Warrier's Collage 23022021: Pots & Baskets

Welcome to Warrier's Daily COLLAGE Tuesday February 23, 2021 Konark, The Temple of the Sun https://youtu.be/qARE5IPkXoI (Link Selection: M G Warrier) What's Benevolence? Thoughtfulness is a big word that is practiced in small things... A poor Arab, traveling in the desert , was thirsty and tired, when He saw a spring . With a grateful heart he drank the water which He felt was extraordinarily sweet. He filled his leather bottle with The pure water, and continued on his way... After many days he arrived at Baghdad. Seeking an audience with The potentiate, he bravely presented him with the leather bottle Of water. It was the only gift he had.. The Caliph received the gift with great pleasure. Pouring some of the Water into a goblet, he drank it, and then, thanking him generously For his gift.. All the courtiers pressed forward, eager to taste the wonderful water. But the Caliph denied them the privilege, even to his favorites.. When the Arab had departed with happy heart, the Caliph explained Why he had acted so strangely....The water in the leather bottle, Because of its long storage, had become impure and evil tasting. He knew that if the others had tasted the water, they would have Shown their DISGUST, and the poor man’s feelings would have been wounded.. He showed his kind heartedness exhibiting his benevolence towards the poor Arab V. T. Panchapagesan. Posted By: M G Warrier Know Your India Albert Einstein Historians, writers, politicians and other eminent personalities across the Globe have greatly appreciated India and its contribution to rest of the world. Though these remarks are only a partial reflection of the greatness of India, they certainly make us feel proud of our motherland. "We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made!" - Albert Einstein (Theoretical Physicist, Germany) More quotes at G A Interaction V N Kelkar I We are blessed with many distinguished personalities - the likes of PPR Sir, Vathsala Madam, Shri Sitendra Kumar, Shri Nallasivan and many other master crafters whose reactions in Warrier's Collage and in RBI Retirees Groups are superb. Vathsala Jayaraman is a store house of experiences, has a very strong memory and does not hesitate to share it freely with the group. My salute to all the distinguished personalities of our group for their wealth of knowledge, their skill and enthusiasm in sharing the same with us. I am reminded of a popular Sanskrit sloka in this context: न चोरहार्यं न च राजहार्यं न भ्रात्रृभाज्यं न च भारकारी। व्ययेकृते वर्धत एव नित्यं 'विद्या' धनं सर्व धनात् प्रधानम्। । It cannot be stolen by thieves, nor can it be taken away by kings. It cannot be divided amongst brothers, it does not have weight. If spent regularly it keeps growing. The wealth of knowledge is the most superior wealth of all. II Ref: Dr. T.V. Surendran's observations about doctors: Today's 'Education Times', a supplement to TOI (Ahmedabad Edition) covers current position of getting seats in desired medical colleges and the need to increase difficulty level of NEET. According to the report the new paper pattern includes more easy questions. Contrary to the past when question papers were equally divided with 10% very difficult questions, 20% difficult and 70% easy questions., the format now includes only easy questions. The inclusion of 10% very difficult questions helps to discriminate between good and brilliant students. The present system is detrimental to brilliant students while benefiting mediocre students. The easy pattern leading to a high number of qualifiers is also a major concern for students who prepare for very hard questions throughout the year. Also, earlier a separate entrance examination was conducted for admission to AIIMS and other top medical colleges. But now NEET is the only medical entrance test for admission to all medical colleges. This may jeopardize the quality of doctors and medical education. Currently, there are 80000 medical seats and are likely to increase to one lakh by 2025. The number of AIIMS has reached 19 to-day. BB Current Affairs Budget Follow up FM says: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/open-to-reviewing-25-lakh-cap-on-tax-free-epf-contribution-fm/article33896840.ece?utm_source=email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Newsletter# Excerpts: "There also needs to be recognition that socialism is not the only ideology that has a copyright on welfare. When the economy does not do well and wealth isn’t generated, social good suffers and so does the welfare state. We are trying to reinforce that lawfully earning money is not wrong. A tax regime that is not oppressive or adversarial can generate sufficient revenues to fund welfare.” B Books https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/hurdles-to-indias-growth/article31363821.ece Excerpts: "Believers in socialism The book’s main argument is an oversimplification: Economic policies of Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi and decades later Sonia Gandhi, all believers in socialism, gave the economy its growth-obstructing characteristics, and the people and the political class a distaste for markets. Decades after Nehru and Indira Gandhi’s deaths, their socialist beliefs still hold sway over common Indians, the bureaucracy and even the Bharatiya Janata Party. The evidence and analysis for making this case is rather thin. A footnote stands out in particular. It documents scepticism towards pro-market reforms the author encountered in an engagement with students of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. The author writes that while BJP leaders still draw inspiration from socialist ideas, Modi, an exception in a nation populated by socialism devotees, is reforms-minded and appreciates the role of markets. If his thinking has not guided his government’s policies, it’s because the bureaucracy is sold out to socialist beliefs and there is no luxury of moving around non-performing officers. To break the mould, stock solutions for reforming the bureaucracy are offered: specialised training, introduction of competition to the top civil service and greater number of non-IAS hires." C Pots and Baskets 1) Baskets https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/bijoy-jain-designed-gangamaki-is-a-living-breathing-weaving-centre/ Excerpts: MADE IN INDIA: TUSSAR SILK Three decades after Maki first visited India, the petite Japanese national is inclined to call it her second home. Both her homes—inherited and acquired—are similar, she feels. However, India had something Japan did not—a discovery she made in 1987, as a student travelling here. It wasn't like anything she had encountered in Japan, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. The fabrics she had come across earlier were shiny, smooth and expensive. But here, she found something that was raw, wild and available in generous abundance. “What is this? What is this material?” she would ask in her broken Hindi. “And they would say,” she recalls, her eyes shining at the memory, “‘This is silk, madam—Tussar silk.'” 2) Pots https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/living-with-arts/new-wine-in-old-pots-the-contemporary-ceramics/ Excerpts: "While clay art movements such as Sardar Gurcharan Singh’s Delhi Blue Pottery and the Andretta artists village have been around since before Independence, insiders of the art world are today noticing a resurgence of the medium. Especially in contemporary art. But can this really be seen as a comeback of ceramics and baked clay? I say this because clay as a medium has been around since pre-historic times and that’s why does not have the experimentality of new mediums such as epoxy resin and 3D printing. For more than a decade, many contemporary artists in India have played the role of a studio director, experimenting with different mediums engaging with a team of assistants to manufacture art with the help of computers and fabricators using sheets of metal, plastic and pliable acrylics. And some critics have been far too harsh on these artists slamming their works and labelling them as bastard creations. Though I am not one with such critics I also believe that an artist’s oeuvre becomes truly defining after much experience and practice. After he has spent years creating works with his hands. This is what makes art organic. It is what makes it unique and unrepeatable. So it is wonderful to see the worth of an artist’s hands make a comeback with ceramics." D Readers Write Past Record: M G Warrier https://www.moneylife.in/article/how-about-revisiting-the-idea-of-gold-bank/40498/61840.html Article published in February 2015 Excerpts: "Indian context https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/gold-management-needs-a-makeover/article20449587.ece1 Once the government musters the political will to recognise gold as a national resource, the whole scenario of India Growth Story will change for the better. The advantages are: 1) When some banks start opening gold accounts, they will also be able to maintain more liquid assets under Section 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949(the section requires banks to maintain a certain percentage of their liabilities in cash, gold or unencumbered approved securities) in gold. 2) Individuals and institutions will be encouraged to keep their gold stock with banks thereby reducing misuse(Now for the rich, gold is a medium to show off their wealth- Not only in the form of jewellery, but by erecting statues and flag masts in solid gold-less said about the malpractices practiced in such transactions, the better!) 3) Need to import gold will get considerably be reduced resulting in saving precious foreign exchange. Budget 2015-16 is an appropriate medium for Modi government to think loudly on the above lines." E Blogs & Links 1) Advantage Lockdown https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/warriersviews/advantage-lockdown-25050/ Excerpts: "Lockdown has no control over thoughts. They wander and return to reality when they feel like. One wonders how they are able to swim or fly with no support or holding a blade of grass. From my own previous blogs here you would have noticed, I too have no control over my thoughts. Behind the comfort of “MASK” and the certainty of not having to face the other person face to face in the near future, I have been enjoying what I call “the trollers’ freedom” while boasting about my own activities and while commenting on other people’s affairs. The compulsion to hide faces and social distancing requirements have increased the level of the “freedom of expression” to record highs. Scared of what the trollers will slip in into their inbox, some of my friends have already closed their social media accounts." 2) Konark The Sun Temple https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/the-konark-sun-temple-history/the-legend-of-the-magnetic-rods-418840 Excerpts: "The Legend of the Magnetic Rods When the temple crown stone could not be fixed within the proposed deadline, the king was annoyed. The little son of the main architect proposed a solution to fix two strong magnetic rods inside the tower that would hold the crown stone from falling since these rocks naturally contained a lot of iron ore." F Leisure 1) Monkeys & Worship http://www.jaipur-travel-guide.com/Jaipur-attractions/Galta-Ji-Jaipur-monkey-temple.html#:~:text=Galta%20Ji%20is%20a%20large,the%20complex%2C%20the%20monkey%20te Excerpts: "The seven tanks of water are called kunds and the largest, the Galta Kund, according to legend has never ran dry. The Galta Kund is the deepest pool and during important festivals pilgrims jump from the surrounding cliffs into the tank. There are over 200 hundred monkeys living within the temple complex and the macaque monkeys live in groups of four females to every male. The macaque monkeys are more aggressive than the langur monkeys and it is best not to place your hands in your pockets as this indicates that you have food for them. Even though the temple is home to hundreds of monkeys the Galta Ji Jaipur temple is dedicated to Ganesha, the elephant god, and not Hanuman the monkey god". 2) In the classroom* a) Not easy to be a Teacher Teacher: ''Construct a sentence using the word "sugar''" Pupil: ''I drank tea this morning.'' Teacher: ''Where is the word sugar.'' Pupil: ''It is already in the tea..!!' TEACHER: Our topic for today is Photosynthesis. TEACHER : Class, what is photosynthesis? Student: Photosynthesis is our topic for today. TEACHER : John is climbing a tree to pick some mangoes. (Begin the sentence with 'Mangoes') Student : Mangoes, John is coming to pick you... TEACHER : What do you call mosquitoes in your language? Student: We don't call them, they come on their own.. TEACHER: Name the nation, people hate most Student: Exami-nation... TEACHER : How can we keep our school clean? Student: By staying at home... TEACHER : One day our country will be corruption free. What tense is that?? Student : Future impossible tense... *Forward received from R Jayakumar Mumbai b) Not a joke* 😂 Don't die laughing... Killer joke:.. The Students of MBBS were attending their 1st Biochemistry Class. They all gathered around the Lab table with a Urine sample. The Professor dipped His Finger in the urine & tasted it in his own mouth. Then he asked the Students to do the same. The students hesitated for several minutes, but at last every one dipped their finger in urine sample & tasted it.... When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them & said: The most important Quality is 'Observation'. I dipped my MIDDLE Finger but tasted the INDEX Finger. Today you just learn, "How to Pay Attention". All Students shouted... saala kuttta!!! *Forward received from Shetty, Ex-RBI, Mumbai G Quotes about India https://knowindia.gov.in/my-india-my-pride/quotes-on-india.php Like: Swami Vivekananda "Civilizations have arisen in other parts of the world. In ancient and modern times, wonderful ideas have been carried forward from one race to another...But mark you, my friends, it has been always with the blast of war trumpets and the march of embattled cohorts. Each idea had to be soaked in a deluge of blood..... Each word of power had to be followed by the groans of millions, by the wails of orphans, by the tears of widows. This, many other nations have taught; but India for thousands of years peacefully existed. Here activity prevailed when even Greece did not exist... Even earlier, when history has no record, and tradition dares not peer into the gloom of that intense past, even from until now, ideas after ideas have marched out from her, but every word has been spoken with a blessing behind it and peace before it. We, of all nations of the world, have never been a conquering race, and that blessing is on our head, and therefore we live....!" - Swami Vivekananda