Top Mistakes People Make When Renting Apartments in Bangalore

What Not to Do When Renting an Apartment in Bangalore

Bangalore is one of the most bustling metropolitan cities in India. Many aspirants from all over India flock here in search of opportunities to grow.  What matters most is how Bangalore has so much to offer to each one of them. With so many hubs and companies within Bangalore, there are sheer range of opportunities. 

When it comes to accommodation, Bangalore city offers a wide variety of options to all types of renters - families, bachelors, young professionals and single women. There are a lot of PG accommodations for both men and women. There is also an option of coliving for many to opt for as per their preference. 

The rental market in Bangalore include everything right from short term rentals and long term rentals. They have all types and sizes of apartments and flats including 1RK, 1 BHK, 2 BHK, 3 BHK and studio apartments. Such attractive choices come handy for people looking for a job and change of location or even for those who seek new beginnings.

However, in the process of finding the right place, certain details are overlooked by renters which can lead to chaos and unnecessary stress. This could also lead to shelling out more money from your pocket than what was expected and thus an unnecessary financial loss.

This article focuses on the most common mistakes people make while renting out a house in Bangalore.

Failing to Read the Rental Agreement Carefully

This is one common mistake that we all make. We are so used to agreeing with all the terms and conditions online for each and every app that we do the same while reading and agreeing with the apartment lease. It is very important to read out the agreement carefully for any city or state but when in Bangalore, look for those hidden clauses and conditions which can cause a lot of trouble later while leaving. The agreement includes few of those pointers which are not spoken upfront by the owner and they assume that you may end up reading the same in the agreement.

Tip: Go through the entire agreement properly and check for all those hidden clauses. 

Don’t Let Urgency Cloud Your Judgment When Signing

We are so excited to find the house of our choice that we end up signing the agreement impulsively without reviewing the document properly. We neglect many pointers such as maintenance charges, water charges, additional costs and so on. Failing to carefully review the agreement can lead to a misunderstanding with the owner later.

Tip: Have patience and give the documents a thorough check before signing it. 

Uncertainty About Your Duration of Stay

It is okay if you are in Bangalore for a longer duration but if not then you have to be clear about the exact duration with the owner before agreeing to any lease. The lease agreement includes several pointers like duration of the contract and penalties for early termination which if overlooked then can cause a serious problem while terminating your stay. 

Tip: Be clear about the exact duration of your stay. Check for the termination clause in the agreement before signing it. 

Failing to Address Unclear Terms with the Landlord

Yes, this is one common mistake that we make when we sign the rental agreement. In Bangalore, there is this condition of charging one month rent from the deposit while leaving. If you are not aware of this then it is going to be very chaotic at the end. It is important to clear such ambiguities with the landlord and to avoid any such hidden costs such as damages and additional rent from the deposit money. 

Tip: It is advisable to check for any hidden costs or unfair clauses which can pinch our pocket while leaving this rental property. 

Skipping a Detailed Apartment Inspection

One of the common mistakes that we make is just having a look at the apartment and not having a proper look at the apartment. We like the windows and the house and the view but we don't properly inspect the apartment which may lead to unpleasant surprises later. Apartment and the society building should be inspected for leakages, proper sewage practices, faulty plumbing, electrical problems and bad maintenance. What can be done is that we see thoroughly for any sign of damages and electrical problems before signing in the agreement. Take your time to review and inspect the apartment thoroughly before making a decision of renting out the property.

Tip: It is advisable to inspect the apartment for any signs of leakages or damage. Also, one can check the water supply problems and overall condition of the property. 

Not Checking Available Amenities Nearby

This is one common mistake which can be chaotic if not taken care of. Before moving into an apartment, it is important to consider the neighborhood as well and not just the apartment. One has to explore the amenities nearby the apartment for a convenient stay. Amenities such as hospitals, grocery stores, transport, proper feasible roads and schools[if applicable]. What one can do is use online tools like Google Maps to do a thorough check or have a stroll all around and nearby the desired apartment to check for the facilities and amenities before making this important decision. 

Tip: Use of online tools like Google Maps can come very handy in case you are booking your apartment online. A stroll around the property or a general chat with the shopkeepers and neighbors can also tell one about the reality of this area. 

Overlooking Key Safety and Security Features

One common mistake which we do while renting out an apartment is to overlook the safety features like presence of CCTV cameras, security guard, presence of locked gates or fire safety like presence of fire extinguishers in the building.

Tip: It is better to check for everything with the owner before deciding upon the apartment. 

Failing to Notice Additional Rental Costs

This is one of the common mistakes that renters like us make. We focus solely on the monthly rent and fail to notice the additional costs like maintenance, parking charges, electricity bill, society charges, waste disposal charges. Maintenance does not include these charges. This is all additional. Waste disposal may be included in maintenance in some cases but it can also be charged separately and may vary in different cases. 

Tip: Try to get a complete break up of the rent and additional cost from the owner before signing the agreement. These additional charges may turn your affordable apartment much more expensive.

Not Researching the Area Before Renting

This is one of the most common mistakes that we make in Bangalore. We often fall for certain attractions like malls and extravagances that we ignore the actual reality of areas. Some areas like Whitefield, Bellandur and the surrounding other areas look beautiful from outside but are so congested and chaotic that one may end up spending more time stuck in traffic. Then there are problems like unhygienic civic conditions which can lead to problems like mosquito infestations in certain areas. 

Tip: A thorough check of the reality of each area is just mandatory. Try visiting the areas and learn the actuality of places. Best way to learn the truth is by talking to local auto drivers or cab drivers. Also, check the Google reviews of these places. Surely the past renters have a lot to share about the places they lived. 

To ensure that your apartment renting in Bangalore is a smooth and rewarding experience, you need to avoid these common mistakes and be diligent in your research. Keep in mind your needs and make certain that this apartment fulfills all your needs. Be cautious and well-informed. Try to do a thorough research of areas which can provide you a great living experience in one of the most vibrant cities in India.

Tales of Tenali Raman - Tenali Raman and The Incense Stick

One day the topic discussed in the royal court of Krishnadevaraya was intelligence. The king kept talking about his courtiers’ intelligence. Some of the courtiers were very jealous of Tenali Raman and hence they told the king that they were very intelligent and clever but they didn’t get a chance to show their intelligence because of Tenali Raman.

King Krishnadevaraya did give a thought to this issue. He decided to do something about it in order to ensure a harmonious environment in his court. He turned to Lord Vishnu for guidance. His attention diverted to the incense stick burning in front of the god. The lighted incense stick was spreading scented smoke in the room. 

All of a sudden, the king got an idea. He said to his courtiers, “I think you are right. You don’t get to prove your superiority because of Tenali Raman but you will get a chance to prove your superiority in the court. You can participate in a content for the same and thus you can get a chance to prove your extra intelligence and cleverness.”

He further told Tenali Raman, “Tenali, you are not allowed to speak or do anything in that contest.” This made all the courtiers who were jealous of Tenali very happy. Finally, they were getting an opportunity to impress the king with their intelligence. 

The king said to all courtiers, “As you all can see the smoke coming from the incense stick. Bring me the smoke of the lighted incense stick of the length of one yard. The one who manages to do this will be declared as the most intelligent man in my court. He will also be declared as cleverer than Tenali Raman.”

The courtiers were shocked after hearing the king. They said, “What is the king saying? How is this possible? How can anyone measure smoke?” The king saw their surprised faces. He said, “You all wanted to prove your intelligence to me so this is to test your intelligence. I know some of you are capable of solving this so do it.”

The courtiers thought that somehow, they had to find some solution to this. Some tried to measure the smoke that was coming out of the lighted incense stick but in vain. Whenever they tried to measure, the smoke would disperse in wavy moments. Many of the courtiers kept trying various ways to measure the smoke till evening but nothing happened. 

King Krishnadevaraya silently smiled at their futile efforts. Finally, the courtiers got tired after numerous efforts. One of them said to the king, “Your majesty, it is impossible to measure the smoke and to bring it in one yard length. I am sure even Tenali Raman cannot do it. Tell him to do it but I am sure he will fail this task too like us and thus he shouldn’t be given more importance henceforth.” All the courtiers agreed with him.

The king said, “Okay, I will tell Tenali to accomplish this task. If he succeeds this then we have to declare him the most clever and intelligent person.” All the courtiers agreed.

King Krishnadevaraya turned to Tenali Raman, “Are you ready to accept this challenge?” Tenali Raman stood up from his seat and came forward. He bowed to the king and said, “Yes sir, I want to try doing it with your permission.”

King Krishnadevaraya smiled, “Alright, you can proceed.” Tenali Raman called one of his servants and gave him some instructions in a low voice. The servant nodded and went away. He came back in a few minutes with a glass tube in his hands. The glass tube was sealed at one end and open from another. The glass tube measured one yard. 

There was a pin drop silence in the court now. Everybody was eager to what Tenali Raman would do next. They didn’t want to miss any detail about how Tenali tried to accomplish this impossible task. 

Tenali Raman went near the lighted incense stick. He held the open end of the glass in such a way that the rising smoke started filling the glass tube. Within a few moments, the glass tube was completely filled with smoke. Tenali Raman closed the open end of the glass tube with a cloth tightly. 

Tenali then came to the king and handed him the glass tube saying, “Here is your smoke my Lord. This measures one yard. You can measure this with a ruler if you like.”

All the courtiers were shocked by what Tenali had done. King Krishnadevaraya smilingly praised Tenali Raman. He turned to the courtiers and said, “Now you all have to accept that Tenali Raman is the cleverest of all."

Tales of Tenali Raman - Tenali Raman's Unmatched Wit

King Krishnadevaraya was brave and skilled in the art of war. He was a great soldier too. He conquered the neighboring weak and cruel kingdoms and added vast areas to the Vijaynagar Kingdom. 

Once he had to fight a decisive war with his enemy but he was worried as his enemy was very strong. Before the war, he wanted to be sure of his victory. So he called his royal astrologer to ask him for an auspicious time to march into the war which could lead him to a victory. 

The astrologer was a very wise scholar. He consulted his charts and calculated the positions of the stars and planets in conjunction with the king’s star sign. He made a favorable conclusion and told the king, “Your Majesty, you can start marching with your troops on the coming Sunday. I see that some stars favor you and some don’t. You will have to worship god in a particular way to appease him and only then the victory will be yours.”

However, the king could not follow his astrologer’s advice because his enemy had a huge army which already marched towards him. King knew he couldn’t afford disregarding his astrologer’s advice as he wanted to win the war. 

The king looked at his ministers but none said anything to him. He then looked at his favorite minister, Tenali but even he was quiet. Tenali Raman was blessed with Kalika Goddess and was very intelligent. Tenali could see the king’s predicament and he also shared the king’s worries. 

Tenali said to the king, “Your Majesty, let’s go to the battlefield.” The king accepted the challenge as he had a great respect for Tenali. When they reached the battlefield, Tenali saw that the rival army had already assembled. He made a keen observation of his and rival army’s strength and weaknesses. 

Tenali Raman said to the king, “Your majesty, I have analyzed both the army’s strength and weaknesses. I can now predict a victory for you.” The king was happy with this victorious outcome of the war but he was still uncertain about it because of what the astrologer had said. So he asked Tenali to explain the ideas and conclusions in detail. 

Tenali was very observant and he had judged the armies in a scientific way. He said to the king, “We can see a large number of elephants, less number of horses and a large number of soldiers in the enemy camp. On the other side, we have a few elephants but a powerful cavalry with specially trained Persian horses. We also have large number of young and energetic soldiers.”

He further added, “Our weapons are modern but enemy comes with old and traditional weapons. Their soldiers are old and don’t seem to have any of the enthusiasm. Our soldiers look confident and are highly experienced. You are also a great warrior and you have fought many wars and won them. Hence you have a great advantage over the enemy and more chances of winning.”

The king got a little thoughtful after hearing this. Tenali Raman said, “You don’t need to worry at all, your Majesty. All you have to do is forget that you consulted any astrologer. Leaver your worries aside and think like a great warrior. Decide your own military strategies. Strike the enemy’s elephants and create a havoc in the enemy camp. While the enemy would be in confused, you move in your cavalry and defeat them.”

The king did not show any reaction. Now Tenali spoke aggressively, “Your majesty, if the astrologer had predicted your defeat, then would you have surrendered your empire to the enemy without a fight?” The king replied authoritatively, “No, never! That is impossible! I would have still fought till my last breath.”

Tenali Raman said, “So, why don’t you forget what the astrologer foretold? Do not depend on your stars and planet for victory. I would suggest that you start your war at the right moment when your enemy is at the weakest point. To depend on astrology is a sign of weakness. The predictions of the astrologers differ from man to man. What matters the most is faith in God and faith in yourself. Man can achieve the impossible with the right efforts. All people including me will pray for you. You will definitely win.”

Then the king said with confidence, “Yes, I will win the war.” At that moment, the king realized that Tenali Raman was such an extraordinary person. The king won that war and many other wars too. 

Tales of Tenali Raman - Tenali Raman and The Wicked Priest

Appalacharya was the family priest of King Krishnadevaraya.  He was also related the king and performed all the religious rituals for the king and his family. Appalacharya was a very talented scholar. He was respect by all in the court and the king would always consult him for certain issues. 

But even after all this, Appalacharya was neither happy nor satisfied. He always felt jealous of Tenali Raman. He thought he was way cleverer and more intelligent than Tenali Raman but his talent was not appreciated to that extent. After all, Appalacharya was just a priest and Tenali Raman was a minister. 

Whenever someone said anything good about Tenali Raman, Appalacharya got more and more jealous. He got more irritated towards Tenali. He started insulting Tenali often. 

There were two main sects during the time of Krishnadevaraya – the Smartha sect and the Vaishnava sect. Tenali Raman belonged to the Smartha sect and Appalacharya was from the Vaishnava sect. Appalacharya took advantage of this and started spreading rumors that the king was partial towards the Smartha sect and that was the reason why Tenali was made the minister. 

He gathered all the sect members and started misleading them by spreading such rumors. He also told them that Tenali hated the Vaishnava sect. He continued to spread such gossip to bring down Tenali Raman. 

The king was not aware of this jealousy and negative behavior of the priest but Tenali Raman was very much disturbed by this enmity from such a learned man. 

One early morning, Tenali went to Appalacharya’s house for some official work. Appalacharya saw him coming and once Tenali Raman came closer, Appalacharya covered his face with a cloth. Tenali Raman noticed it but did not comment. They discussed the official work and once concluding it, Tenali got up to leave. While leaving Tenali asked him, “Appalacharya, can you please tell me why did you cover your face when you saw me? Why is your face still covered?”

Appalacharya replied sarcastically, “Raman, you are very intelligent and knowledgeable so you should have understood my action. If we, Vaishnavas, see face of Smarthas first thing in the morning then we will be born as donkeys in our next birth.”

Tenali Raman was deeply hurt with this insulting reply. He had many friends from the Vaishnava sect and he knew this was not true. He decided to teach this arrogant and mean priest a lesson. 

Once, King Krishnadevaraya went on an outing with his courtiers. Tenali Raman and Appalacharya were also with him. They all saw some donkeys grazing in the nearby field. Tenali Raman went to the donkeys, knelt and bowed to the donkeys. The whole group stood in silence and looked at Tenali surprisingly. 

King knew about Tenali’s eccentric behavior and he knew there was some good reason behind his action. He asked Tenali, “Why are you bowing to the donkeys? Do they look like saint to you?”

Tenali replied, “No sir, it is nothing like that. I went to Appalacharya’s house sometime back for some official work early in the morning. Appalacharyaji covered his face when he saw me and when I asked him for the reason behind his behavior, Appalacharya kindly explained that when a Vaishnava sees Smartha’s face first thing in the morning, he becomes a donkey in his next birth. So, when I saw some donkeys here today, I thought they must be Appalcharya’s relatives so I felt it was my duty to bow down and kneel in respect and thus ask for their forgiveness on behalf of the Smarthas whose faces they had seen in their previous births.”

The king immediately realized what had happened. Some of his courtiers had disclosed the nefarious activities of Appalacharya to him. The king was appaled by Appalacharya’s behavior and Tenali Raman looked very hurt.

Before he could say anything, Tenali Raman spoke sadly, “Your majesty, I never hurt or harmed anybody. I never wish anything ill for anybody. We are what the God made us. Caste and religion are to worship God and achieve spirituality. It is not to measure one’s high or low position. I believe there is only one Supreme Power who can be called by many names so why do the learned try to hurt or harm us?”

The king felt sorry for Tenali Raman. He said, “Appalacharya, you are a scholar who is respected by everyone, even by me. You don’t have to be jealous about Tenali Raman or anyone. You have a distinctive place in my palace. You should have faith in me and my judgement. I don’t favor or discriminate anybody on the basis of their religion or language. The administration of this kingdom is based on the great Sage Vidyaranya’s principles. I am following his great teachings in all the matters of our kingdom. I can recognize merit and talent. I appoint my ministers and officers. I want my kingdom to flourish on good qualities of my ministers.”

The king further added, “I gave you many chances to prove your merit. It is not good on your part to behave in such manner. In future, if you indulge in activities unworthy of you, I shall not hesitate to send you away with punishment for your wrong actions. Consider this as a warning. Try to be a better man.”

Appalacharya took this advice in the right spirit. He begged the king for his forgiveness. He promised the king that he would behave properly and pledged his life for the betterment of the kingdom. He also assured Tenali Raman that he would only praise him in future and never ever hate him. 

Comprehension Passage - 2

Title: Bad temper - The vice of the virtuous

The next ingredient is a very remarkable one: Good Temper. "Love is not easily provoked". Nothing could be more striking than to find this here. We are inclined to look upon bad temper as a very harmless weakness. We speak of it as a mere infirmity of nature, a family failing, a matter of temperament, not a thing to take into a very serious account in estimating a man's character.

And yet here, right in the heart of this analysis of love, it finds a place; and the Bible again and again returns to condemn it as one of the most destructive elements in human nature. The peculiarity of ill temper is that it is the vice of the virtuous. It is often the one blot on an otherwise noble character. You know men who are all but perfect, and women who could be entirely perfect but for an easily ruffled, quick tempered or touchy disposition. This compatibility of ill temper with high moral character is one of the strangest and saddest problems of ethics.

 The truth is there are two great classes of sins - sins of the Body,  and sins of Disposition.  The Prodigal son may be taken as a type of the first, the Elder brother of the second. Now society has no doubt whatever as to which of these is worse.  Its brand falls, without a challenge, upon the Prodigal. But are we right? We have no balance to weigh one another’s sins, and coarser and finer are but human words; but faults in the higher nature may be less venial than those in the lower, and to the eye of Him who is Love, a sin against Love may seem a hundred times more base. No form of vice, not worldliness, not greed of gold, not drunkenness itself does more to un-christianise society than evil temper. 

For embittering life, for breaking up communities, for destroying the most sacred relationships, for devastating homes, for withering up men and women, for taking the bloom off childhood; in short for sheer gratuitous misery-producing power, this influence stands alone. 

Jealousy, anger, pride, uncharity, self-righteousness, touchiness, doggedness, sullenness - in varying proportions these are the ingredients of all ill-temper. Judge if such sins of disposition are not worse to live in, and for others to live with than sins of the body. There is really no place in Heaven for a disposition like this. A man with such a mood could only make Heaven miserable for the all the people in it.

                                                                                                    Henry Drummond

Questions

1. What is the popular notion about 'bad temper'?

Answer -  According to the author, bad temper is considered as a harmless weakness and is spoken merely as if it is a mere infirmity of nature, a family failing or as a matter of temperament. 

2. How is bad temper 'the vice of the virtuous'?

Answer - Bad temper is one blot on an otherwise noble character. Men and women could be entirely perfect except for a ill-tempered disposition. Hence bad temper is referred as the vice of the virtuous.

3. Which class of sins is the worse and why - sins of the body or the sins of the disposition?

Answer - Sins of the disposition are worse than the sins of the body because evil temper un-Christianise the society more than the bodily sins. 

4. Mention some evils of bad temper?

Answer - Evil temper can embitter life, break up communities, destroy most scared relationships, devastate homes, wither up men and women, for taking the bloom off childhood. 

5. Why, according to the author, will there be no place in Heaven for bad-tempered folks?

Answer - According to the author, there will be no place in Heaven for bad-tempered folks because people with evil-temper can only make heaven a miserable place for all the people in it. 

6. Who is the author of this passage?

Answer - Henry Drummond.

7. What could be the title for this comprehension passage?

Answer - Bad temper - The vice of the virtuous. 

8. Name any three ingredients of ill temper?

Answer - Jealousy, anger and cruelty.

9. What is the nearest meaning for the word 'ruining' in the passage?

Answer - Devastating.

10. Find words from the passage which mean : breaking up, ruining, scandalising, souring, easily or quickly offended.

Answer - 1. breaking up: destroying.

               2. ruining: devastating.

               3. scandalising: withering.

               4. souring: embittering.

               5. easily or quickly offended: touchy.

The Farmer and the Donkey Story

 The Story of the farmer and his donkey

Author - Unknown

This is one story that I came across the internet and I was amazed with the positivity it set. This is how you shove out the dirt that is thrown at you and then you step up. Let's show the world what we are made of and how we never give up. 

Photo Courtesy: Google  

One day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried loudly for hours, while the farmer tried to find something to do to get him out.

Finally, the farmer decided that the donkey was old and the well was already dry and needed to be covered anyway; and also that it really wasn't worth pulling the donkey out of the well..

He invited all his neighbors to come help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to throw dirt into the well.

The donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly loud. Then, to everyone's surprise, he quieted down after a few shovels full of dirt.

The farmer finally looked down into the well and was amazed at what he saw... with each shovel full of dirt, the donkey was doing something incredible: It was shaking off the dirt and stepping on top of the dirt.

Very soon everyone saw surprised how the donkey reached the mouth of the well, went over the edge and trotted out.

Moral Lesson from the story of the farmer and the donkey

Life is going to throw dirt at you, all kinds of dirt... the trick to getting out of the hole is to shake it off and use it to step up. Each of our problems is a step up. We can get out of the deepest holes if we don't give up...

Use the land they throw you to get ahead!!!

Remember the 5 rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hate.

2. Free your Mind of distractions.

3. Simplify your life.

4. Give more and expect less.

5. Love more and... shake the dirt, because in this life you have to be a solution, not the problem!

Comprehension Passage - 1

Title: Mahatma Gandhi - The Great Internationalist

"People talk of memorials to him in statues of bronze or marble or pillars and thus they mock him and his message. What tribute shall we pay to him that he would have appreciated? He has shown us the way to live and the way to die and if we have not understood that lesson, it would be better that we raised no memorial to him, for the only fit memorial is to follow reverently in the path he showed us and to do our duty in life and death.

He was a Hindu and an Indian, the greatest in many generations, and he was proud of being a Hindu and an Indian. To him, India was dear, because she had represented throughout the ages certain immutable truths. But though he was intensely religious and came to be called the Father of the Nation which he had liberated, yet no narrow religious or nation bonds confined his spirit. And so he became the great internationalist, believing in the essential unity of man, the underlying unity of all religions, and the needs of humanity, and more specially devoting himself to the service of the poor, the distressed and the oppressed millions everywhere.

His death brought more tributes than have been paid at the passing of any other human being in history. Perhaps what would have pleased him best was the spontaneous tributes that came from the people of Pakistan. On the morrow of the tragedy, all of us forgot for a while the bitterness that had crept in, the estrangement and the conflict of these past months and Gandhiji stood out as the beloved champion and leader of the people of Indian, of Indians it was before the partition cup up this living nation.

What was his great power over the mind and heart of man due to? Even we realize, that his dominating passion was truth. That truth led him to proclaim without ceasing that good ends can never be attained by evil methods, that the end itself is distorted if the method pursued is bad. That truth led him to confess publicly whenever he thought he had made a mistake --- Himalayan errors he called some of his own mistakes. That truth led him to fight evil and untruth wherever he found them, regardless of the consequences. That truth made the service of the poor and the disposed the passion of his life, for where there is inequality and discrimination and suppression there is injustice and evil and untruth. And thus he became the beloved of all those who have suffered from social and political evils, and the great representative of humanity as it should be. Because of that truth in him wherever he sat became a temple and where he trod was hallowed ground."

                                                                                                                        - Jawaharlal Nehru. 

Questions

1. About whom is the passage written?

Answer - This passage is written about the great Mahatma Gandhi.

2. What great lesson did this great man show for life?

Answer -  This great man made us see the way we live and the way we die.

3.  How can we pay him a real tribute?

Answer - We can pay him a real tribute by following the path that he showed us and by doing our duty.

4. Mention why he is called 'the great internationalist'?

Answer - He is called a great internationalist because he was an intensely religious man yet no narrow religious or nation bonds confined his spirit.

5. What did "truth" mean to this great man?

Answer - Truth for him was his dominating passion which led him to fight evil, which led him to suppress the injustice, and which led him to offer service to the poor.

6. What did Mahatma Gandhi refer his mistakes as?

Answer - Mahatma Gandhi often referred his mistakes as Himalayan Errors. 

7. Give the meaning of the following: memorials, immutable, essential, estrangement, spontaneous, discrimination, dominating.

Answer -  1. Memorials  - Something that is built or done to remind of any person or any event.

                2. Immutable - Unchanging over time.

                3. Essential - Completely necessary.

                4. Estrangement - The fact of no longer being on friendly terms.

                5. Spontaneous - Not planned or happening suddenly. 

                6. Discrimination - Treating someone worse than others.

                7.  Dominating - To be more powerful.

We all fight some or the other battles in our life, nobody is spared. These battles take a big chunk out of our confidence and make us doubt and wonder if we are going wrong. Women are the main victims to this. The main problem with us, women is, we are known to take the blame and allow others to treat us the way they wish. This has to be stopped and we shouldn't keep doing this any longer. Here are a few way we can stop self doubting and boost our self-esteem to rise and shine :) 

Fifteen Best Ways for Women to Boost their Self Esteem

1. The key is to stop self-doubting and keep fighting. When you self-doubt yourself, remember - nobody is perfect. 

2. Another key is to believe in yourself and to take action, no matter what the result be.

3. Being nice to yourself works a long way.

4. Give importance to yourself and to your decisions. 

5. Go for a walk. Walks have always proved to do wonders and change mood. 

6. Focus on what you can do to change rather than what you did wrong. 

7. Celebrate small victories, even if they aren’t long lasting or if they don’t matter much to others. They should matter to you.

8. Move on, don’t keep watering the dead plant. Go, plant a new tree… a new hope.

9. Get into some hobby or cultivate your interests. It could be anything, as long as it entertains you, relaxes you and makes you happy, that’s all matters. 

10. Don’t stress out thinking of something that is absurd or may happen. Who knows what happens next, so why worry and spend that precious moment!

11. Laugh when you do silly mistakes. Anybody could do mistakes but laughing on them and acknowledging them is done only by few. Many prefer blaming others for their mistake. 

12. Breathe and give it a moment.

13. Exercising is a best way to beat the stress out. 

14. Accept and love yourself the way you are. Nobody can be you, remember that and be proud of it.

15. Invest in yourself. If you feel that there is any shortcoming within you, or you need to improve in any areas, then go for it. Try and enroll for some course that can help you do better. 

Comprehension Poem - 1 "A time to Believe"

Poem - A time to Believe

     - B. J. Morbitzer

"To believe is to know that

every day is a new beginning.

Is to trust that miracles happen,

and dreams really do come true.

To believe is to see angels

dancing among the clouds,

To know the wonder of a stardust sky

and the wisdom of the man in the moon.

To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart,

The innocence of a child's eyes

and the beauty of an aging hand,

for it is through their teachings we learn to love.

To believe is to find the strength

and courage that lies within us

When it's time to pick up

the pieces and begin again.

To believe is to know

we are not alone,

That life is a gift

and this is our time to cherish it.

To believe is to know

that wonderful surprises are just

waiting to happen,

And all our hopes and dreams are within reach.

If only we believe..."

Questions:

1. What should we know and trust everyday?

Answer - We should know and trust that everyday is a new beginning, and also that miracles do happen and dreams do come true.

2. What are the two super natural references in the second stanza?

Answer - The two super natural references in the stanza include angels and the man in the moon.

3. What two qualities are needed to recover, after a shocking event?

Answer - The two qualities that are needed to recover after a shocking event includes strength and courage.

4. Who is the poet of this poem?

Answer - The poet of this poem is B. J. Morbitzer.

5. What kind of attitude does the poet advise everybody to have?

Answer - The poet advises is to be positive and have an optimistic attitude. He wants us to believe that everyday comes with new opportunities and has a new beginning and miracles do happen. 

6. What does the poet have to say about nurturing?

Answer - Nurturing is caring. When someone nurtures us, be it our parents or our teachers; we should believe and try to value what they tell us based on their vast experience and wish to give us an advice. 

7. Any five qualities that you can pick up from the poem?

Answer - Love, Trust, Courage, Belief, Strength.

8.A. Write words from the poem that describe the following:

a) sky   -  stardust sky.

b) heart -  nurturing heart.

c) hand  -  ageing hand.

d) beginning - new beginning.

e) surprises - wonderful surprises.

8.B. Rearrange the letters to make meaningful words:

a) "clearmis" - miracles.

b) "sowmid"   - wisdom.

c) "gearuoc"  - courage.

d) "rissupser" - surprises.

e) "tabyue" - beauty.

f) "madres" - dreams.

g) "laveu" - value.

h) "downre" - wonder.

8.C. What do the following words mean?

a) aging - growing old.

b) nurturing - to provide nourishment and care.

c) pick up the pieces - return to normal after a shock.

d) cherish - hold something dearly and of great value.

The Boy with a Green Cloth - Motivational Story

A building construction work was going on nearby. Lots of poor laborers were working there and their small children used to hold onto one another's shirt and play "train-train". Someone would become the engine and others would become bogies. Every day these children used to take turns becoming the engine and bogies but there was one small boy wearing only a half pant who used to hold one small green cloth in his hand and become the guard daily. 

I went to him and asked him, "Child, don't you also wish to become an engine or a bogie some time?" He softly replied, " Sir , I don't have a shirt to wear so how will the other children catch me to make the train?" I could see the slight wetness in his eyes.

But it gave me a lesson - he could have cried and sat at home and abused his parents for not affording to buy him a shirt but instead he chose another way to play and enjoy himself. In life, we don't get all things we desire and we keep complaining, "I don't have a bike,  I don't have car, I don't have this or that etc."

 Life is like that ....we need to make it beautiful and be grateful of what we have. 

O Beautiful Butterfly Poem

O Beautiful Butterfly!

- Poem by me

O Beautiful Butterfly,

How did you die?

Did someone clip your wings?

Did someone asked you not to fly?

I am sure you wanted to soar high.

I am sure you wanted to fly.

But I am not sure what went wrong,

I wonder how you died?

Did some bird peck you,

Unaware of the harm it could cause to you?

Did some passerby step on you,

Unknown to your existence?

I am sure they meant no harm,

But it won't bring you back.

Back to life that you wished to live,

Back to soar high.

I know you wanted to live.

I know you wished to survive.

But I will always remember you,

As I saw you die, o beautiful butterfly!

New Year Resolution Poem for Children - 1

 New Year Resolution Poem 1

Just think, think, think,

of the things you can do,

to make yourself better,

before the year's through.

Resolutions can be tough,

but here's the thing,

once you get going,

there is no stopping you.

Kids - The Unsung Heroes of Corona Virus

This Corona Virus pandemic has left us speechless and helpless. The doctors, medical care workers, police and soldiers and essential service workers have been fighting on the front line trying to offer us services and help that we need. But in this testing times, we have to acknowledge our kids who have been patient beyond their age and understanding for all these days. It is not easy for those young minds to stay indoors throughout their vacation time when they could actually enjoy being with friends and travel places with their family. 

Vacation is a time when kids get to play in open spaces and visit their native places. But none of this could happen because COVID struck us badly. Everything changed overnight and everyone got stuck at home. It must have been hard on them being home all the time playing just with the toys or watching TV. They frankly don't deserve this as it is not their fault. The harsh world that we have created has affected them badly. They deserve an apology for our mistakes. But these young minds irrespective of their age have been patient, learning and wondering what would happen next. They have been a helping hand, who did not add to our problems but in fact their tighter hugs provided encouragement and a will to survive.

So, what we need to do is provide them with a space for themselves where they could have fun. Let them play with colors and crayons. Let them paint or draw. Allow them to investigate, learn and get answers. Allow them a space within the house which could be made dirty by their science experiments. Read them stories and spend time with them as much as you could. Consider this time to be a blessing as you can spend some creative time with your kids. Make them feel special at times and show them that they are appreciated. Make it a point to cook their favorite dish which brings smile on their face. Allow them to be part of your daily chores in anyway they could. As they are our heroes who should be appreciated for showing maturity at such a young age.

Expansion of Idea - Making The Best Of life

We have got into the habit of complaining and grumbling about our problems and difficulties. Instead of facing our problems and finding solution for it, what we do is whine over our troubles. By doing so we can never achieve any solution to the problem we face or never get any success out of our life.

Life is mean at times. But the best that we can do about it is face it with all our might and try to make the best of it. When we try to find solutions instead of crying and whining, we realize that life is not that bad at all. And in all that meanness which life throws at us, we can find those moments of joy and happiness which can make life worth living and enjoying. It is all about the attitude with which we approach life. As they say -

"However mean your life is,

meet it and live it;

do not shun it and

call it hard names."

Why Cognitive Skills Are Important For Children

The memory of a person has an ability to learn and process new information. This capacity to adapt and understand new things which could include a high level of perception to certain information or understanding written data, could vary from person to person. Such an ability to interpret and process certain notion is termed as Cognitive Skill. Every individual has his or her own level of capacity to cognitive functioning which usually develops during the childhood. At an early age children are more adaptive in learning new skills and functions. As compared to an adult, a child can absorb and analyze information to greater levels. And hence learning to improve cognitive skills for children is very important at an early age.

Six Important Cognitive Skills

- Memory.

- Attention.

- Processing.

- Perception.

- Mobility.

- Logic and Reasoning.

Need of Cognitive Skills for Children

In today's competitive world nothing is easy. Not even for children! The competition starts right at the school level and continues to rise every single level. Smart kids make their way through but certain children cannot always work up their way to the top. This is where the development of cognitive skills for children comes handy. The development of cognitive skills not only helps in a child's progress but it also improves other key areas pertaining to his or her academics such as  learning, attention span, memory  and perception. A child with improved cognitive skills can grasp and comprehend way better than other children. And this evaluation of information by a child works in a positive manner in his or her  overall development.

Teaching Cognitive Skills to Children

Every parent dreams about their child's excellent academic and social growth. They wish their child grow smarter and do well in his life. As every plant needs regular dose of water, sunlight and good care to grow, so does children. Certain cognitive skills such as perception, concentration, memory, logical thinking, and thought process needs proper learning as these skills need to be taught.  Every single parent out there should be aware of this fact that cognitive skills need to be 'taught' . For example, a child may pay attention in the class but still be unable to focus or concentrate on the words he is been taught. And concentration is one of the important cognitive skill a child needs to learn to perform well academically.

In the similar manner, no progress could be achieved from a child who has problem in recalling what he had learnt. If a child has a habit of forgetting what is been taught to him, then it is important to work in this area by teaching cognitive skills which would benefit  in improving his memory.  Not just teachers but even parents need to play an important role in this matter. At an early age children can learn these cognitive skills and absorb way better than adults. And hence it is important to empower a child to grow smarter by sharpening his cognitive skills.

Family Tree Poem by Ron Tranmer

I came across this poem on family tree which is inspirational and beautiful. It touches the chord and makes you smile.

 Family Tree Poem

      - By Ron Tranmer

There's love within our family tree

and happiness abounds.

It's roots are deeply planted

in rich and fertile ground.

We enjoy the rays of sunlight,

and endure the winds and rain.

And when a leaf falls from our tree,

together we share the pain.

God gave us earthly families

and never did intend,

that bonds of love built on earth,

upon our death would end.

For when our life is over

and from earth our souls will flee.

one by one, leaf by leaf

we will rejoin our family tree.

Finest Example of Presence of Mind - Whistler in the Class

Presence of mind is a state of mind where one can stay calm and yet manage to deliver. Sharing one of the story from the net that relates to it. The tile of this story is 'Whistler in the Class'!

A Professor started his class on a very serious topic. The moment he turned towards the blackboard, one of the students whistled. He turned, looked at the class and asked the whistler's name. No one answered.

The Professor peacefully kept the Pen in his pocket saying: "Lecture ends here. I'll tell you a story to utilize the remaining time". Everyone became interested. "Yesterday night I tried hard to sleep, but it was miles away from my eyes, so I thought I'd better get petrol in my car, which will save my time next morning and might induce sleep. After having my tank full, I started roaming in that area, enjoying the peace of a traffic free ride. Suddenly, in the corner I saw a girl who was as young and beautiful as the clothes she was wearing. Out of courtesy, I turned my car towards her and asked if I may be of any help. She asked me if I could drop her to her home, she'll be very obliged, to which I agreed.

She sat in the front seat with me. We started talking, and to my amazement she was very intelligent, had control on many topics which many youngsters don't. When we reached her address, she admitted my courteous nature and behavior and accepted that she had fallen in love with me.I also admitted her intelligence and beauty and that I've also started liking her. I told her about my job as a professor in the university. The girl asked my number, which I gave her willingly. Then she asked me a favor, to which I couldn't have denied naturally.

She said that her brother is a student in the same university, and asked me to take care of him, since we'll be in a long relationship now. I asked the name of the student. She said that I'll recognize him with one of his very prominent quality, He whistles a lot! All eyes in the classroom turned towards the boy who had whistled.

The professor said: " Young man, I didn't buy my Ph.D in Psychology.. I earned it”.

Essay - Failure in Life

Encountering failure is one of the biggest challenges known to mankind. Not everyone is good at handling failure. One may overcome the biggest challenges to achieve success but when it comes to handling failure, not everyone can tackle it. Each individual has his own way of tackling failure. It is a whole different story for each one of us. Some may accept failure and learn to fight a way through it by trying again. Some take failures as graciously as they could while some miserably mess things up. Here is a story that I recently learnt which tell us about how not having the strength to handle failure could lead to serious repercussions. 

There was a very brilliant boy, who always scored 100% in Science. He got selected for IIT Madras and scored excellent in IIT. He then went to the University of California for MBA and got a high paying job in America and settled there. 

He got married a beautiful Tamil girl and bought a 5 room big house and luxury cars.

He had everything that made him successful but a few years ago he committed suicide after shooting his wife and children.

So, WHAT WENT WRONG?

California Institute of Clinical Psychology Studied his case and found “what went wrong?”  The researcher met the boy’s friends and family and found that he lost his job due to America’s economic crisis and he had to sit without a job for a long time. Even after expecting a job with less salary than his previous, he didn't get any. 

Since he couldn't manage keeping steady his house installments, the family lost the home. They survived a few months with low money and then he and his wife together decided to commit suicide. He first shot his wife and children and then shot himself.

The case concluded that the man was programmed for successes but he was not trained for handling failures. Now let's come to the actual question, 

"What are the habits of highly successful people?"

People often share their success stories but very few share their battles and struggles to success. Many fail miserably in their early attempts of success and then rise to shine.  Nothing is predictable in life. There are risks and possibilities. At any point of time, one may lose what he owns. Here is a quote that speaks the same, 

" Life is like a river, 

sometimes it sweeps you gently along and 

sometimes the rapids comes

out of nowhere."

What this means is that when we plan to start something new, nobody can predict how things would go on. We can desire success, but we should learn to accept failures too. Failures make us who we are. They help us learn things and give us experiences that we knew nothing about. Hence one of the most important success habit to share is to learn to handle failures. 

Same lesson applies to the kids. We want our children to gain success in everything they do. Seldom we teach our child that it is okay to fail. When a child fails we get disappointed which in turn disappoints the child. But instead of programming our child to be successful we should prepare them to handle failures which is one of the most important life lesson you could teach your child.

What it Means to Let Go?

When we say we want to let go of things, what does it really mean? Letting go means a lot more than one can think. The let go meaning is all about taking care of yourself and keeping oneself from getting hurt. Just came across this wonderful post and felt like sharing. Please do read...

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring.

It means I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off.

It's the realization that I can't control another.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness,

which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another.

It's to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for, 

but to care about.

To "let go" is not to fix, 

but to be supportive.

To "let go" is not to judge, 

but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle, arranging all the outcomes,

but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to deny, 

but to accept.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue, 

but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires,

but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to regret the past, 

but to grow and live for the future.

To "let go" is to fear less and to love more.

The Beautiful Moon Poem

This 'The Beautiful Moon' Poem is beautiful. This poem refers to the moon as 'she' and talks about her loneliness but still about her ability to lock up her emotions and guiding those who are in need of light to show them the way. I hope everyone enjoys this poem the way I did!

The Beautiful Moon Poem

 - By Unknown

How beautiful is the moon,

Glowing bright in the night skies.

Hiding herself during noon,

So you'll never know if she cries.

Alone she sits in the sky,

Guiding those who need the light.

Warming the hearts of those who cry,

But always keeping herself locked up tight.

Though surrounded by many stars,

In solitude she rather be.

A consequence produced by scars,

Shh... Can you hear her silent plea?

Away from people, away from pain,

She hides herself, in plain sight.

I've told you once and I'll tell you again,

The story of a beautiful moon

Whose light glows brightest at night.