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These past few months have ushered in a lot of good news on the space front and ISRO is being hailed to be a national success. If there’s anything that united Indians after cricket then it was the triumph of launching MOM and wrapping it up in a petite little package of just Rs 450 crore. But there was another news that caught my eye admist the horde of space front victories. It was to do with a mission launched in 1977. Yes, ISRO does win this round but we need to appreciate the thought and efforts put in by NASA way back in the years when India did not even have a proper space program. NASA’s twin voyager probes, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, that are the longest continuously operating spacecrafts in deep space today garnered a lot interest when news of Voyager 1 successfully left the solar system in August 2012.

Hurtling around in interstellar space, Voyager 1 is the farthest man-made object to explore space beyond the solar system. This mission has been providential to science and humankind alike. It has been credited with the discovery of 22 new satellites on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, the discovery of rings on Jupiter and auroral zones on the former three planets. But these technological advancements and increased knowledge of space bodies is not why I am writing this article. It is to familiarize people with The Golden Record, a phonographic record attached to each probe. Carl Sagan was given the heavy responsibility of choosing a format and recording a message from the inhabitants of the Earth for the extra-terrestrials out there. And the end result was a spectacular amalgamation of images, music and greetings representing the mankind mélange of cultures, languages and beliefs. What made this record so beautiful was the idea at the core which aimed at targeting both the audiences, the one inhabiting Earth and the mysterious little green men. What started out as a simple introduction in 25 different languages turned out to be the one record that defined the human race.

‘The Sounds of Earth’ as it was titled consisted of some of the greatest music of the time, a photo gallery of our planet and its inhabitants and a sound recording of the natural and technological sounds on Earth. The seemingly inconsequential part of the Voyager project turned out to be the defining constituent of the mission. The fact that the spacecraft consisted of a message for an alien civilization broke out and people were mystified as to what exactly would someone select to represent an entire population of the largest intelligent animal species on Earth. So this proved to be an important landmark in the history of mankind. We not only started to believe that we were not alone in this giant cosmic space but we believed it enough to send a message in hopes that someday, just some day, an alien civilization will find the message and finally put all doubts to rest as to if there is life anywhere else in the universe. Humans have always tried to find ways to stay together, to find comfort in each other and this was just a step towards trying to solve one of the greatest mysteries of all times.

So think about it, in a time far away, the cold metallic craft reaches the outskirts of an alien city and those tiny green men stare agape at what it could be. And while it may all sound good, both the possibilities sound terrible. We might just be alone in this universe or maybe, just maybe there is someone out there. People with lives like us and with the same emotional interludes. So when you ask yourself as to whether our race has crossed the final frontier you can now answer easily. Yes, we have.

CONTRIBUTED BY:

Chandana Rao

   The responsibility of a teacher and a manager is to nuture their students and employees to provide feedbacks in such a way that he or she shouldn’t leave in an insulted manner.
Here are 5 amazing ways to give an effective feedback.

1. Educative in nature –
Giving your students or employees explanation about their matter which could be correct or incorrect. The feedback should be done educational basis so that next time they don’t repeat their faults again.

2. Right time –
Feedback should be given at the right time so that the students or employees take the feedback in a positive way and they remember their mistakes and don’t repeat them again. But if the feedback is given too late they don’t remember their mistakes and they tend to repeat their mistakes again. So try and give the feedback at the right time.

3. Skill and Knowledge –
You should posses more of the skills and knowledge about the service and the products that employees or students will be giving to the people. Information given in the feedback to the people should be effective and knowledgeable so that they can remember that always.

4. Verbally,  non-verbally or in written form –
Feedback can be given in many ways verbally and non-verbally, but its good because your practising your verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Even body language and gestures are the sign of non-verbal communication. It can also be given in a written form so that you remember your improvements and achievements.

5. Be genuine when you praise  –
Students or employees are much more effected depending on your praises ‘ Good work ‘ or ‘ Nice Job ‘ are not enough for you to praise because they make these words meaningless so becarfull when you praise them.

    Apply these amazing ways in your feedback so that it helps you to improve your language, learn more skills, increase you knowledge and  ability to achieve more and get better.

CONTRIBUTED BY:

Jovian Ribeiro, aiming to be a good content writer.  Student of First year bms stepped into Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute, University

Since the dawn of time, or to be more precise, since humans started to exist, we have tried to connect and communicate. We have tried to fit in with a particular group, trying to find kindred souls. And even though we try to convince ourselves that each of us is unique, there are broad classifications for different personality types. And this article is going to focus on one such sector, The Introverts. Shy and quiet, these people tend to merge with the background. The dictionary describes the introvert as a reticent person who is predominantly engrossed in his own thoughts and feelings and does not care for the external world. Even though the description is spot-on, that is not all that encompasses an introvert.

I found an interesting quote on introverts the other day and I couldn’t help but include it. “We’re the pew-sitters that watch the preachers perform. We’re the backstage bunch that makes the actors shine. We’re the Tesla’s that give the Edison’s the spotlight.” What better way to describe a bunch of people that form a crucial crux of the human kind. Popular culture might have led us to believe that extroverts enjoy all the attention and lead easier lives, but it is about time we appreciate the solitary wallflowers.

Introverts are good observers. Since they value quiet and peace, more often than not, these people tend to be tranquil waters. Tranquil but deep. They are good judges of character and it is generally a bad idea to lie to these people for they have spidey-senses that speak out to them. They are also conscientious listeners. They do not like to talk much and will be happy to listen and absorb their surroundings. Introverts are the human embodiment of a mitochondria. They can self-recharge. They don’t need to mingle with the crowd or put themselves out there. They gain energy in solitude. And I believe that it is when you are alone with your thoughts, self-introspecting, that you find the real you. Understanding yourself and being self-aware is an important ideal that many people fail to achieve. For an introvert, finding themselves in the middle of a train of thoughts is easier. Introverts tend to be creative geniuses. Their noisier counterparts often drown out their voices but if you take the time to listen to an introvert you’ll usually stumble upon some intriguing ideas. Their opinions are unconventional and come from the deep recesses of their beautiful minds. Introverts also turn out to be great friends. Yes they don’t have a huge friend circle but they are happy with a few really close friends. You can be rest assured that an introvert will always be there for you. Sometimes with good advice, sometimes as good listeners and sometimes you might even discover their wild sides!

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Not being an extrovert guarantees that you don’t need to fake anything. No meaningless conversations or parties, no trying to please and fit in the society and no trying to bow down to peer pressure. An introvert can always turn inwards and find strength. For after all, it’s all about finding the calm in the chaos. Introverts are also logical people. They take time to think things through clearly and usually consider all possible aspects to a situation before deciding. Also, since these type of people love to spend their time alone reading books or watching movies or just assimilating knowledge as such, they are usually intellectually sound. I could keep analyzing and whip up better-written verses in praise for introverts but I think I covered the basics.

So here’s to the social misfits, the calm and the composed, the people who would much rather be the lone wolfs than lead a pack. Be happy that you are part of a selective crowd that are the philosophers, the thinkers and the doers.

CONTRIBUTED BY:

Chandana Rao

Idler, bibliophile, side-spectator, day dreamer and an engineering student trying to find something she is good at. An average girl with high hopes and even bigger ambitions.