IN FU

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Freedom at Midnight Speech by P.M. Nehru

Tryst with Destiny by Jawaharlal Nehru

Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.

A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment, we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.

At the dawn of history, India started on her unending quest, and trackless centuries are filled with her striving and grandeur of her success and failures. Through good and ill fortune alike, she has never lost sight of that quest, forgotten the ideals which gave her strength.

We end today a period of misfortunes and India discovers herself again. The achievement we celebrate today is but a step, an opening of opportunity to the greater triumphs and achievements that await us. Are we brave enough and wise enough to grasp this opportunity and accept the challenge of the future?

Freedom and power bring responsibility. The responsibility rests upon this Assembly, a sovereign body representing the sovereign people of India. Before the birth of freedom, we have endured all the pains of labour and our hearts are heavy with the memory of this sorrrow. Some of those pains continue even now. Nevertheless, the past is over and it is the future that beckons us now.

That future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving so that we may fulfill the pledges we have so often taken and the one we shall take today. The service of India means, the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and poverty and disease and inequality of opportunity.

The ambition of the greatest men of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.

And so we have to labour and to work, and to work hard, to give reality to our dreams. Those dreams are for India, but they are also for the world, for all the nations and peoples are too closely knit together today for any one of them to imagine that it can live apart. Peace is said to be indivisible, so is freedom, so is prosperity now, and also is disaster in this one world that can no longer be split into isolated fragments.

To the people of India, whose representatives we are, we make an appeal to join us with faith and confidence in this great adventure. This is no time for petty and destructive criticism, no time for ill-will or blaming others. We have to build the noble mansion of free India where all her children may dwell.

The appointed day has come -the day appointed by destiny- and India stands forth again, after long slumber and struggle, awake, vital, free and independent. The past clings on to us still in some measure and we have to do much before we redeem the pledges we have so often taken. Yet the turning-point is past, and history begins anew for us, the history which we shall live and act and others will write about.

It is a fateful moment for us in India, for all Asia and for the world. A new star rises, the star of freedom in the East, a new hope comes into being, a vision long cherished materializes. May the star never set and that hope never be betrayed!

We rejoice in that freedom, even though clouds surround us, and many of our people are sorrow-stricken and difficult problems encompass us. But freedom brings responsibilities and burdens and we have to face them in the spirit of a free and disciplined people.

On this day our first thoughts go to the architect of this freedom, the Father of our Nation, who, embodying the old spirit of India, held aloft the torch of freedom and lighted up the darkness that surrounded us.

We have often been unworthy followers of his and have strayed from his message, but not only we but succeeding generations will remember this message and bear the imprint in their hearts of this great son of India, magnificent in his faith and strength and courage and humility.

We shall never allow that torch of freedom to be blown out, however high the wind or stormy the tempest. Our next thoughts must be of the unknown volunteers and soldiers of freedom who, without praise or reward, have served India even unto death.

We think also of our brothers and sisters who have been cut off from us by political boundaries and who unhappily cannot share at present in the freedom that has come. They are of us and will remain of us whatever may happen, and we shall be sharers in their good [or] ill fortune alike.

The future beckons to us. Whither do we go and what shall be our endeavour? To bring freedom and opportunity to the common man, to the peasants and workers of India; to fight and end poverty and ignorance and disease; to build up a prosperous, democratic and progressive nation, and to create social, economic and political institutions which will ensure justice and fullness of life to every man and woman.

We have hard work ahead. There is no resting for any one of us till we redeem our pledge in full, till we make all the people of India what destiny intended them to be. We are citizens of a great country on the verge of bold advance, and we have to live up to that high standard.

All of us, to whatever religion we may belong, are equally the children of India with equal rights, privileges and obligations. We cannot encourage communalism or narrow-mindedness, for no nation can be great whose people are narrow in thought or in action.

To the nations and peoples of the world we send greetings and pledge ourselves to cooperate with them in furthering peace, freedom and democracy.

And to India, our much-loved motherland, the ancient, the eternal and the ever-new, we pay our reverent homage and we bind ourselves afresh to her service.

JAI HIND.

12 Tips for Time Management

Editor's Note: A version of this article previously appeared at AnnMehl.com.

Recently, in my work as a business coach, I was asked to give a presentation at a company offsite on the subject of "productivity and time management."

In order to prepare for this, I polled a number of friends and colleagues -- ordinary people whose work styles I admired -- on their individual work habits. Nobody I spoke to felt like they had enough time. It's as if we've all become the proverbial "plate spinners," those talented jugglers rushing from plate to plate in order to keep each one spinning in the air.

Based on my interviews, there were a number of themes that emerged from those who managed to successfully juggle their many labors. Here, in condensed form, I offer you these 12 time management "principles" in hopes that some of them may also be useful to you.

1. Spinach first.

Your mom was right. Always tackle the most difficult task on your plate first thing in the morning when your energy and concentration level is at its highest. Get to the hard stuff as early as you can. The longer you put it off in favor of easier, lower priority matters, the bigger that mound gets (and the worse it tastes). Keep the main thing the main thing.

2. Think sprint, not marathon.

We are not designed to "park it" at a desk for eight hours at a stretch and get all of our work done. Short, uninterrupted bursts of concentration are the key to knocking out good work. Get a kitchen timer, or stopwatch. Set it for 45 or 60 minutes, and don't stop until you hear the buzzer. You'd be amazed at what you can accomplish in one good uninterrupted hour.

3. Be selfish.

Once you have prioritized your to-do list, you must put that ahead of all others' lists. When you are able to get your own work done, you are in a much better position to support others with their projects. But your work comes first. Always

4. Date stamp your expectation.

Whenever you request a deliverable from someone, do not simply ask for it, but also inquire when you can expect to receive it. Things tend to happen much faster when there is an explicit deadline. Similarly, if someone asks something from you, ask them when they need it by. Then write it in a calendar.

5. Touch it once.

With the never-ending onslaught of email, it's crucial that you have a good filing system in place. My rule is "read it once" -- then decide what to do with the information, then do it. Same thing with other incoming requests. Touch it once, do something with it, then let it go.

6. Group like items.

Organize your week into specific days for similar tasks with allotted timeframes. For example, on Mondays and Wednesdays, focus on face time -- seeing clients, making sales, etc. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, reserve the time for writing, emailing or working on strategy. Friday morning is for overflow and Friday afternoon is free. Knowing what your week looks like in advance makes it easier to be in the right mindset when the time comes.

7. Face time saves time.

Don't try to figure out what someone meant in a confusing email; go straight to the source and ask. This saves on time, energy and mistakes. Asking for, and giving, clear communication is key.

8. Delegate.

Learn to delegate more of the work. When you actually do this, you'll notice how your role and work output will transition to the next level. Know what parts you do well yourself, and then give to someone else whatever parts you feel do not play to your strengths. Then let go.

9. Track it.

If you can't figure out where the week went, it's time to take a closer look at it. Track your time hour-by-hour for one week: everything that you're doing from the time you get up until you go to bed. This is sobering! You'll likely see where the holes in your calendar are. You may find that you need to rearrange your life (and calendar) accordingly.

10. Move it.

With so much head work, we can often neglect our bodies (without which our heads do not work). Regular vigorous exercise will help you blow off steam, give you more energy, greater concentration and a better night's sleep. Not a bad return!

11. Slow down to speed up.

Sometimes we need to slow it right down in order to get good work done. By minimizing distractions, and focusing carefully on one task at a time, we can actually speed up our overall work rate. Mono-tasking is the way.

12. Lighten up.

Nothing is so serious that we cannot laugh about it. One good belly laugh each day is essential for defusing tension, and yes, getting our work done. Work is work, but that doesn't mean we can't have a laugh once in a while. Even at our own expense. Even when the chips are down.

Source: 12 Tips for Time Management

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Top 10 causes of lower backache

You have a niggling pain in your lower back and can't figure out what's causing it. We present some of the most common causes of lower backache.

If all those advertisements of backache-relief balms, creams and sprays are anything to go by, lower backache is one of the most common conditions afflicting people in daily life. While the intensity might range from mild discomfort to seriously debilitating pain, it's important to figure out the cause and of the backache and then go about rectifying it.

1. Bad posture

We are all guilty of bad posture at some point or another in our daily lives. Sitting incorrectly at your work desk or computer, slouching on the couch while watching television and twisting your back awkwardly while sitting, standing or walking can all produce a strain on the back. This strain manifests as low backache.

2. Obesity

This lifestyle disease is affecting countless Indians and the clock is ticking. Putting on weight stresses your spine and back muscles by making them work excessively to lug around those extra kilos. In the long run, lower backache will occur as the body groans and can't take the extra weight anymore.

3. Incorrect exercising

Exercises that work out your biceps and back and shoulder muscles are commonly done by many gym-goers. It's when you do these exercises incorrectly that you strain your back which further leads to backache. Hence it is important to work out under a certified fitness instructor or trainer who will pay attention to you as you exercise. Incorrectly exercising can put you back on your fitness and weight loss program so keep this in mind and protect your back.

4. Bad furniture

The chair you sit on for eight hours while at work, the mattress on your bed and the firmness of your sofa; if incorrect; can put pressure on the lower back directly. Therefore it is very important to spend adequate time when choosing furniture and buying good quality stuff. Cheaply made furniture may be well within your budget but may not be as good for your spine.

5. Vertebral abnormalities

Lumbar spondylosis, spondylolisthesis and ankylosing spondylitis are all due to some abnormal fusion of the spine. This occurs mainly in the lower back and is a common cause of lower backache in the middle aged and elderly population. Another possibility is when the lumbar and sacral vertebra below it fuse. In medical terms, this is called sacralisation of the lumbar vertebrae.

6. Tuberculosis of the spine

In our country, where tuberculosis is still a significant public health problem, the infection may also spread to the spine and the person may complain of pain depending on the location of the infection. The lumbosacral region or the lower back is usually affected.

7. Fracture of the spine

This may occur due to trauma or osteoporosis. Any fracture of the lower spine will cause lower back pain, which may radiate to on or both legs.

8. Sciatica

This is a common condition involving one or both sciatic nerves (these are nerves that start from the lower spinal canal and go at the back of the thigh to each leg). The sciatic nerve is one of the largest in the body and if it gets pinched where it leaves the spinal canal it may cause symptoms like low back pain which radiates down the leg. The pain can be excruciating at times and can make the person incapable of performing his day-to-day activities.

9. Disc prolapsed

Commonly known as `slipped disc', this acute condition leads to severe back pain. Slipped disc is common in the lower back as it takes on the extra load during weight bearing. The pain is due to the abnormal position of the cushiony disc in between two vertebrae which presses on the spinal cord.

10. Tumours

Benign or malignant growths involving the lower spine may originate in the spine or spread from other parts of the body. As this weakens the spine, it will lead to lower backache.

Top 10 causes of lower backache

Apart from the above, lower back pain could be due to your occupation; studies have found a higher incidence in dentists, surgeons, miners and truck drivers. Back pain is not common in children, and if persistent, should be thoroughly investigated. Also, gynaecological problems and disorders of the urinary tract like stones in the kidney or ureter should be considered while investigating the cause of low back pain.

Source: Dr Nisreen Nakhoda, General Physician,

Source: Top 10 causes of lower backache

Want to be successful? Think like Thomas Edison

Prakash Iyer, Careers360

Not big on formal education qualifications, the American inventor looked for people with open minds and lots of curiosity!

You've probably heard of the Microsoft interview and the questions they ask prospective employees there ("How would you move Mount Fuji?").

We all have our own stories to tell about the weird questions we got asked at a job interview or a personal interview at a b-school. But have you heard about how Thomas Alva Edison -- the great American inventor -- interviewed people who wanted to work with him? There's an interesting story there!

After the initial round of questions, if Edison came across a bright candidate, he would take him out to dinner before making up his mind on whether to hire.

The interview would continue over dinner, and when the food arrived, Edison would take a bite and remark, "I think this needs more salt!" And then he'd watch the candidate.

If the candidate tasted the food and then decided whether to add the salt -- Edison would hire him. But if he added salt first before tasting the food -- the person would not be hired.

Edison knew that people who easily believed what other people had to say, or made assumptions without first hand knowledge or experience, would not be able to look afresh at problems and find innovative solutions!

They would have closed minds, he reckoned. Edison was looking for people with a mind of their own -- and the conviction to back it.

Has it happened to you that you heard from friends about how difficult it is to get into the IITs and IIMs -- and you then make up your mind that it's very tough and you won't make it there? You then approach the entire admission process with an "I can't do it" attitude. In many cases, we even give up without trying, assuming that we can't do it -- simply because someone else can't do it.

That's no good. And it probably sets you up for failure. Maybe CAT was tough for a friend but you do know that enough people clear the test every year, so no reason why you can't!

Go through it with an open mind -- a positive, can-do attitude -- and the results could be surprising. Talent and intellect are nice to have -- but it's the willingness to give it a shot -- a 100 per cent effort -- that usually makes the difference.

In fact, if you are looking for inspiration, you need look no further than the life of Thomas Edison. The man who invented the light bulb and also founded General Electric was atrue genius.

He was not a great student at school, and had to be pulled out and educated at home. Edison was also hard of hearing. None of that mattered. Edison went on to become a prolific inventor with over a thousand patentsto his credit.

Do you blame your schooling for coming in the way of your success? Do you find yourself blaming your limitations for your failures? Don't. If he could do it, you can too.

Edison famously remarked that "Genius is 1 per cent inspiration, and 99 per cent perspiration".

Now that's a great line to live your life by! Most of us spend a lifetime waiting for the inspiration, instead of sweating it out and slogging at whatever we set out to do. More often than not, success is the result of hard work -- not great ideas.

Remember that. And yes, don't add the salt!

The author is MD, Kimberly-Clark Lever and Executive Coach. For more inspiring life lessons, read Mr Iyer's new book The Habit of Winning.

Source: Want to be successful? Think like Thomas Edison

Monday, August 13, 2012

5 lies women tell men

RealBuzz

The most common lies women tell

We’ve heard the lies that men tell women and now we think it’s about time the ladies came clean too; trust us, they don’t exactly come out smelling of roses. From lying about how many sexual partners they’ve had, to pretending they’re a dress size smaller than they actually are, the females have their fair share of fibs. Here’s the lowdown:

Lies women tell men 1: “I don’t know where it is! I haven’t touched it!”

Whether you’re a man or a woman reading this, you’re probably familiar with the scenario where she tidies up and suddenly his possessions go AWOL. On most of these occasions, the missing item mysteriously appears somewhere obscure, such as in her handbag (what could she possibly want with a beard trimming kit?). When questioned again as to how the missing item got there, she suddenly remembers that she put it there because it was making a mess around the house so she wanted to shove it somewhere out of sight. Men can’t seem to leave anything anywhere without it being swept up and taken elsewhere. If you’re going to move something ladies, at least remember where you moved it to and don’t tell the “I haven’t touched it!” lie to your man. Men know that they need a little help keeping the place clean every now and then, but what’s wrong with putting his things where he can see them? We rest our case. Oh wait, where did that case go? Anyone seen a case?

Lies women tell men 2: “No way! I love that too!”

Women have hobbies – granted. Why is it though, that whatever their love interest enjoys doing in his spare time, this is suddenly their favourite hobby too? A man could tell a woman something random like “I enjoy rock climbing with a purple crayon in my rucksack” and she’d say “no way! I love that too!” Ladies like their love interests to think there’s some sort of profound, deep-rooted connection that makes you love all the things they love and vice versa; this is more weird than impressive when they take it to the extreme though. Gents, next time a lady blatantly pretends to like something just so she can connect with you on guy level, take her to a boring match and snigger quietly into your chips as she struggles to hold her passionate smile in place for a moment longer.

Lies women tell men 3: “I wouldn’t change a thing about you”

When a woman says this, her pants are on fire. A woman might think that there’s nothing she would change about her man, but that’s until she realises his annoying habits and then compiles a dossier of her perfect man in her mind. If they wouldn’t change a thing about men then why do they nag their other half to clean up after themselves, have a shave, and stop leaving the toilet seat up? A woman may say that she loves these mannerisms because “that’s what makes you, you” (alongside all the other men in the world who share the same habits), but when they’re red in the face from yelling at their partner you realise they were just saying that they wouldn’t change anything about them out of politeness. Bless women for being so sensitive towards your feelings.

Lies women tell men 4: “I’ve not had many sexual partners”

When it comes to sexual partners, women are notorious for being economical with the truth. In fact, a recent survey published in the Journal of Sex Research states that a massive 68 per cent of women take a few notches off the bed post when asked about their past sexual encounters. Why? Because no matter how much we try to gloss over it, there is still a large amount of social stigma attached to women who have had their fair share of sexual partners and, with the derogatory labels used to define them, it’s no surprise that women would rather keep the truth to themselves. There’s a general rule of thumb that suggests that when a man says how many women he’s slept with, you should take three off to get an accurate number. For women, you add three on. In a society that has advanced as far as it has today, women should perhaps be treated equally to men, yet unfortunately they still feel pressured to tell porkies when this subject arises.

Lies women tell men 5: “I won’t get mad if you say I don’t look good in this dress”

Ahh this is an old classic. Women want the truth so that they know whether they can wear that dress or not, but when they’re told they look great, they never believe the poor worried man who just dished out this compliment. The reply is often something along the lines of “Great? I look great? Can you not see my muffin top?” When a man says “maybe you should change into something else”, suddenly he becomes the insulting bad guy who hates his other half’s body. This is the ultimate trap that most guys fall into at some point during their life. As soon as a man sees his partner changing into a new dress, he should run for the hills. Either that, or women should just say something along the lines of “tell me the truth or tell me a lie, either way I’ll be mad at you”, to give their partner a chance to hide.

Source: 5 lies women tell men

Thursday, August 09, 2012

Czech President Steals Pen

Czech President Vaclav Klaus caught on tape stealing a pen while on an official visit to Chile. He's very very sneaky!