POSTAL STAMP

     The history of post and it's symbols are fun filled. Post was one of the important thing in our life, till the Internet came in to exist and influenced our life by means of email and instant messaging. Still we can't able to avoid the letters completely. MUDHRA is a sanskrit word for symbol

POSTAL SYMBOL
    Postal symbols first came into existence in Britain. In 1835 Mathematics scientist Rolland Hill formed an investigating team. The reason for this movement is nothing but there is no fixed  charge or an ideal system for letter posting. At the time to send a letter from one post office to another, we need to pay in the both post offices. So on the letter posting played important role in government wealth. In this time France and Britain came in to war and the government increased the letter posting charge and they used all the income from this letter posting for needs of war.
     So on people's interest in letter started to decrease. At that time money is given only after the receiver got the letter or item. People started to make the money by cheating the government . Like the receiver rejected the letters and the matter from the sender is written on the cover itself by some codes and all. So the receiver will understood the matter of the letter and he won't spend money for getting the letter.

STAMP
       The investigation by Rolland Hill team strongly said that the letter posting should have to be charged before sending. In 1837 government showed green signal to Rolland Hills ideas. And in 1840 the first letter symbol or stamp came in to exist. Rolland hills said that for a letter weighing 1/2 ounce  wieght will charge 1 penny to send from Britain to any where else.And the money should have to be collected before sending and have to stick a small paper on it one side gum and other side with a postal symbol. First it was difficult for officials to accept  but as a test they did it and it got a successful and positive feedback.

FIRST STAMP (PENNY BLACK)
           Penny black was the first postal stamp in the world, the postal symbol on that stamp was the picture of Queen Victoria, but these stamp was having a negative side that they forgot to print their nation's name (England) on it, it is because at the time no other countries used this postal system. The stamp printed on may 1st and published for public use on may 6th. Still the penny black is printed without name of England. "Postage one penny" this is the only thing printed on penny black stamp.

DEVELOPMENT
     The postage cost and system made ideal and fixed On the day penny black published. First the penny black was printed on the letter envelops, covers and all. Later Rolland Hill developed penny black stamp, which can pasted on any envelopes or covers. By this methodology postal service in England developed and it's income also increased well.
       Rolland Hill published an autobiography called Father of postal stamp. And in 1937 he published a book called post office reform. Two important regulations about stamps are notified in these books. One a fixed amount will be charged before sending any things that to be send. Two for the proof of money has paid, paste a postal symbol (stamp) on the envelope of letter. This rules are still followed every where.

NATIONS
    Brazil was the second country who implemented stamp in 1843. Success of Penny black was the motivation behind this. So on at 1945 some post masters in Switzerland and American union nations started publishing their on stamps. In 1847 Americans published first Stamp. 5,10 cent way stamp price. In 1845 France and Belgium started publishing their own stamp. In 1850 itself almost every country started using stamp. In most of them was colonies of British, so development was very slowly.

LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS

INTRODUCTION
             Lakshadweep is located in the western side of kerala in the Arabian, A group of 36 small small Islands ask together called as Lakshadweep. In these some of them are populated and some are not. The populated Islands are Andhroth, Manikoyi, Kavrathi, Amnidivi and the islands Virigilli, Cheriyamkkodithalla, Thillakkam, pitty are not populated by people. New born islands are also included in this. It is 200-400km far from Kerala. There is minimum of 11 kilometres to travel from one island to another. And maximum of 378 km too is there in between these islands  .

BEHIND THE NAME
      There are lots of historical stories and ethics are exist behind this name Lakshadweeps. When VASCO DE GAMA left from Europe, there was an Arabian captain IBNUMAJ, he is the one who told Vasco about these Islands and about Kerala, Like there are lots of islands in Arabian sea and if go after them towards the East then we can able to reach Kerala. Vasco realised that it's true, and he shooter to sky as a honour. Vasco called them as Lakedeves. We can see this names in the old records. In 1973 P. M. SAEED Presented a bill in the parliament and the name changed to Lakshadweep from Lakedeves.
         This Islands are in the top of some mountains in the Arabian sea. The studies says that depth near the island is about more than 1500 feet, found in 1892 ocean investigations. The islands have relation with Kerala and the people over there also have a strong relationship with kerala. In the early time itself people over there have relation with land and people in Kerala. More than that ancient people over the were the refugees from Kerala. Coconut and fishing is their and keralites main business at that time. This Islands also have the same natural beauty of Kerala. They are following the same language, dressing style and culture of Keralites.
       There have been conducted lots of study about these Islands, as per Gardiner's idea from the shores of Africa to Lakshadweep, East Malaysia included in the South Indian silon till the north Australia is a part of continent, the mountains are in the oceans and above that coral reefs are formed and that's reefs are these Islands. The capital of Lakshadweep is Kavrathi. According to senses in 2001, 2786 is population in this place per square kilometres. Andhroth Island is biggest In the size, Kithaan is the smallest in size. 1.63 kilometres is the circumference of this island. These Islands were very poor in education and development, but by the 20th century these Islands came in to leading position both in development and education. The first school started in 1891 in Minikoy was the first step towards the education in these Islands. In 1904 a school started at Amini island, and a teacher from Kasargod District, Kerala went there for teaching. Teachers were went from Kerala to schools over there at that time

ISLAM RELIGION
          The most of the Lakshadweep people belive in Islam religion. HASRATH UBAIDHULLA spreader of Islam religion over there. We can see in the History that   In the beginning of 7th century itself Islam has been spreaded over there. It is said that at hijra year, in the month of shawall on 11 th(AD 662), Prophet MUHAMMED NABI (S) Sent 14 members from Jiddah in a ship to island to spread the Islam religion. HASRATH UBAIDHULLA was the leader, they faced lots of problem over there, they started from the Amini island and a women was first came into Islam and she is named as HAMEEDHATH. FUTHUHATHUL JASAYIR ( ISLAND WIN ) is the book proof for this.

LIFE STYLE
         Fishing is the main thing of people over there, coconut agriculture is also practiced in large level. Cause of area and type of soil other kind of agriculture is not successful. Rope manufacturing is also practiced. Rope industries was one of the most competitive area at early times, to conquer this rope industries, In between East India company and Arakkal Kingdom  had so many competitions for this has marked in history. At that time These competitions leaded the island people's life more difficult. In 16th centuries the Kannur king has charged tax for rope exporting. Islands have huge amount of source of fish. The fish production over here is more than 10000 Tons. More than 300 kinds of decorative fishes are Also available in the island. Pearls and stones are also well available. Fishing sectors is the most source of income of these Islands.

ART
    There are many art forms performed in the islands in that Kollkali and Parichamutt is famous. These are performed by men. In a group 12- 20 members will be there. It is famous in Kerala too, the famous Kerala Mappila Kollkali's same rule and form is followed by the island. In Kollkali players will be with small cylinder shaped sticks. At the same time in Parichamutt the players will be holding sword shaped wood and one stick in other hand or may be the shield in other hand. Songs also will be there while playing this, songs will be most of Mappila songs. This will be performed in Marriage functions, special days and in special functions and all.
       ATTAM
       Attam is an art form performed by women performer, it's is performed in every Islands but Killthaan is famous for this art form. The women's are formed like a circle and dancing simple steps according to the song is Attam. In Eid eve these art were performed but this is not exist now.
        ULLAKKAMUTT
        This needs stretchable body, guys will sit in both the sides and ullakka is a kind of stick used to grind the cereals they will beat this ullakka to make sound at the same time 3 or more will dance inside the gap between these sticks without making mistake in their steps.
         LAVA
         It is mostly performed in Minikoy island, LAVA means steps. This art form is by wearing a special kind of shoes and wearing a drum on chest and making sound by beating the drum and doing steps according to that drum beat. Beru is another form of lava.

Lakshadweep island is one most attractive Islands, go visit and enjoy.

ORNITHOLOGY (study of Birds)

 INTRODUCTION 
        Here we are going to discus about the steps we want to do in ornithology, it's very simple and quiet easy at the same time interesting too. Birds are the singers of nature's. We all love birds is there any one who doesn't like birds?  No every one likes birds, every one like to see their movements, the way they collecting foods, the way they fly, the way they sing and all. The term ornithology is know as the scientific study of birds example their moves, behaviour etc.
         We have to analyse a bird from the place where they growing up. Birds are symbol of peace, understanding them is like understanding the nature. By this interesting analysing we are living the nature. In villages and all may be people start their life in the morning by hearing birds songs or sounds. Because birds wakes up very early in the morning. When we look out through our Windows we can that they busy in making friendship and busy collecting foods for their day. Each and every birds are different from one each other, every bird is unlike each other in their colour, behaviour, sound, the way they make shelter and all.

START FROM THE CREATOR
        Who teached birds to fly over the sky, and to built home in the tree tops and to collect their foods and lay egg and to grow up their babies? The one who made us is behind that, God. Nothing is enough to appreciate God's ability. This little small birds are doing lots of things that even we people can't imagine, it's only the power of God.

TWO BOOKS
           Before starting to learn about the birds, we should have to know about one person. The one who spend his whole life for birds, Dr. Saleem Ali. He is also known as the saviour of the birds, he had written lots of books about birds among that THE BOOK OF INDIAN BIRDS is one of the next and very much useful to us. As like that Keralite professor Neellakandan know in pen name INDHUCHOODAN, His book called BIRDS OF KERALA and also the books of ornithologist C. Raheem, which will be also help us in the study of birds.

SCIENTIFIC NAME
           In different countries different names are used for birds English people use one name Indian use another name for the same kind, in this case the scientific names plays a vital role. The scientific name of every animals is in the Latin language. Even it is is I  the late  language, the names are agreed all over the world. As the names are so important, for an ornithologist, it is essential to remember each and every names of birds in its scientific names. Writing behaviour of these scientific names will be helpful for the study and orthinology.

IDENTIFICATION
           The first thing is identification of birds, the ability to classify the birds comes in this parts. We have to be very clear about the birds we see around us in our environment itself. We  can identify them first. Identification includes their names, shape, how do they look like, their sound, their approach towards the people like weather they are flying away from people cause of fear and all.

COLOURS
         While we are going for ornithology one thing we have to be careful that don't wear red, black, white dresses. There is chance that birds fly away from us since these colours are more bright and attractive. If the colour our dress is green, light green or light yellow, then the birds won't notice us easily, if so we can watch them in a close range even without the help of binoculars.

PLACES
          Where did they birds likely to come more often? Study about that places and choose that places like fields, plains, bamboo forests, flowered trees, lakes, sea shores. These are the most likely place that most of the birds love. And another main place is tree with fruits, birds will more likely to come there to have fruits, honey, to build nest, to eat worms on that tree and all.

NAMES
     We have to take care of the names because each every birds have different names more over each birds are having one more names, in different places the same bird may have different names so collecting their names and noting it down is very important.

EFFORT / TIMING
        Birds wake up very early and they will went for their did in the early morning itself so we should have to be ready early. Morning 6 am to 9 am is the right time for ornithology as like that evening 4 pm to 7 pm is the right timing. In these time the birds seems to be more active. The researchers found that in these time, they will be more active, singing, finding food, making nest, making love &  friendship. The noise of the birds going home in the evening last for hours.

FEATHERS
          As like ornithology feature collection is also a good &  fun filled hobby, As a part of ornithology when we go to places where birds come collect the feathers from there and classify according to birds feather and stick on in an album and write their respective names in it. So by this ornithology we can get two things one hobby (feather collection) and two valuable information about birds.

SOUNDS
        Each boards vary in their sounds, so we have to analyse sound very seriously we should have to identify a bird from its sounds, but some birds have multiple sounds like mimicry acting, Parrots are the good example of this kind.

CONCLUSION
       Everyone should try ornithology it is a simple and  good hobby and mind relaxing one too to do, it will be very nice to study and analyse about birds since they are very beautiful and sings well. Learn through fun.
      

    
         

THALLASSERY MUTTAMAALA (EGG SWEET)

INGREDIENTS

1. EGG ( HEN )                           - 15 Nos                 
2. EGG ( DUCK )                         - 5 Nos    
3. SUGAR                                   - 300 Gm
4. CARDAMOM                         - 5 Nos
5. GHEE                                      - 1/2 Tbs

HOW TO PREPARE

     ★ Separate the egg white and yellow without mixing each other to two bowls. Now grind the cardamom and add it to the egg white, add 5 Tbs of sugar to it and beat well.
     ★ Now apply the Ghee to a plate and pour the egg white solution to this plate and boil it in steam.
     Step 2
     ★ Boil sugar and water in pan well, now pour the egg yellow to it by using filter ( To get like thread or like noodles ), now after 3 or 4 minutes take off the egg yellow threads from the sugar.
     ★ The steam boil egg white will be in the form of cake, cut it into pieces and put the egg yellow threads over this egg white cake.
    Serve after a mild cooling
     
      This sweet very famous in east kerala, it's very tasty and sugary. It can be use as a dessert after the food. Children's will obviously like this sweet, it's so simple to make and delicious too. Only a few ingredients is needed and which is all always available in our home itself. Try and enjoy.

PURE GHEE MYSOOR PA SWEET

INGREDIENTS

1. GRAM FLOUR                             - 1 Cup
2. SUGAR                                         - 1 &  1/2 Cup
3. PURE GHEE                                 - 2 Cup

HOW TO PREPARE

         ★ Fry the gram flour in a pan for ten minutes until it gets smoothen.
         ★ Boil the sugar &  water in pan until it gets thicken and once it gets thick fluid add the Ghee to it after that add the fried gram flour to it and stir well until it gets boiled well, then off the stove and then pour this in to a plain pan and cut in to pieces.

       This pure Ghee sweet mysoor pa is very tasty sweet but it's so costly in the shop but it's so simple to make it in home it self only three ingredients is needed to make and it's all well available in our home itself, kids definitely like this sweet and we can serve it after dinner and all