Apolitical observations

Bihar elections: Changing paradigms of a failed state

2010-10-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

Bihar, historically has always been a politically active state. A state, where people eat and sleep with politics. With feelings of caste and religion deeply rooted in the mindset of an average Bihari, any election eventually turns out to be a caste warfare. A dismal literacy rate of 47 percent also is one of the factors why caste and religion play a dominant role in elections in Bihar.

Laloo Prasad Yadav was the first person to realize this. His social engineering found a large audience in the form of poor, underprivileged people in rural sections of Bihar. Development went for a toss and casteist politics became the call of the day. He (mis)ruled the state first himself, and then with a proxy from 1997 till 2005, when JD(U) with the support of BJP first ousted him from the power.

Once a best governed state during independence, Bihar turned into a mess which no one cared to clear. The first winds of change was seen in 2005, when JD(U)-BJP combine won fair number of seats in Assembly and laid claims for forming a coalition government in Patna. With Ram Vilas Paswan playing a "king-maker" role, Laloo was almost certain to be ousted from power. That was when, once a strong ally, and then a power in Center, the great Congress Party came for his help. Congress agent and Bihar Governor, Mr Buta Singh dissolved the assembly and thwarted NDA, which was almost certain to form government in Bihar. President rule was imposed on Bihar and re-election was scheduled for October-November. People of Bihar, sensing the foul play, gave NDA complete majority this time to lay claims for power and Nitish Kumar became the Chief minister.

This was the turn around moment for many's fortunes.

Nitish Kumar, because he got a chance to undo whatever bad was done during Laloo-Rabri-Congress regime. With the extensive work done on improving infrastructure and law and order in Bihar, he established himself as "Vikas Purush", never before heard in the history of the state. People began to see a light at the end of the long dark tunnel of 15 years misrule by RJD.

Laloo Yadav, because he was relegated in the back seat for the first time in his political career. In subsequent elections his vote bank began to erode, so much so that in 2009 general elections he managed to win only 4 seats out of 40.

Congress, sensing that there is no more steam left in Laloo, started distancing itself from him. In 2010 assembly elections, it for the first time went all alone contesting on all seats on offer in Bihar. If exit polls are anything to go by, it clearly shows that Congress can dent hard the vote bank of RJD-LJP combine. For now, we can wait till November end to see the actual results.

Ram Vilas Paswan, once touted as king-maker, now is nowhere near to his glory days. He too suffered the similar fate as that of his now staunch ally Laloo. His disastrous showing in Lok Sabha elections 2009 was a clear signal that people can't be fool again and again on casteist agendas.

Rabri Devi, a reluctant and least qualified person to ever sit on CM's throne, with due respect, can peacefully go back to her kitchen. Seriously, how can you expect a simple housewife with 5th grade education as her only achievement in life to rule over second most populous state. This was a blasphemy and something for which people of Bihar can never forgive Laloo.

And finally Bihar, which till 2005, a laggard state in every aspect, has begun to show some signs of recovery. With increased investment in infrastructure, greater emphasis on education, vastly improved law and order situation and a visibly better governance, Bihar can look forward to attain its long lost glory.

Development is the new theme on which elections are set to be fought over in Bihar now. May the politics over caste and religion be history now and so may Laloo and Paswan.

Pokharan test II - Its significance in India's modern history

2010-02-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

Pokharan test in 1998 in many ways was a landmark incident in modern Indian history. It was the first time when India openly shrugged off her nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament stance against the powerful international lobby despite the numerous sanction threats.

Since the end of World War II, world was inequitably divided into two groups: one with nuclear power and the other without it. 98 percent of the countries of the world fall into the later with only USA, UK, France, Soviet Union and China being the privileged ones. Just after the aftermath of WW2, a Non Proliferation Treaty for Nuclear weapons was conceptualized among the nations winning the war. The treaty said that only four of the nations namely, the USA, the UK, the Soviet Union and France were authorized to produce and maintain their nuclear artilleries. Any other country if found to work with this technology will be dealt with firm hands and will have to face consequences in the form of political and economical ostracisms and even with military incursions. China being a major power at the time of formation of treaty was treated as an exception and thus it too became a part of the Big four. And thus a BIG five was formed which for the next four decades maintained its hegemony over the world till India became the first country to challenge that, which we will come in subsequent passages.

Subsequently, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was created to endorse the earlier one, the NPT, specifying ways in which the sanctions would be applied to the violating countries. Most of the nations in the world were forced to endorse both the treaties with a few exceptions like India, Pakistan, Israel, Iran etc.

Since independence, India has followed a policy of non-alignment, which helped India maintain an equal distance from two major blocks developing after the WW2, namely the capitalist block with USA as its head and the communist block with USSR as its lead. India knew that endorsing any of the treaty like CTBT or NPT will eventually come in the way of maintaining an independent foreign policy. Also, India after independence was surrounded by nations which were not exactly friends with her. Pakistan in collusion with China and USA always used to threaten and transgress the Indian borders as were in 1948, 1965, 1971 and later on in 1999. In 1971, after its creation, Bangladesh also joined the chorus along with Pakistan. China in 1962 war also made clear its intentions of animosity. So, with these insurmountable problems India's harmonious existence has always been in danger.

In the wake of these threats, Congress government with Indira Gandhi as its head conducted the subdued first test in Pokharan. Subdued, because India was not a big power then to face international sanctions from all corners and to jeopardize its growth. India was still a country which needed much international support and aid for its existence. It has not become self dependent. Fifteen years later BJP government came into power overcoming much of the political turmoil with AB Vajpayee becoming Prime Minister of India the third time in three years. Due to some political pressure and due to some existential pressure, the BJP government in order to show India's mettle to the world and hence the government's mettle to its people conducted the TEST in 1999, which in many ways established India as an important player in the world politics.

India successfully conducted three nuclear tests in Pokharan under the able guidance of our former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, then the chief of nuclear operations. International community reacted sharply with USA, UN and other nations imposing several kinds of bans and sanctions on India. India was banned from participating in most of the international economic forums and several countries cut on the imports from India. Japan, Canada, etc suspended providing aid to India. USA however did not succeed in getting G-8 countries taking collective action against India. Germany, France and Russia continued their economic ties with India. With passage of time, several other countries let go their hard stance over India.

Pokharan II marks an important chapter in the history of India as a evolving democratic, independent nation. Although, India did a diplomatic blunder by openly admitting to the world about the tests, it in many ways helped India gain a prominent position among the powerful nations. India became only the sixth nation in the world to openly admit to have the capacity of producing nuclear technology and hence the weapons on its own. In the hindsight, the tests look like an eventuality which was bound to happen to challenge the old world order and form a new world order with new evolving paradigms. As described by UN General Secretary Mr Kofi Annan - "We can not have two parameters for evaluating different nations. At one hand CTBT allows the exclusive club to maintain and produce nuclear weapons and at other hand it restricts other countries (India and Pakistan) not to have them".

National Highways - India

2008-12-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

NH1:

Delhi - Ambala - Jalandhar - Ludhiana - Amritsar - Atari (Indo-Pak Border)

Length in State(s): Delhi (22), Haryana (180), Punjab (254)

Total Length: 456 km

NH2:

Delhi - Agra - Kanpur - Allahabad - Gaya - Dhanbad - Kolkata

Length in State(s): Delhi (12), Haryana (74), Uttar Pradesh (752), Bihar (202), Jharkhand (190), West Bengal (235)

Total Length: 1465 km

NH3:

Agra - Gwalior - Indore - Nasik - Thane - Mumbai

Length in State(s): Uttar Pradesh (26), Rajasthan (32), Madhya Pradesh (712), Maharashtra (391)

Total Length: 1161 km

NH4:

Thane - Pune - Hubli - Bangalore - Chittoor - Chennai

Length in State(s): Maharashtra (371), Karnataka (658), Andhra Pradesh (83), Tamil Nadu (123)

Total Length: 1235 km

NH5:

Cuttack - Bhubaneswar - Visakhapatnam - Vijayawada - Guntur - Nellore - Chennai (Junction with NH 6 near Baharagora)

Length in State(s): Orissa (488), Andhra Pradesh (1000), Tamil Nadu (45)

Total Length: 1533 km

NH6:

Hajira - Dhule - Nagpur - Raipur - Sambalpur - Baharagora - Kolkata

Length in State(s): Maharashtra (813), Chattisgarh (314), Orissa (462), Jharkhand (22), West Bengal (161), Gujarat (177)

Total Length: 1949 km

NH7:

Varanasi - Rewa - Jabalpur - Nagpur - Hyderabad - Bangalore - Salem - Madurai - Kanyakumari

Length in State(s): Uttar Pradesh (128), Madhya Pradesh (504), Maharashtra (232), Andhra Pradesh (753), Karnataka (125), Tamil Nadu (627)

Total Length: 2369 km

NH8:

Delhi - Jaipur - Ajmer - Udaipur - Ahmedabad - Vadodra - Mumbai

Length in State(s): Delhi (13), Haryana (101), Rajasthan (688), Gujarat (498), Maharashtra (128)

Total Length: 1428 km

NH9:

Pune - Solapur - Hyderabad - Vijayawada - Machillipatnam

Length in State(s): Maharashtra (336), Karnataka (75), Andhra Pradesh (430)

Total Length: 841 km

NH10:

Delhi - Fazilka - Indo-Pak Border

Length in State(s): Delhi (18), Haryana (313), Punjab (72)

Total Length: 403 km

NH11:

Agra - Jaipur - Bikaner

Length in State(s): Uttar Pradesh (51), Rajasthan (531)

Total Length: 582 km

NH12:

Jabalpur - Bhopal - Kota - Bundi - Tonk - Jaipur

Length in State(s): Madhya Pradesh (490), Rajasthan (400)

Total Length: 890 km

NH13:

Solapur - Chitradurga - Shimoga - Mangalore

Length in State(s): Maharashtra (43), Karnataka (648)

Total Length: 691 km

NH14:

Beawar - Sirohi - Radhapur

Length in State(s): Rajasthan (310), Gujarat (140)

Total Length: 450 km

Do networks bother you?

2008-12-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

We’ll try to find out the total number of ways to reach a destination from a source for any given network.

In how many ways can you reach the Destination from the Source as shown in the network above?

Pretty easy. Right?

Total of 4 ways. Quite clear from the diagram.

Start - A - C - D - E - G - Destination
Start - A - C - D - F - G - Destination
Start - B - C - D - E - G - Destination
Start - B - C - D - F - G - Destination

For this diagram, it was easy to visualize all the paths from Source to Destination.

But, what if the diagram is:

or, increasing the complexity a bit further:

Would you still be able to picture out all of the possible paths for the given diagram?

We need utmost care to not possibly miss any of the paths, if we go on counting all of the paths in the network.

Let’s figure out a simple process by which we’ll able to find out the total number of paths to reach a destination from a source for any given network, however complex it may be.

For all the nodes we need to fetch the following information:

Total incoming paths to a Node

And, the steps are:

1. Calculate total incoming paths to any node

2. Outgoing paths will contain a value which is the sum of all the incoming paths

3. So, all subsequent nodes from N can be reached by the sum of the number of all the incoming paths.

4. And, last but the most important point to consider: We’ll always assume that the total number of ways to reach our source node is 1. So, all the outgoing paths from source will start with value 1.

That’s it.

Enough of concepts.

Let’s get down with solving the networks we saw earlier.

Problem 1:

Find the total number of ways to reach Destination from Source.

Total incoming paths to B = 1 (As all the paths emanating from Source contain value 1)

Therefore, Outgoing paths from B = 1

Total incoming paths to E = 1

Therefore, Outgoing paths from E = 1

Total incoming paths to D = 1+1+1 = 3

Therefore, Outgoing paths from D = 3

Total incoming paths to C = 1+3 = 4

Therefore, Outgoing paths from C = 4

Total incoming paths to F = 3+1 = 4

Therefore, Outgoing paths from F = 4

So, Total number of ways to reach Destination = From C + From D + From F = 4+3+4 = 11

So, a total of 11 ways to reach the Destination from Source.

Problem 2:

Find the total number of ways to reach Destination from Source.

Total incoming paths to B = 1

Therefore, Outgoing paths from B = 1

Total incoming paths to G = 1

Therefore, Outgoing paths from G = 1

Total incoming paths to E = 1+1+1 = 3

Therefore, Outgoing paths from E = 3

Total incoming paths to C = 1+3 = 4

Therefore, Outgoing paths from C = 4

Total incoming paths to H = 3+1 = 4

Therefore, Outgoing paths from H = 4

Total incoming paths to F = 4+4+3 = 11

Therefore, Outgoing paths from F = 11

Total incoming paths to D = 4+11 = 15

Therefore, Outgoing paths from D = 15

Total incoming paths to I = 4+11 = 15

Therefore, Outgoing paths from I = 15

So, Total number of ways to reach Destination = From D + From F + From I = 15+11+15 = 41

So, a total of 41 ways to reach the Destination from Source.

Hope, problems from networks don’t become a problem for us in future. :)

Cheers.

Demography (India) - Statistics

2008-12-17T22:17:00.000-08:00

Population:

1,095,351,995 (July 2006 est.)

1,028,737,436 (2001 Census)

Rural Population:

742,617,747 (72.2%) (2001 Census)

Urban: Age structure:

0–14 years: 30.8%
15–64 years: 64.3%
65 years and over: 4.9% (2006 est.)

The average age of Indians is 26 years.

Population growth rate:

1.38% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 22.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 8.18 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Literacy rate:

64.8%

Percent of the population under the poverty line:

10%

Unemployment Rate:

9.2%

Sex ratio:
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.71 years
male: 63.9 years
female: 65.57 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Religions:

Hindu 80.46%,

Muslim 13.43%,

Christian 2.34%,

Sikh 1.87%,

Buddhists 0.77%,

Jains 0.41 %,

Others or not stated 0.72% (2001 Census)

Scheduled Castes and Tribes:

Scheduled Castes: 16.2% (2001 Census)

Scheduled Tribes: 8.2% (2001 Census)

Languages:

There are 216 languages/dialects with more than 10,000 native speakers in India.

The largest of these by far is Hindi with some 337 million (the second largest being Bengali with some 70 million).

22 languages are recognized as "official languages".

What day was 15th August, 1947?

2008-12-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

Do you know what was the day when we got independence from the britishers?

Yes, the date was 15th August, 1947. But what was that auspicious day? Was it Sunday, Monday or Thursday or any other day?

We'll try to formulate a process in this text by which we will be able to tell the exact day for any date provided.

But before venturing further into the discussion, make sure you have the patience to sit for next 15-30 minutes with a pen and paper in your hand and a cup of coffee beside :).

Let's define a term:

Number of odd-days = Remainder obtained when a number is divided by 7

Now:

All the years (2001, 1947, 1971 etc) can be categorized broadly into two parts:

Non-Leap years: Years having 365 days

Number of odd-days (NLY) = Remainder (365/7) = 1

Leap years: Years having 366 days

Number of odd-days (LY) = Remainder (366/7) = 2

We are not through yet. We need some more information in order to find out the day of our independence!!!!

So, let's find out other information as well, which will be quite helpful later on:

Number of odd-days in 100 years:

In 100 years there are 76 Non-Leap years (NLY) and 24 Leap years (LY).

100 years = 76 Non-Leap years + 24 Leap years

= 76 NLY + 24 LY

Now, from previous calculation we that number of odd-days is 1 for NLY and 2for LY.

So, number of odd days in 100 years = Remainder (76 * 1 + 24*2) when divided by 7

= Remainder ( 76 + 48) when divided by 7

= Remainder ( 124) when divided by 7

= 5

Therefore, Number of odd-days in 100 years = 5

Number of odd-days in 200 years:

Number of odd-days in 200 years = Remainder (2 * Number of odd-days in 100 years) by 7

= Remainder (2 *5) by 7

= Remainder (10) by 7

= 3

Therefore, Number of odd-days in 200 years = 3

Number of odd-days in 300 years:

Number of odd-days in 300 years = Remainder (3 * Number of odd-days in 100 years) by 7

= Remainder (3 *5) by 7

= Remainder (15) by 7

= 1

Therefore, Number of odd-days in 300 years = 1

Number of odd-days in 400 years:

Let's add a fact before venturing into calculation:

In each 400 years 1 extra day is added to our calendar system (Some stuffs related to earth's imperfect revolution around the Sun).

So,

Number of odd-days in 400 years = Remainder (1+ 4 * Number of odd-days in 100 years) by 7

= Remainder (1+ 4 *5) by 7

= Remainder (21) by 7

= 0

Therefore, Number of odd-days in 400 years = 0

We have been calculating the number of odd-days for a quite while. Yet we are quite in dark of its roles of determining the specific day for a given date.

So, the final nail in the coffin:

If our final outcome of the number of odd-days comes out to be 0, then the day will be Sunday. If number of odd-days is 1, then the day will be Monday and so on.

Expressed in tabular format:

If Number of odd-days = 0, then the day will be Sunday

If Number of odd-days = 1, then the day will be Monday

If Number of odd-days = 2, then the day will be Tuesday

If Number of odd-days = 3, then the day will be Wednesday

If Number of odd-days = 4, then the day will be Thursday

If Number of odd-days = 5, then the day will be Friday

If Number of odd-days = 6, then the day will be Saturday

Enough discussion of concepts. Let's venture into our original problem.

Our basic problem was:

What day was 15th August, 1947? Was it Monday or Thursday or Sunday or any other day?

15th Aug, 1947 is made up of:

1946 full years,

7 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, July), and

15 days of August

We'll calculate number of odd-days for each of the three afore-mentioned entities and then add them up to obtain the resultant number of odd-days.

1946 years

1946 years = 1600 years + 300 years + 46 years

= (400 * 4) years + 300 years + 46 years

Number of odd-days in 1946 years = Remainder((400 * 4) years + 300 years + 46 years) by 7

= Remainder( 0 + 1 + odd days in 46 years) by 7

In 46 years, there are 11 Leap years and 35 Non-Leap years.

So, Number of odd-days in 46 years = Remainder (11*2 + 35*1) when divided by 7

= Remainder (57) when divided by 7

= 1

Number of odd-days in 1946 years = Remainder(0+1+1) by 7

= Remainder (2) by 7

= 2

So, Number of odd-days in 1946 years = 2

7 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul):

Number of odd days in Jan = Remainder (31) by 7 = 3

Number of odd days in Feb = Remainder (28) by 7 = 0

Number of odd days in Mar = Remainder (31) by 7 = 3

Number of odd days in Apr = Remainder (30) by 7 = 2

Number of odd days in May = Remainder (31) by 7 = 3

Number of odd days in Jun = Remainder (30) by 7 = 2

Number of odd days in Jul = Remainder (31) by 7 = 3

Therefore, Number of odd-days for 7 months = Remainder (3+0+3+2+3+2+3) by 7

= Remainder (16) by 7

= 2

So, Number of odd-days for 7 months = 2

15 days of August

Number of odd days for 15 days of August = Remainder (15) by 7

= 1

So, Number of odd-days for 15 days of August = 1

We are very close to our final solution.

So, total number of odd-days from all 3 parts = Remainder (2+2+1) by 7

= Remainder (5) by 7

= 5

AND, if the number of odd-days is 5 then the day will be FRIDAY.

Checked from calendar, the day was indeed Friday!!!!!

Cheers!!!

Few memorable hindi movies

2008-07-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

1. Sholay

An obvious choice for any hindi movie buff. A path breaking movie, much ahead of its time.

2. Deewar

Amitabh Bachchan again. An inspiration for most of the action, family dramas, lost and found movies released in late 70s and early 80s.

3. Mere Apne

Might not have heard of this movie. One of the pioneers of its genre. College politics started from here. Shiva, Arjun, Haasil etc just followed the trend.

4. Parichay

Jeetendra's only movie which made any sense :). An incredibly simple story. An inspiration for "Hum hain raahi pyaar ke"!!!

5. Maachis

Gulzar. What a way to highlight the atrocities caused by government during Punjab crisis!! Why isn't he directing any movies now a days? After Hu-tu-tu, it seems he got busy with his lyricist job. We want more from the person who gave us gems like Mere Apne, Koshish, Angoor, Parichay, Aandhi....and a few others.

6. Rang De Basanti

Can you name a single movie released in last 5-10 years which created such a huge impact on people's conscience as it did?

7. Lagaan

Aamir Khan again.

8. Masoom

9. Satya

Re-defined the hard hitting crime genre movie. Mumbai ka KING kaun -- "Bhikhu". RGV's most complete work till date. Company, Sarkar seems pale in comparison, even though they were good, but Satya was just a MASTERPIECE.

10. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

This is madness, but the movie is still running in Maratha Mandir, Mumbai.

11. Maine Pyaar Kiya

Every time I begin watching this movie, I leave only when the end credits roll.

12. Khamoshi

Sanja Leela Bhansali's best work till date. Was a commercial failure, though.

13. Main Azaad Hoon

A movie conveying a strong message. Amitabh was not known for doing this kind of movies in his prime.

14. Roja

Madhu, Arvind, Pankaj Kapoor, Mani Ratnam, AR Rehmaan. What a powerful creation!!!

Its music still haunts us. Its message is still relevant to our times.

15. Black Friday

One of the most important movies to come out in recent times. Movies like this are not made every day. Anurag Kashyap will always be remembered for this one movie all his life even though his repertoire includes movies like Satya, Yuva, Shool, Water, Gulaal, Dev D and several others.

Honourable mentions:

Mumbai Meri Jaan, Lagey Raho Munnabhai, Dil Chahta Hai, Jab We Met, Dor, Golmaal, Chhoti Si Baat, Taare Zameen Par.

Memorable Foreign Movies

2008-07-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

My compilation of the memorable movies, out of the thousands I watched till date.

1. The Shawshank Redemption
One of the best movies ever made. Ratings at IMDB is a glaring tribute for this wonderfully made movie.
2. 12 Angry Men
Tense court-room drama about 12 juries deciding the fate of a child convicted for murdering his father.
3. City Of God
Could be said to be the best ever foreign (non-english) movies made and in crime genre the best ever including all of those produced from hollywood.
4. The Godfather
Neck to neck fight with Shawshank for getting the top honours on imdb.com. An inspiration for Sarkar, Dayawan, Nayakan and several other known or unknown gangster movies.
5. The Dark Knight
Outsmarts all of the super-heroes movies ever made. JOKER, a character from movie was recently voted 3rd best of all the characters portrayed ever in a hollywood movie.
6. Life is Beautiful
Sweet romantic movie about a jewish family in a German concentration camp during second world war.
7. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Jack Nicholsan at his best.
8. Schindler's List
An inspiring/brave tale of a person (a German businessman) who saves lives of thousands of jews at the hands of his fellow Germans during second world war.
9. The Matrix
C'mon, don't tell me you haven't watched this movie!!
10. Fargo
Coen brothers at their best. A simple, serene crime investigation.
11. The Departed
Fight between Boston mafia and MA police department. How will you find the rat?
12. The Pianist
An encouraging tale of a musician during second world war.
13. Requiem for a dream
If you are a drug addict, watch this movie. Will definitely force you, stir you out to think "is it really worth"?
14. The Prestige
Two magicians outsmarting each other. Christopher Nolan's ascendency to the greatness began with this movie.
15. Braveheart
William Wallace. The greatest warrior Scotland has ever produced. Watch this movie for the mesmerizing sound score during one of the initial scenes where a cute little girl gifts a flower to his friend mourning at his father's grave.
16. Avatar
Technical wizardry at its best. Movie watching was an event for the first time for me.
17. Gladiator
A gladiator's tale of his rise and fall and then rising again from the oblivion.
18. Gandhi
Best ever movie made on Bapu. And mind you this wasn't made by an Indian. Another surprise was the actor portraying Gandhi was not an Indian.
19. Raging Bull
A boxer's biography.
20. Lord of the Rings - Return of the King
Don't watch it on small screen. You won't admire it as much as others do.

What is in the grammar? Part - 1

2008-07-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

Why one should know about grammar?

Grammar can be defined as the structure in which one can put his words to express his thoughts.

From our childhood days we are using english language in different forms.

So, it makes much sense to discuss some of the common mistakes we usually commit while communicating with others.

1. Difference between effect and affect?

Effect is a noun.

Affect is a verb.

2. When to use continual and when continuous?

Continual refers to successive actions with occasional cessations.

While continuous is unbroken, uninterrupted movements or series of actions.

Continual rain can have short spells of fair weather intervening between the frequent storms.

But, continuous rain means that it never stops.

3. Sense should be followed by 'in' when it implies logic or sensibleness. However, if sense signifies meaning, it should be followed by 'of'.

What is the sense in arguing?

Can you get the sense of that poem?

4. Which one you prefer to use?

What kind of a day is it?

What kind of day is it?

The word 'a' is considered unnecessary following 'what kind', 'what sort' or 'what type'. It is rarely used in educated speech.

So, always ask:

What kind of job are you looking for?

What type of dress I should wear?

5. Difference between 'principle' and 'principal'.

Principle - Rule, truth, law of conduct or action (is a noun)

Principal - Main (is an adjective)

Principal may be used as a noun when referring:

- to a sum of money

- to a person who is chief of any organization

6. Difference between 'hung' and 'hanged'.

Anything which is suspended is hung.

- Pictures are hung on the wall.

- Clothes were hung out in the sunlight.

Hanged is used to describe execution by hanging.

- You will be hanged if caught cheating. :)

- He hanged himself.

The murderer was hanged and his corpse was hung until it was cut down.

7. Correct (plural) forms:

Mothers-in-law

editors-in-chief

attorneys general

men of war

notaries public

passers by

8. "Do it good" or "Do it well".

'Good' or 'Well' is modifying a verb 'do'. So, it should be an adverb as adverb is one which modifies verbs, adjectives or another adverbs. Good is an adjective, so it must be modifying nouns not verbs.
So, well is the correct form.

So, always use:

Do it well.

"Go slow" or "Go slowly".

Slowly is an adverb. However, slow is acting as an adverb here.

So, either of the forms can be used.

9. Difference between 'incredible' and 'incredulous'.

You sound 'incredulous' when you show skepticism.

Something is 'incredible' if it is difficult to believe.

Credulous person believes what he hears.

Something is credible if it warrants belief.

Don't look so incredulous when I tell you what happened to me.

You are too credulous. You should distinguish facts from fancy.

The climate at equator is incredibly hot.

It is a perfectly credible story.

10. Some other correct (plural) forms:

spoonfuls of sugar

cupfuls of rice

handfuls of pulse

glassfuls of tea