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Monday 24 March 2014
Thursday 20 March 2014
Globalisaton -IMPACT
Indian economy had experienced major policy changes in early 1990s. The new economic reform, popularly known as, Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG model) aimed at making the Indian economy as fastest growing economy and globally competitive. The series of reforms undertaken with respect to industrial sector, trade as well as financial sector aimed at making the economy more efficient.
With the onset of reforms to liberalize the Indian economy in July of 1991, a new chapter has dawned for India and her billion plus population. This period of economic transition has had a tremendous impact on the overall economic development of almost all major sectors of the economy, and its effects over the last decade can hardly be overlooked. Besides, it also marks the advent of the real integration of the Indian economy into the global economy.
This era of reforms has also ushered in a remarkable change in the Indian mindset, as it deviates from the traditional values held since Independence in 1947, such as self reliance and socialistic policies of economic development, which mainly due to the inward looking restrictive form of governance, resulted in the isolation, overall backwardness and inefficiency of the economy, amongst a host of other problems. This, despite the fact that India has always had the potential to be on the fast track to prosperity.
Now that India is in the process of restructuring her economy, with aspirations of elevating herself from her present desolate position in the world, the need to speed up her economic development is even more imperative. And having witnessed the positive role that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has played in the rapid economic growth of most of the Southeast Asian countries and most notably China, India has embarked on an ambitious plan to emulate the successes of her neighbors to the east and is trying to sell herself as a safe and profitable destination for FDI.
Globalization has many meanings depending on the context and on the person who is talking about. Though the precise definition of globalization is still unavailable a few definitions are worth viewing, Guy Brainbant: says that the process of globalization not only includes opening up of world trade, development of advanced means of communication, internationalization of financial markets, growing importance of MNCs, population migrations and more generally increased mobility of persons, goods, capital, data and ideas but also infections, diseases and pollution. The term globalization refers to the integration of economies of the world through uninhibited trade and financial flows, as also through mutual exchange of technology and knowledge. Ideally, it also contains free inter-country movement of labor. In context to India, this implies opening up the economy to foreign direct investment by providing facilities to foreign companies to invest in different fields of economic activity in India, removing constraints and obstacles to the entry of MNCs in India, allowing Indian companies to enter into foreign collaborations and also encouraging them to set up joint ventures abroad; carrying out massive import liberalization programs by switching over from quantitative restrictions to tariffs and import duties, therefore globalization has been identified with the policy reforms of 1991 in India.
The Important Reform Measures (Step Towards liberalization privatization and Globalization)
Indian economy was in deep crisis in July 1991, when foreign currency reserves had plummeted to almost $1 billion; Inflation had roared to an annual rate of 17 percent; fiscal deficit was very high and had become unsustainable; foreign investors and NRIs had lost confidence in Indian Economy. Capital was flying out of the country and we were close to defaulting on loans. Along with these bottlenecks at home, many unforeseeable changes swept the economies of nations in Western and Eastern Europe, South East Asia, Latin America and elsewhere, around the same time. These were the economic compulsions at home and abroad that called for a complete overhauling of our economic policies and programs. Major measures initiated as a part of the liberalization and globalization strategy in the early nineties included the following:
Devaluation: The first step towards globalization was taken with the announcement of the devaluation of Indian currency by 18-19 percent against major currencies in the international foreign exchange market. In fact, this measure was taken in order to resolve the BOP crisis
Disinvestment-In order to make the process of globalization smooth, privatization and liberalization policies are moving along as well. Under the privatization scheme, most of the public sector undertakings have been/ are being sold to private sector.
Sunday 16 March 2014
History of HOLI
HOLI
Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. The festivals finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.
It is said that Holi existed several centuries before Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped.
Calculating the Day of Holi
There are two ways of reckoning a lunar month- 'purnimanta' and 'amanta'. In the former, the first day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. Though the amanta reckoning is more common now, the purnimanta was very much in vogue in the earlier days.
According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-ritu (with spring starting from next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season. This perhaps explains the other names of this festival - Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.
Reference in Ancient Texts and Inscriptions
Besides having a detailed description in the Vedas and Puranas such as Narad Purana and Bhavishya Purana, the festival of Holi finds a mention in Jaimini Mimansa. A stone incription belonging to 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya has mention of Holikotsav on it. King Harsha, too has mentioned about holikotsav in his work Ratnavali that was written during the 7th century.
The famous Muslim tourist - Ulbaruni too has mentioned about holikotsav in his historical memories. Other Muslim writers of that period have mentioned, that holikotsav were not only celebrated by the Hindus but also by the Muslims.
Reference in Ancient Paintings and Murals
History of HoliThe festival of Holi also finds a reference in the sculptures on walls of old temples. A 16th century panel sculpted in a temple at Hampi, capital of Vijayanagar, shows a joyous scene of Holi. The painting depicts a Prince and his Princess standing amidst maids waiting with syringes or pichkaris to drench the Royal couple in coloured water.
A 16th century Ahmednagar painting is on the theme of Vasanta Ragini - spring song or music. It shows a royal couple sitting on a grand swing, while maidens are playing music and spraying colors with pichkaris.
There are a lot of other paintings and murals in the temples of medieval India which provide a pictoral description of Holi. For instance, a Mewar painting (circa 1755) shows the Maharana with his courtiers. While the ruler is bestowing gifts on some people, a merry dance is on, and in the center is a tank filled with colored water. Also, a Bundi miniature shows a king seated on a tusker and from a balcony above some damsels are showering gulal (colored powders) on him.
Legends and Mythology
In some parts of India, specially in Bengal and Orissa, Holi Purnima is also celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (A.D. 1486-1533). However, the literal meaning of the word 'Holi' is 'burning'. There are various legends to explain the meaning of this word, most prominent of all is the legend associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap.
Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana. Hiaranyakashyap commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon whereby she could enter fire without any damage on herself. However, she was not aware that the boon worked only when she enters the fire alone. As a result she paid a price for her sinister desires, while Prahlad was saved by the grace of the god for his extreme devotion. The festival, therefore, celebrates the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion.
Legend of Lord Krishna is also associated with play with colors as the Lord started the tradition of play with colours by applying colour on his beloved Radha and other gopis. Gradually, the play gained popularity with the people and became a tradition.
There are also a few other legends associated with the festival - like the legend of Shiva and Kaamadeva and those of Ogress Dhundhi and Pootana. All depict triumph of good over evil - lending a philosophy to the festival.
Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. The festivals finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.
It is said that Holi existed several centuries before Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped.
Calculating the Day of Holi
There are two ways of reckoning a lunar month- 'purnimanta' and 'amanta'. In the former, the first day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. Though the amanta reckoning is more common now, the purnimanta was very much in vogue in the earlier days.
According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-ritu (with spring starting from next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season. This perhaps explains the other names of this festival - Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.
Reference in Ancient Texts and Inscriptions
Besides having a detailed description in the Vedas and Puranas such as Narad Purana and Bhavishya Purana, the festival of Holi finds a mention in Jaimini Mimansa. A stone incription belonging to 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya has mention of Holikotsav on it. King Harsha, too has mentioned about holikotsav in his work Ratnavali that was written during the 7th century.
The famous Muslim tourist - Ulbaruni too has mentioned about holikotsav in his historical memories. Other Muslim writers of that period have mentioned, that holikotsav were not only celebrated by the Hindus but also by the Muslims.
Reference in Ancient Paintings and Murals
History of HoliThe festival of Holi also finds a reference in the sculptures on walls of old temples. A 16th century panel sculpted in a temple at Hampi, capital of Vijayanagar, shows a joyous scene of Holi. The painting depicts a Prince and his Princess standing amidst maids waiting with syringes or pichkaris to drench the Royal couple in coloured water.
A 16th century Ahmednagar painting is on the theme of Vasanta Ragini - spring song or music. It shows a royal couple sitting on a grand swing, while maidens are playing music and spraying colors with pichkaris.
There are a lot of other paintings and murals in the temples of medieval India which provide a pictoral description of Holi. For instance, a Mewar painting (circa 1755) shows the Maharana with his courtiers. While the ruler is bestowing gifts on some people, a merry dance is on, and in the center is a tank filled with colored water. Also, a Bundi miniature shows a king seated on a tusker and from a balcony above some damsels are showering gulal (colored powders) on him.
Legends and Mythology
In some parts of India, specially in Bengal and Orissa, Holi Purnima is also celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (A.D. 1486-1533). However, the literal meaning of the word 'Holi' is 'burning'. There are various legends to explain the meaning of this word, most prominent of all is the legend associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap.
Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana. Hiaranyakashyap commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon whereby she could enter fire without any damage on herself. However, she was not aware that the boon worked only when she enters the fire alone. As a result she paid a price for her sinister desires, while Prahlad was saved by the grace of the god for his extreme devotion. The festival, therefore, celebrates the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion.
Legend of Lord Krishna is also associated with play with colors as the Lord started the tradition of play with colours by applying colour on his beloved Radha and other gopis. Gradually, the play gained popularity with the people and became a tradition.
There are also a few other legends associated with the festival - like the legend of Shiva and Kaamadeva and those of Ogress Dhundhi and Pootana. All depict triumph of good over evil - lending a philosophy to the festival.
An fb post by one of the leading motivational talker Must read and see who Motivated Her ... ????
This is for people who ask me why I believe in Mata Amritanandamayi Amma.
My mom says my first darshan of amma was way in 1992, with a family friend in Thevara, Kerala. I just have a vague memory, dont quite remember the experience. After that from the days my memory got stored, all I remember asking is why people worshipped this human - god. But I never got an answer. Life moved on, then came AMMA s 50th birthday. I wondered why there was a big fuss about celebrating her birthday. Roads blocked. Stadium full of celebration, people from all over the world. But all I was bothered about was my dad turning fifty that very september 2003. Then life came to a standstill in may 2010, when we lost our guardian, all in all. Achan left leaving all four of us lost, scared, noone to turn to. I remembered praying to god for courage, strength to move on. Those of you who know me, very well knows how strong and independent I tend to be. It took someones absence to make me realize how depended I was. I so badly wanted to cry out, but tears refused to come. I wished I could just delete the episode and remove the pain. I just didnt know how, and I struggled to move on. I became more and more short tempered, my mom would probably say I was hell at home. Few months later, AMMA enters our lives. I would not say I changed into a devotee the moment I saw her. All i remember is crying when she hugged. I dont know what I cried for. I just did. This kept happening, everytime I met her. Slowly I realized, everytime I cried, I am letting go of my sorrows and . I started feeling lighter and felt I was getting the strength to forget and move on. Yet that void in our lives remained. Void to an extent was filled by Sivanchettan , Yes, achan is irreplacable, but I should say Sivanchettan did do a good job and he came into our lives cause of AMMA. And ofcourse, how can I forget our darling little Krishna, who erased the remaining void.
Amma didnt miraculously erase my sorrows, but she gave the strength to move on. Amma didnt stop the bad happening to me, but she gave me the courage to face it. She made me realise the strength of love, patience and compassion. She was never sympathetic everytime i went to her depressed, instead gave me a huge hug with a loving smile making me feel i am not alone.
And I never realised, but People tell me I am a changed person now. Ofcourse, I owe a lot of that to my husband , whom I believe AMMA brought into my life.
And thats how I started praying silently to AMMA and believing, cause I know she would be there for me , protecting me like my dad would have. And she has proved it million times.
So now I know and have accepted that bad can happen, things we cannot change, I also know I would
overcome it. Thanks to my family and AMMA.
And if you say god is someone who answers your prayers, yes then to me AMMA is god.
Om Amriteshwariyeh Namah
My mom says my first darshan of amma was way in 1992, with a family friend in Thevara, Kerala. I just have a vague memory, dont quite remember the experience. After that from the days my memory got stored, all I remember asking is why people worshipped this human - god. But I never got an answer. Life moved on, then came AMMA s 50th birthday. I wondered why there was a big fuss about celebrating her birthday. Roads blocked. Stadium full of celebration, people from all over the world. But all I was bothered about was my dad turning fifty that very september 2003. Then life came to a standstill in may 2010, when we lost our guardian, all in all. Achan left leaving all four of us lost, scared, noone to turn to. I remembered praying to god for courage, strength to move on. Those of you who know me, very well knows how strong and independent I tend to be. It took someones absence to make me realize how depended I was. I so badly wanted to cry out, but tears refused to come. I wished I could just delete the episode and remove the pain. I just didnt know how, and I struggled to move on. I became more and more short tempered, my mom would probably say I was hell at home. Few months later, AMMA enters our lives. I would not say I changed into a devotee the moment I saw her. All i remember is crying when she hugged. I dont know what I cried for. I just did. This kept happening, everytime I met her. Slowly I realized, everytime I cried, I am letting go of my sorrows and . I started feeling lighter and felt I was getting the strength to forget and move on. Yet that void in our lives remained. Void to an extent was filled by Sivanchettan , Yes, achan is irreplacable, but I should say Sivanchettan did do a good job and he came into our lives cause of AMMA. And ofcourse, how can I forget our darling little Krishna, who erased the remaining void.
Amma didnt miraculously erase my sorrows, but she gave the strength to move on. Amma didnt stop the bad happening to me, but she gave me the courage to face it. She made me realise the strength of love, patience and compassion. She was never sympathetic everytime i went to her depressed, instead gave me a huge hug with a loving smile making me feel i am not alone.
And I never realised, but People tell me I am a changed person now. Ofcourse, I owe a lot of that to my husband , whom I believe AMMA brought into my life.
And thats how I started praying silently to AMMA and believing, cause I know she would be there for me , protecting me like my dad would have. And she has proved it million times.
So now I know and have accepted that bad can happen, things we cannot change, I also know I would
overcome it. Thanks to my family and AMMA.
And if you say god is someone who answers your prayers, yes then to me AMMA is god.
Om Amriteshwariyeh Namah
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