Thursday 15 January 2015

Should Indian Students Take The SAT?

Should Indians preparing for JEE take the SAT? Should they pursue undergraduate studies in US and Europe by notching up in SAT? Should you? You should. This detailed guide will tell you how to.
Before we discuss the pros and cons of SAT, let us first know what SAT is.

<b> What is the SAT? </b>

SAT stands for Scholastic Aptitude Test, an exam or let's say a ticket for you to get into US/UK universities like Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, MIT, etc. The SAT features maths, reading and writing questions. The test writers claim that the test predicts how well you do in college by measuring "reasoning ability", but all the SAT really measutes is how well you take it. It does not reveal how smart - or how good - of a person you are.

Know more about the SAT at An Indian Student's Guide To SAT.

If you are a JEE aspirant, you know bloody well how much cramming and practising you hace to make for getting a decent score. If you got the potential to distinguish between condom and condemn, and the angles of a triangle measure 180 degrees, why then, SAT is a mere cakewalk for you.
First of all, SAT is not alike JEE or any engineering exam in India. Each subject area on the SAT - Math, Writing, and Critical Reading is scored on a scale of 200-800, making 2400 the maximum total score. Maths is extremely easy, dont worry. You can solve it even if you dozed off in every Math class in 11tg grade.
Writing and Critical reading, well, is hard. You have to have a affluent knowledge of vocabulary. One low level English student cannot be sure what words to fill in the  blanks. Yes! Fill in the blanks.  But not your KG fill in the blanks. (Come on! We are talking about world class universities). There are essays too. Gone are the days when writing about the Indian Farmer earned you full marks. SAT essays are really hard and you better had be a idealist if you get 12 out of 12. They are very much like Expansion of Ideas, but here you have to take a side (Yes or No) and advocate your opinion. You can excel in SAT essays if you are an avid reader (I assure you).
Example :- 


There is a myriad of new question types for Indians on the SAT. (Questions are same, we are new to it)
There are Grid -ins, sentence completion and improving sentences and paragraphs. Algebra, Advanced Arithmetic and Geometry is in MCQ pattern mostly, with Negative marking. To sum it all, there is a high chance for you an average Indian student  to crack SAT.

<b> How to prepare for SAT? </b>


Every lock might not have a key,  but every exam has preparation material. Collegeboard itself has published an official SAT guide. Some of the best books for SAT are 
1. Collegeboard's official blue book.
2. Princeton Review.
3. Kaplan's SAT prep.
 Akash Institute also has SAT  batches.
Also, you can practise SAT questions on your android and iphone, which is highly convenient. (There are vocabulary flashcards too, check the below link).


All is said and read. Worried ? I bet you are. Let me guide you in that too.

<i> There is a big number of scholarships for Indians. There is! </i>

All you have to do is to work really hard towards perfection in SAT, and lo and behold, might be you will end up in some world class college.
There are many Indian students who are not made  for getting the 300th college in the world. Are they? With merely one hour practice a day, you can earn better anyway. Moreover, these world class colleges fancy you more if you are passionate about something. Anything. 
So brothers and sisters, register for SAT today. (The test is six times a year. Take your time :p)
Share with your friends, because sharing is sexy!



Tuesday 13 January 2015

Jijau Janmotsav - When the Maratha host dumbstructs India.


The town Sindhkhed Raja brimmed with saffron on 12 January 2015. Nearly 12 lac Marathas all over India swooned over the chorus of "Jai Jijaau, Jai Shivray" and one could see men shaking hands of random people, as though they were long lost kins. Government entities such as Nitin Gadkari, Devendra Fadnavis staged speeches. Why?









Because of this man. This man whose Army held Indian seat of Delhi against the invasion of Mohammadshah Abdali, a brutal mughal invader. This man established a kingdom, an ideal one - "Swarajya". This man whose heir is the king for the day, given a place of honour above any entity in the world. This man, whom the host of 12 lac love by heart. 
The event was the birthday of Rajmata Jijabai.
A Queen Mother who nurtured all essential qualities in her son, Chhatrapati Shivaji, to realise her dream of Swarajya Birth12 January 1598 AccomplishmeA Queen Mother who nurtured all essential qualities in her son, Chhatrapati Shivaji, to realise her dream of Swarajya
Birth: 12 January 1598

Accomplishment has to seep into one’s mind before reaching one’s hand. The shape of a pot is entirely dependant on the potter’s skill and creativity. The same is true of an accomplished person. One, who on catching sight of a tiger is taught as a child to leap ahead and fight it as passionately as the tiger would, does not bother with foxes and dogs in life.
It was RajMata(Queen Mother) Jijabai who nurtured courage in her son Prince Shivaji through her own courageous example, to fight the enemy obstructing the establishment of Hindavi Swarajya.
Jijau was born to Mhalsabai and Lakhoji Jadhav, a commanding officer in charge of the Sindakhed territory (a part of Buldhana district today) under the Mughal reign. Jijau was exposed to her courageous father’s accomplishments right from birth. But as she matured, her perception of the subjection suffered by the Hindu under the Mughals grew. She developed an intense revulsion towards the helplessness proliferating among the Hindus.
In an age when young girls play with dolls to prepare themselves for a married life, Jijau was immersed in learning the fine art of sword fighting. Her mother Mhalsai nurtured Jijau’s courageousness by telling her tales of valour. Excited and inspired by these tales, Jijau compelled her father to send her for armament training.
The prevalent situation in the country was appalling. Hindus were supposed to be servants whose sole purpose in life was to loyally serve the Mughal dynasty and at the most become commanding officers of territories. They were forced to loot their own communities for the enemy (the Mughal) and even give an account of it to Mughal rulers. Artists were forced to sing the glory of the enemy and the disparagement of their own people before the Mughal.
The Muslim officers would assault the Hindu women. Young girls were being auctioned. A society, who had forgotten self rule and self-esteem, had become mute spectators to all this debauchery. The farmers were in an equally bad state. All their efforts went into filling the coffers of the Mughal rulers, leaving their own stomachs empty. Jijau could not bear to see this pathetic state of affairs. She wanted a courageous person who could fight against this injustice and debauchery. But unfortunately the man in her own household was a servant of the Mughal.
Jijau was married to ShahajiRajeBhosale in 1605. Two bright souls were joined in marriage, and yet Jijau’s dream of a Hindu rule did not see the light of day. She finally found recourse in prayer by appealing to Bhavani, the Goddess of valour and the deity of this land. She entreated to the Goddess to give her a son who would be bright, accomplished, and immensely capable of establishing Swarajya. She could see the turmoil of her accomplished husband. She could sense her husband being undervalued despite his great feats of valour under the reign of various Muslim rulers like Adilshah, Nizamshah and the Mughal. Jijau realised that though there was power, it was still just servitude under the Muslim ruler, with no recognition, security or benefit of the community. 
God knows how many women there have been who have decided one’s child’s purpose in life even before their birth, but Jijau was definitely one who achieved this feat and put an end to the decades old reign of marauders over the community.
Goddess Bhavani had to fulfil Jijau’s appeal since she too shared Jijau’s sorrow in the extended assault on her land. Her religion was drowning; her temples destroyed and idols broken. She too was looking for a capable mother who could appropriately nurture an accomplished son. Both therefore shared the same goal and requirement. Both shared the same dream of Hindu Swarajya. The result of this dream was the birth of Shivaji and thus was laid the foundation of Hindu Swarajya.
Jijau told Shivaji tales which startednt has to seep into one’s mind before reaching one’s hand. The shape of a pot is entirely dependant on the potter’s skill and creativity. The same is true of an accomplished person. One, who on catching sight of a tiger is taught as a child to leap ahead and fight it as passionately as the tiger would, does not bother with foxes and dogs in life. It was RajMata(Queen Mother) Jijabai who nurtured courage in her son Prince Shivaji through her own courageous example, to fight the enemy obstructing the establishment of Hindavi Swarajya. Jijau was born to Mhalsabai and Lakhoji Jadhav, a commanding officer in charge of the Sindakhed territory (a part of Buldhana district today) under the Mughal reign. Jijau was exposed to her courageous father’s accomplishments right from birth. But as she matured, her perception of the subjection suffered by the Hindu under the Mughals grew. She developed an intense revulsion towards the helplessness proliferating among the Hindus. In an age when young girls play with dolls to prepare themselves for a married life, Jijau was immersed in learning the fine art of sword fighting. Her mother Mhalsai nurtured Jijau’s courageousness by telling her tales of valour. Excited and inspired by these tales, Jijau compelled her father to send her for armament training. The prevalent situation in the country was appalling. Hindus were supposed to be servants whose sole purpose in life was to loyally serve the Mughal dynasty and at the most become commanding officers of territories. They were forced to loot their own communities for the enemy (the Mughal) and even give an account of it to Mughal rulers. Artists were forced to sing the glory of the enemy and the disparagement of their own people before the Mughal. The Muslim officers would assault the Hindu women. Young girls were being auctioned. A society, who had forgotten self rule and self-esteem, had become mute spectators to all this debauchery. The farmers were in an equally bad state. All their efforts went into filling the coffers of the Mughal rulers, leaving their own stomachs empty. Jijau could not bear to see this pathetic state of affairs. She wanted a courageous person who could fight against this injustice and debauchery. But unfortunately the man in her own household was a servant of the Mughal. Jijau was married to ShahajiRajeBhosale in 1605. Two bright souls were joined in marriage, and yet Jijau’s dream of a Hindu rule did not see the light of day. She finally found recourse in prayer by appealing to Bhavani, the Goddess of valour and the deity of this land. She entreated to the Goddess to give her a son who would be bright, accomplished, and immensely capable of establishing Swarajya. She could see the turmoil of her accomplished husband. She could sense her husband being undervalued despite his great feats of valour under the reign of various Muslim rulers like Adilshah, Nizamshah and the Mughal. Jijau realised that though there was power, it was still just servitude under the Muslim ruler, with no recognition, security or benefit of the community. God knows how many women there have been who have decided one’s child’s purpose in life even before their birth, but Jijau was definitely one who achieved this feat and put an end to the decades old reign of marauders over the community. Goddess Bhavani had to fulfil Jijau’s appeal since she too shared Jijau’s sorrow in the extended assault on her land. Her religion was drowning; her temples destroyed and idols broken. She too was looking for a capable mother who could appropriately nurture an accomplished son. Both therefore shared the same goal and requirement. Both shared the same dream of Hindu Swarajya. The result of this dream was the birth of Shivaji and thus was laid the foundation of Hindu Swarajya.
On the eve of Jijau Janmotsav, after one visits the birthplace of Jijabai, Jijau Srushti is the place where the whole of a host celevrates the royal birth. A cultural and infrastructural project of estimated 2100 crore INR, the art and beauty of the place is mesmerizing. Powadas are sung and bookstalls with a rich collection of Marathi literature are the major attractions.
Each year, the number of people visiting increases, and entities adorn the stafe with inspirational speeches. 
Know more about Jijau Srushti.

This whole festival is a demonstration of unity of an Indian clan that has given births to martyrs of past and future.
Read more about Jijau Janmotsav at Jijau Srushti, which means The Universe of Jijau.

Sunday 11 January 2015

Concrete India or Green India?

Much is said about India's rise as a superpower in the 21st century. With the new government, hopes are higher than ever. Skyscrapers are being constructed all over our land and industries are set up. With the ever modernisation, are not our urban areas changing into concrete jungles?

India is experiencing a huge technological and infrastructural boost.
Urbanisation has driven the country in chaos. For more availability of space,  
trees are slaughtered.  Malls are constructed. Residential buildings spread over the horizons. So whre is the greenery?  Where are the trees? Where is that serene ambience that only greenery  can provide?
Prime Minister Modi's Clean India Mission should have an embellishment. Doesnt having a clean India mean having a clean and serene atmosphere? And how could we have a clean India with little greenery? 
Looking to the brighter side, efforts are being made by some of the cities towards a green India.
Chandigarh, the greenest city in India, has plaaned to establish "city forests" under the supervision of Department of Forest and Environment.


This bedazzling beautiful sceenery of Gandhinagar proves that our government is not completely blind to environmental awareness. But is that enough? Such scanty parks and gardens around the city for the sake of evincing a patch greeneery long faded?
How are we to redeem our pledge of an eco friendly India if we ourselves support this modernisation that cares little for environmental protection? Have you ever thought what becomes of the plants that are planted by your local politicians in a public place nearby? I can tell you. Another plant waits to be planted there after a year. Are we not equally responsible for this environmental degredation?
This whole ambiguity of infrastructural development and environmental protection that goes side by side is a major challenge before the country. Let us, for the sake of mother India and for our upcoming generations, pledge today to plant and raise atleast one plant in our garden. I have a whole garden, do you?
Want to read about more innovative ideas to make you choose a side ? Read A concrete step towards eco-friendly buildings.