Free-up space in devices

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Now-a-days life is impossible without devices like - smartphones, laptops, desktops or tablet computers. These not only store vital information for our day-to day use but also for our professional and personal usage. With regular use, the internal memory of these gets filled up resulting in them getting slow and giving inadequate results. Generally, a mid-range smartphone (priced between ₹15,000 to ₹35,000) provides up to 128GB to 1TB of internal memory. This is used for installed apps, storing files, pictures, videos etc. This generally occupies approx. 45-50% of the memory. However, with the passage of time, this memory space shrinks as more files whether PDF, music, videos or pictures files taken from camera or downloaded, gets accumulated in them. Similar, is the case with tablet computers or laptops. Tablet computers, mid-sized, come with approximately 512GB to 1TB of storage while laptops come with memories and storages in the range of 512GB to 2TB. But both these get less storage space as files downloaded or created gets saved. As a result, the devices get slow in starting up, in saving newer files or in displaying necessary apps for use. Additionally, updates to either the Windows or Android, Mac or iOS and the apps get delayed or halted which also affects their performances. Thus, it becomes necessary to free up space in the devices in order to store newer files, pictures or install updates and apps. Here are some of the procedures-   

1) Inbuilt Apps for freeing up storage space - Most devices - smartphones, tablet computers or laptops have in-built tools or apps to help delete junk files taking up memory space. Samsung has apps like Device Care to optimize space and free up memory. Others have Store Manager or the Storage tools that help clear cache memory or junk to get more space. Similarly, Files by Google for Android also serves the same. For Windows laptop or tablet computers we have Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense to free space efficiently. Similarly, commands in the Run app like %temp%, c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe, cleanmgr, Disk CleanUp, or hitting Ctrl+Shift+Del can help a lot.

2) Use of cloud apps like Google Drive, OneDrive etc. - The Google Drive app found in Android devices, OneDrive from Microsoft or the iCloud app for iOS etc. are the apps that provide large storage space ranging from 2GB, 15GB or 2TB to store data. We can simply locate the files - pictures, text, PDF or music files etc. - move them (not just copy/paste) and free-up storage. These have paid as well as free to use services. We have to log in or signup using Google or Microsoft accounts to access. These provide large free storage spaces for other apps or updates in our devices.

3) Move files to an external Hard Disk or SSD Drive: - External hard disk or SSD (Solid State Disk) drives are a wonderful means to free up storage space for laptops, tablet computers or even smartphones. With capacities ranging from 256GB to 12TB, these portable drives can be easily connected to laptops, tablet computers or even smartphones to free up space. Once connected these drives appear as external storage like F:\, G:\ drives etc. We can move files, folders of almost all types from our devices to them and make available free storage. With huge volumes like 1TB or 2TB, we can move a sizeable amount of data to the drives very fast and with ease. We can also connect them to retrieve such data (files, folder etc.) for use any time in the future. HDDs nowadays cost between ₹1500 to ₹12,000 while SSDs come in between ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 depending upon storage capacities.

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4) Addition or use of memory cards: - In laptops or desktops we can install additional RAM cards to enhance memory. RAM cards of 512GB, 1TB or more can be installed in devices to enhance memory space. Alternatively, we can replace old RAM cards with newer cards of more capacity of storage. In tablet computers, we can insert external memory cards in the memory card slots with an adaptor if needed, having capacities of 256GB to 2TB to enhance memory space. Similarly, memory cards can also be inserted in smartphones to enhance memory space. Described as external storage these can enhance space from usually 2GB to 1TB. This enhances memory space to store more data or files.  

5) Manual deletion of files, folders etc.: - One of the most laborious, time-consuming and traditional methods to free up memory space in devices is the manual deletion of files, folders etc. We can select files present in folders such as Picture Galleries, video folders, document folders or the app folders and delete any file or subfolder deemed unnecessary, garbage or occupying large memory space. Thus, we can free up necessary space. This process being laborious, time-consuming as well as probably the most primitive methods is a freedom on its own. We can select files/folders at our will and delete them according to our wish and necessity.

Since smartphones, laptops or tablet computers are ubiquitous nowadays for almost all purposes we cannot but store necessary files in them. Selecting and deleting files and the use of any of these methods can help reduce the memory shortages and give us the necessary memory space to add new files or apps on to the devices. My most preferable method is moving files to cloud apps viz. Google Drive, OneDrive etc. We can get a lot of extra storage, easily move files/folders and retrieve them, when necessary, through downloading from the respective apps. 

The Kali Puja Festival

In Hindu mythology, the Tridev or the trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Maheshwara is considered to be the supreme. Along with it, Goddess Shakti is considered to be the cosmic, creative energy - the consort of Lord Shiva and the source of all creation. She is considered to be the active power for the destruction of evil and the protector, healer and the mother of all creation. Goddess Shakti is represented in many forms like Goddess Durga, Goddess Laxmi, Goddess Kali, Maa Santoshi among others. Goddess Kali is considered the angriest, ruthless, fiercest and the most feared form of it. Legend has it, that she took into this form to fight against a powerful demon and protect humanity from destruction, fear and plunder. But when clam and peaceful, Goddess Kali is also the most benevolent, living, caring and a kind deity. 

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In mythology, a demon named Raktabeej, laid a spell of plunder, destruction and death with its evil intentions. He got a blessing, vardaan from Lord Shiva that with each drop of his blood that fell on the earth, he would arise again. This made him undefeatable as well as immortal. He terrorized the Gods and all the people with his strength and plundered all along. With his immortal and increasing forms, he started ruling over others and came to a war with Goddess Durga. But he remained invincible. Thus, Goddess Durga took the form of Goddess Kali - the fiercest, brutal, warmongering and the powerful Goddess to fight with Raktabeej and save the world. In the battle, Goddess Kali went on to kill and admonish all the Raktasuras, demons arising from the drops of blood of the demon Raktabeej. She drank all of the blood that shed thus not allowing them to fall on the ground and stop the Raktasuras from arising. She fought and finally killed Raktabeej to free the creation from his terror and destruction. Thus, she came to be worshipped, revered and adored as the protector, saviour and a mother figure for all beings. Goddess Kali is also known to be benevolent, kind to the weak, devoted as well as the needy. Thus, she has both the characters in her persona. Symbolically, she is seen as a Goddess who destroys pain, suffering and pestilences in order to bring prosperity, happiness and welfare to all.

The Kali Puja is celebrated by Hindus all over the world. In the Bengali community, the Amavasya in the month of Kartik as per the almanac is the holy day for the Puja. Some of the pujas are centuries old. In other places like J&K, Himachal and Kerala, she is worshipped too in great fanfare and gaiety. In Assam, the Kamakhya temple near Guwahati also celebrates the puja along with other places. The Kali Puja festival is the second biggest festival for the Bengalis after the Durga Puja. The famous temples dedicated to Goddess Kali are the Dakshineshwar Kali temple, Kalighat Kali temple, the Tarapith temple at Kolkata, the Shakti Peeth Sri Chamunda Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh, the Baitula Deula near Bhubaneshwar, the Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh among others. Goddess Kali is said to be the chief deity of Tantricism. She is worshipped to attain tantric, mystic powers during the auspicious nights. She is said to bless the devout with tantric powers of foresight, healing and siddhis. She is considered to be the first form of the Ten Mahavidyas i.e. a group of ten Hindu Tantric Goddesses. Thus, seeking her divine benediction, through special prayers, religious practices, meditations etc. one can gain psychic powers and knowledge. She is worshipped with the red Hibiscus flowers (Joba), a bhog of Khichudi (a preparation of dal, rice, lentils mixed together), payesh (sweet dish), sweets and occasionally animal sacrifices too. People throng the Puja Pandals for the prasadas next morning. The festival draws people from all walks of life seeking for her blessings for happiness, protection from evil and harm and prosperity in their lives.                                    

SpaDex Project - A unique achievement of ISRO

Among the milestones achieved by the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), since its inception in 1969, the SpaDex mission successfully completed last January is a unique and an interesting one. The mission SpaDex (Space Docking Experiment) was basically to dock and undock i.e. join and detach two small satellites in the space so as to accomplish the ability for such maneuvers for other spacecrafts in the future. In space missions, it is necessary to dock or undock spaceships, satellites so that astronauts and equipment can be carried from one vehicle to the other. This becomes necessary to carry out experiments, in repair and maintenance activities, exchange from one vehicle to another. Like in the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts move in and out of space shuttles while entering ISS or returning back to the earth.

While becoming only the fourth nation after USA, Russia and China, India has now the indigenous capacity to move people and equipment between satellites or spaceships required for its future space expeditions. Launched on December 30th, 2024, and successfully executed on January 16th, 2025, and fully autonomous docking on April 20th, 2025, ISRO had successfully docked and undocked two small satellites namely SDX01 and SDX02 launched by the PSLV 60 rocket from Sriharikota station in Hasan, Karnataka. Controlled from the ground station at Sriharikota, the docking and undocking process worked out perfectly thereby establishing our capabilities for similar maneuvers in the near future. 

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The Chandrayaan-4 mission, the Gaganyaan mission as well as the Bharat Antariksh Station (BAS), a permanent space station of India like the ISS are the prominent future space expeditions of the ISRO. Given the need for the convenient and easy passage of equipment and astronauts between spacecrafts and satellites, the SpaDex mission was needed to be accurate as well as successful for us. The Bharat Antariksh Station (BAS) will be a permanent station for experiments in space, the stay of the astronauts as well as serve as a platform for carrying people and equipment to and from it and the earth. Similarly, the Gaganyaan  mission that aims to put Indian astronauts to space through an indigenous mission first time ever, will also require such capabilities. Thus, the SpaDex mission will be a milestone in that regard. The docking and undocking of satellites in space is a very complex one. It involves a rendezvous i.e., staying aloft at a position so as to align accurately to the other craft and the docking maneuver i.e., perfect and precise movements to lock to the target spacecraft (since inaccurate docking can be expensive as well as dangerous), and commence the movement of goods and people from one craft to another. This was followed reversely by the undocking process soon. A large number of indigenous technologies were incorporated in the mission. That included the docking mechanism i.e., the whole process of identifying, communicating, connecting and ultimately docking, a suite for four rendezvous and docking sensors, power transfer technology, Indigenous novel autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy, Inter-satellite Communication Link (ISL) for 

autonomous communication between spacecrafts, incorporated with inbuilt intelligence to know the state of the other spacecraft. GNSS-based Novel Relative Orbit Determination and Propagation (RODP) processor to determine the relative position and velocity of the other spacecraft. Simulation test beds for both hardware and software design validation and testing. ISRO built the two satellites and the associated equipment at a cost of ₹125 crore while the launch vehicle cost ₹250 crore. The main goals of the SpaDex mission were - develop and demonstrate technology for rendezvous and docking using two small spacecrafts, showcase controllability in the docked condition, demonstrate the potential for extending the life of the target spacecraft, test power transfer between the docked spacecraft. The ISRO chief S Somnath said at a press conference that additional SpaDex missions with greater size and complexity would be launched in the near future for larger docking systems for the space missions. Thus, India has the self-reliance in cutting-edge technology and the capability of the ISRO for such critical operations. Along with it, the SpaDex was a cost- effective technology demonstrating mission costing about ₹375 crore to show in-space docking using two small spacecrafts lifted by the 62nd PSLV flight.