Coffee trails to village walks, Keralam proposes...

New experience

Districts where Kerala Tourism has introduced experimental trails :-

   * Thiruvananthapuram

   * Kollam

   * Alappuzha

   * Idukki

   * Ernakulam

   * Malappuram

   * Kozhikode

   * Kasaragod

What does it offer?

   * Agriculture : Coffee and Tea plantation walks, farming activities and fruit cultivation.

   * Food and culture : Traditional cuisine, sweet-making, local performing arts, customs and festivals.

   * Community life : Village tours, indigenous lifestyles and engagement with local occupations.

   * Traditional crafts : Pottery making, handloom, sari weaving and traditional handicrafts.

   * Nature and eco-experiences : Guided nature walks, biodiversity tracking, birdwatching and forest 

      trails.

   * Water experiences : Kayaking, country boat rides and canal navigation across backwaters.

   * Accommodations : Farm stays, rural homestays and immersive lodging.

Keralam's tourism is taking shape imaginatively!

The Math puns.

  1. Why was the fraction apprehensive about marrying the decimal?

      Because she would have to convert.

  2. Why do plants avoid Maths?

      It gives them square roots.

  3. Why did the student get upset when his teacher called him average?

      It was a mean thing to say.

  4. Why was the math book depressed?

      It had a lot of problems.

  5. Why is the obtuse triangle always so frustrated?

      Because it is never right.

  6. Why can you never trust a maths teacher holding graph paper?

      She must be plotting something.

  7. Why was the equal sign so humble?

      Because she knew she wasn't greater than or less than anyone else.

  8. Did you hear the one about the statistician?

      Probably.

  9. What do you call students who love maths?

      Algebros.

10. I'll do algebra, I'll do trig. I'll even do statistics.

      But graphing is where I draw the line!

11. Why are parallel lines so tragic if they have so much in common?

      It's a shame they'll never meet.

12. How do you stay warm in any room?

      Just huddle in the corner, where it's always 90 degrees.

13. Why is six afraid of seven?

      Because seven eight ("ate") nine!

14. Why does nobody talk to a circle?

      Because there is no point.

The wisdom of enough.

We live in a culture that rarely lets us feel we have enough. There is always something more to acquire, achieve or experience - a better phone, a bigger home, another promotion, more recognition. Even after getting what he wanted, the satisfaction can be brief before the mind begins reaching for the next thing.

Indian wisdom offers a different approach through santosha, or contentment in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. It is one of the five niyamas or personal observances. The Yoga Sutra 2.42 says : santosad anuttamah sukha-labhah - from contentment comes unsurpassed happiness.

The Bhagvad Gita points to a deeper meaning. Describing one who is established in the Self, Krishna speaks of being atmani eva cha santustah - satisfied in the Self (3.17). Contentment, therefore, is not simply being pleased with what we possess. It is learning not to make our inner wellbeing dependent on acquiring more.

This does not mean abandoning ambition. We can strive, improve and pursue meaningful goals while remaining inwardly at ease with the present. So, the next time you catch yourself thinking, "I'll be happy when I have this", pause. Ask : "What if my happiness does not have to wait?"

28 strategic Ladakh sites on official map.

The centre, yesterday, formally identified 28 strategic places and geographical features in Ladakh on the official map of India.

LAC friction points among sites identified

The government said in a statement that formally identifying them on the Survey map of Ladakh will help streamline official cartography, facilitate accurate recognition and promote greater public awareness. Gogra and Hot Spring, key friction points during the 2020 India-China military stand off, are among the strategic locations identified on the map.

Comes after similar action in Arunachal

* The list includes :-

   - Alisha Giri

   - Brangsa

   - Chapchingal Pass

   - Kanishka Peak

   - Karun Pir Mountain

   - Kuksei

   - Martand Giri

   - Parpik Glacier

   - Skamri Glacier

   - Shachmirik Pass

   - Shkorga Valley and

   - Zorawar Peak. 

* It comes nearly two months after the government identified a total of 27 places and features located 

   in Arunachal Pradesh.

10 peaks and three mountains among the 28 places/features identified.

Viva Captain Smit Machchhar!

                      Keralam pays its respectful salute to Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar

                      for his extraordinary courage and resilience. The world will, forever reme-

                      mber his bravery in protecting the lives of passengers aboard Flydubai flig-

                      ht FZ1073. Despite sustaining injuries in a grave and challenging situation

                      Captain Machchhar displayed remarkable valour, composure and unwave-

                      ring devotion to duty. Our thoughts and prayers are with Captain Machch-

                      har for a swift and full recovery.

                                                                                          @ VD Satheesan, Chief Minister

16 Mahajanapadas (Capitals) of Ancient India.

  1. Gandhara

      Taxila

  2. Kamboja

      Rajapura

  3. Surasena

      Mathura

  4. Matsya

      Viratnagara

  5. Vatsa

      Kaushambi

  6. Avanti

      North : Ujjain

      South : Mahishmati

  7. Chedi (or Chetiya)

      Shuktimati

  8. Asmaka

      Potana/Potali

  9. Magadha

      Rajagriha (Pataliputra)

10. Kashi

      Varanasi

11. Anga

     Champa

12. Vajji

      Vaishali

13. Malla

      Kushinagar and Pava

14. Kosala

      Northern : Shravasti

      Southern : Kushavati

15. Panchala

      Northern : Ahichhatra

      Southern : Kampilya

16. Kuru

      Indraprastha

      

    

    

Student suicides.

Report on student suicides by 31 Oct

 

* Findings of the Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force examining student suicides due by

   31 Oct.

* The task force was constituted by Supreme Court in March last year to address rising cases of

   student suicides and examine mental health.

15% students in colleges and varsities face acute distress

The nationwide survey by SC-appointed task force also found that 9% students reported suicidal 

thoughts, in the last six months.

Social discrimination rampant

The panel had earlier this year submitted an interim report in which it found students in colleges had to deal with "deep-rooted social discrimination, rampant sexual harassment in medical and engineering colleges; gender discrimination, hostel curfews and moral policing; caste identification by NEET-UG and JEE ranks and caste-based humiliation".