MESSAGE FROM THE FACULTY ADVISOR

HAPPY NEW YEAR This new year greeting of HAPPY NEW YEAR mostly remains a wish. Can this sincere wish be transformed into a reality? As we live in the age of science, let us first analyze this greeting of HAPPY NEW YEAR from the perspective of science. Whats A Year? Lets begin with the word year. A year is a unit for measuring time. And what is time? Though the reality of time, especially in the form of its effect on us, is undeniable, time is one among the many fundamental truths of life and that defy scientific definition. Be that as it may, we measure time by the movement of the cosmic bodies. As per current scientific understanding, one year is the time in which the earth completes one revolution around the Sun. For an object orbiting continuously in a circular path, no point on the orbit can be considered special. So scientifically theres nothing New about the new year; the earth is going to continue in its same old path! Whats New? Lets consider the word New. All of the humanity in general has an inherent attraction for new things. Why? Is it not because the old is, in one way or other, unsatisfactory? The old lifestyle, the old dress, the old mobile, the old relationships, the old job all these leave us feeling incomplete and unfulfilled. And the fond hope is that the new will change that same old story. But whats actually going to be new? People change their externals to make things better. But from a scientific point of view, everything is just atoms! The astounding variety around us results from submicroscopic variations in the atomic and molecular structures, such as a different number of electrons orbiting within the atom of a particular element. Now what is the most dramatically new thing that a person can do? Maybe get a new girl friend or boy friend. But that just means getting someone whose skin pigments have a slightly different atomic arrangement! (Talks about personality are, after all, Unscientific!). So changing the atomic arrangement around you (new house, new car, new job, new spouse and the like) or the atomic arrangement inside you (mundane new year resolutions) and hoping that, that will make the new year happy doesnt make much scientific sense. Whats Happiness? Happiness is another fundamental reality of life that is beyond the realm of science. Noble Laurate Physicist Erwin Schroedinger Pointed out that the entire world of emotions remains inaccessible to science, Science cannot tell us a word about why music delights us, of why and how and old song moves us to tears. Though the situation remains the same today, some scientists have faith in their belief in reductionism, despite having no proof for it. For them, pleasure or pain is nothing more than certain C fibers or Delta fibers firing in certain parts of the body. The sweet greeting of Happy New Year! is often expressed with genuine good wishes. Let us see the spiritual meaning of this word Happy New Year. Spiritual dimension of Happy New Year Vedic wisdom explains that each one of us is an eternal and blissful spiritual personality having inherently the nature of befriending and loving of God and all living beings. The Vedic scriptures also wish us a genuinely felt Happy New Year. In fact, they wish that every moment of our life be happy and new. Not only those, now let us investigate how they go much further and delineate a practical process by which this wish can be transformed into a reality. The Vedas agree with the common understanding that to become happy something new has to be done. But the understanding of new as given in the Vedic wisdom is significantly different from the general understanding. The Vedic scriptures explain that all living beings eat, mate, sleep and defend. In fact, the subhuman beings do nothing but these four activities. And modern man is also doing just these four activities, although in a sophisticated way. Even most scientific advancement is impelled by these four fundamental drives. Lets see how. Among the first things that man did after unravelling the mysteries of the atom is to use the atomic bomb; thats defending in the most horrendous form seen in the contemporary times. A major result of the advent of the information age is the internet, which has sex (and its related words) as the top search object on Google; thats mating. The leaps in genetic engineering have mostly been actuated by the desire for better meat and other foodstuffs; is that anything higher than eating? Dunlop beds, now-a-days water beds and what not; they are all obviously for sleeping. So a little thought will reveal how all the advanced activities done by the modern man eventually boil down to eating, sleeping, mating and defending. And theres nothing new in them, no matter how we can do them externally. But humans are not meant to live the same old life of eating, sleeping, mating and defending; they are meant to do something new. And that brings us to the realm of spirituality. A hog cannot understand the difference between its body and soul; a human being can. A dog cannot practice meditation; a human being can. Spirituality is not just a different ability that we humans have; it is our defining privilege that we have been granted due to possessing a higher intelligence that accompanies the human body. Therefore, the Vedic scriptures encourage us to sublimate our attraction for the new by directing it to the realm of spirit athato brahma jijnasa. This starting aphorism of the Vedanta-sutra means: Therefore, inquire about the higher dimension of life. Why does it start with the word therefore? Because implied is a clarion call, Now, O Spirit soul, who has acquired a human body, cease from the animal business of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Now you are endowed with a higher intelligence in the human form. Therefore inquire about the higher truths of life.

- Dr. P. Hari Krishna Associate Professor in civil engineering

The real Happy New Year

The higher enquiry is not a fruitless armchair speculation. The answers to it constitute a practical way of life which bestows upon the seeker unlimited happiness from the spiritual stratum. This in fact is the Vedic mission: sarve janah sukhino bhavantu Let everyone be happy not superficially and temporarily by success in the rat race for sense gratification, but deeply and eternally by absorption in loving service of God. Spiritual life culminates in the development of love of God. Love of God, the universal Father, precipitates love for all living beings as ones own brothers. This selfless love completely satisfies the self and also makes the lover of God the topmost welfare worker for all living beings. Love of God is our original and real nature, but due to prolonged and excessive contact with matter, it has become completely obscured and is now misdirected towards various material objects. All genuine spiritual practices are meant to revive this love of God, which is presently dormant in our hearts. God being infinite is eternally new (nitya navanavayavvna) and so loving Him is an eternally new and happy experience. Hence, revival of our love of God is the ultimate fruition of the wish Happy New Year!.

JANUARY 2013

MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY

Its party time! For all those whod love to let their hair down and even for those who dont. Its time to remind ourselves that a new beginning is always possible. Its time to move on and unburden ourselves. Every New Year is a Hope. Hope for things to get better. Lets celebrate this hope then! My friend comes es along, wishes me Happy New Year and the next obvious question comes what are your new year resolutions? Its been the same since the last 4 years. It is to not take any New Year resolutions. Frankly, thats the only resolution I have ever been able to keep up. If you really are serious about doing something, theres no point in waiting for the New Year to go ahead. Like it has been said, There is no wrong time to do the right thing. And if we really arent intent on the change, the alarms will still stil be ringing, and wed still be snoozing or sleeping. Resolutions are meant to be broken dude! is what I hear at the end of the January. Well, thats a neat excuse to give. Only that you shouldnt be giving it to yourselves. The best resolution could be To find every opportunity to rediscover myself. You can never gauge the depths of the ocean standing s at the shores. You need to jump in. There is a lot to each one of us, which neither we nor the world knows. Also, there are many things you wish could change about yourselves, about the world. You wish that a lot of things had been different. You might wish to find yourself as an entirely different person when you wake up the next day. Which is all totally possible. All that y you ou need to do is shed off your fears and limiting self-beliefs beliefs about yourselves. I know, if had been so easy as saying, the world would have been perfect. It isnt. But isnt New Year about hope? Instead of being weighed down by all the imperfection, why n not ot strive harder to smoothen a little fold? It isnt about changing the outcome. Its about changing the input. You can never really hope to reap mangoes, by sowing tomato seeds. The change c outward can happen only when the root lies inward. Therefore, the best gift we can give ourselves is a Paradigm Shift, to our beliefs. And try to find out our new selves, capable of reaching out to new horizons. You dont really need the New Year to do this thing, but since we are here, why not start off?
-M.S.K PRAVEENA SRIRAM GENERAL SECRETARY, CVE

SANKRANTHI
Sankranthi is an important festival observed by Telugu speaking people in January. It is quite similar to the Pongal Festival observed in Tamil Nadu and Makar Sankranthi observed in other parts of India. Sankranthi is a four-day day festival in Andhra Pradesh. The Bhogi festival is observed on the first day and second day is the most important day and is known as Sankranthi or Pongal. The third day of the festival is Kanumaand fourth and final day is referred as Mukkanuma. Uttarayana Punnyakalam period begins with Sankranthi and the next six months are considered highly auspicious. In Andhra Pradesh on the Sankranthi day, Pongali, a dish prepared from the recent rice harvest is offered to Sankranthi Lakshmi. This is quite similar to the dish prepared in neighboring Tamil Nadu during Pongal. An important side dish prepared on the day is the pumpkin curry. 'Arselu' or special Sankranthi Appam' is an important sweet delicacy prepared during Sankranthi. A major highlight of Sankranthi festival in Andhra Pradesh is charity or alms giving. Most people make it a point to share whatever they have with other people. Sweets and milk products are shared between relatives and neighbors. Gifting pumpkin mpkin is another highlight. Idols of various gods in Hindu pantheon, bronze utensils, and clothes are given away on the day. -MANASWI MANASWI DIVAKARUNI B,TECH CHEMICAL

Any festival irrespective of religion spreads a common message of love,charity and humanity. humani Indian culture reflects these three main qualities and also contains the best features of many other lands all these factors account for the unity in diversity..which is an outstanding feature of our country. Youth are the back bone of our country so o it is the responsibility of our youth to protect this outstanding feature and spread Indian culture.

JANUARY 2013

THE SANTA CLAUSE

When one says the word Christmas to a kid, what immediately strikes them is the fat, plumy red robed figure. Apart from kids even the adults love him! This so called figure is very famous for giving away gifts and his presence brightens up the place! So by now you shouldve guessed who this figure is none other than the Santa Clause! Despite knowing the appearance of Santa very few know about his evolution. So lets get to know a little of history about the origin of Santa. h was the year when Saint Nicholas was born in Patara, We look back to 280AD which a city of Lycia, in Asian minor. Nicholas earned a good reputation despite his young age for his love and kindness. He often gave away gifts usually at night to keep his identity secret from the receiver. ceiver. This is the reason why children are asked to go to bed early on the eve of Christmas it is believed that Santa (St. Nicholas) would place the gifts under the Christmas tree at night when nobody is watching. One story tells of a poor man with three ee daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value valuea dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, , were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. other story tells of three theological students, traveling on their way to study in Another Athens. A wicked innkeeper robbed and murdered them, hiding their remains in a large pickling tub. It so happened that Bishop Nicholas, traveling along the same route, stopped ped at this very inn. In the night he dreamed of the crime, got up, and summoned the innkeeper. As Nicholas prayed earnestly to God the three boys were restored to life and wholeness. In France the story is told of three small children, wandering in their play until lost, lured, and captured by an evil butcher. St. Nicholas appears and appeals to God to return them to life and to their families. And so St. Nicholas is the patron and protector of children. -DEEPA LAKSHMI B,TECH EEE

Saint Nicholas throwing bags of gold to save the three sisters.

THE GREAT DAY

Ever since our childhood, we had great expectations on Jan 26th.It was the day when our national flag would be hoisted again after august 15th in our schools. It was the day when we get to celebrate with great pomp and show with tons of activities like NCC parade, flag hoisting, sports and other extra-curricular curricular performances. The thoughts make us feel an air of nostalgia reminding us of our good old schooldays. Many of the performances also included speeches on the importance of the day and why it was being celebrated every year with such a great fun and activity. This is one of such speeches we had always listened to on the eve of the national f festival. This is the story of the formation of the INDIAN REPUBLIC. THE STORY Republic Day has a very significant place in the Indian history as India became a Republic from a British Dominion. India became independent from the British Rule on 15th Au August, 1947. However, the country did not have its own constitution and wholly depended on the modified colonial Government of India Act, 1935. Also, India was headed by King George VI, until the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950. Prior to this, t the seeds of a republican nation were sowed by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in the Lahore session at the Indian National Congress at the midnight of 31st December, 1929 - 1st January, 1930. The tri-color color flag was unfurled by the nationalists present who took a pled pledge to celebrate Purna Swaraj (complete Independence) Day every year on 26th January, while continuing to fight for the establishment of a Sovereign Democratic Republic of India. The independence was achieved in 1947 while the professed pledge was redeeme redeemed on 26th January, 1950. The Indian Constituent Assembly was called together on 9th December, 1946, where a committee was formed. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar became the chairman of the committee, who along with the other members drafted the Constitution. The Indian Constitution included 395 Articles and 8 Schedules. The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November, 1949. In the following year on 26th January, 1950, the Constitution of India came into force and became a sovereign democratic republic of India, 894 days after the withdrawal of British Rule in 1947, which is why, it is said that India achieved its true independence on this day. Next, elections were held eld and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of free India. He took the oath at the Durban Hall in the Government House, which was followed by the Presidential drive along the five-mile five route to the Irwin Stadium. He unfurled the National Flag at the stadium. This transition of India into a sovereign democratic republic nation is indeed a historical event. The two decade long journey, right from the conceptualization of the dream in 1930 to its actual realization in 1950, is certainly worth h a grand celebration. Today, the Indian Constitution is the longest in the world, consisting of 397 articles and 12 schedules, providing a single citizenship for the whole nation. The national holiday is celebrated with festivities and patriotic fervor across the whole nation. Unity in diversity is what keeping our country fly high in the international cultural arena. Now its our part. Let us all join together to celebrate the arrival of the sixty second year of the Republic India. -SITA KALYANI BTECH CHEMICAL

JANUARY 2013

DID YOU KNOW??

India is celebrating 62nd republic day. On this occasion, occ we would like share with you little known facts about India! India never invaded any country in her last 100000 years of history. Chess was invented in India. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies, which originated in India. India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world. The largest employer in India is the Indian Railways, employing over a million people. The world's first university was established in i Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education . Until 1896, India a was the only source of diamonds in the world. world India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the early 17thCentury. Christopher Columbus, attracted by India's wealth, had come looking for a sea route to India when he discovered discove America by mistake. The Art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh over 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word 'NAVGATIH'. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'. Ayurveda da is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The Father of Medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. - M.RAJEEV KUMAR 2/4 B,TECH CIVIL

LIVE YOUR LIFE THE BEST

On the eve of a new year, most of us, if not all, make some new resolutions which we propose to follow the whole year. Let me help you in making a new resolution this time. All of us feel that our days, months and years are passing by too quickly and also unnoticed. Each year, we feel that the past year has gone so quickly that we missed some of the things which we shouldnt have. The reason behind this t is that we are not living completely. Not to the core. Most of us only exist. And t there here is a world of difference between living and just existing. What I am trying to suggest here is that we must always feel contented of our days passed by, but we must never miss them. If you are ar missing your days, it means that you did not live your days s completely. If you are completely living, you will never miss anything. I hear people constantly say I miss my schooldays or I miss my old friends and so on. Why should we actually miss them? Because, when they are with wit us, we never fully utilized them. em. We lived only partly. And hence, we now regret that. We realize that were missing them but we never dwell into the reasons. So, what we must try and do is live each and every day, every hour, every minute and every second, to the maximum maximu extent. Live completely. Animals exist. But only Humans live. Now, how to live completely? It is very simple. We hear many people say Treat Tre each day as if it is your last. But let us go a step further. Treat each day as if it is the last for everyone. Live like th theres eres no tomorrow. What would you do if today is your last day? Wouldn't you live your last moments with total joy and harmony? Wouldnt you call your distant relatives and friends and talk to them with complete love and affection? Wouldn't you forgive your ur enemies? And youll never say that Today I feel bored. Youll never be bored because you know this is your last day and you need to live it completely before you die. Now how h great it would be if you live like that all your life? If you try and do thi this, s, suddenly life seems to be very interesting and fascinating too. You will find new reasons to live even better and happier. So I ask all of you to ask sk yourself all these questions and treat yourself and the people around you with sweetness and harmony. Do this every day and in the long run, your life will be a saga. Hence if u treat every year as your year of last day youll be happy each and every day and thus forever .Happy new year -SARANYA D.V.S 3/4BTECH CHEMICAL

GAURAV JAIN 4/4 B,TECH CIVIL

Make new goals. Dig within and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you to do the best on your part. It is an affirmation that you are interested in fully living Life the year to come. May this new year bring you courage to achieve your resolutions as early as Possible. Another fresh new year is here Another year to live To banish worry, doubt and fear To love and laugh and give! To live each day with zest, To daily grow and try to be, My highest and my best! So let us welcome new year 2013: With a smile, A spirit of living, A sense of humanity, A pledge to spread, Peace and happiness! May the new year bring a beautiful dawn to you your life which is colorful and pleasant as you are