Vanshika Bhasin – I Am Still Human

Indian Army : Sarv Dharam & Professionalism

May 25, 2020 Vanshika Bhasin Blog Updates

I AM STILL HUMAN wishes Eid Mubarak to all our brothers and sisters. Eid in 2020 is a very special one. People may not be able to celebrate it as every year but the love and faith is still intact and everlasting. May this auspicious occasion of Eid provides everyone good health, and further increase the spirit of brotherhood and unity. As is evident by the picture, we will today understand Army’s perspective on religion. One of the first things that the soldiers are acquainted with is the concept of “Sarvadharmasthal”. Sarvadharmasthal is a pious place with a Temple, Mosque, Gurudwara and a Church all together. The concept of celebrating all religions is one of the many beautiful traits of the Indian Army. This probably is one the reasons of the strong brotherhood within the force. This lets them have knowledge of all the religions, respecting all of them, and enhancing their overall personalities. The same also motivates the army men to be good humans and good soldiers. Army does not judge anyone by their name or caste, but only by their efficiency and courage.

This picture from an Eid celebration in Srinagar is a beautiful evidence of the secularity of India and its Armed forces. Three honorable army persons from different religions (Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim from left to right) jointly came together and took part in the Eid Ceremony. The locals from the area also joined all the ranks in the celebration which made the celebration even more special. This event was covered by media extensively which attracted a lot of mixed opinions. On the positive side, this beautifully portrayed the secularity of the armed forces and was widely appreciated. Among the negative ones, there were some people who suggested a conversion to Islam to the people who took part in the ceremony, fully ignoring the whole idea of secularity. One should always prevent from the negativity around and from being wrongly driven in the name of religion. Our army men have only one religion – ‘INDIAN’ and they mention it with their heads held high. Once having joined the armed forces, religion becomes immaterial. The only concept that is followed here is the One India Principle. An Indian soldier respects all the religions and holds high esteem for the democracy and constitution of India.

Being a country with diverse religions, differing perceptions are very likely. Among many who like to live happily with their brothers and sisters from different religions, there always are some people who have an agenda to be accomplished, or interpret the teachings of religion in a wrong manner. Politics in the name of religion is one of the major issues that India has to face every hour. This does not stop even when people are dying of Covid-19. The selfish motives of these people lead to feuds between the common men, ultimately leading to the success of people who planted this virus. Living in a democracy like India, it is our duty to act responsibly and not fall for the words of those who always have their ulterior motives. We should always find good in the teachings of religion and anyone who tries to convey the wrong meaning which destroys our unity, should be eradicated. Any religion does not teach about wars or disputes. Keeping this thing in mind, we should understand what is good for us and for our brotherhood. Secularity is an integral part of the constitution of India and we should do our best so that it doesn’t fall into jeopardy.

The pandemic of Corona Virus has led to people celebrating Eid from their homes. Some of them are unfortunately even away from their loved ones. But still what makes this Eid special are the virtues of love, affection and faith despite the distance. Corona Virus in disguise, has taught us a lot of things including how to be united and how to be a helping hand for the people in need irrespective of their religion. On this Eid, NGOs like ours distributing kheer and other basic utilities to the underprivileged people away from their families, conveying the message that we all are their family. Distance and all the negativity may bring a dispute among us for some time but more strongly we are together whenever a need arises. On this special occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr, we may not be together physically but let us take this opportunity to pledge to be together in thick and thin, being nothing but Indians!

How to be your better self in quarantine?

April 18, 2020 Vanshika Bhasin Blog Updates

Is this lockdown treating you with inbuilt anxiety? Or do you just feel upset for no reason to express? Well don’t worry friends, you are not alone in this. The whole world is suffering from this change of lifestyle. No schools, no colleges, work from home, have all got us into this abnormal routines for which our bodies are not used to. But this is not an excuse enough to do nothing about it. Our bodies are ours to take care of. To begin with let me ask you a question. What is your sleep schedule nowadays? The answer that I am guessing is, “Near to opposite of the usual”.

If I am right, then this is the first thing you have to work on. No, sleep will not help you prevent yourself from Corona Virus but it can prevent you from a lot of things that it is leading to hand in hand. Lack of proper sleep can lead to so many problems such as low immunity, obesity, depression and a whole lot to mention. If you’re putting on some weight, chances are that it’s not just because of the rising masterchef in you or your family members. Lack of routine sleep can add to it a lot more than you can imagine.

In other factors, shorter sleep durations is also strongly linked to depression. If you’re sleeping at the time of the usual waking up hours these days, I guess you do have an answer to why you’ve been feeling so cranky lately. Since we have no limitation to wake up at 8 in the morning presently, our inner human tendencies to procrastinate joyously comes up. So what to do? Listing all these problems, where are the solutions that we need?

Now that the lockdown is extended in India, we have plenty of time to work on ourselves. Firstly, try to set your routine and don’t ditch that alarm clock now. It is advised that you be consistent with your routines. Being disciplined just for one day won’t be of much use. On the contrary, that will only make you more tired. So set your own time by when you have to wake up necessarily, just as before. Next, try to make your day more productive. Bring back the things you loved doing previously in time or the things you have been looking forward to do “when you get time”.

It can be anything – reading, writing, painting, cooking, etc. In short, anything that makes you feel good or provides you with inner peace at the end of the day. Thirdly, engage yourself in some physical activity at home say, yoga, exercise or dance. In fact, there are many apps that can make your workout super fun. Go over them once. Fourth, get your body a balanced diet with timely meals. This irregular cycle is making many of us skipping breakfast as the sun rises after 12 in the lockdown.

Having proper meals will make your body really happy and that is what one wants in the long run, right? Also, please limit the intake of news in your system. You need not know the effects of Corona Virus your entire day. Checking news twice or thrice is more than sufficient in a day and this also includes limiting your time devotion to social media.

But this does not mean you have to be socially disconnected. Actually, it is a great time to call up your relatives, friends and even long lost friends. Connect with them and revive your relations. I believe that can make you feel way better in comparison with completing the peer pressure task of watching that trending series. Thus, leading to a great mental health.

At this time when Corona Virus is the only concern and washing hands, social distancing, etc. are the ideas highly broadcasted, do not forget to take care of your mind and body. We can all agree that a strong you can fight Corona better than a weak you. So have a good time doing what you love, but just in a routine which your soul and body would appreciate.

P.S. ‘I Am Still Human’ is an NGO dedicated to the welfare of the society and nation which primarily works for the welfare of the Underprivileged people, Indian Army and Women Empowerment. At present, we are working for the welfare of the underprivileged by providing them with free food and medical supplies in this Corona Virus crisis for which we are raising funds. We appeal you to contribute to this noble cause.

To donate, please go through the link provided.

For Donations follow the link https://iamstillhuman.org/fightcoronavirus/

Bank Details:

Account Name – I Am Still Human
Account No. – 044688700000033
IFS Code – YESB0000446
Branch – Sector 17, Chandigarh.

Paytm – +91-7508090030

Is God Playing The Game Or Is He Trying To Teach Something?

April 13, 2020 Vanshika Bhasin Blog Updates

As of this time of crisis, needless is to explain what we are talking about here. Covid-19 has come up as the most infectious bug of the century, destroying lives all over the globe. Something that didn’t hold any identity a few months back is now a power destroying the most powerful nations. What does this suggest? Does it suggest that God suddenly became angry with the mankind for making so much damage to the earth, or is he trying to teach something that we may have forgotten?

Try to recall what our school Moral Science books mentioned. “Everything is transitory”. No one is always powerful and no one possesses the immortal potion. Both good and bad time pass. And this time has made the superpower of the world, America to bend its knees in front of a bug. The country of one’s dreams is now an epicenter for deaths! All that money that people have been “saving” is actually useless except for buying food and necessities. In this hour, everyone is equal in the true sense. The rich, the poor, the middle class, the Hindus, the Muslims, the Christians, the Sikhs – everyone is equal. Unlike people like us, Corona does not discriminate between the powerful and the suppressed.

In this time when we are in our homes, let us try to think of it this way. What if we are being put to a test! That’s right, a test to check if humanity still exists or is there any brotherhood left in this world to survive the adversities together? Can we aid our needy brothers and sisters? Helping the impoverished and sticking together never makes anyone poor. Our actions now are being recorded in the pages of history. So we have to do something in order to make things right and be an inspiration for the future generations.

Even when being equal, we are still better off than some people out there namely, the poor and the underprivileged. And we must do our bits to protect them. If things get worse, these will be the first to be hit in terms of medical treatment. And so we have to stop things from further deterioration. As is rightly said, “When there is a will, there is a way”. So what may be the ways by which we protect the world? First and foremost, stay at home with your families. Perhaps this is the time when we can make up for our absence and negligence towards our families as work was always a priority. Secondly, video call if you miss your friends rather than initiating to meet them. We assure that this discipline will soon end the crisis.

Third, along with the government there are many NGOs like ours who are tirelessly working for the well being of the underprivileged by being on the ground. Do support them and donate if you can. And last but not the least, take care of yourself. Maintain proper hygiene and eat well. If this is actually a test, let us make sure that we pass it with flying colors. Let us all stick together (maintaining social distance, of course) and make sure we win this war. Even after this is over, lets pledge to make earth a better place to live. You are not alone. We are all in this together. Take care and stay safe.

P.S. ‘I Am Still Human’ is an NGO dedicated to the welfare of the society and nation which primarily works for the welfare of the Underprivileged people, Indian Army and Women Empowerment. At present, we are working for the welfare of the underprivileged by providing them with free food and medical supplies in this Corona Virus crisis for which we are raising funds. We appeal you to contribute to this noble cause. To donate, please go through the link provided.

Donate here to help us support underprivileged during COVID19 : https://iamstillhuman.org/fightcoronavirus/