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Floriculture-related options
Career Hotline
news board
field in focus: oceanography
on
board(s)
smart strategy: tackling rudeness at workplace
Cos rain “shares” on productive employees
Utilise the power of words
book shelf
Happiness @ work
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Grow and bloom
Gauri Chhabra
With flower festivals going on all around one is bound to think how the art of growing and marketing flowers has come a long way from being a hobby to becoming a lucrative career field. Commonly known as floriculture, the study of growing and marketing flowers and foliage plants also includes the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for sale or for use as raw materials in cosmetics and perfume industries and the pharmaceutical sector. In India floriculture industry comprises flower trade, production of nursery plants and potted plants, seed and bulb production, micro propagation and extraction of essential oils.
Courses When asked about the degrees and courses offered, Dr Kushal Singh, Senior Plant Physiologist and Head, Department of Botany, Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana said, “Besides offering a master’s in horticulture and a PhD in the related discipline, there are 2, 5 and 7-day crash courses in Floriculture being run under the aegis of Directorate of Extension Education, PAU. These are run with an objective to boost the income of farmers with small land holding and also to provide an escalation to self- employment”. Some of the institutions providing courses in floriculture are: * Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana is offering a post graduate degree. Certificate courses are offered by: * North-Eastern Hill University, Centre for Distance Education, Meghalaya * Nalanda Open University, Patna. * Allahabad School of Agriculture
Floriculture offers a broad spectrum of career options. These vary from working as farm managers, plantation experts and supervisors, and project coordinators. Research and teaching are some other avenues of employment in the field. A combined knowledge of floriculture with management enables one to get marketing positions with organisations involved in the processing and marketing of flowers and flowering plants. Providing products for different ventures is emerging as a potential segment of this field. Besides, one can also work as a consultant, landscape architect. Those with business acumen can also work as entrepreneurs and offer employment to others. Those with PhD in floriculture can get placed with reputed Research and Development cells of companies and corporate houses. In addition to these careers that involve research and actual growing of crops, floriculture also provides service career opportunities which include such jobs as floral designers, groundskeepers, landscape designers, architects and horticultural therapists. Such jobs require practitioners to deal directly with clients. Some career profiles that students interested in this field can look for include: Floral designers Floral designers, also known as florists, arrange, cut and dry flowers to create eye-pleasing displays such as corsages, centerpieces, wreaths and bouquets used for gift baskets and holiday, wedding and funeral displays. As a floral designer, you may work for boutique floral shops or large wholesale distributors. You may also create and deliver custom orders for grocery stores and Internet sites. You may also help treat, raise and care for the greenery and flowers in the shop working for retail outlets or may own businesses. Floral designers may increase job opportunities by completing a certificate programme in floriculture. Floral production managers Floral production managers, sometimes known as nursery managers, plan and coordinate flower and plant production in a nursery, greenhouse or garden center. These professionals use their knowledge in floriculture and horticulture to determine which plants would grow best in a given environment. You may also be required to review inventories, sales and manage floral staff. Floral sales representatives Floral sales representatives' call on customer accounts, such as floral shops or garden centers, in order to sell flowers, arrangements and other products. Sales representatives are responsible for keeping abreast of trends and products in floriculture and generating new customers. You may be called upon to travel to the client's location and guide about latest trends in floral designs. Floral supervisor Floral department supervisors oversee sales, grocery stores and businesses, as well as flower shops. In addition to management duties, they design floral arrangements, stock products, interact with customers and process orders. Prospective floral department supervisors typically start their careers in part-time sales, deliveries or administrative positions within floral departments. Experienced floral designers typically train applicants until they can work independently. Individuals with prior floral experience may begin as customer service representatives or management trainees. Entry-level positions allow aspiring floral department supervisors to become familiar with trends in floral designs, selling techniques and scheduling. New hires may also be trained on setting departmental goals for floral sales and operations. Experienced employees may take on more challenging roles, like assisting with marketing campaigns, setting up information sessions for prospective customers and sourcing products from vendors, before applying for managerial positions. Rose culturist Rose Culturists plant, cultivate, market and improve different species of roses. As a floriculturist you may keep plants healthy and display roses for maximum aesthetic effect.= and be proficient in a specialty of ornamental horticulture, are expert in all aspects of cultivating roses, including the appropriate seasons to plant roses, the types of soil useful for growing them and the proper methods of watering, fertilizing and harvesting. Green house supervisors You can also work at greenhouses and nurseries to oversee and supervise the production of flowers that are sold for replanting in private, public and corporate gardens. They may also be contracted to directly supervise planting. You would be required to work in close association with landscape architects and contractors manage the planting and cultivation of flowers. Besides, you may be required to till the soil, select specific varieties and control pests. In addition to being an expert on the care of cultivation of flowers, knowledge of landscape practices is essential. Because of the high visibility of the work, you should possess strong communications and public relations skills. Teaching and research Those with a P.HD degree go in for teaching and research at colleges and universities. To teach and conduct research in floriculture at the college level, a minimum of a master's degree is required, with evidence that one is making progress towards a doctorate. — The writer is a Ludhiana-based career consultant Getting in
Most colleges don't conduct a separate course for floriculture at the under-graduate level, but treat it as part of the academic curriculum of agriculture. Thus, floriculture is not available as a subject at the undergraduate level. If you wish to join this stream you should enroll for an undergraduate course in Agriculture i.e. BSc, Agriculture. The basic eligibility criterion for a BSc in Agriculture is Plus II with sciences including Physics and Biology. For an MSc, you must have a BSc in Agriculture or a related subject. MSc in Horticulture offers specialisations in floriculture, and pomology, cultivation of fruits. For PhD the basic eligibility criterion is a master's degree in the related discipline. An undergraduate course in agriculture may take anything from 3-4 years for completion. An MSc is usually a two-year course. The duration of Diploma and Certificate courses varies according to the schedule of the universities and institutes offering such courses.
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Work experience
for MBA
Pervin Malhotra email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com
A. It’s not clear from your query how long you’ve been working as a junior AE in the agency. But if you look at the typical class composition of top B-schools, you’ll find that students have an average of 2-4 years of work-experience. If you have less than two years of work-experience, it will hardly get any weightage in MBA selection or in placement. You’ll be treated on par with fresh graduates.
The right nursing course
After Class X: *
18-month Auxiliary Nurse Midwife / Multi-Purpose Health Worker courses (merit based entry). After Class XII / or work experience: *
3-year Diploma in General Nursing Eligibility: Class XII preferably in science. Selection: Objective type entrance exam in English and General Science. *
4-year BSc Nursing Eligibility: Pass in XII (Physics, Chemistry & Biology). Selection: Entrance exam or merit in qualifying exam. *
3½ -year Certificate in General Nursing (GN), General Nursing Midwives (GNM) and Male Nursing (MN) Diploma courses are offered by every state at designated hospitals. Eligibility: Age 17 to 25 years. Class X with Science (40%) Exams are conducted by the respective State Nursing Boards. *
2-year BSc Nursing Post Basic/Certificate Eligibility: those who have passed Class XII or equivalent in science with work experience of 3-5 years after completing General Nursing/Midwife training. Notification and admission details are published in leading newspapers. Alternatively, information can also be obtained from the Director, Medical Services Training of the state. Colleges admit domiciles of the respective states but some national level colleges conduct all India entrance tests. Most nursing colleges tend to admit women candidates only, but it is open also to males in restricted numbers.
I want to go to USA for MS
A.
Admission to all MS courses in the US are on the basis of GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores. The GRE assesses your academic knowledge and skills for admission to postgraduate or doctoral level programmes of study in the US and Canada. It is also a major factor influencing financial-aid awards. While top universities like MIT would require a high GRE score (The average range of GRE scores for the quantitative sections of the GRE is 750- 800, the analytical score ranges from 3.5 upwards), others may settle for less. Log onto the websites of some of the top colleges in your field of engineering to get an idea of the acceptable GRE score. However, GRE is not the sole determinant. The Admissions Committee takes the entire application into consideration when reviewing your application and making admission decisions along with your TOEFL scores. Although, you may take the GRE every calendar month if you wish, you should really try to limit your attempts since (a) it costs a packet each time and (b) the score reporting is cumulative. Each time your score report is sent to a university, it will also carry all your previous scores. For further information visit www.gre.org.
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Thapar varsity signs MoU with French institute
Thapar University, Patiala, has signed an MoU with Groupe ISA, Institute of Life Sciences, Lille, France, for the Exchange of Academic, research information and joint educational programmes. The MoU will focus on topics related to Food and Environmental Biotechnology. The MoU was signed by Prof K.K. Raina, Director Thapar University and Ms. Florence Malaise, Director International Relations recently. Through this MoU the students at Thapar University will benefit in terms of student exchange and faculty exchange programmes, sharing of information related to research or training programmes sponsored by funding agencies and short-term continuing education programmes on topics of mutual interest. The faculty will also be able to take advantage through exchange of information on teaching, learning material and other literature relevant to their educational and research programmes. Skill development initiatives The Tata Group and the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaborating in bringing together relevant organisations that will facilitate systemic interventions for skill development and delivery in India. This will initially include projects in Odisha and Mumbai for replicable skills training across India. The MoU was signed in the presence of David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, United Kingdom. Commenting on the MoU, the Chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus P. Mistry, said, “This initiative is designed to support the skill needs of large employers, as well as their supply chain of small and medium enterprises. They will seek to provide best-in-class skills, enterprise, employability training and work placement in the country.” The initiative will also test and evaluate a range of innovative approaches to the development of skills and employability, particularly pioneering e-learning approaches, providing a robust evidence base for future roll-outs at a significant scale. Tata Steel, TCS and several other Tata Group entities, in addition to specific Tata Trusts, will be involved in the execution of this initiative. If mutually agreed, the partnership will also develop other greenfield or brownfield projects in other parts of the country beyond Odisha and Mumbai to improve vocational training with regard to coverage, content or delivery leading to enhanced employability for people at the bottom of the pyramid.
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A sea of opportunities
Preetinder Kaur The field of ocean engineering provides an important link with other disciplines such as marine biology, chemical and physical oceanography, marine geology and geophysics. Just as the interests of oceanographers have driven the demand for the design skills and technical expertise of ocean engineers, innovations in instrumentation and equipment design made by ocean engineers have revolutionised the field of oceanography over the past three decades.
Information that once took years to compile, and frequently involved sampling in harsh weather conditions, can now be accomplished in minutes, often from remote locations, including ships and laboratories. The innovations of ocean engineers have enabled oceanographers to travel farther offshore and deeper into the sea, and to stay there for longer periods of time. Because of ocean engineers, major oceanographic discoveries have been made. Coastal engineering has become an increasingly important part of ocean engineering. With more and more people living or working on or near coasts, problems associated with coastal development, such as pollution and waste disposal, will require the expertise and innovation of coastal engineers. For example, increasing the capacity of a coastal community to handle the sewage and garbage generated by a growing population requires careful attention to the effect that disposal methods will have on the adjacent water bodies. The oil industry, military, and marine navigation fields also require ocean engineering skills. Each of these sectors directly impacts our lifestyle in some way, be it a source of energy, transportation, or our nation’s defence. The work of ocean engineers plays an important role in each of these employment sectors. Experts in the education and engineering fields regard ocean engineering as a very system oriented field because of its interdisciplinary nature. Without the expertise of ocean engineers, oceanography would be many years behind in terms of what we know about the ocean system and its impacts on our daily lives. Preparing yourself for a career in ocean engineering is probably one of the most interesting and rewarding (yet difficult) paths to travel. The study of ocean is typically divided into different academic disciplines (or sub-fields) of study. The four main disciplines are:
* Geological ocean engineering, which is the study of the structure of the sea floor and how the sea floor has changed through time; the creation of sea floor features; and the history of sediments deposited on it. * Chemical ocean engineering, which is the study of the chemical composition and properties of seawater; how to extract certain chemicals from seawater; and the effects of pollutants. * Physical ocean engineering, which is the study of waves, tides, and currents; the ocean-atmosphere relationship that influences weather and climate; and the transmission of light and sound in the oceans. * Biological ocean engineering, which is the study of the various oceanic life forms and their relationships to one another; adaptations to the marine environment, and developing ecologically sound methods of harvesting seafood. Since oceanography is such a new science (with much room left for new discoveries) most people enter the field with an advanced degree (master’s or doctorate). One exception to this is to work as a marine technician, which usually requires a bachelor’s degree or applicable experience. It does take a large commitment to achieve an advanced degree, but, in the end, the journey itself is what makes all the hard work worthwhile. Job profiles Many job opportunities for oceanographers exist with scientific research institutions (universities) and various government agencies. Private companies that are engaged in searching for economic sea floor deposits, investigating areas for sea farming, and evaluating natural energy production from waves, currents, and tides also hire oceanographers. The duties of oceanographers vary from place to place, but can be generally described as follows: Geological oceanographers and geophysicists explore the ocean floor and map submarine geologic structures. Physical oceanographers investigate such ocean properties as temperature, density, wave motions, tides, and currents. Chemical oceanographers and marine geochemists investigate the chemical composition of seawater and its interaction with the atmosphere and the sea floor. Their work may include analysis of seawater components, desalination of seawater, and studying the effects of pollutants. Biological oceanographers, marine biologists, and fisheries scientists study marine plants and animals. They are interested in how marine organisms develop, relate to one another, adapt to their environment, and interact with it. Marine and ocean engineers apply scientific and technical knowledge to practical uses. Their work ranges from designing sensitive instruments for measuring ocean processes to building marine structures that can withstand ocean currents, waves, tides, and severe storms. Subfields include acoustics, robotics, electrical, mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering and naval architecture. They often use highly specialised computer techniques. — The writer is Principal Satluj Public School, Ropar
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on
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The paper should not be handed over to the invigilator without revising it thoroughly as it might save five to seven marks owing to silly errors because of writing fast and forgetfulness. *
While attempting the comprehension passage, never write answers in incomplete sentences. All answers should be written to the point, precise, concise and within the word limit. Do not fall short of the word limit. *
In the Note making, the examinee is required to read the passage carefully and just formulate the points and sub-headings in his mind. Sub-headings and points should not be written in complete sentences but in phrases. The main heading should be written in capitals. Use standard abbreviations where ever necessary and a key to the abbreviations and contractions should be given at the end. *
The summary should be compressed in one well written paragraph only. Irrelevant details must be avoided. *
The composition should be given a suitable and catchy heading. Three to four short paragraphs are sufficient. Avoid writing very long sentences. Write with conviction. Write your own ideas. Be coherent. *
The category of the advertisement like ‘Lost and Found’, ‘Vehicles’, ‘Property’, ‘Matrimonial,’ etc, should be mentioned outside the box .Try to be precise. All the important information should be given without repetition. *
Notice, advertisement, poster and invitation all have word limit. All significant details must be presented artfully and legibly. Make sure you do not miss out on key value points (what, when, where, how and why) *
While attempting a letter, everything should be written on the left side in any kind of letter. The first paragraph should focus the theme and the topic. Then discuss the problem/event and the third one should have solution and then a conclusive paragraph. The letter should be divided into smaller paragraphs. *
The students should be careful that the arguments given by them, in a debate, should be relevant, convincing and as per the topic. *
The examinees should be thorough with the literature section and aim to score the maximum. Avoid writing answers in points. Word limit should be followed religiously. *
A good beginning and a proper conclusion will fetch good marks. The answers should be written in simple and pleasant English. Last but not the least the students must attempt the paper with a relaxed mind. *
Do not leave any question unattempted. Put the correct question number. Manage time. Try to write balanced answers. You can keep half an hour to finish the long answers. *
See that your paper is written well and revise before you hand over. — The writer is Principal Charmwood Village, MRIS-21C, Faridabad
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smart strategy: tackling rudeness at workplace Gossiping, bullying and backstabbing are not only limited to high schools, these’re also common in workplaces. According to a recent article published in the Harvard Business Review, half of workers have revealed that they’re treated rudely at their job at least once a week, up from just a quarter in 1998, Fox News reported.
More shockingly 12 percent of people said they left their jobs because of it, the study reported. But people don’t tend to report it, mainly out of a sense of hopelessness or fear of potential repercussions, said study co-author Christine Porath, associate professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Not only your work, these stressful situations can affect your mental and physical health, too. Therefore experts have suggested some tips to help you in such situations. 1 Whenever your colleague talk to you in a rude manner, respond in a way that ends the conversation and shows her that you’re totally unfazed. But keep your response polite and abrupt, suggested Marie McIntyre, author of Secrets to Winning at Office Politics. “They want a reaction, but you don’t want to give it to them,” said McIntyre If your colleague suddenly acts like you don’t exist, then ask twice if they’re upset with you, then move on. “It’s a passive-aggressive response. They want to let you know they’re mad, but they’re not comfortable talking about it,” McIntyre said. As a solution to this she suggested: Give them two chances to tell you what’s up, then pretend to believe that they’re “fine”. You can even say without a hint of sarcasm. 2When a coworker is badmouthing you behind your back. To fix this, McIntyre said, confront her, but don’t start an interrogation. It’s tempting to immediately storm into someone’s office demanding an apology, but you run the risk of causing even more drama. So, wait until you catch them alone and tell them what you heard, without being accusatory, she suggested. “Don’t make assumptions, state the facts, and use ‘I’ statements, like ‘I heard you may have said that...,” McIntyre advises. Even if they deny it, you’re letting them know that the gossip is getting back to you and that you’re not having it. 3In another situation your coworker may think office life is The Hunger Games, and she’ll do anything to get an edge. In that case create some distance between the two of you, McIntyre suggests. If someone has set her sights on your job, you don’t want to give her an advantage. That might mean not telling her about a new project you’re working on, or not swapping stories at happy hour. “If someone has an agenda, you can still be a pleasant colleague while not letting them gain an advantage over you,” McIntyre said. 4 If your boss is upto making your life miserable, don’t think of quitting the job. Instead focus on your work, but pull back in other areas, Porath recommends. “Hold off on attending optional social functions and limit your work to normal office hours,” she said. And most importantly, don’t let the rudeness follow you home. Leave your laptop at the office, and don’t be plugged in 24/7, she added. This will help reduce stress from a toxic boss and at the same time show them that you’re there for one reason: to work. If that doesn’t impress them, at least you’ve bulked up your resume, the expert stated. — ANI
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Cos rain “shares” on productive employees
Seeking to reward their staff amid an uptrend in the stock market, top blue-chip companies like HDFC Bank, ITC, L&T, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Wipro have awarded crore of shares to their employees and many more such equity offerings appear to be in the pipeline.
During the remaining period of the current year, thousands of crore worth equity shares might be further allotted as both the companies and employees tend to prefer exercise of stock options towards the fiscal-end and during a rising equity market. The market benchmark Sensex has appreciated by over 11 per cent so far in the current fiscal, while the gains were much higher before some correction and consolidation in the stock market during the recent weeks. Among the top firms, premier private sector lender HDFC Bank has allotted 2.55 crore shares worth over Rs 1,680 crore to employees and FMCG major ITC has allotted 3.78 crore shares (Rs 1,104.89 crore) to their respective employees. Among those leading the pack, housing finance giant HDFC has also given 1.14 crore shares (Rs 916.67 crore) and engineering and infrastructure conglomerate L&T has allotted 29.87 lakh shares (Rs 428.50 crore),
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Utilise the power of words
Words have tremendous power and potential and everyone uses a large number of words in daily life and in one’s career. These words act like a double-edged weapon which when used properly make a person successful, but if used carelessly these can cause havoc ruining one’s life and career.
So one has to be very careful about the “power” of words, especially in work situations. Each word has a frequency of its own. Some words are more powerful while others are weak and impotent. The frequency of different words can be utilised to grow in one’s career by amplifying it and making this psychological yet scientific conscious effort. In order to get the most from one’s words the role of one’s attitude is of paramount importance. Just see how the word “attitude” has 100 per cent powerful frequency and how potent this word is. To analyse this word, allow power denomination to each letter of English alphabet like 1 to A, 2 to B, 3 to C and so on ending with Z which carries the power of 26. Now count the frequency of ‘attitude’ giving power to each letter. It comes exactly to 100. Not only this, this word is a balanced one. Its first half ‘atti’ carries the power of 50, and so does its latter half. This balance of 50-50 indicates that one’s attitude uses the left and right hemisphere of one’s brain equally, in coordination and cooperation, making the individual a balanced one. Here are some words whose power should be exploited positively to lead a content and successful life: Win with “we” The most selfish single-letter word is ‘I’. The employee with a positive attitude, always substitutes it with the two-letter word ‘we’. Instead of saying that he has done a particular piece of work successfully single-handedly, he/she rather says that the same has been done with the help and kind cooperation of his worthy colleagues. Even when the colleagues have not helped him/her at all, the latter are propelled to help him/her in times to come. Just note the power of ‘I’ is simply 9 while that of ‘we’ is 28. Shun “ego” The three-letter word ‘ego’ is a poisonous one. Don’t nurture this habit as being an egoist is a bad habit. Now substitute this word with four-letter ‘love’. This is a nourishing word. It fills one with a sense of peace and tranquillity. While no one likes an egoist, no one would like to ignore the one who is full of love. With love all good things are possible but with ego nothing good can be achieved. “Smile” soars The five-letter word ‘smile’ is the need of the hour at every workplace. It needs to be spread. But the six-letter word ‘rumour’ which spreads like a wild fire needs to be controlled. The employees, who ignore rumours, work more peacefully and constructively. While a ‘rumour’ is filthy, ‘smile’ is nourishing and encouraging, providing a healthy workplace scenario. The most flourishing seven-letter word is ‘success’ which each and every employee craves for. But why success licks the feet of some and runs away from many others? The eight-letter word ‘jealousy’ is behind the failure of those who fumble because this green-eyed monster virtually controls the reins of their attitude. Share “knowledge” The most rewarding is the nine-letter word ‘knowledge’ which is all-encompassing. But this tool of knowledge acts like a powerful light when one makes use of the ten-letter word ‘friendship’. Sharing knowledge with friends, even acquiring the same from them makes one reach the dizzy heights of achievement. The use of all powers and qualities mentioned above can be enhanced provided the employees make use and benefit from the wonderful attributes of the 10-letter word ‘coordinate’. —
The writer is a psychologist and a career expert
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Roadmap for future
Seerat Toor Grewal
India is rising in consciousness. We are becoming more aware of our rights and duties. Lately the national stage witnessed mass protests fighting for the safety of women. All this is actually signifies the age of change. But, this period of history to which we all play witness also marks a huge disconnect between the owners and the stakeholders. The organisations around us have reached the heights of success. The disconnect is equally alarming as the people who have contributed to making those success stories possible are being put in the back-seat. Thus, we see many young people who have sufficient means, opting for entrepreneurship.
It is for them to realise that the time now calls for higher stakeholder role and ownership. The organisations they build, should rise in purpose and look beyond profits. The growth should be more inclusive and lasting. Young entrepreneurs can actually seek knowledge to erect new forms of business designs which will be for common good. The book in focus is a wonderful guide for individuals who plan to start-up new ventures. Owning Our Future is a very absorbing piece of work, a prototype book on the subject which has intrigued human civilisations across the globe. Marjorie Kelly has cleverly decoded the highly encrypted principles of the present-day economic models and has opened the public-eye to the juggernaut of their exploitative fundamentals. She has wonderfully interweaved the latter most leveraged system design with the one just emerging over the horizons which will bear coming generations and grant them access to the basics of living at the rate and price they will self-determine. The profiles highlighted in the text are business models that have shifted the ownership from the hands of a few who used them as profit-making engines to the hands of individuals/ families/ societies who are directly involved. The book seeks to make the organisations more responsive to individuals involved and move beyond making profits. There work follows five broad patterns to accentuate the differences in the two branches viz. the Extractive Ownership and Generative Ownership, of the dichotomous economic tree. The pattern for the generative design being Living Purpose, Rooted Membership, Mission-controlled Governance, Stakeholder Finance and Ethical Networks. A critical thinking on these five peripherals can help young entrepreneurs and established organisations to rise on their ethical fronts and steam ahead with a wider approach.
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Happiness @ work Make God your friend. At the end of the day, don’t forget to talk to Him and thank Him. As you are my friend, I am simplifying the most profound knowledge in the universe for you because it is in your interest, said Krishna (Gita 18.64).
Princess Damayanti of Kundanpur loved King Nala of Nishada and intended to garland him during her ‘swayamvar’. But on her wedding day, she faced a predicament like no other — sitting in front of her were five Nalas! She prayed to the Mother Goddess who told her to look at their eyes and feet. As four out of them were gods Indra, Varuna, Agni and Yama in disguise who had come to test her, their feet could not touch the Earth and their eyes didn’t blink like normal humans. Damayanti’s problem was solved. For Amatur Sayid, she was a messenger from heaven. While making a round of her kingdom, Queen Chennamma of Kittur saw a dilapidated mosque. When asked about its poor condition, Sayid confessed that the devotees had no funds. The state not only paid for it, but the queen came to visit it after renovation. Two Brahmins from Sringeri called on Tipu Sultan as the Sarada temple there had been ransacked. Tipu sent gold and jewels for the consecration of the Goddess. After conquering Lahore, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s first public act was to pay homage at the Badshahi mosque there. Rejected by his wife princess Vasanti of Varanasi for not being a scholar, unlettered cowherd Kalidasa meditated many days without food and water in front of Goddess Kali. With her blessings, he became one of the world’s greatest poets. For falling in love with Sultan Baz Bahadur of Mandu, Roopmati, Rajput princess of Dharampuri, was confined to her room by her father Thakur Thansingh. Answering her prayers, river goddess Rewa blessed her with success. Baz Bahadur defeated Thansingh, married Roopmati and made a palace for her at the source of the river. While crossing the Ganga at Prayag, Hiuen Tsang and his followers were attacked by robbers. As he was about to be sacrificed, the Chinese scholar pleaded that he be allowed to say his last prayers. Before he could finish, a sudden gale hit the place. Terrified, the robbers not only sought forgiveness but also threw their weapons into the river. Avoid the worse by worship! — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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Course Cruising
Applications have been invited by Footwear Design and Development Institute, Noida, for admission to master's and bachelor's degree programmes in footwear design, fashion merchandising and leather goods design. Eligibility: Check eligibility criteria for different courses at the website: http://www.fddiindia.com How to apply: Prospectus along with the Admission Form can be purchased from: FDDI Campus at NOIDA, Rai Bareilly, Chennai, Kolkata, Chhindwara, Rohtak & Jodhpur. The prospectus can also be procured from branches of Axis Bank across India. You can send a Demand Draft of Rs 500 in favour of "FDDI" payable at New Delhi to FDDI, NOIDA and it will be sent through courier. Do not forget to mention the complete address at the back of the DD also. Applications can be submitted online at http://www.fddiindia.com/admissions/pg/fddi_application/fddi.aspx Deadline: May 20, 2013. Date of Entrance Test: June14, 15, and 16 June, 2013. Check out: www.fddiindia.com/admission-new/admission.html SCIENCE The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore offers admission to its four-year Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Programme in 2013. The four-year BS Programme is divided into eight semesters. The final semester is devoted exclusively to a research project. The major disciplines available in the BS Programme are Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Materials, Mathematics and Physics. The batch of students joining in 2013 will graduate in June 2017. Eligibility: Students appearing for Class XII board examination (or equivalent) in 2013 and those who have passed this examination in 2012 are eligible to apply for admission to this programme. Applicant must have studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as main subjects during their II PUC / 12th Standard. Those who have studied Biology, Statistics, Electronics, Computer Science etc., in addition to Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are also eligible to apply. The candidates must have secured a first class or 60% or equivalent grade (relaxed to pass class for SC/ST candidates) in the II PUC / 12th standard examination. Eligibility: Details of eligibility criteria and the selection process are provided at the "How to apply" page. On-line applications will be received at this web site via the "Online Application" link during February 1 - April 30, 2013. Seats: About 120 students will be admitted to the Programme. Seats will be allotted to general and special categories as per Government regulations. Reservation for SC/ ST/ OBC/ Physically-Handicapped (PH) and Kashmiri-Migrant (KM) candidates will be as per Government of India regulations, and following the National List. The Institute uses the merit lists of existing highly competitive national level entrance examinations such as KVPY, IIT-JEE (Main and Advanced) and NEET-UG for admission to the BS Programme. Students desirous of applying to the BS Programme must take at least one of these above examinations. How to apply: Application can be submitted only online. The online application may be submitted by at the IISc website www.iisc.ernet.in/ug. The application fee is Rs 400 for GN/OBC/KM candidates and Rs 200 for SC/ST/PH categories. Deadline: April 30, 2013 Check out: www.iisc.ernet.in/ug. MANAGEMENT Loughborough University, UK, is inviting applications for a two-year executive MBA course in International Sports Management. The course: Specifically tailored for executives seeking career advancement and personal development within the rapidly expanding global sports industry, the International Sports Management MBA aims to equip students with core business and management skills in a sports context. Aimed at experienced managers returning to a learning environment from wide-ranging backgrounds within sport, the course offers professional relevance combined with academic rigour and underpinned by leading research. Eligibility: Those wishing to apply should have three years’ relevant professional experience and hold either a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, membership of an approved chartered institute or a Diploma in Management Studies. Fee: £28,000. How to apply: Students should submit their applications online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and further details can be obtained at www.ucas.com. There are also scholarship options worth up to 40% of course fees available to eligible students applying for the course. Deadline: May, 2013 Checkout: www.loughboroughmba.com Short course on urban services The Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bangalore, has launched a short course on ‘PPP in Urban Services — Lessons for Future Action’. The course will be held at the IIHS City Campus, Bangalore from March 6th to 9th and aims to help participants understand the way forward in improving urban service delivery through a PPP approach. The course is jointly offered by IIHS and iDeCK. This course will start with a quick overview of the PPP framework(s) and move on to take a critical look at case studies of Urban sector PPPs in India (and other developing countries) in an attempt to draw insights for future action in PPPs in the Urban sector. The course with focussed components on Urban Water, Urban SWM, Urban Transport and Urban Amenities like Markets, etc. along with a critical overview of services as they are structured currently, the roles of different participants, the key challenges, sector regulation status, key players, etc. will provide a comprehensive understanding of the present setting. From this, participants will be assisted to draw conclusions on what PPP models may apply to this sector. The course will benefit government and policy makers, individuals currently in the Private Sector or who are desirous of getting into it as well as students who are looking to enter or further a career in infrastructure in the private sector. The registrations can be done by March 5, 2013.
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Scholarship Roundup
ADB-Japan scholarship programme
The scholarship is for one year with an extension to the second year of study. Students must have a bachelor's degree and are expected to contribute to the economic and social development of their home countries. The ADB-JSP covers tuition fees, airfare, Basic cost of living, health and medical insurance and also research grant. Applications should be electronically or by post. Eligibility: A national of an ADB borrowing member (applicants from countries that are no longer borrowing from ADB are not eligible for the ADB-JSP Scholarship). *
Gained admission to an approved MA/PhD course at an academic institution. *
A bachelor's degree or its equivalent with superior academic record. *
At least two years of full-time professional working experience (acquired after a university degree) at the time of application. Proficiency in spoken and written English communication skills to be able to pursue studies. *
Not more than 35 years old at the time of application. In exceptional cases, for programs which are appropriate for senior officials and managers, the age limit is 45 years old. *
In good health. * Should agree to return to his/her home country after completion of studies under the programme. Detail: The ADB-JSP provides *
full tuition fees * a monthly subsistence and housing allowance *
an allowance for books and instructional materials *
medical insurance * travel expenses For scholars engaged in research, a special grant may be available for thesis preparation. In special circumstances computer literacy, preparatory language and other similar courses may be covered under the scholarship. Duration of award(s): The scholarship is for one year with an extension to the second year of study, as appropriate, which shall be conditional on the scholar maintaining a satisfactory level of performance as determined by the institute. The maximum duration of scholarship award is two years for masters and doctorate programs. How to apply: Applicants should request information and application forms from the chosen Academic Institution(s).The completed Institution application form and required documentation, including the ADB-JSP Information Sheet form, should be submitted to the academic institution. Deadline: Send applications for scholarships at least six months prior to the planned time that you wish to commence studies. Please refer to the normal month of intake and deadline of application in the participating academic institutions.
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2. How many Oscars have been won by the film ‘Life of Pi’? 3. In which year did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place? 4. Which river’s tributary is Kishanganga? 5. In which Indian city was the world’s tallest statue of Mahatma Gandhi unveiled recently? 6. Which Jane Austen’s famous novels recently completed their 200 years of publication? 7. Who recently became the oldest woman tennis player to hold the number one ranking? 8. Which game was recently dropped from the 2020 Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee? 9. Which country recently won the Women’s World Cup in cricket for the sixth time? 10. Which Indian cricket captain has scored maximum number of runs in a Test innings? — Tarun Sharma Winners of quiz 432: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Ajay Pal Singh, Class VIII-B, roll No. 2; Delhi Public School, Bathinda; Pincode -151001 Second: Nitesh Katoch; Class XI-A; DAV Public School, Palampur; district: Kangra, Himachal Pradesh; Pincode - 176061 Third: Lakuleesh; Class IV-D; School: KV No. 1 Bhatinda Military Station, Punjab; Pincode - 151004 Answers to quiz 432: Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan; Bangalore; Rudra; Kamal Hassan; Beating the Retreat Ceremony; Timbuktu; 49 versus South Africa in Johannesburg; Graeme Smith; Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar; Mumbai 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
on the letter/postcard to facilitate the delivery of the prize money. Answers can also be sent at
quiz@tribunemail.com
Name……………............... Class....…………..... School...............................
address...............................................
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"Floriculture has opened many new vistas for students who want to craft a career and also go in for self- employment. From the year 2003-04, the scope of the field has increased four times and more than 5000 acres of land has been brought in under open cultivation. The government subsidy has given a special impetus to this sector and as many as 275 greenhouses have been set up in Punjab region itself where rose, dahlia, gerbera, lily and carnations have been
planted". 
Career pathways
Q. I am 22 years old and am working as a junior account executive with a Chandigarh-based advertising agency. This is my first job. I want to pursue an MBA. Should I work for a few years and then apply to B-schools. Will my work experience be considered at all? — rian thareja
Q. I want to know about the nursing course. Please tell me what is the difference between BSc nursing and general nursing course. I live in Dehradun. Please also tell me about the selection procedure. — taruna sarna
Q. I am student of B.Tech (chemical engineering) from a small college in rural Punjab. I would like to do my MS from the US to improve my prospects, but don’t quite know how to go about it. — avijit singh 
Scope and options
In board exams generally students take the language paper easy and start the preparation very late. Students do feel relatively comfortable and less stressed in the language exam as they are constant users of the language. It is good to keep this confidence while studying. However, the fact is that language development is a long-term preparation and the comfort and competency can’t be developed overnight. When it comes to attempting the final paper and getting good marks, not getting nervous is what matters the most as out of anxiety, nervousness and stress students commit silly mistakes and make wrong choices. Here are a few tips which will stand you in good stead in the board exams:
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Read the questions thoroughly. The answers pertaining to notices, advertisements, invitations, etc, should always be written in a blurb, i.e. a box. An effort should be made not to cross out or rewrite. 
Researchers, who polled 800 managers and employees in 17 industries, found that being the victim of office rudeness led to decreased effort, quality of work, and time spent on the job.
As the financial year 2012-13 draws to an end next month, 20 of the country’s biggest blue-chip firms have together allotted shares worth nearly Rs 5,500 crore to their staff this fiscal upon the exercise of employee stock options.
Balanced “attitude”
The first thing that businessman Shivnarain Birla, grandfather of Ghanshyam Das Birla who founded the House of Birlas, did on returning home at Pilani village from Bombay after seven years was to build a temple of Lord Shiva. Ghanshyam kept the tradition alive by building the Vishnu temple in Nagda, Saraswati temple in Pilani and Shiva temple in Renukoot.
Design
The Government of Japan is offering ADB-Japan Scholarship Programme for students of Asian Development Bank's developing member countries. The scholarship is to undertake postgraduate studies in economics, management, science and technology, and other development-related fields at participating academic institutions in the Asian and Pacific Region. 
1. In which Russian city did a 10-tonne meteor recently streak across the Ural mountains, injuring 1,200 persons, damaging thousands of houses and later exploding with a force greater than the Hiroshima nuclear bomb?
