New Delhi, March 1
With the examination season on, students are facing burgeoning stress and tension. They get tensed at the thought of the looming board exams.

In what comes as a relief to students is Educomp’s tutoring service — www.learninghour.com and a complete educational support system — extramarks.com. These sites offer academic support to students from classes VI to XII after school hours.

All one needs to do is visit www.learninghour.com and register as a student. The website provides students the opportunity to take lessons form qualified and trained tutors. 

Educomp’s tutoring service www.learninghour.com helps students through its three services — live online tutoring, learning hour tutoring centres and learning hour home tutoring service. 

Learning hour offers the convenience to take either online tutions or, study in its state of the art tutoring centres. It also provides the facility of a tutor at the home of students.

The tutors are post-graduates and experienced. They undergo a three-week training in online and centre-based tutoring. They are trained to use various multi-media content and diagnostic tools.

Learning hour has launched a helpline on which students can talk to tutors and solve their last minute queries.

It has also created a special series of mock examination papers for CBSE class X and XII. The team of CBSE experts in www.learninghour.com has prepared the tests. These tests are being offered free of cost to registered students.

New Delhi, March 1
The board examinations have begun and the tension gripping the tens of thousands of students taking it is all too palpable. Last minute losing of nerves, suddenly forgetting the lessons learnt, feeling overwhelmed by the mountain of information in the books are leaving students banging doors in stress, sobbing or just feeling helpless.

The stress is more among those class X students who began their Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) exams today with IT, an optional paper.

It leaves them with just two days to cram for the social studies paper on Monday - which has five books in History, Geography, Political Science, Disaster Management and Economics, totalling a whopping 30 chapters.

Though most students have studied in advance for the Social Studies paper, nevertheless two days leaves students very little time to revise for this “epic course”, as the father of class X student Shubajit Ghosh put it.

“The course is so vast, it does not seem to end. The Social Studies course is like an epic,” said his father Indrajit Ghosh.

Madhu Gupta has been wringing her hands in despair, watching helplessly as her son banged and kicked doors to show his frustration after finding that he could not recall large chunks from the Political Science and Geography books.

“I wish I could help him, he has been studying for days and making notes. Now, he screams that he has forgotten everything and is going to fail,” Madhu says of her son, Saurabh Gupta, a bright student.

In such cases, if parents calm down their wards by patting their backs and telling them that it does not really matter how they fare, because they have studied hard and will surely recall the lessons during the exam could help calm down the student.

“Deep breathing every morning for five minutes is a good way to relax the brain. One could sit in the padmasana posture and practise it, it really helps,” says Bindu Prasad, senior counsellor with Sardar Patel Vidyalaya.

Ruchi Sharma feels like sobbing. The class X student has studied hard during the preparatory holidays but finds she is not scoring well in the sample practise papers she has been attempting at home. She is losing her confidence to do well.

“It is very important to tell a child in such a situation that there is enough time, even if the exam is the next day, and help the student find out where he or she is going wrong in attempting the paper. May be, it is just silly mistakes, or reading the question wrong. Sitting and talking soothingly to the child really helps,” Ruchi Kapoor, a counsellor with the senior school in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, told IANS.

One relaxing technique the students could practise is progressive muscular relaxation (PMR), suggests Kapoor.

“It is quite popular and takes about 10 minutes, but after doing it the student is quite relaxed,” she said.

The student can sit down or lie down for practising PMR, focus on each part of the body, consciously making it relax. “One should start with the toes, tense the part for five seconds, feel the tension, and then let go, exhaling at the same time. One should move upwards, to the calves, thighs, back, stomach, chest, neck, arms, head. The tension just leaves the body,” Kapoor said.

Another technique is through guided imagery in which the parent or the counsellor has to participate.

The stressed child is told to imagine he or she is in a beautiful green garden, feel the cool green grass below their feet and think they are taking a walk. “This relaxation technique is based on creating an imagery to help in easing the stressed out person. It helps in promoting a sense of peace and tranquility during a stressful or difficult time,” said Kapoor. — IANS

New Delhi, March 1
The Delhi unit of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the Budget calling it a drop in the ocean. It has called residents of the Capital to pressurise the Chief Minister to meet finance minister P. Chidambaram so that more funds could be allocated for the NCR.

A 15-day event — Commonwealth Games is more important for the governments at the Centre and the state rather than the development of the National Capital Region, BJP alleged.

Rs 634 crores have been allocated for Commonwealth Games while only Rs 1,060 has been allocated for the development of the National Capital Region.

The city needs at least Rs 45,000 crore for providing sewer system in 1,600 unauthorised colonies and 364 villages, but Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had only requested for Rs 1240.02 crore from the Centre, said Harsh Vardhan, president, Delhi BJP. He added that the CM was unaware of the necessities of the state even after ruling for ten years. She is fooling residents of the Capital by making false promises almost every day.

“She is not concerned about the development of NCR. Rs 375 crore has been allocated for the development of infrastructure in Delhi, whereas over Rs 10,000 crore is needed for providing power and drinking water supply to residents in the Capital,” Vardhan added.

“The Chief Minister and the finance minister of Delhi have even expressed their gratitude to Chidambaram. It is clear that they will not demand more money,” he added.

Faridabad, March 1
Three managers of a private firm, Sabroje, were arrested following a LPG explosion in the factory yesterday evening in which 24 persons got injured. However, they have been granted bail.

The firm produces hosepipes for vehicles. The accident took place when the production process was on.

Those who sustained injuries mainly included workers. Many were injured in a stampede that followed the explosion.

According to those admitted in the Central Hospital here, the windowpanes cracked and people began to run helter-skelter. Some were injured when they tried to jump over a wall.

Five victims are still in the intensive care unit. Many were released after the first aid.

The police has sent the articles to forensic experts to verify the cause of the accident, said area SHO Udai Raj. The blazing process of production was on when the accident occurred.

A team of forensic experts today visited the site for inspection. 

New Delhi, March 1
The epic story of good and evil as told in the Ramayana in India is also enacted in Thailand. Like in India, Thailand also stages the Ramayana. The two differ in costume and language. While it is Ramlila here, it is “Ramakien” there. A 60-member Khon troupe was recently in India and for the first time ever staged the tale of Hanuman, from his birth till he helped Ram in killing Ravan. It was one of the largest producers of cement in the country, Shree Cement, which brought the troupe from Thailand.

H.M. Bangur, managing director, Shree Cement, said, “One must experience this dance to estimate the profound impact of this epic on the cultures of South-East Asia.”

While in India, the Ramayana is an intrinsic part of every household, in Thailand “Ramakien” is only staged for the royal family and every episode runs into almost five hours.

The most popular script is the Ramakein, which is based on India’s Ramayana epic. Written by Valmiki, the epic narrates an episode of Phra Narai (Narayana) who is reborn to a human so as to save both humans and angels from the terror of Tosakanth (Ravana) – the demon king – in Longka (Lanka) City.

The most complete version of Ramakein was written by H.M. King Rama I (1782-1809). But the Ramakein which is most widely used in actual productions on account of its melodious verses was composed by King Rama II (1809-1824).

In the Hanuman tale presented here the Ramakien depicted that at the order of Phra Isuan (Isvara), Phra Pai shoots Phra Isuan’s divine power and weapons into Sawaha’s mouth. Phra Isuan wishes her to give birth to a white monkey – Hanuman, with four faces and eight arms.

His hair is diamonds and his fangs are crystal. He magically yields stars, the moon and the sun from his mouth when he yawns. Sawaha orders her son to join in the army of Phra Ram – an incarnation of Phra Narai.

While flying in the sky, Hanuman spots a garden owned by Phra Uma (Phra Isuan’s consort). There, he recklessly eats and throws fruits and his misbehavior enrages Phra Uma, who curses him, reducing his power by half.

She says the curse will vanish only after he meets Phra Ram and he touches Hanuman’s back thrice. Once the chief warrior Hanuman volunteers to survey routes to Longka city. Phra Ram asks Hanuman to take a ring and breast cloth to Sida (Sita), Phra Ram’s consort.

When Hanuman meets Sida, she is about to hang herself, so he rescues her. He asks her to sit on his palm so that he can carry her back to Phra Ram. However, Sida refuses in case scandalous words are spread.

Thus, Hanuman is asked by Sida to tell Phra Ram to rescue her. Hanuman gives his promise. Before leaving Longka City, he kills Sahaskuman, Tosakanth’s 1,000 offsprings.

Hanuman volunteers to bring a box of Tosakanth’s heart, which by Kobut Richi, to Phra Ram, and asks the Richi to take him to Tosakanth. By Hanuman’s spell, the Richi gives Hanuman the demon’s heart, Hanuman pretends to submit himself to Tosakanth, so the demon king adopts him as his son.

During the battle, Phra Ram shoots Prommas arrow to kill Tosakanth and Hanuman destroys Tosakanth’s heart and ends his life. Thus, Phra Ram wins the battle and appoints Hanuman “ Phaya Anuchit Chakkrit Pipatpongsa” then sends him off to rule Nopburi City.

Khon was regarded as a royal court performance, continuing from the Ayutthaya period into the Rattanakosin period. During the reign of King Rama VI, Khon reached its golden age and it is now slowly moving out with troupes like Khon taking “Ramakien” around the world.

According to the members of the troupe, it is one of the most refined and elegant dance forms. Khon is a classical mask dance. 

New Delhi, March 1
Ever heard of sexsomnia? If not, then you are not to be blamed. It is a sleep disorder not commonly reported in India mostly due to embarrassment in admitting the problem or ignorance. But it is known globally.

A counterpart of sleepwalking, sexsomnia is defined as making sexual advances towards a person while he or she is asleep. A rare medical condition, it is a disorder in which a person does not realise or remains amnaesic about his or her behaviour.

Take the example of Delhi-based businessman Shiv Shankar (name changed), who thought he had trouble sleeping. He met a city-based psychiatrist, along with his homemaker wife, for help and was shocked to discover that he had an uncommon problem.

During interaction, the specialist asked the middle-aged man’s partner about his behaviour and was told that her husband sometimes turned violent and forced himself on her. And, at times, he started fondling her and then left her alone.

The businessman, however, had no recollection of his abnormality the next day.

According to M.S. Bhatia, professor and head of department of psychiatry at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, the man would have been treated for sleeping disorders had his wife not revealed his abnormality.

It made them realise that he was actually suffering from sexsomnia.

Bhatia, who has written about the subject in the October issue of Delhi Psychiatry Journal, read by 300 psychiatrists across the country, said doctors should always talk to patients’ spouses or partners to get the real picture as the person has no clue about it themselves.

“Most people in India are not aware of it. They don’t know they have a problem. And even those who know about it hide it or feel embarrassed. Even in the West, people are ignorant about this problem,” Bhatia told IANS.

He said the person in sleep is often very demanding, even a little violent and aggressive and not ready to take no for an answer. “The person suffering from this problem does not realise that he has sought sex, sometimes unintentionally,” he added.

Also known as “sleep sex”, this disorder usually causes problems in relationships. “People are not aware that it is a medical problem. And they are afraid that they would be judged for their behaviour.”

The patient also suffers from guilt and fails to understand that he could behave in such a manner when the partner inform him the next day.

Not thought of as a common problem, as compared to sleepwalking, which is said to affect two to four per cent adults, sexsomnia can be cured if triggering factors like depression, stress and sleep deprivation are addressed, Bhatia said.

Even in western countries this particular problem was not recognised. “People become aware about it in the west when they heard about it being referred to in court cases, he explained.

Often, the disorders cause rifts between partners.

Apart from the persons who are suffering, partners also find it difficult to share it with others, as they fear they would not be believed.

“It is not a known fact. Most people have heard of people walking, eating and talking in their sleep, but this kind of sexual behaviour during sleep is unknown,” he added.

He said that such patients react well to medicines like Clonazepam and to psychotherapy. “If the problem is acute then we monitor their sleep patterns too,” he said. — IANS

New Delhi, March 1
A man who had allegedly drank insecticide and then walked into the Mughal Gardens of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday afternoon with a view to die there was saved due to timely intervention by officials.

Lal Bahadur, in his mid 30s, was found unconscious near gate no 37 of the Mughal Gardens. When police officials brought him to senses, he told them he had consumed poison.

“Bahadur said he wanted to commit suicide either in the Rashtrapati Bhavan or the Supreme Court so that legal action could be taken against his employer who has been harassing him for years,” a police official said.

Police said a suicide note recovered from his pocket read, “My employer has planted a chip inside my body to keep tack of my movements. I can’t go anywhere I wish to. Strict action should be taken against him.”

Bahadur, who hails from Bihar and was working as a labourer in southwest Delhi’s Mayapuri industrial area, was stated to be out of danger.

“The man appears to be mentally ill and claims that a transmitter has been fitted inside his body. He wanted to commit suicide because of this,” a police official said, adding that Bahadur was being examined by doctors. — IANS

New Delhi, March 1
A leading rights activist has demanded the immediate rehabilitation of 13 children rescued by an NGO from goons who used to force them to beg near the diplomatic quarter in the capital.

The children are now living in a juvenile home and their case will be dealt under the Juvenile Justice Act.

But Kailash Satyarthi of Bachpan Bachao Aandolan (BBA), which freed the children, told IANS that the case should be taken up under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act that will entitle them rehabilitation benefits.

He said it was necessary to provide the kids, whose age ranges from seven to 16, a new life, failing which they would return to the drudgery of begging.

Wearing torn clothes and misery stamped all over them, the children were rescued from south Delhi’s Moti Bagh area last week, thanks to BBA activists.

Satyarthi said, “The children have been placed with the Child Welfare Committee and are in a juvenile home. They are treated under the juvenile law, which is complicated. We would rather that they are treated under the bonded labour law, which will entitle them to rehabilitation.

“After all rehabilitation is very important to ensure that they are not swept back into the vicious cycle of child labour. The bonded labour law would give the child’s family a sum of Rs 20,000-25,000 and also lead to criminal charges against people who forced them into labour.”

Although the BBA had identified 20 children as beggars at Moti Bagh, they could rescue only 13 as those running the racket managed to take away the rest. Of those rescued, seven were girls and six boys.

“When we conducted the raid, we realised that we were being watched by the goons who had forced the children into begging. The goons made the rest run away,” Satyarthi said.

Shanti, one of the rescued children, said she hails from Ajmer in Rajasthan and was brought to New Delhi by a woman three years ago. “I came here when I was seven years old with a woman called Kali. She used to come to my village every day and talk to my mother. One day my mother told me to pack my bags to go to Delhi with her. “So with seven other children from my village I came here. I was forced to tear my clothes and not bathe for months so that I could look miserable and could get more money from passers-by. We were given food only once a day so that we looked thin and malnourished,” she said. — IANS