World Water Day
“Save Water, Save Life” is the slogan we heard thousands of time in our life but do we really save water? No, we just talk about this but we take no action at all. Everyone needs water whether they are human beings, animals, plants. World Water Day is celebrated every year on March 22 to increase awareness about the significance of water.
Theme of this year is ‘Making the Invisible Visible’. With the increase of population and industrialisation the uses of water also increases. We truly have to save water because without water our life would be impossible. We have to take measures to save water and start from our home itself. If we start saving water from our home itself then also it will be a great contribution.
As summer season has started so don’t forget to keep water for birds on the top as they also need water to survive.
If we take a pledge sincerely to save water resources and to increase awareness in other people also then we will never suffer from water scarcity.
Somya Agrawal, Ujjain
Shocking news on Goan’s death in US
It was really sad and shocking news to hear and see the video of our village young boy John Dias from Chandor. He was shot dead in USA. He used to play in football team as goalkeeper for Chandor and Guirdolim club. Looking at the CCTV footage it looks like the suspect has come to take revenge at the stop food mart where he killed our Goan brother who was working as clerk and ran away.
The suspect has neither taken cash nor anything else from the shop. May the truth come out soon. On social media the news has spread across the globe. In USA we hear many times that these things happen as in this type of evil people loot the shops and public on gun point.
We request our Goan brothers and sisters to be safe from this kind of dangerous behaviour person. Hope USA police finds the killer and puts him behind the bars and gives justice to their family. Also request our Goan brothers and sisters in USA to help and support to bring his body back home in Goa for final rights. May John’s soul rest in eternal peace and give strength to his mother who is a hardworking woman to bear the loss of her son.
Ronnie D’Souza, Chandor
Changing our mindset
This has reference to the article ‘Infinite mindset – a necessity or the need of the hour?’ (Herald, March 21). That was a good analysis of the prevailing mindset of people in society today. Bryce D’Souza rightly describes and explains the ‘infinite mindset’, seeking to create or stimulate a world where all people shift from aggressively competing with each other, to a world where people indulge in a health competition.
Today, of course, we are living in a world where people are constantly competing with each other, rat-race to reach the top, no matter what it takes. It’s time we come down to reality.
We need to understand, the status that we gain and all the wealth that we earn is nothing at the end of the day. It is humanity that counts. Incidentally, this current pandemic should have been the best time for people to change their mindset. Yes, to a certain extent, many seem to have changed their attitude towards others but the fear is once the pandemic ends and life gets back to normal, people would once again get back to their earlier mindset.
A sincere, movement towards cultivating a ‘infinite mindset’ in our societies the world over, is the need of the hour. Charity begins at Home, let’s begin with ourselves!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Well played Lakshya
Lakshya Sen did all Indians proud by reaching the finals of the All England Badminton championships though he fell at the last hurdle to Viktor Axelsen of Denmark. A protege of Prakash Padukone, the first AEB champion from India, Lakshya who is only 20 has been in tremendous form over the past six months securing his maiden world championship bronze in December and finishing runner up in the German Open last week. It helps that his father is a national level badminton coach and his brother plays in the international circuit, so badminton runs in his blood in a manner of speaking. He is also a former world junior no.1 and Asian junior champion.
I am sure that in times to come with the right coaching and extensive international exposure he shall bring in more laurels for the country. Lakshya, be assured that more than a billion Indian hearts beat for you, go forth and conquer the world. Kudos.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Physical literacy
Physical education as a subject has not really made it in India’s schools. A few minutes in a week is dedicated “PT” classes that do not serve much purpose. Excessive focus on “serious studies” has not helped children to shape a holistic personality. A report of senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan can change the current scenario in schools if his report is accepted by the Supreme Court. The report has recommended making physical literacy a fundamental right by amending Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The report has demanded that National Physical Literacy Mission (NPLM) should be the reality for curriculum setup, compliance monitoring, grievance redressal and self correction mechanism. According to Sankaranarayanan, one and a half hour of each day can be dedicated to free play and games in every school of India. His suggestions deserve a serious look-in because a child should have the freedom to indulge in a wide variety of physical activity with confidence and competence. Knowledge and understanding should supplement the two. He/she should be able to read the surrounding situation to make healthy and active choices not only as a child but also as an adult.
Physical activity and sport have to be integral parts of a child’s curriculum to foster both physical and mental faculty of a student. If there is no physical literacy, students may go into a shell of their own by shunning games and sports. The result unhealthy adults of tomorrow. Parents, teachers and school authorities need to display sensitivity to children’s requirements to help them engage in physical literacy.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Strange coincidences
There are some strange coincidences lately. We have a comedian-actor Zelensky in Ukraine becoming President and then Russia attacking the country. In India, we have the AAP in Punjab winning the elections and appointing Bhagwant Mann, a comedian by profession, as CM. Punjab is a border State and by chance we should not have Pakistan attack Punjab.
We have also had lately a Brahmos missile taking off by chance, as it is said, and falling into Pakistan. We are lucky there were no casualties where it fell and it is said that it was unarmed. Otherwise we would have triggered off a war.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto Santa Cruz
Lakshya will go places
Lakshya Sen’s dream run at the All England Championship in Birmingham is the best thing in Indian men’s badminton. The sensational Sen reached the final of the prestigious event by dethroning defending champion Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in a gruelling semifinal before going down to former world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.
In the last six months, the Indian has been in sensational form, securing his maiden world championships bronze in December last, before winning his first Super 500 title at Indian Open in January and finishing runner-up at the German Open last week. So one is confident that he will go places!
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
