The history untold

In school, during history class, we learnt a lot about the British Raj. They told us how the British built railways,roads,canals, bridges and also started the postal system in India. We were told, how they brought in the industrial revolution. In fact, the British were so glorified in the books, that at times, I actually felt grateful to them for the development in the fields of communication and transportation.

But what the books forgot to mention, was that, this development was not for the nation or its people. It was for their own interests. The British used the transport and communication system to export food grains, cotton etc to other parts of the world. The export of such items, for which there was a shortage in the world markets, due to the world wars, fetched a lot of wealth to the British empire.

And how did this trade affect the Indians ? Here is something that our history books did not tell us, but each one of us should know.

In 1943, there was a major famine in Bengal. Somewhere between 3 to 4 million people died. The deaths were due to starvation, malnutrition and disease.The famine also caused major economic and social disruption, ruining millions of families.This famine was due to the unsympathetic and ruthless policies. of the British. There was not really a shortage of food grains in India, but the British exported almost all the food to its troops all over the world, while millions of Indians starved to death.More than 70,000 tons of food was exported worldwide as the famine set in. When Winston Churchill received a message from Delhi about the increasing deaths of Indians, his only reply was that he regretted that Mahatma Gandhi was not one of the victims.

Hitler was responsible for the death of approximately 11 million people over a period of four years. While 4 million people died in one year in India. This comparison is just to understand the magnitude of the unfortunate event, which has been completely forgotten and ignored by the world. Its a shame, that instead of letting the future generations know the truth, our history, that we are taught in school is manipulated and distorted to suit the vested interests of some.

http://www.ibtimes.com/bengal-famine-1943-man-made-holocaust-1100525

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/82/a1934282.shtml

~ Poonam Patil Kalra

Magic mantra

Every morning when I'd get into the car, to go to work, the first thing I'd do is, turn on the radio. I'd expect some melodies songs ,instead,the only thing I got to hear was, non-stop, nonsensical blabbering of the Rjs, crude , double meaning jokes, prank calls to unassuming people - which would lead to loads of abuses and countless advertisements. In fact, many of the advertisements made me feel like a complete loser, because I didn't own a golf-course facing house with swimming pool in it or I'd be subjected to sob stories of people, about how they got dumped by their bf/gf and needed advice. And, if after all this, I was lucky enough to get to listen to a song,it would be something like 'Na Mumbai ki, na Dilli ki, Pinki hai paisewallon ki '.

Though my place of work is only a 15 min drive from home, on most days, by the time I'd reach, I'd experience at least one or more these emotions - irritability, anger,distress,confusion and sometimes plain and simple disgust. It was a pretty awful way to start my day.

Sound is energy. Some of the effects of sound on the brain include, evoking emotions, triggering the release of stress chemicals and impacting the development of new neural pathways in the brain. How we use this energy is up to us.

The ancient Indians understood the importance of sound for our physical, emotional and mental well being. The Rishis developed the Vedic science of mantras, to utilise the subliminal as well as the cosmic powers of sound. A mantra is a phrase or word which is repeated over and over again. As the specific pattern of controlled wind-flow through the holes of a flute produces specific sonorous tune, likewise, the vibrations induced by the repeated rhythmic chanting of a specific mantra generate intellectual, spiritual and emotional effects on our minds.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3807963/

Significant scientific research on the demonstration and the measurement of sonic energy has been carried out in the modern age of advanced technology. This includes pioneering research in the area of ultrasonic in the USA and Germany. The applications of ultrasonic and infrasonic technology range from strategic weapons to bio-medical instruments, from brainwashing to sound therapy and from tele-communications to remote control of the spacecrafts.Having realised that the energy generated through jaap of a mantra, would be of exponential magnitude as compared to that of the atomic energy,some pioneering scientists have also begun an in-depth study of this ancient science.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2952121/

http://paper.ijcsns.org/07_book/200

808/20080825.pdf

http://www.dsvv.ac.in/…/…/2011/02/indu-mahamritunjayajap.pdf

I don't really find enough time to chant, but over the past few months, I have been playing several mantras, practically all the time ( in a soft volume) at home, while travelling and especially around kids.I wont say that the mantras will bring an end to all your miseries, but I can tell you this, that it'll give you immense peace, emotional strength and support and also a clarity of thought. When I listen to the mantras, there is a sense of well-being that I cannot explain.

Gayatri Mantra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgjpAO3CJTY
Mahamriyunjay Mantra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adyjwFgXRNY
Ganpati mantra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0ZWA8c6Gdw
Ek Onkar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbftHnxqUfk

Copper on my mind !

In school, all of us learned that 70% of our bodies are made of water. Water is one, amongst the 5 elements of nature. Water is the building block of life and every living being needs water to survive. In India, water is an object of worship since time immemorial. Most of our holy places are on the banks of river, coasts and seashores. It is an important part of our rituals. It is stored in a kalash during pujas, given as Theertha and sprinkled on devotees in temples. It is considered a as purifier, life giver and destroyer of evil. In short, water is life. And yet,we don't stop for a moment to think about the it.

The ancient Indians had guidelines, for something, that we think has no method - drinking water. They also knew something that modern science is still discovering. The importance of storing water in the right container.

My grandparents and even my parents, would drink water out of copper vessels and they insisted that it is beneficial for health. It is only now, that I am beginning to understand the science behind it !

Copper is anti bacterial : Copper is known to be oligodynamic in nature (the sterilizing effect of metals on bacteria), and can destroy bacteria very effectively. It is especially effective against E.coli and S.aureus – two bacteria that are commonly found in our environment and are known to cause severe illnesses in the human body.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312355/

Copper is good for our brain : It stimulates our brain. Our brain works by transmitting impulses (or orders) from one neuron to another through an area known as the synapses. These neurons are covered by a sheath called the myelin sheath that acts like a sort of conductive agent – helping the flow of impulses. How does copper figure here you ask? Well, copper actually helps in the synthesis of phospholipids that are essential for the formation of these myelin sheaths.Thereby, making your brain work much faster and more efficiently. Apart from that, copper is known to have brain stimulant and anti convulsive properties (prevents seizures), that do a world of good for our brain.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24440710

Copper regulates the working of the thyroid gland: Experts say that one commonality amongst people with thyroid diseases that they usually have low levels of copper in their body. While this is most commonly seen in people with hyperthyroidism(excessive thyroid hormone), those with hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone) may also suffer from this deficiency. Copper is one of the most important trace minerals the thyroid gland needs to function optimally. A lack in copper can send the functioning of the gland out of sync. So when you drink water from a copper vessel it makes up for this possible deficiency and regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland.

http://drlwilson.com/Articles/thyroid.htm

Copper helps in arthritis and inflamed joints: Copper has very potent anti-inflammatory properties. This asset is especially great to relieve aches and pains caused due to inflamed joints – like in the case of arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Apart from that, copper also has bone and immune system strengthening properties, making it the perfect remedy for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This is where drinking water infused with copper is a great way to find relief from the aches and pains of these diseases.

http://www.copperalliance.org.uk/copper-and-society/health

There are way too many benefits of drinking water from a copper vessel to write in this post .However, its important to understand that copper can be absorbed by the body only in its natural form ie via food and water. The copper that is added in health supplements cannot be absorbed by the body properly and causes copper toxicity. Which in turn, can lead to many life threatening conditions and diseases. Also, its important to remember that water needs to be stored for at least 8 hours (preferably overnight) in a copper vessel for it to be really beneficial.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_in_health

~ Poonam Patil Kalra

Exiled from paradise

Couple of year ago, I visited Switzerland, and like a typical Indian, who has had an overdose of Yash Chopra / Karan Johar movies, I believed that I have seen the most beautiful place on earth and all the beauty that nature has to offer ! But this summer, everything changed, during my first ever visit to Kashmir. I don’t have words to express the beauty of the place. For the first time in my life, I realised that true beauty, in its supreme form, can actually move you to tears.

While I was there, I came across places like, Srinagar, Anantnaag, Chandanwadi, and wondered, that why would a predominantly Muslim state have such beautiful Hindu names for their towns and cities? And it occurred, of course the Kashmiri Pandits! For the rest of the journey, there was a nagging thought, all the time, at the back of mind – What exactly happened to the people who belonged to this beautiful place? They have been here for a long, long time and suddenly they vanished, leaving behind traces of their past.

In the months that followed, I read so many, many tales of horror. Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits were selectively killed and others were massacred. Women were kidnapped, killed, raped or converted. Men were killed in the middle of night. Even children were not spared. There was a campaign of intimidation and harassment against them by militant outfits. By 1990, about 3,50,000 Pandits were driven away from their homes and homeland. Many of them had to stay in refugee camps under inhuman conditions for years. But because, it was a small community with no vote bank, nobody bothered and nobody cared. It is unimaginable for most of us to leave our homes and the place where our family has lived for generations and live like refuges, homeless and ignored, in our own country. As of now, only about 4000 Pandits are living in the valley.

For the first time, in so many years, the present Indian government has promised to make efforts to ensure that the Kashmiri Pandits return to their homeland, the land of their ancestors, with full dignity, security and assured livelihood. And I really hope, that this time, we as a nation, stand up for them.

And by the way, let me tell you this, our very own Kashmir is way more beautiful than a thousand Switzerlands put together !!

Weaves of India

For thousands of years, India is well known all over the world, for it's absolutely stunning, exquisite and intricately detailed weaving in fabrics and embroideries.They are an integral part of our culture and no festival or occasion is complete without them. Though, with passing time, there has been a change in the weaves, the patterns and designs have become even more glamorous. For the weavers, its not only a means of livelihood, they pour their hearts and souls to create such beautiful pieces of art. Be it the Pochampalli of Andhra, the fine mulmul cottons and Tussar from Bihar, the Paithanis from Maharashtra, Bandhej from Rajasthan, Patola from Gujrat, Kantha from Bengal, Chikankari from UP, the list is endless.

I think if every woman in India, introduces just one piece of these fine weaves in her wardrobe, she'll be doing her bit in preserving these truly beautiful works of art !