Archive | December, 2018

Undergrad in US? Simple TIPS to get you started

16 Dec

Indian students have always looked to US Universities for higher studies. In the past it was mainly for MS/Phd. But trends are changing. Of the ~ 186,000 India students studying in the US 12% are in Undergrad programs – thats about 22,000. Which implies that nearly 5000 students after their 12th head to US for college. 

This BLOG provides simple TIPS for a student exploring a passage to US for his/her Undergrad studies. This is based on the experience of my daughter, who has submitted her applications for Fall 2019. 

Who applies for an undergrad program outside India (Mainly US, Canada, UK) 

A large majority of students applying for Undergrad studies abroad would be from one of the 3 categories 

  • Students from International school – IB Curriculum 
  • Students who are US/UK Citizens 
  • Rich families with kids who may not want to go thru the competitive grind of India  

Five years back US was the preferred destination for ~ 80% of the students going abroad. But this is fast changing. Canada and UK have become attractive destinations. 2018 – 19 US applications saw a dip of 39% from Indian students. This is probably driven by the strong USD and current economic fear that Visa & employability for an Indian citizen may be a challenge in the US after college.  

Why are an increasing number of people applying for Undergrad studies abroad?

IISC was ranked 91 and IIT Bombay 179 in the QS World University Rankings for 2018. Cracking these for an Indian student is a dream. However bright students from good schools in India have a high probability of making it to the top 50 Universities in the world (Either by University or Course ranking) abroad. Quality of education in US University is definitely superior to that in India. Also studying in countries like Canada helps you get a Permanent Residency 

Does it make sense to shift to an IB school after 10th if your are looking at an US Undergrad Program?

The IB Curriculum is offered in most international schools. These are expensive and cost 10 – 15 Lacs / years. The IB Curriculum is supposed to be more aligned with the international system and rated better than the CBSE / ICSE board. Friends who shifted their children also claim that the program helps with a better all round development. However the brightest of students tend to stay on with the CBSE/ICSE board and still do extremely well with the US admission process.   

International schools have dedicated Counsellors and since almost 90% of the students apply to International Colleges their preparedness and level of handholding is better. 

Which are the streams to which Indians normally apply?

Earlier it was Computer Science but an increasing number of students are applying for programs in Physics, Bio Chemistry, Bio Medical sciences, Economics, Psychology, Business and even Arts. Students interested in pure Science program prefer US as options in India are limited to IISC, IITs and IISER. Most BSc Programs in India are 3 year programs which becomes a limiting factor to apply for an MS later.

Majority of students applying to US opt for courses that are part of the STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) International students pursuing STEM degrees will have more time to pursue an H-1B work visa

Can we apply for a Medical program in US?

Admission to Med school in US is after undergrad. So you do Pre-med for 4 years and then apply to Med School. its a longer and more expensive process. Even US Citizens in India complete their MBBS here and then take the qualifying exams in the US to become a Resident doctor. The MBBS program in India is amongst the best in the world for diversity and volume of cases.  UK is a better option for those interested in doing Medicine from abroad.  

How expensive is the Undergrad program?

Depending on the college you choose costs in US can vary from $40,000 – $80,000 a year. Add to this 10K $ for flight & miscellaneous expenses. Remember the USD appreciates normally by 3 – 4% every year and fees in the US colleges also go up by 3 – 4% annually. Canada & UK can be 30 – 40% cheaper. Also the program in UK is a 3 year program. Chances of getting a scholarship is rare.   

State Universities with larger student population tend to be cheaper – many State Universities are ranked highly (UT Austin, University of Washington Seattle, Ohio State University etc). Ivy League & Private colleges are more expensive. The total student population in UT Austin would be about 40,000 students while most Private schools would have 10 – 15 K students in campus. 

When do you start your preparation and do you need a consultant?

You need to start preparation well in advance. Eg: for a 2019 Aug admission, your journey could start as early as 2017 April. Thats more than 2 years. Yes an advisor helps – but don’t go for an overpriced consultant. The student needs to own & drive the application process with timely inputs from a counsellor. The guardian is a project manager. The best help comes from students / parents who completed the process a year before. 

There are agencies that charge 2 – 3 Lacs to help you with your admission process. In our view this is waste of money. We used the services of Spark Career Mentors. They not only provide you with guidance but also help the young adult develop the right skills and experience. Its more like teaching you to fish. 

Key timelines for the process – Lets assume a 2019 Aug admission cycle

  • 2017 : April May June – Prepare for SAT / ACT. Work on some initiatives that you can write about in your College Essays
  • 2017 : July – Dec, Complete 1st round of SAT / ACT – If you score well you dont need a second round. If you feel you need a better score apply again in Y1
  • 2018 : Apr – May – June, Complete 2nd round of SAT / ACT. Prepare a detailed shortlist of colleges that you want to apply to. 
  • 2018 : July – Aug – Sep, Complete your subject SAT’s & TOEFL
  • 2018 : Oct 1 the Application process starts, Early Actions tend to close by Oct 30th, UC Applications by Nov 30th. Target to complete all your applications by Oct 30th 
  • 2018 : If you are a US Citizen complete FAFSA/ CSS Profile by Nov 30th
  • 2018 : By Mid Dec a few college start sharing the admissions , most will share by Feb / March in Year 2
  • 2019:  May is when you commit to a college and pay the 1st instalment of fees. 
  • 2019 May is also when you start taking some AP’s that will help you get some credits in your 1st semester at college

SAT Vs ACT – Why do we need both?

If you are looking only at US you are ok with ACT. But if you are applying to Canada and UK some of them ask for SAT scores. If you are applying to Indian colleges like Ashoka you need SAT scores. And if you are a US Citizen applying to BITS you need SAT and Subject SAT scores. Choose the test that caters to your strengths – some students do well with ACT, others with SAT.

SAT, ACT, Subject SAT entrance tests have a fixed calendar and there are limited seats in each centre – please apply early to ensure that you are not wait listed. It is mandatory to carry your passport for these tests.

What is a good score for SAT / ACT?

Indian’s are super competitive – the benchmark that most students set for themselves is 1500 / 1600 for SAT and 34 / 36 for ACT – this puts you well above the 90th percentile mark. On Subject SAT many students crack 800/800. While most colleges claim that your SAT/ACT score has only a 25% weightage we have observed over the years that a good score is a must for admission to good colleges

Is Subject SAT a requirement from all colleges?

No its not. But many of the Top ranked College ask for it. Even when colleges don’t ask for it you could send your scores if you have performed well. 

Other than SAT/ACT/TOEFL what else is needed to complete your US application?

  • Your grades form Class 9,10 & 11. The 12th midterm results and predictive scores for 12th.
  • Multiple Essays 300 – 500 words. This is an area where the students struggle and spend a lot of time. Most essays are focused on trying to determine two things  
    • About who you really are
    • Why do you want to do the course that you have selected
  • The essay is a crucial part and some colleges like Stanford have 12 Essay Prompts while most have 1 – 2. This is in addition to a set of essays that you submit in Common App & Coalition App. If you are applying to 10 Colleges get ready to draft 15 – 20 essays. 
  • It will help you if you check out the essay prompts of previous years and practise during the summer vacations. Getting the 1st one right takes time – after that its get easier. Most students struggle with structure and saying what they want to say crisply. Please ensure that the essays are written by you and not by your parents / counsellors
  • You also need to have a nice profile that highlights all your accomplishments and hobbies over the years. Positions of leadership, Creativity, Teamwork & Collaborative engagements should be highlighted. Keep this ready well before submission days. All these documents will go through multiple iterations so ensure that you get the 1st draft ready early. 
  • You will also need recommendation letters from teachers / Others who have interacted with you.

How Important are Extra Curricular’s in your application

It helps if you have a passion that you have built and followed over the years. But doing something in a few months just to present it in the Application may not be a wise move. Remember the guys analysing your applications are smart and scan thousands of people every year – so don’t try to pull wool over their eyes. 

Inform your school well in advance

School Counsellors and Principals are busy people and this is additional work. When the application process starts there is a sudden rush. Keep your school and teachers informed well in advance – share with them the colleges you are applying to, deadlines and work with them to complete things on time. We did this, and our experience with NPS Koramangla was very smooth.  

How do you shortlist your colleges?

This is an important activity that takes time. About 2 hrs / college. Budget 30 – 45 days to complete this task. We tracked a few important parameters in an Excel sheet.

  • Shortlist your college based on its Global / US ranking and also your Subject curriculum ranking. For Eg, UC San Diego maybe ranked 42nd in the US but the Bio Chemistry department is ranked 6th. We used two sites to do this ranking: US News & Top University
  • Additional information can be available from the college website – so make a spreadsheet and track the following data points 
    • College Ranking / Subject ranking 
    • Type of University – Public / Private
    • Website 
    • Name of the course ( Also browse thru the content of the Course in detail)
    • SAT / ACT Cut off for last year admissions 
    • Total Cost (Tuitions+ Lodging) 
    • Acceptance rate 
    • Early Action / Early Decision deadline dates 
    • International Acceptance rate 
    • Degree (BS/BA Etc) 
    • Quarterly Vs Semester (Quarterly means more exams) 
    • Median Salary on graduation 
    • Additional Comments on Aid, Research Focus Vs Job, Internships, Undergrad – Phd etc are important points to consider

Making your shortlist

You need to define your criteria for making the shortlist. Basis that shortlist 10 – 12 Colleges and start looking for people who may have studied here or are studying currently to get deeper insights. From these you should target to apply to 7 – 10 colleges. 

  • Dream Colleges – The 2 – 3 Colleges that you think may be challenging but you would like to explore
  • Good Chance – the few colleges which meet all your criteria and may just be achievable
  • Safe Bet  – A few colleges which you know based on past precedents are an almost 100% admission zone 
  • Once you have made the final shortlist check out the additional information and the number of supplementary essays that that need to be written.  

The application process 

There are 3 Portals thru which you can access almost all the colleges in the US. 

  • Common Application
  • Coalition Application 
  • UC – Colleges in California 
  • Some colleges you can make the application directly  

80% of the information that needs to be accessed by the colleges are uploaded on these portals. This includes your marks, profile, recommendations, SAT/ACT scores etc. The only additional information could be supplementary essays. 

There are some colleges that are listed on both Common App and Coalition App, in such a case you can choose to apply thru any of the portals. 

What is Early Action (EA) & Early Decision (ED)

Early Action as the name signifies means you apply early and get to know if you are selected early. Not all colleges have EA. This is listed on their websites and you need to track this on your master XL. If your selected colleges have an EA option ensure that you submit. Thru this option you may get to know of your admission between Dec 15th and Jan 30th. Thats a big relief to students. 

Early Decision is tricky. If you get selected then that decision is binding – that’s your final college. So ED only if you are 100% sure that this is the college you want to go to. 

Is the online system 100% efficient?

Remember your application is getting triangulated from 3 systems – the Common App / Coalition App / UC portal, the College Board where the SAT Scores are housed and the University internal system. At times the college you have applied to may report that they have not received your SAT scores or your Mark sheets thru the Portal – lookout for these emails / dashboards on the college portal and act accordingly. You may have to Fedex information that they are unable to access thru the system. 

Once your application process is completed almost all the colleges will set you up with a personalised dashboard to track the status of your application. 

Whats the process of getting Aid / Scholarship? 

Financial aid in the US goes through 2 channels – the Federal government and colleges themselves. Getting aid through the federal government requires you to fill in The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), an option only available for American citizens (the student needs to be a US Citizen and both parents need to have their US SSN). In addition to this some colleges may require you to fill the CSS profile. 

Financial aid itself is furthered divided into need-based and need-blind. Need-blind admission means that the college will not take your financial status into consideration while deciding whether or not you will get in, whereas need-based schools take your financial situation into account. Need – blind is generally not an option for international students. 

In addition to aid, students can apply for scholarships to their respective colleges as well. For international students getting scholarships is rare. 

How expensive is it to apply for each college.

Each college application costs you about $75 – 80. In addition there is a nominal charge to link your SAT / ACT / TOEFL scores to each college.

A Note on Canada & UK 

The application process for Canada & UK is a lot simpler.

For Canada again you shortlist your colleges – the top 4 to which most Indians apply are UBC, U Toronto, Waterloo and McGill. These are highly rated universities. Most Canadian colleges need your SAT Score and school grades. There are usually no essays and recommendations (UBC is an exception). Many Canadian colleges offer you paid internship helping you to get job ready. Canada has a lot of positives – Affordable fees, Good Colleges, Co-op programs (work while you study), Residency permit etc – this has started attracting a lot of applications from India. The only challenge is the extreme cold and an economy that is not very hot for jobs.    

UK process is simpler. You don’t need SAT/ACT scores – you may need IELTS ( Like TOEFL to test proficiency in English). In addition to your grades and predictive you need to submit your statement of purpose & letters of recommendations.

Applications are made through a computerized national system known as Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). Students must complete a single UCAS form which allows them a choice of six universities and courses so that they don’t have to make costly and time consuming multiple applications. UCAS forms should be ideally submitted before 15th December of the preceding year. 

For Oxford & Cambridge

Students must apply before 15th October of the year preceding their year of proposed entry. There are specific forms to be filled and sent to the universities. You cannot apply to both the colleges in the same academic year.

We owe our thanks to Neeraj & Swati from Spark Career Mentors for their guidance. ReWiser for their help in SAT/ACT preparations. Prithika Ramaiyer a Sr from school and a good friend who has joined U Michigan in Fall 2018 and Dayanand and Vishy for their valuable inputs. A big thank you to NPS Koramangla and Principal Jyotsna Nair for being so efficient and professional in helping us during the admission process. 

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How Bangalore got Electricity in 1905

10 Dec

Electricity is only 136 years old. Electricity generation at central power stations started in 1882, when a steam engine driving a dynamo produced  DC Current that powered public lighting on Pearl Street, New York. The new technology was quickly adopted by many cities around the world.

Calcutta beat New York. The first demonstration of electric light in Calcutta was conducted on July 24, 1879 and in 1881, 36 electric lights lit up a Cotton Mill of Mackinnon & Mackenzie. On 17th April 1899, the first thermal power plant of The Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Limited was commissioned, heralding the beginning of thermal power generation in India. The Calcutta Tramways Company switched to electricity from horse-drawn carriages in 1902. 

Bangalore made history in 1905 when it became the 1st city in Asia to have streetlights. There is an interesting story behind why Bangalore was chosen ahead of Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi. 

After defeating Tipu Sultan in 1791 the British had full control of the Mysore region that included Bangalore & Kolar. By 1880 the British realised that Kolar held a lot more gold veins than was previously estimated. The Golden Carpets, 4 miles (6 km) long with an average width of 4 miles, were first worked by a British company, John Taylor and Sons, in 1880. Within three years, four main veins (Champion, Oorgaum, Nundydorog, and Mysore) were opened. Champion, the deepest, reached some 10,500 feet (3,200 meters) below sea level.

Kolar Gold Fields in late 1800’s

Kolar in the late 1800’s was a booming gold town. Till 1902 all the machinery in the mines was worked by steam power. However, it was clear that to run sophisticated machinery and mine more gold, they would need electricity. This led to the setting up of the Hydel Power station at Shivanasamudra falls. 

The first major Hydro-Electric Generating Station for commercial operations was thus commissioned in 1889 at Shivasamudram, near Mysore. The longest transmission line, at the highest voltage in the world, was constructed exclusively to meet the power needs of mining operations at Kolar Gold Fields. The work at Shivasamudram was completed in the middle of 1902. On the the 30th of June 1902, 4000 H.P. of Electric Energy was transmitted to Kolar Gold Fields for the first time. 

The good news was that this Hydel Power plant was generating 300 – 400 HP of excess power. This caught the attention of William McHutchin, a Briton trained in the Madras Civil Engineering College and the then chief engineer of Bengaluru. He wrote a letter to the Maharaja of Mysore requesting for the excess power to be diverted to electrifying Bangalore. 

Things in those days moved fast. The King gave his approval for the electrification of Bengaluru in May 1904. The project was estimated to cost Rs 7.46 lakh. Electrical lines running 57 kms had to be drawn from Kankanhalli (now Kanakapura). They were laid in just nine months.  

It was a moment of joy and celebrations when on a Saturday evening of August 5th, 1905 over 100 streetlights lit up Siddikatte, now KR Market,  Within a year, there were 861 streetlights and 1,639 domestic connections.

Street Lights Illumination Bangalore in 1905

A 16 candle bulb (today’s equivalent to 40 watt) cost residents Re 1 every month. The fare was considered steep and could be afforded only by affluent city residents. 
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Bangalore Facts is a series of interesting articles about the history of Bangalore from A Few Good Things. This is the first article of this series. Please subscribe to A Few Good Things for regular updates.

A Few Good Things also organises 1/2 days & Full day tours of Bangalore and nearby areas. For more details visit https://vak1969.wordpress.com/book-a-trip/   

 

 

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Dalia Vs Rice – A winner emerges

4 Dec

Rice is the staple diet across large parts of South & East India. Traditionally, one has been educated that if you need to lose weight you need to shift from Rice to Rotis.

A typical South Indian housewife may struggle to make rotis every meal, but now there is a simple solution – Dalia. (Bulgur or Broken Wheat in English) Commonly known as Dalia in Hindi & Samba Rice in Tamil, Dalia is not just good for weight loss but also a great source of proteins, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and fibre. And its easy to cook – just replace it with Rice.

Not just for breakfast : Dalia Upma is a popular and healthy breakfast option – not just for Upma but for Idli & Dosas also. You can substitute Daliya instead of Rice in all preparations. Cook it in the cooker with 2 glasses of water for 3 steams and eat it with Sambar & Rasam or use it for making Khichdi, Pulao or even Biriyani. You can even make your Kheer using Daliya.

Nutrient Content: Dalia is rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins. It provides high concentrate of Vitamin B complex, especially Riboflavin, Thiamine and Niacin. It is rich In Protein. Protein takes long to digest, suppresses hunger pangs, boosts metabolism and activates weight regulating hormones. A higher protein intake actually increases levels of the satiety (appetite-reducing hormones), while reducing your levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin.

When compared with white Rice, Dalia scores higher on the following nutritional aspects – 2X Protein, 3X Fibre, 6X Level of Potassium and lesser than half the Sodium that White Rice has. 

Diabetes Control  : Dalia helps in combating diabetes by controlling the blood sugar levels. People suffering from diabetes demand nutritional and healthy food dosages in small amount and regular intervals.

The Glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how quickly a food can make your blood sugar (glucose) rise. Only foods that contain carbohydrates have a GI index. Foods such as oils, fats, and meats do not have a GI index.

In general, low GI foods increase glucose slowly in your body. Foods with a high GI increase blood glucose quickly. If you have diabetes high GI foods can make it harder to control diabetes.

Daliya has very low glycemic index which make it perfect for people suffering from Diabetes.

Carbs with low GI value (55 or less) are digested, absorbed and metabolised slowly and cause a gradual rise in blood glucose. Daliya being low in GI does not get absorbed quickly and enables slow release of sugar that aid weight loss too.

Low GI foods (0 to 55)

  • Bulgar(Dalia), Barley
  • Pasta, Parboiled (converted) rice
  • Quinoa
  • High-fiber bran cereal, steel-cut or rolled oatmeal
  • Carrots, non-starchy vegetables, greens
  • Apples, oranges, grapefruit, and many other fruits
  • Most nuts, legumes, and beans
  • Milk and yogurt

Moderate GI foods (56 to 69)

  • Pita bread, rye bread
  • Couscous
  • Brown rice
  • Raisins

High GI foods (70 and higher)

  • White bread and bagels
  • Most processed cereals and instant oatmeal
  • Most snack foods
  • Potatoes
  • White rice
  • Watermelon

Fibre content: Dalia is also rich in fibre content. It has 3X the Fibre content of White Rice. This aids in digestion. So, if you are facing constipation issues then Dalia will help in smooth bowel movement.The low GI index of Dalia manages the energy level of human body through slow release of glucose after the breaking of food during digestion.

Like millets, it makes you feel energized and more full for longer intervals of time. In comparison, after a  heavy meal of rice one tends to feel hungry in a few hrs.  The high fibre content in Dalia delays digestion. Because the output of sugar is not in big quantum, it is not converted into fat.

Weight Loss: Regular intake of Dalia prevents unnecessary overeating and binging. Those who switched over to Dalia over an extended period have been able to witness a feeling of lightness and healthy weight loss tendencies.

In addition to all these benefits, Dalia does not contain artificial fragrances, colours or sulphates. It can also be cooked with spices and vegetables, thereby creating a healthy, nutritious and well balanced breakfast diet.

So look no further start the journey of looking at Rice substitutes – Dalia and Millets are great healthy options.

 

 

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Why we worship Snakes? An Insight

1 Dec

I have always wondered about the significance of Snakes and Nagas. They seem to hold a special place not just in Hinduism but across many communities and religions. As snakes grow, many of them shed their skin at various times, revealing a shiny new skin underneath. For this reason snakes have become symbols of rebirth, transformation, immortality, and healing.

Snakes invoke fear, awe and a sense of mystery. There are also many unanswered questions about them. This blog hopes to throw some light on the history of mans association with Naga’s.

A few facts  

  • Every ancient Indian temple has a corner below a pipal tree dedicated to statues and sculptures of snake gods.
  • Nag Panchami is an important day when many devout Hindus visit these temples or pour milk in snake pits
  • Many of our Gods from Vishnu to Shiva to Kathikeya are associated with snakes. A devout Hindu never kills a snake.
  • During the Samudra Manthan Vasuki the king of the Nagas became the churning rope
  • A State called Nagaland is named after the snake
  • The great Rishi Patanjali is represented as half snake – half man. He was a Naga living on earth.
  • The ancient Greeks considered snakes sacred to Asclepius, the god of medicine. He carried a caduceus, a staff with one or two serpents wrapped around it, which has become the symbol of modern physicians.
  • For both the Greeks and the Egyptians, the snake represented eternity. Ouroboros, the Greek symbol of eternity, consisted of a snake curled into a circle or hoop, biting its own tail. The Ouroboros grew out of the belief that serpents eat themselves and are reborn from themselves in an endless cycle of destruction and creation.
  • In the mythology of ancient Egypt, Apopis was a demon of chaos who appeared in the form of a serpent. Each night he attacked Ra, the sun god. But Mehen, another huge serpent, coiled himself around Ra’s sun boat to protect the god from Apopis—a perfect illustration of how snakes can be symbols of both good and evil in mythology.

Temple of the Feathered Serpent – Aztec

Kerala is one state in India where Snakes are worshipped in almost every village. There are about 2000 Sarpa Kavu’s or sacred groves all over Kerala dedicated to snakes. There is a mythological story associated with this. Parasurama the creator of Kerala is said to have prayed to the Naga King to help remove the salinity of the land and the Snake God obliged. The ancient temple of Mannarsala (56 Km from Kollam) is dedicated to the snake God Nagaraja as this is the place where Parashurama is said to have prayed to the snake god.

The only place where I have read a detailed and fascinating account of Nagas and their association with humanity is in the lovely book “Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master” by Sri M. An enlightened soul, Sri M runs the Satsang Foundation and conducts retreats and Satsangs all over the world. I have had the privilege of meeting him and attending his Talks.  I am sharing below excerpts from his book that throws light on why we worship Snakes and what their association has been with mankind.

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Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master by Sri M  (Encounter with Nagraj)

On the third night at Arundhati cave, I was woken up by what I at first thought was the rumbling of thunder. I opened my eyes and saw Babaji in his usual sitting posture, back towards me, silhouetted by the light of the Dhuni. I looked beyond, and from between two parting clouds, emerged something that was roughly the size of a full moon, but could not be the moon.

Instead of the cool, silvery, white light shed by the moon, this object was a glowing ball of fire, and as it moved closer the rumbling became louder. Then it came towards the cave and landed right on the Dhuni, with the sound of a thunderclap. I was so scared that I could not even sit up, but Babaji sat upright like a statue, unaffected and unmoved.

I wanted to call out to him, but my vocal chords refused to function. Some¬ how, I pulled myself up to a sitting position. My whole body trembled with fear. A strange spectacle unfolded before my astounded eyes. The rumbling had stopped and there was utter silence.

The fireball, which was about two feet in diameter, split vertically into two, and out of it emerged something that caused goose pimples all over my body. It was a large snake, with a hood like a cobra, glowing electric blue, as if made of a transparent, violet, glass like material, with electric filaments lit inside. The snake-like creature’s eyes glowed, and it hissed softly.

My fear vanished the moment I saw the creature bend down and touch Babaji’s feet with its hood. Babaji blessed it by touch¬ ing its head with his right hand, and then did something, which for a second, made me wonder if what I was seeing was a silly dream, or reality. He hissed in reply. The blue cobra straightened up and sat facing Babaji. A hissing conversation went on for quite some time.

Then Babaji said, “Madhu, come forward and see the deputy chief of the Sarpa Loka.” I moved forward and carefully sat behind Babaji. The snake hissed. Babaji said, “Bow down to Nagaraj.” I bowed low before the snake. At close quarters, I could see that he was quite big and had intelligent sparkling eyes. The snake hissed and touched my head with his forked tongue. I found that I was not the least bit frightened, although I could feel a mild electric shock passing through my body.

Then abruptly, it slithered back into the globe, the two halves of which clicked shut, and with a rumbling sound, the globe, The Fireball from the Sky took off and soon vanished in the clouds. I could not but ask Babaji to explain. “Babaji,” I said, “I deserve an explanation. If I said this to anybody, they would think I am utterly crazy, or that I am concocting some kind of fiction, so I shall keep this to myself. But please, explain to me.”

“Yes,” Babaji said, “you are right. Not many will believe this experience of yours but you will have to share it with the public, when you write your autobiography. It does not matter who believes or does not, but I will explain to you. Truth is often stranger than fiction.

“In the Milky Way, there exists a stellar system with seven planets and eighteen moons. One of these planets is called Sarpa Loka, and is entirely inhabited by highly evolved, hooded snakes. The serpents are called the Naga devatas. The person you saw is the deputy chief of this realm and he is called Naga- raja. The supreme head of the Nagas is the five-hooded golden serpent, known in ancient Indian texts, as Anantha.

“Thousands of years ago, when humanity was still in infant stages of mental evolution, there was regular contact with Sarpa Loka. The wise and evolved Nagas frequented the earth, and spent long periods here, teaching and educating human beings. The snake worship you come across in all ancient civilizations is a tribute to the advanced Nagas of yore.

Their images were venerated for the deep wisdom that they possessed. They also taught the secret of the kundalini energy initially, again symbolised by a serpent. Patanjali who gave the world the Ashtanga Yoga Sutras , was himself a Naga, and is depicted as half man and half snake. The snake on the pharaoh’s head and the snake coiled around the yogi-god Shiva, are all symbolic representations of wisdom and power, imparted to certain human beings by the Naga teachers.

“But then, as always seems to happen, human beings, as they became more powerful, began to also become more self- centred and cunning. Humans, or at least a majority of them, were ready to even kill for personal gain. Some felt threatened by the intellectually and spiritually superior Nagas, and forgetting their indebtedness, began to use the powers that they had acquired from the Nagas against them. “At one point, there were large scale massacres of the Nagas.

The Supreme Naga Chief decided to recall the Nagas from earth, and cut all connections, except with some human beings who were highly evolved spiritually. Overnight, they were transported back to Sarpa Loka. A small number of Nagas, who were either sick or too old, or in rare cases, rebels who defied the orders of the Supreme Chief thinking that they still could do something with the human beings, got left behind. “The serpents and snakes that exist in the world today are the descendents of those who were left behind, and who, through years of in-breeding, have become retarded, and no longer possess the great qualities of their ancestors.

However, as I told you, the channels of contact were kept open with highly evolved beings of the human race. When the great Sai Nath of Shirdi left his body for three days, and returned on the fourth day, to the great astonishment of the general public who had thought that he had died, he told his close circle of associates that he had gone to settle a dispute in some other world. “The other world he spoke of, was the Sarpa Loka. The dispute, which I cannot reveal to you, was not completely settled, and has come up again. Nagaraj here went to Sri Guru for help, and on his suggestion, came to me to discuss the matter.”

“Babaji,” I said, “all this sounds so bizarre, that if I ever wrote a biography – which I might do, at some point, since you say so, the readers would either dismiss it as the ravings of an unbalanced mind, or as pure fiction. I don’t care. So let it be.” Babaji laughed. “I repeat again,” he said, “truth is stranger than fiction, and even if the story stimulates their imagination, there is hope that they might at some point realize that there are greater realms of consciousness which cannot be comprehended by dry logic, and currently available levels of intelligence.

“However, by the time you attempt your biography, even the scientific world would have expanded its knowledge of outer space and other planets. The suspicion that life exists, or ex¬ isted on other planets or stellar systems, will be strengthened by the discovery of water, and other conditions suitable for the evolution and sustenance of life forms in hitherto unsuspected parts of the cosmos. Perhaps, some unprejudiced scientist might consider it worthwhile to at least give your story the atten¬ tion it deserves. Beyond that, considering the stupid attitude of dismissing anything that does not fall under the category of ‘established norms’ as unscientific, have no hope.

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