 Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869. He was the youngest child of Karamchand and Putlibai Gandhi.
His father was the Dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar, a municipality in what is now Gujarat state, then under the British rule. Karamchand Gandhi, who was known for his diplomatic skills, was the political inspiration in Mahatma Gandhi’s life. His mother was not well-read, but had long-lasting influence over young Gandhi with her commitment to religion and her philanthropic work. Gandhi grew up in a home that worshipped the Hindu God Vishnu, with a very strong element of Jainism, whose chief teaching is non-violence. From these religions, Gandhi extracted the practice of ahimsa (no harm to any living thing), vegetarianism, fasting, and mutual tolerance between different sects. He moved to South Africa to work as the supporting barrister (lawyer) of Seth Abdullah and lived there for 20 years. There he occupied himself with further research on the world’s religions, Hindu spiritual texts, and embraced a life of simplicity (with its main factors being fasting, meditation, and celibacy). The time came for Gandhi to take a stand when he was pushed out of the first class compartment of a South African train for not giving up his seat for an European passenger. He returned to India in 1914. Gandhi would often protest the oppression of Indians under the British rule and call for the economic independence of India. He stressed the importance of manufacturing khaddar, a homespun cloth made in India, to take the place of imported textiles from Britain. Gandhi’s simplistic lifestyle, passionate words, and commitment to a non-violence protest earned him a slew of followers who started calling him Mahatma (the one with the great soul). He became the voice of Indian National Congress, which lead peaceful protests against the British. Gandhi’s work helped India gain independence from the British in 1945. His non-violence approach, however, did not bring lasting peace to him. He was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu who was upset with Gandhi’s acquiescence to splitting the Muslim majority parts of India into a separate country, Pakistan. About the Author: Amita Vadlamudi is a former computer technology professional. Her resume can be found at her Edocr and Resumonk websites. Ms. Vadlamudi’s favorite images may be found at the Alternion site.
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 While Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle rank among ancient Greece’s most popular philosophers, there are a number of lesser known thinkers who made comparable contributions during their times. Solon, for example, was a politician and poet who actively lobbied against the moral and political decline of Rome. While his attempts failed during his life, Solon is credited as one of the earliest progenitors of Athenian democracy. Democritus, on the other hand, is an example of a pre-Socratic philosopher who furthered conversations on topics as diverse as the atom and the cosmos. One of the more popular Greek philosophers was Archimedes of Syracuse. The thoughts of Archimedes resulted in numerous advances in the field of physics. He achieved various technological successes as well, contributing to inventions that ranged from military artillery to the screw pump. About the author: Amita Vadlamudi has gained experience working in various aspects of the computer systems engineering industry over the past few decades. Outside of her professional pursuits, Amita Vadlamudi spends her time reading about ancient Greek gods and Greek philosophers. Read other articles from Ms. Vadlamudi on her Medium Site.  Confucius, whose real name was actually Kong Qui, was born possibly in 551 BC. Not much is known about this famous Chinese philosopher's childhood and early life but some scholars have come up with their own assumptions. Confucius was born in the district of Zou which was controlled by the Kings of Zhou, however, it was governed by the lords of Lu. His father, Kong He, was an elderly commander of the local garrison in Lu. He is thought to have passed away when Confucius was only 3 years of age. He was then raised by his mother, Yan Zhengzai, who followed in his father’s footsteps a few years later at the age of 40. He married a woman, Qiguan, at the age 19 and by the time he was 20 he had become a father to a boy named Kong Li. Confucius was given education in the school of commoners where he studied the “Six Arts”. He is known to be born into an upper middle class family, a class that lands between aristocracy and the commoners. He is known to work several government jobs in his young adult age. Philosophy and Teachings: As the 6th century proceeded the competing Chinese states started to disrespect the rule of the Chou Empire which had ruled for 500 years. This is when China experienced a period of moral decline. Confucius seeing this, decided to develop and reinforce certain societal values of compassion and tradition. His philosophy circled around the concept of loving others (ren) while practicing self-discipline. He believed that the ren could be put into action using the Golden Rule of not doing unto others what you would not wish upon yourself. His political beliefs advocated self-discipline. He said that the leader should exercise the discipline of self in order to remain humble and inspire his followers. According to Confucius, the leader should show compassion to their followers and motivate them to abide by the law by teaching them righteousness. Confucius believed that his job as an educator was to teach people to live with integrity. Through his teachings, he worked to resurrect the traditional Chinese values of benevolence. Death and Legacy: Confucius died on November 21 479 B.C. His followers organized a funeral and dedicated a mourning period. As of 4th century B.C. Confucius was regarded as the man deserving much better recognition for his work during his time. By the 2nd century B.C. his ideas laid down the foundation to the ideology of the state. About Amita Vadlamudi: Reading and learning something new every day is a must to do for Amita Vadlamudi. She found the life and philosophy of Confucius a fascinating study, especially in light of the fact that this great philosopher lived about 2500 years ago.  Amita Vadlamudi is a former computer systems engineer who worked in the information technology industry for more than three decades. Outside of her professional life, Amita Vadlamudi is interested in history and enjoys reading nonfiction books on topics like ancient cultures.
Among the most advanced and famous of the world’s ancient cultures are the ancient Egyptians, whose kingdom lasted three millennia. Advanced for the time, the ancient Egyptians had a comprehensive writing system that they used to record the civilization’s history, beliefs, and ideas. Ancient Egyptians were also advanced in the field of medicine, and records of physicians from the time indicate that specialized doctors likely focused healing different parts of the body. Medical professionals in ancient Egypt also learned to set broken bones, stitch wounds, and use honey as an infection-fighting agent. Additionally, there is evidence to support the notion Ancient Egyptians practiced some measure of gender equality. Contracts and other documents show that women in ancient Egypt had significant financial and legal independence and received equal pay for work performed outside of the home.  Spending two minutes a day feeding them and fifteen minutes a week cleaning their bowl is all it takes to take care of goldfish. You can enjoy having them for years even if you do not have the room for a big fish tank. Goldfish can live for 3-4 years in small bowls if properly cared for.
First it is very important that there are at least two goldfish in the bowl for companionship. Secondly, proper amount of feeding is crucial. They should be fed twice daily in very small quantities. Check the instructions that come with the fish food for proper amounts. If you are caring for two fish, be sure that the bowl is at least a 2 gallon size. Maintaining two bowls will make the cleaning easier. Once a week, using a fish net, gently transfer the fish into the clean bowl that was prepared the previous week. Dump all the water from the old dirty bowl and clean it. Use water only for cleaning; no soap or detergent should be used. Fill the bowl with clean water 2/3 of the way. Add proper amount of “aquarium water conditioner” found in the pet stores. Leave this bowl for next week’s use. Water staying at room temperature for a week will prevent any temperature shock when the fish are transferred into the new bowl. You will, in fact, notice the fish get perky and happy as they breathe easier in the clean bowl. About the Author: Amita Vadlamudi is an Information Systems Professional who has had a busy career supporting many different Operating Systems and computer applications. Through her hectic schedule, Amita Vadlamudi finds relaxation in taking care of her goldfish.  Over the course of her career, Amita Vadlamudi worked as a computer systems engineer for several financial services companies. In her spare time, Amita Vadlamudi enjoys learning about ancient Roman and Greek gods.
With the exception of earth, the seven remaining planets in the solar system are named after ancient Roman gods, such as Mercury, god of travel, and Venus, goddess of love and beauty. The blood red tint of one planet encouraged astronomers to use the name of Mars, god of war. Neptune’s bluish appearance, meanwhile, was aptly named for the god of the oceans and seas. The king of all Roman gods, Jupiter, was, of course, given the solar system’s largest planet. Interestingly, Uranus was originally named Georgium Sidus (Georgian star) by Sir William Herschel in honor of King George III. Uranus, the Greek god of the heavens, did not gain widespread recognition as a name for nearly a century. While Pluto is no longer classified as a planet, ancient Roman astronomers named the dwarf planet after the god of the underworld.  Flags have been used for thousands of years. Originally, they were carried in battles and wars as symbols of strength.
A bronze metal flag from the ancient Persian times dating back to about 2400 BC was found in a place called Shahdad in Iran. Known as the Shahdad Standard, this is the oldest known flag in the world. This flag closely resembles the modern flag, in that it is square shaped, contains an emblem and is mounted on a pole. The oldest cloth flag was found in Egypt and it is believed to be from the third century AD. The Egyptians flew flags in battles many thousands of years ago. Their flags were made of streamers tied to long poles. Later, the Greeks and Romans followed suit. Use of flags was traced back to ancient China and India. Flags were said to have been carried on chariots and elephants in India as early as 4000-5000 BC. The flag usage spread from India and China to other parts of southeastern Asia. During Medieval times, European knights used flags as heraldic devices to identify themselves in battles. European nations began adopting flags to represent their countries in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. During late Middle Ages flags have come to represent countries, cities, kings and organizations. The use of national flags became commonplace during the 18th century throughout the world. At present time every country is represented by a national flag. The first official United States flag was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14th 1777. It consisted of thirteen stripes and thirteen stars, each representing the original thirteen colonies. After undergoing many modifications, the present day version of the flag was adopted on August 21, 1959. The thirteen stripes and 50 stars now on the U.S. flag represent the original thirteen colonies and the current 50 states. About the Author: Amita Vadlamudi is an avid reader and enthusiast of History ranging from ancient times to present. Whether it is the United States history or the world history, Amita Vadlamudi takes an equally curious interest.  Though National Public Radio (NPR) was officially incorporated on February 26, 1970, its seeds had been planted in the early days of broadcasting, when the Federal Communications Commission allocated the lower end of the FM band to public purposes. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act that led to the establishment of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, designed to encourage the growth of non-commercial radio. The network’s first major broadcast covered the U.S. Senate hearings on the Vietnam War, and the offerings continued to expand as the years passed with programs exploring art, culture and the environment. News, however, remains its hallmark.
In the aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center, NPR became increasingly meaningful. The network gained listeners as it provided timely and informative coverage of 9/11, the presidential election in 2004, and the Iraq war. NPR continues to evolve, embracing technological changes and introducing new digital platforms for its programming. About Amita Vadlamudi: An avid listener of NPR, Vadlamudi is deeply concerned with improving the world in many ways. Amita Vadlamudi volunteers as a shelf-leader at her local library, and supports numerous socially responsible and impactful organizations.  With over 30 years of experience in IT, Amita Vadlamudi served at a prominent financial services firm as a computer systems engineer. Outside of her professional interests, Amita Vadlamudi enjoys reading books on world history in her spare time. Among her interests are the achievements of ancient cultures, like the Egyptian Pyramids, Roman architecture, and the Aztec civilization. With origins that extend all the way back to the 6th century in what is today Mexico, the Aztec civilization was comprised of many different tribes that spoke the Nahuatl language and controlled extensive regions of Mesoamerica until the 16th century. Aztec society was separated by a class system of nobility and commoners, although they implemented a policy of mandatory education for all peoples, regardless of social standing. The most famous noble figure during the height of the Aztec Empire was Montezuma II, a king who ruled from 1502-1520. Although rich in cultural prominence due to the construction of pyramids and their prevalent use of gold in jewelry, the Aztec Empire fell to Spanish colonial forces led by Hernan Cortes within a few years of Montezuma II’s reign.  After earning her bachelor of science in computer science, Amita Vadlamudi worked as a computer analyst for 35 years. Over the course of her career, she took many courses to improve her IT skills and keep up with the evolving technology. To enhance her ability to communicate, Amita Vadlamudi also took local courses in public speaking and presentation skills.
Public speaking has been recognized as one of the average American's greatest fears. When speaking in public, audience attention is completely focused on the speaker, and there is literally nowhere to hide. Following these five tips can help alleviate fears and make your speech more memorable. Relax. It is natural to be nervous before making a speech, but there are ways to hone nervous energy into a positive force. Pause before beginning the speech to allow the nerves to settle and the audience to simply take you in. This will help convey a message of confidence and propel the speech forward. Keep it short and sweet. The speech should be no longer than necessary to convey the message. Sentences should also be kept short to have the most impact. Not only does brevity help in formulating and delivering the speech, but it also helps those with short attention spans stay focused and succinctly deliver the point. Talk to your audience, not at them. The best speakers master the art of simply having a conversation with their audience. Recognize that your aim is to deliver a message, not to just hurriedly make it through a canned speech. Good speakers communicate with the audience, speaking clearly and continuously making eye contact. Speak what you know. When formulating a speech, it helps to speak about what you can connect with or feel passionate about. The passion for your subject will translate to the audience and help them understand your message. If you are not invested in your speech, your audience won’t be either. Practice makes perfect. The best way to overcome fear is through preparation. Practicing beforehand, especially in front of an audience (even if only your pet dog), will help you become comfortable with the material and hone your speaking skills before the big event. |
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