The summer in India has been brutal in the past few years. Over a billion people endured long periods of persistent power cuts and heat waves. Such episodes wreak a heavy toll on our well-being and trigger shocks for food and water security. In fact, the last seven years have been amongst the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/greenhouse-gas-sea-level-rise-and-ocean-heat-set-new-records-for-climate-change-in-2021/articleshow/91640600.cms">hottest</a> across the globe. <div type="image" title="Last seven years have been amongst the hottest across the globe" msid="91970317" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Last seven years have been amongst the hottest across the globe&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The long-term trend below shows that the top 700 meters of the oceans have become warmer since 1955. The total amount of heat stored by the oceans is called ocean heat content, which plays an important role in the Earth’s climate system. Particularly, warmer sea surface temperature provides energy for storms and thereby triggers extreme weather events. <div type="image" title="Ocean heat content plays an important role in the Earth’s climate system" msid="91970348" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Ocean heat content plays an important role in the Earth&amp;#8217;s climate system&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Four key climate change indicators Greenhouse gas concentrations, rise in sea levels, ocean heat and ocean acidification — the four key climate change indicators — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/greenhouse-gas-sea-level-rise-and-ocean-heat-set-new-records-for-climate-change-in-2021/articleshow/91640600.cms">set new records</a> in 2021 with extreme weather, according to the UN's World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) State of the Global Climate in 2021 report. It added that climate change is leading to hundreds of billions of dollars in economic losses. Human activities are not only warming the planet but also leading to unprecedented losses in biodiversity. The situation is bound to get worse and the competition for resources such as land, food, and water will fuel socio-economic tensions and increasingly lead to <a href="http://www.internal-displacement.org/publications/disaster-displacement-a-global-review">mass displacement</a>. Rise in sea levels, forest fires, melting of glaciers, extreme weather events, ocean heat and acidification will also continue for years to come and the only way we can minimise the impact is if we start now, before it is too late. With World Environment Day 2022 (June 5) around the corner, we decided to get back to the basics and help you transition to living a sustainable life. You can take these baby steps to live a better, sustainable life. How to reduce your carbon footprint You probably would have heard a lot about carbon footprint. Simply put, it is like leaving your actual, unerasable footprint on earth with every resource that you consume. When you drive your car or eat something that’s grown afar, you emit substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. From buying toothpaste to using your phone, every object reaches your doorstep after a long commute, which contributes to carbon emission. As modern humans, almost every activity of ours contributes to climate change in one way or the other. Being sustainable is all about limiting the resources we use and finding a way to make them last longer by causing minimal damage to the environment. Here are some ways in which you can reduce your carbon footprint: Food While buying veggies or fruits, remember to bring reusable shopping bags and avoid plastic. There’s a simple thumb rule to follow. Buy what you actually need to avoid wastage. Whatever is left over, try to repurpose it into something usable. For example, if you have bread and butter for breakfast and you like to cut the corners of your bread, instead of throwing away those corners, you can turn them into breadcrumbs which can be used in pasta gravy or for feeding birds. Use your creative skills to turn your food waste into reusable ingredients. Final kitchen scraps can be converted into compost for your plants. <div type="image" title="Final kitchen scraps can be converted into compost for your plants" msid="91970387" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Final kitchen scraps can be converted into compost for your plants&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> If you host a party, there’s always leftover food. This surplus can be shared with the underprivileged through <a href="https://www.thebetterindia.com/46855/where-to-donate-excess-food-to-after-party/#:~:text=Feeding%20India%20is%20a%20not,an%20app%20on%20Google%20Playstore.">NGOs</a> such as Feeding India, Robin Hood Army, Roti Bank, Mera Parivar or Shelter Don Bosco, among others. It is also important to buy your food locally. The shorter the supply chain, the easier it is on the environment before the food products finally reach your kitchen. Also, if your food reaches you from faraway places, its nutritional value decreases. Local food spends less time in transit from farm to plate. So, fruits and veggies eaten within a few days of being picked would be full of nutrients than those that are weeks old from traveling thousands of miles and being in storage. Look for loose, fresh fruits and vegetables to minimise packaging. If you are buying packaged food, you can look for products with PET packaging, which is one of the most recyclable plastics. Clothing A worn-out piece of cloth you decide to throw, even as simple as a plain t-shirt, never really goes ‘away.’ – it all ends up in a landfill. According to an <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/india-needs-new-delhi-size-landfills-for-waste-by-2050-report-117062500411_1.html">Assocham and PwC report</a>, landfills are brimming with so much urban waste that by 2050, India is reportedly going to need a landfill that's the size of its capital, New Delhi. Buy responsibly-made clothes which are made from recycled material or with an ‘eco’ label. To support sustainable businesses, you can look for stores which include options like handloom and handcrafted, organic, natural-dyed, recyclable and eco-friendly, vegan, and cruelty-free. It’s not necessary to have all of these options available all the time, but every bit helps. Recycle and reuse your clothes to prolong its life. You can also sell and buy your clothes from thrift stores. Personal care Commonly available sanitary napkins constitute 90% plastic and India generates <a href="https://www.cseindia.org/plastic-waste-is-india-s-and-the-world-s-most-formidable-environmental-challenge-10375">3.3 million tonnes of plastic waste</a> every year, according to a Central Pollution Control Board report. So, for people who menstruate, there is a world of waste-free sanitary protection to explore. You can switch to menstrual cups or invest in a reusable tampon applicator. <div type="image" title="Switch to menstrual cups or invest in a reusable tampon applicator" msid="91970408" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Switch to menstrual cups or invest in a reusable tampon applicator&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> In the bathroom, you can ditch your plastic razor and opt for fully metal alternatives. You can also purchase sustainable toothbrushes made out of neem or bamboo. Today, even toothpaste comes in a jar, or you can switch to toothpaste tubes which are recyclable. Create cleaner air at home You can never have enough plants in your home. Buy plants that give <a href="https://www.floweraura.com/blog/plants-that-give-oxygen-at-night">oxygen at night</a> such as snake plant, Areca palm plant, Aloe Vera plant, Tulsi, Money plant, Gerbera plant, Christmas Cactus, Neem plant, etc. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/29/50-ways-to-green-up-your-life-save-the-planet">Weeping figs</a> are known to be good for living areas because they remove formaldehyde released from carpets and furniture. <div type="image" title="Invest in plants that give oxygen at night" msid="91970439" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Invest in plants that give oxygen at night&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Transport If you cannot use public transport, regular vehicle maintenance of private vehicles is a must since it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/29/50-ways-to-green-up-your-life-save-the-planet">improves</a> fuel efficiency by as much as 10%. When driving a car, roll your windows down whenever possible because it is more efficient than using an air conditioner. Choose sustainable travel alternatives like electric or hybrid vehicles, avoiding air travel, and opt for vehicle sharing or pooling wherever feasible. Energy and waste Go desi and use a bucket and a mug instead of taking a shower so you can limit the amount of water you use. Don’t store unnecessary data in the cloud, it leaves a <a href="https://www.eib.org/en/stories/digital-footprint">digital</a> footprint. The digital sector is already responsible for <a href="https://www.eib.org/en/stories/digital-footprint">3.3% of global greenhouse gas emissions</a>, more than civil aviation. <a href="https://www.un.org/en/un75/climate-crisis-race-we-can-win">Billions of tons</a> of CO2 is released into the atmosphere every year as a result of coal, oil, and gas production. If we don’t slow global emissions, temperatures could rise to<a href="https://www.un.org/en/un75/climate-crisis-race-we-can-win">above three degrees Celsius by 2100</a>, causing further irreversible damage to our ecosystems. So, to make a difference before it is too late, it is important to take these baby steps towards sustainable living today. Here's a short video <div type="image" title="How to take baby steps towards living a more sustainable life" msid="91970594" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;How to take baby steps towards living a more sustainable life&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Business Insider India is now on Telegram too! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and get the latest updates. <div type="image" title="Subscribe to BI India&amp;#39;s Telegram channel" msid="91970624" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Subscribe to BI India&amp;#39;s Telegram channel&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

SIMPLY PUT: Sustainable lifestyle changes are the need of the hour! Here’s how you can take baby steps

Xiaomi 13 Pro Review: Cameras stand true to the promise

By Philem Dipak Singh New Delhi, May 17 () Locked in their homes or hostel rooms might be the story of most Indian athletes amid the COVID-19 pandemic but Tokyo Paralympics-bound shuttler Palak Kohli has managed to continue full training by putting up a makeshift court ar her residential society in Lucknow. The 17-year-old from Jalandhar was initially training at national coach Gaurav Khanna's academy in the Uttar Pradesh capital along with nine other players but eight left for their homes just in time before the national lockdown to contain the virus came into effect in mid-March. She then rented a flat at the outskirts of Lucknow and Khanna helped her in putting up a makeshift court at a nearby park complete with lighting facility to facilitate training at night. "I am training two shifts everyday. Because of daytime heat, I start at 6am with physical training and then play at the court till 8:30am and in the evening it's also 6-8:30pm training," Palak told . "Khanna sir stays nearby and he is there every session. So, I am not missing any training due to lockdown. "With most of athletes confined to their homes or rooms, I think I am lucky to be able to train. When lockdown is lifted I won't be starting from scratch and I feel I will have the advantage going into Paralympics," said the youngster, who has a deformed left hand by birth. Palak is certain to make the cut for Tokyo Paralympics in women's doubles as she is currently ranked fifth in the world. The top six in the list to be published by International Paralympic Committee will get automatic qualification. "Out of 13 qualification tournaments, 12 were completed and the last one was cancelled due to COVID-19. "Out of the 13, a shuttler has to compete in at least six. I am now 5th and top six get automatic qualification. So, I am a certainty for Tokyo Paralympics," said the teen. Palak's coach Khanna said, "Given that Palak is ranked 5th in women's doubles in the qualification events held in 2019-2020, she has attained required eligibility to qualify for Paralympics in SL3-SU5 women's doubles." SL3 category is meant for those who compete with a "standing/lower limb impairment/minor" while SU5 features para-athletes with "standing/upper limb impairment". Palak is currently ranked 10th in women's singles in SU5 category. The 12th standard student at DAV School in Jalandhar made her national debut last year and she has already won four BWF international tournament medals during the Tokyo Paralympics qualification competitions. She won the women's doubles title with Parul Parmar at the Uganda Para International Tournament last year. "I am not complaining as I am getting full training here. Had I gone back to Jalandhar, I would have been confined at home because of the lockdown. Here I am able to do full training," she said. "We are also following social distancing norms, we have kept sanitisers with us during training and we keep distance while doing warm ups. We talk from a distance. Moreover, it's a gated society, nobody comes in and goes out without permission." Palak is being supported by the Welspun Super Sport Women's Programme and has also recently signed up with sports marketing company Meraki Sport and Entertainment. She is also supported by the Olympic Gold Quest Programme. "The rent for the room and other day-to-day expenditure is being taken care of by my sponsors, so I am not having any financial issues. "My only aim is to win a Paralympic medal and I am confident of doing that and making the country proud." she signed off. PDS PMPM

Paralympics-bound Palak Kohli continues full training despite lockdown in Lucknow

<div type="image" msid="51526711" hostid="261"></div>

In India,<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-9-most-unconventional-courses-in-Indian-colleges-you-can-pursue/articleshow/51442075.cms"> several professions</a> being passed on within families from one generation to the next have become redundant in 21st Century modern India, thanks to the economic restructuring. The last two decades have completely transformed India's cities. Traditional industries have been rendered redundant and new technologies have outdone the need of laborious tasks. 
 
We bring you pictures from the new book, The Lost Generation, by author <keyword id="3295934" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nidhi-Dugar-Kundalia">Nidhi Dugar Kundalia</keyword> and those by photographer <keyword id="1759466" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="clare-arni">Clare Arni</keyword> – both of whom have been chronicling "dying professions" of India. 
 
First up - Those by Nidhi: 
 
<keyword id="58099" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Scribes">Scribes</keyword> of Old Delhi 

	<div type="image" msid="51526391" hostid="261"></div>

 Back in the Mughal era, <keyword id="52564" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="calligraphy">calligraphy</keyword> was considered a virtuous and pious act. Members of the royal family often learnt calligraphy from the finest experts and offered them high positions in their courts. Wasim Ahmed, a scribe and teacher of Urdu, Persian and Arabic calligraphy, has been practising the art for over 30 years now. He once inscribed books and made hand-drawn posters and they then went to the printers to be replicated and were sold to people who believed the sacred verses would bring them good luck. But Mr Ahmed and others like him have long lost the patronage and the benefits that came with calligraphy after the introduction of Urdu font on computers. 
 
Professional mourners of Rajasthan 

	<div type="image" msid="51526419" hostid="261"></div>

 
In the Thar desert in the western states of Rajasthan, where women from privileged and upper-caste backgrounds are expected to preserve their dignity by not exhibiting their emotions in front of commoners, the lower-caste rudaalis are called in to mourn for them. They cry out aloud, toss their heads, and wail to the heavens, beating their chests and slapping the ground in front of them. This goes on for 12 days after a death. Over the years, families now prefer sophisticated, quieter funerals with rising literacy rates and migrations. Rudaalis are therefore increasingly losing their relevance. 
 
<keyword id="3295936" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="street-dentist">Street dentist</keyword> of Baroda 

	<div type="image" msid="51526430" hostid="261"></div>

 
Amrit Singh's humble office is a street shop outside MS Baroda University. There's no mortar-and-brick structure, no ritzy chairs, no surgical light head. What you find is a few dentures, bottles and a tin box that holds extra dental tools. He makes his patients sit on a bamboo stool boot out any pain from their mouth with his corroded set of pliers. The street dentists in modern India learned their skills mostly from the Hubei community of China, who came looking for work in India in the early 1900s. Post-independence, regulations in dentistry practices were introduced, rendering street dentistry illegal but they continued to thrive in the dark underbelly of the country, tending to those for whom licensed dental services are still unaffordable. 
 

	Genealogist of Haridwar 
	
	<div type="image" msid="51526450" hostid="261"></div>

 
	After a death, male members in Indian families travel down to Haridwar to cremate their kins by pouring their ashes in the Ganga. The ceremony conducted by the family "panda" - priests who double up as genealogists. They are also in charge of the family register, of updating the family's genealogical tree with details of marriages, births and deaths. The reason for their existence has to do with the Hindu belief that the family is everlasting and comprehensive and that each Hindu must "look out" for his ancestors and perform ceremonies for their journey heavenwards and immortalise them by recording their names in the genealogical registers known as "vahis". Over the years, digitisation of their records and increasing scientific worldview are eating into the pandas' work but those like Mahendra Kumar continue to work. 
	 
Ittarwallah of Hyderabad 

	<div type="image" msid="51526458" hostid="261"></div>

 
Before they bought a box-sized shop, Syed Abdul Gaffar's ancestors sold ittars from a wooden box that hung around their necks, walking the streets. They moved about the lanes of the old city that were lined with the homes of nobles and relatives of the Nawabs. The ittarwallahs would be invited in and the women would buy their scented wares - a vial of "raat ki rani", a flowery scent reminiscent of breathing the warm night air, or jasmine that would lure their husbands to their beds. Mr Gaffar now sells the ittar (perfumes) he makes to the few discerning customers who still have a nose for it. There is an increasing demand for branded synthetic perfumes which are more cost effective. But he refuses to make them, says it’s immoral. 
 
Next up are those by British-born Clare Arni: 
 
Tinning Process, Delhi 

	<div type="image" msid="51526491" hostid="261"></div>

 
Copper is one of the best metals for conducting heat and was often used in cooking vessels, so that the heat spread evenly across the surface of the pot. The metal can, however, react with acidic foods to produce toxins, so in workshops like these the pots are lined with tin on the inside. This profession is now vanishing due to the availability of cheaper stainless steel vessels. 
 
Woon Son Shoes, Kolkata 

	<div type="image" msid="51526526" hostid="261"></div>

 
Christopher Francis Lin’s card said that he was an ‘Expert footwear designer and shoemaker’. At one time, each of the shoe moulds – or lasts, as they're called in the trade – were custom made to the shape and size of the customer's feet. But now, they sizes are standarised. “Then it was good money.” 
 
The Potter, Duza Siguiera, Goa 

	<div type="image" msid="51526506" hostid="261"></div>

 
Several members of Duza Siguiera family work together in a small red laterite workshop producing hand-pinched pots. The market has become less as everyone is using plastic and stainless steel despite the fact that it’s good to use terracotta for health. 
 
(Image source: Clare Arni)

The 8 dying professions of India

In the last few days, TV channels and newspaper headlines have been screaming out not-so-pleasant headlines of IS men arrests, murders, suspicious activities, intelligence warnings of threat and tightened security across several cities. All of this is not without a reason. In fact, it would be correct to say that India is reeling under greater terror threat than any time in the past as R-Day approaches. Flurry of intelligence reports have been warning us of possible <keyword id="6406102" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Terror-attacks">terror attacks</keyword> in the country for the past few days. Two men on the radar are Mr Modi and Mr Francois Hollande, the Chief Guest of our R-Day celebrations. Of course, India’s warming up to the French President in the aftermath of Paris attacks has not gone down very well with IS terrorists, who are now on the prowl waiting for the perfect moment to strike. 
 So, we are doubly under threats this time around– from Pak-based terrorists and <keyword id="174501" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ISIS">ISIS</keyword>. In the wake of nationwide alert to stay aware and safe, here’s why stepping out of your homes this <keyword id="6416557" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Republic-day">Republic Day</keyword> would not be a good idea at all: 
 
SEVERAL ISIS SYMPATHISERS ARRESTED 
 
Nearly twenty people with suspected Islamic State links were nabbed from across the country in just a single day on Friday. This was the biggest crackdown on ISIS sympathizers in India. Six men, including a chemical engineering dropout, detained by the National Investigation Agency in Karnataka is suspected to have links with the Islamic State. According to reports, the raids were carried out after Indian intelligence agencies received tip-off from the CIA. Cops recently arrested four more men in Uttarakhand last Wednesday on suspicion of planning an attack in Delhi. Security officials said the four had been under surveillance for several months after their online activities drew suspicion, including contacts with people in territory in Iraq and Syria controlled by the Islamic State group. Police said the men had also been planning strikes in Haridwar, where thousands of devotees are now gathered for the Ardh Kumbh festival. 
 
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES 
 In Panaji, Goa Police have stepped up security in the state and were investigating a postcard received by the State Secretariat and warning to harm Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. In Mumbai, the police are yet to trace six mysterious paragliders who were seen near the city’s coast on January 13. Authorities said they have taken the incident seriously because of a 2010 intelligence report that the terrorist group <keyword id="53557" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lashkar-e-Taiba">Lashkar-e-Taiba</keyword> had procured 50 paragliders from Europe and was conducting a training in Pakistan to launch an aerial attack. Authorities in Madhya Pradesh are on alert after a suspected terrorist named Syed Ahmed escaped from police custody by jumping off a running train on Wednesday night at Hoshangabad, about 70 km south east of Bhopal. 
 
ENEMY’S FRIEND IS ALSO AN ENEMY 
 French President Francois Hollande is the Chief Guest of the republic day celebrations at a time when France is engaged in an air-strike against ISIS following the <keyword id="2677655" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-terror-attacks">Paris terror attacks</keyword>. Extra paramilitary forces were deployed in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, where the French consulate received a letter warning against its president’s presence at India’s Republic Day celebrations. Police are investigating the source of the letter which said Francoise Hollande should cancel his trip to India beginning Sunday. Bangalore’s additional commissioner of police, Chengal Reddy, told reporters that the letter--written in poor English and mentioning al Qaeda--has still not been ruled out as a hoax. 
 
CARJACKING FOR TERROR PURPOSES 
 
Delhi Police on Friday issued an alert after the driver of a taxi hired by three unidentified persons from Pathankot was found dead in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, in the aftermath of the airbase attack. The taxi driver, identified as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Gaggal village in Kangra district, was found dead on Wednesday at the Kalta bridge in Kangra and his taxi missing, police said. In a similar incident, on Tuesday night an SUV belonging to a top ITBP official had gone missing from his residence in Noida. These activities are suspected to have been done by terror outfits like ISIS who are notorious for car-bomb attacks in Iraq and Syria could use them as potential weapons to target to carry out blasts in crowded places. 
 
POSSIBILITY OF LONE WOLF ATTACK 
 
Mohammad Sirazudin, an executive of the Indian Oil Corporation, who was arrested in Jaipur in December 2015 for allegedly spreading ISIS activities online and trying to recruit Indian youths in the Middle-East terrorist group, was allegedly on the verge of turning into a ‘lone wolf’. With increased activities of ISIS supporters online, the government has taken the threat of this dreaded terror group seriously and asked states to remain alert against the possibility of ‘lone wolf attack’ in the country. The threat of ISIS was discussed threadbare at a meeting of top officials of central intelligence and investigative agencies and police of 13 states on Saturday which was chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

This
Republic Day is the most dangerous it has been in a long while!

The worst floods in recent memory in Jammu &amp; Kashmir washed away hopes and dreams, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Phones came handy in making distress calls before they too conked out, forcing many harried people stuck in swirling waters and their relatives at safer places to take to social media to post desperate messages for help. 
 Bollywood actor Aamir Bashir, best remembered for his role in A Wednesday, tweeted his cousin's family was stuck on their rooftop in Raj Bagh in Srinagar on Sunday before they were rescued. There were dozens of such desperate tweets and posts on social media. In one of them, London-based novelist-journalist <keyword id="1331944" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mirza-Waheed">Mirza Waheed</keyword> posted his aunt and family were trapped in their house in Qamarwari before he lost contact with them. 
 
Kashmiris were united in grief across religious lines. Chandigarh-based Kashmiri student Japjyot Singh posted a heart-warming story of his family’s rescue from Raj Bagh. He wrote on Facebook his family was stuck on the second floor of their house and “were in a big danger". 
 
He added but no rescue team, no army came. His father’s shikara wala friend, Gul, came from the Dal Lake, around six-km away, to save his family. "…was thanking him he told beta so what if your dad is a Sikh he's my brother and I can die to save his life," posted Singh. 
 Many netizens posted locations of their relatives stuck in flood waters on <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword> Maps to seek their rescue on Facebook and Twitter. 
 
Opposition People’s Democratic Party lawmaker Naeem Akhtar posted a desperate message seeking rescue of his friends and relatives including his uncle and noted poet, Farooq Nazki, and his wife, who were are marooned and out of touch. 
 
“Disaster has just unfolded itself. Going by the response to it, it could turn out to be a catastrophe. Have received frantic calls from friends, relatives and unknown people for help. One single demand is boats, the only life saving device needed now," he wrote on Sunday. 
 “Have spoken to everyone I know in administration but without success. Nobody picks up phones any more. Peer Ghulam Hassan Shah, the octogenarian legendary DGP and architect of <keyword id="108598" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="JK-police">J&amp;K Police</keyword>, is squeezed into his second storey with no help in sight." 
 
He added Dr Shafqat, his hands on physician, had spoken to him from the third floor of his house in Raj Bagh. “Shahid, my young friend who ran a volunteer service till last evening in Raj Bagh, is also drowning as he informed me in panic. Lots of relatives in the area." 
 Tech savvy chief minister <keyword id="19464" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Omar-Abdullah">Omar Abdullah</keyword>, who oversaw disaster management, updated people about rescue operations on Twitter. “Around 25 boats flown into Awantipura air base for South Kashmir rescue ops and are being sent to the affected areas," he tweeted on Sunday night. 
 
 
 
Earlier, he announced boats have begun rescuing people and operations would continue as long as needed. “The boats flown in from Delhi have been launched in Srinagar's worst affected areas of Indiranagar, Shivpura, Rajbagh." He acknowledged tweets for help he was receiving and assured: “We are trying our best.’’ 
 
He called floods “an unprecedented situation" and urged people not to panic while assuring: “We will reach you, I promise." 
 
Right-wing trolls as usual had a field day spewing venom, forcing a prominent Delhi-based journalist to tweet: “So now we have patriotic floods and anti-national floods, and patriotic disasters and anti-national disasters." 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Family of 7 stuck on terrace- 79 Gogji Bagh Near Amar Singh College Srinagar. Please help 09858968435/ 09419037453 <a href="https://twitter.com/NaqKash">@NaqKash</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KashmirFloods?src=hash">#KashmirFloods</a>
	— Saurabh Ved (@saurabhved) <a href="https://twitter.com/saurabhved/status/508891461132103681">September 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		<a href="https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar">@abdullah_omar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kashmirfloods?src=hash">#kashmirfloods</a> my parents are stuck in building near crpf camp indira nagar. Unable 2 contact. Please help !
	— ankur raina (@ankurraina4) <a href="https://twitter.com/ankurraina4/status/508887635796844544">September 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

Social Media Keeps Hope Afloat In Flood-Hit J&K

Sundance 2022 returns to Park City with an expanded lineup that includes Netflix's Kanye West documentary

​It is that time of the year again. The riotous merry-making will kick off soon with the beating of the dhak. After all, what is <keyword id="6357908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Durga-puja">Durga Puja</keyword> without the dhakis and the dhunuchi dance, the lip-smacking prasad and the sindoor khela (vermillion splashing)? Then comes the grand finale of <keyword id="48284" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="navratri">Navratri</keyword> – the <keyword id="6494550" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dussehra">Dussehra</keyword> festival – and the colourful, life-size effigies of demon king <keyword id="42776" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ravana">Ravana</keyword> go up in flame, lighting up the night sky. <keyword id="188" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Diwali">Diwali</keyword>, the <keyword id="3378" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Festival-of-lights">festival of lights</keyword>, follows close. With magnificent lightings decorating every corner, million candles burning and breathtaking fireworks on display – could there be anything more spectacular? 
 It is an extravagant celebration year after year that never fails to impress. You must have done the rounds already – shopping till you drop, chomping through gourmet food, visiting crowd-spewing vacation spots, meeting <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> and relatives, and revelling at teen patti parties on your Diwali night out. 
 
Been there, done that but still want to do something different? Here is a list of six must-do’s that can make these festival days totally different. Try them out and tell us how you feel. 
 
Take a thrill pill: Break away and open up. Do something you have never tried before. How about a lesson in paragliding, bungee jumping or salsa? Or try and find some unexplored trekking routes and feel like a second Livingstone, trudging up and down. A life without adventure is bound to get stale. So create your own thrill story and live it – but do it safely. Get professional trainers who will help you out. 
 
Pamper yourself: Do you always come last on your priority list? Just reverse that and label yourself ‘top priority’ this time. Nothing relaxes us more than ‘living’ life in our own way. So sleep late without worrying about office. Get a makeover done at a spa/salon. Chill out with your favourite drink. Play with the cat. Or order yourself a sumptuous dinner. Try all these and more that will make you feel pampered. 
 
Help out: A lot of people out there could really do with a little help. So take the first step and do some volunteer work. Teach the street kids; raise funds for NGO projects or donate a little for a cause close to your heart. Our heart went out to the home-maker who had gone door-to-door and collected old woollens to help street kids fight the Delhi cold. 
 
Go for a drive: Drive slowly – let the journey sink into you. A soak in the rain, sun &amp; dust, a drink of adrak wali chai (ginger tea), a picnic lunch on the grass, an evening stroll under the stars – the to-do list simply gets longer until you are exhausted. But that’s the way to live a life without traps. 
 
Have fun with food: If you are fond of fine-dining, plan things a bit ahead. So that you have enough cash and a cosy corner table to spend some gourmet time at your favourite joint. Otherwise, go cross-country to discover the many traditional foods India has to offer. Better still, dig up the old family recipe book and cook some of the dishes you loved as a kid. They will bring back priceless memories. 
 
Hugs are in, try them: Chuck your smartphone. Go and meet whom you wanted to meet for a long time, but never had the time. No video chat or phone call can replace that warm handshake and the tight hug, some tears and laughter together. That’s the stuff human connects are made of.

Tired Of Festival
Routines? Six Things You Can Do To Pep Up Your Life

The recent <keyword id="406897" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmer-protests">farmer protests</keyword> in <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword>, in which around 40,000 farmers and tribals staged a peaceful 180 km march from Nashik to <keyword id="6358070" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mumbai">Mumbai</keyword>, has been lauded for its execution by politicians and media outlets alike, with The Hindu even calling it a <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-model-protest/article23229917.ece">“model protest”</a> and the chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, saying that he was “deeply humbled” before agreeing to their demands. What really made the farmers protests stand out and ultimately successful, was its amazing public relations machine. The farmers earned the sympathy of not only the citizens of Mumbai but the rest of India, as they marched at night to avoid disruptions to urban commuters and students sitting for their board exams. There were no overt theatrics or violence, unlike the farmer protests around Maharashtra between June last year which resulted in the announcement of the 34,000 crore <keyword id="56684" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="loan-waiver">loan waiver</keyword> scheme. The organisation sponsoring the march, All-India Kisan Sabha, an ally of the Communist Party of India, left no stone unturned when it came to social media. From the very first day of the march, they posted announcements and regular updates regarding the march’s progress on Twitter, using the hashtag #KisanLongMarch. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 They even posted interviews with some of the farmers and quoted statistics about farmer suicides. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The march benefited from widespread media coverage. On March 12th, the Indian Express ran a <a href="http://epaper.indianexpress.com/1575825/Delhi/March-12,-2018#page/1/2">front page report</a> on the march and included interviews with 10 participating farmers on the problems they were facing. Scroll conducted <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in/videos/1718003171615889/?hc_ref=ARS9e9XHfRx2R7ilvXgedCUq-Zqf43UQC40hbD4YM2G547c0iDuf5AHHY0kBTg8_68E&amp;pnref=story.unseen-section">Facebook Live conversations</a> with farmers and Mid-Day ran a front-page headline that read, “Mumbaikars Welcome Farmers With Open Arms”. In a <a href="https://thewire.in/rights/i-walked-40km-with-the-farmers-in-maharashtra-heres-what-i-learnt">piece for the Wire,</a> Ayush Dubey, a young journalist, wrote of his experience as a participant in the march, stating “this is a real protest by a sad farmer community. They are working hard for their demands”. All news outlets explicitly mentioned that the farmers were looking for more than just debt forgiveness. It was clear that they were also calling for the implementation of property rights and minimum support prices for their produce as well as the cancellation of river-sharing agreements. Attention was also drawn to the severity of their conditions, epitomised by their bleeding, blistered feet- a sign of dignified, non-violent desperation. The public didn’t need any more convincing. Images of the march at night went viral on social media on March 11th. This achieved the holy grail from a public relations standpoint- it made a protest against the government look beautiful. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 There were also posts that highlighted the ingenuity of the farmers, making them stand out as individuals as opposed to faceless members of a crowd. The case of Lakshman Bhasre proved to be an important human interest story. Bhasre, a farmer from Nashik, had a solar panel on his head for charging phones. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The march also received the support of prominent members of the Opposition such as Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress and Aditya Thackeray, the leader of the youth wing of the Shiv Sena. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The success of the march, especially in terms of public relations, points to why the protests by Tamil Nadu farmers in Delhi last year didn’t amount to much. Starting in March last year, around 150 farmers from Tamil Nadu staged a protest for 144 days outside the Jantar Mantar to ask for a loan waiver, which would be financed by the Centre’s drought relief fund. Their protests also received media coverage and sympathy from statesmen like Rahul Gandhi and the chief minister of Tamil Nadu but failed to elicit the same level of public support as the long march in Maharashtra. There are likely many reasons for this. First, the numbers might have been too low to justify a full-blown media frenzy. 150 farmers feels too small compared to a procession of 40,000 farmers. Secondly, given the fast pace of the 24-hours news cycle, the 144-day protest likely lost relevance to news readers and viewers well before its conclusion. The protest also lacked a groundswell of support from beginning as the farmers from Tamil Nadu weren’t on their home turf. Being stationed in the capital, which was necessary given that it was a federal rather than a state issue, might have actually worked against their favour. Lastly, unlike their counterparts in Maharashtra, their protest tactics, which included the brandishing of skulls, the consumption of faeces and stripping, might have proved too “unpalatable” to the public. With their well-oiled public relations machine and sponsorship by a national farmers union, the Maharashtra farmers were able to wrest public support and effectively demonstrate the importance of their cause.

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