General Studies

General Studies

1. Following the Maldives example, cabinet ministers of which of the following countries conducted their meeting at an unusual place recently to highlight the effects of global warming ?
(A) Tuvalu
(B) Sri Lanka
(C) South Africa
(D) Nepal
Ans : (D)

2. The United Nations (UN) has declared 2010 as the—
(A) International Year of Youth
(B) International Year of Renewable Energy
(C) International Year of Eco-Tourism
(D) International Year of Biodegradable Material
Ans : (A)

3. Ben Bernanke has been named ‘Person of the Year’ by the prestigious Time magazine. The current profile of Ben Bernanke is—
(A) Chairman, NASDAQ
(B) President, World Bank
(C) Chairman, US Federal Reserve
(D) Director-General, WTO
Ans : (C)

4. Cape Canaveral, the site from which space shuttles are launched, is located in the state—
(A) Florida
(B) Virginia
(C) North Carolina
(D) South Carolina
Ans : (A)

5. As per the State of Forest Report-2009, what fraction of India’s area is covered by forests ?
(A) 17•92%
(B) 21•02%
(C) 23•84%
(D) 25•96%
Ans : (C)

6. Who is the Secretary of the International Monetary Fund ?
(A) Indira Mathur
(B) AT Vashishtha
(C) Siddharth Tiwari
(D) None of these
Ans : (C)

7. Who is the first Goodwill Ambassador of the ‘Smile Train’, an international charity that provides free cleft lip and palate surgery to children in need ?
(A) Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
(B) Katrina Kaif
(C) Angelina Jolie
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)

8. Asia’s biggest solar power plant has been recently unveiled at—
(A) Japan
(B) Indonesia
(C) Malaysia
(D) Taiwan
Ans : (D)

9. India had recently landed its Moon Impact Probe on the Moon. Among the following countries, which one has landed such a probe on the Moon earlier ?
(A) Australia
(B) Canada
(C) China
(D) Japan
Ans : (D)

10. With which company did India’s largest IT firm Tata Consultancy Services sign a two year multimillion dollar deal recently ?
(A) Infosys
(B) SAP IG
(C) Singapore People’s Association
(D) Citigroup
Ans : (C)

11. Jamie Dwyer, recently crowned hockey’s World Player of the Year for a third time, belongs to—
(A) Germany
(B) England
(C) Netherlands
(D) Australia
Ans : (D)

12. Which among the following countries is the World Bank’s single largest borrower ?
(A) Pakistan
(B) India
(C) China
(D) Russia
Ans : (B)

13. Kaiane Aldorino who won the 2009 Miss World pageant recently held in Johannesburg, is from—
(A) South Africa
(B) Venezuela
(C) Columbia
(D) Gibraltar
Ans : (D)

14. The group of nations presently known as G-8 first started as G-7. Which country from among the following was not one of the them ?
(A) Canada
(B) Italy
(C) Japan
(D) Russia
Ans : (D)

15. CERN, the organisation that conducted the Large Hadren Collider Experiment in Geneva recently, is the—
(A) European Space Agency
(B) European Organisation for Nuclear Research
(C) International Atomic Energy Agency
(D) National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Ans : (B)

16. Reliance Communication has signed an agreement with ……offering Windows Mobile Solutions on its wireless network.
(A) Rediffmail.com
(B) Microsoft
(C) Google
(D) Gmail.com
Ans : (B)

17. Which of the following teams was defeated by India to mark its 100th Test match victory in cricket ?
(A) New Zealand
(B) Australia
(C) Bangladesh
(D) Sri Lanka
Ans : (D)

18. Who is the first Indian to head Amnesty International in its 50-year history ?
(A) Pramod Bhasin
(B) Salil Shetty
(C) G.R. Madhavan
(D) C.K. Roy
Ans : (B)

19. Lionel Messi, the footballer who plays for Barcelona club, and won the FIFA World Player of the Year Award for 2009, belongs to which country ?
(A) Brazil
(B) Italy
(C) Argentina
(D) Germany
Ans : (C)

20. Recently, which of the following was included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage list ?
(A) Dilwara Temple
(B) Kalka-Shimla Railway
(C) Bhiterkanika Mangrove Area
(D) Visakhapatnam to Araku Valley railway line
Ans : (B)

21. The Government of India has granted approval in principle to SBI to merge one more of its associate banks after State Bank of Saurashtra. This second associate bank of SBI to be merged with it is—
(A) State Bank of Travancore
(B) State Bank of Indore
(C) State Bank of Patiala
(D) State Bank of Hyderabad
Ans : (B)

22. Recently which of the following versions of Windows was launched by Microsoft ?
(A) Windows 7
(B) Windows 8
(C) Windows 9
(D) Windows 10
Ans : (A)

23. Which is the most popular e-mail service among Indians according to Online Audience Measurement and Analytics Platform ?
(A) G-mail
(B) Yahoo
(C) Google
(D) Rediffmail
Ans : (D)

24. Name the Jammu & Kashmir ‘braveheart’ who killed a terrorist and was recently appointed as a Special Police Officer in the Jammu-Kashmir police force.
(A) Salma Khan
(B) Firdaus Ahmed
(C) Rukhsana Kausar
(D) Shahana Azmi
Ans : (C)

25. Which of the following statements regarding Operation Flood is/are correct ?
1. Operation Flood is the world’s largest Integrated Dairy Development Programme.
2. Dr. Verghese Kurien is the pioneer of Operation Flood.
3. Operation Flood was started in 1970 by Amul Dairy.
(A) 1 Only
(B) 1 and 2
(C) 2 and 3
(D) All of the above
Ans : (B)

26. Which pharmaceutical company has been given permission by the Government of India to conduct H1N1 vaccine trials on humans ?
(A) Bharat Biotech
(B) Panacea Pharmaceuticals
(C) Serum Institute of India
(D) Zydus Cadila
Ans : (D)

27. Which Indian State Government made voting compulsory for its Municipal Corporation elections ?
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Kerala
(C) Karnataka
(D) Gujarat
Ans : (D)

28. Due to the efforts of which Member of Parliament (MP), can Indian citizens now fly the National Flag even at night ?
(A) Jyotraditya Scindia
(B) Naveen Jindal
(C) Rahul Gandhi
(D) None of these
Ans : (B)

29. The Commonwealth Games 2010 being held in New Delhi is the …… edition of this international event.
(A) XX
(B) XIX
(C) XXI
(D) XXII
Ans : (B)

30. What is the expected growth (in %) in international tourist arrivals during 2010, as per the forecast by UNWTO ?
(A) 3 – 4
(B) 5 – 6
(C) 7 – 8
(D) 9 – 10
Ans : (A)

31. The 13th Meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers was held in the month of—
(A) January 2010
(B) February 2010
(C) March 2010
(D) December 2010
Ans : (A)

32. Air India has entered into partnership with which organisation to improve operational efficiencies in key airline functions and become more cost-efficient ?
(A) Sabre Airline Solutions
(B) Airline Solutions Group
(C) Amadeus Airlines
(D) Kale Consultants Limited
Ans : (A)

33. Which state of India has the highest population density ?
(A) Bihar
(B) Kerala
(C) Andhra Pradesh
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)

34. Which is the highest honour amongst the Padma Awards conferred on eminent personalities by the Government of India every year ?
(A) Padma Vibhushan
(B) Padma Bhushan
(C) Padma Sri
(D) None of these
Ans : (D)

35. Which country will be hosting the Winter Olympics 2014 ?
(A) America
(B) Russia
(C) Germany
(D) England
Ans : (B)

36. The Naina Devi Temple is located in which state of India ?
(A) Gujarat
(B) Jammu & Kashmir
(C) Himachal Pradesh
(D) Haryana
Ans : (C)

37. Which of the following SLVs carried the Chandrayaan-I on its voyage to the moon ?
(A) PSLV-C12
(B) PSLV-12
(C) PSLV-C11
(D) PSLV-C10
Ans : (C)

38. Which of the following countries is planning to launch a Satellite to study the Sun ?
(A) USA
(B) India
(C) Russia
(D) China
Ans : (B)

39. Who won the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2009 ?
(A) India
(B) England
(C) New Zealand
(D) Australia
Ans : (B)

40. Who is the only Indian sportswoman to win a medal for the country at the Olympics ?
(A) P.T. Usha
(B) Karanam Malleswari
(C) Sania Mirza
(D) Saina Nehwal
Ans : (B)

फिर आंदोलन करेंगे हजारे

 

आरपी सिंह
नई दिल्ली। जन लोकपाल विधेयक का प्रारुप बनाने के लिए बनी समिति में जबर्दस्त मतभेद उभर कर सामने आए हैं। सरकार ने समाज के सदस्यों की तरफ से दिए गए लगभग सभी सुझावों को ठुकरा दिया है। समाज के सदस्यों ने चेतावनी भरे लहेजे में कहा कि यदि अगली बैठक में सरकार के रुख में बदलाव नहीं आता तथा सरकार मुख्य मुद्दों पर आम राय नहीं बनाती तो वह इस समिति से हट जाएंगे। एक निजी चैनल से वार्ता के दौरान समिति में समाज के तरफ से शामिल सदस्य अरविंद केजरीवाल ने सोमवार को कहा कि सरकार का रुख काफी निराशाजनक है। समिति की बैठकों में सरकार की तरफ से कहा जा रहा कि लोकपाल के दायरे में प्रधाननमंत्री, उच्च न्यायपालिका, संसद के अंदर सांसदो आचरण तथा नौकरशाही में भी सचिव स्तर के नीचे के अधिकारियों को नहीं लाया जा सकता। इस संबंध में केजरीवाल का कहना है कि यदि इन सबको लोकपाल के दायरे से बाहर ही रखना है तो फिर लोकपाल बिधेयक का मतलब ही क्या रह जाएगा? समिति के एक अन्य सदस्य व सुप्रीम कोर्ट के वरिष्ठ वकील प्रशांत भूषण का कहना है कि मंत्रियों ने समिति की बैठक में अभी तक निर्णायक रूप से कुछ भी नहीं कहा है, लेकिन उनकी राय थी कि प्रधानमंत्री को लोकपाल के दायरे में लाना ठीक नहीं होगा। मैं याद दिला दूं कि सरकार द्वारा बनाए गए प्रारुप में भी प्रधानमंत्री को लोकपाल के दायरे में रखा गया है। इसके बाद भी सरकार की तरफ से शामिल सदस्यों का यही कहना है कि इस बारे में उन्हें विचार करना होगा, एक्सपर्ट्स की राय लेनी होगी। इन सब को देखते हुए अगली बैठक अहम होगी। समिति की अगली बैठक 6 जून को होनी तय है। मालूम हो कि लोकपाल विधेयक का प्रारुप तैयार कर रही समिति की सोमवार को हुई बैठक में कुछ भी सार्थक नतीजा सामने नहीं आया। सरकार ने समाज की तरफ से आ रहे उस प्रस्ताव का विरोध किया है, जिसमें लोकपाल के कानूनी दायरे में प्रधानमंत्री को भी लाने की बात कही गई है। ड्राफ्ट समिति के मुताबिक सरकार ने यह भी साफ कर दिया कि लोकपाल विधेयक का प्रारुप जून तक तैयार नहीं हो पाएगा। यानी 15 अगस्‍त तक बिल पारित किए जाने की अन्‍ना हजारे की मांग को भी सरकार ने खारिज कर दी। इस बारे में हजारे पहले ही कह चुके हैं कि यदि 15 अगस्‍त तक लोकपाल बिल पास नहीं हुआ तो वह फिर आंदोलन करेंगे।

By- Daily Hindi News Portal :: Janadesh :- Daily hindi news website,Political news and analysis

PGT BIOLOGY 2011 Solution UPMSSCB

PGT BIOLOGY 2011 Solution UPMSSCB……..Hints

1. glume - small dry membranous bract found in inflorescences of Gramineae and Cyperaceae
   bract - a modified leaf or leaflike part just below and protecting an inflorescence
   flowering glume, lemma - the lower and stouter of the two glumes immediately enclosing the floret in most Gramineae
2. Raphides are needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate as the monohydrate or calcium carbonate as aragonite, found in more than 200 families of plants
3. The nitrogenase enzyme catalyses the reduction of N2 to NH3 accompanied by reduction of protons to H2. The enzyme consists of Fe and MoFe component proteins
4. Adiantum caudatum ( Walking Fern )
5. Spleen as autologous in-vivo blood bank in shunt surgery for portal hypertension
6. Itai-itai disease was caused by cadmium poisoning due to mining in Toyama Prefecture.
7. The amino acids regarded as essential for humans are phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, isoleucine, methionine, leucine, lysine and histidine .[3] Additionally, cysteine (or sulphur-containing amino acids), tyrosine (or aromatic amino acids), and arginine are required by infants and growing children
8. hemoglobin has an oxygen binding capacity of 1.34 ml O2 per gram
9. the metagenesis of some coelenterates, like Aurelia and Obelia, there is alternation between polypoid and medusoid forms.
10. Ganoid scales can be found on gars (family Lepisosteidae) and bichirs and reedfishes (family Polypteridae).
11. The Foramen of Panizza is a hole with that connects the left and right aorta as they leave the heart of all animals of the order Crocodilia
12. The pineal gland (also called the pineal body, epiphysis cerebri, epiphysis or the "third eye") is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain
13. The human hand has 27 bones: the carpus or wrist accounts for 8; the metacarpals or palm contains five; the remaining fourteen are digital bones; fingers and thumb
    Baby rabbits are born blind and deaf. Their eyes are still closed and they do not ... If the newborn baby rabbits are cold and chilly, warm water bottles
14. Pinus. Mature pollen grains normally consist of five cells: two lens-shaped prothallial cells, a stalk cell, a body cell, and a large tube cell.

जीसैट-8 का सफल प्रक्षेपण

 

देश के अत्याधुनिक संचार उपग्रह जीसैट-8 को शनिवार सुबह फ्रेंच गुयाना के कोरू से एरियन-वी रॉकेट के जरिए प्रक्षेपित किया गया। प्रक्षेपण के 31 मिनट बाद यह उपग्रह गोलाकार भूस्थैतिक स्थानांतरण कक्षा में घूमने लगा।भारतीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संगठन (इसरो) के निदेशक एस. सतीश ने कहा, "260 करोड़ रुपये की लागत का उन्नत संचार उपग्रह भारतीय समयानुसार दो बजकर आठ मिनट पर प्रक्षेपित किए जाने के 31 मिनट बाद स्थानांतरण कक्षा में पहुंचा दिया गया और कर्नाटक में हासन के निकट इसरो के नियंत्रण केंद्र को इससे संकेत मिलने शुरू हो गए।हासन बेंगलुरू से करीब 180 किलोमीटर दूर है।

एरियन-वी रॉकेट 19 देशों की सदस्यता वाली यूरोपीय अंतरिक्ष एजेंसी द्वारा निर्मित है।उपग्रह के प्रक्षेपण की लागत 300 करोड़ रुपये और उपग्रह की बीमा लागत 30 करोड़ रुपये रही।कुल 3,093 किलोग्राम वजन वाला यह उपग्रह जमीन से 1,800 किलोमीटर की ऊंचाई पर रॉकेट से अलग होकर लक्षित कक्षा की ओर बढ़ गया।

सतीश ने कहा, "नियंत्रण केंद्र को मिले शुरुआती संकेतों के मुताबिक उपग्रह सामान्य तरीके से काम कर रहा है। उपग्रह की 440 न्यूटन लिक्विड एपॉगी मोटर का संचालन रविवार सुबह तक शुरू करने की तैयारी चल रही है जिससे उपग्रह को उसकी भूस्थैतिक कक्षा में पहुंचाया जा सके।"अगले कुछ दिनों में यह उपग्रह 36,000 किलोमीटर की ऊंचाई पर स्थित भूस्थैतिक कक्षा में पहुंच जाएगा और इसके एंटीना और सोलर पैनल का संचालन शुरू हो जाएगा।

अंतरिक्ष में 1,426 किलोग्राम वजन वाले इस उपग्रह में उच्च क्षमता वाले 24 ट्रांसपोंडर लगे हैं जिनसे सरकारी और निजी क्षेत्र के प्रसारणकर्ताओं को एक जुलाई से डॉयरेक्ट टू होम (डीटीएच) सेवाएं प्रदान करने की बेहतर सुविधा मिलेगा।सतीश ने कहा, "इस उपग्रह को इनसैट-3ई उपग्रह के करीब 55 डिग्री पूर्वी देशांतर के ऊपर स्थापित किया जाना है। उपग्रह को 12 साल तक संचालन क्षमता का लक्ष्य रखकर निर्मित किया गया है।"उपग्रह के प्रक्षेपण के दौरान मौजूद रहे इसरो के अध्यक्ष के. राधाकृष्णन ने इसे देश के लिए महत्वपूर्ण उपलब्धि बताया है।उन्होंने कहा, "संचार उपग्रह के 24 ट्रांसपोंडरों का संचालन शुरू होने का उपयोगकर्ताओं को इंतजार है। इस उपग्रह के सफल प्रक्षेपण से संचार और अंतरिक्ष तंत्र के नए दौर की शुरुआत होगी।"

Fifty percent Reservation for Women in Local Bodies

Fifty percent Reservation for Women in Local Bodies
The UPA government raised reservation for women at all tiers of the panchayat raj system from 33 to at least 50 per cent.

The Cabinet also cleared the proposal to amend Article 243(D) of the Constitution for the purpose. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been directed to draft a bill for making the amendment.

The bill is providing for greater participation of women in the public sphere, would be moved in the next session of Parliament.

The Urban Development Ministry would also initiate a similar proposal soon to enhance women's representation in urban local bodies.

The proposed amendment seeks to increase reservation for women in the number of seats to be filled by direct election for the office of chairperson, right from the panchayat to the panchayat samiti and the zilla parishad.

Even with respect to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, reservation for women will stand enhanced to a minimum of 50 per cent within the quota reserved for these two categories. Since there is no reservation at the Central level for other backward classes, it would be up to the State governments to increase the quota for women under this segment     

58th national film awards

 

राष्‍ट्रीय फिल्‍म पुरस्‍कार 2010 के विजेता इस प्रकार हैं:-
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ लोकप्रिय फिल्‍म: दबंग
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ हिंदी फिल्‍म अवार्ड: दो दूनी चार
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ प्‍लेबैक सिंगर (मेल): सुरेश वाडेकर
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ प्‍लेबैक सिंगर (फीमेल):  रेखा भारद्वाज (इश्किया)
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ ऑडियोग्राफी: इश्किया
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ डायलॉग: संजय पवार
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ म्‍यूजिक डायरेक्‍टर: विशाल भारद्वाज (इश्किया)
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ प्रोडक्‍शन डिजाइन: रोबोट 
नर्गिस दत्‍त अवार्ड: मोनेर मानुष
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ निर्देशक: अदुकलम
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ अभिनेत्री: मिताली जगताप (बब्‍बू बैंड बाजा),
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ अभिनेता: धनुष (अदुकलम)
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ फीचर फिल्‍म: अदामिंते मकन अबु
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ अभिनेता: सलीम कुमार (अदामिंते मकन अबु)
सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ गीतकार: थॉमस कोटायपल्‍ली
सामाजिक मुद्दों पर बनी सर्वश्रेष्‍ठ फिल्‍म: चैंपियंस

58वें राष्ट्रीय फिल्म पुरस्कार

 

राष्ट्रीय फिल्म पुरस्कार

58वें राष्ट्रीय फिल्म पुरस्कार का एलान हो गया है. इस बार बॉलीवुड दूसरी भाषाओं की फिल्मों से पिछड़ गया है. हिंदी भाषा की सिर्फ दो ही फिल्मों को अवॉर्ड मिला है.

सलमान खान की सुपर हिट फिल्म दबंग की दबंगई नेशनल अवॉर्ड में भी दिखी. दबंग को साल का सर्वश्रेष्ठ मनोरंजक फिल्म का राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार दिया गया है. इस फिल्म ने काफी लोकप्रियता बटोरी है.

इस बार के राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार में बॉलीवुड की हिन्दी फिल्में को अन्य भाषाओं की फिल्मों ने कहीं पीछे छोड़ दिया. सर्वश्रेष्ठ फीचर फिल्म का पुरस्कार मलयालम फिल्म अदामिंते मकन अबू को मिला.

बॉलीवुड की चमक फीकी

सर्वश्रेष्ठ अभिनेता का पुरस्कार तमिल अभिनेता और रजनीकांत के दामाद धनुष और मलयालम अभिनेता सलीम कुमार को मिला है. साल की बेहतरीन अभिनेत्री का खिताब मराठी अभिनेत्री जगताप वराडकर और तमिल अभिनेत्री शराण्या पुनवन्नन को दिया गया है. सामाजिक मसलों पर सर्वश्रेष्ठ फिल्म का पुरस्कार मराठी फिल्म चैम्पियंस को मिला है.

वहीं कन्नड़ फिल्म बेतादा जीवा को पर्यावरण संरक्षण पर सर्वश्रेष्ठ फिल्म चुना गया है. सर्वश्रेष्ठ बाल फिल्म का पुरस्कार कन्नड़ फिल्म हेज्जेगालू को दिया गया. सर्वश्रेष्ठ बाल कलाकार का पुरस्कार संयुक्त रूप से चार कलाकारों को दिया जाएगा. इनमें हर्ष मायेर (आई एम कलाम), शांतनु रांगणेकर और मच्छिंद्र गाडेकर (चैम्पियंस) और विवेक चाबुक्स्वर (बाबू बैंड बाजा) शामिल है. 

मराठी फिल्म मी सिंधुताई सपकाल के लिए सुरेश वाडेकर को सर्वश्रेष्ठ पार्श्वगायक चुना गया. इस फिल्म को सर्वश्रेष्ठ रूपांतरित पटकथा (अनंत महादेवन और संजय पवार), संवाद (संजय पवार), विशेष जूरी पुरस्कार के लिए भी चुना गया.

सर्वश्रेष्ठ हिन्दी फिल्म रिषि कपूर और नीतू कपूर अभिनीत दो दूनी चार चुनी गई. फीचर फिल्म श्रेणी में 161 प्रविष्टियां मिली थी जिनमें से पांच क्षेत्रीय पेनलों और एक केंद्रीय पैनल ने पुरस्कार का चयन किया. फीचर फिल्म जूरी के अध्यक्ष जेपी दत्ता थे जबकि इसके सदस्यों में भरत बाला, डॉक्टर चंद्रप्रकाश द्विवेदी, प्रहलाद कक्कड़ समेत 10 सदस्य थे. सात सदस्यीय गैर फीचर फिल्म जूरी के अध्यक्ष ए के बीर थे. जूरी ने 113 प्रविष्टियों में से पुरस्कार का चयन किया. वहीं सिनेमा पर लेखन के लिए तीन सदस्यीय ज्यूरी के अध्यक्ष अशोक वाजपेयी थे.

फ़िलिप रौथ को 'मैन बुकर' पुरुस्कार

 

फ़िलिप रौथ को 'मैन बुकर' पुरुस्कार

अमरीका के जाने-माने उपन्यासकारों में से एक फ़िलिप रौथ को चौथे 'मैन बुकर' अंतरराष्ट्रीय पुरुस्कार का विजेता घोषित किया गया है.

छह लाख पाउंड की ईनामी रकम वाला ये पुरुस्कार ऐसे व्यक्ति को दिया जाता है जिसने विश्व स्तर पर उपन्यास के क्षेत्र में उपलब्धियाँ हासिल की हों.

नेवार्क, न्यूजर्सी में 1933 में जन्मे रौथ को उनके वर्ष 1969 मे प्रकाशित विवादास्पद उपन्यास 'पोर्टनॉएस कंपलेंट' की वजह से काफ़ी ख्याति मिली. इस किताब में यौन व्यवहारों का सजीव चित्रण किया गया है.

टाइम पत्रिका ने इस पुस्तक को बीसवीं सदी की सर्वश्रेष्ठ पुस्तकों की सूची में शामिल किया है. उनकी सन 2000 में प्रकाशित पुस्तक 'द ह्यूमन स्टेन' पर एक फ़िल्म बनाई गई थी जिसमें सर एंथनी हॉपकिंस और ऑस्कर विजेता अभिनेत्री निकोल किडमेन ने काम किया था.

इस पुरुस्कार को हर दूसरे वर्ष दिया जाता है. इससे पहले 2005 मे इस्माइल कादरी, 2007 में चिनुआ अचेबे और 2009 में एलिस मनरो इस पुरुस्कार को जीत चुके हैं.

By- BBC Hindi - अंतरराष्ट्रीय ख़बरें - फ़िलिप रौथ को 'मैन बुकर' पुरुस्कार

Dada Saheb Phalke award for K. Balachander

Dada Saheb Phalke award for K. Balachander

K. Balachander, one of India’s most acclaimed and influential filmmakers will receive the Daba Saheb Phalke award for 2010 in an announcement by the Information & Broadcasting ministry on 29/4/2011. The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl, given for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. The prolific director who worked as a government servant in his early days was drawn to theatre where he began to write plays. Following this success a career in films soon beckoned him where he has made many classics that are well received and appreciated to this day. He was a bold director who always tried to explore new themes and many of his movies had strong female characters. Some of the director’s famous works in Tamil include Apoorva Raganagal, Thaneer Thanerr, Varumayin Niram Sigappu, Server Sundaram, Sinthu Bairavi etc while the hindi film Ek Duuje Ke Liye won him applause in the northern parts of the country as well. K. Balachander has spotted and groomed several artists in the industry the likes of which include Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan.

International Current Affairs 2011

 

Oscar Nominated Director killed in Libya

• Two veteran journalists including Oscar nominated Director Tim Hetherington were killed in the town of Mistrata on 13/4/2011 while covering the battles between the rebels and the Libyan government forces. Tim (40) was nominated this year for codirecting the Afghanistan war story Restrepo in Best Documentary category. Chris Hondros, a New York-based photographer for Getty Images, was also killed. His work has appeared in many famous magazines and newspapers all around the World and has been awarded the Robert Capa Gold Medal, which is one of the most prestigious awards for War Photography. Two other journalists Guy Martin and Michael Christopher Brown, who were freelancing for several large publications were also wounded.

  Japan Atomic Crisis Reaches Chernobyl Level as Radiation Climbs

• Japan's nuclear safety agency has raised the severity level of the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant from level 5 to level 7 which ranks it on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. It doesn't mean it's as bad as Chernobyl but it's still a negative development nonetheless. There have been only two level-seven incidents in nuclear history: the Chernobyl catastrophe 25 years ago in the Ukraine and now Fukushima, on the east coast of Japan. The disaster in Ukraine spewed debris as high as 9 kilometers into the air and released radiation 200 times the volume of the combined bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, according to a 2006 report commissioned by Europe’s Green Party. The March 11 earthquake, the nation’s strongest on record, and tsunami left about 27,500 dead or missing, according to Japan’s National Police Agency. Japan was struck by two earthquakes stronger than magnitude 6 again on April that hindered recovering efforts as workers were temporarily evacuated.

  Kate marries Prince William

• Prince William second in line to the throne married his long time girlfriend Kate Middleton at a service in London’s West Minister Abbey on 29/4/2011. The pair exchanged in the presence of close to two thousand guests while the rest of the World watched it live on television. It was the most eagerly awaited and anticipated wedding since the Charles and Diana wedding. Middleton looked beautiful in her ivory and white satin dress with lace sleeves and shoulders, designed by Sarah Burton of the Alexander McQueen fashion house. The crowds cheered when the newly weds travelled in an open carriage on their way back to the Buckingham Palace from the abbey. Hundreds of thousands of people appeared in front of the palace to witness the kiss between the newly weds from the balcony while street parties where held across the United Kingdom to cheer the royal couple. The wedding was watched by close to two billion people across the globe. The couple will be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge following their marriage.

  Osama Bin Laden killed in Pakistan

• The worlds most dreaded terrorist Osama Bin Laden has been shot dead by American Navy Seals on 2/5/2011 after he was found to be staying in relative luxury in a house just few hundred meters away from a Pakistani military academy in Abbotabad. Bin Laden was shot in the face and chest when the American forces sprung a surprise attack and the whole mission was performed without the consent or the knowledge of Pakistan. Obama, in his address to the nation shortly before midnight, thanked the Americans who have toiled in pursuit of bin Laden and applauded those who carried out the successful mission in Pakistan. “For over two decades, bin Laden has been Al Qaeda’s leader and symbol,” Obama said. “The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat Al Qaeda.” This comes as a real embarrassment to the Pakistani government which has been maintaining for many years now that Osama was not there in Pakistan. And to find him holed up in a facility just yards away from a prestigious military academy which is also just a couple of hours away from Islamabad poses many tough questions regarding Pakistani’s commitment to fighting terror. The US government had further declared that they would carry out such operations again in the future if the need arises. The US is already mulling over whether they should sanction further aid to Pakistan unless they come up with satisfactory answers regarding how Osama was found where he was. This is a serious intelligence lapse and does not auger well for the country that is already reeling under various problems that threaten the very fabric of the nation. It remains to be seen how the nation will cope with the allegations.

  Syria lifts emergency rule

• Syria's government approved lifting the country's nearly 50-year-old state of emergency on 19/4/2011 in an effort to satisfy the one of the key demands of the anti government protestors. But the government also issued a stern warning to call of the protests against President Bashar Assad’s hard line rule. Assad the previous week had told his cabinet to remove the state of emergency – in place since his Baath Party took power in March 1963 – but added that such a move would give protesters no more reason to take to the streets. This could give Assad further pretext to move against any further marches or rallies. The Syrian population how ever shows no signs of letting down after being inspired by the successful revolutions of Tunisia and Egypt. Most of Syria’s 23 million people were born or grew up under the strict control of the state of emergency. Assad hard line rule means strict control over the media, allowing eavesdropping on telecommunications and permitting arrests without warrants from judicial authorities.

Earthquake and Tsunami strike Japan

• A powerful earthquake of 8.9 magnitude struck Japan on its north eastern coast on 11/3/2011. The earthquake resulted in a massive tsunami that caused wide scale destruction and loss of thousands of lives. Cars, ships and buildings were all swept away by the rampaging waters of the Tsunami which struck about 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo. The port city of Sendai in Miyagi prefecture was one of the worst affected. Ten metre waves struck the city deluging everything that was part of it-farmlands, cars, buildings, houses etc. Fires broke out in the city following the deluge. A cluster of two to three hundred bodies were found in one part of this city alone. This is the most powerful natural disaster to have struck Japan in its recorded history and is considered 8000 times more powerful than what struck Christchurch in New Zealand earlier this year.
  As of March 30th 2011 according to official estimates the death toll now stands at 11,257 while another 16,344 people are still missing. Many of the survivors who have been displaced have lost all their property to the Tsunami. More than 173,200 people are living in the 2000 evacuation centres in the 17 prefectures mostly in the northern side of the country. Among the worst affected prefectures which are Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate 146,628 displaced people have been housed in close to 1,245 evacuation centres.

  Nuclear Crisis

• The massive earthquake that struck the north east coast of Japan has resulted in a catastrophic situation at the Fukushima Nuclear power plant. When the earthquake struck they switched off the reactor and where about to use the onsite diesel back up power. The tsunami then struck and the back up power also failed. Hence after losing electric power, that system could not be used. Instead the operators are dumping seawater into the vessel and letting it cool the fuel by boiling. But as it boils, pressure rises too high to pump in more water, so they have to vent the vessel to the atmosphere, and feed in more water, a procedure known as "feed and bleed." Thousands of people residing in areas close to the plant were evacuated. Over the following days there have been many instance of radiation exposure traced in the vicinity. Radioactive water found in and outside reactor buildings is delaying work to restore cooling functions of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

  Libyan Uprising

• Having received inspiration from the revolutions of Egypt and Tunisia the next country to vehemently protest against government autocracy is the North African country of Libya. The public are fighting to bring down Muammar Gaddafi's 41-year rule and are demanding new leadership and democratic elections. What actually began as a series of peaceful demonstrations took ugly turns when Gaddafi’s army tried to crush protests by using force eventually turning into an all out civil war in the days to come. In a matter of days the uprising had spread to other parts of Libya and Gaddafi was having trouble retaining control over many parts of the country. Gaddafi a harder nut to crack than Mubarak has continued to be on the offensive and refuses to give up power in spite of all the diplomatic pressure, much to the chagrin of his own country men. On 19/3/2011 a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which was taken in response to the uprising in Libya. The military operations began, with US and British forces firing over 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles, the French Air Force and British Royal Air Force[ undertaking sorties across Libya and a naval blockade by the Royal Navy. Air strikes against Libyan Army tanks and vehicles by French jets have since been confirmed. The situation is far from peaceful and remains to be seen what would be the outcome of the situation in the days to come.

  Elizabeth Taylor passes away

• One of Hollywood’s greatest icons Dame Elizabeth Taylor breathed her last on 23/3/2011 due to congestive heart failure. The 79 year old actress has been in the public eye for six decades having won three academy awards and has acted in over 50 films. The Cleopatra star's stunning looks, including her famed violet eyes, earned her fans around the globe and her stormy personal life that included eight marriages received as much press interest as some of her best works. She won two Oscars for her performances in “Butterfield 8”(1960) and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966) and a third Oscar for her humanitarian work in 1993. The actress has also battled many health ailments undergoing as much as 20 surgeries during the course of her life. In her later years she was a spokeswoman for several causes, most notably AIDS research.

Mubarak resigns, Egypt celebrates

• The people of Egypt went wild with celebrations after President Hosni Mubarak resigned and handed power to the military on 11th February. For eighteen days thousands of people had taken to the streets all over Egypt demanding the ouster of their autocratic President who had been in power for the past thirty years. One of the key reasons for such public outrage has been widespread poverty, inflation and rampant corruption in the government for many years. Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the anti-government protests burst with joy when the announcement was made. This has been a hard fought struggle for the people of Egypt after many episodes of violence having been reported between the public and Mubaraks forces.

  China overtakes Japan as world's second-biggest economy

• China has now overtaken Japan as the world's second-biggest economy. Japan's economy was worth $5.474 trillion (£3.414 trillion) at the end of 2010, figures from Tokyo have shown while that of China's economy is closer to $5.8 trillion for the same period. China has been enjoying a manufacturing boom for quite a few years now and it is expected that at its current rate of growth, analysts see China replacing the US as the world's top economy in about a decade. The US economy is currently almost three times the size of the Chinese economy in dollar terms.

  New Zealand earthquake strikes Christchurch, killing at least 148 people

• A massive earthquake on 22nd Feb has caused massive destruction in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. The 6.3-magnitude earthquake was the second in five months for the city and the death toll continues to increase with the police having confirmed 148 deaths with 200 still missing. The damage caused has been said to be much worse than the 7.1-magnitude quake on 4 September, which left two people seriously injured but no fatalities. The city's historic cathedral was one of the many buildings that got significantly damaged, while cars lay in a mangled heap under a pile of rubble and roads cracked open with fissures as a result of the tremors. Dazed, bleeding residents could be seen wandering through streets strewn with debris and piles of concrete.

  Libyan people take to the streets in their demand for freedom

• Inspired by the outcomes of Tunisia and Egypt over the past few weeks the people of Libya have also taken out to the streets in their cries for freedom against their autocratic leader Muammar Gaddafi. Thousands of people have joined the struggle and there have been continuous reports of frequent clashes with the Muammars loyalists and the protesting public. Scores of people have been reported killed in continuing violence in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, amid escalating protests against Muammar Gaddafi's 40-year rule across the North African nation. With each passing day the leader seems to be losing support from people working in his own government and is also under increasing pressure from International powers to step down.

  The Kings Speech Wins Best Picture at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards

• ‘The Kings Speech’ had a great outing at this years Oscars winning four awards. The film won in the best picture category and its director Tom Hooper received Best Director. Colin Firth received the award for best actor for his central role in Kings Speech while best female actor went to Natalie Portman for Black Swan. ‘The Best Supporting Actor’ and The Best Supporting Actress’ awards were bagged by Christian Bale and Melissa Leo for their performances in film, ‘The Fighter’. Indian musician AR Rahman missed out on his two nominations for his score in ‘127 hours.’

Salman Taseer Killed in Islamabad
Punjab Governor Salman Tasser was shot dead by one of his own body guards at the Khosar market in Islamabad. Taseer was a member of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party(PPP) and was vocal on a various issues including Pakistans Blasphemy Law. The assassin was Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, a member of Punjab Elite Force who shot the Governor with his weapon and surrendered to the security forces moments after shooting the governor dead. Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters that the killer admitted to killing the Governor over his statement when he called the Blasphemy Law as a “black law”.

• Iranian plane crash kills 77
  The IranAir Boeing 727 was flying from Tehran with 106 passengers when it came down and crashed near the city of Orumiyeh. With 77 casualties at least 35 people have said to have been injured. According to official reports plane had taken off an hour later than scheduled, and came down because of bad weather conditions. This is the second major crash since 2009 when a plane caught fire mid are resulting 168 deaths. The country has been under international sanctions for years, preventing it from buying new aircrafts or spare parts from the West. Hence as a result the countries civil fleet of aircrafts are in poor condition due to their old age and lack of maintenance.
• 35 dead at Moscow Airport Blast.
  A suicide bomber carrying a suitcase walked into Moscow’s busy Domodedovo airport and set off a huge explosion Monday, killing at least 35 people and wounding 180. The air was engulfed in a cloud of smoke with body parts and shrapnel strewn all over the place. Hundreds of people were in the loosely guarded area at the time. The blast was the worst terrorist attack since two female suicide bombers from the troubled Dagestan region blew themselves up on Moscow’s subway last March, killing 40 people.
• Whistleblower Elmer hands over bank data to Wikileaks
  Swiss whistle-blower and former banker Rudolf Elmer has given WikiLeaks information about bank accounts of more than 2,000 prominent individuals who have parked money offshore. Rudolf Elmer once worked in the office of Julius Baer in the Cayman Islands until he was fired by the bank in 2002. The Swiss whistleblower Rudolf Elmer handed over two CDs containing the data to the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, in London on 16/1/2011. However Julian Assange has said the information was unlikely to be published soon and may take a few weeks to process and confirm them.
• Brisbane Faces Worst Flood Since 1893
  Brisbane faces its worst floods since 1893 as overflowing rivers have begun to engulf the city. Overnight, emergency workers went from door to door in Brisbane helping residents flee to higher ground, with hundreds relocating to evacuation centres. About 2500 businesses are said to be fully affected and another 2500 partially affected. Close to 3000 people are in evacuation centres across the state and 60 schools and almost 90 kindergartens and childcare centres have been severely damaged or are inaccessible. The death toll from the floods disaster has risen to 15 and the many parts of the city have been affected by massive power cuts.
• Massive Protests Rock Egypt
  Egypt has been rocked by violent protests by demonstrators who have been demanding the ouster of the country's longtime autocratic president, Hosni Mubarak. Tens and thousandths of people have taken out to streets raising slogans with protests turning violent in many parts of the country. The tension increased today when Mohammed ElBaradei, a former top official at the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency and a high-profile Mubarak opponent was placed under house arrest when he returned to Cairo in his bid to provide a leader for the mass movement.
• Sri Lanka abandons Tamil version of its national album
  The Sri lankan government has decided to scrap the tamil version of the national anthem in its official and state functions. This move may possibly further alienate the tamil minorities in the country. A directive to use only the Sinhalese version as been sent by the ministry as president Rajapakse pointed out that no country uses two versions of the same language.

• China reveals world’s fastest train
  China unveiled its new high speed train CRH380 that can clock a maximum speed of 486.1 kmph. It is said to be much faster than even the bullet trains of Japan. At a cruising speed of 380 this is certainly a major accomplishment. China on its part has gone ahead and is now working on a model that is expected to clock 600kmph.
• Mark Zuckerberg, Times Person Of The Year
  Times magazine has named Mark Zuckerberg as the person of the year . Mr Zuckerberg is the founder of thesmash hit social networking site Facebook and is also the world youngest billionaire currently. Although, Julian Assange the editor in chief of wikileaks was the pick of the time readers, but Zuckerberg won because of the scope and reach his website and how it has touched and remodeled our thoughts on social networking bringing the world that much more closer. Facebook has reached 500 million users this year all around the globe and the numbers are still counting.
• Pakistan’s Initiative against Terrorism
  Pakistan has been the victim of international terrorism in the past few months. As a result of this, a top US official recently said that Islamabad should begin to crack down on terrorists and terrorist groups operational within the country immediately. Barrack Obama, President of the United States of America has also agreed to this statement and feels that Pakistan has been one of the major victims of international terrorism lately. President Obama also said that Pakistan needs to take strong and immediate steps against all terrorist groups operating on Pakistani soil. Furthermore, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said that a number of terrorist groups are operating in a syndicate and working together against American interests, not just in the US but in other nations such as Afghanistan and India as well. Mr. Blake also stated that the US has welcomed every step take by Pakistan so far and that it is in full support of Pakistan as always.

• UN’s terrorism sanctions list
  In a recent and sudden move, a US committee took down several names of al-Qaida and Taliban terrorists off its terrorism sanction lists. The committee said that the reason for such an action was that several of the names on the sanctions list were probably dead. The committee Chairman Thomas Mayr Harting said that following this step, the committee had started investigations into how many terrorists put on the list were actually dead. This committee was set up in 1999.
• New Government in Iraq
  Prolonged warring and quarrels between rival political factions in Iraq had caused over an eight month deadlock over the issue of forming the next government. Recently, the Iraqi Prime Minister appealed to these political factions to work together and unite following his acceptance of the President’s request to form the next government. Senior officials admitted that a Herculean task now lay before them, that of forming a government comprising of members of all possible political factions. The task has been made harder by the month long deadline to form the government which will preside over the country’s affair as US troops move out and power is handed back to the Iraqi people. The new government is expected to have members from all the political factions such as the Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis. Prime Minister Designate al-Maliki called upon al Iraqi citizens and politicians to help him in this difficult task.
• Friendly neighbor China
  Rising concerns over China’s assertive and aggressive attitude in the Asian continent has prompted China’s President Hu Jintao to assure all nations that China is committed to being a friendly and helpful neighbor. China has been in the news recently over its spats with neighboring nations over international borders and territories. The reason for this has been said to be China’s interests in a group of potentially resource rich islands in the Asian Pacific. Speaking to leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Japan, President Hu said that China was committed to the regional policy of building good neighborliness and friendship.
• Rolls Royce sued by Qantas
  Australian flight safety officials have recently warned that manufacturing defects have been found in the Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines. Officials further urged airlines using these engines to carry extensive checks before using them because defects present in them could lead to catastrophic failures. In the meanwhile, Qantas began court proceedings against Rolls Royce and was granted an injunction by the federal court of Australia which ensured that the airline could pursue legal action against the engine manufacturing giants.
• Myanmar polls called fake
  The first democratic polls in Myanmar after several years of military rule were held among complaints of threats, intimidation and accusations of the polls being a charade. In most constituencies, the poll was a competition between the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National Unity Party (NUS). Several accusations were made by opposition parties against the USDP, claiming that they illegally collected advanced ballots. USA and UK officials also voiced their concerns about the transparency and fairness of these polls.
• China’s slowest growth
  China had its slowest rate of economic growth in a year during the September quarter. In addition to this, a World Bank report hinted at a further decrease in its economic growth. One of the reasons for this has been the long term inflation that China has faced for almost two years. China’s industrial growth has also fallen considerably in recent times. This slow growth in China’s economy has gotten many people to believe that India might be the next economic superpower to rise because of its high levels of industrial and economic growth in recent times. Though not immediately, but experts predicted India’s rate of growth to exceed that of China’s by a considerable margin in the next five years.

 

• India gets UNSC non-permanent seat:
  The biggest news on the international front for India has been its inclusion into the UNSC as a non-permanent member after a gap of 19 years. Even as India’s acclamation for a non-permanent bench on the body that includes fifteen members in total was an inevitable cessation afterwards Kazakhstan back out of the chase for the Asian bench beforehand in early January. India got an unbelievable 187 of the 191 votes in the UN General Assembly ballot on October 14th 2010. India's previous spell in the Security Council was way back in 1992. Almost immediately afterwards India's appointment, Indian agent to the United Nations Hardeep Singh Puri put it straight that New Delhi would make use of this couple of year valid span to build assurance and accord a feeling of aplomb to the five non changing associates (famously known as the P-5) - the United States of America, Russia, Britain, France and China. Considering that Brazil, a running affiliate of the United Nation Security Council, and South Africa and Germany, which got appointed with India, on October 14th were as well in contention for a permanent membership, he stated: 'Of course everybody of us will attempt to bring into play the two years we need to render our allies a feeling of aplomb and formulate trust and faith so that they are at ease with our role playing in the United Nation Security Council on a continued period of time'.
• India and Mozambique sign 3 agreements:
  India and Mozambique came together and signed three agreements and a credit band of 500 million United States dollars has been advanced to that nation state for works regarding the infrastructure, agronomics and power during a convention that featured President of Mozambique Armando Guebuza and Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh. Guebuza and Singh, who captivated entrustment level converses, resolved to actualize an affiliation following the lines of superior political meeting, deepening of bread-and-butter collaboration, deepening of defense and aegis collaboration, distinctively to get hold of sea lanes in opposition to piracy and, cooperation in competence building and human resource (or workforce) development. “Both of us together accord to the aforementioned Indian Ocean association and we carve up familiar issues. It is in our alternate absorption to ensure the assurance and aegis of sea lanes of communication in the Indian Ocean,” Dr. Manmohan Singh said in a collective journalist statement. India will back the enactment in preparation and setting up organizations in Mozambique to back capacity building in the coal business and will as well back the ability formation for the defense and patrolling personnel of that nation state, the Prime Minister alleged. Conveying worry over the assurance and aegis of sea lanes in Indian Ocean, Guebuza promised India it will accommodate all practical aid to safeguard them.

 

• Indians freed from Malay traffickers:
  Not less than 24 Indian men who were discovered bound up in a residence in a Malaysian boondocks were successfully freed from the arrest and two Pakistani men supposedly engaged in a human trafficking guild were detained with immediate effect. "Inquiries into the matter exposed that those people, age-old amid 20 and 30, were from Uttar Pradesh. If the reports of the media are to be trusted, the victims landed on to the capital’s intl. airport four months back, afore getting picked by the accused people who were apparently looking for workers in an industrial unit in Johor," he said. He further stated that the two men promised the Indian workers appealing wages as the bait. It is once again proved that Malaysia is a magnet for wide spread drug peddling and human trafficking. Unemployed workforce looking out for jobs is brought for added transfers to other Southeast Asian countries and to Australia.
• Indian to lead FIDE:
  Indians have already proved their metal in various sports at the international level. Tennis, Cricket, Shooting, Boxing and also Chess. After Vishwanathan Anand, another lot of Indians are about to triumph on the World Chess Podium. D.V. Sundar has been elected has the President of the world body for the sport of chess, FIDE at Russia. Apart from that, the president for the Asian Continent was Mr. Dongre and Commonwealth Chess Federation President was revealed in the name of Mr. B.S. Chahuhan, a press statement by the All India Chess Federation revealed.
• Make way for the new breed:
  The new world power calendar for 2010 has once again predicted that New Delhi’s dominance in the world will see acceleration by 2025. Among the able coalition, the country has been placed at the fourth position afterwards the US, China and the European Union. ‘The Global Governance 2025’ was together brought out by the National Intelligence Council (NIC) of the US and the European Union’s Institutes for Security Studies (EUISS). In the current year, the US leads the lot of able countries/regions, cumulatively for about 22 percent of the worldwide supremacy. The US is chased by China at 12 percent, European Union at 16 percent and India at eight percent. India comes next to Japan, Russia and Brazil with beneath than 5 percent apiece. Following these global statistics, by 2025 the ability of the US, EU, Japan and Russia will cut down although that of China, India and Brazil will boost but this surge will see the positions unchanged. By 2025, the United States of America will continue to be the most dominating nation, but it will be possessing just a bit above 18 percent of the global authority. The US will be carefully trailed by China with 16 percent, European Union with 14 percent and India with 10 percent looking to overleap.

 

• Mission Accomplished
  The United States have finally started pulling its troops out of Iraq. President Barack Obama has confirmed that the US plans to withdraw significant number of combat troops from Iraq stating that the war was nearing an end. The remaining force of 50,000 soldiers will train Iraqi security forces and provide security for ongoing US Diplomatic efforts.
• Australia with a hung parliament
  Australians failed to elect a new government in the polls held in August and were left with a hung parliament. The non-result elections between Julia Gillard’s Labor and Abbott’s Liberal party led to the first hung parliament in Australia since World War II. Three key Independents are now in the process of deciding which party to support to form a government.
• Pakistani cricketers tainted
  The Game of cricket gets murkier with alleged match-fixer Mazhar Majeed’s claim of having rigged games played by Pakistan for three years. The British Police recovered cash from hotel rooms of Pakistani players involved in spot fixing. Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammed Asif were interviewed and their mobiles confiscated after Majeed’s confession. The Anti-Corruption Unit of the ICC will probe all 82 international matches played by Pakistan during this time. The news came as a bolt for the flood-stricken and violence-plagued country where cricket is the national sport.
• Pakistan Floods
  Annual monsoons rains have led to flooding in Pakistan leading to the death of 1500 people and rendering thousands homeless. In the worst flooding disaster in 80 years the floodwaters have affected about one-fifth of the country washing away millions of hectares of crops, submerging villages and destroying roads, bridges, schools, electricity and communication setting back the infrastructure by many years. Disease is fast spreading in these flood affected areas and there have been warnings that dams in the south may burst. It is estimated that the floods in Pakistan have displaced people thrice the number displaced during partition.
• Hike in Visa fee
  The Obama Regime has raised H-1B and L1 visa fees to protect its borders from illegal Mexican immigrants. This additional fee would be used to build operating bases and deploy unmanned aerial surveillance to beef up U.S.-Mexico border security. The impact of this hike will be substantial on Indian IT companies that account for approximately 50,000 H1 and L1 visas per year.
• Mosque near ground Zero
  A New York city panel has cleared the way for the construction of a mosque near ground zero that has been causing a political uproar over religious freedom. The proposed construction of the mosque near ground zero has sparked debate all around the country. President Barack Obama, however, supported the right of having a mosque by asserting that Muslims have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else in America.
• China to launch space station
  Having finished the first module of a planned space station and testing its electronics and other systems China is all set to launch it into orbit next year. Changes were being made to the rocket that will carry the 8.5ton Tiangong 1 module into a set orbit. No finishing or manning dates have been given for the space station. The official Xinhua news agency said that The Shenzhou 8 spacecraft and Shenzhou 9 and 10 spacecraft would dock with it in the second half of 2011 and 2012 respectively.
• Online route
  Oxford English Dictionary that has been in print for over a century may never appear in print for the future generations. The word reference Bible is likely to loose its existence to its online version. With the digital books becoming popular, the format that the 3rd edition, currently being worked upon, will take is anybody’s guess.

 

• Japan Elections
  Democratic Party of Japan suffered a heavy blow in the elections for the upper house of Japan’s Diet (parliament) when it won ten seats fewer than expected thus loosing its majority. DPJ will now have to look for new coalition partners to restore its majority in the upper house and enable it to easily pass laws through the Diet legislature. After breaking the 55 year period of dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party and naming Naoto Kan the new prime minister just a month back the results have baffled the DJP.
• July 15th Summit, Islamabad
  Failed talks between Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna and the Pakistani counterpart Mr. Shah Mehmood Qureshi's have once again proved that whenever efforts were initiated by India to improve the relations between the two countries. The Pak leaders and officials took deliberate steps to derail the process conveying a clear message to India that the talks can continue only on its terms.
• Gulf of Spill
  More than three months after the April 20 explosion aboard the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon oil platform, which killed 11 workers and sank the rig gushing oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the most severe US environmental disaster ever is close to coming to an end. In an operation called “static kill” 2,300 barrels of mud was forced down into the well’s opening overnight pushing the crude back down to its source. A cap over the wellhead has shut in leaking oil since July 15 and the static kill — also known as bull heading — probably would not have worked without the cap in place.
• Genocide
  Omar-al-Bashir, President of Sudan has been charged with three counts of genocide over the Darfur Conflict, he was convicted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague. It is for the first time that a court has accused anyone of genocide.
• Jacob Lew the new Budget Director
  President Barack Obama has chosen Mr. Jacob Lew as his new budget director. This is Mr. Lews second stint with the federal budget.

 

• Julia Gillard become Australia’s first women Prime Minister replacing Kevin Rudd following a sudden revolt against him.
• No more time for sorrow’ written by Robert Beeman. The author predict that terrorist will set off an atom bomb in the USA by 2013.
• Tuvalu become 187th member of IMF (International Monetary Fund). The island is located in the Pacific Ocean.
• Kyrgyzstan voted for a new constitution in a referendum. It is Central Asia’s first parliament democracy.
• G-20 summit held at Toronto, Canada.

 

• G-15 summit was held at Tehran on 16-17 May.
• Bangladesh handed over Ranjan Daimary of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland to India. The group was responsible for serial bombing in Assam in 2008.
• National League for Democracy (NLD) party of Myannmar’s democracy leader Aung San Sui Kyi was abolished after deadline to re-register as a political party was over.
• EU-IMF provide a $ 1 trillion rescue package to the Greece to resolve its debt crises.
• Pakistan successfully test fired two short range ballistic missiles, Shaheen I( range 650 Km) and Ghazani (range 290 Km) capable of carrying nuclear war heads and striking Indian cities.

 

• Belgium became the Europe’s first country to ban burqa.
• Pakistan’s National assembly passed a bill that takes away the President’s power to dissolve parliament, dismiss a elected government and appoint the three services Chiefs. Pakistan’s parliament passes 18th amendment which was later signed by Presient cutting President’s powers.
• USA and Russia signed Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty(START) that allowed a maximum of 1550 deployed overheads, about 30% lower than a limit set in 2002. The treaty was signed in the Progue Castle.
• Emergency was imposed in Thailand.
• Nuclear Security Summit held at Washington.It was a 47 nation summit wherein P.M. announced setting up of a global nuclear energy centre for conducting research & development of design systems that are secure, proliferation resistant & sustainable.
• PM visit USA & Brazil, a two nation tour. He attended Nuclear Security Summit in USA & India- Brazil-S.Africa(IBSA) and Brazil-Russia-India-China(BRIC) summit in Brasilia (Brazil).
• 16th SAARC Summit held in Bhutan in 28-29 April. The summit was held in Bhutan for the first time. It is the silver jubilee summit as SAARC has completed 25 years. The summit central theme was ‘Climate Change’. The summit recommended to declare 2010-2020 as the “Decade of Intra-regional Connectivity in SAARC”. The 17th SAARC summit will be held in Maldives in 2011.

 

• China will launch in 2011 unmammed space mode ‘ Tiangong I’ for its future space laboratory.
• US internet giant Google close its business in China.
• India’s largest telecom service provider Bharti Airtel buy Zain’s Africa operations for an enterprise value of $ 10.7 billion (Rs 49000 crore). Currently Bharti’s non-India operations include Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.
• Russia abolished two of its eleven time Zones.

 

• NATO forces carried out Marjah operation (dubbed Moshtarak) against Taliban forces in Afghanistan.
• European Union summit was held in Brussels. EU & IMF decided to giving support to Greece in its struggle to bring its ballooning budget deficit under control. EU President is Herman Van Rompuy.
• Iran’s President Mahmood Ahmedinejad declared that Iran had produced first batch of 20 % enriched uranium and now Iran became a nuclear state.
• Iran launched ‘Kavoshger -3 rocket’ capable of carrying a satellite. It carried a mouse, worms & two turtles.

 

• Gilgit Baltistan region elected its first Chief Minister Mehdi Shah on the basis of Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment & Self Governance Order 2009. The new appointed CM declare the Gilgit Baltistan region as 5th province of Pakistan. The Indian Govt has, however, of the view that the region was part of J & K, and thus objected to the remarks of CM.
• Venezuela devalued it currency ‘Bolivar’.
• A massive earthquake strike Haiti, the Carribbean nation. Capital of Haiti is Port-au-Prince.
• Mahinda Rajapaksa won a second term as Sri Lanka’s President. He belongs to Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

समाचार

 

कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स की स्वर्ण विजेता निशानेबाज अन्नु राज सिंह ने अमेरिका के फोर्ट बेनिंग में चल रहे आईएसएसएफ विश्व कप में एयर पिस्टल स्पर्धा में रजत पदक जीतने के साथ 2012 में होने वाले लंदन ओलिंपिक के लिए कोटा स्थान हासिल कर लिया।

Dances of India

Dances of India

The dances of India can be classified into the following three categories :

Main Styles of Classical Dance

Other Classical Dances

Folk and Tribal Dances.

MAIN STYLES OF CLASSICAL DANCE

Bharatanatyam

The earliest exponents of Bharatanatyam were the devadasis (temple dancers) in south India for worship. It came to be patronized by the Cholas, the Pandyas, Nayakas, Vijayanagar rulers and the Marathas. The technique of Bharatanatyam consists of 64 principles of coordinated hand, foot, face and body movements which are performed to the accompaniment of dance syllables, popularly known as bols.

Its format consists of Alarippu (invocation), Jathi Swaram (note combinations), Shabdam (notes and lyrics), Varnam (a combination of pure dance and abhinaya), lighter items like Padams and Javalis (all erotic) and finally the Thillana (again pure dance).

Famous Exponents

Bala Saraswathi, Shanta Rao, Mrinalini Sarabahai, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Kamala, Vijayantimala, Sonal Man Singh, Samyukta Panigrahi and Rukhmini Devi.

Kathak

The word Kathak is derived from Katha which means story. It is a dance-drama in which actors took part.

It is confined mostly to Northern India—Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, the Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. The main centres are Lucknow, Varanasi, Jaipur and Delhi.

The characteristic features of the Kathak dance are emphasis on foot work, the swift swirl or chakor of the body followed by its sudden stillness. The execution of foot work is with in a time cycle.

The Kathak dance goes through a regular format mostly concentrating on rhythm, variously called tatkar, paltas, thoras, amad and parans.

Famous Exponents

Sitara Devi, Birju Maharaj, Gopi Krishna, Binda Din Maharaj, Damayanti Joshi, Kalkadin, Aachan Maharaj and Uma Sharma.

Kathakali

It combines music, poetry, mime and drama. This dance-drama is usually performed in the open and usually lasts the whole night. The themes are taken from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and Hindu mythology. The costumes show a great variety of colour. The musical instruments are quite simple, viz., drums and cymbals. The actors put on masks of various types to represent deities or the demons.

Famous Exponents

Kunju Kurup, Koppan Nair, Ragini Devi, Shanta Rao, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Kanak Pele, Rita Ganguly, Krishnan Nair, Gopinathan and Karunakaren Nair.

Manipuri

This dance belongs to the state of Manipur in north-east India.

Manipuri is purely a religious dance which is used to invoke divine blessing. Originally only Shiva and Parvati were propitiated but later on Krishna and Radha too were included.

Famous Exponents

Guru Bipin Sinha, Charu Mathur, Sadhana Bose, Jhaveri sisters and T. Nadia Singh.

Other Classical Dances · Odissi : It is a classical dance of Orissa. The earliest evidence of the dance are found in the caves of Udaigiri and Khandagiri. Odissi was greatly influenced by Vaisnavism and the Bhakti Cult. Odissi is built on the principle that the human body is meant to be employed in deflection. The main emphasis is on the statuesque poses of the dancer. The format consists of Bhumi Prana, Batu, Pallavi and lighter items like the Ashtapadi ending in moksha approximating to the Thillana of the south. · Famous Exponents : Mohan Mahapatra, Kelucharan Mahapatra, Pankaj Charan Das, Hare Krishna Behra, Mayadhar Pant, Madhvi Mudgal, Sharon Lowen (USA) and Myrta Bravie (Argentina). · Kuchipudi : Kuchipudi is a dance-drama of Andhra Pradesh. It is the corresponding style of the Bhagvatamala Natak of Tamil Nadu, except the emphasis is on animat (s derived from Natya Shastra. It closely resembles Bharatanatyam. However, its movements are much faster and style is freer. · Famous Exponents : Yamini Krishnamurthy, Swapnasundari, Shobha Naidu Raja and Radha Reddy, Vempati Stayam and Vedanatam Stayam. · Mohiniattam : It is a classical dance of Kerala. In format, this is similar to Bharatanatyam. It is essentially a solo dance. The first reference to Mohiniattam is found in Vyavaharamala, composed by Mazhamangalam Narayanan Nambudiri, assigned to the 16th century AD. · Famous Exponents : Vyjayanthimala, Shanta Rao, Roshan Vajifadar, Bharti Shivaji, Kanak Pele and Hema malini.

Folk and Tribal Dances

States	Dances
Maharashtra	Kathakeertan, Lezim, Dandaniya, Tamasha, Gafa, Dahikala, Lovani, Mauni, Dasavatar or Bohada.
Karnataka	Huttari, Suggi Kunitha, Yakshagana.
Kerala	Kaikottikali, Kaliyattam, Tappatikkali.
Tamil Nadu	Kolattam, Pinnal Kolattam, Kummi, Kavadi, Karagam.
Andhra Pradesh	Ghanta Mardala, Veedhi Natakam, Burrakatha.
Orissa	Aaya, Jadoor, Mudari, Sanchar, Chadya Dandanata, Chhau
West Bengal	Kathi, Chhau, Baul, Kirtan, Jatra, Lama.
Assam	Bihu, Kali Gopal, Khel Gopal, Rakhal, Jhakura, Maha Ras.
Punjab	Giddha (women), Bhangra (man) Ghamaan, Kikli.
Jammu & Kashmir	Rauf, Hikat.
Himachal Pradesh	Jhora, Jhali, Dangi, Mahathu, Jadda, Jhainti, Chharba.
Haryana	Ghodinaach, Saomg, Phag dance, Daph, Loor, Gugga.
Gujarat	Garba, Dandiya Ras, Lasya, Bhavai.
Rajasthan	Jindad, Ghapaal, Kathputli, Dhela, Maru, Chakri, Gangore, Terahtaal, Khayal, Jhuma.
Bihar	Jatra, Karma, Kathaputli, Bakho, Jhijhiya, Samochakwa, Natna.
Uttar Pradesh	Nautanki, Jhora, Chappeli, Raslila, Kajjri.
Nagaland	Khaiva, Nooralim, Chong, Lim, Kuminaga, Rengma Chong.
Manipur	Basant Ras, Nat Ras, Maha Ras, Ki Talam, Vyaangta.
Jharkhand	Jhau, Ghumkudia, Karma, Sarhool, Madhi, Jadoor.
Uttranchal	Kazri, Karan.

News Papers/ Journals

News Papers/ Journals	Founder/Editors
Bengal Gazette (India's first news paper, 1780)	J. K. Hikki
Amrit Bazar Patrika	Shishir Kr. Ghosh & Motilal Ghosh
Keshri	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Maharatta	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Sudharak	G. K. Gokhle
Vande Mataram	Aurobindo Ghosh
Native Opinion	V. N. Mandalik
Kavivachan Sudha	Bhartendu Harishchandra
Rast Goftar (First News Paper in Gujrati)	Dadabhai Naoroji
New India	Bipin Chandra Pal
Statesman	Robert Knight
Hindu	Vir Raghavacharya & G. S. Aiyar
Sandhya	B. B. Upadhyaya
Vichar Lahiri	Krishna Shastri Chiplunkar
Hindu Patriot	Girish Chandra Ghosh
Som Prakash	Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Yugantar	Bhupendra Nath Datta & Barindra Kumar Ghosh
Bombay Chronicle	Firoze Shah Mehta
Hindustan	Madan Mohan Malviya
Mooknayak	B. R. Ambedkar
Comrade	Mohammed Ali
Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq	Sir Syyed Ahmed Khan
Al-Hilal	Abul Kalam Azad
Al-Balagh	Abul Kalam Azad
Independent	Motilal Nehru
Punjabi	Lala Lajpat Rai
New India	Annie Besant
Commonweal	Annie Besant
Pratap	Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
Essays in Indian Economics	Mahadev Govind Ranade
Samvad Kaumudi (Bengali)	Ram Mohan Roy
Mirat-ul-Akhbar (First Persian News Paper)	Ram Mohan Roy
Indian Mirror	Devendra Nath Tagore
Nav Jeevan	M. K. Gandhi
Young India	M. K. Gandhi
Harijan	M. K. Gandhi
Prabudha Bharat	Swami Vivekananda
Udbodhana	Swami Vivekananda
Indian Socialist	Shyamji Krishna Verma
Talwar (in Berlin)	Birendra Nath Chattopadhyaye
Free Hinduatan	Tarak Nath Das
Hindustan Times	K. M. Pannikar
Kranti	Mirajkar, Joglekar, Ghate

Classical Folk and Tribal Dances in India

Classical Dance of India
Dance	State
Bharat Natyam	Tamil Nadu
Bihu	Assam
Bhangra	Punjab
Chhau	Bihar, Orissa, W. Bengal and Jharkhand
Garhwali	Uttaranchal
Garba	Gujarat
Hattari	Karnataka
Kathak	North India
Kathakali	Kerala
Kutchipudi	Andhra Pradesh
Khantumm	Mizoram
Karma	Madhya Pradesh
Laho	Meghalaya
Mohiniattam	Kerala
Mando	Goa
Manipuri	Manipur
Nati	Himachal Pradesh
Nat-Natin	Bihar
Odissi	Orissa
Rauf	Jammu & Kashmir
Yakshagan	Karnataka
Folk and Tribal Dances
States	Dances
Maharashtra	Kathakeertan, Lezin, Dandaniya, Tamasha, Gafa, Dahikala, Lovani, Mauni, Dasavtar.
Karnataka	Huttari, Suggi Kunitha, Yakashagana
Kerala	Kaikottikali, Kaliyattam, Tappatikkali
Tamil Nadu	Kolattam, Pinnal Kolattam, Kummi, Kavadi, Karagam
Andhra Pradesh	Ghanta Mardala, Veedhi Natakam, Burrakatha
Orissa	Ghumara Sanchar, Chadya Dandanata, Chhau
West Bengal	Kathi, Chhau, Baul, Kirtan, Jatra, Lama
Assam	Bihu, Khel Gopal, Rash Lila, Tabal Chongli, Canoe
Punjab	Giddha (women), Bhangra (men)
J & K	Rauf, Hikat
Himachal Pradesh	Jhora, Jhali, Dangli, Mahasu, Jadda, Jhainta, Chharhi
Haryana	Jhumar, Ras Leela, Phag dance, Daph, Dhamal, Loor, Gugga, Khoria, Gagor
Gujarat	Garba, Dandiya Rass, Tippani, Gomph
Rajasthan	Ginad, Chakri, Gangore, Terahtaal, Khayal, Jhulan Leela, Jhuma, Suisini
Bihar	Jata Jatin, Jadur, Chhau, Kathaputli, Bakho, Jhijhiya, Samochakwa, Karma, Jatra, Natna
Uttar Pradesh	Nautanki, Thora, Chappeli, Raslila, Kajri.
Famous Dancer
Bharatnatyam	Bala Saraswati, C. V. Chandrasekhar, Leela Samson, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Padma Subramanyam, Rukmini Devi, Sanyukta Panigrahi, Sonal Mansingh, Yamini Krishnamurti
Kathak	Bharti Gupta, Birju Maharaj, Damayanti Joshi, Durga Das, Gopi Krishna, Kumudini Lakhia, Sambhu Maharaj, Sitara Devi
Kuchipudi	Josyula Seetharamaiah, Vempathi Chinna Sthyam
Manipuri	Guru Bipin Sinha, Jhaveri Sisters, Nayana Jhaveri, Nirmala Mehta, Savita Mehta Debaprasad Das, Dhirendra Nath Pattnaik, Indrani Rahman, Kelucharan Mahapatra, Priyambaba Mohanty, Sonal Mansingh
Instrumentalists
Sarod	Ali Akbar Khan, Allaudin Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, Buddhadev Dasgupta, Bahadur Khan, Sharan Rani, Zarin S. Sharma
Tabla	Alla Rakha Khan, Kishan Maharaj, Nikhil Ghosh, Zakir Hussain
Violin	Baluswamy Dikshitar, Gajanan Rao Joshi, Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, M. S. Gopala krishnan, Mysore T. Chowdiah, T. N. Krishnan
Shehnal	Bismillah Khan
Sitar	Nikhil Banerjee, Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Hara Shankar Bhattacharya
Flute	Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pannalal Ghose, T. R. Mahalingam
Veena	K. R. Kumaraswamy lyer, Doraiswami lyengar
Vocalists
Hindustani	Shubha Mudgal, Bheemsen Joshi, Madhup Mudgal, Mukul Shivputra, Pandit Jasraj, Parveen Sultana, Naina Devi, Girija Devi, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Gangubai Hangal, Krishna Hangal, V. Rajput, Kumar Gandharva, Faiyyaz Khan, Mallikarjun Mansur, Kishori Amonkar, Ustad Rashid Khan.
Carnatic	M. S. Subbalakshmi, Balamuralikrishna, Bombay Jaishree, H. K. Raghavendra, H. K. Venkataram, Sitarajam, Mani Krishnaswamy, Akhil Krishnan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, M. D. Ramanathan, G. N. Balasubramaniam
Thumri	Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan, Ustad Zawad Ali Khan, Rita Ganguli, Poornima Chaudhary, Shanti Heerananda, Naina Devi
Quwwali	Ghulam Hasan Niyazi, Sultan Niyazi, Ghulam Farid Nizami, Chand Nizami, Iqbal Hussain Khan Bandanawaji, Aslam Sabari
Dhrupad	Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar, Zahiruddin Dagar, Waslfuddin Dagar, Bundecha Bandhu, Uday Bhawalkar, Pt. Abhay Narayan Mallick, Pt. Ritwik Sanyal

Nobel Personality in India

 

Abdul Ghaffar Khan

He was known as the 'Frontier Gandhi'. He was a nationalist Muslim leader of the North-West Frontier Province. He first started a militant organisation known as the 'Red Shirt', and later on joined the non-violent Civil Disobedience Movement started by Mahatma Gandhi.

Acharya Vinoba Bhave

Saintly personality; had devoted his life to social welfare; founder of the Bhoodan movement.

Amir Khusrau

Assumed 'Parrot of India', was a famous poet and author who wrote in poetry and prose and also composed music. He enjoyed the patronage of successive Sultans of Delhi from Balban to Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq. He died in 1324-25. His works include Tughluqnamah and the Tarikh-i-Alai.

Anand Mohan Bose

He was a prominent Indian public man in his times. He was the first Indian to be a Wrangler of Cambridge University in 1873. He was the founder-secretary of the Indian Association which was established in Calcutta in 1876, and presided over the 14th session of the Indian National Congress held in Ma

Ashutosh Mukherjee

He was an eminent lawyer and educationist. He was certainly a maker of modern Bengal, if not of India, by virtue of his eminent services to the cause of education. At the early age of 25 he became a member of the Senate of the Calcutta University of which he became the vice-chancellor.

Aurobindo Ghosh

An ardent nationalist who later became a saint, was educated in England. His views were readily accepted by Lala Lajpat Rai of Punjab and Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Maharashtra and led to the formation of an extremist school within the Congress.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Patriot and statesman, known as Lokmanya. He organised Extremist Party within the Congress with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pai. Britishers called him "Father of Indian Unrest". He gave the clarion call "Swaraj is my birth right". Tilak was the founder-editor of Mahratta (English) and Kesar

Bhagat Singh

Known as Shahid-e-Azam. Founded Naujawan Bharat Sabha. Exploded bomb in Central Legislative Assembly at Lahore on April 8, 1929. He was arrested and sentenced for life. He along with Sukh Dev and Shivram Rajguru, was hanged on March 23, 1931 for participating in Lahore conspiracy.

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari

A prominent Indian politician, born in South India in 1879. He was the General Secretary of the Indian National Congress in 1921-22 and was a member of the Congress Working Commitee. Rajagopalachari was the Chief Minister of Madras from 1937-39.

Dadabhai Naoro Ji

He was elected president of the Indian National Congress at its second session held in Calcutta in 1886. He was the first Indian to be elected a member of the House of Commons in England on a ticket of Liberal Party. Twice again, in 1893 and in 1906, he was elected president of the INC.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

A prominent leader of the Scheduled Castes. Built up a party of the untouchables, became a member of the Constitutent Assembly and piloted through it the Indian Constitution Act which declared India to be Republic. He also piloted the Hindu Code through the Indian Legislature.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

He was the first President of the Republic of India. Born in Bihar in 1884, educated at the Calcutta Universty, he began his career as an advocate and soon commanded a very large practice at Patna High Court. Prasad became the president of Congress in 1934, 1939 and 1947; a minister in Nehru's cabin

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

He was a prominent Indian nationalist, and presided over the 1905 session of the Indian National Congress. In 1905 he founded at Poona the Servants of India Society. He died in 1915. He is considered as the 'Political Guru' of Gandhiji.

Govinda Ballabh Pant

The celebrated Sanskrit grammarian, was the author of Ashtadhyayi. He was one of the leading members and leaders of the Indian National Congress. He became the Chief Minister in his native province of Uttar Pradesh after independence.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Social reformer and educationist from Bengal and a pioneer in the field of primary education and widow re-marriage.

Jamshedji Tata

Parsi industrialist and philanthropist. Father of Indian industry, founded Tata, Iron and Steel Company in Bihar.

Lal Bahadur Shastri

Prime Minister of India from May, 1964 to his death on 11 January, 1966. He was conferred Bharat Ratna posthumously. He was a martyr for the cause of peace between India and Pakistan at Tashkent.

Lala Lajpat Rai

Indian national leader known as "Lion of Punjab". Founder editor of Bande Mataram, The Punjabeeand The People. Died of injuries caused by police lathi-charge while leading a demonstration against Simon Commission at Lahore in 1928. Author of Young India, The Arya Samaj and England's Debt to India.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Better known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born on October 2, 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat. Became a barrister-at-law (1891) in England. Went to South Africa in 1893. Stayed there till 1914 for the cause of the emancipation of the Indians from the insulting life.

Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Pandit

Born in 1900, was a talented daughter of Pandit Motilal Nehru. She held many high offices after Indian independence including the post of India's High Commissioner in England (1955-61) and India's Ambassador to the U. S. S. R. as well as to the U. S. A.

Mrs. Annie Besant

English theosophist, bom in London in October 1847. She founded the Central Hindu College at Banaras and was elected president of the Theosophical Society in 1907. In 1916 she founded the Indian Home Rule League and became its first president and in 1917.

Mrs. Sarojini Naldu

The most talented Indian lady, born of Bengali parents, was a poet and orator who took a prominent part in Indian politics. She presided over the Kanpur session of the Indian National Congress in 1925 and was the first lady to be appointed a state Governor in the Republic of India.

Netaji Subhash Bose

Popularly known as Netaji, was born on January 23, 1879, at Cuttack. He passed the Indian Civil Service Examination in 1920. He joined the Indian National Congress in 1921. In 1938 he was the president of the INC at its Haripura session and in 1939 he was elected president of its Tripuri session.

Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru

He was the first Prime Minister of Independent India and is known as the architect of modem India. He was born in Allahabad on Novemeber 14,1889. In 1928 be became the General Secretary of the Indian National Congress and in 1929 its President. At the Lahore session under his Presidentship was pass

Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya

A leading nationalist leader, prominent educationist and social reformer. Later on joined the second session of the Indian National Congress held in 1886 and twice became its President in 1909 and 1918. His greatest achievement was the foundation in 1915 in Benaras of the Hindu University.

Pandit Motilal Nehru

A renowned Indian patriot, was born on 6th May, 1861 in Delhi. He began his career as a lawyer at the Allahabad High Court, joined the Indian National Movement and started a journal named The Independent' to support the cause of Indian Nationalism. Along with C. R. Das he formed the Swarajist Party

Rabindranath Tagore

Poet, novelist, patriot, educationist, essayist, painter and philosopher. He founded Shantiniketan (now Viswabharati University) in West Bengal. The first Asian to receive Nobel Prize in Literature (for Gitanjati in 1913), writer of National Anthems of India and Bangladesh.

Ram Manohar Lohla

A social and political revolutionary, he founded the'Samajwadi Party' after difference of opinion with the Congress.

Ramakrishna Paramhansa

He was a very great spiritual teacher of the Hindus in modern times. His two-noteworthy disciples were Keshavchandra Sen and Swami Vivekanand.

Rasbehari Basu

He was elected president of the Surat session of the Indian National Congress in 1907 in which the Moderates and Extremists came to a serious clash. Next year he presided over the Madras session of the INC.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

A renowned Indian patriot and politician, was born on the 31st, October, 1875 in Gujarat and began his career as a lawyer. He took a leading part in the Bardoli Satyagraha movement. In 1931 he became the president of the Congress. He joined the "interim Government" set up in 1946 as the Home Ministe

Sarvapalli Radha Krishan

The second President of the Republic of India. Radha Krishnan was appointed as India's ambassador to the USSR in 1949. In 1962 he became the President of India. His birthday, Sept 5, is celebrated as Teacher's Day.'

Shaukat Ali

A prominent leader and politician amongst the Indian Muhammadans. He along with his brother Muhammad All, led the Khilafat Movement in 1919-20. He also joined the Indian National Congress and the non-co-operation movement.

Sir Sayyid Ahmed Khan

He was a prominent leader of the Indian Muhammadans. Remained loyal to the British during the Sepoy Mutiny (1857-58), founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875. In 1920 the college was raised to the status of University and called the Aligarh Muslim University.

Sister Nivedita

A famous disciple of Swami Vivekananda, was an Irish lady named Miss Margaret Nobel.

Swami Vivekananda

Disciple of Rama Krishna Paramahansa, and founder of Ramakrishna Mission at Belur. He championed the supremacy of Vedantic philosophy and his talk at the Chicago conference of world religions in 1893 made westerners realise the greatness of Hinduism for the first time.

V. D. C Savarkar

He founded Mitra Mandal aimed at achieving freedom by armed rebellion, founded Abhinav Bharat, started Free Indian Society in England (London). Savarkar was arrested in Nasik conspiracy case and sentenced to transportation for life and freed in 1937. He authored Indian War of Independence.

Wumesh Chandra Banerjee

The first president of the Indian National Congress held at Bombay in 1885. He was made Congress President a second time at its Allahabad session in 1892.

Zakir Hussain

Proposed Wardha Scheme of education, formerly Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia. He was elected as President of India in 1967.