|
|
|
| JOBS & CAREERS |
|
|
|
Map your path
Study in Canada
Food for Thought
World of style gurus
Happiness work
|
|
Map your path
Geography originates from the Greek words “Geo meaning “Earth”, and “graphein” meaning “to describe” or “to map”. Therefore Geography is the study of the earth, its physical and cultural features, while Cartography is the creation, production, and study of maps of this physical world. Cartographers are often geographers who specialise in the combination of art, science, and technology to make and study maps. They produce maps, including details of projection, design, compilations, drafting and reproduction. Map making has been both a science and an art from ancient times when Cartographers obtained their information from navigators and surveyors. Explorations that expanded the geographical awareness of a map-making culture also resulted in increasingly sophisticated and accurate maps. Today, cartographers incorporate information from aerial photographs and satellite images in the maps they create. A map is a two-dimensional representation of the spatial distribution of phenomena or objects in the physical plane, showing the location of cities, mountain ranges, rivers, or types of rock in a given region.
Job profile
The job of a cartographer is to create maps that are easy to read. Map production starts with a detailed plan and supporting research. The data collected is then documented and the map is drawn up with specifications like title, legend, scale etc. clearly defined. Cartographers use computer technology, and techniques from maths and science to design and revise maps and charts When creating a flat map of a portion of the earth’s surface, cartographers first locate their specific area of interest which involves land surveying and aerial photography. Their job may include taking measurements, recording and classification of data into appropriate formats and making calculations based on the data. They then use map projection techniques to represent the three-dimensional characteristics of that area in two dimensions. Finally, a grid, called a rectangular coordinate system, may be superimposed on the map, making it easier to use. Cartographers use various types of scales to keep those features and relationships in the correct proportion. With the use of special software packages such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Quark Xpress, cartographic illustrators provide illustrative design, photographic services and desktop publishing for use in teaching, display, on internet sites and promotional purposes. A major change in cartography during the past decade has been the growing use of geographic information system (GIS) software to produce, store, and use maps. With the use of GIS cartographers can produce digital topographic data and store it in geographical databases, analyse and interpret the information. The Google maps that are so widely used today have been produced using GIS software and cover much of the physical world down to detailed features of an area of specific interest to a user. With the use of GIS, digital maps can be widely distributed using internet map servers that allow users to interactively explore a large map by scrolling and zooming.
Getting In
While it is useful to have taken up geography as a subject in Plus II, it is not essential for a career in cartography, although a sound knowledge of statistics and calculus is an advantage. Most universities offer geography at the graduate and post-graduate level in both science and humanities faculties. Cartography can be taken up after graduation in geography or science. If you are keen on pursuing geographical Information Systems you must possess computer-programming skills. Some institutes prefer students with a background in natural and social science. There are several universities offering PG diploma in cartography, including Osmania University, Hyderabad-500007, that offers PG diploma in Geographical Cartography, Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar, which offers a diploma in cartography, and University of Madras, where you can do a masters in cartography. University of Pune, Pune, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, and Annamalai University, Annamalainagar also offer diplomas in cartography. Anna University offers a BE course in geo-informatics which includes a module on cartography, while Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi offers a PG diploma in GIS. To become a cartographer you also require to have a keen interest in the physical surroundings, strong power of observation, good colour vision, precision, patience and perseverance.
The job may require travelling to various places to physically survey the land and so you must have an interest in outdoor work, be indifference to unpleasant weather conditions, and have good physical health. You must also have the ability to enjoy creating and imagining, an eye for form, a scientific approach, and love for exploration.
Avenues
Today there are maps for a variety of purposes, including topographical maps, maps related to town planning, weather forecasting, travel and tourism, geological or mineral exploration, and military and development of geographical information systems. Cartographers can, therefore, be employed by the government as well as private firms, with Town Planning organisations, forest departments, land survey agencies, defence sector, rail, road and airport authorities, housing boards and tourism departments of the government. Cartographers can also join the Survey of India or state Survey Departments or Private organizations such as Eicher maps, Google maps. They can be employed by public and private organizations engaged in Urban planning and design and by NGOS involved in rural development projects, or with government for mapping changing phenomena such as floods, draught and forest fires, etc. Businesses that deal with selling maps, producing maps for encyclopedias, reference books and atlases, publishers, planners, engineers, architects also need cartographers. So if geography is your favourite subject, you can now not only develop your field of interest but also map out your career in the best possible way.
|
|
Study in canada
“The programme is not only about approving visas, but about controlling fraud also, so we are working very hard in association with Canadian colleges. Students need to be aware that they (not their agents) are responsible for the contents of their application,” says David Manicom, Head of Canada’s Immigration Programme in India, in an interview. with Excerpts: How successful has SPP been since its launch last year? At this stage, we consider the Student Partners Programme (SPP) to be a success, but we are only in the second year. It involves only high-quality government-funded community colleges belonging to the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. The colleges advise us about the students who have been issued visas, and who are actually in attendance. This information helps us to manage the risk associated with any such programme. The number of applications has increased significantly, and the approval rate is higher. The programme is not only about approving visas, but about controlling fraud also, so we work very hard in close cooperation with the colleges to do that. The number of colleges in the programme has increased for 2010 from 20 to 38. There is also a high approval rate for those attending Canadian degree-granting universities, which are not a part of the Student Partners Programme. Those applying through SPP and to universities do get priority processing, but we try to ensure that all applicants get a quick response. How is the slump in Australia and UK admissions affecting students’ migration to Canada? The number of applications has been rising sharply — we are likely to receive about three times the number we received two years ago. But that rise began before the current situation with the Australian and UK programmes, and is also the result of the increased presence of Canadian institutions in India, the promotion efforts of the High Commission and the Canadian education sector, and the SPP. We are getting an increase at all levels, from trade schools to PhDs. So it is difficult to determine the impact of the UK and Australian programmes — probably there has been some. Don't you think the Canadian High Commission is now extra-vigilant in issuing student visas in view of rise in fraudulent documentation from the northern India? We have no evidence of a rise in fraudulent documentation in Northern India. Unfortunately, there has always been a fairly high rate of fraudulent documentation in all of our visa programmes, but we do not have data showing any increase. We continue to strengthen our capacity to detect fraud. Applicants for Canadian visas need to know that if we detect fraud or misrepresentation we will refuse the application and the applicant will be inadmissible to Canada for two years. Students need to be aware that they are responsible for the contents of their application. It doesn't help to say “my agent submitted the false document.” By the way, there is no requirement to use an agent of any sort. All applications are assessed individually on their merits, and all the information and forms needed to apply are on our website. Some Indian education consultants have made a ‘mockery’ of English requirement for foreign study. What do you think? What is important from our point of view is that students are able to meet the language skills requirements of their programme of study. If they can’t function in English (or in French in some cases) in the classroom, so as to master their course materials, they are unlikely to be genuine students. We make considerable effort to ensure they can. Can the students’ migration to Canada be more streamlined by having a body of the High Commission authorised agents, on the lines of AERRI of Australia? There is a tick-sheet on our website with a short list of required documents. If you send us those documents, with the forms and fee, or submit it at any one of our Visa Application Centres all over India, a visa officer in the High Commission or in our office in Chandigarh will assess it within a few days. The large majority of applications are finalised within three weeks, even including medical results, and many within one week. We don’t think it could be any more “streamlined”. It’s very simple. We assess applicants, not agents. How do you see Canada as a study destination five years from now? International education is a high priority of the Canadian government. The trend is growth, but we want to manage this growth carefully with rigorous anti-fraud and quality assurance work to ensure those coming to Canada to study are genuine students, whose study in Canada will be a triple win situation: for the student, for Canada, and for India. Five years from now, the number of international students from India will be higher than today. Q. Any advice for Indian students seeking Canada study visa? A: Focus on finding the right education programme for you. Do plenty of research on the Canadian government website about education athttps://www.educationau-incanada.ca/index.aspx?lang=eng, and on the site of Citizenship and Immigration Canada at CIC.gc.ca, and on the websites of schools which interest you. It is about the right education first, and about getting a visa second. Then read the documentation requirements on the web site of our offices in India, at http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/india-inde/visas/study-etudier_canada.aspx? lang=eng, and provide clear, truthful documentation. Apply at least one month before your classes start. And beware of agents or consultants who charge big fees or promise visas. Whether an application is submitted by the student themselves or via an agent or consultant they receive identical processing at our office.
|
|
Career Hotline
Q. After doing my MBA from a medium-rung B-school, I could not get a decent job, so I have been working with a call centre for the past six months. But I feel I am in a dead-end job. Somebody suggested that I should shift to a business consultancy BPO. Is this a good choice?
— Sukhmani Singh A. Being virtually chained to a chair for eight to 10 hours dealing with annoyed customers can be a very taxing job. This is one of the main reasons for the high attrition rates in the call centre industry. To get round this problem many Indian BPO companies are trying to break away from the mould of being ‘just another low cost destination’ where costs are the only consideration for outsourcing work. By moving up the value chain, these companies offer high-end services like business consultancy, in turn, giving people like you the opportunity to take up more challenging tasks. The scope of consulting can range from process specific consulting to vertical specific consulting like process mapping, process transfer, optimisation and upgradation. As an offshore business consultant you will work with clients to understand their needs, formulate business specifications and translate them into functional applications. This is no back-end, repetitive job and there are no canned scripts. You will have to think on your feet working out problems like how to enhance speed, security, analyse competition, cost management etc. Another related niche area is Business Research Outsourcing. It is estimated that about 2,000 to 3,000 professionals drawn from the field of engineering, MBAs from Tier-1-3 B-schools, CAs, postgrads in maths, stats, finance and economics are currently engaged in business research. Don’t worry; even if you have graduated from a medium rung B school this will not hamper your progress. For example, recruitment at the highly sought after McKinsey Knowledge Centre is not restricted to the creamiest layers of top B Schools. Apart from the international exposure, the icing on the cake is that you take home a 20-30 per cent fatter pay cheque at the end of the day. Some other agencies that have captive research centres in India are Bain & Co, Frost & Sullivan and the Everest Group while third-party providers like Evalueserve, Genpact (formerly GECIS) WNS, Pipal Research, Office Tiger, Copal Partners also offer research services to clients.
Flying high
— Rohan Bhatia A. Aviation sector is growing at a rapid pace. New sophisticated aircraft are being deployed and more air routes are being opened. The open-sky policy has encouraged new operators to launch their airlines and feeder lines are becoming viable. Besides our large network of domestic airlines several international airlines now operate through India. To become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer you need to obtain a licence from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), GoI. The AME (Associate Membership Exam) certification is not a degree but a specialised licensing programme for servicing and maintenance of aircraft and only those institutes approved by the DGCA (www.dgca.nic.in) can impart training in this field to prepare you for the AME exam conducted by the Aeronautical Society of India (www.aesi.org). Upon clearing the internal exams (Section A & B), the DGCA will issue you an AME license, which is considered at par with a BE/BTech in aeronautical engineering from an Indian university. The minimum eligibility for enrolling for this programme is a pass in Class X. If you have cleared Plus II (PCM), you are
directly eligible for Section A. Age limit: 23 years (at times, the upper age limit is relaxed for engineering diploma-holders in any branch of engineering (50% marks) and science graduates. Many flying clubs have training institutes attached to them. However, only a few of them offer training on heavy aircraft and jet engines as most make do with small aircraft and piston engines. So do check whether the institute you are enrolling in has the necessary aircraft, engines, library and modern teaching aids, etc. Also make sure the institute is listed on the DGCA website (www.dgca.nic.in). On completing of Year-1 (2 sem) of the 3-year training programme, you can take the basic Paper I of the AME License Exam, followed by Paper II at the end of Year-2, and Paper III on Airframe/Engine/DR Compass on completion of the 5th semester (2½ years). Clearing these three papers at the earliest will fetch you the Basic Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Certificate (BAMEC) from DGCA which will make you eligible for a job in the aviation industry. That leaves you with Paper IV in your specific area of competence, which will fetch you the coveted AME License. The course typically covers 18 topics: Flight aerodynamics, workshop technology, metallurgy/electricity, electronics/jet engineering, etc. as applied to aircraft maintenance. Training in the maintenance of sophisticated appliances such as radio equipment, compass systems, gyroscopic instruments, aviation direction finder, radial and line engines is also incorporated in the course. Alternatively, you can opt for a BE/BTech in Aeronautical Engineering from a regular engineering college. While these courses include instruction on maintenance of the aircraft and its components, the emphasis is more on the design and development of commercial and
Solid foundation in physics
Q. What should I do in high school if I want to be an astrophysicist? What are the future prospects for research and jobs in the field in India? — Kartik Suneja In fact, most of the students at the Indian Institute of Science or Indian Institute of Astrophysics come from a physics background. However, astronomical instrumentation also requires engineering skills in subjects like electronics or mechanical. Hence there are some students from engineering background as well. It is not recommended that you specialise in astronomy/astrophysics too early in your career. There is an acute shortage of serious research astronomers in the country. However, there are also a limited number of institutions that actually do research in astronomy. Experts in the field suggest that you pursue your research work and studies under a reputed professor/Scientist and you will have a reasonable chance of success. Log onto: www.iiap.res.in/ to read more about the subject.
Eligibilty for pharma course
Q. I am doing my schooling through National Open School. Am I eligible to pursue a diploma course in Pharmacy? — Sneha Bhalla A. Three years ago, the Central Council of Pharmacy took the following decisions:
l
To approve only science academic stream (regular course of Plus II) for admission to the D.Pharm course. l
Not to approve open school of any state for admission to D.Pharm course. In view of this, the Senior Secondary School Exam with Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Maths conducted by National Open School, New Delhi (which was earlier approved by PCI), stands null and void. Moreover, candidates possessing qualifications other than those approved by PCI are not eligible for registration as a pharmacist to practice the profession under the Pharmacy Act even if they have completed the D.Pharm course. Only following qualifications acquired from an institution approved by PCI are approved for the purpose of registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act: a) D.Pharm., b) B.Pharm., c)
Pharm.D.
|
|
Food for Thought
Some do make a spectacular beginning. However, at the first taste of success and the first sight of their goal, they begin to slow down, to turn aside, to falter. To reach somewhere, one must keep going. Half a journey is no journey at all. A lot of talented boys and girls in search of fruitful career are might-have-beens, of study courses started and given up, ideas thought and abandoned, half-completed tasks waiting to the climaxed. There always seems to be some imaginary future time when it will be most favourable to finish the undone tasks. They fail to see the vital importance of stickiness — another name of perseverance. Methods of developing perseverance are basically ways of stimulating and cultivating your own goals and then chasing them.
Clear goals
Begin by setting exact goals. A vague idea for future does little to inspire you. A precise one provides incentive for substantiated effort. For example, “ I wish I could write” is vague. Instead “ I will join a writing course today,” is specific which leads to action. Turn your wish into action. Emerson has observed, “ Small minds have desires, great minds have goals.” Even when you achieve a limited goal, part of a bigger one, you see some result for your effort. Small achievements encourage you and provide incentive to go on for bigger ones. Giving yourself no way of escape is a means of forcing yourself to stick to your pre- determined goal. One reason for lack of perseverance is having too many projects on the go at the same time. You will accomplish a lot more by taking one thing at a time and finishing it, than by starting many and completing none.
Try try again
Success in career does not come by chance. One has to keep on trying but working like a gimlet. Unexpected and unforeseen blows may put you off. Prepare yourself to face and overcome them. This does not mean repeating what you have attempted and failed to do. That is will be obstinacy not determination. Instead seek fresh ways of doing what needs to be done. Think what went wrong. Search a new way of tackling failure. Try again with a new approach. Use imagination and intelligence to chance your methods of working, making them more result yielding.
Each step counts
Do something every day to get the desired result – bit by bit. Not even a day should be allowed to go without registering a bit of achievement. Do not shrug off trifles. These mount up and you many not have time for the so-called big problems. Often you can do more in a short space of time than you think. Ten minutes a day may prove more useful than a long spell of daydreaming. Work for small achievements. If you ignore trifles, omissions and errors, they begin to stare at you, look formidable and unconquerable. Mountains look formidable for a distance. Go near and you see many narrow lanes going up. Take them. Someone has beaten a path for you.
Adapt
Examine the methods you use for success. Perhaps you are at fault. For example, you are reading too fast for an examination where accuracy, not speed, is the key. Modify your method. It will yield results. Keep trying even when no tangible results seem to follow. It pays in the long run. When the time comes, the successful is the one who had kept slogging away. Opportunity favours those who prepare themselves for it. Success comes after persistently doing the work needed for it. Think success. Thoughts are magnets that attract things like themselves.
Focus
You will be persistent when your mind is focussed on a goal. Decide first what you want the final result to be. Then look for the means of achieving it. Many adopt the wrong way: they first select the method and then try. They fail. Many aspiring freelance writers, for example, adopt this approach. They first write an article and then begin to look for a suitable market. They try the hit or miss method. The right technique is — choose the market first, and then write for it. The same faulty technique is adopted by some salesmen. They go about their task having no pre-determined objective. They come a cropper. But the successful ones set a goal and a target. Then they chalk out a plan to hit it. So, choose your target, know what it is, and each day move ahead in that direction. This would take you a step forward to achieving your goal.
|
|
World of style gurus
Style and image are the two things that characterise celebrities, actors, TV shows, music videos, advertising, businesses, shops and people. Being well dressed and well groomed in the image conscious world requires professional experts with knowledge and expertise of emerging trends, fashion and looks. A.K.G Nair, Group Director, Pearl Academy of Fashion, gives an insight into the field in an interview. Excerpts:
What is fashion styling and image design? Fashion styling and image design is all about putting a look together for a specific impact, where in the stylist highlights the assets and camouflages the flaws. It is done using various elements like clothes, accessories, backdrops, props etc. Styling has made its presence felt in the field of fashion and entertainment industry, events, brand promotion and celebrity management. What is the scope in this field? The career avenues are vast. Students graduating from a course of this nature can find opportunities in retail sector, television and film industry, print and electronic media Photography and modeling industry, Advertising and promotions, Wellness industry, home and textile industry, event management industry, personal shoppers, celebrity management, image makeovers and personal styling etc. How has this field grown in the past five years? Styling is a developed industry in the West as consumerism and evident pursuit for individualistic positioning and branding and associated presentations are key drivers in the social fabric there. India has very recently emerged and imbibed the image of a potential superpower in the making and gaps are closing in very fast. Looking at the domination that our culture is exerting through the Indian imageries such as Bollywood, cricket, IT, neo rich, glamorised packaging of style guru spiritualists and celebrities, etc., we are creating parallels as powerful in every field in our own way. IPL is one such example to quote, where sports, cinema, celebrities have easily fused few years back to create an amalgamated product with international footprint. What are the challenges in this field? Stylists need to be culture savvy to understand and take note of happenings around the world. They have to keep themselves updated on emergence of iconic brands and their adaptation of different behavior from various perspectives. Major influencers are to be spotted, followed with global linkages and assimilated to adapt and create a unique new. Stylists have to indentify lifestyles that are making waves in the west and creating impact world over, including India. Passion to be the best will make you write success stories. What are the skills required to become a fashion stylist? Apart from tangible skills of basic design concepts, photography, hair make up, visualisation skills, knowledge of psychographics, different art movements and genres of expression, one definitely requires an innate ability to constantly imbibe from one’s environment and build on the knowledge bank. One needs to create a strong resource pool to draw from and be alert, constantly on one’s toes and have quick decision making skills. One is expected to exhibit thorough professionalism as well be geared to continuously face challenges. Which are the specific courses available in this field? There are different courses available but keeping in mind the demand for professionals in this field, Pearl Academy of Fashion has recently launched a four-year BA Honours course in Fashion Styling and Image Design (FSID). This is the first integrated undergraduate course in the country in Fashion Styling and Image Design. The course aims to inculcate, in students, the capability, drive and value based professional competence to address varied situations that can be visibly transformed into enhanced business value through professional intervention. It enables the students to graduate as highly competent professionals to perform effectively in the Fashion Styling and Image Design sector for all segments of customers, service, products, markets and technology. Any student who has passed Plus II from any recognized board in any discipline, with minimum 50 per cent marks can join the course. What is the job profile and remuneration status in this career? Graduates of this programme will have employability as entrepreneurs, fashion styling consultants or employed as professionals. Fashion styling is a highly remunerative career option. On assignments from clients, ranging from advertising agencies to celebrities, Stylists may charge anywhere between Rs 15,000 – 50,000 per day. Fresh pass outs from reputed institutes get the starting salary of around Rs 25,000 per month.
|
|
Happiness work
On a world-conquering spree, Alexander reached the Beas in 326 BC. But his homesick forces refused to march against the mighty Nanda Empire forcing him to retreat. In their eagerness to make money, capitalists, during the Industrial Revolution, made workers, including women and children, work in inhuman conditions for long hours in factories. Unable to bear it any longer, the common man powered three revolutions —American Revolution in 1776, French Revolution in 1789 and Russian Revolution in 1917. Having most of Europe in their hands by August 1940, the Axis powers — Germany, Italy and Japan — wanted the rest of the world-pie in one go. But the entry of Britain in August 1940, Soviet Union in June 1941 and the US in December 1941 turned the tide of World War II. The severe Russian winter and the Battle of Stalingrad broke the German army’s back. Germany lost 300,000 men and 90,000 surrendered in February 1943. King Yudhisthira knew that of the warriors present, Abhimanyu was the only one who knew how to penetrate the Chakravyuha that Drona had laid on the 13th day of the Mahabharata war. Though it was a big challenge for the 16-year-old warrior, Yudhisthira asked him to lead them into the formation. As Yudhisthira and his army couldn’t keep up with the lad, Abhimanyu met his death that day. Whom will you lead if your followers are either dead or gone? — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at
svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
|
|
Fortnightly Quiz - 360
1. In which European country did a volcano erupt recently, disrupting many flights worldwide? 2. When is National Panchayati Raj Day observed?
3. Name NASA’s observatory that recently captured images of never-before-seen material streaming out of the sun. 4. What is the full form of the company OIL that was recently granted “Navratna” status by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas? 5. How many Indian companies feature in the world’s 2,000 most powerful listed companies, according to the US magazine Forbes? 6. With which field was CK Prahalad associated? 7. Which erstwhile Mysore ruler’s rare sword was sold in an auction for £ 505,250 at Sotheby’s recently? 8. What is the mascot for the football World Cup 2010? 9. Which is the world’s largest sports stadium with 90,000 seats and longest single roof structure? 10. Which team won the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament recently? — Tarun Sharma
Winners of quiz 359: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Akshay Dadhwal, class IX-B, Noorpur Public School, Nurpur, Kangra, Pin Code - 176202 Second: Dushyant , class VII , St Mary’s Convent School, Narwana, Haryana, Pin Code - 126116 Third: Vishav Kishore , class VIII-A, DAV Senior Secondary Public School, Lakkar Bazar, Shimla, Pin Code – 171001 Answers to quiz 359: India; The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Elementary Education Act; Silver; $ 40000; Switzerland; Rajasthan; UB Group; India; Herge; India Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address. Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place to facilitate the delivery of the prize money. Answers can also be sent
|
|
|
For centuries maps have been essential tools to understand and navigate through the world. More than being an art, Cartography is a science. In the 21st century it has come a long way from the ancient maps of Babylon and the ones made by Chinese and Portugese explorers.Usha Albuquerque on cartography as a career choice for the gen X
The bullish Indian entertainment and media industry has given rise to a celebrity-based culture and a vast range of media support functions that include fashion styling and image design. This growth is also fuelled by the advent of a consumerist society that is moving from ‘character’ to ‘personality’ in the 21st century India.Style and image are the two things that characterise celebrities, actors, TV shows, music videos, advertising, businesses, shops and people. Being well dressed and well groomed in the image conscious world requires professional experts with knowledge and expertise of emerging trends, fashion and looks.
There are only a handful of students who take up geography as a subject in school, and fewer still who would have a strong enough interest in the subject to consider a career in cartography. Yet geography is a fascinating introduction to knowledge about the physical world we live in, its different and varying physical features and their influence on the economic, political and cultural life of all creatures that inhabit earth.
Following the success of Canada’s Students Partners Programme (SPP) for India, there has been a steep rise in student visa applications for that country. But, the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi is ever vigilant against “fraudulent documentation” that is reported to be the highest from the Punjab region.
Q. I have appeared for Plus II board exam this year in PCM stream. Because of my average marks and eyesight I can’t be a pilot, but I would still very much like a career connected with aircrafts and engineering. Could you please tell me something about aircraft maintenance engineering, how to become one, and the names of some institutions?
A. Basically, the most important subjects at school level are physics and maths and it is essential to do well in academics. It is necessary to have a very solid foundation of physics in order to be a professional astrophysicist. 
Many fail in life because they never make up their mind where they want to go. They are like an oven that is always heating, but never cooking anything. Christopher Columbus on his long voyage to the New World, each night, made one entry in his logbook: “This day we sailed westward, which is our course.” He knew where he wanted to go. Do you? If you lack the ability to see your projects through to a good finish, you have no staying power. You may make a good beginning, but cannot see it through to the end.
The bullish Indian entertainment and media industry has given rise to a celebrity-based culture and a vast range of media support functions that include fashion styling and image design. This growth is also fuelled by the advent of a consumerist society that is moving from ‘character’ to ‘personality’ in the 21st century India.
While endeavouring for a big change, make sure not to stir a hornet’s nest. Don’t go for too many changes in too many fields at one go. In your zealousness, you could end up breaking the backs of your team members.
