AWAKENINGS

  KNOW YOUR ENGLISH BY K. SUBRAMANIAN & S. UPENDRAN COURTESY: THE HINDU NEWSPAPER OF MARCH 28, 2025 MEANING OF FOLLOWING PHRASES:   1. Seen you coming   2. Had Had   3. Enjoy to play tennis or Enjoy planning tennis   4. Talking Shop   Explanations:   1. "Seen you coming" is an idiomatic expression meaning 'cheated'.   Examples:   1. You paid ₹ 20 for those tomatoes. The vendor must have seen you coming.   2. Ganesh bought the house for ₹ 10 lakh. The real estate agent must have seen you coming.   2. Had Had   Explanations:   When Ganesh came at 9.00, I had had my dinner - It means I had my dinner before Ganesh came, before 9 O' Clock.   3. Enjoy to play tennis or Enjoy playing tennis   The word 'enjoy' is not followed by the word 'to'.   Hence ' Enjoy to play tennis' is wrong and instead, 'Enjoy playing tennis' is correct. 4. Talking Shop   Explanations: When people who work together, 'talk shop',...

  "Ban Cow Slaughter!"   Is it a slogan? Is it the agenda of Hindu fundamentalists? Is it the agenda of one political party – read BJP? Is it the agenda of RSS? NO, NO, NO – to Infinity!   It is a constitutional unfulfilled agenda. Our fathers of constitution had already incorporated the 'ban on cow slaughter‘ as a directive principle.   Article 48 of the Directive Principles of our Indian Constitution has given directions to the States to pass necessary legislations in this regard.   The Article 48 of the Directive Principles of our Constitution states:   The State shall endeavor to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.   Hence the constitution directs the States to enact suitable acts to enforce the ban on cow slaughter. It is a prin...

  Harvest of Hindus as Converts By Pavithran   Mahatma Gandhi’s Crusade Against Christian Harvest of Hindus Before Independence there were many attempts made by Christian Missionaries to convert Gandhi into Christianity. Gandhi, as a true follower of Truth and Non-violence, had faced them in his own way which had portrayed him as a crusader against their nefarious attempts to make India as Christian Nation.   Some of the Christian missionaries, recognizing his deep interest in Sermon on the Mount and resulting pacifism, were attracted to him with an ulterior motive of using him as a “tool” in mass conversion because of his extraordinary stature around the globe and particularly India. But, nothing had succeeded.   Gandhi had ridiculed the Missionaries as ‘vendors of goods’ with no spiritual attitudes in their activities.   In this context, Gandhi, in his Harijan Paper of November 5, 1937, had quoted a specific instance about the activities of a Ch...

  Mr. Modi acknowledged the fear of widespread job losses from AI, but asserted that   “history has shown that work does not disappear due to technology. New types of jobs are created”. Reskilling workforce would be important to prepare them for the changes AI will bring about, he said. Paris Artificial Intelligence (A I) Action Summit brief report: ChatGPT said: The AI Action Summit, held in Paris on February 10–11, 2025, brought together over 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including heads of state, industry leaders, academics, and civil society representatives. The summit aimed to foster international collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI) development and governance. Key Outcomes: ·          Joint Declaration: A total of 61 countries and regional organizations, including France, China, and India, signed the "Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet....

 ( Here is an artistic depiction of Lord Shiva on Maha Shivaratri night, reflecting deep meditation, devotion, and cosmic energy. COURTESY: GOOGLE CHATGPT) Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, celebrated annually on the 14th night of the waning moon in the month of Phalguna or Magha (February–March). It is a night of deep spiritual significance, observed with fasting, night-long vigils (jaagaran), and chanting of Shiva mantras. Devotees perform Abhishekam (ritual bathing) of the Shiva linga with milk, honey, ghee, and water, seeking blessings for prosperity, wisdom, and liberation (moksha). The festival symbolizes the cosmic dance of Shiva (Tandava), his union with Parvati, and his role as the destroyer of ignorance. Many also believe that Maha Shivaratri is the night when Shiva drank the Halahala poison during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), saving the universe. It is considered highly auspicious for meditation, devotion, and self-reflection,...

  Introduction:   Karadaiyaan Nombu is a significant Tamil festival observed by married and unmarried women for the well-being and longevity of their husbands or to be blessed with a good husband. This vratam (fast) is similar to the North Indian Karva Chauth but has distinct customs and traditions specific to Tamil culture.   The festival is named after the special dish, Karadai, prepared as an offering to Goddess Kamakshi and celebrated in honor of the legendary devotion of Savitri, who won back her husband Satyavan’s life from Yama, the god of death.   Significance and Mythological Background:   The festival is rooted in the story of Savitri and Satyavan, from the Mahabharata.     According to the legend, Savitri was a devoted wife who, through her wisdom, determination, and devotion, outwitted Lord Yama and secured the life of her husband, Satyavan. This event symbolizes the power of a wife’s devotion and prayers in protecting...