the sky. He is still trying to probe deeply into the past. Let us hope for the best.

Answer : As you saw so you reap is the teaching we find in the Ramayana. In fact action is the duty. There is no doubt that we should work without any care for the result. Work is not only counted in this world but counts something for the next world also. Good people are always praised in this world. On the other hand bad workers are cursed everywhere. No doubt they are famous for their bad works. It is an admitted fact that they are duty bound to their work. If we take it sincerely, we will find some other story in respect of famous dacoits.

These dacoits have principle aim to work. Work is worship for them. They may face anything to get their work done even at the cost of their life and get themselves safe. Such was the case with fighters for freedom. There’s no life without work. Great personalities of the world have become famous on account of their work only.

Until we make an effort we cannot even eat our food. Life is dull without work. It is useful only if we work ever. Work is the main object of life. Laziness and dullness are the curse of life.

There is no personality without life. The successful industrialists have understood the value of work. They devoted themselves to their work ever in their life. Work is the only concerns with men while reward is the concern in the hands of the almighty. Disappointment and vacillation are nothing but the curse of life. Fortunes favor the brave. Brave persons are always famous and rewarded. Vivekananda, Swami Dayanantha and, Mahatma Gandhi all sacrificed themselves on the altar of work. Certainly work was worship for them. Our first Prime Minister, late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was in favor of worship of work. Such workers may uplift the standard of their lives in true sense. They worship their work first and anything else afterwards. Thus work is worship in our life without which the life will be aimless.

Answer : The present era is the era of science. Science has undoubtedly done a great service to mankind. Man, a rational being, has been curious to explore mysteries of nature and this led to many discoveries being made in various part of the world.

But he is never satisfied with the acquired knowledge and is always keen to unravel mysteries of the universe. He has conquered the land and air. His incredible lust for knowledge has revolutionised human life and raised the standard of life.

He was able to invent innumerable ways of making his life comfortable and happy. Every sphere of life has been revolutionised by science.

There have been innumerable inventions. One of the greatest inventions is the invention of medicines. There has been a series of tests carried out using animals as subjects and various medicines have been tried out on these animals to check their efficacy. Many fatal diseases can now be cured because we have the drug to fight those diseases. It has reduced the rate of infant mortality and increased the life span. Before these inventions millions of people died for lack of medical care.

Science has given us many machines that have made our lives very comfortable. Buses, cars, sewing machines, mixes, grinders, etc. are all machines that are used every day by us and the discovery of electricity has made it possible for us to change night into day and summer into a comfortable cool season

It has enabled man to entertain himself in many ways. TV, radio, video and the cinema are all popular means of entertainment. Besides entertainment they educate the masses. Today the computer has made life even easier for us. The press, the means of communication, etc. have all improved because of science and its gifts to us.

Answer : Few political problems are common to all the democracies of the developing countries. India is not an exception to it. Political reforms - minimum educational qualification for ministers need to be set and dynastic rule should be stopped - are absolutely needed. Moreover political reforms are absolutely needed in Indian democracy. There is a long pursued demand that there should be a minimum educational qualification requirement for any person who wants to contest an assembly or parliamentary election. The demand is good, but counter argument is that if we Indians are voting for and electing an illiterate person, how can one bar that person in a democracy? Also, India is a country of villages, where millions of illiterates live.

However, what about ministers? Ministers are office-bearers, who run offices. Can they run their offices if they don’t have even bare minimum qualification? Can a person be allowed to do a surgery, if he/she does not have minimum required medical qualifications? How can we hand-over a ministry in the hands of an illiterate person when each ministry manages millions and billions of rupees along with very large human resources? The second biggest problem of Indian democracy and of most of the democracies in the Third World is the dynastic rule. All over the world, democracy has been accepted after rejecting imperialism and the dynasty rules. Rejection of the dynastic rule is in the ethos of the democracy.

We must make sure that in a democracy, democratic ethos do not get overruled and hijacked by dynastic rules. All registered political parties in a democracy commit to follow the democratic traditions within the party. Then how can a political party be a privately owned party? They must have some persons within the party capable of leading the party. In order to maintain the democratic ethos within the political parties, there must be a waiting period for the biological heir to inherit the party leadership, otherwise parties become just dynasties.

These two reforms are revolutionary in nature, capable enough of solving many decade old grievances and absolutely necessary in order to transform our pseudo democracies into the real democracies.

Answer : Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring one’s mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens burdens, inspires hopes, connects one to another, and keeps us grounded, focused, and alert. With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.

Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. It boosts the immune system. It also decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.

Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain. It protects the heart, improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect us against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. Laughter makes us feel good. And the good feeling that we get when you laugh remains with us even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps one keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.

More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives us the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh-or even simply a smile-can go a long way toward making us feel better. And laughter really is contagious---just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies one to smile and join in the fun. Humor and playful communication strengthen our relationships by triggering positive feelings and fostering emotional connection. When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment.