One Man, One country: And the rest is History

Where every global citizen is scrutinizing the aftermath of the astonishing and the startled United States of America- Presidential Elections 2016, here I am with some words with utter poignant nostalgia about Barrack Obama’s excellency and his official step out from the White House this Winter. With a staggering win of eccentric candidate from the Republicans, Donald Trump over Hilary Clinton from the Democrats, there have been speculations over a myriad and plethora of alteration and amendments towards each and every sector the United States, from its International Foreign Policy to Domestic Economic Reforms. 

The election results clearly notified about the fact that National interest was overlapped over harsh personal doctrines, Americans considerably voted against the so called “elite political establishment” as said by many national analysts of the US. As this article would be a compact tribute to “Barry” (Barrack Obama), I would like to enlist some of the pre-eminent achievements and major political changes during his time in the White House;

1. Ending the 2008 Recession:

In February 2009, Congress approved Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package.

It cut taxes, extended unemployment benefits, and funded public works projects. The recession ended six months later when GDP growth turned positive. In just seven months, ARRA pumped $241.9 billion into the economy, stirring growth to a robust 3.9% by early 2010. By March 30, 2011, nearly all ($633.5 billion) of the funds were spent. 

2. De-escalating tensions in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Obama’s administration has imposed some concrete efforts in ending war in Iraq during 2009 following the planned elimination of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should have reduced the more than $800 billion in annual military spending. That's the largest discretionary budget item. It's one of the leading causes of the budget deficit and debt levels.

3. Broadening Health Care Systems:

His presence in the Office has experienced quite a few constructive measures towards reforming the health care facilities for the citizens; he aimed in affordable and quality medical assistance with evitable transparency. Once elected in 2009, Obama proposed the Health Care for America Plan. It provided medical insurance similar to Medicare for everyone who wanted it. Those who were happy with their existing health insurance could keep it. The federal government's size meant it could bargain for lower prices and reduce inefficiencies. 

4.  Upbringing Civil Rights:

Through revolving thought processes, Obama government encouraged Americans to respect and adopt major fundamental rights landmarks citing the most popular example LGBT Rights, Same-Sex Marriage. Also The Department of Justice joined the historic case in which the Supreme Court ruled for marriage equality. There are other areas where the Justice Department has fought for civil rights, though not always successfully. 

5. Iranian Nuclear Deal:

The Iran Nuclear Deal brokered by Obama’s diplomats was a milestone achievement towards preventing further Nuclear Proliferation by Iran through a coherent deal. Negotiators reached a historic accord last summer to limit Tehran's nuclear ability in return for lifting international oil and financial sanctions.

6. Climate Change Agreement:

Obama inheritably had an environmentalist nature which was relevantly showcased in his speeches and also Climate change remained and secured a prominent spot in his list of Global political agendas, recently the Paris Climate Agreement; The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention and – for the first time – brings all nations into a common cause to undertake take ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort.

As Obama’s tenure ends, the world encountered one of the most ambitious, dexterous and accomplished leader in the history of the United States. Quoting Obama “If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress”.

With this Veritas & I bid farewell with a salute to the President who fought against all odds explicitly and taught each and everyone of us the prominence of “Hope”

And Believe we did!

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Top 10: Influential Teens of 2016

Here is a list of the Top 10 influential teenagers of 2016

10) Kelvin Doe 

Kelvin Doe was born 26 October 1996 in Freetown, where he is also known as DJ Focus. He is a Sierra Leonean engineer. He is known for teaching himself engineering at the age of 13 and for building his own radio station in Sierra Leone, where he plays music and broadcasts news under the name "DJ Focus."

Kelvin Doe was born to a single mother when Sierra Leone was being torn apart due to the ongoing civil war. "Her resilience and self-belief made it possible for me to be alive today," he once said, with respect to his mother. 
Doe was a speaker at TED x Teen and lectured to undergraduate engineering students at Harvard College In May 2013!

9) Zea Tongeman

A 14-year-old from south London, designed the social media app called “Jazzy Recycling” that turns waste disposal into a game. Jazzy Recycling helps users find places to recycle, tells them what they can recycle and then enables them to scan, share and get rewards for their efforts.
Tongeman was inspired to create her mobile app after attending a workshop with Little Miss Geek at her school, St.Saviours and St.Olaves in Elephant and Castle, England. The presentation had brought fashion designer Francesca Rosella to teach students basic computer coding and circuitry for clothing. Soon after, she entered Apps for Good that is  a competition that encourages students to create positive change through technology. 

Teaming up with her friend, Jordan Stirbu, she laid the foundations for Jazzy Recycling.

8) Jack Thomas Andraka 

Jack Thomas Andraka was born January 8, 1997. He is an American inventor, scientist and cancer researcher. He is known for his award-winning work on a potential method for detecting the early stages of pancreatic and other cancers, which he performed while he was a high school student , at an age where students are still figuring out their career options . Andraka enrolled as a freshman at Stanford University for the 2015-2016 academic year.
Andraka claims to have invented a new type of sensor, similar to those of diabetic test strips, for early-stage pancreatic cancer screening. This paper sensor measures the level of mesothelin (a suspected cancer biomarker) in a sample to test for the presence of cancer in a patient.

7) Jaden Smith

Jaden Christopher Syre Smith , born on July 8, 1998, is an American actor and rapper. He is the son of Jada Pinkett Smith and the well known actor Will Smith.
Sure, Will Smith’s son got the most attention for telling the New York Times that “school is not authentic because it ends,” for example, or tweeting “Kanye For President” to his 5.7 million followers, but he is also making waves in the music industry.  

6) Joshua Wong

Joshua Wong Chi-fung , born on 13 October 1996 is a student activist from Hong Kong and founder of the student activist group known as Scholarism. He is also the secretary general of Demosistō, a political party. currently studying at the Open University of Hong Kong. In June 2014, Scholarism drafted a plan to reform Hong Kong's electoral system to push for universal suffrage. 

Wong was charged on 27 November 2014 with obstructing a bailiff clearing one of Hong Kong's three protest areas , during the umbrella movement. His lawyer described the charge to be politically motivated. He was banned from entering a large part of the city. He was also not allowed to use a large number of roads, even for transit purposes.

5) Ahmed Mohamed

Not everyone makes national news by just bringing a science project to school, but the 9th grader’s arrest spun of a national debate over racial profiling.
The Ahmed Mohamed clock incident took place in 2015. He was arrested for bringing an alleged bomb to the school. He had made a clock resembling an electronic clock using a pencil box. His English teacher who thought it was a bomb, confiscated the clock, and reported him to the principal. The principal called in Local law enforcement who questioned him for an hour and a half and sent him to a juvenile detention facility. Even after his release by the juvenile justice authorities’, he was suspended from school. 

This news went viral on social media, and even president Obama responded to it by tweeting that Ahmed’s clock was cool and also invited him to the white house.
In October 2015, the family decided to move to Qatar, where Ahmed plans to continue his education with the help of a scholarship from the Qatar education foundation.

4) Flynn McGarry

Flynn McGarry, born November 1998 is an American , New York city based chef . When children of his age were still figuring out how to complete their homework or finish math problems , Flynn had started the US$160-a-head Eureka dining club in Los Angeles, at the age of 12. He flew to New York city after completing his high school and started his own restaurant namely Eureka NYC. This year , in 2016, he presented one of his dishes in the eight season of Masterchef Australia , as a pressure test.

3) Moziah Bridges (CEO of Mo's Bows)

Moziah Bridges started his business when he was 9 years old. While his classmates were doing homework and playing sports, Moziah sold over $200,000 worth of products. The teenager had the idea for Mo's Bows when his grandmother, who was a retired seamstress, explained the importance of "dressing sharp" to him. Motivated to make something of his early formed passion, he requested his grandmother to teach him to sew, after which eventually developed the talent of creating bow ties.

2) Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky 

Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky was born March 17, 1997 .She is an American swimmer who holds a substantial number of world records in the 400, 800, and 1,500-meter freestyle and the fastest-ever times in the 500 and 1,650-yard freestyles. At the age of 15 , she took part in the 2012 summer Olympics. Ledecky has a massive ten world records , and in her final individual event at this year’s 2016 Summer Olympics, the 800-meter freestyle, Ledecky qualified first in the heats with a time of 8:12:86  setting an Olympic record. Her total of ten individual titles won at the three Olympic and seven World Aquatics Championships are a record for female swimmers across the globe.

1)Malala Yousafzai

The name that needs no introduction, Malala was born on 12 July 1997 in the Swat District of Pakistan.  At the age of 15, Malala was shot in the face by the Taliban, for raising awareness reguarding female education after which she became the voice of more than sixty thousand girls who were deprived of education, not only in Pakistan , but round the world. Malala Yousafzai is the youngest recipient of the Nobel peace prize which she received at the age of 17. She currently lives with her parents and two brothers in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

(Read her full article here)

On a concluding note, we at Veritas believe that motivation to do something , comes from within. The fire and the willingness to change the world is something only you can build, may it be with the extremely talented engineer Kelvin Doe, or the human rights activist Malala Yousafzai. Both had a dream of making a world a better place, and they continue to thrive to live up to that dream.

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Boko Barbarism: The Carcinogen for Nigeria

The Boko Haram are the present manifestation of the anti-West, anti-government, and pro-Islam sentiments that have been brewing in Nigeria for the past 40 years. The recent Boko Haram attack of June 2, 2014, involved Boko Haram militants dressing up as soldiers and mercilessly slaughtering 200 civilizians in the Gwoza district of Borno state. The attack came without warning, and the government and local law enforcement were utterly unable to retaliate or ward off the raid. Action must be taken against this ruthless group as they continue to evade the authorities, cause chaos in the area, terrorize innocents, and hold Nigeria back from becoming the power it was meant to be. The actions of the Boko Haram are the culmination of tensions related to inequality, poor governance, and corruption over the past 20 years. Since 1999, 25,000 people have died in killings that can be related to the Boko Haram and groups like it.Issues related to internal diversity, once again, have only exacerbated the problem. Boko Haram was created in 2002 in Maiduguri, the capital of the northeastern  state of Borno, by Islamist cleric Mohammed Yusuf.

The group aims to establish a fully Islamic state in Nigeria, including the implementation of sharia criminal courts across the country. Paul Lubeck, a University of California, Santa Cruz, professor who researches Muslim societies in Africa, says Yusuf was a trained Salafist (an adherent of a school of thought often associated with jihad), and was strongly influenced by Ibn Taymiyyah, a fourteenth-century legal scholar who preached Islamic fundamentalism and is an important figure for radical groups in the Middle East. In July 2009, Boko Haram members refused to follow a motorbike helmet law, leading to heavy-handed police tactics that set off an armed uprising in the northern state of Bauchi and spread into the states of Borno, Yobe, and Kano.

The army suppressed protests, leaving more than eight hundred dead. Human Rights Watch reported that Yusuf, his father-in- law, and other sect members were arrested during the clashes and shot outside police headquarters, actions human rights groups denounced as extra-judicial killings. In the aftermath of the 2009 unrest, "an Islamist insurrection under a splintered leadership" emerged, says Lubeck. Members of Boko Haram carried out a number of suicide bombings and assassinations from Maiduguri to Abuja and staged a prison break in Bauchi, freeing more than seven hundred inmates in 2010.

Historical imbalance between the north and the south According to The Guardian, “seemingly disconnected historical events over the past 60-70 years started the slide into poverty and inequality that eventually led to the formation of Boko Haram”. Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden”. Western schools were being actively opened in the south, while Christian missions were not supported by Muslim leaders in the north. Insurgents have launched scores of attacks on schools. One of the most outrageous acts was the abduction of the Chibok  girls on April 14, 2014. The children are still missing. The imbalance, both economic and educational, between the regions has remained to this day. There have been accusations of political sponsorship of the sect. Numerous  reports, especially in the Nigerian media, claimed that some powerful politicians finance the terrorists to weaken the government. Some claimed the sponsors were inside Nigeria. Others, however, believed the sect could have been backed from outside the country.

It is widely believed that Boko Haram fighters are (at least predominantly) Muslims. However, basically all the Islamic scholars have been saying that Boko Haram has nothing to do with Islam. They openly disagree with the sect and are outraged that terrorists use religion to justify atrocities, and to cause division in society. The dreaded sect has attacked or attempted to attack several mosques during prayers. Many Muslims, like Christians, have become victims of the mass murders. This indicates that Boko Haram is a non-religious issue.

Poor response by the government:

Numerous analysts believe that the Nigerian government has been either inadequate or slow in its response to the terrorism challenge in the country. Some associated the government’s failure with the corruption problem. Others link the ineffectiveness with the following reasons: refusal to accept international help (especially after the Chibok girls’ kidnap), the actual inability to admit the failure, negotiating (or not negotiating with terrorists), etc.

1. Means of rehabilitating rape victims in conflict zones

2. Reducing the risk to civilians as well as ensuring greater accountability from states towards sexual violence within their boundaries.

3. Finding ways to provide security to civilians during the conflict itself

4. Curbing widespread trafficking of women as slaves

5. Examining whether stronger guidelines are needed for UN Peacekeepers entering conflict areas as well.

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Whom do we really wanna lead the country?

"Democracy is the Government of the people, for the people and by the people." This is a profound statement ladies and gentlemen, but back when it was said by Abraham Lincoln the scenario was just a bit different. So the question we'd ask you is "Are u ready? Are u listening? Because the minute this article ends, You Begin!

We're proud Indians. India is progressing and that is definitely not an irony. But the question is are people progressing? Its quite ironic to figure out that People with a mentality of 1940s use a technology of 2016 (social media) to express their views and extremist ideologies. The leaders of this country are actually the ones who have this backward thinking and that doesn't help but rather puts the country into more devastating standards. We're young Indians and as a Young Indian we have a lot of expectations from the country. We need to know  about the country's progress, our future in this country and add something from our bit in the making, but all we get is 'The Waiting'. 

India is a country wherein we put all out resources into defining the word 'Intolerance' for nearly 8 months in spite of knowing the fact that women get raped every 25 minutes in the country and then wait for politicians to make outrageous statements on it. 

We have neglected the fact that Indians have come on streets, burnt cars, conducted strikes for getting a freakin reservation. This is a devastating measure. And under pressure, the government would even grant their demands but the authorities don't care about the general category students. A deserving student who's extremely hardworking and intelligent but he won't be granted his desired college. The only mistake he did was that he didn't take birth in a backward class family. Where people who give us food sleep hungry every night. Where a man who decides to take up farming as a profession cannot give food, education or even clothes to his children. He can do nothing but watch his children starve until he dies.

This is the devastating condition of the farmers. Then why is the government not reaching them to their fullest? India is a country where some students of a university empathize anti- nationalism but don't empathize the contribution and sacrifices that the brave men on the border give. We live in a place where if you differ on your opinion amongst a group of 10 people, you will either be asked to adjust or you'd be asked to go to some other country. But a 'change'? That is something which is suppressed below the unreasonable ideologies of our leaders. For years, we have been fighting in the name of religion and now we've been fighting in the name of nationalism. 

So the question is whom do we really wanna lead the country? Well, blaming leaders too isn't !

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Love: A Medley of Happiness And Heart-Break

Love, this four letter word is the closest, us humans have to magic. Being in love will make you realize how truly happy one can be and being loved by someone is the best feeling in the world.

Love is when you decide to grow, learn, enjoy and live with a person who not only accepts you completely, but also who believes in you and your ideals.When you love someone, you make that person your world and everything just seems so much better until reality hits back and you face real life problems. 

Love is also when you choose a person over and over, day in and out despite their flaws and appreciating them for who they are. Love is when you get so happy just by thinking about that one person and it makes your day so much better. Love is when ever after having problems and tough times, you never give up on each other and keep trying to support each other and survive those hard days.

Everyone deserves a perfect love story. But in order to find the perfect match for yourself, one has to go through a lot of break-ups and a series of bad relationships. Now, what comes after the break-ups are the feeling of heart-break and in such situations, one should always believe in themselves and be proud of what they are.

Heart-break, the ten letter word has a lot of depth to it. It is one emotional stage that every person (almost) goes through before becoming the independent and strong person in the future. 

Heart-break is more like a phase that involves depression followed by feeling of guilt and sadness. It is that state where one feels helpless and broken just because the other wasn't confident and supportive enough to believe in them. Trust me, heart-break does not only happen when one falls out of love or when one decides to end things for good. It happens when that one person whom you thought would support you, believe in you and most importantly, never give up on you just ends up doing precisely what we expected them not to. 

This stage helps you become so much stronger and will make you realize who your true friends are. Heart-breaks are very difficult to deal with, but in the end, it makes you a better and a much confident person than you were in the past. Heart-breaks will make you feel guilty, unsure about your decisions and will also question whether you tried enough to save the relationship or whether you tried at all. One gets tired after trying to fix something that was not happen to work out in the first place. You might start expecting that everything might go back to normal. But this is a stage of denial where one is not ready to believe that what they had in the past isn't there anymore and those expectations are the worst. They give you hope and you just begin to think about ways in which everything would be perfect again.

I have learnt that mot people fall out of love for the same reasons they fell in it. Their lover's endearing stubbornness has now become refusal to compromise. Their spontaneity now becomes reckless. Nothing saddens and scares me more than the thought that I can become ugly to someone who once thought that all the stars were in my eyes.

Such stages make you feel bad and hurt, especially when someone makes you feel special and suddenly leaves you hanging and you have to pretend like you don't care. I can imagine how hard that must be for anyone. You just show the world how happy and tough you are on the outside while on the inside you are broken and all you can think of, is the good times along with the memories.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SO CLOSE TO CRYING BUT YOU SMILE ANYWAYS?

But there is something you have to remember. Fight for something you think has potential and is real. Do not give up on such opportunities. But even after trying hard, if it doesn't feel right or you aren't happy, then it is simply not worth the time and attention. A relationship is only good as far as it keeps both the people happy and confident in both, themselves and each other and if that isn't what is the case after trying so hard, then.

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Top 10: Male TV show characters(2000s)

When you watch a character for more than a year or even a decade, you probably start idealizing it. In today's scenario, TV shows are humongous in number. Some work, some don't, but have we ever wondered why do some TV shows go on for decades despite such great competition? The answer is quite simple, its the characters that run them.

Brilliantly written characters when blend with brilliant actors, the result is likeability and high TRPs for these shows. Here's a list for the top 10 TV characters in the 2000s that define a TV series like no one else. Sure we might have missed some, do comment in the comment section to let us know.

10. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons): The Big Bang Theory

A man who can extend stone, paper, scissors to stone, paper, scissors, lizard and spock can be regarded as completely insane. Although Jim gets a bit repetitive with his portrayal of Sheldon, it is the brilliantly written script that saves Sheldon and the show. Then leave the rest to Jim Parsons to make you annoyed and adored by the character of Sheldon Cooper. His high IQ and an irritating unsocial lifestyle is what has given direction to the show for nearly 8 years. Come on, we can't imagine The Big Bang Theory without Sheldon Cooper!

9. Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch): Sherlock

 

 

"The name is Sherlock Holmes and the address is 221B Baker Street." This line itself sums up everything about Sherlock Holmes. For all the Sherlock Holmes readers, you couldn't have imagined Sherlock in the new era. But we have to admit that Benedict Cumberbatch is smooth as hell when he portrays himself as the new era Sherlock Holmes. Smartness, wit and a charisma is what you'll see in the series when expectations from Cumberbatch are concerned. If you don't believe me, go ahead and watch 'The Imitation Game'. That's Cumberbatch at his best.

8. Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen): Two and a Half Men

 

Despite the Scumbag Sheen is in his real life, its always a pleasure to watch him on screen. His character Charlie Harper in the famous sitcom Two and a Half Men is hilarious and very well acted. His character has all sorts of versatility right from the guy who composes jingles to the guy who knows how to woo girls. The importance of his character is evident from the decline of the popularity of the show after his exit!

7. Tyrion Lannister: Game of Thrones

 

"A lannister always pays his debts". This small in appearance, but large in life character has gained a lot of popularity with the advent of this show. He not only delivers a life time performance in the series but also proves to be an important link in the series and its happenings. We're just hoping that the directors don't at least kill this character in this series.

6. Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry): F.R.I.E.N.D.S

 

The King of Sarcasm, Chandler is one of the most favourite characters in the history of SitCom Genre. No need to mention that his witty dialogues and the all American looks make him more adorable. This is one of those characters whom we can never forget. At various points in the series, Chandler also shows that he is something way more than just Sarcasm with equally blended drama and comedy scenes. Really, this character adds a lot of adroit to this all time favourite sitcom.

5. Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht): Suits

 

Smart, funny, charismatic and the best closer you'll find in your town. That's Harvey Specter for you! All these qualities pretty much sum up everything about his character. His character adds a pinch of humor with class to this intense series. Suits gives us a lot of wide variety of characters and when you think of someone who stands apart from all them, then that's Harvey Specter. This character undoubtedly contributes a lot to the popularity of the show. Well, you can't really imagine Suits without Specter! 

4. Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey): House of Cards

 

"Don't surprise me", if you watch house of cards you will be very equipped with this statement and frankly speaking when Kevin Spacey is acting and playing this role, none of us are surprised with the brilliance of the character. This multiple time academy award winner and recognized for his flicks in movies like "The Usual Suspects", Seven, American Beauty etc, there couldn't have been anyone other than Spacey who could have played Underwood better. This character is intense but brilliant. If not for anyone, do watch it for Kevin Spacey!

3. Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris): How I Met Your Mother

 

Considered as the successor of FRIENDS, this American TV sitcom is loved for its adorable characters and a unique script. It is Barney Stinson that adds the required humor to the show. The Pioneer of the Bro Code and the Playbook, Barney Stinson has been the messiah for the relationship zoned men. Needless to say why this character's so awesome when you know its been played by Neil Patrick Harris. We don't know what is Barney's job, don't know where he's graduated from or how much money does he spend on his suits every year until the last season. And when its revealed we couldn't resist laughing our lungs out! Credits to the creators for making one of the best TV show characters ever!
Its Legen-wait for it-dary!

2. Joey Tribbiani (Matt Le Blanc): F.R.I.E.N.D.S

 

"Hey, how you doin?" We say these lines and we know exactly whom we're referring to. It is this dumb character that helps you laugh your hips off. Despite the fact that FRIENDS as a TV show was a great success, Joey has so much to offer as a character. They literally roast him in the TV show. We can't do anything but adore this guy. His end in the show was a bit sad but kudos to the writers that made Joey one of the most hilarious and dumb characters of all time

1. Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie): House MD

 

He's a sadistic, arrogant and lousy person, but the best doctor on the face of this planet. For those who've seen this show would probably appreciate the fact that it is one of the wittiest shows. Profoundly well written with an equal blend of human emotions with Hugh Laurie's cold sarcasm makes it one of the best medical TV shows ever. Well it is the character of Dr. House that always compels you to turn on your TV sets. And why not, it is played by one of the best British actors: Hugh Laurie. Despite the complexity of the plot, it is Dr House's sarcasm, wits, annoyingly adorable attitude which gives ultimate direction to the show. If you liked Grey's Anatomy, then House is something you should try watching at least once in your life. If not for the theme, do watch it for Hugh Laurie play Dr. House.

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Top10: Toughest Examinations In the World

 

It is often said that the toughest exam is the exam you don't pass. But in reality, which one is really the toughest? Exams into the world of Medicine, exams that give you a pass into top institutions, are considered the hardest. below is the list of the Top10 toughest examinations around the Globe:

10) Mensa

 

Mensa, a brainchild of Barille, an Australian Barrister and War, a British Scientist, who believed that a society based on IQ, would be better. So, in 1964, they started an English college that has now become a threshold, a benchmark encouraging, stimulating and recognizing skill and knowledge in all the hemispheres of the globe.

9) Higher National Education Exam

 

Better known as Gaokao in China, around 7-9.5 Million attend this test every year. For an entry into a University this is a National prerequisite.  This examination clearly determines the Future of a Chinese teenager and the stress is so high that many stress related problems have already been reports due to thus very exam.

8) LNAT

Called the National Admission Test for Law, originally used as an Entrance exam for the Oxford University, this exam is now required for 9 other Universities. Although based in the UK, any foreign student pursuing has to give this test to enter any of these Universities.

7) GRE

 

The Graduate Record Examination is a commonly used examination in many English speaking countries including the US, required to be taken by those who seek entry into graduate schools. The exam was first introduced in 1949 and today has 6 sections lasting 225 minutes with a 10 minute break at the midpoint.
 

6) CSAT

 

College Scholastic Ability Test originating is South Korea is required for entry into schools for higher Education in this nation. This exam is considered so important that students start their preparation from elementary school itself! A high student suicide rate is observed due to failure in this exam.

 

5) LSAT

 

The Law School Examination Test is a requirement, not only in the United States but also Canada and Australia. First thought of in 1947, the first of these exams were sat in 1948 and was updated in 1991 to include five multiple choice sections, an aptitude test and a written exam that takes 30 minutes.

4) CAT

 

Considered as the 4^th most tough Exam in the World, the Common Admission Test is no joke. This Common Admission Test for the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and can lead to diplomas and fellowships that are equivalent to an MBA or PhD. The exam consists of a 150 minute computer test.

 

3) IITJEE

 

 Only 1 of 50 applicants makes the grade for The Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Exam. Having 7 branches spread across India, this exam makes the students use every drop of skill they have. Often those that fail are accepted by Caltech, Harvard, Princeton or MIT, some on full scholarships.

2) All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam

This exam is taken every seven years by only the top 500 Oxford honour students or other students that have equal academic status. Only two pass each time and although there has not been an exam where none passed, often only one has been accepted into the fellowship.

1) UPSC

This is the examination conducted under the auspices of the Union Public Service Commission of India and although 300,000 may take the test annually, only 1,000 are accepted into the Indian Administrative Service.

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Elon Musk: An Enigma Inspiring Millions

This is one of the many memes trending on social media that makes an attempt to subtly outline the greatness of this genius named Elon Musk. From conceptualising the Hyperloop to the 1billion dollar investment by Google, Elon Musk is making headlines with his innovative, pathbreaking ideas. He surely is at the top of the ladder of success and seems he isn't going to stop climbing anytime soon. His charisma and brilliance has endowed one and all. In 2015, Forbes placed him in their list of top ten most influential personalities. Elon Musk, branded as a start-up wonder and tech wizard, has come a long way from the guy who dropped out of a graduate program of applied physics at Stanford, founding Zip2, to becoming one of the most successful entrepreneur and founder of 3 billion dollar companies! And that to at just 40! Hats off to the dedication and perseverance of this man.

His unique thoughts and ways of retrospection give him an edge over his peers. From changing perceptions to defining new limits in each and every field, Musk has surely captivated everyone. Perhaps the reason for his mind boggling success is the fact that with his each and every action, he tries to bring about a positive change in our world. Musk aims to fundamentally alter the way we travel, the energy we consume, make Mars a late night conversation topic, and beyond everything,  encouraging each and every one of us to dream, to cross the realms of imagination. This will to achieve in life is what makes him so special.

Never before in CEO history has a man been so lauded, so idolized and so celebrated. However, the rags to riches story of this man has not exactly been a fairytale. Hurdles had to be crossed, Situations tested his mettle, he faced great hardships, but not once did he shy away from his goal. The same people who exalt Elon musk today would likely have made fun of his name or tried to stuff him in a locker as a kid.

Musk’s childhood was horrible according to him, with family dysfunction at home and no respite at school where he was bullied. When asked to recall his worst memory, he smiles and narrates about an incident in high school where he was pushed down a flight of concrete stairs by some peers for not agreeing with them."That is when I truly decided that in order to succeed, I’ll have to be different and think “differently” says Musk. And sure he did. He developed a great interest in books, especially Sc- Fi and Fantasy, often reading till late night. While other kids of his age enjoyed computer games, Musk was the only one to think why he couldn’t make those. So at the age of 10, he taught himself how to program and by 12, he made his first software sale, of a video game called blisters.

His college years coincided with the Internet boom, and desperate to be a part of it, he dropped out of Stanford after just 2 days. He founded Zip2 ,an online city guide, with his brother Kimball’s ambitious as ever, Musk invested almost all the 307 million dollars earned from Zip2 sale and co founded X.com, an online financial services company, with it being renamed PayPal after an acquisition .PayPal was acquired by eBay for 1.5 billion dollars, Musk holding 11% stock.

Never the one to rest on his laurels, he founded Space x in 2003, with the intention of builder spacecraft for commercial space travel. It was a huge success and Musk proved again that if one has the courage and determination to dream, anything is possible. In 2008 NASA awarded the company the contract to handle cargo transportation for the ISS. The boundless potential of space and the preservation of the future of the human race have become the cornerstones of Musk’s abiding interests, and towards these he has founded Musk Foundation. Another Musk venture is Tesla Motors, a company dedicated to producing affordable, mass market electric cars. His venture Solarcity aims at energy conservation and alternate resources for fuel.

Musk has continued to innovate and try to make his dreams a reality. In 2013,he released a concept for a new transport system, known as Hyperloop, an invention that would foster commuting between major cities while severely cutting time travel. Though this idea is still in its nascent stages, no one doubts that Musk would leave any stone unturned in realising his dream. Given his cool professional demeanour, hunk cyborg looks and high stakes life, it’s easy to dirt into superlative dichotomies while trying to describe him. Comparisons with the fictional character Tony stark of Iron Man series have been frequent, but Musk doesn't mind them. All he has ears for is how to make our world a better place to live in. However, one thing is certain that his legacy will stand the test of time and continue to inspire millions.

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Leo and His Oscar: A better story than Twilight

We’ve been crying about it years, really, if you go back to watch  Wolf of Wall Street or The Aviator, critically acclaimed for the roles played by Leonardo DiCaprio, we probably understand why is he an actor who's full of adroit. Leo been nominated for six Oscars and eight Golden Globes (and he won for The Aviator in 2005). He has a production company and a non-profit (The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation), but you know, above everything, when you go to see a Leonardo DiCaprio film, you know that you will definitely see a character being brought to life with complete devotion, free from vanity, well everyone's saying it, 2016 might be Leonardo DiCaprio’s year to finally get the coveted Best Actor Oscar. And we for one sincerely hope he does.

It’s mad to think that Leo, has been acting professionally since the age of five and still hasn't got an Oscar to commemorate it. Oscars have probably overlooked a number of his mind boggling performances, wherein he not only plays a character but also lives it. Here's a list of movies for which Leonardo DiCaprio should've definitely won an Oscar:

1. Inception:

If teaming up with Chris Nolan doesn't get you an Oscar... Like, seriously,  I don't know what will. Inception was mind-boggling and utterly brilliant, yet it did nothing for Leo's Oscar chances. The film itself won four Academy Awards but alas the Oscar was far off. A movie which was so brilliantly written and adroitly cinematographed that the only thing left in the movie was Caprio's charismatic character. To pull off such a complicated plot and serve it with utmost ease to the audience requires caliber and Caprio is definitely the best man for the job. But still the role of Cobb couldn't fetch him an Oscar.

2. The Wolf of the Wall Street:   

The deadly duo of Scorsese and Caprio was back again on screen with a biopic on none other than the wall street con man Jordan Belfort. Those of you who have seen Wolf of Wall Street will surely be rooting that this should have been Leo's Oscar ticket. The actor gives a enthralled performance as Jordan Belfort in this  rollercoaster of marijuana ,weed and what not. This movie not only portrayed how efficient Leo is in getting into the shoes of another man but also in living the character. But then Leo missed the Oscar as Matthew McCounnaughey grabbed one for Dallas Buyer's Club.

3. The Aviator:

When Leo was preparing to star as the obsessive-compulsive billionaire recluse Howard Hughes in The  Aviator, he delved into the world of OCD so much  that he developed the condition himself. Now come on! Leave it to Leo to bring the character alive. But still an Oscar was something that was miles away from his mantle.

 

4. The Departed:

"Are you a cop?" This dialogue probably gave all of us chills. Considered one of the best movies of the decade, this thriller portrayed one of the best and colloquial cast in the history of Hollywood. Ranging from the "Mr. Oscar", Jack Nicholson to Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg and Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite an equally divided screen time with the ever charismatic Matt Damon, Leo stood tall in portraying the plight of an undercover cop working in a gang. If you feel the cast isn't enticing enough, let me tell that it was directed my the Great Martin Scorsese. Damon and Leo's performances in the film won them Oscar nods but the golden statue was not destined to be for them. 

5. Blood Diamond:

For those of us who had watched Blood Diamond, hear me when I say, No one could possibly carry the role as smooth as he did The South African accent was spot on! And the film also gave the world a look inside the diamond conflict. Trust me, if Leo didn't make you cry by the end, then you can never appreciate true cinema. Leo was nominated for Best Actor in 2006's Blood Diamond, but again was denied the win.

Honourable mentions:

 1.Shutter Island

2.Django Unchained

3.Gangs of New York

4. What's Eating Gilbert Grape

5. Catch me if you can

We might have missed out some movies, but its quite natural isn't it? So many memorable films that it only leaves conundrums whether which one to pick. This year might be Leo's year, if no one else we surely hope that this time Hugh Glass might help him out.

The Revenant again revives hope of Leo finally getting united to his coveted award. I for one,seriously hope that the number of awards he gets in the coming years increases more than the number of women he's been linked to. Just kidding.

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