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The Migrant as Citizen

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For many years I lived as a temporary resident in a small American suburban town. Within the short ambit of my home there, I had easy access to recreation, sport and cultural activities – a basketball court, a pool, a public library, a neighbourhood park, health services, museums and galleries. In every way my temporary stay had all the amenities accorded to any permanent resident. Other than voting rights, I was part of the local community. One of the real problems of the Indian city is that the migrant is never made to feel like a citizen. When the citizen himself doesn’t feel like a citizen, this is but expected. For everyone – the affluent, the middle class, and the labourer, the city’s scattered facilities and erratic social services provide no respite from daily drudgery and despair. Urban life is a battle for survival. Of course, over a long period, the resident learns to fend for himself or herself, and work out a reasonable routine. For migrants though, things are more diffi
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Confessions of a Failed Comic

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If you examine the relationship between politics and stand-up comedy, the similarity is startling. In India, political decisions often lead to results which are a form of high comedy: what is real becomes comic. By contrast, in the US the comic stands on the new threshold for politics: the comic is often realized as politics. Did I tell you the one about the politician who went on an election campaign which became a stand-up comedy act when he was elected President? I like humour; it makes me laugh. I mean look at me. When I was dating I always put in a line about my sense of humour. Women love that. I love women, from both sides. People really appreciate my lines; I always get a good laugh. You know why? Because I always write my own material. You can’t leave it to some hack. The thing about stand-up is that your own life experience is what counts. People know if you are lying or you are making up stuff. I have no problem with that. Humour helps you deal with pain and adversity and st
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Beating the Lockdown Blues with an Active Routine

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  It’s been a tough time for a lot of workout and sports enthusiasts who’ve been cooped up at home, unable to play their favorite sport or even hit the gym! Foreverfit  wants to help you get through this lockdown and emerge a fitter and healthier version of yourself. Here are some things you can do to keep yourself fit and active during the lockdown: ·          Take up a fitness challenge Ever seen those videos of 100 pushups , 500 squats or 50 pull ups? Well, this is your chance to create your own fitness challenge and invite your friends and family to join in. Create a realistic, yet ambitious target for yourself and challenge yourself to get in shape. Read more :-  Beating the Lockdown Blues with an Active Routine   Read More Articles: ·          The 5 Best Exercises to Keep You Fit During Lockdown ·          Tips To Stay Fit And Healthy During Lockdown ·          How Bodyweight Training is a Complete Workout ·          How Boxing and Kickboxing Help Channel Your
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Artificial Intelligence

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  Will the next Prime Minister of India be a robot? A BJP robot or a Congress robot, it is entirely likely that a few decades hence, the country’s most important political position may be occupied by a machine. When for so long, the cult of personality and party affiliations has dominated government, many argue that artificial intelligence would serve India better than the current crop of bureaucrats and politicians. Their erratic behavior and impulsive decision making would be best replaced by machines – machines that analyze relevant data thoroughly, weigh the odds, and then come up with the best solution. Without our knowing it, ‘artificial intelligence’ has sprung up around us, performing tasks we as humans are incapable of. At present however far too many people think that it is only a passing fad promoted by Western scientists with little to do. But whatever the eventual outcome, artificial intelligence is here to stay for the long term. Economists in the West are closely watch
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