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Denis Giles

01 May 2020

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Maybe, tis my late mother’s birthday today, that brings this very poignant memory to my mind, of her coming to pick me up from school when I was a little fellow, and finding I was punished, “What’s his punishment?” asked my mother, quite okay that if Bob did something wrong, he should be pay for it. “We’re putting soap in his mouth!” said the British, or was it, Australian KG headmistress.

“No way!” said my mother firmly, and insisted on walking into the torture chamber where I was being held.

“But he said something wrong!” said the lady.

“Are you allowed to do this to children in England?” asked my mom, and led me off. “Are you?”

The headmistress meekly apologized and said she would think of another punishment the next day.

“You may!” said my mother kindly, “And when we reach home, I’ll tell my son to shut up and not say such things again!”

Like I said it’s my mother’s birthday today, and somewhere up, where she’s keeping an eye on her son, I look up and ask, “Ma, what do you say to a world leader who wants to inject soap and detergents into people’s stomach to get rid of the virus?”

“He wants to put soap in their mouths?” I can hear my mother ask incredulously, “Tell him to shut up!”.

I’m going to leave the soap, detergents and my kindergarten headmistress aside for a while, and concentrate on the second part of my mother’s advice, which is to shut up!

At a time when the largest number of researchers, with the best brain power burn the midnight oil, searching for a vaccine and cure for the virus, it is high time political leaders and others learn to shut up.

And it’s not just during this time, that they need to fix a tape on their mouths but at all times of crisis. Crisis times are when experts discover solutions for particular problems and specific situations.

“During that time sir, don’t be like a medical general practitioner who feels he knows more than the specialist!”

Because when you don’t shut up, we see…

An economy on the downslide, because learned men and women weren’t listened to!

Coronavirus deaths because a president knew better than anybody else on how to handle the deadly disease!

Tis my mother’s birthday and let me be a little indulgent with her, “Ma,” I ask, “What else would you say, after you’ve said, ’shut up’?”

“Listen!” says my mother.

Yes, this is the time for politicians to LISTEN!

Listen to specialists, before you shoot your mouth off! Listen to economists before you make drastic changes!

Putting soap into the mouth was already a cruel practice those many years ago, but needed a concerned mother to stop it happening, and maybe it’s time we told our political leaders to, “Shut up and Listen!”

Like I said, just be a little indulgent with me today; my ma’s birthday..! 

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Denis Giles

24 April 2020

Hits: 1866

It was after one of the recent G4, G8 or G20 summits, world leaders stood together for their final photo, all wearing COVID-19 prevention masks. But as the photographer with the biggest mask on his face, adjusted his camera, he saw a yellowish- green, six or eight legged monster ambling up to him, and taking hold of his camera, “Whoa, whoa!” he shouted as the world leaders pulled up their masks, “Who are you?”

“I’m Coronavirus!” said the six or eight-legged monster.

“Security!” shouted a flaxen haired President, “How did this creature get in!”

“The same way I got into your country!” smiled the Monster Virus, “With your border security force unable to detect and stop me!”

“What do you want?” quivered another leader, a prime minister shaking with fear, his beard twitching.

“To ask a few questions!” said the virus, “Here’s the first!” he said looking at the president, “Did you notice I climbed over every wall you built: Your medical drugs, your social distancing? Just look at me prancing on top of your research scientists, whooping over their heads! Did your walls succeed with me?”

“No!”

“And you still want to build them? And you sir!”

“Me?”

“Yes you! Heard you can make out who’s doing what by the clothes they wear? Did you notice I didn’t care less who was wearing what, as I made mincemeat of everyone? Did you notice?”

“Yes, please leave me alone, please!”

“And you Boris, with the funny hair, I know it’s all messed up more, after the time we spent together in the London ICU!”

“You’re not very good company, you quite roughed me up, you know?”

“Did I? Well, gave you some time to ponder on whether I differentiated twixt you and them others you wanted to exit from, social distancing from your neighbours across the Channel huh?”

“I’m sorry!”

“Listen world leaders! You, who use every opportunity to rule by division, do you realize I can do everything but cannot discriminate between any of you? Whether you be black, white, bearded, clean shaven, have sweet shapen, slanted eyes or myopic ones, that to me Sir Coronavirus, you are all the same!”

“Yes sir! May we go?” asked the President nervously.

“Not before a photograph!” said the yellowish- green six or eight legged monster gleefully, as he sang to the world,

Come Mr Photographer from wherever you have fled,

And let us send a message, a different one instead.

For I am going to stand with them, and when you shout out, ’Cheese’

I’ll put a hand on each of them, and their bodies I will tease!

And then the world will see and say, that if Corona cannot discriminate,

Then who are we to do so, with racist and communal hate?

And the world understands as the Monster Virus continues to drive home this message ..! 

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Denis Giles

30 April 2020

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By- Aditya Khatana

With over 207,722 number of deaths all over the world and over 887 number of deaths in India as of 27 April 2020 Covid-19 has spread a sense of fear,  uncertainty, anxiety, depression and much more all over the globe.

With W.H.O.  i.e. World Health Organisation declaring Covid-19  as “PANDEMIC” on march 11,2020 many countries took precautionary measures to contain its spread.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared nationwide lockdown on 24th march for the then next 21 days as a precautionary measure among many.

But soon after the lockdown people started facing some mental issues due to the sudden change in their environment and more precisely their lifestyle. People started getting negative about the situation which according to our human nature is quite obvious.

But here are some positives we should consider side by side.

Degrading Air pollution and revival of fresh oxygen:-

Just few months back before the lockdown governments of different states were playing “Blame game” for the pollution caused by stubble burning.

According to a report of Lancet study 350,000 children in India were reported asthmatic due to pollution 2015 and air pollution alone contributed over 1.2 million deaths in India in 2017 as per the reports by State of Global Air 2019.

But due to the lockdown as we all know industrial companies are shut and very less number of vehicles are on road resulting in giving fresh air to all.

Rivers are been cleaner and making habitable for marine life.

Several newspapers have reported about the reviving of Yamuna in Delhi and infact I.A.S. Deepak Rawat released a video on his Youtube channel about the current condition of rivers in his district.

Discovering inner self:-

Before lockdown each one of us used to complain about the lack of time for our hobbies but now as we have got it people are passionately following their hobbies. Many people have started doing painting, reading books and many have started trying their hands at Yoga.

It is said that painting reflects the inner condition of a person hence people are using different colours to bring joy in their lives. Yoga at this time is proving its worth. Yoga not only keeps us physically fit and flexible but mentally strong too. Performing yoga on daily basis and at such  difficult time will reduce anxiety and depression which many of us are going through.

Moreover it will help us in concentrating which is very useful for the students who are among the ones who are mentally affected the most.

Plenty of time for family:-

According to a recent census around 1.36 million people in India are divorced and there are more than 100 old age homes in India. The main reason I consider behind this is lack of understanding which is caused by the lack of time.

We in our daily life are so busy that we forget that we have a family too, we forget that our time is also meant for them.

This lockdown has given us all time to press that restart button of our relationships be it with anyone. We should start it by helping each other in different household chores, we should surprise each other by making different food items.

And how can one forget to take out those old photographs and relive all those memories again.

The unsung heroes:-

We have always thought of rude, corrupted etc whenever the word Police or Collector came up to our mind. But now the scenerio is totally different Police and Administration along with Doctors are the one who are at the front foot in this fight against the COVID-19.

All of them are working day and night to safeguard us from this deadly virus and it becomes our duty to help them instead of pelting stones or cursing them.

The best way we can help them is by staying at home as much as possible and going out only for any emergency or purchasing essential commodities.

I’ll end it by saying- No doubt the fight is long but our morale is strong too. 

Jai Hind!

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Denis Giles

22 April 2020

Hits: 7168

Scholarship Name 1: Burning Questions Fellowship Awards 2020

Description: Tiny Beam Fund’s Burning Questions Initiative (BQI), a non-profit foundation has announced this scholarship for doctoral and post-doctoral researchers around the world. The fellowship aims at addressing the negative impacts of global industrial food animal production especially in low and middle-income countries.

Eligibility: PhD degree holder or enrolled for PhD from around the world can apply for this fellowship.

Prizes & Rewards: Selected fellows wil get financial award up to USD 25,000.

Last Date to Apply: 11-05-2020

Application mode: Apply online

Short Url: www.b4s.in/ac/BQF5

Scholarship Name 2: YLAC Counter Speech Fellowship with Instagram 2020

Description: Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) has announced this fellowship for the Indian children in Class 8 to 12. The fellowship is a platform for exceptional teen leaders to use the power of visual storytelling to drive change.

Eligibility: Indian students  in Classes 8 to 12  who are aged between 13 and 18 years can apply for this fellowship.

Prizes & Rewards: The selected fellows will have an opportunity to attend a fully-funded 2-month training program.

Last Date to Apply: 10-05-2020

Application mode: Apply online

Short Url: www.b4s.in/ac/YLA4

Scholarship Name 3: Empowerment and Equity Opportunities for Excellence in Science 2020

Description: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India is offering this award to Indian researchers belonging to SC and ST categories. This scheme aims to provide research support to them and facilitate their equal participation in research and development in the field of Science & Technology. The selected candidates will receive financial benefits.

Eligibility: Indian active researcher from the ST or SC community, holds a PhD degree and is working for at least four years on a regular basis in academic institutions/national lab or any other recognized R&D institutions in the field of Science and Engineering, can apply for this scholarship.

Prizes & Rewards: Selected stdents will get funding up to INR 50 Lac, equipment, manpower, consumables, travel and contingency allowance and other benefits over the period of 3 years.

Last Date to Apply: 06-05-2020

Application mode: Apply online

Short Url: www.b4s.in/ac/EEO5

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