Social and Cultural Diversity

 Diversity means the existence of different cultures, customs, beliefs, traditions and languages in a place or different places at a given point in time. Diversity resembles the mix of different ingredients with the masala (spices) in a mixed vegetable dish. If we take an example of a recipe, we will come to know about different ingredients of various flavors which are equally important in providing a collectively good taste: tomatoes, green and red chillies and salt, all combined would provide beauty, great taste, to the salad and would draw everyone towards it.

An Ideal Student

My Hobby

My Last Day at College

My First Day at College

A Cricket Match

Co-Education

Blessing of Science

My Aim in Life

A Visit to an Historical Place

Visits are a great source of information. When we go from one place to another, we are sure to learn a lot. Sometimes such historical places let us stories better than the books on history, It is well said: 

Architecture is a frozen history

A Visit to a Hill Station

Excursion trips become permanent part of student's memory. Such trips and tours are the part and parcel of life. It is really great pleasure to visit hill station in summer. A poet says: 

Praise be to you, O hills!

that thou can breathe into our soul

The secret of your power

My Hero in History

Our history is full of all kinds of people. It is natural for man to love great men. I is rightly said: 

All history is the biography of great men. 

Literacy and Economic Development

Literacy and Economic Development

Economic prosperity of a country entirely depends on the economic resources it has. These economic resources are classified as Natural resources, financial resources and Human resources. Natural resources comprise of fertile land, ideal topography, abundant forests, sufficient mineral resources and excess water supply. Financial resources include the capital needed for the economic activities. Human resources include the population, its growth rate, skills, standard of living and working capacity of the labour force. According to modern economists a country leading in natural resources has more opportunities to develop than that of a country lacking in such resources. But only abundant availability of natural resources does not make sure the economic development of a country, these resources need to be utilized at their optimum. And this is only possible when efficient manpower utilizes these resources. The developed economy of Japan is the open example in this regard whereby Japan had overcome the deficiency of Natural resources by excelling in Human resources. In other words it can be said that economic development only occurs when Natural and Financial resources are maintained properly by efficient Human resources.

On the other hand if Human resources fail to maintain Natural and Financial resources, these resources may be misutilized, underutilized or unutilized and cause economic inefficiency, for instance underdeveloped countries of the world like Afghanistan has excess of mineral resources but the economy is not developed due to lack of Human resources. Another example is Pakistan, where we have sufficient mineral resources but due to lack of skilled manpower we cannot utilize all those resources, and as a result of such we are not in the queue of developed countries.

Good Governance

Good Governance

The concept of "governance" is not new. It is as old as human civilization. Simply put "governance" means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Governance can be used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance.

Since governance is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented, an analysis of governance focuses on the formal and informal actors involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made and the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the decision.

Government is one of the actors in governance. Other actors involved in governance vary depending on the level of government that is under discussion. In rural areas, for example, other actors may include influential land lords, associations of peasant farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, research institutes, religious leaders, finance institutions political parties, the military etc. The situation in urban areas is much more complex. Figure 1 provides the interconnections between actors involved in urban governance. At the national level, in addition to the above actors, media, lobbyists, international donors, multi-national corporations, etc. may play a role in decision-making or in influencing the decision-making process.

Humanism

Humanism

The exact time when the term Humanism was first adopted is still unknown. It is,however, certain that its roots are somewhere in Italy. Before going to the function of humanism i'd like to discuss the confusions and controversies related to this term. 

Because of the variety of meanings, and unclear descriptions of authors and speakers it can easily become a source of confusion, so lets classify the varieties of humanism first.

1. Literary Humanism is a devotion to the humanities or literary culture. 
2. Renaissance Humanism which deals with the learning and the ability of human beings to determine for themselves truth and falsehood. 
3. Cultural Humanism is the rational and empirical tradition that originated largely in ancient Greece and Rome, evolved throughout European history, and now constitutes a basic part of the Western approach to science, political theory, ethics, and law. 
4. Philosphical Humanism is any outlook or way of life centered on human need and interest. Philosophical humanism is further catagorized as Christian humanism and Modern Humanism.(I'll discuss Philosophical humanism in detail first then the other varieties of Humanism)

Islamic Fundamentalism

Islamic Fundamentalism

I Introduction: 

Islamic Fundamentalism, diverse political and social movements in Muslim countries of North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, which have as their goal national government based on the principles and values of Islam. Although these movements all seek to restore social justice based on sharia (Islamic law), they differ in the form of government they seek and in how strictly they believe the government should interpret the law.

For many people in the West, the term “Islamic fundamentalism” evokes images of hostage crises, embassies under siege, hijackings, and suicide bombers. But these images hardly present a comprehensive picture. The ranks of Islamic fundamentalists include Muslims who provide much-needed services to the poor through Islamic schools, medical clinics, social welfare agencies, and other institutions. While some Islamic militants try to reach their goals through violence, the majority of Islamic activists work through political parties within the electoral process. At the fringes are those like Saudi-born millionaire Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network that engage in a global war of terrorism.

The reassertion of Islam and Islamic values in Muslim politics and society over the past 30 years is often referred to in the West as the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. However, the word fundamentalism, which originated in Christianity, can be misleading when it is used to describe Islam or Muslim countries. The conservative monarchy of Saudi Arabia, the radical socialist state of Libya, and clerically governed Iran have all been described as “fundamentalist,” but this description fails to take into account vast differences in their governments and policies. Political analysts prefer to use the expressions “political Islam” or “Islamism” when discussing Islam’s many-faceted roles in current social and political movements.

Democracy

Democracy

Introduction:-

Democracy is a tender topic for a writer: like motherhood and apple pie it is not to be criticized. One will risk being roundly condemned if he, or she, points out the serious bottleneck that is presented when a community attempts, through the democratic process, to set plans for positive social action. A man is not permitted to hesitate about its merits, without the suspicion of being a friend to tyranny, that is, of being a foe to mankind? 
The notions of government and of democracy are independent notions and do not, from what I can see, depend on one another. What is likely required for the masses of people, as we see in "modern" world societies, is an established system of government. Where there is a need for an established system of government, it will likely naturally come about; and do so, whether, or not, it has the consent of the people, -- real or imagined. Putting aside, for the moment, the arguments of Hobbes and Locke, I believe, on the basis of plain historical fact, that governments come about naturally and maintain themselves naturally without the general will of the people; indeed, I believe, with many others I suspect, that our long established democratic governments in the world (the United States and Canada being among them) did not come about by the general will of the people, at all; nor is it necessary that it should it be maintained by the will of the people. One should not conclude, therefore, that democracy is necessary for good government: It may not be. What is necessary for optimum prosperity is a state of acquiescence, which, as it happens, is the hallmark of western democracies. It may be, that the only thing needed is but the trappings of democracy. 

Alleviating Poverty

Alleviating Poverty

POVERTY is simply a state of human ill-being and unacceptable human deprivation. Its concept extends from low levels of incomes and consumption to lack of education and poor health. Different people view poverty in different perspectives. The worst kind of poverty is when people do not have access to basic food and water to fulfil their basic physical needs, therefore they are undernourished, weak and very susceptible to diseases. Another kind of poverty is where people have adequate food but do not have access to other basic needs, i-e: water for sanitation, public health services, clothes and housing. Poverty is not so simple that limits itself to food, cloth and housing. It includes other social dimensions like powerlessness, insecurity, vulnerability, isolation and social exclusion. The poors suffer from stunted growth due to malnutrition, diseases like diarrhoea which result from unsafe drinking water; and low level of schooling. They are not supplied with basic amenities like clean water and a place to live. They have no protection under the law. They are the most vulnerable to crimes. They are deprived of every security that a government provides to its citizens. They have been totally excluded from our societies just as they are not one of us.

Democracy is the best form of Government

Democracy is the best form of Government

Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Abraham Lincoln

Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. Under such a system, legislative decisions are made by the people themselves or by representatives who act through the consent of the people, as enforced by elections and the rule of law. 

Democracy is a tender topic for a writer: like motherhood and apple pie it is not to be criticized. One will risk being roundly condemned if he, or she, points out the serious bottleneck that is presented when a community attempts, through the democratic process, to set plans for positive social action. A man is not permitted to hesitate about its merits, without the suspicion of being a friend to tyranny, that is, of being a foe to mankind? 

Love is Life and Life is Love

Love is Life and Life is Love

Since the day I was born, I've been on this long, mystical journey through life. I'm still only a teenager, and have many a year to go, but I know I have a purpose in this home we call Earth. What would be the point in living if we didn't have a purpose? I know I have many, but I don't know them all clearly. Only through living life will I learn my clear purpose of being here. 

Everyone's purpose is distinctly different yet the same in many ways. Some seem to be decided already, yet just as many could be free-will. We are given the gift of free will, from whomever or whatever has created our living system. This gift gives us the ability to share the main purpose in life, to love and be loved. To me, this life is learning how to love everyone for who they are, and not what you want them to be. I do my best to love everybody, even the ones who have trouble returning it. The reason behind this is because I know there is good in the deepness of everyone. Just looking deep into a babies eyes, I'm ensured there is no bad-heartedness in there. The reason I feel we as humans can become evil-hearted is because of our lack of love in society, and many contributing factors such as materialism and lust.