Chess is an indoor game whose origin can be traced to our Indian culture. It was played under the name of ‘shatranj’ and our ancient kings are exponents in this form of game, which has been used for the formation of strategy during warfare. The objective of this game is to corner the opponent’s King and the game has various opening techniques, middle game strategies and end game theories for the same purpose. This game can even be played with a computer, thanks to the development of computer based programs for the same. The moves of a particular game can be recorded for posterity with a set of alphabetical/numerical annotations which facilitates the analysis and the post mortem of the moves. A typical mind game, Chess has given rise to various Grand masters such as Kasparov, Karpov and our own Viswanathan Anand. Bobby Fischer is considered as a living Genius in this form of game for his innovations and sacrificial moves. Chess is being taught in various academies and schools for young kids to keep their thinking process sharp. This game is practiced not just as an entertainment and pastime, but as a tool for developing the brain power and strategies.
April 30, 2010
April 26, 2010
Nature
Nature – The word itself spells ‘intoxicating’…It encompasses Land, sky and water. The view of Nature gives peace to mind and soul. The rising sun, the standing trees, falling leaves, gloomy moon, cloudy skies, sandy beaches, breezy gardens – all exemplifying the marvellous beauty of the God’s creativity. Nature is depicted in various forms such as painting, craftwork, poetic expression etc., The silent forests, the flowing rivers, the snowy mountains, the buzzing insects, the roaring animals, the singing birds all present us the evergreen beauty of Nature in full bloom.
The vast spell of nature has been exploited by the Humans for their dwelling. The development of technology has resulted in the downing of the trees, the quarrying of Sand and rocks, the building of houses in water-bodies all adding to the imbalance of the earth, thereby resulting in other catastrophic results such as global warming, inconsistent monsoon etc., The beautiful Nature can also end up causing disaster to the people like the rain pouring down incessantly, the earthquakes jolting the nations, the scorching heat ‘frying’ the humans in mid summer, the volcano’s erupting suddenly and tsunami’s striking the beaches out-of-the-blue. Then the nature no longer seems ‘intoxicating’ but ‘deadly’, which none of us wants and the only way to enjoy the beauty of nature is to preserve it for our future generations by doing our best for conserving the greenery available instead of exploiting it for our own advantage.
April 22, 2010
Subramanya Chandrasekhar
Born in Lahore (now in Pakistan) on a fancy numbered date-19-10-1910, Subramanya Chandrasekhar the third child of orthodox Brahmin couple C.S.Iyer and Sita Balakrishnan went on the lines of his much celebrated uncle, sir C.V.Raman of Raman effect fame, to achieve the highest award in physics, the Nobel prize, making it the second in the clan.
Chandra had his early schooling at home, as his siblings did, before he moved to the Hindu High School in Madras. It was here that the mathematical genius in the boy was starting to show and his measures to the summit were flagged off. After schooling he completed his B.A. (Hon.) in Physics at the Presidency College, Madras and there he also learnt his love lessons from Ms.Lalitha Doraiswamy, the girl who would become Mrs. Chandrasekhar. An Indian govt. Scholarship enabled him pursue his higher education at University of Cambridge and, as a result had the opportunity to interact with the scientific stalwarts of his time like Fowler, Bohr and sir Arthur Eddington.
Following completion of course Chandra tied the knot with Lalitha and a year later in 1937 found a professorship job in the University of Chicago, a place where he would remain the remaining part of his life. Chandra had already taken up to studying stellar formation and scrutinizing white dwarfs while still at Cambridge in fact, even as he was pursuing his undergraduate in Madras. He showed keen interests in the big things around us like stars and black holes which eventually made him come up with the biggest achievement of his lifetime-Chandrasekhar’s limit for the upper limit of mass for a star to end up as a white dwarf-and that which earned him the Nobel Prize in 1983, ultimately after a very long wait. Chandra was little short of satisfaction since; the Nobel committee hadn’t mentioned any of his late works in the citation which upset the genius beyond consolation. But he noted the Nobel Prize as his birthday present.
NASA has felicitated the master by naming one of its observatories after his name as, Chandra X-ray observatory.
April 18, 2010
Water
Water, as we all know right from our primary schooling, is a prerequisite for the existence of life forms on earth. But have we ever wondered what makes the compound unique? Let’s try to explore that a little more. Water is the name given to the chemical compound with the molecular formula H2O, i.e., one atom of oxygen clubbing with two hydrogen atoms. While hydrogen and oxygen in their elemental states is a good fuel and oxidizer respectively, in their combined state they develop a strange trait of extinguishing fire which, is found in none of the two in their elemental states.
Another important astonishing feature of water is what is popularly known as its ‘anomalous behaviour’. Water, when cooled below 40C begins to expand instead of contracting, as every other liquid does. This expansion goes on until the temperature reaches the ice point, turning liquid water into solid ice that will float on top of the liquid water and, serves as a blanket for the water beneath it. And the temperature under the sheets of ice is rendered suitable for survival of aquatic lives. Now if Darwinism is correct in its view that the first of life forms appeared under water before it gradually came ashore to land, then without water all of us are unimaginable.
Despite covering three-fourths (75%) of the earth’s surface, water still remains to be a scare resource. This situation is so because, of the millions of litres of water available on earth less than 3% is potable, i.e., fit for consumption. And that too is not distributed evenly, resulting in deaths and diseases mostly in the developing worlds. Most of the fresh water is stored in underground aquifers and the remaining flow on the surface in rivers and streams and very little is used in making the constitution of living bodies. Agriculture is the single largest consumer of fresh water. In India just about 84% of the population even has access to safe drinking water according, to a study carried out by UNICEF. Studies reveal that the poor pay twice as much as the rich living in the same city for the same amount of water and, warns that water will attain more agenda in international as well as national politics than ever before and cause serious strains in macro human relationship.
April 14, 2010
Water melons
Summer in Chennai is never complete without water melons, the fruit native to South Africa but so widely relished here that it is often forgotten as an African breed , more interestingly –thought of as belonging to India. It is one of those few rare fruits which while naming the botanist were considerate to the common man’s impoverished knowledge of Greek and Latin; as can be seen in the obvious sense its name makes in pointing to its observable properties. Its scientific name, however, is Citrullis lanatus. No reservations there! If one were to ask me, ‘is it possible to bite water that is not ice?’ My answer would be an assertive yes and, will prove through demonstration by biting my slice of water melon. With about 92% of it being only water, I wouldn’t think twice before answering.
Water melons are not just the pink crunchy ones we mostly come about. They come in many colours including yellow and orange which are seedless varieties unlike the brown seeded local pinks.
Even as most consume it for its rich water content and welcoming taste, water melons are also an excellent source of numerous vitamins like B,B1,B6,A,C which are the essential crusaders of the body. Water melons have also ample amount of Magnesium and Potassium. Researchers Jian L, Lee AH, and co. found evidence of these bloated juicy bag (water melon) being effective in preventing prostate cancer when taken with green tea; the results of which were published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Besides it has been scientifically proved, the ability of the fruit in fighting against low blood pressure, erectile dysfunction and enhances insulin sensitivity.
This fruit that originated in Africa has good enough history to make a feature film. The earliest known cultivations were in Egypt where, the hieroglyphics stand testimony to its employment. From here it was shipped to China around the10th century A.D, from where the fruit began its journey around the globe.
Summers are not completely evil after all. Of all the good things that can be done during the time, relishing a melon is certainly one.
April 10, 2010
Summer Break
The short spell of shower that came down greeting Chennai was more than a welcome guest and, it required no generosity on part of Chennaiets who accepted it with upturned heads and deep cut smiles. While children spending their summer vacation received it with open palms, parents followed them with cane. The outdoor activities did not cease to exist, but went on, to a fair extent, under umbrellas and other protective clothing. And for a moment it seemed as if people had forgotten their complaints against power cut that existed for most part of the day.
But there were a few inhabitants who did not seem as happy as they might have actually felt. The crows sat idle on branches and antennas for long hours even after dawn; their wet plumage adding more to their fearsome contrast. The sparrows were a different story as they took delight in puddles of water that the city roads effortlessly admitted. And the canines always knew complaining does little help and so took up to the modest shelters that could be found. The hydrophobic cats, however, couldn’t be found anywhere out, thanks to their small size and supple body; they were in their havens.
It was not just about the gentle drops and chillness in the air. The sight of the green becoming lush, and the smell of the topsoil gave Chennai the much resorted break from the terrible heat of summer.
April 6, 2010
Ice cream
There never is a particular time in a year to let our tongue melt with an ice cream, but the desire to experience the bliss is uncontrollable during summers. An ice cream is the last thing in the world that would require a description but, for the sake of those who love even to read about it here is the description. Though any frozen confectionary would qualify to be called an ice cream, variety has come been the spice of the dessert with nuts and flavours opening wide options for taste complementing the part of dairy products which, have become indispensible in ice cream making of late.
It is natural to not think about its origins when under the seduction of its taste but, yes ice creams have a rich tradition associated with it. It is not clearly known when the first ice creams were made but, evidence indicates of the dessert existence as early as 4th century B.C. Roman emperor Nero (A.D. 37-68) and the Chinese king Tang (A.D. 618-97) of Shang are known to have served these frozen desserts to their royal guests. Doubts exist if ice creams were brought to Europe from China. Since its first inception in royal courts ice creams have had a long journey and visited the White house twice during the tenure of President George Washington and Thomas Jefferson before it was finally available for the common man’s mouth.
But who really cares about all those tales when the fast melting ice cream in the bowl is tempting to eat and the mouth already drooling. It’s not just time and tide, ice creams too wait for none.