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The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Student-led study offers hope for paddy revival
A scientific study led by two Plus Two students at NSS Higher Secondary School, Kurathikad, Alappuzha, has offered new hope for reviving paddy farming in areas where declining soil fertility has driven farmers away from agriculture. The findings of the study by Architha Manoj and Jyothika Krishna, conducted as part of school science fair, have been published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews. In the paper titled Soil Revival Eco-friendly Farming for Agriculture Sustainability, the researchers evaluated the use of Effective Microorganism (EM) solution as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. The study revealed that EM-treated rice seeds not only enhanced crop growth but also significantly improved soil health. Degraded soil More than 80% of local farmers surveyed in Mavelikara-Thekkekara grama panchayat in Alappuzha admitted they had abandoned paddy cultivation due to poor yields caused by degraded soil. Laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments conducted as part of the study confirmed that EM treatment led to better seed germination, longer shoot and root development, increased biomass, and ultimately higher grain yields compared to conventional NPK fertilizer use. 'The soil in Thekkekara panchayat has become acidic and nutrient-deficient due to the prolonged use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides,' the researchers noted. Soil samples collected across 10 wards showed pH values as low as 4.8, indicating high acidity. After EM treatment, soil nutrient levels, including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, showed marked improvement. Field trials demonstrated that paddy grown from EM-treated seeds yielded more healthy grains and fewer chaff, pointing to a direct improvement in productivity. Microbial diversity 'We saw an increase in germination and better growth metrics under both lab and field conditions. Most importantly, the soil started to regain its microbial diversity. We hope the model can be replicated across the region,' the researchers added. NSS Higher Secondary School, Kurathikad, Principal Renu S. said that 'recognition at the international level is a testament to the students' dedication.' Apart from Architha and Jyothika, the research team also included NSS School Botany teacher Sreekala C.G., SD College Botany department former head C. Dileep, and researcher Karthika T.P. The team worked in collaboration with the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kayamkulam, research wing of SD College, Alappuzha, and the local Agriculture office. After completing the project, both students graduated from the school in the 2024-25 academic year.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Catch Me If You Can– New York Edition
Sonika Sethi is Associate Professor of English in S D College, Ambala Cantt. Her articles are regularly published in Hindustan Times, The Tribune, etc. and has published more than 150 articles. She is the author of the weekly column 'Spell-Bound by Sonika' published on She is the Executive Editor of monthly literary magazine, Rhyvers Beat. She is on the editorial board of 8 academic journals and has 7 books to her credit. Her books include: From the Sidewalks of Life, Easter Lilies and Other Stories, Of Gulmohars and Kaners and Other Stories, Rohinton Mistry's Fiction: A Postmodern Approach, Cinematic Adaptations of Literary Texts, Brewing Memories and Shades of Love. Her book Easter Lilies and Other Stories was long listed for Times of India Auther Awards. The book also won the Best Fiction Book Award by Asian Literary Society. Recently her book has been included in the Top 100 Books of India. She conducts lectures and workshops in schools, colleges and universities on the art of storytelling, creative writing, soft skills, Intellectual Property Rights and communication skills. LESS ... MORE Outside Krispy Kreme's flagship store in Times Square, as we waited for our coffee and doughnuts, a sudden commotion broke the buzz of the evening. A NYPD vehicle came hurtling down West 48th Street, its siren blaring, and an officer's voice echoed through the microphone, grabbing everyone's attention. In a flash, five or six tall Black men began hurriedly packing up their wares—an array of counterfeit branded goods like watches, wallets, and handbags neatly laid out on the pavement. They dashed around the corner in a well-practiced escape, vanishing into the crowd with practiced ease. For the untrained eye, their merchandise could have easily passed for the real thing, a testament to how convincing knock-offs can be. What struck me most was how swiftly the scene returned to normal. No sooner had the NYPD patrol car turned the corner than the same men reappeared, effortlessly laying out their goods once again on the pavement, as if nothing had happened. The entire routine seemed rehearsed, almost choreographed—a part of their daily hustle. It reminded me of similar scenes I had witnessed back in India. Years ago, while casually window shopping in the bustling street market of Sector 15, Chandigarh, I saw vendors suddenly scramble in all directions, hurriedly wrapping up their wares. Moments later, two police constables appeared, managing to seize a few sellers and their goods. The rest had already melted into the crowd, only to return once the threat had passed. The symmetry between the two episodes—different continents, same survival instinct—was striking. These scenes, miles apart, underline two fundamental truths. First, there would be no vendors if there were no buyers. The demand for cheap, easily accessible goods, especially imitations of high-end brands, stems from a widespread consumer desire to enjoy the appearance of luxury without bearing its cost. Branded products often remain out of reach for a large segment of the population, leading to a thriving parallel economy that fulfils these aspirations at a fraction of the price. For many buyers, the allure lies not just in affordability but in the social impression these lookalikes create, making them willing participants in this grey market. Second, such activities flourish in the spaces created by lapses in law enforcement. The cat-and-mouse routine with authorities continues because it's predictable, rarely resulting in lasting consequences. If policing were consistent and loophole-free, these sellers would find it harder to operate. Thus, this informal business is sustained not just by the resilience of the vendors but by the active participation of the consumers and the inconsistent application of rules. All three— the seller, the buyer, and the system—are entangled in this daily handshake. All said and done, I couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and concern. On one hand, I was genuinely impressed by the swiftness and street-smart agility with which these vendors responded to the looming threat of law enforcement, handling the situation with practiced ease and remarkable composure. Yet, on the other hand, a sense of unease lingered. I couldn't stop thinking about the emotional and psychological toll their precarious existence must take. Living each day under the constant shadow of uncertainty, with the law hovering like the sword of Damocles, cannot be easy. Their grit is admirable, but the fragility of their livelihood reminds us of the harsh realities that define survival on the margins. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Brunch to bench: A walk through Central Park
Sonika Sethi is Associate Professor of English in S D College, Ambala Cantt. Her articles are regularly published in Hindustan Times, The Tribune, etc. and has published more than 150 articles. She is the author of the weekly column 'Spell-Bound by Sonika' published on She is the Executive Editor of monthly literary magazine, Rhyvers Beat. She is on the editorial board of 8 academic journals and has 7 books to her credit. Her books include: From the Sidewalks of Life, Easter Lilies and Other Stories, Of Gulmohars and Kaners and Other Stories, Rohinton Mistry's Fiction: A Postmodern Approach, Cinematic Adaptations of Literary Texts, Brewing Memories and Shades of Love. Her book Easter Lilies and Other Stories was long listed for Times of India Auther Awards. The book also won the Best Fiction Book Award by Asian Literary Society. Recently her book has been included in the Top 100 Books of India. She conducts lectures and workshops in schools, colleges and universities on the art of storytelling, creative writing, soft skills, Intellectual Property Rights and communication skills. LESS ... MORE New York, the sleepless marvel, the ceaseless engine of ambition and artistry, thrives in perpetual motion. Its grid of intersecting streets and avenues pulses with the choreography of humanity: a place where time walks briskly in stilettos and the economy breathes in ticker symbols. From the panoramic grandeur seen from the Edge to the ant's perspective from the footpaths, the city stands upright, unblinking, undeterred. Its soul echoes in a cacophony— the laughter spilling from rooftop bars, the hushed symphony of the underground, the siren-song of dreams chased and fates altered in real time. Morning stretches across the Brooklyn Bridge, golden and glorious; evening folds into the crevices of Manhattan's skyline with equal flair. Here, the city acknowledges neither triumph nor tragedy— it simply moves forward, relentless and indifferent. And yet, at its frenetic core lies a paradox— a sanctuary. Central Park, a green expanse etched into the concrete sprawl, offers the city's one true exhale. Here, the metropolis softens. The towering buildings recede, the noise hushes into birdsong, and time, for once, unclasps its hold. In this oasis, New York remembers how to breathe. Not to pause its rhythm, but to deepen it. A summer walk through Central Park offers a quintessential tableau, where the relentless pulse of New York surrenders, momentarily, to a more languid rhythm. It is here, amid sun-dappled paths and whispering leaves, that one bears witness to the city's rare duality: the unyielding drive of ambition meeting the unhurried grace of repose. In this verdant sanctuary, the metropolis loosens its grip, allowing its hurried heart to slow, its noise to soften, and its spirit to stretch beneath the open sky. On a Sunday afternoon, following a leisurely lunch with my two daughters, my niece, and her family at a charming restaurant near Lincoln Centre, the suggestion to stroll through Central Park came like a gentle invitation. When my niece proposed the idea, I found it impossible to resist— a walk in the park felt like the perfect continuation to an already delightful day. As we stepped into its green embrace, with giant trees spreading their girth as well as shade to welcome everyone, I was instantly drawn into the gentle thrum of life unfolding around me. A little ahead, on the sloping landscape of Sheep Meadow, families picnicked on sunlit lawns, friends ambled arm in arm, lovers lazed on the grass gawking at the floating clouds overhead, or whispered over park benches, and solo runners traced graceful arcs along the winding paths. Young parents ambled by, gently pushing prams that cradled their tiny passengers— one cooing or drooling, the other wide-eyed with wonder. Solo cyclists zipped past like arrows in motion, while families rode together in harmony, their children's laughter rising like birdsong in the breeze, and dogs tugged eagerly at their leashes. The park thrummed with energy— and so did our little group, despite the yawning age gap between my grown-up daughters and my niece's sprightly, single-digit-aged sons. The two boys squealed with unfiltered joy, leaping and darting through splash puddles with the abandon only childhood allows, utterly oblivious to the world around them. My daughters, momentarily shedding their adult selves, chased after them with laughter bubbling from within, their delighted shrieks echoing those of the younger two. In that sun-drenched moment, time collapsed, and joy became ageless. Who would've thought that in a city sewn together with steel and ambition, nature could throw on its greenest garb and strut like it owned the place? And just as surprisingly, relationships long tucked away in the attic of time could dust themselves off and dance again, right in the middle of a sun-kissed park. As I took in the happy, unhurried faces around me, it struck me—concrete jungles aren't as barren as they seem. They can sprout trees, cradle moments of calm, and sometimes, offer a second chance to reconnect with others and with oneself. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Second phase of cancer awareness campaign launched in Alappuzha
The Health department has launched the second phase of the Arogyam, Anandam - Keep Cancer Away campaign in Alappuzha. It was inaugurated by H. Salam, MLA, in a function held at SD College, Alappuzha, on Thursday. Officials said the aim of the second phase was to detect and prevent oral cancer and colon cancer in men at an early stage. The Health department launched the campaign in Alappuzha on World Cancer Day on February 4. The first phase was aimed at strengthening awareness and screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer, which specifically affects women. It targeted women in the 30-65 age group. The department aims to ensure that as many men as possible undergo screening to facilitate early detection and treatment. Officials said those diagnosed with the disease would receive treatment at Government Medical College Hospital, district/general hospitals, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, and so on in accordance with established guidelines. SD College Principal V.R. Prabhakaran Nair presided. District Medical Officer Jamuna Varghese, Kudumbashree District Mission coordinator S. Renjith and others attended.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Olfactory hijack: A journey through tiffins and tracks
Sonika Sethi is Associate Professor of English in S D College, Ambala Cantt. Her articles are regularly published in Hindustan Times, The Tribune, etc. and has published more than 150 articles. She is the author of the weekly column 'Spell-Bound by Sonika' published on She is the Executive Editor of monthly literary magazine, Rhyvers Beat. She is on the editorial board of 8 academic journals and has 7 books to her credit. Her books include: From the Sidewalks of Life, Easter Lilies and Other Stories, Of Gulmohars and Kaners and Other Stories, Rohinton Mistry's Fiction: A Postmodern Approach, Cinematic Adaptations of Literary Texts, Brewing Memories and Shades of Love. Her book Easter Lilies and Other Stories was long listed for Times of India Auther Awards. The book also won the Best Fiction Book Award by Asian Literary Society. Recently her book has been included in the Top 100 Books of India. She conducts lectures and workshops in schools, colleges and universities on the art of storytelling, creative writing, soft skills, Intellectual Property Rights and communication skills. LESS ... MORE The other evening, as my maid and I sipped our usual cup of tea, she recounted a charming anecdote from her train journey home, a few months ago. Seated opposite her in the compartment was an elderly couple who, having boarded earlier, already appeared quite settled. As soon as the train pulled out of a particular station, the woman opened her modest bag and took out a steel bowl, a knife, and two plump mangoes. With practiced ease, she began peeling and chopping the mangoes into neat cubes, dropping them into the bowl. She then added two green chillies, finely sliced, followed by a sprinkle of salt and a generous squeeze of lemon. The air inside the compartment was soon filled with the tangy, fruity aroma of this rustic mango salad. This simple yet flavourful mix was their accompaniment to a few stale rotis packed for the overnight journey. It wasn't a grand feast by any means, yet the couple relished every bite, their faces glowing with contentment. A few minutes later, another family opened their repurposed cold drink bottles, now filled with boiled Bengal grams. With practiced hands, they added chopped onions, a sprinkle of salt, and a dash of lemon juice. The tangy aroma wafted through the compartment as they mixed the contents and began to enjoy the simple yet delicious snack. What made the moment special was their generous spirit— they shared the dish not just among themselves but with fellow passengers, spreading warmth and camaraderie. What struck my maid, and stayed with me, was the quiet dignity and resourcefulness with which they made a humble meal feel whole. Meanwhile, other passengers looked on, their mouths watering, perhaps reminded of the simple joys that lie hidden in everyday moments. What's truly fascinating is how an ordinary, everyday meal, when shared, can outshine even the finest gourmet dishes served in upscale restaurants. Think of that one tiffin opened prematurely by a ravenous classmate before lunch break—the moment the aroma of mango pickle escaped, it tantalised every taste bud in the room. It's a reminder that food isn't just about flavour, but connection and nostalgia. Most weekdays, I find myself in a 1 pm class—right when hunger strikes hardest, and post-lunch drowsiness begins to creep in, making concentration an uphill task. My standing instructions to students in these post-lunch classes are simple: feel free to sip water or sneak a bite from your tiffin— no permission needed. After all, who am I to stand between a hungry soul and their paratha? But I must admit, the real test of willpower begins when those lunch boxes pop open. One whiff of achar or tadka, and my own stomach starts grumbling in protest, while my olfactory nerves do a little hip hop. It's a daily battle between decorum and digestive envy! All said and done, the message is clear— Food is far more than sustenance. Food doesn't just nourish the body; it stirs the soul and weaves stories. Each dish carries a memory, a tradition, or a slice of someone's life. A train ride becomes unforgettable because of a shared bowl of mango salad. A classroom moment becomes a cherished anecdote thanks to the aroma of someone's lunch. Recipes are passed down like heirlooms, and meals mark celebrations, comfort losses, and anchor friendships. In sharing food, we also share stories of where we come from, who we are, and what we hold dear. In essence, food is storytelling served on a plate. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
