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Home Explore There is no Antonym for Freedom_Vignettes 2021-22

There is no Antonym for Freedom_Vignettes 2021-22

Published by Muhammed Nafi T, 2022-04-10 05:38:44

Description: There is no Antonym for Freedom_Vignettes 2021-22

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“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (Qur’an 2:216) 3

In Memories of... Sayed Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal (1947-2022) 4

EDITORIAL Nowadays, Some designed trends decide the world. The widespread acceptance for some of these is the product of some well-planned manipulations. We go for happiness but end up in ill at ease. Emotions and desires of humankind never end. But we often fail to reach our target or find the inner peace. Instead, the modern trends control us everywhere, our lifestyle, be- haviour, even our faith and the way we think. We should reveal the reality of these trends. Who wants us to imitate these? what’s its purpose? And how it’s done? We should stop and think. There we’ll find some ways we closed intentionally, fol- lowing our whim. We should open them. Ownself is not the protagonist for everyone. We’ve society, we’ve future which’s well-being should be our priority. We should have boundaries, it’s not always safe outside the box. THERE’S NO ANTONYM FOR FREEDOM! VIGNETTES 2021-22 NAFI T SHAFEEQ EK JASIL KP I L L U S T R AT I O N B A S I T H LAYOUT FAWA Z M K FAIZ MK 5

Inside 08 The Manipulated Free-Thinking 16LGBTQ The Truth of rooting politics 44 the social dilemma An eye opener 50Bangalore Days 6

Articles 12 The Post-Covid Melancholy Narratives 20 The religion: An absolute truth 26 Facts in the Crowdfunding 34 Education meets metaverse 39 Covid-19: global impacts 23 “Scattered but not tattered” The tale of a Ronin A vicious symptom The blinking street light I can’t breathe Enemies Irony 3 Haiku by Ashif Chelari Metaverse Black earth Remove Statue De novo 7

COVER STORY 8

THE MANIPULATED FREE-THINKING Muhammed Nafi T Over the past two years, the whole world has been paralyzed and ev- eryone is confined to the digital screens. Students, entrepreneurs, artists, politicians and so on. Until then, even those who looked down on technology and social media be- gan to use them very selectively. Began to acquire the same knowledge without boundaries, to recognize the truths, and to showcase their productivity and creativity in front of others. Thus it also led people into intellectual and ideological discussions of religions, isms, myths, morals, ethics, flaws and fallacies. Thus free thinking is an import- ant topic that has arisen in this span. LITERALLY WHAT IT IS ? According to the Oxford English Dictio- nary, a freethinker is “a person who forms their own ideas and opinions rather than ac- cepting those of other people, especially in religious teaching.” The free-thinking follow- ers propagate this ideology by comparing it to other Semitic religions; “Believers in every case have to follow their divine command- ments and primitive religious scriptures, 9

which were written long ago. They have no FREETHINKER IS A PERSON opportunity to think and no choice. But we WHO FORMS THEIR OWN IDEAS are not like that, we have the opportunity to AND OPINIONS RATHER THAN think, we have choices, we have no limits. ACCEPTING THOSE OF OTHER We are doing what we feel right, this is the PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN true modernity and progressiveness”. RELIGIOUS TEACHING. BUT WHAT THE TRUTH IS ? sion of homosexuality conducted by a You- Tube channel, those who argue for homo- The truth could be filtered only when we sexuality by genetics and consent can’t say interact with them, then they will be un- anything about incest and pedophilia except masked. Actually, there is no difference be- that it’s wrong. Because their ideological tween believers and them. While believers progressives didn’t tell anything about it. So, live according to scriptures such as the how do they exactly reply? But, the weird Qur’an and the Bible etc, they have to live truth is, those self-proclaimed people know, outside the agendas of some self-pro- forcefully and illogically they have to take claimed modern progressives. In each case, two positions in the same situation. So, they they have to accept the criteria and premis- evacuate and portray those who deal with es that their ideological bosses set. Those such issues and debates as toxic. who question what they are explaining are branded as barbaric and inhumane. So be- To a certain extent, the colleges and the yond questions and debates, everyone political environment there are helping to agrees and follows them. spread such regretful trends in literate Kera- la and the environment of Kerala is turning In the post-covid era, the biggest pitfall into water and fertile soil for the hidden of this young community of free thinkers and agendas of some selfish people to flourish. atheists is the lack of ‘clarity of thought’. In any matter, that may be social, political, reli- gious anything, they are what their ideal bosses say, what the stands they are taking. But the regretful reality is that they have no idea what it really is or what its consequenc- es are. Judging by the situation in Kerala it- self, many people, especially teenage stu- dents, understand and persuade that free thinking is the pillar of modernity and Those who do not understand and comprehend this ideology are considered inhumane and savage. For example, I noticed in a discus- 10

BELIEVERS HAVE NO OPPORTU- NITY TO THINK AND NO CHOICE. BUT WE ARE NOT LIKE THAT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK, WE HAVE CHOICES, WE HAVE NO LIMITS. WE ARE DOING WHAT WE FEEL RIGHT, THIS IS THE TRUE MODERNITY AND PROGRESSIVENESS”. THE UNSUNG MANIPULATION become a herculean task. So, how can we call those who put such freedom of expres- Cinema is a powerful medium through sion and vision under the feet of others as which ideas and ideals can be expressed free-thinkers!? and propagated. Let us explore how there is IN A NUTSHELL... an interconnection between new films and the growth of such mentioned ideologies. Free thinking is an ideology that denies This is a point that goes unnoticed by many its own existence. As long as thinking is ma- as most of the modern progressives in Kera- nipulated, it cannot be called free-thinking. la are also film analysts. It’s very casual but At last but not least, it is an ideology func- it’s worth the discussion about the impact it tioning in a subjective perspective. So, even can have. Just like when it comes to topics a mistake in one’s thinking can cause harm- being discussed in public, people today ful damage all over the world. So, you just even decide whether or not to watch a mov- stop and think again what you think and ie by looking at the reviews and analysis of what you should think ! such people, only watch theQ movie if they raise the white flag, and give up if they make 11 an unfavourable review... Therefore, films that are in line with their ideas and ideolo- gies are more promoted and those that are not are criticized as poor and inadequate. As a result, the films that come up with ideas that they support, are more discussed and reach more people. So, filmmakers make such types of films. And in the contrast, mak- ing a film that shows religious beauty has

COVER STORY PTHOEST-COVID The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19, the disease as- MELANCHOLY sociated with the novel ‘Severe Acute Respi- ratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2’ -SARS- Shamil Olavattur CoV-2, a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” on January 30, and a “pandemic” on March 11, 2020. In Greece, the first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported on February 26. While the number of COVID-19 positive cases was constantly in- creasing, restriction measures were step- wise introduced. After 695 COVID-19 con- firmed cases and 17 COVID-19–related deaths had been reported, a 6-week nation- al lockdown was imposed on March 23. The pandemic has required many coun- tries across the globe to implement early quarantine measures as the fundamental disease control tool. Apart from physical suf- fering, the consequences of this quarantine on the mental health and well-being at per- sonal and population-levels are manyfold. Imposed mass quarantine applied by na- tionwide lockdown programs can produce mass hysteria, anxiety and distress, due to factors like the sense of getting cornered and loss of control. This can be intensified if families need separation, by the uncertainty 12

ANY DRASTIC CHANGE IN of disease progression, an insufficient supply MOOD, BEHAVIOUR OR THINK- of basic essentials, financial losses, in- ING, WITH A PREDOMINANT creased perception of risk, which usually get EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION OF magnified by vague information and im- ANGER, WHICH IS DIRECTLY proper communications through media in OR INDIRECTLY AFFECTED BY the early phase of a pandemic. THE PANDEMIC SITUATION CAN BE CONSIDERED AS Impatience over minor things, being “CORONA RAGE”. overly sensitive, an increase in anger and anxiety—these emotions are becoming commonplace after experiencing 10 months of lockdown amid a deadly pandemic. Covid-19 has changed and disrupted peo- ple’s sense of normality—routine contact with friends and family, freedom to socialise at will, and daily in-office interactions have been lost. Forced family time and adapting to a ‘new normal’ unwillingly has made things worse. “It’s the feeling of distress in one way or another and the rage has been on the rise, especially during the pandemic,” says Pooja Khera, a happiness and wellness coach, certified by the University of Wales. Citing an example of one of her clients who recently consulted a doctor for frequent stomach aches, Khera says, “The client told me that, ‘when the doctor was explaining the cause to me, I was getting impatient and just wanted him to write down the medica- tion. This was very different from my usual, getting-to-the-bottom-of-things attitude.” Any drastic change in mood, behaviour or thinking, with a predominant emotional expression of anger, which is directly or indi- rectly affected by the pandemic situation can be considered as “corona rage”. “Though not a clinically diagnosed entity yet, corona 13

FEELING EXTREMELY AGITATED rage can either be because of a direct im- AND ANGRY OVER MEANINGLESS pact on one’s mental health due to social ISSUES, AN INABILITY TO CON- seclusion, or other indirect consequences of TROL ONE’S TEMPER, PHYSICAL the pandemic,” says Dr Rahul Ratan Bagale, FIGHTS, AND ASSAULTING PEO- psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Apollo PLE OR ANIMALS ARE SOME OF Clinic, Pune. THE COMPLAINTS LIFESTYLE AND MENTAL HEALTH COACHES ARE Feeling extremely agitated and angry GETTING NOWADAYS. over meaningless issues, an inability to con- 14 trol one’s temper, heated arguments, physi- cal fights, and assaulting people or animals are some of the complaints lifestyle and mental health coaches are getting nowa- days. Preety Tyagi, nutritionist, health coach and founder of My22BMI, says, “There is no specific age group that is more susceptible to covid rage. It can be found in children, young adults and senior citizens. It depends on who is more fragile. There is also a direct connection between weak gut health and mental health”. The pandemic induced worry, fear, anxi- ety, and depressive symptoms, as well as

insomnia and imposed a psychological bur- toms due to financial losses. Another very den on people worldwide. Older adults are important aspect is stigmatization and soci- considered more vulnerable during public etal rejection regarding the quarantined cor- emergency crises. Their vulnerability is don in forms of discrimination, suspicion and linked with the age-related compromised avoidance by neighbourhood, insecurity re- physical state, increased prevalence of garding properties, workplace prejudice, chronic health conditions and other disabili- and withdrawal from social events even after ties, cognitive abilities’ decline, as well as the containment of epidemics. Healthcare pro- potential presence of adverse psychosocial fessionals are also likely to perceive greater conditions. Previous outbreaks have report- stigmatization than the general public for ed that the psychological impact of quaran- being quarantined and consistently more af- tine can vary from immediate effects, like ir- fected psychologically. Children who are (or ritability, fear of contracting and spreading suspected to be) infected with COVID-19 the infection to family members, anger, con- and need isolation or quarantine might re- fusion, frustration, loneliness, denial, anxiety, quire special attention to meet their fear, depression, insomnia, despair, to extremes anxiety and other psychological effects. of consequences, including suicide. Sus- pected isolated cases may suffer from anxi- For better dealing with these psychoso- ety due to uncertainty about their health sta- cial issues of different strata of the society, tus and develop obsessive-compulsive psychosocial crisis prevention and interven- symptoms, such as repeated temperature tion models should be urgently developed checks and sterilization. Effects such as by the government, health care personnel posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have and other stakeholders. The apt application been reported, symptoms of which have of internet services, technology and social been positively associated with the duration media to curb both pandemic and infodem- of the quarantine. Post quarantine psycho- ic needs to be instigated. Psychosocial pre- logical effects may include significant socio- paredness by setting up mental organiza- economic distress and psychological symp- tions specific for future pandemics is certainly necessary. 15

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COVER STORY LGBTQ THE TRUTH OF ROOTING POLITICS Jaisal RM We are going through a situation where THEY MAKE THE MOST UNSCIEN- there is a constant debate in main- TIFIC ARGUMENT THAT GENDER stream societies and social media based on AND SEX ARE TWO, ACCORDING genetic variations and gender theories. As a TO MODERN GENDER THEORY.IT result, theories and activisms have become IS ALSO A HISTORICAL FACT THAT so powerful that they cannot be ignored by MODERN GENDER THEORY, mainstream society. LGBTQ theories are a WHICH DEFINES GENDER IDENTI- new dimension of the liberals’ rooting poli- TY AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT, HAS tics by obscuring the biological realities of NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE sexual attraction. SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO DATE. It was under the leadership of Karl Hein- 17 rich Ulrichs, the father of gay movements, that such genetic / mental disorders began to be propagated by mere conjecture. But such theories are rooted in Dean Hamer’s study of “a linking between DNA markers on the X chromosome and male sexual orienta- tion”. The world later saw the injection of ar- guments that were scientifically unfounded into society with a definite agenda, pointing to the fact that homosexuality, which re- quired a scientific basis, was voted off the

THE MASSIVE USE OF FEMALE NUDITY TO ADVERTISE TRADE OBJECTS AND IN PORN MOVIES LEADS TO SEXUAL STAGNA- TION. HOMOSEXUALITY, BESTI- ALITY, AND INCEST ARE ALL THE RESULT OF SUCH SEXUAL FANTASIES. American Psychiatric Association’s mental ty as a social construct, has not been able to disorder list in 1973, pointing to the fact that produce scientific evidence to date. LGBTQ could be used for political gain.Ac- tivists Kay Lahusen and Barbara Gittings de- Scientists claim that the removal of estro- scribed it as a political breakthrough in their gen-producing organs in women and tes- book, Making History. tosterone in men can lead to side effects such as fatigue, depression, insomnia, hot DSM1 gay, bisexual, and lesbian are flashes, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. among the most common causes of para- We need to take such issues very seriously philia. The scientific community has docu- at a time when the remorse of people who mented necrophilia, pedophilia and zoophil- have undergone gender transplantation is ia as paraphilia.The new political strategy is on the rise. Treatment for such gender iden- to replace the term pedophilia with the new tity disorders is available through behavior flag, Minor Attracted Person (MAP).A report modification technique and convention by the Center for Disease Control (CDS) that therapy. sexually transmitted diseases (STDS) are on the rise among homosexuals and bisexuals The massive use of female nudity to ad- and that syphilis has recently been on the vertise any trade object and in porn movies rise also exposes the implications of such causes sexual stagnation. Homosexuality, unfounded theories. bestiality, and incest are all the result of such sexual fantasies. Therefore, instead of label- Transgender people are one of the most ing such tastes as immoral, they should be sought after groups in the community of socially and culturally addressed in a sys- people with genetic defects in LGBTQ theo- tematic way. Proponents of LGBTQ politics ries. The concept of transgender is based on are trying to create precise profit-oriented the gender theory developed by Judith But- atmospheres by spreading criticism against ler and many other psychologists who ex- gender theories in the form of cartoons and perimented with Dr John Money, who con- cross-talk. It is enough to keep away the ceived Simone de Beauvoir. They make the LGBTQ movements which are siding with most unscientific argument that gender and minority politics by making irrational and un- sex are two, according to modern gender scientific allegations .... theory.It is also a historical fact that modern gender theory, which defines gender identi- 18

SHORT STORY BI CRAEANT’THE Sayed Razan Ali Shihab Salty tears tasted my tongue, that was the only water I can get at this abandoned room where windows, doors and air holes are shut. The only sound I can hear was my shouting echo “ I can’t breathe.... I can’t breathe....“. My only sadness was, “ I’m in this room because I’m black... “. 19

ESSAY THE RELIGION: AN ABSOLUTE TRUTH Musthafa K 20

Religion has a pivotal role in making the THE MAJOR PROBLEM THAT human being culturally and socially RELIGION FACING TODAY IS THE upgraded. But the forms of religions all nev- EXISTENCE OF ATHEISM WHICH er made it successfully. But they used to im- IS ALSO A WESTERN POINT OF pose on society such selfish and established VIEW. interests and policies. The criticism of reli- gious existence and its theories had extend- There are two views of points for historians in ed backdrop in the historical periods. It is a this transformation of culture and domi- clear and obvious truth that we have been nance. Somebody firmly asserted the high- watching now and before that the whole ness of Christian values revealed by God theoretical views and thoughts basically through Jesus. At the same time, some inter- rooted from western culture and political preted that it is only because of the ethical scenario, as it all addressed a particular collapse of Romanic civilization compared problem or a social issue. For instance, The to Christianity. From then on, the religion has communism, coined by Karl Max and Fried- played a vital role in rebutting humanist the- rich Engels and widely practicalized by Sta- ories and established a sort of divine frame lin and Lenin, that encompassed an extreme that never sought problematic conditions economical and political revolution as it and circumstances. By analysing the true caused the deaths of millions. The major working role of religions in this technological problem that religion facing today is the ex- world along with their cultural development. istence of atheism which is also a western The west has a past of empty and diver- point of view. There are several reasons that can be 21 comprehended for the devoid of unreligious ideas and humanist theories from eastern centric civilization. The historical facts proved that the emergence of Christianity is because of the deterioration of the Roman empire and its cruel approaches to society.

THE MAJOR POINT OF CRITICIZ- ING IN THIS IS AS LONG AS ONE MADE A CLAIM ON THE EXIS- TENCE OF GOD, THE OTHER ONE ALSO MADE A NEGATIVE CLAIM FOR THE OPPOSITE OF HIS EARLIER CLAIM. gence of intellectual and contemplate terms increase critical thinking and enhance po- all were overlapped by the church and its tentiality in thoughts. But ironically it makes supremacy. By taking place such global guilt by association of fallacy that implies the phenomena in the Europe such as renais- application of a violent religion will make an sance, the industrial revolution, enlighten- effect on other religions also. The increasing ment period. The view of philosophers arrogance is another defect of atheism that turned to an unpredicted enslavement of encourages the denial of supreme power materialistic thoughts and humanist views and make a thought that they are always that no longer will exist for the comprehen- right and legitimate regardless of its long sive developments of humankind. term consequences. The morality of an atheist could be defined as unreliable due to The atheism which has been commonly losing of uniformed law of code and making implied as a major idea of them which leads all laws up to them only can even change as to the complete rejection of God and re- their desires and circumstances. gression from its existence. This incredulity in the existence of a supreme being. There Being a theist or an atheist depends are some arguments, from which of it just upon taking consideration into values and like religion, is faith-based, there are no rea- their application, absolute submission to sons why one should be an atheist. The ma- God while atheism into material substances jor point of criticizing in this is as long as one and things by using thinking. made a claim on the existence of God, the other one also made a negative claim for the opposite of his earlier claim. Here if we think about the positive and negative segments of atheism, it would be clear that the atheism mainly opposes the religious concepts and being free from harmful religious teachings. He may not have any kind of obligation to follow. The another main aim of atheism is to 22

THOUGHT “SCATTERED BUT NOT TATTERED” Farhan The first and most important thing is the love of the food cooked by your mom. Believe me, there is no wonderful time you can make other than the time you are looking to your mom’s eyes while you are having food cooked by her. Here are no academic studies, statisti- his plate. Meanwhile, the sad thing is every- cal analyses, arguments or counter- one had forgotten to start loving themselves. arguments. Here are some tiny things which They usually wake up early to do busy things you probably avoid most of the time in your surrounded by him and return home late at life. The things which you give less important night. And it goes cyclically... In fact, let me than anything else. In fact, if you had consid- figure out the valuable things you had ered them at the topmost priority they would missed beneath your journey to the office have been the only reasons for your suc- and vice versa. The first and most important cessful life. I am sure you might have been thing is the love of the food cooked by your confused a little bit about them. Let’s have a mom. Believe me, there is no wonderful look at them... Honestly, we have been living time you can make other than the time you here for years. But for some people, it would are looking to your mom’s eyes while you are be a life without meaning, the life in which having food cooked by her. they didn’t get any satisfaction and content- ment even their social and economical sta- She is expecting nothing from you, but tus is more than normal. Have you ever she is too much busy with your life. Do you thought, what would be the reasons behind think how many times you have forgotten to it? Even we made scrutiny on those lives we put a comment on her delicious food? Have are not going to find them out. Because, the you ever kissed your mom? Believe me, you things which we have no value in our life, are would be fully fuelled if you enjoyed each also avoided in the scrutiny due to its ‘small- moment with your mom and dad. And you ness’ or ‘simpleness’. Yes, even the tiny things do not forget that your father gives you his in our life have their own beauty. We have to ‘parts’ for your progress. Share lovable time see them and feel them with our pure hearts. with your dad before his parts would be Most of the people would miss them as they empty. Things you miss every day due to didn’t even think about them. your busy life not ending here. But I’m con- I know you are not getting me. Let me ex- cluding..... plain... This world is too busy. And each play- ing character in this world has also a lot on ‘You will realise your blessings when they are gone. Keep it in your mind... 23

IRONY IRONY Shafeeq EK ?Violation of human rights , Segregation by means of cloths, Denying the choice of dressing For short dress, Protests, debates. For hijab? Silence. 24

Alcohol, Drugs, Adultery. Killing a child who is burden is okay No morality, no ethics Everyone’s follows whim.. 1500 years ago, Jahiliyya, Dark age of Arabia Now, !modern world in the dream of liberals #Assaults, brutality, captures, Unilateral violences Civilians’ resistance for own land, Ukrain, Lion hearts, Freedom fighters. Palastene ? Terrorists! 25

ESSAY FACTS IN THE CROWDFUNDING IS A WAY FOR BRINGING CAPITAL UP IN CROWDFUNDING LITTLE SUMS FROM AN EXPANSIVE GATHERING OF Muhammed Jasil KP INDIVIDUALS UTILIZING THE INTERNET AND ONLINE NETWORKING. IT IS ALSO CONSIDERED A CROWD- SOURCE INVESTMENT. Men survived the eras one by one as a THE EMERGENCE OF social animal in this world and they CROWDFUNDING were still surviving. They found inventions, solutions, and results as they were still strug- As we were living here on this post co- gling to be a social animal. When each and rona occasion. We realized it, we have every force comes thus the human just co- also felt many strange feelings but it’s ordinates... As they collaborated now on this normal right here... Isn’t it? covid situation. Yes... On that occasion, we have famil- 26 iarised ourselves with the word “Crowdfunding”. Even though it is a good economic funding method, people could- nt figure it out before the Corona incident. Briefly, I think it made a huge change in the economic sector. Crowdfunding is a way for bringing capital up in little sums from an expansive gathering of individuals utilizing the inter- net and online networking. It is also con- sidered a crowdsource investment. TYPICALLY WHAT IS IT? It is a new sector and still developing and still a source of crowdsourcing and alternative finance. Not only in India, but it has also been spreading all over the world. As per reports in 2015, over 34 billion dollars were raised worldwide by crowdfunding in the US. There are at least four types of crowdfunding platforms like donation-based crowdfunding, cred its-based crowdfunding and equity-based crowdfunding. Donation-based crowd-

funding is a way to source money for a proj- ect by asking a large number of contributors to individually donate a small amount to it. In return, the backers may receive token re- wards that increase in prestige as the size of the donation increases. And rewards-based crowdfunding in- volves individuals contributing to business exchange for a “reward”, typically a form of the product or service that the company offers. Even though this method offers backers a reward, it’s still generally considered a subset of donation-based crowdfunding since there is no financial or equity return. Unlike the donation-based and rewards-based methods, equity-based crowdfunding allows contributors to be- come part-owners of the company by trad- ing capital for equity shares. IN BRIEF, IT IS… Here the procedure for all types of fund- As a fine funding platform, we can trust it and we are capable of manipulating it easily ing is the same. But the host or result is and profitably. As it is an internet platform funding, it became more flexible and genu- different. It is also used for funding a wide ine; but we want to be also aware of misus- ing it. As it is social work, it can’t be stolen by range of for-profit, entrepreneurial ventures anyone. such as artistic and creative projects, Yes… We are aware of its benefits and goodness when many of us escape with the medical expenses, travel and communi- help of this funding… Here in the SMA(Spinal Muscular Atrophy) disease in Kerala, the vic- ty-oriented social entrepreneurship projects. tims need a huge amount of money for it, for its medicine, and it wants to be imported, MERITS AND DEMERITS but by the help of kindness of our society and this crowdfunding, the children got their Crowdfunding is a genuine way of fund- innocent smile back on their cheeks. This is ing but it may reflect many demerits if it is an example, there are more incidents we not coordinated perfectly by its host and have recently heard. Anyway, if this mankind platform workers. If one of the hosts is mis- takes this as a genuine way it would be bet- using the fund it is awful. And we know, the ter than any other funding and if they mis- popular platform for crowdfunding is the in- used it, it would be a disaster for the entire ternet payment system, and here also peo- society. God bless us to take part in a kind ple spoil this funding. We want to be aware and secure society and to be a conscious of these kinds of illegal things, But the merit citizen... is well-known. Here are some of them. Reach was the first one. By using a crowd- funding platform, one has access to thou- sands of accredited investors who can see, interact with and share the fundraising cam- paign. And the other one is Presentation, PR and Marketing, Validation of concept, and efficiency. Here one of the best things about online crowdfunding is its ability to central- ize and streamline fundraising efforts. 27

3 HAIKU BY ASHIF CHELARI SHAME PLANT MIND INCORRECT PASSWORD Some says It’s like a ship It’s withered by touch Caught fire in the middle of A mistake is a mistake No. It’s the leaves that joined, sea Even if you made it unknow- The others.. It’s water all around ingly. Anyway. The more it comes That doesn’t put it out That’s why your phone get closer locked for a while when you The more it withers.. repeatedly fail to enter the correct password. 28

STORY THE TALE OF A RONIN Habeeb Rahman This is the tale of a Ronin. When you hear a ronin’s tale, you have to listen. That’s because Ronin are the most mysterious per- son there is. There are different types of ron- ins. Ronins who steal money and valuables. Ronins who steal other people’s lives. Ronins who steal others’ trust, love and faith to be- lieve in themselves. Though they are known in different names. Now let’s see what kind of a ronin our guy is. Hokuto, that was his name. The name of the Polaris (north star). The north star is al- ways believed and served as a beacon of hope and inspiration. Yes, he was the peak form of ambition and confidence. No, he doesn’t resemble a ronin at all. But a pure- blood samurai. He was an outlaw like other ronins and he was different from others. He makes any situation into an opportunity. People always stood by his side. He has a way of winning other people’s hearts. Every day is the same for everyone. But, not for him ‘cause he’s a ronin. A ronin’s life is quite a struggle compared to that of a com- moner. They were always on the run and can never enter the public. He lived on the out- skirts of the town of Otaka. Otaka was the capital in the land of Wano at that time. 29

The Shogun always hated his guts and always sent samurai pursuers after him to capture him and set an example of what happens to those who rebel against him. There were two kinds of people in the land of wano. Those who accept the Shogun and those who hate him. They hate him because they can’t even rebel against him. There was a rumour at that time that spread like wildfire among the citizens. It says that the son of the late daimyo Kaito, from whom the Shogun oda usurped the throne is still alive. Many people laughed it off as a joke but some people found hope in that rumour. It made the Shogun quite frustrated. One day Hukotu entered the town in dis- guise to get something to eat. But all he got was some rotten mushrooms. That was all he could get with two mon coins. It was all of a sudden, an arrow pierced his skin from be- hind. He tried to look back, but he couldn’t, the poison-laced with the arrow was already taking effect. He fainted. He tried to open his eyes amidst the piercing rays of sun that entered through the window. He slowly opened his eyes under his hand’s shade. He was shocked to see the Shogun near him. He slowly caught up with the situation, he was in the palace. Beside him was a doctor, some samurais and the Shogun. He was lying in a bed being treated. It was his first time seeing the Shogun whom he hated the most. It was the Shogun’s deathbed who suffered from a terminal ill- ness. The Shogun was lying next to him in another bed. As he draw his last breath, he said this, locking his eyes with Hokuto “YOU ARE WORTHY OF BEING THE NEXT DAIMYO, SON OF KAITO”!... 30

ESSAY EDUCATION MEETS METAVERSE Uwais Thiruvegappura The metaverse creates a virtual space Metaverse is one such innovation that to bridge the real and digital worlds to has become the latest buzzword. The idea is enhance the experience of both. Metaverse, to develop a virtual area that connects the Being touted by Facebook as the “next physical and digital worlds to improve both chapter” of the internet. Let us have a experiences. Technologists are already glance... speculating on how the metaverse might al- What is Metaverse?In the tech space, ter everything we do, from gaming to buying We’ve long been captivated by cloud, Inter- to attending concerts to performing surgery. net of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and blockchain tech- Web 3.0, often known as the 3-D Web, is nologies in the IT sector, but a lot has hap- one of the most convincing examples of the pened in the previous eighteen months as metaverse. This innovation, combined with the world battled the pandemic. The adop- advances in extended reality (XR) — which tion of these technologies happened quick- combines augmented reality, virtual reality, er than we could have possibly anticipated, and mixed reality to create a variety of digital as they helped us counter the challenges of and physical experiences — enables the the crisis.  creation of digital twins, which can be used to create spatial views of cities, buildings, 31

convention centres, homes, and other struc- Since early 2020, 91 per cent of students tures for more efficient planning and design worldwide have had their education disrupt- execution. ed by the pandemic. They have been forced to adapt quickly, with remote learning be- The term metaverse was coined in 1992 coming the new normal overnight. As a re- by science fiction writer Neal Stephenson, sult, access to technology is now a necessi- who imagined a digital universe that could ty, not a privilege. be accessed through virtual and augmented reality technology. Today, this vision is no This is a game-changer for education longer the stuff of fiction. Not only will the because it provides endless learning oppor- metaverse feature extensive virtual spaces, tunities. It can also help us overcome the ar- but it will also enable elements of the digital tificial siloing of subjects, a typical feature of world to be overlaid onto the real world our outdated curriculums. Immersive learn- through digital headsets or glasses. ing will allow teachers to combine tradition- ally separate disciplines like maths and sci- How the metaverse can help students ence to provide a holistic, engaging learning and teachers adapt to a post-pandemic experience. world?. It is easy to be sceptical about ambi- tions to create a digital universe, but we For example, a teacher could show their should not overlook the opportunities to im- students a racing car. They could then ex- prove education. Virtual-reality-based learn- plore how it was built, how fast it goes and ing has been shown to boost grades and what temperature and speed the tyres can student engagement – more vital than ever withstand. Through the use of real-life sce- as Covid-19 continues to disrupt school. We narios, key theories take on a whole new mustn’t overlook what an augmented world meaning and relevance, as educators will be could mean for education. The classroom able to bridge gaps between theory and could be transported anywhere from the practice and make their teaching more nu- Arctic to the Large Hadron Collider, while anced. everything from the night sky to a racing car can become an opportunity for learning. Think this sounds like a pipe dream? In the UK, Bradfield College, an independent 32

EXPERTISE WILL COME FROM dated, but our forms of assessment. Written ANYWHERE, NOT JUST FROM exams are useless for both acquiring and TEXTBOOKS AND CLASSROOMS. exhibiting the practical skills needed for a YET IT IS NOT JUST OUR CURRENT variety of vocations. WAYS OF LEARNING THAT ARE OUTDATED, BUT OUR FORMS OF Imagine if, instead of revising for a written ASSESSMENT. exam, an apprentice could demonstrate real, hands-on experience by wiring a virtual school, has already incorporated virtual-re- plug, fixing a blocked drain or even perform- ality-based teaching into history, geography ing an operation, all without the dangerous, and science lessons, allowing students to real-world consequences. The science is experience these subjects in a new light. conclusive on this: learning by doing trumps The metaverse already exists – the question learning by memorisation, every time. As is one of mass adoption and affordability. with any new technology, it is our duty as parents and teachers to exercise caution. While the initial feedback from students Many parents may wonder whether the at Bradfield College can be called anecdot- metaverse will simply add more addictive al, longer studies in Chinese classrooms screen time to our children’s day. This is a have shown that VR can have a huge impact reason to manage our children’s engage- on test result efficacy, with students who are ment with the metaverse, not simply ban it. taught using VR learning immersion typical- Take the internet; most schools and parents ly outperforming those who are not. can place parental blocks on certain web- sites and set screen-time allowances. There Education syllabuses have a perennial is no reason we cannot place the same con- problem; they struggle to keep up with an trols on access to the metaverse. While we ever-changing world. Many will remember a are aware of the harm of the internet, I be- time when maths students were told they lieve it has been a net benefit for education wouldn’t always have a calculator in their across the world. The same will be true of pocket. Little did they know. the metaverse. The metaverse can ensure curriculums Herein lies a key benefit of learning in the remain useful and relevant. It will enable metaverse; it can “gamify” learning. In other up-to-date, expert analysis to be embedded words, the virtual, collaborative and task-ori- all over the real world. We could look up to ented nature of the metaverse will allow the night sky and have Neil deGrasse Tyson children to learn without realising it, which is explain the structure of the Milky Way. the holy grail of education. Various scientific Expertise will come from anywhere, not just studies have shown that learning experienc- from textbooks and classrooms. Yet it is not es are most effective when they are fun. just our current ways of learning that are out- Gamification of learning is the future of edu- cation, which is what makes the metaverse a natural fit for the classroom. The metaverse is another stage in the evolution of the internet. The internet has put the entire canon of human knowledge at our fingertips. The metaverse could deliver far more to the students of tomorrow, but only if we let it. 33

2 POEMS Sayed Mubashir Ali METAVERSE First there is the World. Then there is Other World,where I sometimes lose my own existence. Startled the next evolution , in its calendar turnings. sometimes the barrage of twists and turns make me hard to keep up with its reality, the world of the stoplight, the 3D no smoking signs, the rental fictional world, the split-rail fencing shielding hundreds of miles of barren wilderness from the human step. A place , whereby virtue of having been born centuries late one is denied access to earth of space, choice or movement. The brought up world sounded like a coded one . And tangled with illusions and NFTs . where always felt like an alien. 34

BLACK EARTH Too black, too much indulged, living in clover, all little withers, all air, all charity, all crumbling, all massing in a choir— damp clods of soil, my land and liberty... With early plowing it is black to blueness, and unarmed labor here is glorified— a thousand hills plowed open wide to say it— circumference is not all circumscribed. And yet the earth is blunder and obtuseness— no swaying it, even on bended knee: its rotting flute gives sharpness to the hearing, its morning clarinet harrows the ear. How sweet the fat earth’s pressure on the plow, how the spring turns the steppe to its advantage... my greetings then, black earth: be strong, look out . 35

ESSAY COVID-19: GLOBAL IMPACTS Muhsin PS Who would have thought that the ment, and die. Knowledge about the short- world would be transformed by a term course of individual infections and ef- microscopic being: the human coronavirus fective treatments is improving but there is 2019. The combined mass of all the COVID-19 still much to learn about long-term health viruses on our planet adds up to just a small consequences. The health risks of the virus fraction of a gram - less than a butterfly increase strikingly by age and are greater for wing. Yet, COVID-19 has changed every- men and for ethnic and migrant groups, thing. COVID-19 has caused more than 75 which are intertwined with social disadvan- million cases and 1.6 million deaths world- tage. Exposure, infection, and quality of wide as of mid-December. The illness has health care are directly and indirectly related affected nearly every aspect of life, from to occupations and living conditions, espe- work and school to everyday activities like cially in societies without universal health- getting groceries, and even our wardrobes. care. For example, workers in some fields Epidemiological estimates of the like health, food, or transport services are Covid-19 virus vary widely due to differences more directly exposed to the virus. So are in testing and tracing systems. A large per- people who live in favelas or high-poverty centage of the population may eventually neighbourhoods or in cramped living quar- be infected, but smaller subsets become ill, ters, such as labour migrants and refugees require hospitalization, need intensive treat- in camps. 36

A LIFE-COURSE PERSPEC- TIVE EMPHASIZES THAT THE HEALTH RISKS OF COVID-19 DEPEND ON PRIOR (AND ACCUMULATED) BIOLOGI- CAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL EXPOSURES. A life-course perspective emphasizes no way to ensure zero risk of catching that the health risks of Covid-19 depend on COVID-19, officials said taking precautions prior (and accumulated) biological, psycho- could reduce the risk of spread. However, as logical, and social exposures. Many of the the fall began, many areas went into lock- known prognostic health factors of severe down again amid surging COVID-19 cases. responses to the virus, such as some forms of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and SCHOOL CLOSURES cancer, take years to develop through expo- sure to pollutants and toxins, poor diet, and Children seem to be largely spared from lack of exercise. Life-course research in epi- the most severe effects of COVID-19, but demiology and other fields has shown that they can still act as spreaders of the disease. major health and disease conditions in So many schools across the U.S. and the adulthood and later life often have early de- world made the decision to close in 2020, velopmental origins, stemming even from and opt for virtual learning instead. Ques- the prenatal period. The underlying risk of tions around how long to remain closed and developing a severe response to Covid-19 how to safely reopen were the subject of can vary greatly between individuals of the much debate. As fall arrived with a number same age, and a life course approach urges of schools still closed, many children analyses beyond chronological age as a seemed to be falling behind in learning. proxy for risks and instead toward a focus on Statewide polls have found that nearly 9 in lifetime exposures to the specific risk factors 10 parents are worried about their children in question. falling behind at school due to the pandem- ic closures, according to The Educational Here are just some of the ways COVID-19 Trust. changed the world in 2020. ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION NEW NORMAL The pandemic took a serious toll on peo- As businesses began to open after initial ple’s mental health in 2020. One study pub- lockdowns, people needed to adjust to a lished in August by the Centers for Disease new normal to reduce the risk of spreading Control and Prevention (CDC) found that lev- the disease from everyday activities. Busi- els of anxiety, depression and suicidal nesses implemented universal mask poli- thoughts skyrocketed amid the pandemic. cies. Dining switched to outdoors only. Wait- ing rooms became a thing of the past. You needed a reservation to go to the gym. And large gatherings and events were banned completely in many areas. Although there is 37

The study could not determine the rea- duce the burden on the healthcare system. son for the rise in mental health conditions, People even became familiar with relatively but factors relating to the pandemic, such as obscure epidemiological terms like the ”ba- social isolation, school and university clo- sic reproduction number” (R0, pronounced sures, unemployment and other financial R-nought), or the average number of people worries, as well as the threat of the disease who catch the virus from a single infected itself, may play a role, the authors said. person. And of course, the name of the ill- ness itself, COVID-19, is a new term, with the LOWERED EMISSIONS World Health Organization officially naming the disease on Feb. 11. Coronavirus lockdowns, which slowed the normal hustle and bustle of cities to a COVID-19 teaches us something funda- near halt, also appeared to dramatically low- mental: humans are deeply connected. We er emissions of carbon dioxide around the are one biology and our fates are inter- world. A study published May 19 in the jour- twined. My health depends on yours, there- nal Nature Climate Change found that daily fore I have a stake in your well-being. Con- global carbon dioxide emissions dropped by versely, protecting myself is the most heroic 17% in early 2020, compared with levels in thing I can do since it protects everybody 2019. That appears to be one of the biggest else. Clearly, COVID action is necessary, not drops in recorded history. But this temporary just noble. Everybody recognises that they drop is far from enough to undo the harmful have “skin in the game” and everybody’s effects of man-made climate change. own success depends on them participating in tackling the problem. NEW VOCABULARY A number of new words and phrases en- tered the general lexicon in 2020. We were told we need to “social distance” or stay six feet apart so that we could “flatten the curve” or slow the diseases spread in order to re- 38

STORY A VICIOUS SYMPTOM Muhamed Sha A “Aunty peed on the bed…” the small kid yelled in front of the family. Everyone started laughter except her. By witnessing every person mock- ing her mother from an early age that was seemed to her as usual. She had no willing to utter any word. Her father tied the knot with the mother from a financially stable family as a second husband. The excessive kindness or absence of arrogance of the mother makes her a toy turtle to others. The isolation that met her from childhood and the adversities of the first marriage lead her to depression and various lifestyle diseases. *** “I need more cash to buy some groceries” her grandpa shouted at her mother. He never said ‘enough’ to money. Due to his greediness towards the money, she became the caretaker of her sick mother and seven-year younger brother. She took the responsibility of the family at the age of her secondary schooling. The brother was her only relief. She used to burn the 39

candle at both ends to compete with family duties as well as studies. She passed her higher secondary with a good margin but unfortunately she didn’t get admission to any of the government colleges. *** Her father was working abroad. He always desired for a life with family, but in the long run for meeting the two ends he was compelled for being distant from his native land. After knowing the result of his daughter and her desire for studying, he decided to send her to a self-financing college. “Today our comrades Vishnu and Ayesha got married. Let’s cheer up the day..” the words of the college union chairman lead the students into a massive delight. That interfaith marriage was new to her. Because she was from a strong orthodox family. Like every student she also interested in the ideology of liberty, democracy and equality. She lived the miserable life until he invite her to his life. He was from a strong communist background. The relationship created a way of communist thinking in her mind. She became capable for facing her problems and countering the contemptuous of her family. Her raise as a communist woman activist makes others jealous for her. Slowly she became an exponent of liberalism and modernism. But everything changed on that day. She was brutally raped by some party leaders. The judiciary closed the case as a consensual sex!! 40

SHORT STORY Enemies I put a mouse next to the sleeping cat. I stabbed the cat’s tail. The cat mistakenly thought it was a rat and ran to catch the mouse. The joy that made two people enemies came to me with a smile. Basith M 41

POEM Basith M Remove!! Many things need to be removed.. Life’s storage is full... Unfortunately functions stops.. Reset option is not given... Delete’s option is not given... Finally I made an option... Suicide’s option..!!!!!! Everything will be removed.... Do not  search me in recycle bin... Look at the nearest cemetery..!! 42

POEM Statue Jaisal RM The swords are rising and falling in front of me... The breasts are splitting in front of me... I’m just a stone who cannot react to anything, When I stared, they look alike me... I’m a bloodless statue.. He is a bloody statue... 43

REVIEW /the The social dilemma is a 90-minute Social American docudrama film released in 2020. dilemma_ It’s distributed by Netflix and it already made a sensation and many debates. You may An eye-opener have watched it or seen its reviews or analy- ses. It’s famous and popular but still, there’ll Shafeeq EK be many who are either unaware or not in- terested in this masterpiece. I’ve watched it, 44 I’ve liked it and it influenced me a lot. I would like to recommend this to my friends. From the time I started using the internet, I had a doubt. How these companies are making profit, while we are using it for free. When I asked, my friends had similar doubts. Why do people write essays about every- thing on Google and so on? We assumed that our internet/data providers give them a share of the amount we spend on recharge, companies pay them for selling ads etc. But we weren’t satisfied as these tech giants are the richest in the world and the users are paying almost nothing.

THEY CAN ORGANISE THE TFRoIrSmTeArNSeHnAioRrRDIiSrector of Product at Twitter FEED FOR US, SUGGEST US THE THINGS WE LIKE AND Former Google Design Ethicist; Co-Founder ALSO MANIPULATE US AND MAKE US DO THE THINGS WE President of The Center for Humane Technology REALLY DO NOT WANT TO! With their work , Davis Coombe, Vickie JEFF SEIBERT Curtis, the writers of the social dilemma along with its writer com director Jeff Or- Former Senior Director of Product at Twitter lowski is trying clear our doubt and there by giving light to a disturbing and horror truth. AZA RASKIN The main content of the documentary Former Head of User Experience at Mozilla; is some experts talking about the hidden Inventor of the Infinite Scroll and unethical sides of technology. In the in- troduction part, we can see some news clip- LYNN FOX pings showing social media misuses, terror- ism, addiction, Snapchat dysmorphia and Former Director of Corporate PR at Apple; Former some other problems related to it. There’s Corporate Communications at Google also a story part to represent and replicate the way social media Controls us. 45 The documentary starts showing a talk event Humane- A new agenda for tech. Tristan Harris, a former Google design ethi- cist talks about the truth behind the social media we use. Following that, there are in- terviews of tech experts who worked for the leading technology companies such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, Pinterest and more, And other technologists researchers and activists working to align technology with the interest of humanity. In the story part, In a family, Ben is a teen

IF YOU’RE NOT PAYING FOR THE PRODUCT, THEN YOU ARE THE PRODUCT. THE TECHNOLOGY THAT CONNECTS US ALSO CONTROLS US. guy who uses a messaging app and Isla is a form. We’ve heard that these companies teen girl addicted to social media who use collect data from us but most of us don’t snap chat. Filters to capture photos and wait know why do they do that, for what they are for the reactions after uploading it. There are using that or how it’s being so important. The 3 men representing the artificially intelligent social media algorithms are very hazardous algorithm of the software they use, which al- intelligent, so they can find our interests and ways observe their actions and try to lead taste in a very short period of interaction. So, them as they direct. they can organise the feed for us, suggest to us the things we like and also manipulate us The film says that these social media and make us do the things we really do not platforms work with 3 major aims. Engage- want to. All is done by collecting and evalu- ment, Growth and advertisement. They use ating our data. Using this they can show us several tactics for increasing these. From the ads in a way. We are definitely gonna designing the interface to deciding the op- check it. In this way, they can make us ad- erations. The catchy notification we get, the dicted, they can control us, direct us and personalised feed we see, the suggestions manipulate us as they want. everything are designed in a way we spend more time there even though we had no in- The film also says about the mental tentions. Then they tell us to share this with problems caused by the use of the internet, our friends or we see our friends are using especially in teens and children. They are that often we get some advantages by shar- trying to post things for likes and positive re- ing. All are done for the growth of the plat- actions, being depressed for bad comments. 46

THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WORK WITH 3 MAJOR AIMS. ENGAGEMENT, GROWTH AND ADVERTISEMENT. The unnatural standardisation of beauty that use and control the use of our loving ones. camera filters are giving everything is point- We should know and teach that online is not ed as problems. As the film says depression, always real and hide the unnecessary soft- suicide and self hurting behaviour rates are ware and notifications and achieve the habit increasing in our society and one of the ma- of using these for purposes. it should be a jor reasons is this. tool for our needs which doesn’t need us to do a particular thing. The film also addresses the polarization in society as they show us the news and in- There are many quotes in this film that formation only favourable for our interest the are stunning and worth mentioning like truth is often hidden. That’s the reason for ‘’there are only two industries call their cus- the people denying everything opposing tomers ‘users’; illegal drugs & software! and them and even the increment of extremism the question How do you wake up from the and terrorism. matrix when you don’t know you are in the matrix? etc. Briefly, this film talks about the dark face behind social media and the only solution So the film is a must-watch and worth they putting forward is removing all these watching item that I personally suggest ev- from our lives. It seems exaggerated and not eryone who uses the internet should watch. practical for me. But as many wrote in their It’ll enable us to evaluate our social media reviews for the film it’s influenced most of and escape from its control over us. the viewers as well as myself. 47 We should have a Self-evaluation on our

POEM De novo Salman Onampilly When I wandered lonely as a ship. Amid the thought traffic, I sense, Lamenting shore, lying supine for upcoming rain, whispering to the tides. About the waves disguised cache of the prize, Grave of the soul. Although it seems infinite blue prism. The ship still voyages, waiting for a call. And on the other end, the shore, longing for rain, the reunion, 48

I regret my love, once we praised as it conforms to their rules And now, abandoned, as it loses to get endorsed from mules Shall I weigh the elegance of love as they said? Or not? To be remembered? Let me know, my Love, the dewy petrichor of the rainy afternoon. To relish the idyllic setting of our past. While I drown in phantom of the moon To conquer your soul once again. From the crest of aqua blue, With love..... 49

TRAVELOGUE BDAAYNSGALORE Saad Ibrahim Ihave a deep bond with the state Karna- ness was increasing as it approaches to the taka because I was raised there when I thick woods and I started sleeping as usual. was a child. I haven’t visited any state or And woke up when we reached the city country except Kerala and Karnataka. And I named HAL. My brother was there with a van used to spend almost my vacation there. to pick us up. And the rays of the sun was Last year I visited Bangalore with my brother sneaking through the apartments. Still, the in law. My sister and brother live there. So we tiny sparrows were chirping. We reached my began to travel there by bus, during the sister’s house, I was very tired and I slept lockdown situation. again. Our bus sailed through the darkness. It was a cold night. Even the bus was fully I had a great experience while living closed, my legs started to shiver. The roads there. It was a city named Lal Bahadur Shas- were stretched to the forest and the dark- tri Nagar in HAL. We could see nothing ex- cept roads and buildings. There is no play- 50


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