Finally, the rain god's seems to have become considerate now...the cool showers that we had in the last two days have brought some respite for the "rain thirsty" Kolkattans. The weather seems to have become slightly pleasant, with temperatures going down...whew! what a relief!..Lets just hope that this continues....
"Shimmering drops of water,
from the heaven's above,
bless us thirsty mortals,
with your divine love"
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Kolkata heat
With the heat in Kolkata rising with each passing day, it appears that by the end of the summer season the Kolkatans will be half boiled. What is worse is that the temperature in the city is higher than in Delhi...can you beleive it??...And to top it all...there is the erstwhile and never ending load shedding adding to our woes. Wonder when this aweful season will get over. Kalbaishakhi seems to be a dream....
What do you guys think?...I would request everybody to post their comments on the Kolkata heat.
What do you guys think?...I would request everybody to post their comments on the Kolkata heat.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
An evening so magical and blissful.
It was an evening to remember. Walking down the banks of the Rabindar Sarobar lake with my friend on a warm April evening was truly an evening worth cherishing. Chatting and laughing, we walked down the tiled path that encircled the tranquil waters of the lake. The path was dimly lit and the gentle breeze that blew added to the romantic atmosphere that surrounded the entire place.
We strolled under the tall trees that swayed gently in the breeze. The entire place was thronging with people, some strolling like us and others just lazing on the grass close by. Yet others, with their beloved in their arms, sat and enjoyed a romantic moment uninterrupted and engrossed. The waters of the lake shimmered as a result of the light from the lampposts that lined the banks of the lake.
We walked for quite sometime, before finally sitting down on a bench to give rest to our weary legs. The bench, made of concrete, faced the lake and offered a grand view of the surrounding area. The two of us chatted for a long time, talking on different things like career, relationships, music and others. My friend also sang a couple of songs to make the moment more memorable.
We laughed and joked and pulled each others legs while the breeze kissed our oily face gently making us feel refreshed and rejuvenated. It was a heart warming moment we spent that day. The hours rolled by as we shared our secrets and experiences one by one. Not for one moment did each of us stop and wonder what the other would think about us. We just opened our hearts out. For the first time, I felt so free. It was like that of a bird who had just discovered its new found freedom.
Finally, it was time to part ways, or should I say it was time to get back home. I wanted to stay a little while longer, but call of duty made me think 'rationally' and change my decision. We headed back home, happy to have shared such an intimate moment with one another. We promised that we would come again one day and share our lives moments amidst the cool shade of the trees and in front of the serene lake.
It was truly an exhilarating and blissful evening that we spent together.
We strolled under the tall trees that swayed gently in the breeze. The entire place was thronging with people, some strolling like us and others just lazing on the grass close by. Yet others, with their beloved in their arms, sat and enjoyed a romantic moment uninterrupted and engrossed. The waters of the lake shimmered as a result of the light from the lampposts that lined the banks of the lake.
We walked for quite sometime, before finally sitting down on a bench to give rest to our weary legs. The bench, made of concrete, faced the lake and offered a grand view of the surrounding area. The two of us chatted for a long time, talking on different things like career, relationships, music and others. My friend also sang a couple of songs to make the moment more memorable.
We laughed and joked and pulled each others legs while the breeze kissed our oily face gently making us feel refreshed and rejuvenated. It was a heart warming moment we spent that day. The hours rolled by as we shared our secrets and experiences one by one. Not for one moment did each of us stop and wonder what the other would think about us. We just opened our hearts out. For the first time, I felt so free. It was like that of a bird who had just discovered its new found freedom.
Finally, it was time to part ways, or should I say it was time to get back home. I wanted to stay a little while longer, but call of duty made me think 'rationally' and change my decision. We headed back home, happy to have shared such an intimate moment with one another. We promised that we would come again one day and share our lives moments amidst the cool shade of the trees and in front of the serene lake.
It was truly an exhilarating and blissful evening that we spent together.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Top5 Amazing Rapid Mental Math Methods
Top5 Amazing Rapid Mental Math Methods
Today you can define mental math in various different ways. Some would say, memorizing times table and remembering the solutions can form the part of mental mathematics. Some would say ability to perform simple calculations in your head can be mental mathematics. The web dictionary defines mental mathematics as "Computing an exact answer without using pencil and paper or other physical aids."
Today there are five methods available to learn and practice mental mathematics.Let's begin with the first one called 'Learning by Heart' or better known as the rote memorizing method where your teachers ask you to mug up boring multiplication tables. It not only kills the interest of the child in mathematics but also makes sure that he develops hatred towards the subject for the rest of the years he studies it. This system gives its ardent devotee some degree of success initially as he is able to answer easy problems but then when the supposedly bigger application problems come the steam is almost over.
The second one gives you a good degree of success and I would highly recommend it to the younger lot out there. It hails from China and is popular by the name of The Abacus (also known as the Soroban in Japan). An abacus is a calculating tool, often constructed as a wooden frame with beads sliding on wires. With the use of this tool one can perform calculations relating to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with ease. Gradually one practices with the tool in one's hand and later on when experienced he learns to do it without the tool. This tool is then fitted into the mind mentally and he can then add, subtract multiply and divide in seconds. This tool also enhances a child's concentration levels.
The main drawback of this system is that it focuses only on the 4 mathematical operations. Concepts beyond these operations such as Algebra, Square Roots, Cubes, Squares, Calculus, and Geometry etc cannot be solved using it at all. Also one needs a longer time to be able to fully get a grasp of the system hence you see courses in the abacus stretching to over 2 years which leads the child to boredom and then quitting from the course.
Another Chinese system mainly collected from the book The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art lays out an approach to mathematics that centers on finding the most general methods of solving problems. Entries in the book usually take the form of a statement of a problem, followed by the statement of the solution, and an explanation of the procedure that led to the solution.
The methods explained in this system can hardly be termed mental and they lack speed to top it all. The Chinese were definitely the most advanced of the civilization thanks to the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers but if I were to choose out of the two methods given by this culture It would be the abacus.
If wars have a 99.99% downside, sometimes they can have an upside too for they give birth to stories of hope and creativity. The next mental math system was developed during the Second World War in the Nazi Concentration Camp by a Ukrainian Mathematician Jakow Trachtenberg to keep his mind occupied. What resulted is now known as the Trachtenberg Speed System of Mathematics and consists of Rapid Mental Methods of doing Mathematics.
The system consists of a number of readily memorized patterns that allow one to perform arithmetic computations very quickly. It has wider applications than the Abacus and apart from the four basic operation methods it covers Squares and Square Roots.
The method focuses mostly on Multiplication and it even gives patterns for multiplication by particular number say 5,6,7 and even 11 and 12. It then gives a general method for rapid multiplication and a special two finger method. After practicing the method myself I realized that the multiplication was a very applicable mental method but the other methods covered to solve division and square roots were not very friendly and were impossible to be done mentally.
I was in search of a much better wholesome method where I could easily perform other operations also. Another drawback of this system was that it too like the abacus failed to have a wider scope i.e to encompass other fields like Algebra, Calculus, Trignometry, Cube Roots etc
A Recommendation by a friend of mine from America introduced me to what is known as the Kumon Math Method. It was founded by a Japanese educator Toru Kumon in 1950s and as of 2007 over 4 million children were studying under the Kumon Method in over 43 different countries.
Students do not work together as a class but progress through the curriculum at their own pace, moving on to the next level when they have achieved mastery of the previous level. This sometimes involves repeating the same set of worksheets until the student achieves a satisfactory score within a specified time limit. In North American Kumon Centers, the mathematics program starts with very basic skills, such as pattern recognition and counting, and progresses to increasingly challenging subjects, such as calculus, probability and statistics. The Kumon Method does not cover geometry as a separate topic but provides sufficient geometry practice to meet the prerequisites for trigonometry, which is covered within the Kumon math program.
I was much impressed with the glamour around Kumon but a glimpse of its curriculum deeply disappointed me. It is not mental at all. It does not offer any special methods to do mathematics and one does not improve one's speed by doing Kumon Math. There is a set curriculum of worksheets which one does till one achieves mastery in the subject. So say for example a sheet on Divison- one would continue to do division by the conventional method till he gets a satisfactory score and then he moves on to a higher level. This certainly doesn't make division any faster and the process is certainly not mental.
A deep thought on the reason of its tremendous popularity in America led me to conclude was the lack of a franchisee business model of the abacus and the Trachtenberg speed system in the 1950s. The franchisee model was essential in taking the course from country to country. This is where Toru Kumon thrived.
Dissapointed with other cultures in the world, my search made me look in my own Indian culture. What I found astonished and amazed me so much that I fell in love with the system and started coaching neighbourhood students in it.
This is easily the World's Fastest Mental Mathematics System called High Speed Vedic Mathematics. It has its roots in Ancient Indian Scriptures called the Vedas meaning 'the fountain head of knowledge'. With it not only you can add, subtract, multiply or divide which is the limiting factor of the abacus but you can also solve complex mathematics such as algebra, geometry, Calculus, and Trigonometry. Some of the most advanced, complex and arduous problems can be solved using the Vedic Maths method with extreme ease.
And all this with just 16 word formulas written in Sanskrit.
High Speed Vedic Mathematics was founded by Swami Sri Bharati Krishna Tirthaji Maharaja who was the Sankaracharya (Monk of the Highest Order) of Govardhan Matha in Puri between 1911 and 1918. They are called "Vedic" as because the sutras are contained in the Atharva Veda – a branch of mathematics and engineering in the Ancient Indian Scriptures.
High Speed Vedic Mathematics is far more systematic, simplified and unified than the conventional system. It is a mental tool for calculation that encourages the development and use of intuition and innovation, while giving the student a lot of flexibility, fun and satisfaction . For your child, it means giving them a competitive edge, a way to optimize their performance and gives them an edge in mathematics and logic that will help them to shine in the classroom and beyond.
Therefore it's direct and easy to implement in schools – a reason behind its enormous popularity among academicians and students. It complements the Mathematics curriculum conventionally taught in schools by acting as a powerful checking tool and goes to save precious time in examinations.
The Trachtenberg Method is often compared to Vedic Mathematics. Infact even some of the multiplication methods are strikingly similar. The Trachtenberg system comes the closest to the Vedic System in comparison and ease of the methods. But the ease and mental solvability of the other method especially division, square roots, cube roots, Algebraic Equations, Trigonometry, Calculus etc clearly gives the Vedic System an edge. Even NASA is said to be using some of this methods applications in the field of artificial intelligence.
There are just 16 Vedic Math sutras or word formulas which one needs to practice in order to be efficient in Vedic Math system. Sutras or Word Math Formulas such as the Vertically and Crosswise, All from Nine and Last from ten helps to solve complex problems with ease and also a single formula can be applied in two or more fields at the same time. The Vertically and Crosswise formula is one such gem by which one can multiply, find squares, solve simultaneous equations and find the determinant of a matrix all at the same time.
If either of these methods is learned at an early age, a student aged 14 can perform lightening fast calculations easily during his examinations and ace through them.
Vedic Mathematics is fast gaining popularity in this millennium. It is being considered as the only mental math system suited for a child as it helps to develop his numerical as well as mental abilities. The methods are new and practical and teach only Mental Rapid Mathematics.
The system does not focus on learning by repetition as in the Kumon Method. The system focuses on improving intelligence by teaching fundamentals and alternate methods. The purpose is not limited to improving performance in the school or tests, but on providing a broader outlook resulting in improved mathematical intelligence and mental sharpness.
To know more about the Vedic Mathematics Sutras – The World's Fastest Mental Math System you can visit Vedic Maths India
This Article is by Gaurav Tekriwal,, The President of the Vedic Maths Forum India who has been conducting High Speed Vedic Math Workshops for the last five years and has trained over seven thousand students across the world in the field. He is the author of the best selling DVD on the subject which contains over 10 hours on the subject. He is an expert in the field and revolutionizes the way children learn math.
To learn more about Vedic Matha..you can check out Gaurav Tekriwal's Webiste on Vedic Maths. The link is given below:
http://www.vedicmathsindia.org/
Today you can define mental math in various different ways. Some would say, memorizing times table and remembering the solutions can form the part of mental mathematics. Some would say ability to perform simple calculations in your head can be mental mathematics. The web dictionary defines mental mathematics as "Computing an exact answer without using pencil and paper or other physical aids."
Today there are five methods available to learn and practice mental mathematics.Let's begin with the first one called 'Learning by Heart' or better known as the rote memorizing method where your teachers ask you to mug up boring multiplication tables. It not only kills the interest of the child in mathematics but also makes sure that he develops hatred towards the subject for the rest of the years he studies it. This system gives its ardent devotee some degree of success initially as he is able to answer easy problems but then when the supposedly bigger application problems come the steam is almost over.
The second one gives you a good degree of success and I would highly recommend it to the younger lot out there. It hails from China and is popular by the name of The Abacus (also known as the Soroban in Japan). An abacus is a calculating tool, often constructed as a wooden frame with beads sliding on wires. With the use of this tool one can perform calculations relating to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with ease. Gradually one practices with the tool in one's hand and later on when experienced he learns to do it without the tool. This tool is then fitted into the mind mentally and he can then add, subtract multiply and divide in seconds. This tool also enhances a child's concentration levels.
The main drawback of this system is that it focuses only on the 4 mathematical operations. Concepts beyond these operations such as Algebra, Square Roots, Cubes, Squares, Calculus, and Geometry etc cannot be solved using it at all. Also one needs a longer time to be able to fully get a grasp of the system hence you see courses in the abacus stretching to over 2 years which leads the child to boredom and then quitting from the course.
Another Chinese system mainly collected from the book The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art lays out an approach to mathematics that centers on finding the most general methods of solving problems. Entries in the book usually take the form of a statement of a problem, followed by the statement of the solution, and an explanation of the procedure that led to the solution.
The methods explained in this system can hardly be termed mental and they lack speed to top it all. The Chinese were definitely the most advanced of the civilization thanks to the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers but if I were to choose out of the two methods given by this culture It would be the abacus.
If wars have a 99.99% downside, sometimes they can have an upside too for they give birth to stories of hope and creativity. The next mental math system was developed during the Second World War in the Nazi Concentration Camp by a Ukrainian Mathematician Jakow Trachtenberg to keep his mind occupied. What resulted is now known as the Trachtenberg Speed System of Mathematics and consists of Rapid Mental Methods of doing Mathematics.
The system consists of a number of readily memorized patterns that allow one to perform arithmetic computations very quickly. It has wider applications than the Abacus and apart from the four basic operation methods it covers Squares and Square Roots.
The method focuses mostly on Multiplication and it even gives patterns for multiplication by particular number say 5,6,7 and even 11 and 12. It then gives a general method for rapid multiplication and a special two finger method. After practicing the method myself I realized that the multiplication was a very applicable mental method but the other methods covered to solve division and square roots were not very friendly and were impossible to be done mentally.
I was in search of a much better wholesome method where I could easily perform other operations also. Another drawback of this system was that it too like the abacus failed to have a wider scope i.e to encompass other fields like Algebra, Calculus, Trignometry, Cube Roots etc
A Recommendation by a friend of mine from America introduced me to what is known as the Kumon Math Method. It was founded by a Japanese educator Toru Kumon in 1950s and as of 2007 over 4 million children were studying under the Kumon Method in over 43 different countries.
Students do not work together as a class but progress through the curriculum at their own pace, moving on to the next level when they have achieved mastery of the previous level. This sometimes involves repeating the same set of worksheets until the student achieves a satisfactory score within a specified time limit. In North American Kumon Centers, the mathematics program starts with very basic skills, such as pattern recognition and counting, and progresses to increasingly challenging subjects, such as calculus, probability and statistics. The Kumon Method does not cover geometry as a separate topic but provides sufficient geometry practice to meet the prerequisites for trigonometry, which is covered within the Kumon math program.
I was much impressed with the glamour around Kumon but a glimpse of its curriculum deeply disappointed me. It is not mental at all. It does not offer any special methods to do mathematics and one does not improve one's speed by doing Kumon Math. There is a set curriculum of worksheets which one does till one achieves mastery in the subject. So say for example a sheet on Divison- one would continue to do division by the conventional method till he gets a satisfactory score and then he moves on to a higher level. This certainly doesn't make division any faster and the process is certainly not mental.
A deep thought on the reason of its tremendous popularity in America led me to conclude was the lack of a franchisee business model of the abacus and the Trachtenberg speed system in the 1950s. The franchisee model was essential in taking the course from country to country. This is where Toru Kumon thrived.
Dissapointed with other cultures in the world, my search made me look in my own Indian culture. What I found astonished and amazed me so much that I fell in love with the system and started coaching neighbourhood students in it.
This is easily the World's Fastest Mental Mathematics System called High Speed Vedic Mathematics. It has its roots in Ancient Indian Scriptures called the Vedas meaning 'the fountain head of knowledge'. With it not only you can add, subtract, multiply or divide which is the limiting factor of the abacus but you can also solve complex mathematics such as algebra, geometry, Calculus, and Trigonometry. Some of the most advanced, complex and arduous problems can be solved using the Vedic Maths method with extreme ease.
And all this with just 16 word formulas written in Sanskrit.
High Speed Vedic Mathematics was founded by Swami Sri Bharati Krishna Tirthaji Maharaja who was the Sankaracharya (Monk of the Highest Order) of Govardhan Matha in Puri between 1911 and 1918. They are called "Vedic" as because the sutras are contained in the Atharva Veda – a branch of mathematics and engineering in the Ancient Indian Scriptures.
High Speed Vedic Mathematics is far more systematic, simplified and unified than the conventional system. It is a mental tool for calculation that encourages the development and use of intuition and innovation, while giving the student a lot of flexibility, fun and satisfaction . For your child, it means giving them a competitive edge, a way to optimize their performance and gives them an edge in mathematics and logic that will help them to shine in the classroom and beyond.
Therefore it's direct and easy to implement in schools – a reason behind its enormous popularity among academicians and students. It complements the Mathematics curriculum conventionally taught in schools by acting as a powerful checking tool and goes to save precious time in examinations.
The Trachtenberg Method is often compared to Vedic Mathematics. Infact even some of the multiplication methods are strikingly similar. The Trachtenberg system comes the closest to the Vedic System in comparison and ease of the methods. But the ease and mental solvability of the other method especially division, square roots, cube roots, Algebraic Equations, Trigonometry, Calculus etc clearly gives the Vedic System an edge. Even NASA is said to be using some of this methods applications in the field of artificial intelligence.
There are just 16 Vedic Math sutras or word formulas which one needs to practice in order to be efficient in Vedic Math system. Sutras or Word Math Formulas such as the Vertically and Crosswise, All from Nine and Last from ten helps to solve complex problems with ease and also a single formula can be applied in two or more fields at the same time. The Vertically and Crosswise formula is one such gem by which one can multiply, find squares, solve simultaneous equations and find the determinant of a matrix all at the same time.
If either of these methods is learned at an early age, a student aged 14 can perform lightening fast calculations easily during his examinations and ace through them.
Vedic Mathematics is fast gaining popularity in this millennium. It is being considered as the only mental math system suited for a child as it helps to develop his numerical as well as mental abilities. The methods are new and practical and teach only Mental Rapid Mathematics.
The system does not focus on learning by repetition as in the Kumon Method. The system focuses on improving intelligence by teaching fundamentals and alternate methods. The purpose is not limited to improving performance in the school or tests, but on providing a broader outlook resulting in improved mathematical intelligence and mental sharpness.
To know more about the Vedic Mathematics Sutras – The World's Fastest Mental Math System you can visit Vedic Maths India
This Article is by Gaurav Tekriwal,, The President of the Vedic Maths Forum India who has been conducting High Speed Vedic Math Workshops for the last five years and has trained over seven thousand students across the world in the field. He is the author of the best selling DVD on the subject which contains over 10 hours on the subject. He is an expert in the field and revolutionizes the way children learn math.
To learn more about Vedic Matha..you can check out Gaurav Tekriwal's Webiste on Vedic Maths. The link is given below:
http://www.vedicmathsindia.org/
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Mysore Zoo
My trip to Mysore came to a full circle with my visit to the Mysore Zoo. Set up by the royalty, this is, in fact, one of the largest zoos in the whole of South India. Its the perfect place to visit with your family, especially your children. Yougsters will enjoy seeing the different kinds of animals and birds and other creatures housed in this zoo. The actual name of the zoo is Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens. The moment you step inside, you will come face to face with the Giraffe. There are around five giraffes in the zoo and beleive me, they are a real beauty. Watching the tigers and lions is something that one should not miss at all. Other animals that you can get to see here include the zebras, deers, Black Buck, rhinocerous, gorrila, chimpanzee, elephants, porcupine and others.
The Mysore Zoo is particularly famous for the different species of birds that one can find here. You can marvel at the sight of the Golden Pheasant, Silver Pheasant, White Peacock, Flamingos, Heron, Stork, Crane, Eagles,Cocktaoos and many others. So, if you love animals, then come and pay a visit to the Mysore Zoo. The zoo opens at around 10'o' clock in the morning and shuts down at 5 p.m. Spread across an area of 250 acres, the zoo is definitely one of the major tourist attractions of the city of Mysore.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Gumbaz
Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Tipu Sultan and his parents Hyder Ali and Fatima Begum. Situated in Srirangapatnam, this marvelous structure is a popular tourist attraction of the historical city. The structure is made of white stone. The monument is built on a platform and is surrounded by an open balcony. There are a good number of carved pillars that adorn this open veranda. The mausoleum is situated inside a garden called the Lalbagh.
This grand, opulent and historical structure was built in the year 1782-84 by Tipu Sultan. It houses the tomb stones of Tipu Sultan, his father Hyder Ali and mother Fatima Begum. Hyder Ali's tomb is placed in the center. Tipu's tomb is covered by tiger skin. Even the inner walls of the mausoleum have tiger prints on them. The doors of this beautiful structure are ebony in color and is inlaid with ivory. The ceiling is beautifully carved and the windows have intricate carvings. You can also check out the Masjid-e-aksa mosque, which is located next to the Gumbaz. One is expected to take of one's shoes before entering the mausoleum.
Getting to this place is easy. You can take a bus or an auto and come over here easily.
Gumbaz allows you to pay respect to one of the greatest kings of India.
Come close to nature at Sangam
Located in Srirangapatnam in Karnatka, Sangam is the ideal place to get close to Mother Nature. A popular spot to go for an excursion when embarking on a Mysore Tour or a tour of the historical city of Srirangapatnam, the place offers the perfect spot where you can sit and spend time with yourself.
Sangam, or rather Sangam Ghat, is basically that point where River Kavery meets River Loakpavani, before they flow together towards the Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu. Once here, you can sit on the ghat steps and enjoy the cool and gentle breeze that will soothe your senses and mind. You can also hire a small boat and sail on the tranquil waters of the rivers. The view is simply fabulous and every moment you spend over here is a magical experience. The calm and peaceful atmosphere and the gentle breeze that blows on your face entwines you and your soul with the spirit of nature. You can buy a green coconut from the vendor and sip the cool coconut water while sitting on the ghat steps. Sangam Ghat is also a good picnic spot. An ideal place to spend a romantic moment with your beloved.
So, enter into a tryst with nature and let your imaginations soar at Sangam.
Sangam, or rather Sangam Ghat, is basically that point where River Kavery meets River Loakpavani, before they flow together towards the Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu. Once here, you can sit on the ghat steps and enjoy the cool and gentle breeze that will soothe your senses and mind. You can also hire a small boat and sail on the tranquil waters of the rivers. The view is simply fabulous and every moment you spend over here is a magical experience. The calm and peaceful atmosphere and the gentle breeze that blows on your face entwines you and your soul with the spirit of nature. You can buy a green coconut from the vendor and sip the cool coconut water while sitting on the ghat steps. Sangam Ghat is also a good picnic spot. An ideal place to spend a romantic moment with your beloved.
So, enter into a tryst with nature and let your imaginations soar at Sangam.
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