A 6.2 earthquake struck Afghanistan: 2,200+ killed; 3,600+ injured; 80,000+ homeless.
GST rates rationalized, effective 22 September. 5%, 18% slabs. A special 40% slab for limited items – sin and luxury – pan masala, cigarette, aerated water with added sugar, carbonated beverages, etc. Cheaper milk products; staple foods; dry fruits and nuts; sugar and confectionery; packaged foods; namkeens; water; fertilisers; agri inputs; life-saving drugs, health products; footwear, textiles – all at 5% GST or tax free. Mass-use electric appliances – 12% GST. Life insurance is GST free.
Coconut, Cocos nucifera. Naarikela. Whole coconut palm, seed, fruit (a drupe, not a true nut), coconut water. Coconut oil – cooking oil and hair/body oil. Coconut butter. Coconut meat/flesh/kernel. Dried coconut flesh – copra. Coconut milk. Coconut sap/toddy. Unfermented Neera. Palm wine, coconut vodka or coconut vinegar. Hard shells, fibrous husks, long leaves. Coir. Brooms, brushes, baskets, plates, cups, mats, roofing thatch, decorations. Timber. For housing, shelter, furniture. Drums. Fibre. Dyes, fragrance, mouthwash, medicine. Feed for livestock. Fuel. Art, shell art. Necessary part of the worship/puja – coconut breaking, taking coconut water as prasad. Virtually every part of the coconut palm can be used in some manner and has significant economic value. Therefore, it is referred to as ‘kalpa vrksha’; pokok seribu guna (tree of thousand uses); tree of life. Three-quarters of the world’s supply of coconuts is from Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. In India, the major states include: South Indian states (90%), Goa, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands, Tripura, Assam. A coconut orchard can give INR 100,000 a year. With chemical free 365 day green cover with multi-layered multiple crops around coconut in an acre can give INR 500,000+ a year. If value-chains are localized, a million a year is the minimum net income from an acre of coconut 365DGC orchard.
NIRF rankings 2025 are released. IIT Madras tops the list in the Overall category, followed by IISc. IISc in Universities, followed by JNU; IITM in Engineering; IIMA in Management, followed by IIMB; IIT Roorkee in Architecture and Planning; Jamia Hamdard in Pharmacy; Jadavpur in State Public Universities; Hindu College in Colleges, followed by Miranda House; National Law School (NLSIU) Bengaluru in Law; AIIMS Delhi in Medicine; IARI in Agriculture, followed by NDRI Karnal. The full list is at nirfindia.org.
Letters, mails, messages. Formal, informal. Clear, concise language, correct spelling and grammar, a logical structure. Letters have given way to mails. Mails are giving way to messages. In any case, all of them need to be simple, clear. Etiquette cannot be compromised. In letters, or mails/messages that substitute letters need to include: date; addresses of two ends; subject line or one line summary and the reason for this letter/mail/message; body in 2-3 paras; closing line; signature block/lines. 1 A4 sheet or its equivalent is the best. Reasonably concise, readable. No spelling and grammar mistakes. Check the tone. Attachments/annexures may be limited in number, and not bulky. May need to be mindful of privacy. Copy selectively. Cannot copy to people at random.
Can we learn to observe, analyse, communicate, articulate, write? Notes, minutes, press releases, articles, columns, blogs, books, reports, abstracts, scripts, talking points, campaigns, proposals, plans et al? Can we build teams, capacities for this, on a viral scale? Can we bring them to N-living?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Sixth L. In N? pravishnuyoga for 7L.