National School of Drama

National School of Drama

The National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi – one of the foremost theatre institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959. Later in 1975, it became an autonomous organisation, totally financed by Department of Culture. The objective of NSD is to train students in all aspects of theatre, including theatre history, production, scene design, costume design, lighting, make-up, etc. The training course at NSD is of three years duration. Each year, 20 students are admitted to the course. The eligible applicants for admission to the course are screened through two stages. The Diploma of NSD is recognised by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to M.A. Degree for appointment as teachers in colleges/universities and for purposes of registration for Ph.D.

The Publication Unit of the National School of Drama is responsible for publishing text books on theatre, arranging for the translation of important books on theatre from English into Hindi and bringing out other important books on theatre. The unit’s first major publication titled Rang Yatra which chronicled 25 years history of the NSD Repertory Company from 1964 onwards, came out in 1990. Besides its regular publications, until 2010 the unit has brought out 82 publications on drama and related subjects.

Ethanol

Ethanol

Physical properties:

• Ethanol is a colourless liquid having a pleasant smell and a burning taste

• It is a volatile liquid having a low boiling point of 78o C (351 K)

• It is miscible with water in all proportions

• Ethanol does not contain any ions, as it is a covalent compound and has no effect on litmus paper

• The boiling point of alcohols are, in general, much higher than the corresponding alkanes. This is because in alcohols there is intermolecular association of a large number of molecules due to Hydrogen bonding which is absent in alkanes

Ethanol is used:

• in the manufacture of paints, varnishes, lacquers and medicines

• in the preparation of organic compounds like ether, chloroform and iodoform

• as an antiseptic to sterilise wounds and syringes in hospitals and dispensaries

• in alcoholic drinks (beverages) like whisky, wine, beer and other liquors. Beer contains around 3 to 6% ethanol, whisky contains 30% ethanol and wine contains 8 to 10% ethanol

• in spirit lamps as methylated spirit (contains ethanol mixed with a small amount of methanol and water)

• as power alcohol to generate power in internal combustion engines. Power alcohol is a mixture of 25% absolute alcohol and 75% petrol and it is a good fuel for motor cars. In the present days, due to scarcity of petrol and petroleum products, power alcohol can be used as a substitute for petrol in motor cars which may also reduce pollution of air

NIMHANS- BANGALORE :

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) – Bangalore

NIMHANS- BANGALORE :

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) located in Bangalore, is a multidisciplinary Institute for patient care and academic pursuit in the frontier area of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. The Lunatic Asylum which came into being in the latter part of the 19th Century was renamed as Mental Hospital in 1925 by the erstwhile Government of Mysore. This hospital and All India Institute of Mental Health established in 1954 by Government of India were amalgamated on 27th December 1974, and thus was formed the autonomous National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). The priority gradiant adopted at the Institute is service, manpower development and research. Multidisciplinary integrated approach is the mainstay of this institute, paving the way to translate the results from the bench to the bedside. On November 14, 1994, NIMHANS has been declared a Deemed University by the University Grants Commission, with academic autonomy. The Institute functions under the direction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka.

What is SARS ?

What is SARS ?

* Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

*A serious form of pneumonia.

*caused by a member of the coronavirus family of viruses (the same family that can cause the common cold), so it is also called   SARS-CoV.

*It infects both humans and animals (livestock, birds, etc.).

*It had spread like a pandemic in Hong Kong in March 2003, and from there it transmitted to several other countries.

*
SARS is a dramatic example of how quickly world travel can spread a disease.
How SARS spreads?
When someone with SARS coughs or sneezes, infected droplets spray into the air. One can catch the SARS virus if you breathe in or touch these particles. The SARS virus may live on hands, tissues, and other surfaces for up to 6 hours in these droplets and up to 3 hours after the droplets have dried. Live virus has even been found in the stool of people with SARS, where it has been shown to live for up to 4 days. The virus may be able to live for months or years when the temperature is below freezing.
 

Symptoms:
It includes flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headaches, diarrhea, sore throat, runny nose, malaise, and myalgia (muscle pain), dry cough, shortness of breath, and an upper respiratory tract infection.
People with active symptoms of illness are contagious.
 

Treatment:

• There is no cure or preventive vaccine available currently. The treatment is only supportive.
• Antibiotics are ineffective, as SARS is a viral disease.
• If a person is suspected of having SARS, they should be kept isolated in the hospital.

Prevention:

• Reducing contact with people who have SARS
• Hand hygiene is the most important, thus Wash hands or clean them with an alcohol-based instant hand sanitizer.
• Avoid travel to places where there is an uncontrolled SARS outbreak.
• Do not share food, drink, or utensils.

Queen’s Proclamation of 1858

Queen’s Proclamation of 1858 :

A Royal Durbar was held at Allahabad in November 1, 1858. A proclamation was issued by Queen Victoria. It was read at the Durbar by Lord Canning, who was the last Governor General and the first Viceroy of India. The important features of the Queen’s Proclamation were the following.

• The Act laid down that henceforth India shall be governed by and in the name of the Queen.

• It abolished the Board of Control and the Court of Directors. The post of a Secretary of State was created. He was to be assisted by a Council of India which was to consist of fifteen members.

• The Doctrine of Lapse was cancelled and the British stopped the policy of annexation.

• A general amnesty (pardon) was granted to the rebels except those who were directly involved in killing the British subjects.

• The office of the Governor General was changed to that of Viceroy of India.

Various views were expressed regarding the nature of the Mutiny. Although the British historians did not give much importance to the Mutiny, the Indian historians called it India’s First War of Independence. So it occupies a unique place in history. Definitely it laid the foundation for the freedom movement in India.

DENGUE FEVER