India and its neighboring countries

India is a great country having extensive borders. Its total borderline is nearly 15000 kms. Its northern frontier stretches from Kashmiri and goes up to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam touching the border of Burma and Bangladesh.

In the north Kashmir is surrounded by Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet and China. Ladakh is the tri-junction where the frontiers of these three countries kiss each other. Afghanistan is though now friendly towards India, Pakistan and China are hostile.

Along the entire Himalayan range lies the kingdom of Bhutan. The Himalayan kingdom has a benevolent king Its customs, costumes, religion and manners are quite akin to India.

Nepal is a country, situated in the heart of the mighty Himalayas. Its capital is Kathmandu. India and Nepal are closely linked culturally and historically. The borders of India also touch the plateau of Tibet. This heavenly kingdom is now under the direct control of Communist China. It does not have good relationships with India. Tibet is Shangrila, a land of tranquility.

Pakistan is the closest neighbour of India. This country came into existence when India was partitioned in 1947. India has always tried her best to be friendly and cordial with Pakistan, but the latter has always been indulging in such activities as are injurious to India. Moreover, in September 1965, in December 1971 and in April-July, 1999, she launched attacks on India.

Why do we bury the dead in the ground?

Burial is a method in which a dead person or animal is placed into the ground. This is often practiced to pay respect for the dead. People look after them perhaps in the belief that there is some form of life after death. This method is also practiced to prevent the odor of decay and to avoid its smell. There are different methods for burials, i.e. natural burial, mummification, embalming and the use of containers such as shrouds, coffins, graves, etc.

      

          There is a long tradition of burying our dead that dates back more than 100,000 years. Some burial sites have been found at Mehrgarh, Pakistan by the archeologists which indicate that the burial method was practiced thousands of years ago. It is an important tradition and holds a great value to many, but let us explore more specifically why this is done.

            All religions have different traditions and rituals that serve to honor the dead and assist bereaved families in handling their grief. Each major religion has its customs concerning burial. Although that vary widely, the one common denominator is respected for the body.

            In Islam, the deceased are to be buried within 24 hours of death. “The 24 hours burial is not in the Qu’ran but is a cultural practice form the faith’s desire to respect the body and to avoid decay,” says Russell Mohammed. 

He is the director of the Mid-America Muslim Cemetery. The body is taken to cemetery (place where the remains of dead people are buried) after the prayers. They bury the body in the ground, where it becomes part of the soil. The upper part of the body, the head, is turned toward Mecca.

         
    In Hinduism, there is no burial. The bodies are burned in a special ceremony (Mukhagni). According to the Hindu religion, when someone dies, the soul passes into another body. 

Hindu funerals have three main parts:

1. Funeral in the family’s home

2. Mukhagni (cremation ceremony)

3. Shraddha (takes place about 10 days after the death)

 

The ashes of the burnt body are put in an urn and given to the family.

      

        In Christianity, people believe that dying is the end of a person’s life on earth, but that soul lives on in an afterlife. The funeral is typically held about one week after the time of death. It serves to reflect on the righteousness of the life that has one’s soul will go to Heaven. The three official goals of Christian funeral are:

1. Reflect on someone’s life on earth.

2. Pray to God that the loved one gets into Heaven

3. Give strength to friends and family to cope with their loss.

With most modern cultures cementing the location of their deceased with grave stones, can be hugely important.

Non -Religious Funeral

A non-religious funeral means a ceremony to honor the body that is not tied to any traditions, rituals or beliefs of any particular religion. Because there is no tradition set for non-religious burial ceremonies, they tend to be highly personalized. The guests who attend a non-religious funeral can expect a range of scenarios: an open casket funeral, a closed casket funeral, etc.

                                 

As we discussed, different religions have different rituals practice for burial and the reasons why we bury our dead are many. But the most important is that it reveals much about who we are and where we come from.

Homophones I Words having same pronunciation but different meanings

English is full of words that sound similar or identical, but that mean different things. Only in English can you “stare at the stair,” “sail to the sale,” “break the brake,” or “brush the hare’s hair.” Such words are called HOMOPHONES.

HOMOPHONES - Each of two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling.

 It can be hard to remember which spelling refers to which meaning. As a result, sound-alike words are often used incorrectly in writing. (In spoken English, of course, sound-alikes are not an issue. Spelling doesn’t matter when you talk!)

 This post includes fourteen sound-alike word groups that tend to give writers fits. Read the definitions, and memorize the helpful hints. You’ll be on your way to better written grammar in no time at all!

1. Don’t confuse “except” and “accept.”

In its most common usage, “except” is a preposition. It means with the exception of: Everyone except Hector went to the circus. “Accept” is a verb. It means to receive, approve, or believe: Denise accepted the award. I was accepted to the gifted program. I accept what you’re telling me. To keep “except” and “accept” straight, remember that “a” is the first letter of the word “action.” “Accept,” which is a verb and therefore an action word, also starts with “a”.

 2. Don’t confuse “affect” and “effect.”

“Affect “is a verb. It means to influence something: His hard work will affect his grade in that course. “Effect” is usually a noun, and it means the result of something: His hard work will have a good effect on his grade in that course.

         The word “effect” is also sometimes (though not often) used a verb. As a verb, the word means to make something happen: That new law will certainly effect change.

          To keep “affect” and “effect” straight, apply the same rule you learned in the Tip 1. “Affect” is an action word “effect” usually isn’t.

3. Don’t confuse “capitol” and “capital.”

A “capitol” is a building where a state’s or country’s government meets: The officials gathered in the capitol.

         The noun “capital” has several meanings. A capital may be the city that contains the capitol: Pierre is the capital of South Dakota. It can refer to wealth: She will need a lot of capital to start her own business. It can mean an uppercase letter: Always use a capital at the beginning of a sentence. And finally, it can refer to the main or most famous city in a certain respect: Philadelphia is sometimes called cheesesteak capital of the world.

          If you get mixed up, just remember that “capitol” only means a government building. For every other usage, “capital” is the correct word.

 4. Don’t confuse the words “compliment” and “complement.”

 “Compliment” can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means a flattering remark: She always receives lots of compliments when she wears that beautiful dress.  As a verb, it means to give a compliment: John complimented Lara on her new hairdo.

“Complement” can also be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means something that completes or improves something else: Gravy is the perfect complement to mashed potatoes. As a verb , it means to complete or to improve: The players’ styles complemented each other nicely.

 It may help to picture the word “complement” as “comple(te)ment.”

 5. Don’t confuse “stationary” and “stationery.”

 “Stationary” is an adjective. It means staying in one place: Judy exercised by riding the stationary bicycle.

“Stationary” is a noun. It means writing materials: Lisa’s stationery is covered with pictures of teddy bears.

To tell the difference between these words, remember that “stationary”, which is an adjective, is the word that contains the “a” instead of the “e” – and “a” stands for adjective.

6. Don’t confuse “principle” and “principal.”

“Principle” is a noun. It means a basic rule or assumption: He struggled to learn the principles of geometry. “Principal” can be a noun or an adjective. As a noun, it usually means the leader of a school or business: The principal gave me detention. The executives wrote a report for the principals. As an adjective, it means most important: Lester has the principal role in the play.

 Here’s a memory shortcut for you. Remember this phrase: “The principal is your pal.” That takes care of the noun version of the word. As for the rest…. Well, once again, the “a” in “principal” stands for “adjective.”

7. Don’t confuse “then” and “than.”

“Then” is an adverb. It indicates a time sequence: Carrie sneezed, and then blew her nose. “Than” is usually a conjunction. It indicates a comparison: My brother is two years older than I am. That’s easier said than done.

8. Don’t confuse “further” and “farther.”

 “Further” can be an adverb or an adjective. As an adverb, it means to a greater degree: The disobedient child further annoyed her tired mother. As an adjective, it means additional: Eddie needed further help.

 “Farther” can also be an adverb or an adjective. As an adverb, it means to a greater distance: The library is a little farther down this road. As an adjective, it means more distant: There are more coconuts on the farther side of the island.

Remember that in either form, the word “farther” always involves measurable distance. If you could use a ruler on something, “farther” is correct. If not, “further” is the word you’re looking for.

9. Don’t confuse “lie” and “lay.”

         
In their verb forms, “lie” and “lay” are two of the, most commonly confused words in the English language. So if you have a trouble in this area, you are not alone!

The word “lie” has many definitions. Its most often confused one is to rest in a horizontal position:  The cat lies on its cushion. The word “lay,” too, has many definitions, but its most often confused one is to put in positions: Lay your coat on the couch.

It Might help you to remember that “lay” always requires an object. That is, you must always say what you’re laying for this word to be correct. You can “lay down the law” (lay what? The law) but you can’t “lay on the bed” (lay what? A pillow)

There is no simple solution to this grammar challenge. Practice until you get it right!

 10. Don’t confuse “sit” and “set.”

The difference between “sit” and “set” is very similar to the difference between “lie” and “lay.” In its most common definition, “sit” means to rest on the haunches: The elephant will sit on that little stool. The most often confused meaning of “set” is to place: Rosie set the apple on the table.

“Sit” is not often used in place of “set.” “Set,” however, is commonly misused. You might hear someone saying, “I think I’ll just set here awhile.” Wrong!

Here’s a hint. Like “lay,” “set” requires an object. If the object is missing, you know the word “set” is wrong.

11. Don’t confuse “it’s” and “its.”

 A lot of people make this mistake, but it’s actually an easy one to avoid if you remember that “it’s” is always a contraction for either “it is” or “it has.” In every other circumstance, “its” is correct

Right: It’s a bad idea.

Right: The bird carries worms to its babies.

When in doubt, substitute the words “it is” for “its” or “it’s.” It is a bad idea sounds right, so you know the contraction “it’s” is appropriate. The bird carries worms to it is babies, however, is obviously wrong, so you must go with “its.”

 12. Don’t confuse “you’re” and “your.”

      
These words, too, are easy to tell apart if you remember that “you’re” is always a contraction for “you are.” In most other circumstances, “your” is correct. (There is another sound-alike word, “yore,” which means long ago. But most people don’t use this word too much. “You’re” and “your” are much more common.)

In these examples, “you’re” and “your” are used correctly:

                   You’re my best friend.

                 Can I borrow your book?

Use the same substitution trick you learned in Tip 10 if you are not sure which word to use. You’ll see very quickly that You are my best friend is correct while Can I borrow you are book is not correct.

3. Don’t confuse “they’re” and “there” and “their.”

      
 Once again, contraction can help you. Start by remembering that “they’re” is always a contraction for “they are”: They’re going to spend the day at the beach.

       The next two are a little trickier, but still not too tough. “There” is usually an adverb, and it indicates a place or position: Stand over there. There he is. “Their” is an adjective, and it indicates possession: The rock pile blocked their path. (Whose path? Theirs)

       Here’s a memory trick to help you. “There” is spelled like “where.” If you can ask the question “where” about a sentence (Stand where? There. He is where? There.), then sound0-alike word “there” is the right choice.

 14. Don’t confuse “too,” "two" and “to.” 

   
“Too” is an adverb. It can mean either in addition. Give me some cookies, too! or overly: There are too many mosquitoes out tonight.

     “Two” is usually an adjective, and it indicates a number: Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.

     “To” is usually a preposition. In its most common usage, it indicates movement toward a person, place, or thing: I biked to school. I gave the gum to Pete.

     For most people, the word “two” isn’t the problem. “To” and “too,” however, are often confused. Unfortunately, there is no easy trick to remembering how these words are used. This is one more area where practice makes perfect.

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Apps for Women's Safety

The status of women has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. Violence against women is increasing day by day and some android applications have been developed for their safety. Here, I am providing you the detailed information of some useful applications 

1.Circle Of 6

>>Introduction

With Circle of 6, you can connect with your friends to stay close, stay safe and prevent violence before it happens.

The Circle of 6 app for iPhone and Android makes it quick and easy to reach the 6 friends you choose.

Need help getting home? Need an interruption? Two touches lets your circle know where you are and how they can help.

Icons represent actions; so that no one can tell what you’re up to.

Designed for college students, it’s fast, easy-to-use and private.

It’s the mobile way to look out for your friends, on campus or when you’re out for the night.

>>What it does

You're out late and you lose track of your friends. Use Circle of 6 to send your circle a “come and get me” message- with a map using GPS to show your precise location.

You're on a date that starts to get uncomfortable. You need a polite way to excuse yourself. Use Circle of 6 to alert your circle to call you and interrupt the situation.

You're seeing someone new, but you have some doubts about how things are going. Use Circle of 6 to access a wealth of online information about healthy relationships.

In critical situations, use Circle of 6 to call two pre-programmed national hotlines or a local emergency number of your choice.

2.Nirbhaya

This app is made by a software company of Pune. An app that gives you an opportunity to become a Socially Responsible Citizen of India. This app provides you the facility to call the emergency helpline numbers when needed. If you want help, then press the ‘Nirbhaya’ button given in this app and the message will be sent to the contact group that you have created. It also gives the information of your location.

3.Life360 Family Locator

More than an app, it notifies close and dear ones about the trouble. It provides useful information; for instance, about the criminals in the neighbourhood, tracking the most visited locations and so on. It also keeps connected with the family members on a daily basis and with the aid of GPS, it informs others about the exact location though messages, calls and emails with the press of a button. Its usage can be beyond safety issues. The app is available for free and can be used in iPhone, Android and Blackberry phones.


4.b Safe

>>Introduction

bSafe is a personal safety app designed to keep you and your friends safer 24/7. It’s packed with features for both everyday safety and real emergencies, making it the ultimate safety tool for you and everyone you love. bSafe puts safety in YOUR hand - for FREE! Set up your own personal social safety network today.

Have you ever felt unsafe when walking alone at night, or jogging on a running trail? Have you ever needed an excuse to get out of a bad date or long meeting, or simply been looking for an easier way to hook up with your closest friends? Have you ever worried about how you actually would get help in case of an emergency?

>>bSafe can help in all situations:

• Set up your own social personal safety network of friends, family and coworkers

• Share locations to find each other more easily (optional)

• Ask friends to walk you home with Follow Me’s live GPS trace, or help friends stay safer by walking them home from wherever you are

• Use Timer Mode to program an automatic alarm that will trigger if you have not checked in in time

• Use I’m Here to tell selected people where you are right now

• Use Fake Call to make the phone ring when you want it to. You can even define who the call should be from

• And in case you are ever in trouble, the Guardian Alert button will immediately notify your friends and family members that you need help, and let them know where you are (GPS) and what’s happening (video). It will even set off a siren (optional)

5.SOS Whistle

>> Introduction

This app play a whistle sound in a high volume. If your phone is at silent mode and you are in any hurdle, even then whistle sound will be played.

The whistle sound is played when a button given in this app is pressed. It will stop if you press the button again. 

6.Vith U

>>Introduction

“Vith U App” can help you in any emergency or danger. This app was introduced by Channel V and Gumrah Team. Vith U app is just an awesome app, not for girls but it is helpful for everyone.

>>How To Use

First of all download this app, now open this app and add your few contacts on it, generally your guardians, brother or close friends. Now whenever you found yourself in trouble, just open the Vith U App and click on activate button twice. After tapping activate button, this app automatically start sending out alert messages to all the contacts you saved into this app. And this automated alert message states: “I am in danger. I need help. Please follow my location.” This automated message gets delivered to the all contacts you saved in this app along with the link of your current location. This automated message keeps delivering again and again after the gap of 2 minutes.

7.Guardly

It is a personal safety application designed for women which connects with all of the safety network connections. It differs from the other apps as it places phone calls to those listed contacts along with the name, real-time location and the type of emergencies- “Stroke” or “Walking Home Alone” and also enables to identify different locations. It has a profile page where the user can includes personal information like birth date, eye’ hair color, weight, height, blood type and so on. The subscribed version enables responders to connect to conference calls. The paid version includes tracking of real-time location. It is available for iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 phones.



8.FightBack

FightBack, developed by the Mahindra group firm, is an application that ensures women safety as it works across various range of phones. Earlier, the application was charged as per the usage, but recently after the Delhi gang rape case, the company has started giving free access to the app. It uses GPS, GPRS, SMS, emails and even Facebook to inform friends in need of help. It also shows location on Google Maps and sends SOS emergency text messages to close and dear ones. The app is available for Android and Nokia phones and for phones which support Java apps.