My Science School

       You may have heard of the Aryans who invaded India thousands of years ago. The Aryans were a tribal and nomadic people who lived far away in Euro-Asia. They were unquestionably a tough people, and were fierce warriors.

       The Aryan culture was oriented around warfare, and they were very good at it. They were superb horsemen and rushed into battle in chariots. The Aryans were ruled over by a war chief, or Rajan.

       Somewhere in the early centuries of the second millennium BC, the Aryans began to migrate southwards in waves of steady conquest across the face of Persia, and the lands of India. There, they would take on the name ‘superior’ or ‘noble’ to distinguish themselves from the people they conquered. Their name is derived from the Indo-European root word, ‘ar’, meaning ‘noble’.

       The Aryans first settled along the Indus River, in the same place where the Harappan people had lived. They settled down, and mixed with the local Indian people. They lived there from about 1500 to 800 BC. It seems to be around this time that the caste system began in India.

       About 800 BC, the Aryans learned how to use iron for weapons and tools. Once the Aryans learned how to use iron, they used their new weapons to conquer more of India, and moved to the south and east into the Ganges river valley. The Aryans are also called Vedic people since they composed some important books that describe the life and religion of those days, known as the Vedas.

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       Can you imagine that the tall mountains of the Himalayas were once under the ocean? Yes, this amazing fact is true! Millions of years ago, all the continents were joined together to form a giant continent called Pangaea. Gradually, Pangaea split up into two continents, Laurasia and Gondwanaland.

       These two continents were separated by a sea called the Tethys Sea. India, which was on Gondwanaland, later broke away and became an island. The Indian and the Eurasian plates collided with each other 20 to 30 million years ago, and as a result of this collision, the Himalayas started rising up. Since this area was once covered by the Tethys Sea, fossils of fish and other marine animals have been found on the icy cliffs of the Himalayas.

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       The Chalcolithic Age refers to the period after the New Stone Age. During this time, copper became an important material, along with stone. The Chalcolithic period is also known as the Copper Age. ‘Chalcos’ in Greek means copper.

       Chalcolithic Man relied less on hunting than the Neolithic Man. He focussed more on sheep and goat breeding, and the cultivation of wheat, barley, dates, olives and lentils. Houses during this period were built of sundried mud bricks with roofs made of wood, reeds and mud. Some houses were based on stone foundations, and many were planned around large courtyards.

       The walls of the houses were also used for artistic or ceremonial purposes. In many parts of the country, Chalcolithic cultures existed between 2000 and 1000 BC. Chalcolithic sites have been discovered in Rajasthan, south Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Bengal, central and south India.

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      The Harappans were great traders and had a complex system of trade networks that made them very rich. They traded in shell, dried fish, fish grain, and pearls from the coast, as well as copper, tin, turquoise, ivory, precious and semiprecious stones from the hilly areas.

        Of course, grains, animals and wood were produced and traded from the rural areas. The Harappans had networks that extended into Central Asia, Mesopotamia and the Arabian Peninsula. Through trade, the Harappan Civilization expanded its culture, and came into regular contact with faraway lands.

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       Like any civilizations in the world, the Harappan Civilization too had to face decline. Its glory finally diminished between 2000 and 1800 BC. We cannot really pinpoint one single reason.

       Climate changes may have played a role, since the Earth was becoming warmer during this time. The land became drier, and water for the cities ran short. It is also thought that earthquakes or fires may have destroyed many cities. The city of Mohenjo-Daro shows evidence of having been destroyed by fire. Other scholars feel that the population was wiped out by an epidemic or disease.

       It is also likely that the area became too large to be effectively controlled, encouraging attacks by outsiders. In any case, the nomadic Aryans invaded India around 1500 BC, destroying the Indus Valley Civilization, bringing to an end the most brilliant civilization of the ancient world.

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       Of the many parts of a Harappan city,  the citadel at the centre had a vital role to play. The citadel was the main part of the city, built on a raised platform. It was built of bricks and surrounded by a huge brick wall. The citadel consisted of public buildings, a bath, and granaries and quarters for providing shelter to the persons who taught religion. The remaining parts of the city were spread around the citadel. People went to the citadel for protection when the city was under attack.

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       Do you know how large the largest civilization of the ancient world was? The Indus Valley Civilization covered an area the size of Western Europe! It spread across over 1.3 million square kilometres of land! It was spread out over what is today Pakistan, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

       It has been discovered that the Indus Valley Civilization stretched from Jammu and Kashmir in the north, to the Narmada in the south, and from the Makran coast of Baluchisthan in the west to the River Yamuna in the east.

       Over 1000 sites have been discovered, belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. Is it any wonder that it was considered the largest of the four ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China?

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Do you like to wear ornaments? It is believed that the people of the Indus Valley Civilization were also fond of dressing up and wearing ornaments. Archaeological discoveries from this period suggest that both men and women wore jewellery. Necklaces, beads and amulets were made from gold, silver and semi-precious stones, including carnelian, turquoise and lapis lazuli.

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       The cities of Harappa were well planned, and even had covered drains like those of modern cities. Large areas were built with bricks of the same size and weight. They used kilns to make bricks and used burnt bricks, in domestic and public buildings.

      A Harappan city was divided into two parts. At the centre was the massive citadel. It had temples and granaries, an assembly hall and baths. Around it was what is known as the lower town. The streets were straight and broad.

They were paved, and laid at right angles to each other. The houses had protection against noise, odours, and thieves. Houses faced streets, and were at least two stories high. They had brick staircases leading to the upper levels and the roof.

       Life was centred around an enclosed courtyard, and there was a balcony over the courtyard. Each house had its own well, and one even had a large bathtub!

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       The Harappans knew how to write, and over 2,000 stone seals have been found in the Indus Valley. These seals were small tablets, which left an impression when pressed into a soft substance like clay. They were quadrangular in shape. These seals are some form of writing, but unfortunately, they have not been deciphered yet.

      Harappan writing consists of short strings of symbols. Some say that each symbol represents a picture or idea; others say it represents a sound. The fact, however, is that no one has actually been able to understand or read the writing of the Harappans.

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       One of the most fascinating, yet mysterious cultures of the ancient world is the Harappan Civilization. This culture existed along the Indus River in present day Pakistan. It was named after the city of Harappa, which was the first city of the Indus Valley Civilization to be discovered.

       Farming was an important part of the Harappa way of life. There was plenty of water for good farming. By 4000 BC, people farmed along the banks of the Indus River and by 3000 BC, irrigation began. People also farmed along tributaries, which are small rivers and streams that flow into a larger river. Earthen bunds were also built to control the river’s annual flooding. The farmers ploughed their fields, probably using wooden ploughs. Using a plough made it much easier to grow more crops. The crops that were grown included wheat, barley, peas, melons, rice and sesame. This civilization was the first to cultivate cotton for the production of cloth. Several animals were also domesticated, including the elephant, which was used for its ivory.

Becoming a paediatrician or a child specialist requires 5-6 years of training beyond an MBBS degree. First, clear 10+2 examination with Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Then appear in a competitive exam to get admission into MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery). This is a 5 ½ year course which includes a one-year internship period as well.

After MBBS, you should go for 2 years PG Diploma for 3 years M.D. in Paediatrics. The selection of a candidate for PG courses is done through entrance examinations. After completion of M.D./M.S., it is better to study further and do a super specialization.

Admissions for 100% seats of MBBS/BDS in various medical/dental colleges, except AIIMS and JIPMER Puducheery, is done through the common entrance test called NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). This year, NEET was conducted on 7 May 2017.

Pediatricians need the same skills other specialists do, such as good communication skills, problem-solving and critical thinking. But they also need to have an extra level of understanding when working with children.

 

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I am a student of Std IX and I want to be a genetic engineer and work abroad as there is not much scope in India. Please tell me about the institutions that would help me pursue a career in Genetic Engineering. How should I prepare for admission into these institutions?

Genetic Engineering is the process of adding new DNA to a living organism through artificial methods. Some examples of genetic engineering are faster-growing trees, bigger, longer-lasting tomatoes, glow in the dark cats, golden rice, plants that fight pollution, banana vaccine, etc.

Students with backgrounds in Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, etc., are eligible to apply for genetic engineering courses at the graduate level such as M.Sc., M.Tech. and Ph.D. Since Genetic Engineering is not offered as a standalone programme, most students pursue higher studies in Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, etc., and specialize in Genetic Engineering.

To pursue a Master’s course in a reputed university in India, all you need is the GATE/JAM scores. For universities abroad, your GPA, GRE/TOFL scores and research projects are very important. Since Genetic engineering is a highly research-oriented field, a Ph.D. degree is imperative if you want to climb up the ladder at work.

Some good institutes in India are Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. After pursuing courses in Genetic Engineering, you can work in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, research and development departments, agricultural sector, genetic engineering firms, chemical companies, etc. With the increasing number of biotech firms in India, the future scope in genetic engineering is good in India as well as abroad. USA and UK are at the forefront of research in genetic engineering.

 

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After completing 10+2 in any stream, go for BALLB, which is of 5 years’ duration. Admission is through Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). Some institutes conduct their own entrance examination.

The course incorporates a lot of practical training and also includes court attendance, legal research projects, and practical work in legal aid centres. To qualify for legal practice, a year’s apprenticeship in a legal firm is essential. Law graduates are allowed to practice law throughout the country only after they get themselves enrolled as advocates at the Bar Council.

Some of the well-known institutes are: National Law School of India University, Bangalore; NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad; National Law Institute University, Bhopal; The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata; National Law University, Jodhpur; ILS Law College, Pune.

 

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What is Media & Mass Communication? What are the career opportunities in the film and advertisement industry? What is the possibility of taking an MBA in Communication Management after this degree?

The term Mass Communication refers to the process of delivering and transferring of messages and news to a large group of people using different forms of media like newspapers, radio, internet and television. Many institutes offer a 3-year-Bachelor’s and 2-year—Master’s degree programme in Mass Communication. It is also known by various names like Communication Studies, Media Studies, Communication Science, Communication Arts and Media Science, Communication Arts and Media Science. For an MBA in any specialization, you require a Bachelor’s degree in any field.

Career opportunities in any field depend on your capability and the courses you’ve done. For a qualified person in a specific field, the scope may be very good, but the same field will not offer the same opportunity to an unqualified person. So try to focus on your capability, aptitude and interest and go for the courses, and hence career, which is suitable to you. Don’t opt for a career just because someone says that it has good opportunities.

 

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