BREAKFAST IS A MUST FOR EVERYONE

Breakfast is a must for everyone after a night’s 6 or 7 hour sleep. We cannot and should not avoid breakfast. Those who do so voluntarily, under the wrong impression that it will help reduce their weight, are expected to face health problems. A healthy breakfast is essential for all of us. The old adage is that “take breakfast like a king”. Of course it is understandable if some are limiting their breakfast on health grounds on the advice of their doctors.

Eating breakfast is essential to carry on our day to day works properly and efficiently. It improves our memory and concentration. It also keeps us happy and stress free. It helps children grow well, behave well and improve learning capacity. On the whole breakfast should neither be avoided nor delayed. It should be taken on time to keep our spirits high and health intact. Just like any of the organs in our body, the brain also needs energy to work at its best. 

In the present fast moving world where everyone, from school going children to office going men and women, is compelled to wake up early in the morning and get ready to resume their work. In this routine many have no time at all to prepare right breakfast so necessary to get the required energy. We have seen many running away to school, college, office or business place skipping the breakfast. Experts say that we should not avoid breakfast and that it should be a right one containing important vitamins and minerals. 

Once an IT professional told me that “I don’t want to be tense in the morning making my office going wife take trouble and do this and that. We have opted for Kellogg’s energy foods which are full of energy giving carbohydrates and fibre.” After hearing this we tried Kellogg’s foods, found them tasty, useful and nutritious and started using. As claimed Kellogg’s Anaaj Ka Nashta made from the choicest corn, wheat, rice, barley and oats is tasty as well as full of essential nutrients and have no added preservatives. It is also very easy to make and time saving. 

By avoiding oily and spicy food and taking Kellogg’s energy food, one can reduce high blood pressure, diabetes etc. and keep good health. We should cultivate the habit of taking good breakfast and also make our children follow it. 

When we open a box of Kellogg’s cereal, we find the real goodness of grains fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. It helps us in keeping our mind and body healthy because its cereal is free of preservatives. Kollogg’s assures that its cereal contains the nutritious essence of whole grains, just how nature intended it to be.

Kellogg’s Corn Flakes has a variety of delicious Special K products to help us in taking the food of our choice. It has become favourite to a large number of people and will become favourite to anyone who tastes it once or twice. 

This post is written in association with Kellogg’s India. Please visit them here:https://www.facebook.com/anaajkanashta and https://www.youtube.com/user/kelloggindia.

India, a bright spot on cloudy global horizon, says IMF chief Lagarde

 http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-a-bright-spot-in-global-economy-imf-chief-lagarde/article6999065.ece

 

 International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde

 KR SRIVATS

New Delhi, March 16:  

India is the bright spot on the “cloudy global horizon” and Asia's third-largest economy should “seize the moment” by focussing on further reforms, says IMF chief Christine Lagarde.

“Recent policy reforms and improved business confidence have provided a booster shot to economic activity,” the head of the International Monetary Fund said at a lecture at Lady Sri Ram College in the Capital. 

Using India’s new GDP series, the IMF now expects growth to pick up to 7.2 per cent this fiscal year and accelerate to 7.5 per cent next year. 

Lagarde said the country was now the fastest-growing large economy in the world. By 2019, the Indian economy would more than double in size compared with 2009, she said. 

“When adjusting for differences in purchasing prices between economies, India’s GDP will exceed that of Japan and Germany combined. Indian output will also exceed the combined output of the three next largest emerging market economies — Russia, Brazil and Indonesia,” Lagarde said. 

Subsidy reforms needed

To make the Indian economy resilient, nimble and more supportive of growth, the fiscal policy should focus on further reform of the subsidy regime and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, she said.

On the monetary policy front, Lagarde said India’s recent adoption of flexible inflation targeting was welcome. 

She said India was well prepared to handle any rate hike by the US Fed in the coming days.

She, however, warned that global financial market volatility arising from any monetary policy normalisation can hit India. “India is well prepared and fundamentally strong (to cope with the normalisation),” Lagarde said replying to a question on the likely effect of any US interest rate hike.

She, however, made it clear that it was for the US Federal Reserve Chairperson Janet Yellen to take a “final call” on the timing of the interest rate hike. 

Seeks clarifications on new GDP series 

 

The International Monetary Fund has sought certain clarifications from the Indian authorities on the new GDP series even as it is confident about its veracity, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said.

“We are fairly confident about the data. We have accepted the new GDP series conditionally. 

“I think the new GDP growth projections are very much on the horizon,” Lagarde said.

The IMF chief was replying to a query on whether the IMF accepted the recent GDP growth forecasts made by the Central Statistics Office post the introduction of a new series of national accounts with a new base year of 2011-12. 

srivats.kr@thehindu.co.in

(Courtesy: The Hindu Business Line dated 16th March 2015) 

A NEW LIFE

It was in middle 1970s. I and two of my friends consulted one another and took a bold decision to start a partnership company. As we had experience working in a leather exporting company, we had no alternative except to try the same line of business. The total capital we invested at that time was about Rs.25,000/- We searched for a suitable place to start our business. A landlord known to us was very co-operative and we were able to get about 750 sq. ft. ground floor building at a reasonable rent and advance. It was a new building and hence there was no necessity for painting. We just put up a cabin and set up an office with necessary tables, chairs and a type writer. 

We applied for TNGST and CST registration and Export and Import code numbers and got them easily without any problem. The concerned officials were very helpful. There was no question of greasing their palms. They maintained their dignity and decorum! 

That was the time of export business without computers!. Even fax was not available and only a very few big companies had telex machines for communication!!. All export messages were exchanged in code words by cable (telegram) between exporters and importers. There is no telegram now. It has been abolished. There may be many youngsters now  not knowing about telegram. 

At that time as now export contracts were concluded through Agents. Many leading agency companies were there, some of them even affiliated to U.K. based big importers. 

We approached two Agents Messrs. Dharmsee Parpia and Mr. K. A. Rasheed for orders. They issued some contracts to us on the condition that goods would be inspected by them before shipment which is of course a usual trade practice. 

Everything happened within a short period of two months or so. The joy of a new life in business we decided to start was so immense and it cannot be explained in words. 

Some time passed on. We were slowly building our business.  At that time there was an announcement by the BSNL introducing Telex. We applied and got a telex machine installed in our office. It was a big machine and message had to be sent by perforation on the available tape. It sounded like an engine!!  After some time an electronic telex and fax were in vogue. We got them returning the telex machine to the department. Yet some years passed on. It was the time of a big revolution. Computer appeared in the market and it replaced all outdated instruments like typewriter, telex, fax etc. in most of the offices within a short time. 

Thus started, our company made a name in the market. The undeniable fact is that God helps those who help themselves. Optimism is a sine qua non for progress and prosperity. 

This post is written in association with housing.com and indiblogger. Please visit them here: https://housing.com/

A MEMORABLE TEACHER PAR EXCELLENCE

The days I spent with our teacher Zackeria Hazrath during my high school days are still green in my memory. He was a great teacher with a difference. His approach of teaching was to infuse the spirit of honesty, patriotism, optimism etc. in the minds of his students. He was a dedicated teacher the likes of whom are very rare. He taught three generations of students in the school. It was he who gave us (his students) the strength and motivation to be confident and adopt optimistic outlook in our life.  

Optimism is really a wonderful attitude. History proves beyond any doubt that optimists have been successful to a great extent in different fields of activity unlike pessimists and so called realists. Even in the present world we can see hard working people with well chalked out plans succeeding in life. Prophet Mohammed was a great optimist. He gave importance to hard work and inspired people to live a dignified life with their hard earned money. He kissed the hands of the enterprising and hard working people. He asked the rich to help the poor and needy and at the same time asked the poor people not to go to the door of any rich person for alms if they are hale and healthy. He was for establishing equality and brotherhood among the people. The quran says: 

“O mankind, indeed we have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noblest of you in the sight of God is the best in conduct.”

 

We must ponder over this verse and try to consider all people as one big community whatever may be our language, colour, creed or any such thing. Of course it requires an optimistic attitude to consider so. 

A pessimist never gains anything but lands in troubles. The Quran says in clear terms that “ Indeed, God will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves”. It simply means that one has to plan and try to implement it to achieve the result. Nothing comes from the above without hard work. The divine concept is that after hard work one has to seek God’s blessings for success. Success comes to those who persevere in their fields of activity. There is need to change our mindset in accordance with the need of the present time keeping honesty in mind. 

Our former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is a great optimist. His books  Ignited Minds and Wings of Fire show his  great optimism. Wherever he goes and meets people particularly students, the future generation, he advises them to dream and achieve what they prefer. In other words he wants them to be optimists and come up in life with flying colours  to build our great country India and make it a super power. We must be strong not to threaten others but to defend ourselves and save the world from disasters. 

The great poet philosopher Iqbal was an optimist. His poems are full of optimistic thoughts. Two of his couplets are given below to make readers understand his approach to optimism. 

1.  Wahee Jahaan hai tera jis ko tu kare paida

Yeh sang-o-khisht naheen jo teree nigah mein hai

Your world is the one which you create yourself,

Not these stones and bricks which are in your sight. 

2.  Afraad ke haatone mein hai aqwaam ki taqdeer,

Her fard hai millat ke taqdeer ka sitaara

        The destiny of nations is in the hands of individuals,

        Similarly every person of the community is its destiny’s star

Optimism is the great secret of the success of many industrials, businessmen, teachers, social activists, scientists, players and so on. If a person determines and works hard with optimism, he is bound to succeed. 

This post is written in association with housing.com and indiblogger. Please visit them here: https://housing.com/ 

THE BEST ROLE MODEL

Optimism is a powerful attitude which is necessary for everyone, rich or poor, in this world which is full of challenges. An optimist is determined to prove his mettle by trying his best in the career which he has undertaken.  An optimist can do miracles and be happy and can also make others benefit. The key to success is considered to be optimism with divine belief. Qualities like principle, hard work, determination, perseverance, patience etc. are related to this excellent attitude of optimism. All great and influential personalities have been some sort of optimists. An optimist moves on, come what may, considering trials and tribulations as a way of life.  

 

Poet Iqbal said:

“Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer se pahle,

Khuda bande se khud pooche bata teri raza kya hai” 

– Elevate yourself so high that even God, before deciding every decree of fate or destiny, should ask you: Tell me what is it that you want?’ This couplet is often quoted by educationists and religious scholars. It encourages  people to be active in life. 

Another motivation of Iqbal is: 

Nahin tera nasheman Qasre Sultani ke gumbad par,

Tu shahi hai, basera kar pahadon ki chattano par”

 – You don’t have to make your nest on the dome of Queen’s palace, Oh Eagle, you are royal, choose to reside on the peaks of mountains. What a beautiful lesson to possess optimism!

Everyone is worried or upset sometime or the other due to various reasons.  We face grief, sorrow and stress. We cannot stop difficulties coming to us. However an optimist can control these feelings and make his life comfortable and happy. Optimism is another name for Trust in God.  A believer is expected to observe and take lessons from the multiple creations of God around him – the earth, sky, ocean, forest etc. An optimist believes that he will succeed in life and in whatever he does with the blessings of God. 

Prophet Mohammed is a role model to millions of people the world over. In a book titled “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History” Mr. Michael H. Hart says: “My choice of Mohammed to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level”. 

Prophet Mohammed was born in 570 CE in Mecca, Saudi Arabic, orphaned at an early age and was brought up by his paternal uncle Abu Talib. After his childhood he started his career as an honest merchant. His involvement was in different fields of activity. He was a revolutionary leader par excellence. At the age of 40 he was bestowed prophethood and started receiving and conveying the divine message to the people in and outside Arabia. His belief and sermon in monotheism and about the importance of equality and brotherhood among all the people whatever their caste, creed or community made him the darling of the people. The success he had achieved in the 63 years of his life is incomparable in the human history. Even today he is alive and ruling the hearts of millions of people in every nook and corner of the world. He was a great optimist and a reformer par excellence. 

It is optimism which teaches a person to be bold, self confident and succeed in life. 

This post is written in association with housing.com and indiblogger. Please visit them here https://housing.com/lookup.