Gift

Today is 24^th April.  In Andhra Pradesh Schools, it is the last working day.  All government and private schools in Andhra Pradesh have 12 or 13^th June as first working day and 24^th April in the following year will be the last working day of that academic year.  All children may not attend the first day in the academic year, but the last day, for sure, will be attended by all – first to 9^th standard children.  This day reminds me of my childhood days when I would go to school in the morning take the progress card and come home early. 

This 24^th April wouldn't have been so special for me just for results.  This day always reminds me of a special incident in my childhood.  The kind gesture shown to me on that day by a stranger had everlasting impact on me.  I could understand this as I remember it even after 45 years.  Also, this had inculcated one character in me as to appreciate anyone who would come to me with their exam result.  Of course, anybody will be proud to share success.  

It was 24^th April, 1967.  That day I got my third standard results.  Then we used to have the detention system.  Unless proper grades are obtained candidate is not promoted to the next class.  Now children are promoted even without proper learning into next standard until 7^th class.  Again in 8^th and 9^th standards though exams are held they will not be detained. Then, every body had to get pass marks in all subjects to get promoted to the next standard.  I did my exams well and secured first rank in the class.  I was very happy to receive my progress report amidst claps from the entire class.  After that I had to go home walking, which I am used to.  The school was about a kilometer from my home.  There were about four main routes from the main road to reach my home.  That day I was happy, and as I was returning early from the school, I took a long route.  This will be walking mostly on the main road before turning into an alley.  On this road along a by lane corner, there was a ‘pan shop’.  As I was walking playfully and jumping on the road, the man in the pan shop called me and asked me to show my progress report.  I showed him.  He said, “Good” and gave me two ‘Ravalgon’ chocolates.  Those days they were the well known good chocolates available in any general stores or pan shops. I was overwhelmed with happiness and said, “thank you”.  And the man told me, “Go home soon”.  Eating those chocolates, I went home.

Even after more than four decades I remember this incident vividly.  I remember the man, his gesture with smile and happiness and his gift to me.  Any child coming to me and tells me about their success in exams, I try to give them something I have at that time and see their smile. 

One man’s simple kindness had made me understand the happiness one feels when their efforts are appreciated.  And I try to spread this happiness.

God is Great

God is great

Grants every wish.

If you want to swim,

And fathom the sea

You will become fish.

If you want to rise

High into sky

You will become a bird.

If you want to dive deep into sea;

Rise into sky, very high

You will become a man with a mind.

If you want to become ‘God’

You should become one to none

Be part of Universal ‘One’.

Worship

All the Shiva temples have ‘nandi’ (bull).  Nandi, vehicle of Shiva is seen in sitting posture in front of the sanctum sanctorum of Shiva temple.  Nandi is generally postured as if it is looking at Shiva all the time.  Recently when I visited a Shiva temple along with my husband we were just talking about this.  There was another couple who had come there.  The man took part in our conversation and explained the essence of this posture.  Nandi, devotee of Lord Shiva always worships Shiva, leaving the world behind.  That means a devotee of God should always leave the material things behind and meditate upon God for salvation. 

Why people put thumb and index finger on the horns of the bull and try to see Lord Shiva through the space?  Is it because the bull represents beastly strength and ignorance, is held down by horns, and look upon Lord for grant of true knowledge and peace?

Health is Wealth

Health is wealth. We all know it. But as long as we are healthy we never think of protecting that wealth. When we are about to lose it, then we think of taking all precautions.
‘Healthy mind in a healthy body’. So, the body to be healthy, good nutrition is essential. Under nutrition and over nutrition both are malnourishment.
As poor nutrition is the problem of poor people, over nutrition is the problem in less educated rich population.
Over nutrition leads to obesity and is the problem in developed countries and some class of people in developing countries.
Obesity or overweight is having more fat in the body and weight being more than ideal bodyweight.
Ideal body weight – Body Mass Index – weight (Kg)/Height in Sq.M eg; 60/(1.6x1.6)

Normal BMI = 18.50-24.99; 25-29.99 = increased weight; >30 obesity; with increasing BMI, moderate, severe and morbid obesity.
Ideal body weight – Broca index – Height(Cm)-100 ex. 160-100 = 60Kg. >5% overweight is obesity, double the ideal weight is morbid obesity.
Risks of obesity – hypertension, diabetes, gall bladder disease, coronary heart disease, certain types of cancers especially large bowel cancers. In females it leads to metabolic syndrome, lowered fertility, increased complications in pregnancy and increased risks to the fetus – baby.
To maintain ideal body weight proper diet and physical exercise are important.
As for nutrition is concerned, the daily requirement of nutrients with appropriate energy calories is taken.
An adult healthy man weighing 60 Kg, doing moderate work eight hours a day will need 2875 Kcal, and adult female weighing 50 Kg doing moderate work for eight hours a day will need 2225 Kcal. In women, additional requirement of 300-500 Kcal is required during pregnancy and lactation.
Major components of nutrients are
Carbohydrates – 1Gm = 4 Kcal - cereals, roots and tubors
Proteins - 1Gm = 4 Kcal - milk,eggs, meat, fish etc; pulses, cereals, nuts, beans
Fats -- 1Gm = 9 Kcal - animal fats ghee, milk, cheese, veg.oils –sesame,groundnut
Vitamins - from cereals, pulses, egg, meat etc; fruits and vegetables
Minerals. – milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables, non-veg foods, eggs.
A balanced diet should have 55%calories from carbohydrates, 25% from proteins and 20% from fats.
The daily requirement of proteins, body building units, is 1 gm/kg body weight. Extra 20 Gm allowance added during pregnancy and lactation. Pulses and non-veg foods give about 20 gm proteins per 100 gm consumption. Highest protein content is in soyabeans, which give about 43 gm.proteins/100 gm.
Cereals also give proteins, 5-7 gm/100 gms. Nuts and oil seeds will have more of fats and to some extent proteins. Fruits and vegetables give more of vitamins and minerals. Milk is the richest source of calcium. Cereals, pulses, non-veg, eggs and nuts and oils seeds will also have vitamins and minerals in variable quantities. Fruits and vegetables give less calories, 1 cal or less/gm. Banana, sitafal and sapota give almost    1 cal./gm. Dry fruits give almost 3-4 cal/gm.
Food items when taken in combination in appropriate quantity will give, apart from calories, all other nutrients – carb, proteins, fats, vit., minerals to keep body healthy.
Fast food and aerated drinks give only empty calories as they have only sugars that will give calories and no other nutrients. Even alcohol gives 7cal/gm. So these fast foods, cola drinks and alcohol can lead to obesity and nutritional imbalance and ill health.
All this is in short to know the value of food and to maintain good health by taking healthy diet.
Eat healthy. Be healthy.