Intoxicating Industries (Published in Times of India)

Rapid increase in industrialization has opened not only the vistas of development and prosperity but also the new avenues for employment of a large multitude of workers; notwithstanding the degradation of environs and health-status of people though. Hefty cost of unprotected industrial activities on the environs cannot be undermined and needs to be paid attention to. There are a plethora of health hazards that are linked to the industrial activities requiring emphatic mention.

The most adversely affecting toxicity is due to heavy metals. From the point of view of environmental degradation and health-risk to workers in particular and public in general, cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium, manganese, nickel and arsenic are the subject of major concern. These metals and metalloids to a large extent are dispersed in the biosphere through industrial effluents, organic wastes, refuse burning, and transport.

Inhalation and ingestion of metal-laden toxic fumes and particulate matter, comprising metal dust, metal oxides, and soot, emanating from chimneys of factories and metal foundries is inevitable in absence of safety norms. Detoxification by metallothionine, protein molecules present in our body, is a natural biochemical process. However the deficiency of dietary proteins, particularly in case of weaker sections of society, as well as exposure to large doses of these toxicants, outweigh the detoxification process and predispose the affected people with deleterious cumulative toxic effects, often resulting in kidney failure, respiratory diseases like emphysema and asthma, hepato-toxicity, causing malfunction ofliver, nervous disorders and behavioral changes.


One of the other occupational health-hazards includes exposure of poor workers to high temperatures of the furnaces, not to speak of the raise in atmospheric temperatures in the already fierce summer heat. Many small factories have mushroomed in the congested lanes and by-lanes which emit a lot of poisonous smoke from furnaces and generators. The smoke and screeching sound of machines and generators have been suffocating lives and causing varied types of diseases”.

These industries are hazardous to lungs and ear, mainly as most of the patients catch diseases
namely pneumoconiosis which are caused by direct exposure to industrial pollutants. Moreover secondary to primary disease caused by these pollutants patients are more prone to develop diseases like tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, COPD and interstitial lung diseases. These diseases as a whole affect quality of life and start early onset of ageing symptoms.

Industries are in fact the life line to the development and employment of people. It is their situation and non-conformity to the safety precautions that make their being precarious to the peaceful and healthy living of general public. Location of the polluting factories in densely populated residential areas of the city is flagrant violation of the rules of Industrial Pollution Control Board. It is high time when all such polluting units were shifted to places, away from safe limits of habitation.

Rabbit and Tortoise Run Again - A Moral Story

Everyone has heard the story of a fast rabbit and a slow tortoise who had a race that ended in winning of the slow and steady tortoise. Now it so happened that the same rabbit suggested to the tortoise that they should have one more race. The tortoise agreed to run the second race. By this time the rabbit had realized that the cause of his losing the first race was his utter lethargy and idea to have a rest in the shade of a roadside tree while the race had not been over, therefore he resolved that that time he would continue running the race and would not sleep even a wink till the race was won.So as decided, the race was run again, The tortoise ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Obviously the rabbit left the slow tortoise miles away behind. The defeated tortoise was not dejected at all. He very well knew that his speed was in no way comparable to that of the rabbit. So the tortoise now worked upon a clever planning. He persuaded the rabbit for a third race. The race started, but with a different route, leading to the same decided goal.After running some distance, the rabbit was stunned to find a river in the way. He did not know how to swim. Shortly after, the tortoise also arrived at the same spot. He was adept at swimming. So he swiftly slipped into the river and crossed it in no time while the rabbit kept on standing at the river-bank, wondering what to do next. Thus the tortoise maintained his onward race and ultimately emerged as a winner while the rabbit faced shame of losing the race due to his incompetence.Now this fact dawned upon the rabbit that every living being on earth was born with some or other characteristic talent. He shook hands with the tortoise and vowed to remain as friends forever.Now both of the friends again decided to run the same race in which the river had proved to be a potential hurdle for one of the partners. This time both of the friends cooperated with each other. While on the land, the rabbit would run with the tortoise sitting on its back and in the water the tortoise supported the rabbit on its back while swimming with ease. In this way both of the friends reached their goal at the same time and rejoiced at their togetherness and victory. NB: This story has been published in two international journals.

Marvels of Taj Mahal (Published in Times of India)

All attention zoomed in on Seven-Seven-Seven, the
heart-throb of millions of Indians, the marvellously matchless Taj Mahal voted
out the rest of wonders and created a new history of standing the first of the
new list of Seven Wonders of the World. The announcement in Lisbon sent queer
waves of exultations in the loving Indian heart. Not to speak of only Indians,
even countless foreign nationals who have ever been to Agra and loved the sight
of majestic Taj anticipated with bated breath for its formal inclusion in the
list of Seven Wonders of the World. This worldwide acclaim of the glorious Taj
must have gladdened Shah Jahan's soul as well, whose soul aim for erection of
the mausoleum was to immortalize his passionate love for his extraordinarily
beautiful second wife, Mumtaz Mahal to whom he was so much enchantingly
enamoured that he always accompanied her.

After Mumtaz Mahal died while delivering their
daughter, Gauhar Begum, Shah Jahan was grief-stricken. Melancholy and despair
became his companions. It is said that once in his dream he saw the like of Taj
Mahal in Paradise and later he committed to have the construction of its
replica as mausoleum for his beloved late Mumtaz Mahal. The construction of Taj
Mahal began in 1632 and was completed in 1648. A team of renowned designers and
peerlessly skilled craftsmen was made responsible for the great design, with
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri at the helm of affairs.

The Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal
architecture, a unique blend of elements of Persian, Turkish, Indian and
Islamic architectural styles. The white domed marble mausoleum is the most
distinguished part of the monument. The excellent master calligraphy amply
decorates the tomb. In 1983 the Taj became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was
cited as the jewel of Muslim art in India and of the universally admired
masterpieces of the world's heritage.

Some time ago I had the opportunity of visiting the
Taj with a friend and the experience of this trip I would like to share with
you. When I entered the gateway and came across for the first time the
unbelievably majestic and awe-inspiring Taj right in front there, for a moment
I became immobile and sight-struck of its magnificence. As I gazed on the
dazzling monument, I felt myself hypnotized by its enormous beauty. The
embodiment of Shah Jahan's immortal love for Mumtaz Mahal was beckoning me
closer. As my friend and I walked towards the Taj Mahal our attention was drawn
to sumptuous Charbagh. The melodious nightingale was cooing and eulogizing the
grandeur and beauty of the love-monument. The gardens had profuse vegetation;
daffodils and roses were swinging along the aromatic lee in the dalliance of
love. The fragrantly refreshing ambience soothed our every strained nerve. Hand
in hand a lot many new couples were walking around trying to fathom the
splendid scene. They looked dazed by an overdose of Taj's splendour. Gaudy
dressed children did also seem to have forgotten their usual childish pranks
and were fervently savouring the rare feast to their eyes. Beauty of the Taj
was beyond their comprehension and appreciation.

Before coming to Agra I was told that the Taj wore
an entirely different sheen during different parts of the day. In the twilight
it reflects slightly pink shade, at noon it is dazzling white and at the fall
of evening it grows silvery. The best time to watch the Taj is when it bathes
in full moon-light.
My friend was entranced by the enthralling beauty
and grandeur of every part of the monument and blurted out the he could not
find suitable adjectives to encompass the description of its beauty.