Overnight Success and Overnight Tragedies

Rome was not built in a day is a famous statement which tells how people correlate what happens with their life and we attribute that success normally takes time. It is to be remembered here that in this world there are more overnight tragedies than overnight success. If you recall the instance of Ramayana, Lord Rama was getting ready for coronation  next day and then he was summoned to leave to the forest. This is a overnight tragedy that changed the entire course of life of King Rama. There are many instances where the ruling leader of a firm is ousted overnight and the turn of events overnight change the course of that particular firm or industry. This happened in history. Now, coming to overnight success, it is seen in movies and may be with few inventors who invented something over night rather. A lottery ticket may make a person rich overnight but richness cannot be attributed success. Because, success is something that is achieved after 1000 tumbles.

Where is Life?

 Life is a very interesting word because it is the essence of all living beings. Plants, animals and humans are all worried about their life. Day in and day out with the sun rising people run to make a living. Every human being want to have a decent life which is full of respect. Some people get lucky, some don't. It is unfortunate that many people suffer life. In Lord Gautama Buddha's teachings, he says all life is suffering and he advises to surrender to reason. When you surrender your anger and feelings to reason then the reason keeps your life lively and enhances the joy. Joy in your life is like water cupped in palms which gets leaked gradually. It leaks away, you need to refill it again with your own thoughts, aspirations to keep your life lively. While, many strive to get that water cupped in palms, the difficulty is finding the water which represents the love which fills your life with joy. This water that keeps your joy in your cupped palms might be the tears of another person who have to suffer in order to keep your joy. The suffering of other person might be a manifestation secret but what is visible is the joy. May be when the joy leaves your palms, the tears of someone's suffering might find some meaning because tears arise out of love.

Movies and Books

If we evaluate the influence of movies and compare the same with the value of books, the difference is huge. Since most youth are movie lovers, let us see the compared influence of the medium of learning and the level of influence. 

 Positive Influences of Movies: 

 1. Educational Value: Some movies are designed to educate and inspire, providing valuable information on historical events, cultures, or scientific concepts.

  2. Positive Role Models: Movies can feature positive role models who embody values such as perseverance, empathy, and integrity, serving as sources of inspiration for young audiences. 

 3. Cultural Awareness: Movies can expose youth to different cultures, perspectives, and ways of life, fostering understanding and empathy. 

 Negative Influences of Movies: 

 1. Stereotyping: Movies can sometimes perpetuate stereotypes, reinforcing biased views about certain groups of people based on factors like gender, race, or socio-economic status.

 2.Violence and Aggression: Some movies contain explicit violence, which, if not contextualized or understood, can potentially desensitize youth to real-world violence or influence aggressive behavior. 

 3. Unrealistic Expectations: Movies often portray idealized or exaggerated versions of life, which can create unrealistic expectations for young individuals in terms of relationships, success, and body image. 4.Unknown Time scaling: A movie might have been made in 2-3 years or even short time but the life long influence of the characters if not taken properly for a generation of your influence on society. Life is a gradual process of 70-80 years, movie is a fast run medium and we shouldn't make judgements based on 2-3 hours of media time to decide the fate of our future. In summary, while movies can be a powerful tool for entertainment and education, it's essential to be mindful of their potential influence on youth and to guide young individuals in developing a discerning and critical approach to media consumption.

 Now if we see the influence of books. These are the good things about books. 

 1. Cognitive Development: • Vocabulary Expansion: Reading exposes youth to a wide range of words and helps expand their vocabulary. • Critical Thinking: Books often present complex ideas and diverse perspectives, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills. • Problem-Solving: Many stories involve characters overcoming challenges, providing examples of problem-solving strategies. 

 2. Academic Performance: • Improved Academic Skills: Regular reading enhances comprehension, writing skills, and academic performance across various subjects. • Increased Knowledge Base: Books provide in-depth information on a variety of topics, contributing to a well-rounded education. 

 3. Emotional Intelligence: • Empathy Building: Fictional stories, in particular, allow readers to empathize with characters, promoting emotional understanding and compassion. • Emotional Resilience: Characters in books often face difficulties, and readers can learn how to navigate and cope with challenges through these narratives.

 4. Imagination and Creativity: • Stimulates Imagination: Reading fiction allows youth to visualize characters, settings, and scenarios, stimulating their imagination. • Creativity Enhancement: Exposure to different writing styles and genres can inspire creativity in young minds.

 5. Stress Reduction: • Relaxation: Reading can serve as a form of escapism, providing a break from daily stressors and promoting relaxation. • Mindfulness: Immersing oneself in a book encourages mindfulness, focusing attention on the present moment. 

 6. Communication Skills: • Enhanced Communication: Exposure to well-written language helps improve communication skills, including articulation and expression. • Better Writing Skills: Reading various genres exposes youth to diverse writing styles, enhancing their own writing abilities. 

 7. Cultural Awareness: • Understanding Diversity: Books often explore different cultures, promoting tolerance, understanding, and appreciation for diversity.

 8. Lifelong Learning: • Cultivates Curiosity: Reading instills a love for learning and encourages a lifelong habit of seeking knowledge.

 9. Time Management: • Healthy Use of Leisure Time: Reading provides a constructive and enjoyable way for youth to spend their leisure time, reducing reliance on passive entertainment. 

 References: OpenAI. (2024, January 14). How book reading is good for youth. ChatGPT - AI Language Model. [URL]

1-Day Workshop on Robotic Marvels

I conducted a 1-day workshop to impart knowledge on fundamentals of robotics for various students from different branches of engineering to create a forum for interdisciplinary research on 04.11.202 along with my colleagues from Mechanical and CSE.

GVCON-2K22

Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering(Autonomous), Visakhapatnam in collaboration with IEI(India) as organized a 2 day National conference on the theme Green and Resilient systems. Emininent Researchers from across the country have participated in the event.

Sanctity of Research

Resesarch is something that should be for fullfilment. It is not totally about laurels, awards but a satisfaction of achievement, an inner pride that we helped the society improve, we helped the marginally living people, we helped somebody below the poverty line or we brought a smile on someone's face who otherwise would always had to cry. Research should be a passion which gets inculcated by writing and reading books. As a age old saying which is close to my heart which boasts the librarians pride which says " It is a temple of learning" or It is the wisdom of the universe arranged for your learning, it is the library that enlightens us and induces the spirit of learning or reignites the kindled spirit of teaching, learning and research. If only a day comes where the world of full of sorrow and misery, be not surprised that the light to the world comes from the dark woods from a silent lab in which a teacher is relentlessly trying to prove to the world that I exist and I will change the fate of the world. That is research. That is life.

CODE RED

Code RED is unforunately treated as a filmy phrase by many ignorant people. This phrase is associated with the emergency situation which indicates RED::RESPECT EVERY DEATH, which happens during a natural calamity, a catastrophic accident, during a war that takes lives away and situation gets worse leaving families with only hope and faith in the GODs.