ROLE OF SOCIALMEDIA IN OUR LIVES

ENGAGE, ENLIGHTEN, ENCOURAGE SOCIAL MEDIA IS MORE ABOUT SOCIOLOGY AND
AND SPECIALLY JUST BE YOURSELF PSYCHOLOGY THAN IT’S ABOUT TECHNOLOGY
~SUSAN COPPER ~ANONYMOUS

THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS THAT IT
FORCES A NECESSARY CHANGE
~ERIK QUALMAN

“The Double-Edged Sword: How Social Media Has Transformed Our Lives”
Umais Mudasir Farooqi
umaismudasir18@gmail.com
Social media plays a vital role in our lives today. When we compare today’s era with the past, we observe a stark contrast. In the past, before the advent of technology, life was simple, tranquil, and clean. However, in today’s world, we see a more complex society that emphasizes advancement and modernization. The increase in technological advancements has brought about significant changes in our society, with social media being a major driver of this transformation.

Life before social media was undoubtedly pure and simple, but it was also somewhat isolated from the world’s current events. People led good lives, but there was a lack of exposure to the broader world. Their knowledge remained static, and they were often unaware of the realities beyond their immediate surroundings. Many relied on superstitions and irrational beliefs, creating their own mythologies. While some were literate and could discern right from wrong, others followed irrational beliefs.

The advent of social media brought about a global revolution that impacted the lives of every individual. People became more connected and began to lead more organized lives. It also had a significant influence on mental health, reforming and renovating the way people thought. As people became familiar with social media, they started craving more technological advancements to improve the world further.

Today, people have become heavily reliant on social media. It has both positive and negative impacts, depending on its usage. When utilized for the betterment of society, social media can be a powerful tool for education. Many students prefer online learning through social media platforms, and numerous channels provide educational content. Social media has made it easier for remote areas to access business opportunities through communication and transportation.

Moreover, social media has not only revolutionized education but also transformed the way we consume news and information. It has become a primary source of news for many, shaping public opinion and driving social and political discourse. However, it has also given rise to concerns about the spread of misinformation and “echo chambers” where people are exposed only to like-minded views.

However, social media also has its limitations and drawbacks. Excessive use can negatively affect mental and physical health. Addiction to social media can lead to a loss of focus on personal goals and priorities. It’s crucial to recognize these negative aspects and use social media responsibly.

In the context of businesses, social media has revolutionized marketing and customer engagement. Companies utilize various social media platforms to reach a global audience, promote their products and services, and engage with customers in real-time. This has opened up new avenues for entrepreneurship and created a more level playing field for small businesses to compete with larger corporations.

As Aubaid Akhoon, the renowned columnist, once said, “As we navigate the digital landscape of the 21st century, let us remember that social media is a double-edged sword, capable of connecting hearts and minds, but also of blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Its true power lies not in the platform itself, but in how we choose to wield it—either to illuminate the path to progress or to deepen the shadows of distraction. Let’s use it as a tool to enlighten our minds, connect with others, and nurture our society’s growth, all while preserving the gems of wisdom we encounter along the way.”

Education plays a significant role in how individuals use social media. It’s not just about accumulating information; it should also involve character development and life-building experiences. We must apply the knowledge we gain from social media to make a positive impact on society by changing negative behaviors and attitudes.

Bottom line: social media provides a platform for self-expression and connection. To make the most of it, we should use it responsibly and contribute positively to our society. Just like a valuable gem, we should preserve and utilize this resource wisely. Social media has reshaped our world in profound ways, and its influence continues to evolve as technology advances and society adapts to these changes.

Umais Mudasir
Class 11th
“ The student is a disciple of renowed Columnist Aubaid Akhoon”

Tomato, Tamatar and Tamata

By 

Kusum Kaull Vyas

Call this fruit, used as a vegetable, by any name but it’s ubiquitous presence in everyday Indian food has made it special and difficult to manage without. Though this red, round, good looking and these days much talked about, costly vegetable was introduced in Indian staple food only 250 years back, it has surreptitiously taken the place which cannot be replaced. There is a hue and cry about the Tomato Rs 200 per kilogram, everywhere in India right now.

Tomato the green, red, yellow, big, small, bright and shining is loved as a toast and zing to the vegetables, curries, lentils thrown in to add colour, taste and make any food palatable. It was not native to Indian subcontinent, Asia or Africa but to South and Central America only. In 1519, a business man brought the seeds to Europe and people started cultivating tomatoes for their ornamental curiosities but was not eaten. Most likely the first variety to reach Europe was yellow in colour since in Spain and Italy it was called Pome d’oro meaning yellow Apples. Italy was the first to embrace and cultivate tomatoes outside South America. May be this is the reason of using Tomato sauce sparingly in pizzas by Italians.

The French referred to tomatoes as Pommes d”amour or love apples as they thought them to have stimulating aphrodisiacal properties. In some western countries it was first known as wolf peach. Peach because it was round and yellow but fed to wolves. The English word Tomato comes from Spanish word Tomate. Though tomatoes were not adopted easily as this bright and shining fruit was eyed with suspicion for a long time in Europe. It went to America with the Europeans who settled there in large numbers in 18th and 19th century.

Portuguese introduced tomate in Indian subcontinent in the 16th century but people did not fit it in the vast Indian cuisine. It remained limited only for Portuguese consumption. It was much later when British laid the foundation of their Indian Empire, Indians took to tomatoes kindly. European sailors, traders, soldiers, missionaries, explorers and colonial officers introduced tomato along with other things to the subcontinent. Indian cooks who served in the British kitchens learnt how to use tomato as soup, broths and Shorba.

Hindus especially Brahmans even today don’t use tomatoes on Religious ceremonies be it any pooja, Shraad or yagna (Havan) like onion or garlic. I asked my mother why do Hindus put tomatoes in the category of onion and garlic, which is considered Tamsik , hot for the body whereas tomato is cooling . She had no clue. The answer I found was that perhaps tomatoes came from foreign shores besides it had no mention in Ayurveda or our scriptures. For a long time, tomato was considered as a brother of brinjals because of certain similarities in growth cycle and leaves. Till that time Indians used Tamarind pulp, coconut, yogurt as thickening material in different dishes.

My Saurashtrian mother in law called tomato as tamata. Rightly so, the Portuguese must have introduced it in Daman and Diu as it must have reached Gujarat’s vast shores like Batata (potato). Gujarati name for Alu / potato is Batata, grown in 17th century for the first time in Indian subcontinent was cultivated along western coast. Britishers introduced Potatoes in Northern India, with the adopted name of yam from Sanskrit Allum. Similarly, tomata was Tamatar in North and central India. It was similarly introduced in Kashmir by Britishers and there also people called it Ruwangan, something associated with wangan, Brinjal. The delicacy wangan Tamatar is a tasty dish of Kashmiri cuisine. The only difference between the Kashmiris and rest of india during the high Tomato prices is that Kashmiris still hold on to their traditional wisdom of drying vegetables, more so the tomatoes, which are sun dried, a practice of hundreds of years. In Kashmir most of the vegetables are sun dried for the use during winters. This culture was a means to survive harsh winters, when snow covered the soil from December to March and nothing grew from October to March. Vegetables were cut in different shapes and sizes, put on a sheet under the sun, covered by a Malmal cloth and left to dry. Garlands of few vegetables like bottle gourd, brinjals, turnip, red chillies etc. would be seen hanging on the outside walls of the houses in Autumn. Tomatoes were sun dried so it would give them a firm texture and unique sweet tart flavour. These were used in winter when there were no fresh tomatoes available like other vegetables.

Today vegetables from Jammu and Punjab come easily in winters through the road connecting Jammu, Anantnag and Srinagar. This was possible only after Jawahar Tunnel was made in 1956, In the Pir Panjal range on its highest peak of Manimahesh kailash peak. Banihal tunnel another name for Jawahar tunnel connects Banihal and qazigund round the year. Prior to 1956, the road to Jammu was to travel on this mountain range on foot, horses and horse carts. Some people would get injured, die, fall off cliffs during rain and snow. This arduous journey was taken only by few, who could not afford to take the long route of Kashmir, Muzaffarabad (presently Pakistan occupied Kashmir), Muree, Rawalpindi, Lahore (Now Pakistan) and Dilli. No one would be back before one month or more, from Srinagar to Dilli which today takes half an hour by Aeroplane. If someone got any vegetables from anywhere in winter, it would be spring by the time he reached back to the valley. In such difficult winters, using dried vegetables was the best practice. Today we get every vegetable from any corner of the world with the click of a finger. Sun dried tomatoes are extremely popular now and are used in wide variety of dishes, soups, salads, pasta, pizza in meat and fish as a delicacy because of its particular taste. They also are a quick snack on their own. It has a shelf life of 6-9 months, when packed in malmal cloth or a tight plastic bag. I would suggest keeping them in fridge in a hot climate like Gujarat. Ripe tomatoes when cheap in winters here, can be sun dried. Another way is to cut the tomato in half, sprinkle with sea salt, lay on mats or cloth under heat until moisture is eliminated. Do cover with malmal cloth or a net otherwise the over dust may sprinkle its flavour. Drying intensifies their flavour, tart acidity and appeal in creamy texture. This is a ready supply of tomatoes all year long. There will be no tension of price rise of tomatoes, come what may.

Italians had taken early to sun dried tomatoes and even today they rehydrate them by marinating with oil or vinegar, with added zing of herbs and spices. If you are in Rome, Florence or Venice, do order a dish with sun dried tomatoes, I bet you will love it. Ask for Ruwangan flavoured dish, when in Kashmir. You will spend the same amount of money for tomato in Italy, tamatar in Dilli and tamata in Gujarat, provided it is Sun dried.

-Kusum Kaull Vyass

TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM VS MODERN CURRICULUM: CHOOSE THE LATTER 

By Syed Mustafa Ahmad 

Curriculum has been defined in many ways according to the needs  of the times.  Some decades ago, traditional curriculum was in dominance. It is  also called bookish curriculum. It focuses  on books, exams, discipline, fixed time tables, paper degrees,etc. However, it is  against the individual differences. Same kind of syllabus was for different children. There is no scope for critical thinking. Status quo reigns everywhere.  

      But with the revolution in information technology, the need for the modern curriculum has increased more than before. The present age is the age of AI, Robotics, Quantum mechanics, etc. Innovation is the order of the day. Men have started to colonize other celestial bodies. There are chances of life on other planets  as well. The calculations that used to take thousands of years, are done in few seconds. Men have surpassed the speed of light. Gene scissors are in the market to protect us from lethal diseases. Carcinogenic diseases are controlled. In this way, there can be no liking for the traditional curriculum that only choked the rational voices. Let us contrast both curricula in some detail.

      First is that the traditional curriculum is about books. Books are more important than children. Education is imparted in specialized buildings. There are strict teachers and management. There are fixed classes in a day. Teachers prepare what they have to teach in a particular period. They try their best to complete the syllabi. They, by hook or crook, complete their syllabi and prepare students for examinations while the modern curriculum is child-based. All the focus is on  a child. His or her differences are known in the beginning. His or her psychology is understood so that teaching or learning becomes easy and fruitful. Here, a child is free to learn according to his or her taste. There are no specialized buildings for this curriculum. A child learns everywhere. He is trained in such a way that every experience becomes learning for him. He looks at animals. He doesn’t dread them. In cases of beautiful landscapes, he or she tries to know its Creator. This is the best characteristic of the modern curriculum.

       Second is that the traditional curriculum is exam-dominated. Children, from the very beginning, are frightened that they have to pass with flying colors. They are in constant fear that if they don’t get a distinction or a position, they will be treated harshly. They, instead of reading textbooks, find short cut ways to get good marks. In this way, they become addicted to the hand made notes and guides prepared by some unknown persons. They learn questions and answers without knowing their crux. They become good in rote learning. In this way, the marvellous brains are lost. However, in case of the modern curriculum, there is no space for exams. A child learns different subjects and skills at the same time to be the master of those subjects or skills. He or she is expert in dealing with his or her subject because he or she likes to learn those very subjects. There is no thrust upon them. They learn what they learn. They use their creative powers to go against the views of their teachers. Children don’t believe blindly. Curriculum teachers them to criticize.

      Third and last is paper degrees. In the traditional curriculum, degrees matter the most. A teacher without a particular degree is deemed unfit for teaching. However, he or she may be expert in his or her subject but she or he does not possess the required degree, he or she is unfit for that very post. But in case of the modern curriculum, there is no need for paper degrees. A rickshaw puller can be an engineer. Jack Ma, the founder of Ali Baba, can be the source of inspiration for those who have doctorates in many subjects. 

       In short, there should be such kind of curriculum that can know the individual differences in  children. Until and unless the individual differences are unknown, we cannot think of any progress. Let us embrace the curriculum that makes child a child. I request parents and teachers to embrace the curriculum that is reasonable. Overall, we are living in the age of Science and technology which needs a totally different approach.  Hope good sense prevails among all of us.