1st Anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: A Tribute to the Brave Indian Commandos

One year on, and ceremonies are being held across all cities in India to mark the 1st anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack to hit Mumbai. The attacks lasted for three long days, in which 165 people lost their lives, while 9 terrorists were killed. The coordinated attacks took place at the CST railway station (formerly known as Victoria Terminus), the Taj Hotel, Trident Hotel, and the Nariman House Jewish Community Centre.

LET'S PAY TRIBUTE to the innocents and brave commandos who lost their lives in this henious attack on humanity.

ALSO, LET’S PLEDGE to always stand united as Indians, irrespective of our language, region, religion or caste. Because the terrorist attack that took place last year was not just on Mumbai – it was on India. So let’s first free ourselves from narrow prejudices.

Adverse Effects of Smoking/Chewing Tobacco on Young People

Many young people today have an "invincibility complex," or the belief that they cannot be harmed by their actions. Consequently, such people don’t care about the harmful effects that can have adverse effects on their health.

While they may be fully aware of harmful effects of consuming tobacco, this does not stop the rise in young people smoking. It is a sad but true fact that youth and smoking and chewing tobacco is a crisis that needs to be dealt with.

How Common Is Smoking/chewing tobacco With Young People?

Smoking among the younger generation is more rampant than many people think. In India alone it is not uncommon to see even the school-going children either smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco. These trends need to be stopped, because of the dangerous health effects of tobacco consumption among young people that carry into adult life.

Why Do Young People Smoke or chew tobacco?

Peer Pressure

The number one reason that many young people start smoking regardless of the smoking effects on their health is peer pressure. Someone they respect or wish to emulate gives them a chance to start smoking, and tells them they will be fine. The kids do not want to appear "un-cool" and so they start smoking.

Easy Availaility

Cigarettes and gutkhas (masalas) are easily available in neighborhood. Many people deliberately set up small shops selling such tobacco products near school & college premises. Although laws are there which prevents such shops from selling tobacco products near school & college premises, they are hardly implemented due to corruption.

Advertising

Another reason that kids take to smoking is because of the advertising of the cigarette manufacturers. Cigarette ads are aimed at the young, making smoking look like the cool, popular thing to do. Things emphasized by cigarette ads are young adults who have a strong sex appeal, or things that appeal to young guys, like weapons, cowboys, and other things. Kids are given the idea that smoking makes you sexy, strong, and invincible!

Desire to Look Mature

Sometimes kids take up smoking because they want to look mature. After all, smoking is considered an "adult" behavior, and they think they will look cool when they smoke, or that they will look more grown up.

Rebellion

Finally, many kids take up smoking because they want to rebel against their authorities. No matter what the activity, if you tell kids they cannot or should not do something, some will want to do it simply to buck against their authority.

Harmful Effects of Smoking & Chewing Tobacco

The spread of addiction of tobacco – be it in form of smoking (cigarettes, bidis), chewing tobacco (gutkas, masala etc.) is really alarming. It’s really sad to see young boys merely in their teens getting addicted to such harmful things at such tender age. This is a matter of grave concern considering the deadly consequences of continuous tobacco consumption.

Tobacco is injurious to health, no matter in what form you take it the ill effects are always there. Tobacco are leaves of plant that are used in dried form, they are high in nicotine and therefore addictive in nature. Tobacco is taken in the form of:

• Chewing
• Snuff
• Smoking

The high content of nicotine makes it very addictive, once a person gets addicted to smoking, chewing or sniffing it becomes difficult to get rid of it. At times efforts to give up the addiction fail and person goes back to taking tobacco.

Chewing of Tobacco

Chewing tobacco also known as smokeless tobacco (gutkas, masala etc) is as harmful as smoking. It is a myth that chewing is not as harmful as smoking. Chewing tobacco is made of tobacco, nicotine, sweeteners and chemicals. The continuous chewing process gives a constant high to the person. This high leads gives temporary relief from stress and anxiety. Small temporary relief leads the person to use it frequently and before the person realizes he is addicted.

Chewing tobacco leads to numerous harmful health effects, which can be internal or external. The main harmful effects of tobacco are:

Erodes Tooth

The ingredients of tobacco consist of gravels, sand, and other harmful chemicals that

erode the enamel of tooth. Continuous chewing leads to early loss of tooth.

Early Decay Of Tooth

Chewing leaves small particles in tooth that forms bacteria and plaque, it harms enamel and gums, which leads to decay of tooth.

Gum slump

Chewing leads to decomposing of gums, the gums get infected and the grip on tooth loosens which exposes the sensitive area of tooth.

Bad Breadth

There is nothing as bad as bad breadth of a person; they are major turn off for people around them. The long-term habit of chewing and spitting is unacceptable and looks

indecent.

Affects Eating Habit

Eating habit of people who chews tobacco tends to be unhealthy, continuous chewing affects the taste bud and the sensitivity of them decreases. This leads to an increase in intake of more salt, sugar and spices in food as he feels a bland taste in his mouth.

The above effects of

tobacco is just the beginning of trouble for people who chew, it has more deep rooted and life threatening effects. Chewing of tobacco has major or near to fatal effect on addicted people. The major areas where they proved to be fatal are:

• Damage to tongue, jaw and lips
• Lung Cancer
• Oral Cancer

Damage to tongue, jaw and lips

As mentioned above chewing leads to the early decay of tooth, bad breadth, damaged gums and falling of tooth. The addiction of tobacco affects the area around the mouth. The tongue and jaws face the following problems:

• Dis-coloring of lips and lip cancer
• Sore Throat
• Difficulty in movement of jaws and tongue
• Rashes or irritation on tongue
• Burning sensation on lips and tongue

Oral Cancer

Continuous chewing process leaves infectious juices on tooth and lips. These deve

lop in white patches that can be considered as an early symptom of oral cancer.

People who indulge in tobacco chewing have higher risk of oral cancer to people who take alcohol. The most infected area in oral cancer is the tongue a

nd the area below the tongue.

The cancer slowly spreads to cheeks and throat. Though it can attack any part lips, tongue, upper and lower mouth, the cheeks, or gums and esophagus.

It is very important to go for early diagnosis as soon as one feels suspicious.

Lung Cancer

Chewing tobacco leads to oral cancer but it is not the end as it can spread the disease in lungs and linings of stomach.

Reports show that 90% of lung cancers are cases of people who either smoke or chew tobacco. Destructive agents termed as carcinogens in tobacco injure the cells in the lungs. Over a period of time, these spoiled cells may develop into lung cancer.

Inspirational Quotes-1

Inspirational Quotes-1

1. No one else can think or feel for you, it’s you, only you!

2. Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.

3. Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you.

4. Look at the Life through the windshield, not the rear-view mirror.

5. You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

6. It doesn’t matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes. What matters most is getting off. You cannot make progress without making decisions.

7. The most difficult phase of the life is not when no one understands you; it’s when you don’t understand yourself.

8. It is nice to be important, but it is important to be nice.

9. When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever; in it’s place is something that you have left behind – let it be something good.

10. To worry about tomorrow is to be unhappy today.

11. If you learn from your mistakes then you are intelligent. But if you learnt from somebody’s mistakes then you are a genius.

Birthday Wishes - A poem

This year I couldn't wish my love on her birthday due cruel circumstances. However, last year I composed the following poem for her. I dedicate the poem to my love whose birthday falls on 4th November.

Birthday Wishes

The day even gold lose its glitter

For it can’t be as bright as you

And all flowers fear to bloom

For they can’t be as fresh as you.

The day all diamonds lose their worth

For they have no worth in front of you

And even snow just melt

For it can’t be as pure as you.

That’s the day when

We all say to you

“Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday to You."