1. FESTIVALS: Maharana Pratap Jayanti, the
third day of Jyeshtha Shukla paksha, falls on May 24 this year. The legendary Maharana Pratap was a true patriot
who initiated the first war of independence. Maharana was born in 1540 in
Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan to Maharana Udai Singh II and
Rani Jeevant Kanwar. Maharana Pratap never accepted Akbar as ruler of Bharat, and
fought him all his life. Akbar first tried diplomacy to win over Maharana
Pratap but was unsuccessful. Pratap maintained that he had no intention to
fight with Akbar but he could not bow down to Akbar and accept him as his
suzerainty. Battle of Haldighati between Maharana Pratap and Akbar and story of
‘Chetak’ – Pratap’s horse is a legend in
the history. Maharana Pratap has gained amazing respect and honour as he is
seen as an epitome of valor, heroism, pride, patriotism and the spirit of
independence.
2. MISSILE WOMAN TESSY THOMAS: Following the successful launch of Agni-V, Bharat’s
long-range inter-continental ballistic missile, chief scientist, Project
Agni-V, Tessy Thomas who is now called as Agni Putrie conquered the handicap of
being a village girl to become the first women heading the missile project. She
enabled Bharat to join the elite missile club of the US ,
Russia , France and China
Tessy Thomas, a native of Alappuzha, and the DRDO team
have successfully test fired Agni series IV and V. After the launch, Tessy said
that where there is will, there is a way. She said that the determination and
strong will of the team was the secret behind the successful launch of the Agni
series.
Tessy
who belongs to the Thaiparambil family of Thathampilly, close to Alappuzha town
did her schooling at the St Joseph
She
entered into the world of missiles after she was picked as one of 10 youngsters
for a DRDO programme in 1985. She was one of the favourite pupils of former
President APJ Abdul Kalam known as the missile man of Bharat.
3. ‘GILGIT LOTUS SUTRA’ IN BRAND NEW PRINTS: The National Archives of India has published copies of
what scholars have termed “indisputably the oldest manuscript in Bharat”, the
Buddhist Lotus Sutra, after months spent on a restoration of the original
pages, inscribed in Brahmi on birch bark at some time in the fifth or sixth
century. Experts say the document, found in 1931 by young cattle grazers in the
caves of Gilgit in Kashmir , is from a circular
chamber in a Buddhist stupa.
The publication, made possible because of an
association with Japan
National Archives asst. director Jaya Ravindran says,
“They had arrived utterly disintegrated, we have helped recondition them and
took care of it. We are lucky that birch bark was used as it is natural and far
more resilient than paper.”
4. ‘ALL WEATHER’ SURVEILLANCE SATELLITE
LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY: Bharat has
successfully launched a satellite that will dramatically boost the country's
ability to view detailed images of the earth. K. Radhakrishnan, chairman of the
Indian Space Research Organization, described the launch as a victory for
Bharat. The satellite is called RISAT-1, which stands for "radar imaging
satellite." Unlike previous imaging satellites launched by Bharat, which
collect a picture of the ground using optical cameras, RISAT 1 bounces
microwave signals off the Earth.
Dr. Ajay Lele, a researcher atNew
Delhi
"Previously we used to have only the cloud picture, just image alone. This gives additional parameters. All will be used for our weather forecast for the coming years," said T. K. Alex, director, ISRO.
Dr. Ajay Lele, a researcher at
"Previously we used to have only the cloud picture, just image alone. This gives additional parameters. All will be used for our weather forecast for the coming years," said T. K. Alex, director, ISRO.
5. CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI: A VISIONARY AND GUIDING LIGHT’: “The vision,
thoughts and administrative acumen of Shivaji Maharaj have inspired many
generations of our countrymen. Even during present times the thoughts of
Shivaji are worth emulating for each one
of us,” said Shri Mohanrao Bhagwat Ji, SarSanghchalak of RSS while launching
the book “Shivaji & Suraj” authored by Anil Madhav Dave, a Rajya Sabha member
at Delhi
Anil
Dave, also a Swayam Sevak of the RSS said his book is a result of in-depth
research and objective analysis of historical facts. “Shivaji was a meticulous
planner who planned everything in great detail. His acumen in military strategy
is well known across the world, but he had great insight in administrative and
financial matters as well,” Shri Dave said.
Also
present at the function were Shri Suresh Prabhu, former union Minister, Shri LK
Advani, Shri Suresh ji Soni – sahsarkaryavaha of RSS and others.
6. HINDUS PLANT 1000 TREES AT
NDAKAINI DAM IN KENYA Nairobi Aberdare Mountains , stores it, treats it and slowly releases
it year-round for use by Nairobi
After
the tree-planting exercise on April 22, done by fifty enthusiastic volunteers
from Nairobi, there was a short baraza where Mr. Njoroge- the Chief Human
Resource Office of the Nairobi Water Company, in his address on-behalf of the
MD of the company, thanked the Hindu Community for planting trees at the site
since 2005. He pointed out the first
site where trees have already bloomed to full-size. The HRSC has planted 50,000 trees since 2005
in sites across Kenya
7. VIF RESOURCE AND RESEARCH CENTRE AND
LIBRARY: Vivekananda International
Foundation, New Delhi Europe .
8. SPREAD THE RASHTRAMANTRA OF NANAJI
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY: “The Rashtramantra given by Rashtrarishi Nanaji
Deshmukh that ‘I am not for myself but for my own people and those are my own
people who are neglected and underprivileged’ can change the picture of the
entire nation. This mantra should be spread all over the country,” said noted
Ramkatha Vachak Morari Bapu addressing a gathering of Deendayal Research
Institute (DRI) workers at Rammanohar Lohia Auditorium in Chitrakoot on March
23. Earlier, Dr Nandita Pathak highlighted some of the activities carried out
by the DRI. She specifically mentioned the 1045 km Swavlamban Abhiyan padyatra
conducted some years back under the leadership of Nanaji to raise the feeling
of self-reliance among villagers.
Morari
Bapu said he had high regards for Nanaji and whenever he met Nanaji he realised
the great work done by him. He said the organisation which has spiritual
feelings makes tremendous success. He said Nanaji might have departed, but his
internal spiritualism is still in Chitrakoot. “The Rashtramantra given by him
will play a key role in transforming the life of rural Bharat. The torch of
rural uplift that Nanaji lighted from here will make our villages
self-reliant,” he said.
9. I NEED TO SEE MUCH GREATER
ROLE OF INDIA IN THE FAMILY OF NATIONS: BAN KI-MOON: For
someone, who regards himself as a member of the Bharatiya family, UN secretary
general Ban Ki-moon took
advantage of a few quiet minutes to talk about global politics, in an exclusive
conversation with Indrani Bagchi in Mumbai, after two days of official
appointments.
What were the highlights of your talks with the Indian leadership over the past couple of days?
India India
I was very impressed while visiting Cama Hospital andGrant Medical
College Maharashtra provide access to all vulnerable health
coverage for poor people, many living below the poverty line. And this is paid
for by the government. This is remarkable. I have seen the facilities, I saw
many mothers and children and their faces full of hope and satisfaction. I
highly commended PM Manmohan Singh's visionary policy commitment to raise
public health budget to 2.5% of the GDP. India India
Do you seeIndia
Yes that was one of the topics we discussed. I am fully aware of the long-standing aspirations of the Indian government to serve in better and stronger positions as permanent member of the Security Council. There are some common views among members that Security Council should be reformed in a representative, democratic and transparent manner. They are still trying to find out modalities where all the member states can have a common view. These are very important issues which are still being discussed.
What were the highlights of your talks with the Indian leadership over the past couple of days?
I was very impressed while visiting Cama Hospital and
Do you see
Yes that was one of the topics we discussed. I am fully aware of the long-standing aspirations of the Indian government to serve in better and stronger positions as permanent member of the Security Council. There are some common views among members that Security Council should be reformed in a representative, democratic and transparent manner. They are still trying to find out modalities where all the member states can have a common view. These are very important issues which are still being discussed.
10. LAKSHMI MITTAL RETAINS CROWN AS BRITAIN’S RICHEST MAN: The three top places in Britain’s rich List were
dominated by foreign-born magnates with a base in Britain who earned their
fortunes from resource-based industries such as minerals, steel and oil, at a
time when most Britons’ earnings and savings were squeezed by inflation and low
interest rates. Lakshmi Mittal retained his crown as Britain London London
11. DALVEER BHANDARI ELECTED
AS ICJ JUDGE: Bharat’s nominee,
Justice Dalveer Bhandari, a sitting
judge of the Supreme Court, has been elected to the International Court of Justice
(ICJ). He secured 122 votes in the United Nations General Assembly
against 58 for his Filipino rival, Syed Akbaruddin. Bhadari takes the place of
Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh of Jordan who resigned from the Asia-Pacific region
seat at the end of 2011. An eminent legal luminary, Bhandari will serve the
remainder of the term 2012-18. The
64-year-old Justice Bhandari has variegated experience in international law and
is well-versed with the working of the UN. Established in June 1945 by the
charter of the United Nations, in The
Hague , Netherlands
12. GUJARAT GOES GREEN: A multi-benefit pilot project generating one-MW
electricity from solar panels atop the Narmada
branch canal was dedicated to the nation by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modi on, April 24. Under the project, set up jointly on an experimental basis
by the State-owned Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) and the Gujarat
State Electricity Corporation Limited, solar panels have been fitted over a
750-metre stretch on the Sanand-Kadi Narmada branch canal to generate 16 lakh
units of clean electricity annually. As the canal will remain covered, it is
estimated that the project will prevent evaporation of 90 lakh litres of water
annually. Mr. Modi said the pilot project would put Gujarat and Bharat on the
world energy map, and it would also be a major contribution to the humanity in
the field of clean energy and solving the problem of both water and power
shortages.
13. VIVEKANAND JAYANTI AT MELBOURNE : Sewa International celebrated Vivekanand Jayanti as Harmony Day with a formal launch of
Yoga Centre for seniors in Melbourne
The
program also had demonstration of Yoga by Shri Kanwal Bhagat. The Yoga center
is proposed to be named as Chintaman Datar Yoga Centre for seniors. Shri
Chitamni Datar was a continuous source of support for many decades to the for
Hindu society in Melbourne
14. RSS CONGRATULATES AGNI V SCIENTISTS: RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi has congratulated
the Bharatiya scientists for the successful launch of Agni V. In a statement
issued on April 21 from Mumbai by the RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachara Pramukh Dr
Manmohan Vaidya Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi said, “Bharatiya scientific community in
general and the team of Bharatiya scientists in particular, who led successful
launch of Agni V, deserve hearty congratulations for their remarkable
achievement. The launch of Agni V has empowered the Bharatiya Armed forces and
made the nation proud.”
15. YOGA IS
KEY TO PROLONGING MY MANCHESTER UNITED CAREER: RYAN GIGGS, the Welsh football player, has said that practising yoga has kept him in the game for so long
and added that he would still love to play another 100 games for Manchester
United. Ryan Giggs, who is chasing his 13th Premier League title, said that he
had had to change the way he thinks on the pitch but that he is still
"living the dream".
"The
yoga has definitely helped me," the 38-year-old said. "It helps me
train every day because it gives me the flexibility and the strength not only
to play the game but to train as well.”I rarely miss a training session even
[if I do] a little less than the younger players I still go out and train.
[When you get to my age] you have to change the way of thinking. I was a quick
player when I was younger, now I am not so quick. [You have to] use your experience,
use your intelligence on the pitch, to adapt your game and change your game, as
I have done."
16. MP CABINET CLEARS FREE PILGRIMAGE
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS: Setting a new
benchmark in religious populism, the BJP government on April 19 announced that it would pay for the
pilgrimage of at least one lakh senior citizens every year. Under the scheme,
called Mukhyamantri Teertha-Darshan Yojana, the senior citizens will be allowed
to take attendants, whose expenses will be covered as well. Madhya Pradesh is the
only state that subsidises travel to holy places in Pakistan
(Nankana Saheb shrine and Hinglaj Mata temple), China
(Mansarovar), Cambodia
(Angkor Vat) and Sri Lanka
17. NIA OFFERED Rs 1 CRORE TO NAME RSS
LEADERS: Two accused in the 2007
Ajmer Dargah blast case, in separate petitions before courts in Bhopal and
Ajmer, have alleged that officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA)
offered them Rs 1 crore each and asked them to name three senior RSS
functionaries in the murder of RSS activist Sunil Joshi. The alleged offer came
during their questioning by the NIA officials in connection with the Sunil
Joshi murder case, according to their petitions.
The
petitions filed before the special courts in Ajmer
and Bhopal alleged that the NIA officials
questioned the two — Mukesh Vasani and Raj Singh alias Harshad — at Ajmer
18. PAY HONORARIUM TO HINDU PRIESTS, NOT
TO JUST IMAMS: VHP In a protest
Meeting held at College Square in Kolkata on April 20, the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (VHP) said, it would launch a campaign in West Bengal demanding
monthly honorariums to Hindu priests and unemployed youth to protest against
the Mamata Banerjee-led government’s decision to pay honorariums of Rs.2, 500 to
imams. As part of the campaign named ‘Amakeo 2500 taka Dao’ (‘give me Rs.2, 500
too’), signatures of unemployed youth and priests would be taken, said VHP
International Working President, Dr Pravinbhai Togadia. “It is time Mamata
Banerjee to stop playing the politics of community appeasement. If the imams
can get money, what wrong have the priests done? They should also be paid,” he
said. Veteran Monk of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Swami Pradiptananda and other
Hindu leaders also addressed the meeting.
19. STATES SHOULD HAVE EFFECTIVE
LOKAYUKTAS: ANNA HAZARE: While the
fight for an effective Jan Lokpal Bill was on, it was time for the States to
strive to bring in strong Lokayuktas, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare said
April 25 in Mumbai. Mr. Hazare was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with
Republican Party of India (Athavale) leader Ramdas Athavale, at the latter's
residence in Mumbai. We have prepared a draft for Lokayuktas. The States should
deliberate upon it, make changes, so that we have effective Lokayuktas,” Mr.
Hazare said.
20. GRASS WITH GANDHI'S BLOOD SELLS FOR
10,000 POUNDS: A pinch of soil and
blood-stained blades of grass from the place where Mahatma Gandhi was
assassinated in 1948 sold for 10,000 pounds at an auction in London
21. BHARAT SARKAR SHOULD DO AWAY WITH
THE PRACTICE OF POLITICIZING PILGRIMAGE: SC Frowning over the practice of politicians and bureaucrats travelling on
Hajj pilgrimage at government subsidy, the Supreme Court April 16 told the
Centre that these “goodwill delegations” need to be scrapped to ensure that
only genuine pilgrims are benefited. The apex court made the observation after
Vahanvati and Centre’s counsel Harris Beran told the bench that these goodwill
delegations are sent to Hajj every year to promote the country’s image as is
being done by other countries. The bench pointed out that the practice of
sending goodwill delegations was started by Bharat in 1967 after the Bharat-Pak
war as the neighboring state used the pilgrimage to launch anti-India campaign.
“This necessity is no longer there. We will gradually reduce it to four or five
and then scrap it altogether,” the bench said.
22. NURSE WITH IDEAS: It was a typical struggle by Doctors while trying to reach an area
between brain and spine during surgery that began Nirmal’s tryst with
odontoidectomy, the medical name for the surgical procedure. Nirmal Thakur, a
nurse in OT , after 11 years and over 500 surgeries has an international patent
in her name — for designing the monopolar cautery point, a simple innovation
from used surgical materials, that has made life simpler for neurosurgeons at
the institute. The innovation has been published in the Indian Journal of
Neurosurgery’s March 2012 issue. “I have done about 600 procedures till now
with the instrument. It is a very useful tool for transoral surgeries,” Dr Sarat
Chandra Professor in AIIMs said. ( Indian
Express April 29, 2012 )
23. MUSLIM BODY TO OPPOSE
MARRIAGE REGISTRATION: Riled
by the decision to make the registration of marriages mandatory, the All India
Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is set for a showdown with the Centre. The
general body meeting of the apex Muslim body, to be held soon, is expected to
be stormy with the clergy ready to tear into the "insidious designs to
infringe the Shariat rules". AIMPLB member Zafaryab Jilani said in Lucknw,
the board had made its reservations on the issue clear three years ago when the
proposal was first floated. A committee headed by Maulana Ibrahim Rasool Ilyasi
had conducted a survey of all states and presented a report to then law
minister Veerappa Moily.
24. CENTRE GOVT SHIES FROM NAMING RAMA SETHU, NATIONAL
MONUMENT: The central government on
April 19 shied from taking any stand on the plea by Janta party president
Subramanium Swamy that the mythological Rama Sethu in the Palk
Strait be declared a national monument. An apex court bench of
Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice Anil R.Dave recorded that the central government
does not intend to file its response to the petition of Swamy.
25.
HIMACHAL TO DROP CHARGES AGAINST KARMAPA OGYEN TRINLEY DORJE: In
a relief to Tibetan religious leader Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the Himachal
Pradesh government has decided to drop his name from the chargesheet in the
foreign and Bharatiya Currency recovery case.
26-year-old
Karmapa was charged under section 120-B for conspiracy along with nine others
who were charged under different sections of IPC including 419 (punishment for
cheating by personation), 420 (cheating) and 467 (forgery of valuable
security), in the challan filed by police in a Una Court
The
government, in exercise of its power under section 321 (withdrawal of
prosecution) of CrPC, decided to delete the name of Karmapa from the
chargesheet after getting the matter examined by the Home and Law departments.
Karmapa,
the spiritual head of the Karma
Kagyu School
26. THIS JHARKHAND FARMER SPENT 14 YEARS
DIGGING A 'POND': A farmer from
Vishnu Pur of Kurua village, Sukhjora Panchayat of Jharkhand, Shyamal
Chaudhary, requested the Block Development Officer to have a pond dug that
would fulfil the irrigation requirements of the fields. The BDO denied. A
determined Shyamal took it as as a
challenge and started digging a pond on his own land. When Shyamal, a Class
Eight dropout, started out, many people taunted him. He simply ignored them and
started digging the pond in 1997. After
fourteen years of continuous hard work, he not only created a pond but gifted
it to the community that was going through hard times in the absence of
irrigation related facilities. The pond, 100x100 metres long and 22 feet deep,
now benefits numerous villages in the vicinity: Kuruvaa, Petsar,
Margadi,Beltikari, Vishnupur and Baiganthara to name a few.
27. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Saumitra Gokhale, samyojak Vishwa Vibhag returned
to USA after finishing his
tour to Netherlands and UK Singapore , HongKong ,
Thailand and South Korea Calgary , Canada
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: All knowledge that the world has ever received comes
from the mind; the infinite library of the universe is in our own mind. – Swami Vivekanand.
JAI SHRI RAM
A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME
Sachin
Tendulkar may be able to hit the ball out of the park on the cricket field. But
will he be able to dazzle with his pyrotechnics in Parliament? We can only wait
and watch. Yes, his nomination has generated a great deal of interest. And it
would be premature to say that the great batsman
will
be too busy with his cricket commitments to actually add value to the House.
With his attention to detail and meticulousness, we can only hope that he will
do the groundwork he needs to before scoring a few in the House. But his
nomination - the first active sportsperson to be nominated to the House - raises
several valid doubts about the utility of inducting celebrities into the House.
It
would also be interesting to see what film star Rekha, another nominee, brings
to the table. This is because in the past there have been several celebrities
who did not cover themselves in glory despite being given this high office to
which they could have made signal contributions. They seemed to have preferred
to pursue their vocations over the conduct of their duties in the House. The
nightingale of India India
Of
course, to point fingers at the lack of contribution from some of the past
nominated members is to risk the criticism of the conduct of some elected
members past and present in the Lok Sabha. Many who have been sent to the Lok
Sabha on the hopes and dreams of their constituents have either been silent or
disruptive during their tenures. Many turn up for the proceedings without
having done any homework, some try to the play to the galleries and still
others promote vested interests. But it would add insult to injury if
celebrities are nominated solely for their celebrity value. The whole exercise
then loses its prestige and sheen. At a time when young people - in a very
young nation - are becoming disillusioned with politics, it is imperative that
the choice of Rajya Sabha candidates does not instil more cynicism. – (Editorial, Hindustan
Times April 27, 2012.)
THE BASU EFFECT
Chief economic adviser has kick-started a necessary
debate on stalled reform
The ruckus about the remarks made by chief economic adviser Kaushik Basu, to the effect that major economic reforms are stalled till the next general elections, may just have had a positive fallout. Basu had expressed what was hitherto articulated only behind closed doors or from unofficial quarters: the perception of a policy lockdown and its harmful effect on the economy, with growth down and prices shooting up. But the flurry of statements released by opposition leaders and government representatives since then, and the part retraction of his view by Basu, suggest that the message is finally getting through to the political class. If the debate has pushed the government to reaffirm its appetite for reforms, this is all to the good. What remains now is to walk the talk.
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee touted some moves in recent months - such as measures to encourage foreign investments including in infrastructure, steps to ease credit flows for priority areas and ongoing initiatives in both direct and indirect taxes - as proof of the government's commitment to reforms. But a more substantial reform agenda is called for if the government is to tackle some of the more immediate problems, such as persistent inflationary pressures and the rising current account deficit, and to boost growth closer to double digit levels.
The RBI has already pointed out that further space for monetary action to tackle the price rise is limited given continued increase in government spending and large borrowings made to finance it. A major breakthrough on the price front also requires that the government move forward on retail reform. Only greater competition in retail trade will bring down trade margins and help slow down price increases.
Another set of measures that should be on top of the reform agenda is bringing down the fiscal deficit to levels promised in the budget estimates by pruning subsidies on oil, fertiliser and foodgrains. Amendments must also be made to the legislations on pension, banking and insurance. Hopes of a positive outcome have improved considerably with the BJP, the main opposition, making some conciliatory gestures for pushing through the pension Bill; and the chairman of the empowered committee on state finance ministers expressing optimism about rolling out the goods and services tax by early next year. If only a crisis brings on reforms in the Indian system, so be it. That crisis is upon us, and the political class must take heed.—( Editorial Times of
WE MUST RETAIN OUR DOMINANT POSITIONS
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi
Recent
events have brought the Siachen dispute back in focus. These are the April 7
avalanche, which resulted in the tragic loss of 127 Pakistani soldiers and 11
civilians; the hyped luncheon meeting of our PM with Pak President Zardari on
April 8; and the statement of General Kayani, the Pak Army Chief, on April 18
that the dispute needs to be resolved. Unfortunately, emotions predominate in
all these events.
The
facts first, In 1963, Pakistan
had unilaterally, and illegally, conceded the Shaksgam area, north of Siachen,
to China Pakistan
In
1999, the Pakistani army’s attempt to secure Kargil was essentially to cut off
our supply routes to Ladakh and secure Siachen. However, our troops again saved
the day.
Let
me now demolish some shibboleths bandied about by those bent on getting the
Indian Army to vacate the area. First, the contention that Siachen and Saltoro
have no value is patently wrong, as the area has great strategic importance at
two levels. If the Saltoro had not been occupied by our troops, Pakistan from the west and China from the east would have long since linked
up, with the strategic Karakoram Range and
Pass under their control. It is only our occupation which has driven a wedge
between the two. It would be a monumental folly if we now vacate these
positions.
The
second factor is the Shaksgam
Valley China over the Shaksgam Valley India
Third,
unnecessary casualties are being incurred by both sides on account of the
treacherous terrain and climate.
We
seem to have fallen for the Pakistani ploy of looking at Siachen as a separate
issue, unrelated to the LoC, when de facto it is an extension of the LoC.
Pakistan’s compulsion must not translate into a sellout by India Pakistan has taken no action on India
