Matters of the heart

One of the pioneers of heart surgery was a man who wasn't a doctor. He was paid a janitor's fee for a significant part of his working life. He was black. Yet, without Vivian Thomas, cardiac surgery could not have made the progress it did over the years. Dr Denton Cooley is a legend among cardiac surgeons for implanting the first artificial heart. On 29 November, 1944, Cooley was assisting Dr Alfred Blalock, who was performing the modern world's first successful heart surgery, at John Hopkins Hospital.

Behind Blalock stood Thomas, his assistant and long-term associate, every step of the surgery. "No, Vivian Thomas wasn't a doctor. He wasn't even a college graduate. He was just so smart, and so skilled, and so much his own man, that it didn't matter. And, could he operate. Even if you'd never seen surgery before Vivian made it look so simple," Cooley would go on to say. Katie McCabe profile Thomas and his decades-long relationship with Blalock, and his struggles against racial prejudice. "What mattered was that Alfred Blalock and Vivian Thomas could do historic things together that neither could do alone," she writes. Today, portraits of Blalock and Thomas hang, side by side, on the walls of the hospital that they made - and made famous.

World takes notice as ISL is born

Indian Super League (ISL) finally got under way on Sunday after the country's  previous attempts to woo world football had fallen flat on it's face.
In 2012, for example, West Bengal briefly flirted with the idea of Premier League Soccer (PLS), acquiring eight district teams and inviting players like Pablo Cannavaro, Hernan Crespo, Robert Pires and Robbie Fowler to grace Indian football. But in a matter of months, the dream collapsed; the league never saw light of the day, and, not surprisingly invited from around the world.
When IMG-Reliance announced plans for the ISL, a franchise based league modelled on the hugely-successful  Indian Premier League (IPL) T20, there was, understandably, some concern. After three years and as many postponements, the league finally took off in a city that is widely regarded as the 'Mecca of Indian football'. Kolkata, after all, has hosted legends like Pele, Diego, Maradona and Lionel Messi.
On Sunday, the world suddenly took more than just passing interest in Indian football. For the opening game alone, 23 foreign television channels, newspapers and magazines were granted accreditation, focusing on India and it's football like never before. From Tokyo to Brazil, France and Italy, the ISL, grabbed worldwide attention.
It has helped that top Bollywood stars, industrialists and even cricketers -- including the captain and vice-captain -- are throwing their weight behind the tournament. But of particular interest to the world has been the presence of five World Cup winners, foreign players from 22 countries and a collective experience of 1000 competitive matches in various leagues globally.
"The world now knows that Indians play football. Until three years ago, believe me, I knew only of Baichung Bhutia but when I came here, I saw for myself just how passionate Indians were especially in Manipur, about football", said Steve Darby, former Thailand national coach and a globetrotter.
"The ISL, will either be brilliant or a disaster, but half the battle is already won with the kind of interest that is generated around the world. I am told that 1000 journalists are covering the league", said Mumbai City FC's assistant coach who had a brief stint at Mohan Bagan as coach. Darby, like several other experts, warned that it will be in the hands of domestic players to take Indian football to the next level. "Grab this chance", he urged the players.

GLACIERS

A glacier is a large mass of ice that acts like a thick river, slowly flowing downhill under the influence of gravity. It is formed in pieces where more snow falls in winter than can melt in summer. Over time, the accumulated snow compresses, turns and begins to flow outwards and downwards under the pressure of it's own weight.

Presently, ten percent of land area is covered with glaciers. Glaciers are found at high altitude on every continent. However, ninety-nine percent of our planet's glacial ice is contained within vast ice sheets in the polar regions. The world's largest glacier is the LAMBERT GLACIER IN ANTARCTICA. It is about 100 km wide, over 400 km long and about 2.5 km deep.

Rome was not built in a day

“Rome was not built in a day” This proverb implies a deep meaning. It means that nothing and worry. It requires a great patience and perseverance to achieve a goal. Just as culture and civilization of Rome took centuries to reach its height similarly glory of any country can’t be attained without hard and continuous labor. This principle applies to all aims and ambitions whether personal or impersonal.

Everyone has one or other goals in his/her life to achieve. Without an aim life is like a boat without a rudder. So first you have to decide a definite aim. Then you must resolve to pursue it devotedly. You have to be cautious and careful at every step. No doubt hurdles would come but with consistence and steady endeavor you will finally emerge victorious. Ups and downs would come and go; you should not bother about them.

If your goal is lofty, your thoughts are noble and your heart in peace nothing can stop you to reach your destination. Worldly charms and momentary joys are milestones. They may elude you, but go forward and leave them behind. Seek inspiration from the lives of great men who lived for others and died for others. Fix your target and start proceeding towards it without faltering. According to a famous verse in Sanskrit the people of weak mentality do not start a work for the fear of disturbances and obstructions, common people start the work but leave uncompleted when calamities be fall. The courageous men do not stop till they have reached the culmination. They overcome all misfortunes and sufferings.

Before coming to a conclusion there is one thing more to be reminded and it is that we should have self confidence and distance vision. We have to make our way through adversities. Life is not a bed of roses but every cloud has a silver line. Taking this optimistic view in mind we should remember the words of Swami Vivekananda in his poem “The Song of Free”:

“THE CLOUDS PUTS FORTH ITS DELUGE STRENGTH

WHEN LIGHTENING CLEAVES ITS BREAST,

WHEN THE SOUL IS STRIPPED TO ITS INMOST DEPTH

GREAT ONES UNFOLD THEIR BEST!”

Thus, we see that a day is not enough but a life is enough to win a goal. We can say that time and money means little in long run. The main thing is our strong and firm will power.

WE SHOULD LEARN TO LIVE AN IDEAL LIFE AND DIE A GLORIOUS DEATH.