Why India wants African Cheetahs?

India is home to Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Jaguars. All the big cats except one 'Cheetah'. It's not so that the land never had them, but it became extinct due to ruthless hunting sport. Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Princely state Koriya in 1947 shot down the last Cheetah. There wasn't much awareness about biodiversity and its significance in those times. So can the Maharaja be forgiven? Is Being ignorant not a crime?

Nevertheless, India remains bereft of Cheetahs to date. We have lost millions of years of evolutionary progress accumulated in the genotype of the Cheetah. However, the Indian Government has expressed its will time and again with the advent of awareness surrounding biodiversity to reintroduce Cheetahs in the Indian ecosystem.

The Government approached Iran for its Cheetahs, which is the last country to home Asiatic Cheetahs. The deliberations did not result in an outcome due to political instability in Iran and reportedly the unwillingness of India to give lions in return. The Government was especially keen on Asiatic Cheetahs because of their relatedness to the extinct Indian Cheetah.

Failed deliberations with Iran did not deter the adamant Government of India. India now has considerations going on with Africa to bring African cheetahs instead. The process has been successful so far. The Supreme Court has given the nod, the habitat here assigned, and soon the Cheetahs would land here.

Why is the Government of India so keen to bring Cheetahs in the first place? The whole idea of getting Cheetahs is symbolic. If Cheetah flourishes in this land, then India would become the only country in the world with all the big cat species. But should we interfere with nature to gain symbolic prowess? We need to pause and introspect. Is it the right thing to do? Are not we playing with mother nature yet again? India's forests have been bereft of Cheetahs for good sixty years now. And the ecosystem is adapted to it. Introducing an African Cheetah would now be similar to introducing an alien species with no natural predator here. This step could harm both the ecosystem of India's forests and African Cheetahs. Maybe rather than spending millions on bringing an alien species from another continent, we should focus on conserving what we have left with us.

 It reminds me of a quote, " We were so busy thinking what we can do, we didn't think of what we should do." 

How Delhi can be made earthquake prepared

Earthquake is the most unpredictable natural disaster, which makes it the most dangerous. Nevertheless, it does not mean we cannot do anything about it. We can highly reduce the damage caused by earthquakes. Delhi lies in zone IV in earthquake proneness, which is the second most prone zone. It has experienced various shocks in the past, however, of low magnitudes.

The unchecked construction going on rampantly in the city could prove to be lethal. Infested corruption has made it difficult to follow the construction standards laid out by the Government. The disaster management authorities limit themselves to delivering lectures on some chosen day for earthquake awareness which no one listens to. Mock drills are infrequent, with last held in 2018 limited to schools. The Government is carrying out almost no research on Disaster Management. All of this recklessness can be more dangerous than one can imagine. We do not want the 2000 Bhuj earthquake or 2011 earthquake in Japan to repeat history.

Developed countries like Japan and the US state of California have shown us the way. Both of these countries lie on the Ring of Fire which is a hotbed for earthquakes. These countries have invested heavily in research and implementation to reduce the damage caused by earthquakes considerably. Japan receives almost one thousand big earthquakes every year. To make high rise buildings feasible, they implement innovative designs that are earthquake resistant. Also, They organise a mock drill at the country level every year.

Delhi can learn a lot. The Government should fix loopholes present in the enforcement of BIS standards. "Earthquake does not kill, but the building does". The Government should focus on research in the field and indulge in technology transfer with other countries like Japan to make earthquake-resistant architectural designs. Delhi has a significant share of old buildings that the Government should inspect and take appropriate steps in strengthening. Awareness programmes should be held with compulsory mock drills every year. People should also make an effort at the household level to make themselves secure by incorporating furniture they can take shelter under, emergency kits and supplies, which includes helmets, radio, torch and food supplies. 

 People should not forget the scenes from Bhuj. People are negligent towards the issue unless some mishap happens and yet again forget the tragedy with time. They should convey disaster management as one of the most concerning issues while voting in elections. The responsibility of disaster management lies entirely with the government sector, and private firms always try to evade and defy the rules to save on extra costs. Thus, there is an urgent need for the Government to act responsibly. We should not wait for the worst to happen and make Delhi earthquake prepared.

 

The Truth of Media

Media, a collection of mediums, has evolved constantly and continues to do so. Once represented only by newspapers and journals, today it is an eclectic institution comprising of electronic and social media besides the print. It no more limits itself to the newspaper we read while sipping morning tea. It’s omnipresent. It is unique from the other three pillars of democracy in various respects. One of the prominent aspects in which media differs is its private ownership which is both an enabling factor and an impediment.

The media is accused of not showing what people need. Nonetheless, it shows what people want. The fact that it is based on a private model ensures to show the news that is popular among the public. The media is accused of chasing TRPs. But TRP is one such measure that tells them what people want to see. If people want news with salt and spice, they show it. Not their fault. It's like democracy. If people choose a wrong leader. It is people’s fault.

It's a drawback of democracy that people may not know what is right for them. People can be easily swayed by emotions. The public is fickle-minded. Which is very well portrayed in the Shakespearean play, Julius Caesar. An eloquent Antony molded the views of people with the power of his words. And people is power. If one wins over people, he rules over them.

Thus, immense power rests on the shoulders of the media. And power corrupts. The media has not handled the power responsibly. In a utopian world, Media would be unbiased. However, in this world, an impartial media is a farfetched dream if not impossible. Ideally, the media should present the facts and leave for people to decide and choose. But no piece of news today comes without a shade of activism and propaganda. Almost every time I switch on the TV, It dictates me what to think. Journalists have assumed the role of philosophers and Prime Time news is philosophy lecture. It is natural for a media person to associate himself with a political side. One has the right to be rightist, leftist or centrist. However, when channels begin to associate themselves with a political party, they are typecasted. Viewers form a notion of specific channels and thus, view them from a lens of bias.

Due to these agendas, there is a trend of widespread polarization among the people. There is a seething wave of anger under the surface among the masses against one another. An effect of this polarization is that the nation is living on the edge. People can be easily provoked and that can result in an act of turmoil and violence. Today a tweet results in an insurrection, a cartoon results in a conflagration. In almost all cases of violence, the media had a role to play. However, we can't impeach the media. It does not have a face. It's not one person but an institution. And with the advent of social media, even accusing has become a difficult task. Who should we blame? Social media is a mere means of communication. It is just an interface between different people. In a traditional media setup, we can point a finger towards an anchor or a media house in instances of fake news which is not possible in the case of social media, where hateful and toxic hashtags trend every day.

As a pillar of democracy, Media plays a crucial role in making the other three pillars transparent. Also, it plays a big role in putting pressure on the government to bring policies needed for the public. However, media has become a hand puppet of government itself.

Media is not completely independent nor should it be, provided the power it holds. However, the checks and balances in place which impede its independence are not ideal. In fact, they are a matter of concern. Media is not accountable to people, rather it is accountable to the private companies they are owned by. Media is run by a handful of powerful business groups and political parties.

Moreover, there is an increasing lack of professionalism in journalism today. The viewers are often confused whether they are watching the news or wildlife channels when they see news anchors shouting and thumping their chests. The modest, intellectual, and impartial image of news anchors is in evanescence. Moreover, they also trespass the limits and the private spaces of people to bring forth a truth suited to themselves. Furthermore, they make the accusation as evidence itself. In a race among media houses for being the fastest to deliver news, rather than strong research and prior verification of the story, they make the process of researching the news itself. They start defaming people without being sure. In some cases, Media runs a parallel trial of the crimes in their studios. Consequently, they hurt the ones they are defaming. This is against the very basic principles of journalism it is founded upon. This precarious journalism can result in a disastrous blowback i.e. media will lose its credibility. As a result, Government would implement certain tight rules and regulations to check on the freedom of the press and people won’t resent those laws.

There are several challenges and a lot of them are due to the revenue-based model of media. It is an industry that gives a free product or charges a very small fee which is very petite in comparison to the actual cost price of the product people are consuming. Even the blank sheets of paper cost more than three rupees one is paying for a newspaper copy which provides services by skilled professional journalists, reporters, and photographers. Thus, it has to rely majorly on ads or patrons for financing it which hampers the freedom of the press. An alternative is to make media self-sustainable. A subscription-based product where the consumer pays equal to the cost price of the product. However, the real question is are people willing to pay that much? Also, this would limit people’s readership to one newspaper or one channel. Furthermore, a vast multitude of people will lose access to media because they won’t be able to afford it. A solution could be to market individual articles that costs a nominal micro-fee. This way, the consumer would not have to pay for the whole paper but just the articles he wants to read.

To contain the spread of fake news we need to employ innovative solutions like a fact-checker. Or media houses can mark their news pieces with different colors to denote their credibility. Where red can be used to mark a piece of news not verified yet, and green for the verified ones.

It is high time that media needs to introspect and get back to the morals which lie at its very foundation. It needs to redefine the principles it is founded upon. There’s a need to be an autonomous regulatory body for media and it should be mandatory for a news enterprise to work along its guidelines. The regulatory body should not encumber the freedom of the press. However, strict guidelines should be laid down for issuing an apology in cases of defamation. Presently, apologies are not issued and if they are, they don’t match the degree of the mistake. An error on the front page of a newspaper is regretted the next day on the fifth or sixth page in a small corner. The degree of apology should equal the degree of mistake.

Introspection with technological innovation can bring back the glory of the media. As India marks its 72^nd republic day, with the assumption of a sense of responsibility, Media can unleash the true potential of the nation as soon as it realizes the broader goal of the institution of strengthening the nation.

By Prateek Goyal

 

If I Had a Heart

By Prateek Goyal

“Believe in your heart that you're meant to live a life full of passion, purpose, magic, and miracles.”

― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Diseases such as advanced heart failure, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease are severe medical conditions that require a heart transplant. A heart transplant can enhance the quality and length of life of patients with these severe heart diseases.

However, the waiting list for heart transplant patients is becoming longer day by day, and waiting time has increased as well. Twenty people die every day waiting for a transplant in The United States alone and every ten minutes, another person is added to the waiting list in The United States. This crisis correlates to the lifeboat dilemma. How many people can be allowed to board an already overcrowded lifeboat without sinking the boat and with everybody on board? Donor's hearts are scarce. Fortunately, this dark cloud has got a silver lining called 3D printing.

3D printing is a process of making a physical three-dimensional object by laying down several thin layers of material by computer aided design. Invented by Chuck Hull, this magnificent technology is employed in a variety of industries today. Be it automotive, fashion, or food technology. 3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing because it involves a process that adds layers of materials to make an object, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing which involves removing sections of material by cutting it away. This applied science witnessed several breakthroughs and advancements continually. Today, a basic 3D printer costs around INR 2,00,000. The increased affordability and accessibility of the device make it possible to imagine a future where 3D printers are kept next to our fridges.

The Healthcare industry has welcomed 3D printing more enthusiastically as compared to other industries. Doctors have been using scanned data to build a 3D representation of patients’ inside for a very long time. This technology seems very promising in the field of health care. Although it is not clinical ready yet, research is continually progressing in areas such as wound healing and tissue bioengineering, generating a possibility that we can engineer hearts in the future.

For tissue bioengineering, collagen is a desirable material. Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals which forms the primary component of the extracellular matrix. Almost every single tissue in our body has collagen! However, collagen is fluidic in nature. Successive layers of collagen would eventually collapse in the air and form just a puddle. This posed as a major difficulty unless FRESH came into the picture.

Scientists have developed a technique called Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogel (FRESH). With the help of FRESH, soft cell encapsulated materials such as collagen get temporary support and keep it solid at room temperature. And this temporary support gets dissolved as the tissue progresses from room temperature to body temperature. Also, it makes unprecedented resolution possible. Patient-specific anatomical structures such as small blood vessels, valves, and beating ventricles can be accurately produced using 3D printing and FRESH.

We have come a long way but there’s still a long way to go. A lot of challenges still remain. For instance, speed. The printing process is time-consuming. The current speed is many notches below the commercially acceptable level. Another challenge is controlling cell fate. Stem cells are used for 3D printing which is multipotent i.e. they can differentiate into different types of cells. However, presently we do not fully understand what determines the fate of the stem cell. Consequently, we face challenges in controlling the fate of cells. Vasculature of the organ poses another roadblock. Each organ has a network of blood vessels surrounding it which provides it with oxygen and nutrients and eliminates toxic waste products. Diffusion is insufficient for organs that are several layers thick. This makes vasculature all the more necessary. We lack the solution to this problem presently. And at last, there are various ethical issues about the use of 3D printing in healthcare which addresses questions such as if the technology is only for the rich, how can we test that the treatment is safe and effective before implementing clinically, and should we use 3D printing for human enhancement. For example, replacing natural organs with engineered ones for more efficacy.

But future prospects of bio-engineering hearts paint a rosy picture and help us visualize a world with less pain and agony. The patients waiting for heart transplants won’t have to wait for donor's hearts. Millions of lives would be saved and benefitted. The very long waiting list of patients would be shortened. Life expectancy and health standards would rise to remarkable levels if 3D printed hearts are implemented clinically.

 

Nostalgia

As if it was life

and this is not.

Today I recall

what I never forgot.

There were a lot more roses

and a lot less thorns.

Lot more drizzle,

and a lot less storms.

Tears trickle down

my cheek. They fall

to touch sad smile,

As I recall.

The game is gone.

The players as well.

What remains are

stories to tell.

I can live by these

memories forever.

Thank you for

the best time ever.

 

~Prateek Goyal

 

Politics of pollution

~by Prateek Goyal

Air pollutants directly affect the lungs causing lung infection, chronic obstructive lung disease, and lung cancer. This polluted air is aggravating conditions of the diseased and affecting healthy people adversely with headaches, itchy eyes, and irritability. The toxic fumes affect cellular pathways and hamper brain development in children. My pediatrician has sent her children to Dehradun. Who wants to stay in the gas chamber if not for bread and butter?

While the city chokes in what is being called a health emergency, Netas are refusing to stop playing the blame game. The Delhi Government is continually advertising in national newspapers that pollution in Delhi has come ‘down by 25%’ in bold letters but smoke from stubble burning is reaching the city. Arvind Kejriwal in a press conference alleged Prakash Javedkar that pollution is a “North India issue” and not a Delhi-specific issue after Javedkar criticized Kejriwal for “politicizing” the issue. Captain Amrinder Singh, CM of Punjab, wrote a letter to PMO to seek the Centre’s intervention. Manoj Tiwari sat on a hunger strike.

Amid all this political drama, the one who suffers is of course the common man. Politicians must understand they are what they are because of people. They should thus make it a point to serve people and give meaning to democracy rather than sitting in their air purified bungalows and pinpointing each other. Politicians rather than taking responsibility for their failure once again have stooped down to blaming one- another and doing too little and too late. Every political party, during LS elections, was undivided on taking suitable measures to grapple with air pollution but apparently to no effect. A picture surfaced on the internet in which the CM of Delhi distributed masks to children in a school on a stage as if he is giving a prestigious award. But actually, the mask symbolizes his failure to live up to his promises.

Man has divided land and water. But can he divide air? This severe air quality must affect the rich despite various filters. Aren’t we sending a tarnished image to the world while hosting German Chancellor, Angela Merkel in the city amidst all this pollution? I must question what do politicians actually care for?

 

Theme- the road that was taken

Untitled

The crowd thronged that way

and I like a sheep

followed them

half asleep.

The road that was taken

had abundant manholes.

The journey shook me

down to my soul.

I didn’t want to regret

but I end up doing so.

Who I thought was my friend

turned out to be a foe.

The route hasn’t ended yet

and I am contemplating a U-turn

as brimmed with regret

but already half-burnt.

My feet were terribly hurt

walking down this road.

It has become utterly difficult

to return to my abode.

More than my feet,

my brain feels pained.

Blinded by clouds

that have already rained.

This road has consumed

me like a parasite,

sucking my energy,

my ability to fight.

I fell deeper as

I jumped higher.

That road was

but a quagmire.

Where only a few stand

On many other heads

like beautiful peonies

on a deathbed.

 

~Prateek Goyal