No More Opium, Please

There have always been all sorts of people in the world — firm believers, convinced unbelievers, fanatics, atheists, agnostics and nihilists. The sickening obsession with religion in general in the mid-19th century had prompted Karl Marx to call it the 'opium of people'. But in our time, particular religions seem to be the opium of particular people. Modern nation states have chosen one or another religion — expressly under national constitutions or by implication in practice — as their natural and, hence, privileged faiths. This often plays havoc with followers of the other locally prevailing creeds. Paying lip-service to the belief in one omnipotent and omnipresent God, each religious community reserves God's benevolence for itself, leaving others at the mercy of their own gods who seem to be less powerful than theirs. In my school days, I read in a Hindi textbook a passage which, still stuck in my mind, would read in English as: 'On initially coming to the world, man had faced grave problems for whose solution he had given birth to God. But poor God instead of solving man's problems, himself became his biggest problem.' Today, the truth of this proposition can be witnessed throughout the world. A man vs man tug of war is being played in the name of religion. Human rights, ironically believed to be enjoined by every religion, are the biggest casualty of religious zealotry. The evil of religious inhumanities provokes me to share the questions Epicurus had once put forth: 'Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is not omnipotent. Is He able but not willing? Then He is malevolent. Is He both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is He neither able nor willing? Then why call Him God?' I was once a firm believer in the existence and omnipotence of God. But observing what is happening in the name of religion has made me irreligious. I cannot resist now sharing the agony of a great a jurist-judge of India, V R Krishna Iyer: 'Religion is a terrible Satan in its decadent status when people plunge into spiritual illiteracy, miss the divine essence of the lessons of the sages, prophets and seers and kiss the holy nonsense of 'my religion right or wrong' and 'my religionists alone to me belong'. In this vulgar barbarous degeneracy humanism dies and values of tolerance and compassion perish. In the perverse reversal of higher meanings the man on earth becomes the blind ammunition of divine rivals in the skies.' (Abdul Hussain, 1975) The learned judge's sardonic reference to 'divine rivals in the skies' reminds me of how poet Vipin Jain, on seeing human miseries being inflicted in the name of religion, had once lamented: 'Burning human life like coal turning into ashes, I look at these tears, miseries and crashes; who caused this world burn with such brutal flame. whom shall I question who do I blame; do I ask my God or your God or my own soul. I am confused as to who rules the world as a whole.' The late Enver Hoxha, leader of the communist regime in Albania till 1985, had once said that in a bid to avoid horrors of religious rivalry and bigotry his country had 'conducted God out of its frontiers thanking Him for His provisional services'. It is high time, in my opinion, for our beloved motherland to follow suit. Only that can, perhaps, retrieve our perfect religious harmony. The writer is a professor of law and former chair of National Minorities Commission Dailyhunthttps://www.sbnation.com/users/sikendergunm

Heart attacks also common in young adults

Importantly, youngest heart attack survivors have the same likelihood of dying from another heart attack or stroke as survivors over 10 years older. While the traditional risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, family history of premature heart attack and high cholesterol, substance abuse, including marijuana and cocaine were more the reason behind the increased heart attacks in younger patients. The findings will be presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans. For the study, the researchers included a total of 2,097 young patients. They found that the group below 40 had more spontaneous coronary artery dissection -- a tear in the vessel wall, which tends to be more common in women, especially during pregnancy. Good habits like avoiding tobacco, regular exercise, heart healthy diet, weight loss if required, managing blood pressure and cholesterol, controlling diabetes if required, and staying away from substance abuse need to be maintained for a good heart, Blankstein suggested. Dailyhunthttps://justpaste.it/40j2k

After celebrity weddings, Italy's fashion capital ready for Christmas, New Year

And its diverse population makes it even more special. Though the city is the habitat of people from the different social strata of Italy, it is their style statement which unites them. Be it local commuters or chauffeurs or tourists, everyone knows how to look elegant and classy. No wonder it is called the fashion capital of the world. The fashion affair begins the moment you land in the city centre, especially Montenapoleone, also known as the fashion district. Full of designer boutiques, antique shops and retail outlets in neoclassical mansions, Montenapoleone is considered one of the favourite shopping hubs of fashion aficionados. Thus, this beating heart of Milan is an essential stop for luxury shopping. Whether you fancy Gucci or Prada, you just have to name a brand and you will find its huge store in front of your eyes. Apart from fashion, Milan is also famous for its intricate architecture. And Duomo di Milano is an epitome of the city's architectural splendour. The construction of the Duomo began in 1386. Ranked as the fifth-largest in the world and third-largest in Europe, the Duomo cathedral is no less than heaven as it treats visitors with breathtaking panoramic views of Milan from its rooftop. Also, if you are in Milan and you don't get to see Leonardo da Vinci's paintings, then your trip is incomplete. The manner in which Leonardo da Vinci brought to life the ceiling of the Sforza Castle is quite wonderous, making it a "must go" place in Milan. And for Da Vinci's admirers, 2019 would be a great year to visit as Milan will observe his 500th death anniversary by showcasing his work all over the city. If you think Milan has just rich history to offer, then think again. It also has an amazing nightlife. And the best place to spend your evenings with your loved ones is near the canals, where bars and cafes of various hues flourish. Talking of bars and cafes, it won't be fair if we don't also talk about Italian cuisine. Although pasta and pizza are two dishes popular among Indians, there are other food items to be added to your list. Risotto and traditional panettone cake are among them -- and Italian red wine, of course. And if you are thinking of where to stay in Milan, without a second thought, you can find good reasonable accommodation near the central railway station. So, not just for weddings, one can visit Milan anytime. And this festive season is the best time to experience the beauty of this Italian city -- a rare snowfall may surprise, which can be a treat to the senses. And to make Milan easy and accessible for Indians, Air Italy has recently launched thrice-a-week direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to get you to the city of art in just eight hours. Dailyhunthttp://www.sydneycityairportshuttle.com/UserProfile/tabid/695/userId/317692/Default.aspx

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How Chennai's Sanah Sharma is bringing hardcore Science concepts into her fashion line

So how did this Chennai-based, Pearl Academy alumnus get on the road to discovering her famous Planar Flux technique in design? She explains, "A major part of sustainability is dependant on the design and in India, everyone lives in a misconception that sustainability depends on the type of material we use in design such as Jute, Khadhi, Tencel and Rayon. This idea of the Planar Flux occurred to me in my final year of college when I leaning towards researching sustainability. This technique draws inspiration from Mathematical Topology - these concepts of multidimensionality were applied to fabric consumption and garment construction. In simple words, I infused human-kinetics and mathematical topology to formulate the Planar Flux technique. This technique has served me well and eliminates the 15% wastage that is usually generated in garment construction. Planar Flux was also adopted in the syllabus by the Iowa State University. So far, so good for me, but I won't stop working till this becomes a big deal in India as well." Ideas don't just pop and bloom out of nowhere. It takes time and effort! In light of this, Sanah explains how she invested her time and did all her homework before Planar Flux was fully threshed out, "When I started off with this technique, I was looking at the sustainability aspect of it, and initially, everything I designed was not zero-waste. There was a certain amount of waste and I would estimate the wastage to probably be 5%. But anyway, I was looking to be mentored by a tutor and designer from the Royal College of Art. He was a source of inspiration and when he saw samples of my work, he seemed pretty darned by it (in a good way). That is when I knew that there are possibilities of higher demand for the products I designed. Post this, I read a lot of research papers on Physics and Maths and tried applying it till I got to the zero-waste technique in designing. I further went on to win the International Zero-waste Design Competition by Faculty of Design, at the 5th International Scientific Conference for ALICE held in the City of Design, Ljubljana. That was thrilling and it expanded my customer base and reach on an international level. But if you ask me I would definitely want to reach a wider audience here in India," she adds. While thinking of the future and what it has in store might intrigue or overwhelm most, Sanah has got it all planned and figured out. This is what she had to say, "I am currently setting up my online store and I am hoping that it will be up and running in the near future. I am planning to collaborate with institutes and do workshops on sustainability more often than usual because I like teaching. My mentor and I have plans and collaborations to look forward to and I am super-excited for everything that this year holds for me." (This story was first published in www.edexlive.com) Dailyhunthttps://www.openlearning.com/u/jeeneefeearree

Four-year-old boy killed after allegedly being hit by unidentified car in Gurugram

In his police complaint, Bablu said that due to the impact of the collision, his son fell ten feet away. 'I could not note down the registration number of the car. It was a white car whose roof was painted black. With the help of passersby, I arranged a private vehicle and rushed my son to the civil hospital, where he was declared brought dead,' said the boy's father in the police complaint. Rakesh Kumar, station house officer (SHO), Sector 37 police station, said the car driver was yet to be identified. 'Some passersby tried to stop the car but the driver managed to escape. Police are trying to trace the suspect by screening the CCTV footage from the spot,' the SHO said, adding that the victim's father was not injured in the incident. The boy's father works at a private company in Sector 37. A case was registered against the car driver under sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 304-A (death by negligence) of Indian Penal Code on Saturday. Dailyhunthttps://itsmyurls.com/veenekeenes

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15-year-old gang raped at gunpoint in UP's Muzaffarnagar

Finding her alone, four youths allegedly caught hold of her and gang raped her at gunpoint and threatened her with dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident. The girl narrated the incident to her family members who lodged a complaint at the Mansoorpur police station. Dailyhunthttps://www.mobypicture.com/user/juckzingchuk

How to pick warmest workwear trends this winter

Splash of colour : A splash of colour can help break up the workwear palette. Maybe like a red jumper, startling blue jacket or some bright pop scarves can add that edge too. Double breasted jackets: Double breasted jackets made a comeback last year in the Indian market but internationally they have been present since long. The major myth that prevailed among Indian men was that it doesn't suit the average Indian fit but there are some tricks that can undo the same. Like avoiding shoulder pads and go for narrow lapel. Also, always remember to keep the last button unbuttoned. Turtle necks : A look that we personally love is pairing blazers/jackets with turtle necks. Go for contrasting colours as they look really good. Another benefit is that this look will keep you warm in this extremely cold weather. Overcoats: Keeping the temperature that is touching new lows this year, we can't forget the winter staple that is comfortable yet stylish - overcoats. Trenchcoats, peacoats, double or single-breasted and duffels are just a few types of coats good for men. Layer the look with shirts, pullovers to keep it warm. Pattern suits: If you're opening yourself to a little experimentation, why not go all the way? We're talking about suits in geometric patterns. Try stripes, mini & micro checks. Do away with plain, block coloured suits. Dailyhunthttp://profile.hatena.ne.jp/peddapeelee/

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