Tips for the Inverviews

Bearing : Walk erect and with confidence. Look into the eyes of the Chairman and Members when you talk to them. Smile and be pleasant. Be enthusiastic and interested. You must be lively, keen and cheerful. Let your optimism and energy radiate.

Conduct : Politeness pays. Be sympathetic and attentive. Observe meticulously the code of manners and etiquette. Never be rude or offensive. Do not neglect to pay compliments.

Speech : Talk slowly, deliberately and audibly. You should neither shout nor mumble. Pronounce your words clearly and crisply. Never be dull or monotonous with your words. Avoid the use of such phrases like, 'you see', 'i say', 'ofcourse', 'i mean', etc.,

Dress: Choose your dress with care. It must be befitting the occasion.

Personal Hygiene: Be neat, tidy and clean. Se that you are well groomed.

Self-Control: Do not become emotional or get nervous. Be confident and patient. Check necessary movements. The Board may deliberately try to provoke you and see how easily you could be upset. Never lost your temper.

Do not Bluff : State only what you know to be correct. Do not hazard guesses unless you are asked to do so. Shooting lions andboasting will land you in trouble. Do not try to be too clever. Remember, the Board has years of experience and has seen many candidates.

Own-up your mistakes : If the Boards pointsout that you had made a mistake and you realist it to be fact, then be couragous and own it up. Never try to cover it up. The Board will respect you for your honesty.

Initiative: Use your initiative but watch the reactions of the Board. Also be conscious of your limitations. Do not ever-shoot. Do not draw conclusions. Be discreet when you talk about your own accomplishments. These shouldbe conveyed subtly and tactfully.

Criticism and Arguments : Do not criticise. Never try to find faults. As far as possible, stress the good point of others. It is better to be silent than to criticise. Do not get involved in unproductive arguments. You have not gone to the interview to win a verbal battle but to have an enjoyable conversation. See how you can agree rather than disagree. As a last resort you may agree to disagree.

Listen and Observe : Keep your eyes and ears open. Study their reactions. You will know when to stop talking and when to listen. As a rule, do not interrupt. If the other person wishes to talk, let him do so. In fact, encourage him to talk. Be an attentive and enthusiastic listener.

Practice : Practice, practice and practice. You must have as much practice as possible. Enlish the goodwill and cooperation of your friends, colleagues, elders and family members and have practice session with them. The more practice you have, the better it is. It will guarantee your SUCCESS.

Acupuncture

Ancient Chinese Health Practice

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique. In acupuncture needles are used to manipulate a person's life force for the purpose of re-establishing balance. Evidence of the use of accupuncture goes back at least 4,000 years. It is said that acupuncture was introduced to the Chinese by Huang-ti, the yellow Emperor. He lived some time around the 28th Century B.C. According to pupular belief, he brought the knowledge of things like bows and arrows, writing, the calendar and a medical text called Nei Jing which is still in use today. This book introduces the idea of life force and its importance to a person's mental and physical health.

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The basic belief behind acupuncture is that illness is caused by the failure of a person's life force to move properly along internal "power lines" called meridians. Of them there are mainly 14 in the human body. Very fine needles (sometimes in combination with electrical stimulus or with heat produced by burning specifit herbs) are inserted at some points along these meridians to release blockages and restore balance.

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A very important concept of acupuncture is the concept of natural balance. According to this concept, life spreads out itself in the alternating rhythm. Day gives way to night, night to day; a time of light and activity is followed by darkness and rest. Flowers open and close, the moon waxes and wanes, the tides come in and go out; people wake and sleep, breathe in, breathe out. Their proper relationship is health the opposite is disease.

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Traditionally, there are 365 acupuncture points on the body. Most of the points have a specific energetic function. Some points are at the meeting of meridian pathways. Some other points are junctions on an internal pathway of the meredian. Some points tend to move life force towards the interior of the body. Other points bring energy to the surface.

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The choice of acupuncture points varies from patient to patient and from treatment to treatment. It relies on very careful diagnosis. Diagnosis requires the observation of the body through looking, touching, smelling and listening. One of the primary diagnostic methods is pulse taking. It takes fifteen years to master this delicate art.

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Today, acupuncture enjoys great pupularity in China and many parts of the world. Acupuncture, the ancient medical art offers a well-tested health practice. It is inexpensive, safe and effective against many types of physical and mental illness. __ (Velayudhan Features)

Word Power-1 to 30

Choose the correct meaning for the word given in bold letters:

1. blacken : a) discredit, b) debar, c) force, d) condemn
2. chunk : a) chapel, b) lump or piece, c) courageous, d) joyless
3. Dauntless : a) atrocious, b) obsolete, c) courageous, d) joyless
4. haven : a) ruin, b) screen, c) perception, d) shelter
5. mediate : a) survey, b) settle a dispute, c) propose, d) ramble
6. Patch : a) plot or field, b) distress, c) stamina, d) permit
7. rally : a) call together, b) roam, c) push firmly, d) scour
8. scant : a) bad, b) insufficient, c) improper, d) tasteless
9. thicken : a) warm up, b) menance, c) make thick, d) pulsate
10. unmatched : a) unequivocal, b) absolute, c) complete, d) unequalled
11. Ancillary:a) Analogical; b) Subordinate; c) Bold; d) Conventional.
12. Annihilate: a) Interesting; b) Downward;, c) Destroy Completely; d) Lubricate
13. Antagonistic : a) Hostile; b) Pluralistic; c) Mockery; d) Otherwise
14. Animadvert : a) Needy; b) Hospitality; c) Make remarks; d) Notation.
15. Alien : a) Difficult; b)Precious; c) Differing in nature or character; d) Unnatural.
16. Allude : a) Mention; b) Separation; c) Dazzling; d) Convey.
17. Allusion: a) Chivalry; b) Choosy; c) Indirect reference; d) Unburden.
18. Amenable: a) Decline; b) Responsive; c) Defective; d) Infuse.
19. Antique: a) Convention; b) Delicacy;, c) Interlink; d) Existing since old times.
20. Aplomb: a) Diffidence; b) Self-Confidence; c)Selfish; d) Entrant.
21. Appertain: a) Give up; b) Offence; c) Be appropriate; d) Entertain.
22. Asperity: a) Roughness or Harshness; b) Productivity; c) Gradient; d) Shoddy.
23. Amenity: a) Authority; b) Deity; c) Lonely; d) Pleasantness.
24. Amiable : a) Prosperous; b) Observant; c) Lunatic; d) Kind-hearted
25. Abase: a) Chronic disease; b) Faithful; c) Humiliate or degrade one self; d) Uncouth
26. Abdicate : a) Give up a high office or authority; b) Organise; c) Disapprove; d) Misapply.
27. Abundant : a) Cancel; b) Plentiful; c) Apperance; d) Refusal.
28. Actuate : a) Discharge; b) Cause to act; c) Cordage; d) Copy
29. Adjure : a) Jointly; b) Pressurise; c) Educate; d) Ask somebody earnestly or solemnly.
30. Aghast : a) Precise; b) Filled with fear or surprise; c) Consist; d) Console.


Answers:

1) a, 2) b, 3) c, 4) d, 5) b, 6) a, 7) a, 8) b, 9) c, 10) d
11. b) Ancillary means subordinate. The transport corps is ancillary to the infantry in Army.
12. c) Annihilate means destroy completely. Radio communication has annihilated space.
13. a) Antagonistic means hostile. Israel's attitude towards Palestine is antagonistic.
14. c) Animadvert means making remarks. One should always avoid animadverting on others.
15. c) Alien means differing in nature or character. These principles are alien to our religion.
16. a) Allude means mention. In your remarks you allude to certain sinister developments.
17. c) Allusion means indirect reference. His speeches are full of classical allusions which few people understand.
18. b) Amenable means responsive. Do you find the new medical batch amenable?
19. d) Antique means existing from old times. The students of the Aligarh University put on sherwani as antique.
20. b) Aplomb means self-confidence. One should always read good books to develop aplomb.
21. c) Appertain means be appropriate. A good examinee must appertain during the last hour of the examination.
22. c) Asperity means roughness or harshness. There was a touch of asperity in his speech.
23. d) Amenity means pleasantness. We find Amenity in the climate of Bangalore.
24. d) Amiable means kind-hearted. I have always found him a most amiable fellow.
25. c) Abase means humiliate or degrade oneself. One should not abase oneself for petty gains.
26. a) Abdicate means giving up a high office or authority. Kind Edward VIII abdicated the throne of England in 1936.
27. b) Abundant means plentiful. Now we have got abundant proof of his guilt.
28. b) Actuate means cause to act. A great statesman is actuated by love of his country, not by love of power.
29. d) Adjure means ask somebody earnestly or solemnly. I adjure you to tell the truth before the committee.
30. b) Aghast means filled with fear or surprise. He stood aghast at the terrible sight.

General Knowledge-12

1. What is meant by the term "Midnight Sun"?
a) Twlilght b) Very bright moon c) Rising Sun d) Sun Shining in the polar circles

2. Now-a-days Soyabean is cultivated on a large scale in many places because,
a) It is rich in Vitamins b) It can be used a staple food c) It is a source of high quality protein d) It is cheap and easier to cook.

3. Who was called the "Flying Sikh"?
a) Malwinder Singh b) Milkha Singh c) Makhan Singh d) Ajmer Singh

4. Which of the following does not share a border with india?
a) Pakistan b) Bangladesh c) Myanmar (Burma) d) Afghanistan

5. 'Glaucoma' is a disease related to which of the following organs of the human body?
a) Heart b) Ears c) Eyes d) Lungs

6. Which one of the following is the industry in which the largest number of women are employed in india? a) Jute b)Tea c) Coal d) Textile

7. Which one of the following thinkers did not influence Mahatma Gandhi?
a) Leo Tolstoy b) Henry Thoreau c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale d) Leon Trostsky

8. Sanjukta Panigrahi is an exponent of which of the following?
a) Painting b) Acting c) Dance d) Music

9. Which of the Bills can become law inspite of disapproval of the Rajya Sabha?
a) Bill relating to social reforms, b) Constitution amendment bill c) Bills relating to concurrent subjects d) Finance Bills

10. Homer was the greatest poet of the language name:
a) Latin b) Spanish c) Greek d) Turkish

11. The first medicinal patent was made in 1698 for Epsom Salt.

12. In Mohini Bhasmasura, the 1913 Dada Saheb Phalke film, women appeared before the camera for the first time on the screen in india.

13.

Answers:__

1) d, 2) c, 3) b, 4) d, 5) c, 6) b, 7) d, 8) c, 9) d, 10) c

Indian Dances

In ancient times dancing, as a religious service, was before and to the Lord; in modern times it is too often a dissipating amusement for and to the devil. India is a land of myraid cultural distinctgions. India has several dance, music and literature forms. These keep changing frequently and that is what makes our country so unique.

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Dance is an inseparable part of Indian culture and it is manifested in all festivals, social and religious occasions. It is depicted through painting, sculpture, music and literature. Many times it forms the part of the rituals. Traditional dramatic forms of India are full of dancing and singing.

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Classical dance has many and varied forms in india, viz., Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Chakiarkoothu, Kathakali, Koddiyattam, Krishattam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and Mohiniattam. Each region has evolved its distinct style with its special nuances, though the basic roots are the same.

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Odissi

This is the most popular dance form of Orissa. It is based on Barat's Natya Shastra and the early evidence of this dance form in 2nd century BC when the Jain king Kharavela ruled Orissa. Himself an expert in dance and music, he arranged a performance of Thandava and Abhinaya. This format consists of Bhumi Pranam, Batu, Pallavi and lighter items like the Ashtapadi ending in Moksha.

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Kathak

This form of dance has its roots in the ancient Katha stories where groups tellers were attached to temples in North India, who narrated stories from epics. Later, they added mime and gestures to their ricitation to give it a new look. The stage next in its evolution came in the 15th and 16th centuries AD with the popularisation of the Radha-Krishna legend. With the advent of the Muslim rule in India, Kathak moved from temples to courts and became popular in places like Jaipurk, Lucknow and Benaras. While Jaipur gave predominance to pure dance with emphasis on rhythm, Lucknow had drifted into erotica.

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In Benaras practitioners of this dance also struck to pure dance but it provided for the sensuous aspects by delineatingepisodes from the Radha-Krishna legend. This patron kind of the Lucknow style was Wajid Ali Shah who spent extravagantly on art. The place of women in Kathak was of a different order. They were known as nach-walis who adorned the courts of the Mughals. Apart from this, they were used for entertainment of the pleasureseeking rulers and their fawning toadies. Eventually they came to be categorised as women of easy virtue. The Kathak dance goes through regular format mostly concerning on rhythm, vasriously called Talkar, Paltas, Thoras, Amad and Parans.

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Bharatanatyam

This form of dance looks like poetry in motion. Its history can also be traced to the origin of Natya Shastra, written by the grat sage, Bharat. Bharatanatyam is traditional and stylised dance form. Crystallised in the cast-iron mould of Bharat's technique, this art form disallows any frangled innovations or gimmicks. Emerging far back in the labyrinthine twists of ancient history, Bharatanatyam has been imortalised from time to time and many have given their versions in successive generations, as much by the sensuous grace of great dancers as by the mimble fingers of renowned sculptors who have demonstrated the perfection of Bharat's technique in the flowing lines of temple sculptures.

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The present form of Bharatanatyam has evolved by the Tanjore brothers Poniah Pillai. Earlier variously know as Dasi Attam and Sadir, this form was practised by Devdasis of the South Indian temples. Meanwhile it went into disrepute due to economic and social conditions and it wasRukmini Devi, who later gave it a new life and respectability. Its format consists of Alarippu (invocation), Jathi Swaram, Shabdam Varanm, lighter items like Padams and Javalis and finally the Thillana.

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Chakiarkoothu

The popular belief says that this form of dance was introduced in kerala by the early Aryan immigrants and is performed only by the members of the Chakiar caste. This form of dance is highly orthodox in nature and has a very selected class for its entertainment.

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This form can only be performed inside templesand witnessed by the Hindu community of the higher castes. In this the story is recited in a quasidramatic style with emphasis on eloquent declaration with appropriately suggestive facial expressions and had gestures. The only accompaniments are the crymbals and the drum known as the mizhavu, made of copper with a narrow mouth on which is stretched a piece of parchment.

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Kathakali

This form of dance is the most refined, the most scientific dance form of Kerala. This form is more than 300 years old, but its roots can be traced even to remote past. It is a very exciting art form demanding not only complete control of practically every fibre of the artiste's body, but also intense sensitivity of emotions.

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The stories for attakaths (the verse text for the Kathakali piece) are selected from various epics and mythologies and are written in a highly Sanskritised verse form in Malayalam. In this dance form the performer doesn;t speak, but expresses himself only through highly complicated and scientifically ordained mudras and steps, closely following the text being sung from the background of the stage.

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The domain of Kathakali is peopled by superhumans, gods and demons and animals who are presented in a larger than life format. What strikes the spectator first and most is the splendour of the costumes, ornaments, and facial make-up which transform the actor dance into a type rather than a particular character. A character can be identified by the colour he sports. A green painted face stands for nobility, honour, valour and such higher qualities.

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Koddiyattam

This form of dance which is popular in South India has always been a long drawn out affair and may take anything from a few days to a number of weeks. It is very entertaining. In this form the vidhushaka rules the roost.

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Krishnaattam

This form of dance is devoted to Lord Krishna and is presented on eight successive nights to unfold the entire story of Lord Krishna. The style is almost akin to Kathakali.

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Kuchipudi

It is the dance drama of Andhra Pradesh. It corresponds to the Bhagavata Mela Natak of Tamil Nadu, except that the emphasis is on the animation. The grammar is derived from the Natya Shastra and in all aspects it is akin to Bharatanatyam.

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Manipuri

From the 15th to the 18th century, Vaishnavism came to be adopted in Manipur and this ushered in a new era in the development of this style. For Manipuris, dance has been so inextricably woven into their pattern of life. Thisdance form is mostly ritualistic. It has still preserved the dance technique which draws heavily on the rich lore of legent and mythologies.

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Mohiniattam

It is also the heir to Devadasi dance heritage like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi. The Mohini literally means a maiden who exerts desires or steals the heart of the onlooker. There is the well-known story of Lord Vishnu taking on the guise.

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