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  The Circumference of Pollution By Avikal Aggarwal Pollution is a menace to our modern way of life. We face this scourge in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the noise we hear every day. A lot of focus is given to air and water pollution as that is visible and makes a good picture for the newspapers. The smog in Delhi during the winter months is headline news everywhere. The froth in the rivers also gets a fair bit of coverage and underlines the water contamination and pollution problem in many cities in India including Delhi and Bangalore. In Delhi, there is a full commission called the Commission for Air Quality Management which monitors air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR). Similarly, for the cleaning of our rivers we have projects like Namami Gange for water pollution. A large amount of attention and funding is provided by the government for these kinds of pollution.  Air and water pollution are very clear and present dangers to our society and the ne...

Fake News and Authenticity in the Day and Age of Social Media Fortunately or unfortunately, social media has become a huge part of our lives. We all have our unique ways and reasons for using and consuming it. Some use it for promotion of their products. Some use it for promotion of themselves. Others use it to document their lives and share some memories. It's become a platform for sharing information, opinion and much more. All that is good but there is also a flip side to this tool. Social media has also become a hub for fake news. Unfounded rumours and false news spark silly and unnecessary debates between people and end up dividing the society.  Fake news however isn't the only problem. The authenticity of content on platforms like Youtube or Twitter cannot be validated and lack proof and evidence. Another example could be that when a person posts a picture about his trip to the beach, he/she might just be standing in front of a poster of a beach. This is not just dishone...

Loneliness can be more than a problem. It can become a disease that actually takes a toll on our mental and physical health. And this is true for all ages and across humanity. Books are the answer to both these problems. They can be great friends and companions and keep you engaged and well informed. You can travel through the streets of Italy or explore the Milky Way or even travel through time. If this isn’t fascinating enough, books can provide you with the gift of knowledge. The point is, books are a wonderful tool to be happy, to learn something new, to make a new friend or two and to become more creative.  A book never lets you be lonely - even if you are alone. The internet can give information and provide temporary engagement but true wisdom can be acquired only by reading good books. Sometimes I wonder why most successful people are happy being alone and eventually turn out to be voracious readers. Look at Bill Gates - he actually takes two weeks off every year to be alone...

An inspiring story of a man who changed the world with his [dis] ability! “ Rise above my friends, and reach back to help others climb the ladder of life. ” Do you know who said these words? Sounds like some olympic athlete or a world class surgeon. Isn't it? Actually these words are of Ralph W Braun - a man who had spinal muscular atrophy since childhood. It may seem like it is very hard to feel accepted and included in our society if you are different from others. You are discouraged and treated with disdain and made to feel that nothing that you will ever do is going to work out. Your life needs to be just seen through and managed. Success and achievement may seem like impossible dreams.  Most people quickly become victims and fall into depths of anger and pity. But then there are some who get inspired by this - like Ralph W Braun . Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at an early age, Ralph went through the struggle with a quiet determination. He stayed positive and tried to...