I completed my primary education at a government school, and we had 

We performed a skit on Ramayana in class when I was in school. My teacher assigned me the role of the 

. Just because I was so excited to play the role, I read about the glorious characters of 

 and Goddess Sita thoroughly. I was so enthusiastic that I even made paper jewellery throughout the whole night to present it in a better way. And even today, I remember every dialogue I had delivered. I have read both the epics, the Ramayana and the 

, and I am certain that I may know more about them than some of my allies would.

When I recall the character of Lord Ram that I had studied, I can only imagine him circulating the message of love, peace, and harmony. He was more apprehensive about others than himself.

Lord Rama is much more than simply the name of one of the Hindu gods. The beauty of Lord Rama lies in his character, his virtue, not merely in his name.

the embodiment of truth, morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband and above all, the ideal king

”. He is considered a symbol of the victory of good over evil. Lord Rama represents how a man should fulfil his moral allegiances and strictly follow his limits so that social order can be strengthened. These are the reasons why he is known as “

Ram means the supreme bliss, Ram means the ‘Brahman’ (the absolute, the supreme element) as well as Ishwara (the god with form) both

“. In simple words, Ram is the supreme heavenly spirit, all-pervading, the exemplar of all souls, and thus the ultimate consciousness.

Lord Ram is portrayed as a generous, kind, and obedient soul according to the texts. From serving in exile to giving the throne to his half-brother 

, he has made all the sacrifices out of love and generosity. Even when Lord Ram meets 

’s queens, who had concocted to unfairly deprive him of his kingdom and expel him to the forest for 14 years, he is not furious or vindictive. On the contrary, he is forgiving, sincere, affectionate, and the very image of equanimity.

One can read about Lord Ram, who he is, and what he really stands for in the most pleasant and exemplary manner presented by 

Sab ke priya sab ke hitkari (beloved of all and loved by all).

” He is not only benevolent, incarnate, chivalrous, and valorous but he is also gentle, caring, and compassionate towards the weak and the powerless, and generous towards the enemy even when he criticizes them for what is wrong. Tulsidas describes Lord Ram as ‘

’ — one who is the same reservoir of kindness and contentment and empowered with every auspicious attribute. He also calls him ‘

’ — one for whom each member of the masses is beloved and for whom he is equally so.

, the primary leader of India’s Independence movement, also regarded the Ramcharitmanas as “

the greatest book in all devotional literature

“. Mahatma Gandhi was also devout to Lord Ram’s excellence, and it’s believed that when he died, the only words he could utter was the name of Lord Ram.

Many people get inspired by the character of Lord Ram whenever they read about his stature. The more you read, the more you’ll be impressed with his morality.

However, Ram has been in the news for all the wrong reasons these days. Unschooled zealots have degraded the slogan ‘

’ for wanton acts of turmoil, humiliation, and hatred, which are an aversion to what Lord Ram actually stands for and what he has taught throughout his life. These disturbing elements do not know that Ram is 

, the epitome of righteousness, the touchstone of impeccable behavior, the role model of a perfect human being, and the very manifestation of 

, harmonious equilibrium. Not only is his generosity palpable, but his decency is to be noted as well. His respect for each category of humans is commendable too.

When I see people creating chaos and spreading hatred, I wonder how painfully we have failed to spread the message of love to the youth.

Also, I tried to figure out what exactly has changed since my school days, and I couldn’t think about anything but the mentality which is tarnished by dirty politics. I hope someday people will keep Lord Ram in their hearts more than they keep him on their display pictures.

The “Lord Ram” I Know as a Muslim

In the world of shimmering filters, Manto’s stories regarding the unfiltered truths have to be an important read. This generation is obsessed over how they look, how people perceive them, and how remarkable they can be. We have forgotten to appreciate the beauty that God has bestowed on us; instead, we are concentrating on how we can amuse more eyes.

Manto is a blunt and fierce writer, his stories question the notions of society and the people inhabiting it. One of his impactful stories, “

“, takes you through the different tints of stigmas. Manto has gracefully tried to apprehend the harsh reality of society in this work of fiction. This story of Manto is thought-provoking and is directed at the people who have a stereotypical mindset about racial discrimination or one’s outer beauty. I personally believe this story should be a 

The story commences with two sisters named 

. Hamida is elder to Sajida. Sajida has beautiful looks whereas Hamida doesn’t stand by the traditional parameters of beauty. As Hamida isn’t beautiful, she feels insulted as no one wants to marry her whereas Sajida gets numerous proposals because of her glamour. So eventually, she gets married to a man who loves her a lot. Hamida remains unmarried by then. She has a sort of resentment towards her sister.

In the end, Sajida catches a glimpse of her husband, unknowingly and accidentally sleeping with Hamida, and curses him for the betrayal. Although her husband attempts to make her understand that it was a mistake, she doesn’t believe him. Eventually, Sajida’s husband gives her divorce and marries Hamida afterward.

This story ends with an ethical conquest of appreciating beauty over decency. Beauty is considered a substantial part of 

, especially for women. It is generally acknowledged that 

women should be beautiful and men should be rich and physically tough

. In short, we can say that we give primacy to the outer beauty of people.

Our society has enthralled such notions in our subconscious and we have carved them out in our minds as well. Everyone is socially conditioned in the way that they try to question their existential beauty. Not deliberately but unconsciously, everyone is dominated by such maligned notions of beauty standards. But after reading this story, I hope the stereotypical mindset changes to some magnitude.

I would like to recommend this story to the people who deem someone inferior to them based on their race or the way they look. This story should be read by every person who believes in equality for every human being, instead of discrimination.

Such stories not only make us think about the hidden and harsh realities of our lives but also make us accountable enough to change society for something better. Read Manto to amplify your perspectives about society, I hope you would not be left in the lurch.

How Manto’s Story “BADSOORATI” is a Must Read for Gen-Z

When it comes to staying and studying abroad, it seems like an ‘

’ fantasy to many. People long for better education and quality of life. There is an increase in students opting to study abroad every year. Although the pandemic has impacted the numbers, studying abroad is still desirable to the majority. According to the latest data by the 

 in 2020 and 71,769 departed last year. It has also been reported that students from 

 choose to go overseas to fulfill their educational dreams every year.

According to the data released by the government, 30,948 students departed for the 

 from Kerala in the year 2019, while only 29,314 students went abroad from Karnataka in the same year. The data also stated that the pandemic had resulted in a 

 compared to nearly 5.9 lakh students in 2019. After a massive plunge in numbers in 2020, the first two months of 2021 have noticed about 72,000 Indians going abroad to study, even as the pandemic continues, to pursue their dreams overseas.

High Domestic Competition and Low Opportunity

Experts state that one of the reasons compelling more Indian students to seek admissions overseas is the ferocious competition for seats in the country’s undergraduate courses. From getting into an IIT to pursuing an MBBS, the competition for admissions has raised the bar significantly across the board. In addition, the urge to get into an institution that could make you a doctor or an engineer is entirely above the graph. Students thus prefer to go abroad instead of struggling to secure a seat in a government institution in their homeland.

The lack of opportunities in several domains is also one of the reasons why students fly abroad. Everyone wants quality education, so they look for something that can gratify them as far as their education is concerned.

Everyone desires a satisfactory life. And when it comes to the quality of life, one can only think of the 

 like the US, UK, Canada etc. To attain satisfaction and a prosperous life, many students long for studying abroad. This is aided by several countries that offer jobs to students who complete their education from their institutions. It seems more accessible for students to study and work in a developed country rather than having a bleak future in their native places. And when it comes to social appreciation, those who get their degrees from foreign countries hold good value for it. It feels good to brag about that “

 brought people’s attention to the Indian students studying in Ukraine. Many reports claim that most Indian students in Ukraine study medicine there. Some of Ukraine’s state-run institutes are well-known for delivering high-quality education to students. Hence, it is assumed that Indian parents prefer to send their children to these institutions rather than pay a considerable fee to enroll their children in a private medical college in India.

 the fees that a native student might be required to pay would range from 

. A student enrolled in a six-year-long medical degree in Ukraine will only need to spend a fraction of that. Moreover, Ukraine also offers different benefits such as low-cost food and accommodation for the students besides their low tuition fees.

Therefore, in some cases, it is much more convenient and affordable, if not equally expensive, for Indian students to study abroad than studying in a private college in India.

There could be various other reasons that can motivate students to go and study abroad. When Indian ministers casually advise students to stay in their own country and pursue their studies from here itself, they should also consider the issue of education in India. New reforms and amendments are needed in our education system; only then can we expect students to dwell in their own country to excel in the future. The emphasis should not only be on the students who went but also on the students who stayed.

Articles by Laaiba

The “Lord Ram” I Know as a Muslim

How Manto’s Story “BADSOORATI” is a Must Read for Gen-Z

Why do Students want to study Abroad?

The “Lord Ram” I Know as a Muslim

How Manto’s Story “BADSOORATI” is a Must Read for Gen-Z

Why do Students want to study Abroad?