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Gulshan Kumar Ajmani replied to the topic Controlling attitude towards a partner..
This depends on personality of partners. Some are dominant, others submissive and still others equals. There is a sort of role play in marital relation. Most significant is mutual satisfaction.
8 years ago
Babu saroj replied to the topic payment not received, its almost 1 month over .
i know that, the admin is the only one person who can solve my problem but he is not replying me to my emails then how would i know what is the problem and i also don't know whether he is seeing my e-mails or not.
maverick@boddunan.com is this the admin e-mail address or there is any other one
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic Is there a perfect age for marriage ?.
rambabu wrote:
Yes. The age range between 25 and 26misnthe best choice. Marrying at this age makes the couple know about Compatibility with each other.
The age around 25 is best as a person at this age becomes much mature to understand the feelings of the partner and understands the situations or problems which come in life and is capable enough to solve them. After 30 years or more the person will lost those feelings which he was having at age around 25.
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic Controlling attitude towards a partner..
For a better relation between the two, each partner should respect the feelings of the other. Putting pressure on the other for doing something will bring problems in your relation.
8 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Is there a perfect age for marriage ?.
Yes. The age range between 25 and 26misnthe best choice. Marrying at this age makes the couple know about Compatibility with each other.
8 years ago
MG Singh replied to the topic Is there a perfect age for marriage ?.
Personally I dont believe in a perfect age for marriage. One can marry at any age 30,40 50 or even later.
8 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Again an EarthQuake.
Not only Indian experts, University of Colorado too warned about the future earthquakes in Northeast and other Hill states .
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Big-quake-coming-MHA-experts-06012016009027
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic payment not received, its almost 1 month over .
Only admin can solve your issue, as the payment link is showing your payment status as Pending Admin review.
https://www.boddunan.com/community/payments.html
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic Again an EarthQuake.
Now MHA experts are warning for more powerful earth quake of magnitude 8 or above in the near future which can occur in Himalayan region.
http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/india/big-quake-coming-warn-mha-experts/articleshow/50460908.cms
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic Is there a perfect age for marriage ?.
The best age of being get married is around 25 -26 years, as up to this time most of people completed their education and well settled in their job. Marriages should not be too early (before 18) or should not be too late (beyond 30) because in both situation problems are likely to occur in life.
8 years ago
rambabu created new topic Controlling attitude towards a partner..
Experts say how a controlling attitude towards a partner damages relations between husband and wife.
http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/feelings/when-physical-appearances-takes-a-toll-on-your-relationship/
8 years ago
suni51 created new article Why people suffer from Glioma.
Brain Tumor
I was reading a post a couple of minutes before where the honorable member was saying her phone ringing constantly with calls from her friends and relatives. I congratulate her for having so many calls. I envy her for being so important and look at my phone which is ringing once in 15-20 minutes.
We should understand it that people can suffer from brain tumors at any age but the risk increases as much we become older. However we must look at the reasons behind different types of brain tumors and especially the ones common in younger people.
As I said mobile phones are under constant research whether low level radiation produced by them could be really as serious as projected. It would contradictory but some of the researchers are not sure if the mobile phones pose such a big problem for your brain's health especially the concern about causing brain tumors.
I am lucky as I take the solace in the fact that I have lesser chances of suffering from brain cancer as you might find my excuse a lame one though. But people suffering from cancer in their childhood have a far greater risk of having a brain tumor at the later stage in their life especially the people who had leukemia.
As per the opinion of experts the risk of brain tumor the menin-giomas and to some extent the malignant glioma is far more especially in people who went through head or brain related CT scans, multiple X-rays and radiotherapy tests. The increase in brain tumor risk could well be the cause due to the treatment for in past and radiotherapy of the head.
Brain cancer
On a serious note the chances of suffering from Glioma which is a type of serious brain cancer caused by longer discussion on cell phones. Glioma is a malignant tumor of the glial tissue of the nervous system that is more likely occurring in case a person is in their thirties or around. I hope the particular member attending so many calls is in her late twenties therefore more at risk of suffering from Glioma .
I am not a doctor but I know about few factors, the risk of Glioma is greater especially to the women going under Hormonal therapy or contraceptive pills. It’s a common factor that if you have a history in your family that is any of your parents, siblings suffering or ever diagnosed for a brain tumor, you’re at greater risk compared to others.
I have often times heard that smoking is another reason for brain tumor but what I found it many posts that it smoking related risk is applicable in certain cases and not in all brain related tumors and same is true for drinking alcohol. I found contradictory statements about use of hair dye which according to some specialists is unlikely to increase risk of brain tumor.
Conclusion
I am very much sure that you are feeling and having your own questions as to and why and how people suffer from Glioma and brain tumor. I am not a doctor but I tried my best to collect facts about this dreaded disease. I hope this will help some of your concerns.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article A Dispassionate Analysis of Shivaji Bhonsle: Hindu King under Aurangzeb Rule.
Introduction
Shivaji Mahraj is given great importance in Mahrashtra. One has only to travel in Mahrashtra to realise the extent to which he is adulated. Both the international and domestic airports are named after him and the main rail head at Mumbai is also named after him. In addition scores of places and roads bear the name of Shivaji. One gets the impression that in Mahrashtra there is a paucity of heroes, so much so that every third road or monument is dedicated to him.
Shivaji was born in 1628 and passed away in 1680 at the relative young age of 52. His entire life was spent in the shadow of the greatest Moghul conqueror in Hindustan namely Aurangzeb. Much as we malign Aurangzeb, the fact cannot be oblitered that he reigned over the largest empire ever in India and no other Indian king or emperor including Samrat Ashok ruled over a larger area than Aurangzeb.
Aurangzeb was the Shehan Shah( king of kings) and this was the salutation with which Guru Gobind Singh addressed him in his letter to him in the Zafarnama, which forms part of the " Dusam Granth". Shivaji also like Gobind Singh lived at a time when Aurangzeb was at his pinnacle and the fact is that even after the death of Shivaji in 1680, Aurangzeb lived on for another 27 years before he breathed his last in 1707.
Shivaji ruled in comparison to Aurangzeb, a miniscule area and one must accept the fact that compared to Aurangzeb, Shivaji was a small time ruler. Much of the build up of Shivaji has taken place after Independence and now he is connected as part of the freedom movement as well. However many Western historians who have chronicled the life of Shivaji have concluded that he was a small time chieftain in the Mughal Raj. We can now try and do a bit of research and remove rhetoric and legend from the bald facts of history to see what place does Shivaji have in the pantheon of great kings and soldiers like Chengiz Khan, Ghazni, Alexander and Robert Clive.
Shivaji Contribution as a Soldier
Many romantics in Mahrashtra and the fringe areas around this state talk in glowing terms about Shivaji and his "victory" over the Mughals. But the fact is that outside these areas nobody seems to know about Shivaji as he was a local influence. When I was posted in the Headquarters Eastern Air Command, I was surprised that people in the East had never heard of Shivaji, but they had heard of Robert Clive and Ghazni. So the reader can draw his own conclusions.In Mahrashtra many myths abound and one of them echoed by many erudite persons is that Shivaji soundly defeated Aurangzeb and his army. Many erudite people in Pune informed me about it.
The facts are however different. British historians who have loved India like Cunningham have opined that Shivaji was effectve in only a few districts around Pune, in particular the Western Ghat area and Aurangzeb treated him more like a small time chieftain and bandit, because given the chance he looted the royal treasury. Shivaji thus had limited control over the land ruled by Aurangzeb. He never had a large standing army and except for one pitched battle with the Mughal forces commanded by Raj Jai Singh, the C in C of the Mughal army, he never ventured to fight another battle. In this particular battle known as the Battle of Chakan fought in 1660, the Maratha army under Shivaji was defeated.
Talking of another pitched battle is the Battle of Purandar fought in 1665 between the Mahratha army under Shivaji and the Mughal army sent by Aurangzeb. The Mughal army commander was again Raja Jai Singh and he was assisted by General Dilir Khan. The battle is important as after the death of the Maratha General Murar Baji Prabhu on 2 June 1665, the Mughals steam rolled a victory. Shivaj was defeated and surrendered 23 of his forts.
Shivaji however did win some battles, but mostly they were small affairs and he won when the bulk of the Mughal army had retreated. But he was a brave man, but as I have written bravery is not that brings victory, but tactics and support. The fact is that many Maratha warriors had sided with the Mughals and Shivaji was fighting a battle with one arm tied behind his back. Thus he could not sustain an open battle or invasion like the great conquerors of history like Alexander the Great, Chegiz Khan or Mahmud of Ghazni.
Shivaji resorted to guerrilla tactics and in this he was highly successful. But the writings of Che Guevera and Mao tse Tung who are the masters of the theory of Guerrilla tactics teach us that Guerrilla warfare can harass and tease but a guerrilla war can never on its own win victory. At some stage the Guerrilla war has to be converted to a conventional war and then only will victory come. Mao converted his guerrilla war after the Long March and end of World war II into a conventional war against the Nationalist Forces of Chiang Kai Shek and won. So did Ho Chi Minh who also converted the guerrrilla war into a conventional war in Vietnam in the last stage and overran the South. Garibaldi from Italy is also an example.
Shivaji was a highly successful guerrilla captain of war, but he could not convert his type of warfare to a conventional war and defeat Aurangzeb. This was his fallacy and weakness and the result was that he remained just a pinprick in the massive empire of Aurangzeb that stretched from Afghanistan to Bengal and the deep south. It was only after the death of Aurangzeeb and arrival on the scene of Baji Rao, that the Maratha empire began to take shape. But again it was a short term rule as the Maratha empire was decimated at 1761 in the 3rd battle of Panipat and also crushed by the Duke of Welesley.
Coming to Shivaji one must give him credit for raising the banner of revolt against the great Aurangzeb, who in factual matters was a bigoted ruler. He destroyed Hindu temples and was a pious man. His world of India was through Islamic eyes, but that does not detract from his ability as a great conqueror.
The fact remains that mostly when the Mughal army marched against Shivaji in strength, they always had the better of the jousts. In 1679 the famous battle of BhupalGarh took place. The Mughal army surrounded the fort of Bhupalgarh and Shivaji was defeated.
All this makes very sad reading, but as a soldier I am dispassionate and not swayed by rhetoric. Just before his death the last battle was fought by Shivaji and the Mughals. it was the battle of Sangamner in 1679. This battle took place after Shivaji was returning from a sack of Jalna. The battle lasted for 3 days and ended when the Maratha general Sidhoji Nimbalkar was killed as well as 2000 soldiers. It was a crushing defeat. Shivaji fled teh battle field with 500 soldiers. The curtain came down on Shivaji as he expired next year(1680).
Shivai was no doubt a great and brave man, but in contrast to the great capitans of miitary history, one must conclude that Shivaji was not in the same bracket.
Assessment of Shivaji
Before we pass judgement on Shivaji, one must rememebr the socio economic situation in India at that time. The fact is the Hindus were a defeated lot and there was rampant caste discrimination. In addition to this ills like sati, child marriage and wierd beliefs ruled the roost. The golden age of the Gupta and Muraya Empire was a thing of the past and a new and alien belief had taken hold of the soul of India.
This was a time for someone to rise and carry the Hindu flag. This is also the period when Hindus had no wortwhile leader or hero to emulate or cheer about. Shivaji came on the scene and roused the spirits of the Hindus and for this he must get full marks. There is no doubt his place among the great soldiers and conquerors is not there, but he kept the Hindu flag alive by his bravery and example. To challange the Shehan Shah , Aurangzeb himself the mightiest of the Mughal emperors was no mean feat. Yet, Shivaji took up the sword against him. He could not have success is a fact, but he roused the Hindus and showed that given the will, everything is possible.
After the death of Shivaji and of Aurangzeb, the legacy of Shivaji was carried forward by others and a Maratha empire was established. The roots of this lie in the die hard campaign of Shivaji. For the Mughals the defeats of Shivaji in retrospect were a Phyrric victory as after Aurangzeb the Mughal empire went into decline.
At the same time we must asssess Shivaji as a soldier in world history. His biggest contribution is not that he won or lost, but a chance to show the Hindus and world that they could also fight. But to charactise him as a great conqueror is a misnomer
8 years ago
Nidhi Gautam created new article 4 Effective Yoga Postures for Strengthening Muscles.
Since time immemorial, Yoga has been a most reliable method to heal the common health problems. It is basically about practicing some body postures daily and retaining them for some time limit. It should be practiced at the time of dusk and dawn for better results. There are many Yoga postures that can help you to deal with the health problems such as joint pains, sprains and muscle cramps. Some of them are explained below:
Tadasana:
It is a very effective yoga posture that requires adequate body stretching. First of all, you have to stand straight and bring forward your arms. Gradually raise your hands above and stretch the body properly. Then, you have to stand on your toes. Remain in this position for as much time as you can. It will enhance the flexibility of your backbone. It is very useful Asana for people suffering from pain in backbone. Moreover, it helps in increasing the height also.
Chakrasana:
Chakrasana is another immensely useful Yogasana which helps in increasing the flexibility of leg and arm muscles. In this asana, you have to stand straight with legs apart. Then, bring forward your arms and rotate then once at your left side and then, at your right side or vice-versa. You have to retain the posture for 2 minutes in each direction.
Sarpasana:
This is a form of Yogasana which is inspired by snake. In this you have to practice the posture which makes you look like a snake that is why it is named Sarpasana. You have to lie straight on the floor with stomach touching to the floor and back should be at the upper side. Then touch your hands to the floor and taking the support, start raising your upper body. Raise your head above the floor, same way raise up to the back. Breath normally and try to remain in this position for some time.
Hastutanasana:
This asana is very effective for increasing flexibility of neck bone. In this, you have to stand straight and open your feet in V-shaped position. Slowly raise your hands and try to bend your neck at the back. Try to remain in this position for as much time as you can.
8 years ago
PARVATHY created new article Chronicle of Indian Rickshawala- A Casestudy.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur is an educational institute where rickshaws are widely used as a mode of transportation to circumvent the problem of pollution moreover, a part of a population in Kharagpur depend on this occupation for their livelihood. To plot the life of cycle rickshawala community particularly in the vicinity of IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal, a small scale survey was conducted on a random basis.
IIT Kharagpur houses approximately 57 rickshawalas who have the government license to pursue their job. mostly all age groups are involved in this particular job, and on an average, middle-aged people dominated this occupation in Kharagpur region.It is revealed that most of the rickshawalas in Kharagpur are natives of the same place, unlike the rickshaw pullers in Delhi who are seasonal migrants from neighbouring states.Analysing the survey results it is understood that most of the rickshawalas in Kharagpur have a daily income ranging between Rs 100 and Rs 200 resulting in an average monthly income of Rs 2000 to Rs 3000. But according to the study the earnings of rickshaw puller doesn’t show a consistent pattern, it varies depending on several factors viz. seasons, festivals etc.
None of the rickshaw puller involved in the study have a secondary source of income, except a few from joint family reported that some of their family members also earn. Some rickshawalas are hired by students on a monthly basis for their daily to and fro transportation from hostel to concerned departments. Almost all respondents are suffering from financial debts because meeting the family needs from a scanty income is quite difficult.The major population of rickshawalas found addictive to tobacco, alcohol etc, thereby a part of their income is spent on it. Moreover, all the participants of the survey having children reported that they are sending their children to school out of their financial crisis. Recently started bus service in IIT Kharagpur is identified as a reason for sudden fall in income of the rickshawalas inside the campus. This strengthens the fact that continuous desire of human race to strive for comfort may create unbalance within the society.
On the average most of the rickshawalas were ready to quit this job and take up a better livelihood, but still a few people agreed that they have good sort of satisfaction in their current job. An article in Hindu Newspaper in 2007 reported that one thing that keeps them in this job is the reluctance to learn driving and the price involved. But this was found only partially true from the survey conducted among rickshaw puller of Kharagpur region in West Bengal as most of the individuals were ready to drive motor vehicles, but they are not capable of affording the capital cost involved; since they couldn't own a rickshaw, they use rented ones at the rate of Rs 25 to 30 per day.
For driving a rickshaw in Kharagpur, government license should be availed, which can be obtained from the nearest post office, and the individual has to submit a fee of Rs. 500 for the same which holds a validity of 10 to 12 years.Some of the respondents who are in their fifties and above reported health issues viz. cough chest pain etc. after taking up this occupation, and no proper treatment has been done for the curing of these diseases due to lack of money.They are also concerned about the loss of their daily income while they spend their valuable time in long queues of affordable Government hospitals, so they mainly take on either self-treatment or no treatment.
Helping people reach nearby markets, railway stations, and bus terminals, and allowing them to commute short distances in narrow lanes where cars and auto rickshaws cannot easily travel make rickshawalas an integral part of the transport system in IIT Kharagpur. Being in the job of a rickshawala is neither easy nor well reputed; even though it seems as a small occupation seeking a livelihood, the man effort and hardships are enormous within it.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article Mahmud of Ghazni: Personal Life of a Great Sultan.
Mahmud of Ghazni is recognised as a great soldier. His 17 invasions of India over a period of 27 years are the stuff legends are made off. It's a matter of surprise that Mahmud of Ghazni emerged from Central Asia on to India, through the passes of the North West Frontier and yet none of the Hindu kings of that period had the strategic sense to guard the passes. These passes of the Hindu Kush mountains, notably the Khyber pass were left undefended. By this act they showed poor strategic sense and one can conclude that the Hindu generals and kings were men who had no knowledge of the art of war. That perhaps is the reason that India has produced writers like Vatsyayana who wrote the Kamasutra, but no one wrote anything like Sun Tzu wrote on warfare like his "Art of War."
Mahmud was a great soldier, that is an accepted fact. Muslim writers notably, his court historian Utbi, opine that Mahmud was a devout Muslim who wanted to spread the message of Islam and put an end to idol worship. I am perhaps inclined to agree with the writings of Utbi, for Mahmud at many places and times showed a missionary zeal that transgressed the rationale of a reasoned man as he was swept by passion of Islam to convert and destroy. One cannot fault him for this as in that period, this was the ethos of the kings and rulers and the winner invariably carried out excesses in futherance of his belief or faith. Mahmud thus did nothing out of the ordinary. This also explains his action when he loomed over the Somnath temple.
It is reported that whenMahmud neared Somnath, a force of nearly 50000 Hindus opposed him. Mahmud decimated this Hindu force and killed thousands. While at the gates of the temple, the priests offered Mahmud any amount of money and ranson as a tribute in case he spared the gold idol of the temple, probably a Shiva Linga. Mahmud rejected all offers and announced that he would prefer to be known as a destroyer of idols than a man who saved an idol for money. He reportedly struck at the Shiva Linga with his own sword and shattered it to pieces. This shows the dedication to Islam of Mahmud. But there are many other uncomfortable questions about the personal life of Mahmud and the claim that he was a devout Muslim must be taken with a pinch of salt.
Firstly Mahmud had 9 wives and innumerable concubines as well as men slaves. This is contraray to what is written in the Koran, where a limit of 4 wives is laid down for a devout Muslim. This trangession can perhaps be ignored , but many writers of that period have mentioned that perhaps Mamud was a gay. He was in other words a homosexual and that is something Islam never accepts. Considering that Mahmud also had 9 wives and at least 50 children, there is every probability that he was bisexual.
Mahmud of Ghazni's name is associated with a man named Malik Ayaz. He was a slave from Georgia, but he was the companion to Mahmud of Ghazni.There is enough literature available that points to a deep affection that Mahmud had for this slave. Many poems and stories have been inspired by the love between these two men. There are a set of six poems by Farid al-Din Attar that are inspired by this relationship.
Mahmud had bought Malik Ayaz when he was just 15. He was part of a contingent of 29 slaves and he was selected by Mahmud as his slave( Ghulam). It is surmissed that he won the confidence of the Sultan and entered his bed chamber as well. As a cover up he was married to one of the daughters of the Sultan. This was a ruse that had been practiced earlier by many kings to cover their tracks of a gay relationship.One is reminded that such acts are part of history from the days of Carthage and the relationship of Hamilcar and Hansdrubal.
Malik Ayaz emerges from this relationship as a man who carried himself with dignity. Probably he was very devoted to the Sultan Mahmud and fullfilled all his wishes. He was suitable rewarded and made a general in the army of the Sultan. Thus he rose from a slave to being a general. Further honors were to come to Malik. Mahmud was so smitten by Ayaz that he appointed him governor of Lahore. This was a city Mahmud had captured afer a siege and a great battle. Malik Ayaz was made Governor of Lahore and by all accounts conducted himself with great dignity. He was the first Muslim governor of Lahore and did a lot to beautify the city. He was burried at Lahore, but during the reign of the Sikhs his tomb was destroyed. It was restored by the Pakistan government after 1947.
There are no records of any other gay affairs of Mahmud.But there is no doubt that Mahmud was deeply influenced ny Malik. Thus we have the picture of a man who killed thousands of Hindus in the name odf Islam bowing before a slave. It started as an unequal relationship, but soon Malik was the master and the tables had turned.Mahmud by raising Malik to be the governor of Lahore demonstrated the power of gay love.
Islam does not condone homosexuality in any form and many verses condemn this relationship. But Mahmud of Gjazni did to an extent not only carry on this relationship, but gave it a cloak by marrying one of his daughters to him. By this act Mahmud brough Ayaz into the family and none could point a finger at him. But at times Mahmud must have wrestled with his conscience and one wonders what thoughts went through his mind.
Never the less Mahmud of Ghazni remains a great name in Asian history and for sstudents of history his relationship with Malik Ayaz is worth more than a passing glance. No one remembers the 9 wives of Ghazni, but the name of his slave is part of the life of the Sultan and is known to all. This relationship need not be frowned upon, irrespective of what the Muslim scriptures say. It was a relationship that can be more understood now than the era that Mahmud of Ghazni, that great conqueror lived.
8 years ago
Bajirao created new article Ways to avoid getting sick in winter.
Winter is a season of cold, cough and flu.You can fight the flu season this winter by taking some precautions. Following points will show how easy it is to fight flu and related disease during winter.
Take multi vitamins
Multi vitamins like B-complex, Vitamin C, D and E are good immune boosters. Specially Vitamin D help the body to fight off the cold and reduce the risk of other infections.
Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly
We all know vegetables and fruits are healthy and nutritious for our body. They help to develop the immunity and fight against the illnesses as well. However such fresh produce carry some bacteria and viruses that can cause harm to our body. Hence thorough washing of vegetable and fruits would help to get rid of these infectious agents. Keep the vegetables and fruits in warm water for at least 5 minutes after washing them thoroughly. It will avoid the contact with bacteria and viruses.
Consume Yogurt
Yogurt contains specific strains of bacteria which acts as probiotics and helps to prevent the bacterial imbalances on our body. Some research studies have shown that tha eating yogurt daily reduces the risk of catching infections.
Drink ginger made tea and fluids
Fresh ginger has capability to reduce the risk of respiratory infection. Even if you have already got the respiratory or throat infection, ginger tea helps to fight back the infection. Your symptoms will reduce drastically if you start eating fresh ginger. Some people don't like having tea, they can just add ginger pieces in hot boiling water and drinks that water once or twice a day. Also keep your body hydrated, at least 7-8 glasses of fluid or water every day is necessary.
Consume fish
According to the research study, increasing your Omega-3 intake can stimulate the production of infection fighting cells which can help protect from certain infections. Fish has Omega-3 in large quantity. Broiled, baked or curry fish adds Omega-3 and keeps you healthy. Avoid eating fried fish as it may worsen the condition.
Moderate exercise not Vigorous workout
Moderate workout stimulates the production of epinephrine, which constricts the blood vessels in and around your mucous membrane and relieves the nasal discomfort. However vigorous exercise may worse the condition. Complete lack of workout can make you lazy, tired and drowsy. Hence it is safe to workout moderately.
Wash your hands
Keeps yous hands sanitized by washing them regularly especially after using restroom and prior cooking food. We have tendency to touch our face, eyes or other people when we shake hands, etc. Infection can transmit by mere touching your eyes or face. If your hands are not washed these germs will transmit to other body parts and will increase the risk of infection, especially respiratory infection.
Pranayam for nasal blockage
Pranayam is a practice of controlling your breath. The breathing techniques of Pranayam improves the oxygen supply to our body. One of the Pranayam breathing technique useful to prevent respiratory infection is breathing through right nostril and left nostril is blocked by your thumb and exhaling through left nostril slowly by blocking the right nostril with your thumb. Repeat this exercise 5-6 times every day.
Take required medication
Do not procrastinate the doctor's visit. Get yourself check by a doctor when symptoms are mild and take required medications to avoid further worsening the condition.
Take 8 hours of nap
Regular 7-8 hours of sleep is very essential to keep you healthy and fit. Less than four hours of sleep at night can alter your immune response and potentially increase the inflammation. For better night sleep, avoid smoking and alcohol at night, use dim light bulbs and watch or listen soft music.
These are some of the ways you can avoid falling sick during this winter. Respiratory problems are usually very common during winter hence above tips should help to reduce or overcome such issues.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article Assessment of the Military Prowess of the English vis a vis Indians.
Background
This is a topic that will be of interest to many readers, irrespective of the fact whether they are soldiers or not. I shall in this article analyse the art of war of the English who ruled India for nearly 2 centuries in comparison with Indian chiefs of war. It does not concern individual acts of heroism or bravery, but generally the conduct of military warfare as per the Principles of War as enunciated by Clausewitz, the Prussian general and military thinker. Just for information Clausewitz laid down 10 principles of war, which are the guiding beacons in assessing any war or soldiery.
When I refer to Indians I use this term in the generic sense and include all inhabitants of India, both Moslems and Hindus and Sikhs as well as Buddhists who ruled India for almost 2 centuries as well.
Indians are apt to talk of the great battles fought by Shivaji or Guru Gobind Singh. But all must bear in mind that these warriors though very brave were fighting their battles in a small region of India. None of them could establish any semblance of control outside their areas of influence. As an example both these worthies were unheard of in Assam or deep South.
In contrast the English came from a distance of 5000 miles away from India and won the battles and wars despite the Indians having the home advantage. Thus all Indian rulers from Tippu Sultan to the Maharatha Chiefs and the Sikhs were bearded in their own dens and defeated decisively. Talking purely from a military point of view the English were the better exponents of the art of war and all Indians including Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims bit the dust in battles against them. Except for a battle or two by the Sikhs, it was a disaster for Indian armies to face the English, whose superior tactics and generalship stand out as an an example for all to follow. On the obverse one is saddened when one reads of of Indians with massive forces being bested by the English with fewer soldiers. That was the refrain for 200 years of English rule.
As I have said there were many other factors like turncoats, traitors etc, but all that is part of the game and at the end of the day the English beat the Indians in every department of the game of war.
The Art of War of the English
When Vasco de Gama charted the sea route to Indian in 1498, it was the start of European domination over India. It is a tribute to the handful of Portuguese traders and soldiers who were able to carve a niche for them in India. They were followed later by the English and French who dragged their rivalry in Europe to India. The French lost out to the English who in a matter of decades became the rulers of india.
At the beginning of English rule the one battle that stands out is the Battle of Plessey fought at a place about a 100 miles from Calcutta in 1757. the commander of the English force was Robert Clive. There is an excellent biography of Robert Clive by that great Indian writer Nirad C Choudhry "Clive of India",which is worth reading for connoisseurs of Indian history. There is no doubt that Clive as a general and Officer was streets ahead of any Indian warrior be it Shivaji or Banda Bahadur or Tippu Sultan. He deserves the epithet " Great", though Indians after independence because of political expediency are loathe to refer to him with this title.
I will not recount the battle which can be read in the history books, but mention that Clive defeated a combined Indian force of Muslims and Hindus under Nawab Siraj ud Dowlah which outnumbered him 9 to 1. Not forgetting that the Indian army was aided by French advisors. This battle marks the greatness of Clive who also won the Battle of Buxar ( 1764)and sealed the presence of the English as rulers for the next 2 centuries.
Some factors of the wars the English fought in India need mention. Firstly they were fighting battles almost 5000 miles away from their homeland and secondly they adapted better to conditions of war in the Indian sub-continent than the Indians themselves who had been residents in India for 4000 years.
One of the priciples of war is political aim and military strategy. The political aim was supreme as they were fighting for the King and glory of England. They wished to make England the greatest power on the globe and their generals and soldiers had a missionary zeal. They were a dedicated lot and had a clear cut political aim. We must remember no battle can be won or lost without a political aim. In contrast the Indian opposing them NEVER had a a vision of India as a united nation. They fought as splinter groups and were never united in a political aim and thus the dice was cast against them from the word "go".
A look at any of the ruers or Indian generals during the time of the English era and one can see that they were all pygmies fighting for limited objectives. Thus the Rani of Jhansi was fighting for just her kingdom, so was Tippu and the Sikhs who were happy to rule in Punjab and had no all India vision. This was a stupid idea and soon the British annexed Punjab after the Second Anglo-Sikh war that ended with the battle of Gujerat(1849).
The Maharatha's also suffered badly at the hands of the East India company and the Duke of Wellesley( later the duke of Wellington) who defeated them. This man after Clive is my second great English soldier who bested the Indians in their own den. The Duke is rightly accorded the title " great" as later he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (1815).I have studied the campaigns of the Duke in India and I and many of my instructors at Staff College are convinced that just on the strength of his Indian campaigns the Duke of Wellesley deserves the accolade "great"
The Duke beat the hell out of Tippu Sultan, and Tippu had no choice left. He restored the Hindu dynasty in Mysore which had been deposed by the father of Tippu, Hyder Ali. His army annexed more territory than Shivaji or Hari Singh Nalwa had ever dreamt and that is no small matter. He followed up by crushing the Maratha confederacy in the Deccan region and later forced the Awadh rulers to surrender all their important cities to the British. He was the man who consolidated the work done by Clive and is one of the Great soldiers who existed on the sub- continent.
Richard Welesley folllowed the principles of offence, concentration of force, flexibilty and gathering intelligence in all his battles. This stood him in good stead against the Indian Sataraps, who talked more of rhetoric and bravery and failed to translate their words into action on the battlefield.There was a proposal to make him the Duke of Hindustan, but I won't go into it as in England also politics is involved.
There are many more soldiers from England like Lord General Hugh Gough, General YoungHusband, Lord Kitchner etc who made a mark in India. They beat the Indians in a playing field that was thousands of miles away from their homeland and one can say the odds were stacked against them, yet they won and that is the beauty of their art of war.
Last Word
Now India is free and we must cherish our history. The English rule is part of that history and a lot of good that we see today is the bonus of British rule or the Raj. The English soldiers fought for England no doubt, but they are to be emulated. We must study their single minded devotion to duty to the King and motherland. We must study their art of war.it's a bit of a shame that massive Indian armies were soundly beaten by fewer troops led by English generals. We need to put rhetoric aside and acknowledge greatness where ever due.
The English brought the art of war to the sublime in India. Their use of tactics and strategy in their battles need to be studied. Most Indian generals had no idea of tactics and just massed their soldiers for a massed charge. Battles and war is a serious subject and requires study. The present India ruling dispensation is not aware of the potency of military power. Remember the USA rules on strength of it's military might and so did the English for 300 years. Salute them and copy them. Some lessons are still to be learnt by the Indian political leadership.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article Assessment of the Military Prowess of the English vis a vis Indians.
Background
This is a topic that will be of interest to many readers, irrespective of the fact whether they are soldiers or not. I shall in this article analyse the art of war of the English who ruled India for nearly 2 centuries in comparison with Indian chiefs of war. It does not concern individual acts of heroism or bravery, but generally the conduct of military warfare as per the Principles of War as enunciated by Clausewitz, the Prussian general and military thinker. Just for information Clausewitz laid down 10 principles of war, which are the guiding beacons in assessing any war or soldiery.
When I refer to Indians I use this term in the generic sense and include all inhabitants of India, both Moslems and Hindus and Sikhs as well as Buddhists who ruled India for almost 2 centuries as well.
Indians are apt to talk of the great battles fought by Shivaji or Guru Gobind Singh. But all must bear in mind that these warriors though very brave were fighting their battles in a small region of India. None of them could establish any semblance of control outside their areas of influence. As an example both these worthies were unheard of in Assam or deep South.
In contrast the English came from a distance of 5000 miles away from India and won the battles and wars despite the Indians having the home advantage. Thus all Indian rulers from Tippu Sultan to the Maharatha Chiefs and the Sikhs were bearded in their own dens and defeated decisively. Talking purely from a military point of view the English were the better exponents of the art of war and all Indians including Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims bit the dust in battles against them. Except for a battle or two by the Sikhs, it was a disaster for Indian armies to face the English, whose superior tactics and generalship stand out as an an example for all to follow. On the obverse one is saddened when one reads of of Indians with massive forces being bested by the English with fewer soldiers. That was the refrain for 200 years of English rule.
As I have said there were many other factors like turncoats, traitors etc, but all that is part of the game and at the end of the day the English beat the Indians in every department of the game of war.
The Art of War of the English
When Vasco de Gama charted the sea route to Indian in 1498, it was the start of European domination over India. It is a tribute to the handful of Portuguese traders and soldiers who were able to carve a niche for them in India. They were followed later by the English and French who dragged their rivalry in Europe to India. The French lost out to the English who in a matter of decades became the rulers of india.
At the beginning of English rule the one battle that stands out is the Battle of Plessey fought at a place about a 100 miles from Calcutta in 1757. the commander of the English force was Robert Clive. There is an excellent biography of Robert Clive by that great Indian writer Nirad C Choudhry "Clive of India",which is worth reading for connoisseurs of Indian history. There is no doubt that Clive as a general and Officer was streets ahead of any Indian warrior be it Shivaji or Banda Bahadur or Tippu Sultan. He deserves the epithet " Great", though Indians after independence because of political expediency are loathe to refer to him with this title.
I will not recount the battle which can be read in the history books, but mention that Clive defeated a combined Indian force of Muslims and Hindus under Nawab Siraj ud Dowlah which outnumbered him 9 to 1. Not forgetting that the Indian army was aided by French advisors. This battle marks the greatness of Clive who also won the Battle of Buxar ( 1764)and sealed the presence of the English as rulers for the next 2 centuries.
Some factors of the wars the English fought in India need mention. Firstly they were fighting battles almost 5000 miles away from their homeland and secondly they adapted better to conditions of war in the Indian sub-continent than the Indians themselves who had been residents in India for 4000 years.
One of the priciples of war is political aim and military strategy. The political aim was supreme as they were fighting for the King and glory of England. They wished to make England the greatest power on the globe and their generals and soldiers had a missionary zeal. They were a dedicated lot and had a clear cut political aim. We must remember no battle can be won or lost without a political aim. In contrast the Indian opposing them NEVER had a a vision of India as a united nation. They fought as splinter groups and were never united in a political aim and thus the dice was cast against them from the word "go".
A look at any of the ruers or Indian generals during the time of the English era and one can see that they were all pygmies fighting for limited objectives. Thus the Rani of Jhansi was fighting for just her kingdom, so was Tippu and the Sikhs who were happy to rule in Punjab and had no all India vision. This was a stupid idea and soon the British annexed Punjab after the Second Anglo-Sikh war that ended with the battle of Gujerat(1849).
The Maharatha's also suffered badly at the hands of the East India company and the Duke of Wellesley( later the duke of Wellington) who defeated them. This man after Clive is my second great English soldier who bested the Indians in their own den. The Duke is rightly accorded the title " great" as later he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (1815).I have studied the campaigns of the Duke in India and I and many of my instructors at Staff College are convinced that just on the strength of his Indian campaigns the Duke of Wellesley deserves the accolade "great"
The Duke beat the hell out of Tippu Sultan, and Tippu had no choice left. He restored the Hindu dynasty in Mysore which had been deposed by the father of Tippu, Hyder Ali. His army annexed more territory than Shivaji or Hari Singh Nalwa had ever dreamt and that is no small matter. He followed up by crushing the Maratha confederacy in the Deccan region and later forced the Awadh rulers to surrender all their important cities to the British. He was the man who consolidated the work done by Clive and is one of the Great soldiers who existed on the sub- continent.
Richard Welesley folllowed the principles of offence, concentration of force, flexibilty and gathering intelligence in all his battles. This stood him in good stead against the Indian Sataraps, who talked more of rhetoric and bravery and failed to translate their words into action on the battlefield.There was a proposal to make him the Duke of Hindustan, but I won't go into it as in England also politics is involved.
There are many more soldiers from England like Lord General Hugh Gough, General YoungHusband, Lord Kitchner etc who made a mark in India. They beat the Indians in a playing field that was thousands of miles away from their homeland and one can say the odds were stacked against them, yet they won and that is the beauty of their art of war.
Last Word
Now India is free and we must cherish our history. The English rule is part of that history and a lot of good that we see today is the bonus of British rule or the Raj. The English soldiers fought for England no doubt, but they are to be emulated. We must study their single minded devotion to duty to the King and motherland. We must study their art of war.it's a bit of a shame that massive Indian armies were soundly beaten by fewer troops led by English generals. We need to put rhetoric aside and acknowledge greatness where ever due.
The English brought the art of war to the sublime in India. Their use of tactics and strategy in their battles need to be studied. Most Indian generals had no idea of tactics and just massed their soldiers for a massed charge. Battles and war is a serious subject and requires study. The present India ruling dispensation is not aware of the potency of military power. Remember the USA rules on strength of it's military might and so did the English for 300 years. Salute them and copy them. Some lessons are still to be learnt by the Indian political leadership.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article The Legendary Vikramaditya: A Discussion.
Background
Indian ancient history is in fact the History of Hinduism. This was the onmipotent belief since the dawn of history in India. For a brief period there was a break during the period when the Maurya dynasty ruled India, at that time Buddhism became the state religion, but within a 100 years Hinduism and the Brahaminical cult came back with a vengence.
Over the centuries Indian Kings and rulers have always been equated with God. They were supposed to derive their powers from a pantheon of Hindu gods, who blessed them. One name that creeps up through out Hindu history is that of Vikramaditiya. Historians have not been able to identify who the real Vikramaditiya was or when he lived, but we know that this title has special significance for all Hindus. It represents an image and dream of a just and powerful king who was supposed to have divine powers. This title was used by many kings throughout Indian history.
The last King who used this name was also the last Hindu king who was crowned as emperor of Hindustan in 1555. He was Samrat Hemchand Tukuram Vikramaditiya. He ascended the throne in 1555 and was crowned emperor of Hindustan in the historic Purana Kila( Old Fort), built by Sher Shah Suri. This man had earlier ousted the Mughal rulers and seized power in Delhi. Hemchand Tukuram popularly called Hemu was a general in the army of Sher Shah, but by dint of his prowess and ability siezed power and crowned himself as emperor of Hindustan. He was the last Hindu king to be crowned at Delhi. Samrat Hemchand Tukuram is often referred to as the Napoleon of India as in a short span of 2 years, he defeated the Muslims and the Mughals in 22 battles on the trot and captured Delhi.
Subsequently by a quirk of fate, Hemu lost at the 2nd battle of Panipat(1556) and was beheaded by Akbar, when he was almost unconscious. But his names lives on as a great and powerful warrior. Why did Hemu assume the title of " Vikramaditiya"? The answer is that for centuries the name of Viramaditiya is revered as a king who was both just and wise and was blessed by the divine. Hindus look up to Vikramaditiya as a sort of super king who could do no wrong. But again as I have mentioned the real Vikramaditiya and his period has never been conclusively identified.
The Legend of Vikramaditiya
If one visits the complex of Kutab Minar built by Kutabbadin Aibik at Delhi, one will come across a metal pillar that for centuries has not rusted. Nobody till date has been able to analayse the metallurgy of the material with which this pillar was made. Historians have traced its origin to what is known as the Golden Age of India, namely when the Gupta Empire flourished in India, just after the demise of the Maurya dynasty.
This pillar has some inscriptions on it which point to the fact that this is the handiwork of Chandragupta II, who was one of the greatest rulers of the Gupta period. He also assumed the title of Vikramaditiya.His reign was probably from 375CE-415CE. Chandragupta Vikramaditiya was a great warrior and carried out many conquests. He probably had heard of the Legendary Vikramaditiya who was supposed to have ruled from Ujjain and so he made Ujjain his second capital in addition to Pataliputra( Modern Patna).From this one can make an estimate of the size of the empire of Chandragupta Viramaditiya.
From the pillar at Mehrauli in the Kutab Minar Complex we learn of the conquests of Chandragupta II and now we can estimate that he ruled over a gigantic empire that even encompassed Afghanistan.
He was one of the greatest kings, but again he was not the real Vikramaditiya.Chandragupta Vikramaditiya was like celestial kings fond of the fine arts, which he encouraged during his reign. He is supposed to have 9 gems in his court , who represnted the epitome of creative arts. Two of them are well known and are the poet Kalidasa and astronomer Varahamihira. To an extent the title Vikramadity does fit Chandragupta II.
Historians have been searching for the real Vikramaditiya. A study of history reveals another king who assumed this title and he was Vikramaditiya VI( 1076-1126CE). He belonged to the Chalukya dynasty and had the longest reign in his dynasty. He was often referred to as Permadideva and Tribhuvanamalla, literally meaning Lord of the Three Worlds. He was like Chandragupta II also a patron of the fine arts as well as a great warrior. His court had a multitude of Sanskrit and Kannada Poets.
Many historians also refer to Chandragupta Mauraya as Vikramaditiya. He came to power after the exit of the Greeks. He also conquered the entire North india and is considered as Vikramaditya also.One thing that needs to be mentioned is that no legend is without any basis. Obviously there was some one who was the real Vikramaditiya. We have a clue if a person goes to Ujjain. This city as we know is one of the oldest cities in India and mention of this is made in the Puranas. It is also one of the recognised holy cities in Hinduism.
A tourist guide will take you to many places and along the banks of the Narmada river will take you to the Sihasan ( Throne) of Vikramaditya. This is a very old and dilipadated structure and one can make out that it must be very ancient. The guide will explain that the original Vikramaditya sat on this throne, which is in reality a replica as the original throne on which Vikramaditya sat ascended to heaven. I have seen this throne, but I am not sure I believe the story of the throne ascending into the skies and going to heaven.
I do believe that there was a Vikramaditya who probaly ruled from Ujjain. A refence to the Puranas gives a date of 1st century BCE. this is clearly mentioned in the Bhavishiya Purana. This book also states he was the son of King Ghandharvasena. Vikramadatiya lived to the age of 87 and probably died in 15CE. He was a man of great valor and infinite wisdom and in all probability subsequent kings took him as a role model and adopted his name.
The only source of information of this legendary king is the Bhavishiya Purana. Historians have not been able to uncover any further facts about him, despite extensive research. The only 'evidence' is his throne at Ujjain.
The Original Vikramaditiya
The great king Vikramadity has a number of legends. Again most of them have come down by word of mouth since centuries. Many stories abound about this king and the most famous ones are his encounters with a Vetala, a supernatural creature. The first of these is a set of 25 tales called the Panchvimshati. There are another additional 32 tales called the Simhasana- Dwatrimshika. In both these tales the central character is Vikramaditiya. There is however a subtle difference between the tales.
The first set of tales relate how the Vetala poses many intricate puzzles and questions to Vikramaditiya, who solves all of them. In the second set of tales Raja Bhoj another mythical king from Hindu lore tries to ascend the throne of Vikramaditiya which has 32 steps, each set is adorned by the statue of a beautiful female. Raja Bhoj is stopped at each step by the female statues till he finally ascends to the throne of Vikramaditiya, after the female statues are impressed by his humilty. There are many versions of these tales and one cannot say which is authentic.
The King Vikramaditya is part of Hindu Psyche. As already brought out the only mention of him is in the Bhavishiya Purana, but that does not mean it's not true. The Bhavishiya Purana is true in many other prophsies as well, like forcasting the arrival of Muhammad. In all likelihood there was a Raja Vikramaditiya, who was greatly loved by his people. He was also a wise and just king. This reverence for Viramaditiya has found expression in the modern age with the Indian navy's most powerful warship, the aircraft carrier being named after Vikramaditiya.
The legend of Emperor Vikramaditiya is both interesting and thrilling. I have litle doubt that a Vikramaditiya did exist in flesh and blood and by all acounts must have been a great and just king. It's about time Hindus glorified their wonderful heritage, which in most ways is unmatched all over the world
8 years ago
Gulshan Kumar Ajmani replied to the topic Controlling attitude towards a partner..
This depends on personality of partners. Some are dominant, others submissive and still others equals. There is a sort of role play in marital relation. Most significant is mutual satisfaction.
8 years ago
Babu saroj replied to the topic payment not received, its almost 1 month over .
i know that, the admin is the only one person who can solve my problem but he is not replying me to my emails then how would i know what is the problem and i also don't know whether he is seeing my e-mails or not.
maverick@boddunan.com is this the admin e-mail address or there is any other one
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic Is there a perfect age for marriage ?.
rambabu wrote:
Yes. The age range between 25 and 26misnthe best choice. Marrying at this age makes the couple know about Compatibility with each other.
The age around 25 is best as a person at this age becomes much mature to understand the feelings of the partner and understands the situations or problems which come in life and is capable enough to solve them. After 30 years or more the person will lost those feelings which he was having at age around 25.
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic Controlling attitude towards a partner..
For a better relation between the two, each partner should respect the feelings of the other. Putting pressure on the other for doing something will bring problems in your relation.
8 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Is there a perfect age for marriage ?.
Yes. The age range between 25 and 26misnthe best choice. Marrying at this age makes the couple know about Compatibility with each other.
8 years ago
MG Singh replied to the topic Is there a perfect age for marriage ?.
Personally I dont believe in a perfect age for marriage. One can marry at any age 30,40 50 or even later.
8 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Again an EarthQuake.
Not only Indian experts, University of Colorado too warned about the future earthquakes in Northeast and other Hill states .
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Big-quake-coming-MHA-experts-06012016009027
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic payment not received, its almost 1 month over .
Only admin can solve your issue, as the payment link is showing your payment status as Pending Admin review.
https://www.boddunan.com/community/payments.html
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic Again an EarthQuake.
Now MHA experts are warning for more powerful earth quake of magnitude 8 or above in the near future which can occur in Himalayan region.
http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/india/big-quake-coming-warn-mha-experts/articleshow/50460908.cms
8 years ago
Manoj Kumar Lamba replied to the topic Is there a perfect age for marriage ?.
The best age of being get married is around 25 -26 years, as up to this time most of people completed their education and well settled in their job. Marriages should not be too early (before 18) or should not be too late (beyond 30) because in both situation problems are likely to occur in life.
8 years ago
rambabu created new topic Controlling attitude towards a partner..
Experts say how a controlling attitude towards a partner damages relations between husband and wife.
http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/feelings/when-physical-appearances-takes-a-toll-on-your-relationship/
8 years ago
suni51 created new article Why people suffer from Glioma.
Brain Tumor
I was reading a post a couple of minutes before where the honorable member was saying her phone ringing constantly with calls from her friends and relatives. I congratulate her for having so many calls. I envy her for being so important and look at my phone which is ringing once in 15-20 minutes.
We should understand it that people can suffer from brain tumors at any age but the risk increases as much we become older. However we must look at the reasons behind different types of brain tumors and especially the ones common in younger people.
As I said mobile phones are under constant research whether low level radiation produced by them could be really as serious as projected. It would contradictory but some of the researchers are not sure if the mobile phones pose such a big problem for your brain's health especially the concern about causing brain tumors.
I am lucky as I take the solace in the fact that I have lesser chances of suffering from brain cancer as you might find my excuse a lame one though. But people suffering from cancer in their childhood have a far greater risk of having a brain tumor at the later stage in their life especially the people who had leukemia.
As per the opinion of experts the risk of brain tumor the menin-giomas and to some extent the malignant glioma is far more especially in people who went through head or brain related CT scans, multiple X-rays and radiotherapy tests. The increase in brain tumor risk could well be the cause due to the treatment for in past and radiotherapy of the head.
Brain cancer
On a serious note the chances of suffering from Glioma which is a type of serious brain cancer caused by longer discussion on cell phones. Glioma is a malignant tumor of the glial tissue of the nervous system that is more likely occurring in case a person is in their thirties or around. I hope the particular member attending so many calls is in her late twenties therefore more at risk of suffering from Glioma .
I am not a doctor but I know about few factors, the risk of Glioma is greater especially to the women going under Hormonal therapy or contraceptive pills. It’s a common factor that if you have a history in your family that is any of your parents, siblings suffering or ever diagnosed for a brain tumor, you’re at greater risk compared to others.
I have often times heard that smoking is another reason for brain tumor but what I found it many posts that it smoking related risk is applicable in certain cases and not in all brain related tumors and same is true for drinking alcohol. I found contradictory statements about use of hair dye which according to some specialists is unlikely to increase risk of brain tumor.
Conclusion
I am very much sure that you are feeling and having your own questions as to and why and how people suffer from Glioma and brain tumor. I am not a doctor but I tried my best to collect facts about this dreaded disease. I hope this will help some of your concerns.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article A Dispassionate Analysis of Shivaji Bhonsle: Hindu King under Aurangzeb Rule.
Introduction
Shivaji Mahraj is given great importance in Mahrashtra. One has only to travel in Mahrashtra to realise the extent to which he is adulated. Both the international and domestic airports are named after him and the main rail head at Mumbai is also named after him. In addition scores of places and roads bear the name of Shivaji. One gets the impression that in Mahrashtra there is a paucity of heroes, so much so that every third road or monument is dedicated to him.
Shivaji was born in 1628 and passed away in 1680 at the relative young age of 52. His entire life was spent in the shadow of the greatest Moghul conqueror in Hindustan namely Aurangzeb. Much as we malign Aurangzeb, the fact cannot be oblitered that he reigned over the largest empire ever in India and no other Indian king or emperor including Samrat Ashok ruled over a larger area than Aurangzeb.
Aurangzeb was the Shehan Shah( king of kings) and this was the salutation with which Guru Gobind Singh addressed him in his letter to him in the Zafarnama, which forms part of the " Dusam Granth". Shivaji also like Gobind Singh lived at a time when Aurangzeb was at his pinnacle and the fact is that even after the death of Shivaji in 1680, Aurangzeb lived on for another 27 years before he breathed his last in 1707.
Shivaji ruled in comparison to Aurangzeb, a miniscule area and one must accept the fact that compared to Aurangzeb, Shivaji was a small time ruler. Much of the build up of Shivaji has taken place after Independence and now he is connected as part of the freedom movement as well. However many Western historians who have chronicled the life of Shivaji have concluded that he was a small time chieftain in the Mughal Raj. We can now try and do a bit of research and remove rhetoric and legend from the bald facts of history to see what place does Shivaji have in the pantheon of great kings and soldiers like Chengiz Khan, Ghazni, Alexander and Robert Clive.
Shivaji Contribution as a Soldier
Many romantics in Mahrashtra and the fringe areas around this state talk in glowing terms about Shivaji and his "victory" over the Mughals. But the fact is that outside these areas nobody seems to know about Shivaji as he was a local influence. When I was posted in the Headquarters Eastern Air Command, I was surprised that people in the East had never heard of Shivaji, but they had heard of Robert Clive and Ghazni. So the reader can draw his own conclusions.In Mahrashtra many myths abound and one of them echoed by many erudite persons is that Shivaji soundly defeated Aurangzeb and his army. Many erudite people in Pune informed me about it.
The facts are however different. British historians who have loved India like Cunningham have opined that Shivaji was effectve in only a few districts around Pune, in particular the Western Ghat area and Aurangzeb treated him more like a small time chieftain and bandit, because given the chance he looted the royal treasury. Shivaji thus had limited control over the land ruled by Aurangzeb. He never had a large standing army and except for one pitched battle with the Mughal forces commanded by Raj Jai Singh, the C in C of the Mughal army, he never ventured to fight another battle. In this particular battle known as the Battle of Chakan fought in 1660, the Maratha army under Shivaji was defeated.
Talking of another pitched battle is the Battle of Purandar fought in 1665 between the Mahratha army under Shivaji and the Mughal army sent by Aurangzeb. The Mughal army commander was again Raja Jai Singh and he was assisted by General Dilir Khan. The battle is important as after the death of the Maratha General Murar Baji Prabhu on 2 June 1665, the Mughals steam rolled a victory. Shivaj was defeated and surrendered 23 of his forts.
Shivaji however did win some battles, but mostly they were small affairs and he won when the bulk of the Mughal army had retreated. But he was a brave man, but as I have written bravery is not that brings victory, but tactics and support. The fact is that many Maratha warriors had sided with the Mughals and Shivaji was fighting a battle with one arm tied behind his back. Thus he could not sustain an open battle or invasion like the great conquerors of history like Alexander the Great, Chegiz Khan or Mahmud of Ghazni.
Shivaji resorted to guerrilla tactics and in this he was highly successful. But the writings of Che Guevera and Mao tse Tung who are the masters of the theory of Guerrilla tactics teach us that Guerrilla warfare can harass and tease but a guerrilla war can never on its own win victory. At some stage the Guerrilla war has to be converted to a conventional war and then only will victory come. Mao converted his guerrilla war after the Long March and end of World war II into a conventional war against the Nationalist Forces of Chiang Kai Shek and won. So did Ho Chi Minh who also converted the guerrrilla war into a conventional war in Vietnam in the last stage and overran the South. Garibaldi from Italy is also an example.
Shivaji was a highly successful guerrilla captain of war, but he could not convert his type of warfare to a conventional war and defeat Aurangzeb. This was his fallacy and weakness and the result was that he remained just a pinprick in the massive empire of Aurangzeb that stretched from Afghanistan to Bengal and the deep south. It was only after the death of Aurangzeeb and arrival on the scene of Baji Rao, that the Maratha empire began to take shape. But again it was a short term rule as the Maratha empire was decimated at 1761 in the 3rd battle of Panipat and also crushed by the Duke of Welesley.
Coming to Shivaji one must give him credit for raising the banner of revolt against the great Aurangzeb, who in factual matters was a bigoted ruler. He destroyed Hindu temples and was a pious man. His world of India was through Islamic eyes, but that does not detract from his ability as a great conqueror.
The fact remains that mostly when the Mughal army marched against Shivaji in strength, they always had the better of the jousts. In 1679 the famous battle of BhupalGarh took place. The Mughal army surrounded the fort of Bhupalgarh and Shivaji was defeated.
All this makes very sad reading, but as a soldier I am dispassionate and not swayed by rhetoric. Just before his death the last battle was fought by Shivaji and the Mughals. it was the battle of Sangamner in 1679. This battle took place after Shivaji was returning from a sack of Jalna. The battle lasted for 3 days and ended when the Maratha general Sidhoji Nimbalkar was killed as well as 2000 soldiers. It was a crushing defeat. Shivaji fled teh battle field with 500 soldiers. The curtain came down on Shivaji as he expired next year(1680).
Shivai was no doubt a great and brave man, but in contrast to the great capitans of miitary history, one must conclude that Shivaji was not in the same bracket.
Assessment of Shivaji
Before we pass judgement on Shivaji, one must rememebr the socio economic situation in India at that time. The fact is the Hindus were a defeated lot and there was rampant caste discrimination. In addition to this ills like sati, child marriage and wierd beliefs ruled the roost. The golden age of the Gupta and Muraya Empire was a thing of the past and a new and alien belief had taken hold of the soul of India.
This was a time for someone to rise and carry the Hindu flag. This is also the period when Hindus had no wortwhile leader or hero to emulate or cheer about. Shivaji came on the scene and roused the spirits of the Hindus and for this he must get full marks. There is no doubt his place among the great soldiers and conquerors is not there, but he kept the Hindu flag alive by his bravery and example. To challange the Shehan Shah , Aurangzeb himself the mightiest of the Mughal emperors was no mean feat. Yet, Shivaji took up the sword against him. He could not have success is a fact, but he roused the Hindus and showed that given the will, everything is possible.
After the death of Shivaji and of Aurangzeb, the legacy of Shivaji was carried forward by others and a Maratha empire was established. The roots of this lie in the die hard campaign of Shivaji. For the Mughals the defeats of Shivaji in retrospect were a Phyrric victory as after Aurangzeb the Mughal empire went into decline.
At the same time we must asssess Shivaji as a soldier in world history. His biggest contribution is not that he won or lost, but a chance to show the Hindus and world that they could also fight. But to charactise him as a great conqueror is a misnomer
8 years ago
Nidhi Gautam created new article 4 Effective Yoga Postures for Strengthening Muscles.
Since time immemorial, Yoga has been a most reliable method to heal the common health problems. It is basically about practicing some body postures daily and retaining them for some time limit. It should be practiced at the time of dusk and dawn for better results. There are many Yoga postures that can help you to deal with the health problems such as joint pains, sprains and muscle cramps. Some of them are explained below:
Tadasana:
It is a very effective yoga posture that requires adequate body stretching. First of all, you have to stand straight and bring forward your arms. Gradually raise your hands above and stretch the body properly. Then, you have to stand on your toes. Remain in this position for as much time as you can. It will enhance the flexibility of your backbone. It is very useful Asana for people suffering from pain in backbone. Moreover, it helps in increasing the height also.
Chakrasana:
Chakrasana is another immensely useful Yogasana which helps in increasing the flexibility of leg and arm muscles. In this asana, you have to stand straight with legs apart. Then, bring forward your arms and rotate then once at your left side and then, at your right side or vice-versa. You have to retain the posture for 2 minutes in each direction.
Sarpasana:
This is a form of Yogasana which is inspired by snake. In this you have to practice the posture which makes you look like a snake that is why it is named Sarpasana. You have to lie straight on the floor with stomach touching to the floor and back should be at the upper side. Then touch your hands to the floor and taking the support, start raising your upper body. Raise your head above the floor, same way raise up to the back. Breath normally and try to remain in this position for some time.
Hastutanasana:
This asana is very effective for increasing flexibility of neck bone. In this, you have to stand straight and open your feet in V-shaped position. Slowly raise your hands and try to bend your neck at the back. Try to remain in this position for as much time as you can.
8 years ago
PARVATHY created new article Chronicle of Indian Rickshawala- A Casestudy.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur is an educational institute where rickshaws are widely used as a mode of transportation to circumvent the problem of pollution moreover, a part of a population in Kharagpur depend on this occupation for their livelihood. To plot the life of cycle rickshawala community particularly in the vicinity of IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal, a small scale survey was conducted on a random basis.
IIT Kharagpur houses approximately 57 rickshawalas who have the government license to pursue their job. mostly all age groups are involved in this particular job, and on an average, middle-aged people dominated this occupation in Kharagpur region.It is revealed that most of the rickshawalas in Kharagpur are natives of the same place, unlike the rickshaw pullers in Delhi who are seasonal migrants from neighbouring states.Analysing the survey results it is understood that most of the rickshawalas in Kharagpur have a daily income ranging between Rs 100 and Rs 200 resulting in an average monthly income of Rs 2000 to Rs 3000. But according to the study the earnings of rickshaw puller doesn’t show a consistent pattern, it varies depending on several factors viz. seasons, festivals etc.
None of the rickshaw puller involved in the study have a secondary source of income, except a few from joint family reported that some of their family members also earn. Some rickshawalas are hired by students on a monthly basis for their daily to and fro transportation from hostel to concerned departments. Almost all respondents are suffering from financial debts because meeting the family needs from a scanty income is quite difficult.The major population of rickshawalas found addictive to tobacco, alcohol etc, thereby a part of their income is spent on it. Moreover, all the participants of the survey having children reported that they are sending their children to school out of their financial crisis. Recently started bus service in IIT Kharagpur is identified as a reason for sudden fall in income of the rickshawalas inside the campus. This strengthens the fact that continuous desire of human race to strive for comfort may create unbalance within the society.
On the average most of the rickshawalas were ready to quit this job and take up a better livelihood, but still a few people agreed that they have good sort of satisfaction in their current job. An article in Hindu Newspaper in 2007 reported that one thing that keeps them in this job is the reluctance to learn driving and the price involved. But this was found only partially true from the survey conducted among rickshaw puller of Kharagpur region in West Bengal as most of the individuals were ready to drive motor vehicles, but they are not capable of affording the capital cost involved; since they couldn't own a rickshaw, they use rented ones at the rate of Rs 25 to 30 per day.
For driving a rickshaw in Kharagpur, government license should be availed, which can be obtained from the nearest post office, and the individual has to submit a fee of Rs. 500 for the same which holds a validity of 10 to 12 years.Some of the respondents who are in their fifties and above reported health issues viz. cough chest pain etc. after taking up this occupation, and no proper treatment has been done for the curing of these diseases due to lack of money.They are also concerned about the loss of their daily income while they spend their valuable time in long queues of affordable Government hospitals, so they mainly take on either self-treatment or no treatment.
Helping people reach nearby markets, railway stations, and bus terminals, and allowing them to commute short distances in narrow lanes where cars and auto rickshaws cannot easily travel make rickshawalas an integral part of the transport system in IIT Kharagpur. Being in the job of a rickshawala is neither easy nor well reputed; even though it seems as a small occupation seeking a livelihood, the man effort and hardships are enormous within it.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article Mahmud of Ghazni: Personal Life of a Great Sultan.
Mahmud of Ghazni is recognised as a great soldier. His 17 invasions of India over a period of 27 years are the stuff legends are made off. It's a matter of surprise that Mahmud of Ghazni emerged from Central Asia on to India, through the passes of the North West Frontier and yet none of the Hindu kings of that period had the strategic sense to guard the passes. These passes of the Hindu Kush mountains, notably the Khyber pass were left undefended. By this act they showed poor strategic sense and one can conclude that the Hindu generals and kings were men who had no knowledge of the art of war. That perhaps is the reason that India has produced writers like Vatsyayana who wrote the Kamasutra, but no one wrote anything like Sun Tzu wrote on warfare like his "Art of War."
Mahmud was a great soldier, that is an accepted fact. Muslim writers notably, his court historian Utbi, opine that Mahmud was a devout Muslim who wanted to spread the message of Islam and put an end to idol worship. I am perhaps inclined to agree with the writings of Utbi, for Mahmud at many places and times showed a missionary zeal that transgressed the rationale of a reasoned man as he was swept by passion of Islam to convert and destroy. One cannot fault him for this as in that period, this was the ethos of the kings and rulers and the winner invariably carried out excesses in futherance of his belief or faith. Mahmud thus did nothing out of the ordinary. This also explains his action when he loomed over the Somnath temple.
It is reported that whenMahmud neared Somnath, a force of nearly 50000 Hindus opposed him. Mahmud decimated this Hindu force and killed thousands. While at the gates of the temple, the priests offered Mahmud any amount of money and ranson as a tribute in case he spared the gold idol of the temple, probably a Shiva Linga. Mahmud rejected all offers and announced that he would prefer to be known as a destroyer of idols than a man who saved an idol for money. He reportedly struck at the Shiva Linga with his own sword and shattered it to pieces. This shows the dedication to Islam of Mahmud. But there are many other uncomfortable questions about the personal life of Mahmud and the claim that he was a devout Muslim must be taken with a pinch of salt.
Firstly Mahmud had 9 wives and innumerable concubines as well as men slaves. This is contraray to what is written in the Koran, where a limit of 4 wives is laid down for a devout Muslim. This trangession can perhaps be ignored , but many writers of that period have mentioned that perhaps Mamud was a gay. He was in other words a homosexual and that is something Islam never accepts. Considering that Mahmud also had 9 wives and at least 50 children, there is every probability that he was bisexual.
Mahmud of Ghazni's name is associated with a man named Malik Ayaz. He was a slave from Georgia, but he was the companion to Mahmud of Ghazni.There is enough literature available that points to a deep affection that Mahmud had for this slave. Many poems and stories have been inspired by the love between these two men. There are a set of six poems by Farid al-Din Attar that are inspired by this relationship.
Mahmud had bought Malik Ayaz when he was just 15. He was part of a contingent of 29 slaves and he was selected by Mahmud as his slave( Ghulam). It is surmissed that he won the confidence of the Sultan and entered his bed chamber as well. As a cover up he was married to one of the daughters of the Sultan. This was a ruse that had been practiced earlier by many kings to cover their tracks of a gay relationship.One is reminded that such acts are part of history from the days of Carthage and the relationship of Hamilcar and Hansdrubal.
Malik Ayaz emerges from this relationship as a man who carried himself with dignity. Probably he was very devoted to the Sultan Mahmud and fullfilled all his wishes. He was suitable rewarded and made a general in the army of the Sultan. Thus he rose from a slave to being a general. Further honors were to come to Malik. Mahmud was so smitten by Ayaz that he appointed him governor of Lahore. This was a city Mahmud had captured afer a siege and a great battle. Malik Ayaz was made Governor of Lahore and by all accounts conducted himself with great dignity. He was the first Muslim governor of Lahore and did a lot to beautify the city. He was burried at Lahore, but during the reign of the Sikhs his tomb was destroyed. It was restored by the Pakistan government after 1947.
There are no records of any other gay affairs of Mahmud.But there is no doubt that Mahmud was deeply influenced ny Malik. Thus we have the picture of a man who killed thousands of Hindus in the name odf Islam bowing before a slave. It started as an unequal relationship, but soon Malik was the master and the tables had turned.Mahmud by raising Malik to be the governor of Lahore demonstrated the power of gay love.
Islam does not condone homosexuality in any form and many verses condemn this relationship. But Mahmud of Gjazni did to an extent not only carry on this relationship, but gave it a cloak by marrying one of his daughters to him. By this act Mahmud brough Ayaz into the family and none could point a finger at him. But at times Mahmud must have wrestled with his conscience and one wonders what thoughts went through his mind.
Never the less Mahmud of Ghazni remains a great name in Asian history and for sstudents of history his relationship with Malik Ayaz is worth more than a passing glance. No one remembers the 9 wives of Ghazni, but the name of his slave is part of the life of the Sultan and is known to all. This relationship need not be frowned upon, irrespective of what the Muslim scriptures say. It was a relationship that can be more understood now than the era that Mahmud of Ghazni, that great conqueror lived.
8 years ago
Bajirao created new article Ways to avoid getting sick in winter.
Winter is a season of cold, cough and flu.You can fight the flu season this winter by taking some precautions. Following points will show how easy it is to fight flu and related disease during winter.
Take multi vitamins
Multi vitamins like B-complex, Vitamin C, D and E are good immune boosters. Specially Vitamin D help the body to fight off the cold and reduce the risk of other infections.
Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly
We all know vegetables and fruits are healthy and nutritious for our body. They help to develop the immunity and fight against the illnesses as well. However such fresh produce carry some bacteria and viruses that can cause harm to our body. Hence thorough washing of vegetable and fruits would help to get rid of these infectious agents. Keep the vegetables and fruits in warm water for at least 5 minutes after washing them thoroughly. It will avoid the contact with bacteria and viruses.
Consume Yogurt
Yogurt contains specific strains of bacteria which acts as probiotics and helps to prevent the bacterial imbalances on our body. Some research studies have shown that tha eating yogurt daily reduces the risk of catching infections.
Drink ginger made tea and fluids
Fresh ginger has capability to reduce the risk of respiratory infection. Even if you have already got the respiratory or throat infection, ginger tea helps to fight back the infection. Your symptoms will reduce drastically if you start eating fresh ginger. Some people don't like having tea, they can just add ginger pieces in hot boiling water and drinks that water once or twice a day. Also keep your body hydrated, at least 7-8 glasses of fluid or water every day is necessary.
Consume fish
According to the research study, increasing your Omega-3 intake can stimulate the production of infection fighting cells which can help protect from certain infections. Fish has Omega-3 in large quantity. Broiled, baked or curry fish adds Omega-3 and keeps you healthy. Avoid eating fried fish as it may worsen the condition.
Moderate exercise not Vigorous workout
Moderate workout stimulates the production of epinephrine, which constricts the blood vessels in and around your mucous membrane and relieves the nasal discomfort. However vigorous exercise may worse the condition. Complete lack of workout can make you lazy, tired and drowsy. Hence it is safe to workout moderately.
Wash your hands
Keeps yous hands sanitized by washing them regularly especially after using restroom and prior cooking food. We have tendency to touch our face, eyes or other people when we shake hands, etc. Infection can transmit by mere touching your eyes or face. If your hands are not washed these germs will transmit to other body parts and will increase the risk of infection, especially respiratory infection.
Pranayam for nasal blockage
Pranayam is a practice of controlling your breath. The breathing techniques of Pranayam improves the oxygen supply to our body. One of the Pranayam breathing technique useful to prevent respiratory infection is breathing through right nostril and left nostril is blocked by your thumb and exhaling through left nostril slowly by blocking the right nostril with your thumb. Repeat this exercise 5-6 times every day.
Take required medication
Do not procrastinate the doctor's visit. Get yourself check by a doctor when symptoms are mild and take required medications to avoid further worsening the condition.
Take 8 hours of nap
Regular 7-8 hours of sleep is very essential to keep you healthy and fit. Less than four hours of sleep at night can alter your immune response and potentially increase the inflammation. For better night sleep, avoid smoking and alcohol at night, use dim light bulbs and watch or listen soft music.
These are some of the ways you can avoid falling sick during this winter. Respiratory problems are usually very common during winter hence above tips should help to reduce or overcome such issues.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article Assessment of the Military Prowess of the English vis a vis Indians.
Background
This is a topic that will be of interest to many readers, irrespective of the fact whether they are soldiers or not. I shall in this article analyse the art of war of the English who ruled India for nearly 2 centuries in comparison with Indian chiefs of war. It does not concern individual acts of heroism or bravery, but generally the conduct of military warfare as per the Principles of War as enunciated by Clausewitz, the Prussian general and military thinker. Just for information Clausewitz laid down 10 principles of war, which are the guiding beacons in assessing any war or soldiery.
When I refer to Indians I use this term in the generic sense and include all inhabitants of India, both Moslems and Hindus and Sikhs as well as Buddhists who ruled India for almost 2 centuries as well.
Indians are apt to talk of the great battles fought by Shivaji or Guru Gobind Singh. But all must bear in mind that these warriors though very brave were fighting their battles in a small region of India. None of them could establish any semblance of control outside their areas of influence. As an example both these worthies were unheard of in Assam or deep South.
In contrast the English came from a distance of 5000 miles away from India and won the battles and wars despite the Indians having the home advantage. Thus all Indian rulers from Tippu Sultan to the Maharatha Chiefs and the Sikhs were bearded in their own dens and defeated decisively. Talking purely from a military point of view the English were the better exponents of the art of war and all Indians including Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims bit the dust in battles against them. Except for a battle or two by the Sikhs, it was a disaster for Indian armies to face the English, whose superior tactics and generalship stand out as an an example for all to follow. On the obverse one is saddened when one reads of of Indians with massive forces being bested by the English with fewer soldiers. That was the refrain for 200 years of English rule.
As I have said there were many other factors like turncoats, traitors etc, but all that is part of the game and at the end of the day the English beat the Indians in every department of the game of war.
The Art of War of the English
When Vasco de Gama charted the sea route to Indian in 1498, it was the start of European domination over India. It is a tribute to the handful of Portuguese traders and soldiers who were able to carve a niche for them in India. They were followed later by the English and French who dragged their rivalry in Europe to India. The French lost out to the English who in a matter of decades became the rulers of india.
At the beginning of English rule the one battle that stands out is the Battle of Plessey fought at a place about a 100 miles from Calcutta in 1757. the commander of the English force was Robert Clive. There is an excellent biography of Robert Clive by that great Indian writer Nirad C Choudhry "Clive of India",which is worth reading for connoisseurs of Indian history. There is no doubt that Clive as a general and Officer was streets ahead of any Indian warrior be it Shivaji or Banda Bahadur or Tippu Sultan. He deserves the epithet " Great", though Indians after independence because of political expediency are loathe to refer to him with this title.
I will not recount the battle which can be read in the history books, but mention that Clive defeated a combined Indian force of Muslims and Hindus under Nawab Siraj ud Dowlah which outnumbered him 9 to 1. Not forgetting that the Indian army was aided by French advisors. This battle marks the greatness of Clive who also won the Battle of Buxar ( 1764)and sealed the presence of the English as rulers for the next 2 centuries.
Some factors of the wars the English fought in India need mention. Firstly they were fighting battles almost 5000 miles away from their homeland and secondly they adapted better to conditions of war in the Indian sub-continent than the Indians themselves who had been residents in India for 4000 years.
One of the priciples of war is political aim and military strategy. The political aim was supreme as they were fighting for the King and glory of England. They wished to make England the greatest power on the globe and their generals and soldiers had a missionary zeal. They were a dedicated lot and had a clear cut political aim. We must remember no battle can be won or lost without a political aim. In contrast the Indian opposing them NEVER had a a vision of India as a united nation. They fought as splinter groups and were never united in a political aim and thus the dice was cast against them from the word "go".
A look at any of the ruers or Indian generals during the time of the English era and one can see that they were all pygmies fighting for limited objectives. Thus the Rani of Jhansi was fighting for just her kingdom, so was Tippu and the Sikhs who were happy to rule in Punjab and had no all India vision. This was a stupid idea and soon the British annexed Punjab after the Second Anglo-Sikh war that ended with the battle of Gujerat(1849).
The Maharatha's also suffered badly at the hands of the East India company and the Duke of Wellesley( later the duke of Wellington) who defeated them. This man after Clive is my second great English soldier who bested the Indians in their own den. The Duke is rightly accorded the title " great" as later he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (1815).I have studied the campaigns of the Duke in India and I and many of my instructors at Staff College are convinced that just on the strength of his Indian campaigns the Duke of Wellesley deserves the accolade "great"
The Duke beat the hell out of Tippu Sultan, and Tippu had no choice left. He restored the Hindu dynasty in Mysore which had been deposed by the father of Tippu, Hyder Ali. His army annexed more territory than Shivaji or Hari Singh Nalwa had ever dreamt and that is no small matter. He followed up by crushing the Maratha confederacy in the Deccan region and later forced the Awadh rulers to surrender all their important cities to the British. He was the man who consolidated the work done by Clive and is one of the Great soldiers who existed on the sub- continent.
Richard Welesley folllowed the principles of offence, concentration of force, flexibilty and gathering intelligence in all his battles. This stood him in good stead against the Indian Sataraps, who talked more of rhetoric and bravery and failed to translate their words into action on the battlefield.There was a proposal to make him the Duke of Hindustan, but I won't go into it as in England also politics is involved.
There are many more soldiers from England like Lord General Hugh Gough, General YoungHusband, Lord Kitchner etc who made a mark in India. They beat the Indians in a playing field that was thousands of miles away from their homeland and one can say the odds were stacked against them, yet they won and that is the beauty of their art of war.
Last Word
Now India is free and we must cherish our history. The English rule is part of that history and a lot of good that we see today is the bonus of British rule or the Raj. The English soldiers fought for England no doubt, but they are to be emulated. We must study their single minded devotion to duty to the King and motherland. We must study their art of war.it's a bit of a shame that massive Indian armies were soundly beaten by fewer troops led by English generals. We need to put rhetoric aside and acknowledge greatness where ever due.
The English brought the art of war to the sublime in India. Their use of tactics and strategy in their battles need to be studied. Most Indian generals had no idea of tactics and just massed their soldiers for a massed charge. Battles and war is a serious subject and requires study. The present India ruling dispensation is not aware of the potency of military power. Remember the USA rules on strength of it's military might and so did the English for 300 years. Salute them and copy them. Some lessons are still to be learnt by the Indian political leadership.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article Assessment of the Military Prowess of the English vis a vis Indians.
Background
This is a topic that will be of interest to many readers, irrespective of the fact whether they are soldiers or not. I shall in this article analyse the art of war of the English who ruled India for nearly 2 centuries in comparison with Indian chiefs of war. It does not concern individual acts of heroism or bravery, but generally the conduct of military warfare as per the Principles of War as enunciated by Clausewitz, the Prussian general and military thinker. Just for information Clausewitz laid down 10 principles of war, which are the guiding beacons in assessing any war or soldiery.
When I refer to Indians I use this term in the generic sense and include all inhabitants of India, both Moslems and Hindus and Sikhs as well as Buddhists who ruled India for almost 2 centuries as well.
Indians are apt to talk of the great battles fought by Shivaji or Guru Gobind Singh. But all must bear in mind that these warriors though very brave were fighting their battles in a small region of India. None of them could establish any semblance of control outside their areas of influence. As an example both these worthies were unheard of in Assam or deep South.
In contrast the English came from a distance of 5000 miles away from India and won the battles and wars despite the Indians having the home advantage. Thus all Indian rulers from Tippu Sultan to the Maharatha Chiefs and the Sikhs were bearded in their own dens and defeated decisively. Talking purely from a military point of view the English were the better exponents of the art of war and all Indians including Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims bit the dust in battles against them. Except for a battle or two by the Sikhs, it was a disaster for Indian armies to face the English, whose superior tactics and generalship stand out as an an example for all to follow. On the obverse one is saddened when one reads of of Indians with massive forces being bested by the English with fewer soldiers. That was the refrain for 200 years of English rule.
As I have said there were many other factors like turncoats, traitors etc, but all that is part of the game and at the end of the day the English beat the Indians in every department of the game of war.
The Art of War of the English
When Vasco de Gama charted the sea route to Indian in 1498, it was the start of European domination over India. It is a tribute to the handful of Portuguese traders and soldiers who were able to carve a niche for them in India. They were followed later by the English and French who dragged their rivalry in Europe to India. The French lost out to the English who in a matter of decades became the rulers of india.
At the beginning of English rule the one battle that stands out is the Battle of Plessey fought at a place about a 100 miles from Calcutta in 1757. the commander of the English force was Robert Clive. There is an excellent biography of Robert Clive by that great Indian writer Nirad C Choudhry "Clive of India",which is worth reading for connoisseurs of Indian history. There is no doubt that Clive as a general and Officer was streets ahead of any Indian warrior be it Shivaji or Banda Bahadur or Tippu Sultan. He deserves the epithet " Great", though Indians after independence because of political expediency are loathe to refer to him with this title.
I will not recount the battle which can be read in the history books, but mention that Clive defeated a combined Indian force of Muslims and Hindus under Nawab Siraj ud Dowlah which outnumbered him 9 to 1. Not forgetting that the Indian army was aided by French advisors. This battle marks the greatness of Clive who also won the Battle of Buxar ( 1764)and sealed the presence of the English as rulers for the next 2 centuries.
Some factors of the wars the English fought in India need mention. Firstly they were fighting battles almost 5000 miles away from their homeland and secondly they adapted better to conditions of war in the Indian sub-continent than the Indians themselves who had been residents in India for 4000 years.
One of the priciples of war is political aim and military strategy. The political aim was supreme as they were fighting for the King and glory of England. They wished to make England the greatest power on the globe and their generals and soldiers had a missionary zeal. They were a dedicated lot and had a clear cut political aim. We must remember no battle can be won or lost without a political aim. In contrast the Indian opposing them NEVER had a a vision of India as a united nation. They fought as splinter groups and were never united in a political aim and thus the dice was cast against them from the word "go".
A look at any of the ruers or Indian generals during the time of the English era and one can see that they were all pygmies fighting for limited objectives. Thus the Rani of Jhansi was fighting for just her kingdom, so was Tippu and the Sikhs who were happy to rule in Punjab and had no all India vision. This was a stupid idea and soon the British annexed Punjab after the Second Anglo-Sikh war that ended with the battle of Gujerat(1849).
The Maharatha's also suffered badly at the hands of the East India company and the Duke of Wellesley( later the duke of Wellington) who defeated them. This man after Clive is my second great English soldier who bested the Indians in their own den. The Duke is rightly accorded the title " great" as later he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (1815).I have studied the campaigns of the Duke in India and I and many of my instructors at Staff College are convinced that just on the strength of his Indian campaigns the Duke of Wellesley deserves the accolade "great"
The Duke beat the hell out of Tippu Sultan, and Tippu had no choice left. He restored the Hindu dynasty in Mysore which had been deposed by the father of Tippu, Hyder Ali. His army annexed more territory than Shivaji or Hari Singh Nalwa had ever dreamt and that is no small matter. He followed up by crushing the Maratha confederacy in the Deccan region and later forced the Awadh rulers to surrender all their important cities to the British. He was the man who consolidated the work done by Clive and is one of the Great soldiers who existed on the sub- continent.
Richard Welesley folllowed the principles of offence, concentration of force, flexibilty and gathering intelligence in all his battles. This stood him in good stead against the Indian Sataraps, who talked more of rhetoric and bravery and failed to translate their words into action on the battlefield.There was a proposal to make him the Duke of Hindustan, but I won't go into it as in England also politics is involved.
There are many more soldiers from England like Lord General Hugh Gough, General YoungHusband, Lord Kitchner etc who made a mark in India. They beat the Indians in a playing field that was thousands of miles away from their homeland and one can say the odds were stacked against them, yet they won and that is the beauty of their art of war.
Last Word
Now India is free and we must cherish our history. The English rule is part of that history and a lot of good that we see today is the bonus of British rule or the Raj. The English soldiers fought for England no doubt, but they are to be emulated. We must study their single minded devotion to duty to the King and motherland. We must study their art of war.it's a bit of a shame that massive Indian armies were soundly beaten by fewer troops led by English generals. We need to put rhetoric aside and acknowledge greatness where ever due.
The English brought the art of war to the sublime in India. Their use of tactics and strategy in their battles need to be studied. Most Indian generals had no idea of tactics and just massed their soldiers for a massed charge. Battles and war is a serious subject and requires study. The present India ruling dispensation is not aware of the potency of military power. Remember the USA rules on strength of it's military might and so did the English for 300 years. Salute them and copy them. Some lessons are still to be learnt by the Indian political leadership.
8 years ago
MG Singh created new article The Legendary Vikramaditya: A Discussion.
Background
Indian ancient history is in fact the History of Hinduism. This was the onmipotent belief since the dawn of history in India. For a brief period there was a break during the period when the Maurya dynasty ruled India, at that time Buddhism became the state religion, but within a 100 years Hinduism and the Brahaminical cult came back with a vengence.
Over the centuries Indian Kings and rulers have always been equated with God. They were supposed to derive their powers from a pantheon of Hindu gods, who blessed them. One name that creeps up through out Hindu history is that of Vikramaditiya. Historians have not been able to identify who the real Vikramaditiya was or when he lived, but we know that this title has special significance for all Hindus. It represents an image and dream of a just and powerful king who was supposed to have divine powers. This title was used by many kings throughout Indian history.
The last King who used this name was also the last Hindu king who was crowned as emperor of Hindustan in 1555. He was Samrat Hemchand Tukuram Vikramaditiya. He ascended the throne in 1555 and was crowned emperor of Hindustan in the historic Purana Kila( Old Fort), built by Sher Shah Suri. This man had earlier ousted the Mughal rulers and seized power in Delhi. Hemchand Tukuram popularly called Hemu was a general in the army of Sher Shah, but by dint of his prowess and ability siezed power and crowned himself as emperor of Hindustan. He was the last Hindu king to be crowned at Delhi. Samrat Hemchand Tukuram is often referred to as the Napoleon of India as in a short span of 2 years, he defeated the Muslims and the Mughals in 22 battles on the trot and captured Delhi.
Subsequently by a quirk of fate, Hemu lost at the 2nd battle of Panipat(1556) and was beheaded by Akbar, when he was almost unconscious. But his names lives on as a great and powerful warrior. Why did Hemu assume the title of " Vikramaditiya"? The answer is that for centuries the name of Viramaditiya is revered as a king who was both just and wise and was blessed by the divine. Hindus look up to Vikramaditiya as a sort of super king who could do no wrong. But again as I have mentioned the real Vikramaditiya and his period has never been conclusively identified.
The Legend of Vikramaditiya
If one visits the complex of Kutab Minar built by Kutabbadin Aibik at Delhi, one will come across a metal pillar that for centuries has not rusted. Nobody till date has been able to analayse the metallurgy of the material with which this pillar was made. Historians have traced its origin to what is known as the Golden Age of India, namely when the Gupta Empire flourished in India, just after the demise of the Maurya dynasty.
This pillar has some inscriptions on it which point to the fact that this is the handiwork of Chandragupta II, who was one of the greatest rulers of the Gupta period. He also assumed the title of Vikramaditiya.His reign was probably from 375CE-415CE. Chandragupta Vikramaditiya was a great warrior and carried out many conquests. He probably had heard of the Legendary Vikramaditiya who was supposed to have ruled from Ujjain and so he made Ujjain his second capital in addition to Pataliputra( Modern Patna).From this one can make an estimate of the size of the empire of Chandragupta Viramaditiya.
From the pillar at Mehrauli in the Kutab Minar Complex we learn of the conquests of Chandragupta II and now we can estimate that he ruled over a gigantic empire that even encompassed Afghanistan.
He was one of the greatest kings, but again he was not the real Vikramaditiya.Chandragupta Vikramaditiya was like celestial kings fond of the fine arts, which he encouraged during his reign. He is supposed to have 9 gems in his court , who represnted the epitome of creative arts. Two of them are well known and are the poet Kalidasa and astronomer Varahamihira. To an extent the title Vikramadity does fit Chandragupta II.
Historians have been searching for the real Vikramaditiya. A study of history reveals another king who assumed this title and he was Vikramaditiya VI( 1076-1126CE). He belonged to the Chalukya dynasty and had the longest reign in his dynasty. He was often referred to as Permadideva and Tribhuvanamalla, literally meaning Lord of the Three Worlds. He was like Chandragupta II also a patron of the fine arts as well as a great warrior. His court had a multitude of Sanskrit and Kannada Poets.
Many historians also refer to Chandragupta Mauraya as Vikramaditiya. He came to power after the exit of the Greeks. He also conquered the entire North india and is considered as Vikramaditya also.One thing that needs to be mentioned is that no legend is without any basis. Obviously there was some one who was the real Vikramaditiya. We have a clue if a person goes to Ujjain. This city as we know is one of the oldest cities in India and mention of this is made in the Puranas. It is also one of the recognised holy cities in Hinduism.
A tourist guide will take you to many places and along the banks of the Narmada river will take you to the Sihasan ( Throne) of Vikramaditya. This is a very old and dilipadated structure and one can make out that it must be very ancient. The guide will explain that the original Vikramaditya sat on this throne, which is in reality a replica as the original throne on which Vikramaditya sat ascended to heaven. I have seen this throne, but I am not sure I believe the story of the throne ascending into the skies and going to heaven.
I do believe that there was a Vikramaditya who probaly ruled from Ujjain. A refence to the Puranas gives a date of 1st century BCE. this is clearly mentioned in the Bhavishiya Purana. This book also states he was the son of King Ghandharvasena. Vikramadatiya lived to the age of 87 and probably died in 15CE. He was a man of great valor and infinite wisdom and in all probability subsequent kings took him as a role model and adopted his name.
The only source of information of this legendary king is the Bhavishiya Purana. Historians have not been able to uncover any further facts about him, despite extensive research. The only 'evidence' is his throne at Ujjain.
The Original Vikramaditiya
The great king Vikramadity has a number of legends. Again most of them have come down by word of mouth since centuries. Many stories abound about this king and the most famous ones are his encounters with a Vetala, a supernatural creature. The first of these is a set of 25 tales called the Panchvimshati. There are another additional 32 tales called the Simhasana- Dwatrimshika. In both these tales the central character is Vikramaditiya. There is however a subtle difference between the tales.
The first set of tales relate how the Vetala poses many intricate puzzles and questions to Vikramaditiya, who solves all of them. In the second set of tales Raja Bhoj another mythical king from Hindu lore tries to ascend the throne of Vikramaditiya which has 32 steps, each set is adorned by the statue of a beautiful female. Raja Bhoj is stopped at each step by the female statues till he finally ascends to the throne of Vikramaditiya, after the female statues are impressed by his humilty. There are many versions of these tales and one cannot say which is authentic.
The King Vikramaditya is part of Hindu Psyche. As already brought out the only mention of him is in the Bhavishiya Purana, but that does not mean it's not true. The Bhavishiya Purana is true in many other prophsies as well, like forcasting the arrival of Muhammad. In all likelihood there was a Raja Vikramaditiya, who was greatly loved by his people. He was also a wise and just king. This reverence for Viramaditiya has found expression in the modern age with the Indian navy's most powerful warship, the aircraft carrier being named after Vikramaditiya.
The legend of Emperor Vikramaditiya is both interesting and thrilling. I have litle doubt that a Vikramaditiya did exist in flesh and blood and by all acounts must have been a great and just king. It's about time Hindus glorified their wonderful heritage, which in most ways is unmatched all over the world
8 years ago