Notice Board
Saturday 25 April 2015
Thursday 23 April 2015
Thursday 16 April 2015
Scientist of the day -Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler (1571 - 1630)
Johannes Kepler was a key player in a profound change in the tide of human thought: the scientific revolution. In Kepler’s lifetime:
Kepler reflected the times he lived in. Seen through modern eyes, he had somewhat contradictory ideas. He was:
Such contradictions were not unusual during the scientific revolution. Isaac Newton,
who lived in a later time than Kepler (1643 to 1727) did not work in
the way a modern scientist would. Also a Protestant with unorthodox
views, Newton spent more time investigating the true meaning of the
Bible’s words and on the pseudoscience of alchemy than he did on
mathematics or physics!
Johannes Kepler’s Early Life and Education
Johannes Kepler was born on December 27, 1571, in the town of Weil
der Stadt, which then lay in the Holy Roman Empire, and is now in
Germany.
When Johannes was about five years old, his father, Heinrich Kepler,
was killed in Holland fighting as a mercenary. His mother, Katharina
Guldenmann, was a herbalist who helped run an inn owned by her father.
Kepler’s First Law – The Law of Orbits
Kepler tried to figure out the mathematical shape of Mars’s orbit. After about 40 misses, in 1605, he got it right. Mars follows an elliptical path around the sun.
Kepler tried to figure out the mathematical shape of Mars’s orbit. After about 40 misses, in 1605, he got it right. Mars follows an elliptical path around the sun.
And now he formulated what would become Kepler’s first law: planets orbit the sun in ellipses, with the sun at one focus.
Kepler’s Third Law – The Law of Periods
Kepler never gave up his idea that regular polygons determine the orbits of the planets. As a fortunate result of this wrong thinking, he continued calculating and theorizing.
Kepler never gave up his idea that regular polygons determine the orbits of the planets. As a fortunate result of this wrong thinking, he continued calculating and theorizing.
In 1618 his continuing research led to his third law of planetary motion:
The square of the period of any planet is proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis of its orbit.
Restated crudely, this law means that if we square the time it takes a
planet to complete one orbit around the sun, we’ll find it’s
proportional to the planet’s distance from the sun cubed.
Even more crudely: the farther a planet is from the sun, the slower it moves along its orbital path.
The End
Johannes Kepler died after falling ill at the age of 58, on November
15, 1630 in the German city of Regensburg. He was survived by a son and a
daughter from his first marriage, to Barbara Müller, who died rather
young. He was also survived by his second wife, Susanna Reuttinger, and
two sons and a daughter from that marriage.
Wednesday 15 April 2015
Scientist of the day - Pierre Curie
Pierre Curie
Pierre Curie was a French physical chemist who discovered radium and polonium, while studying radioactivity with his wife, Marie Curie. Widely considered to be one of the founders of founders of modern physics, he pioneered the fields of crystallography, magnetism and piezoelectricity. Curie shared the 1903 the Nobel Prize in Physics with his wife for their work on radiation.
Early Life and Education:
Born in Paris, France on May 15, 1859, Pierre Curie was a childhood
prodigy. He showed an extraordinary aptitude for mathematics and
geometry. Curie completed the equivalent of a higher degree when he was
only 18, but failed to pursue a doctorate due to some financial
problems. He instead accepted a job as a laboratory instructor.
Contributions and Achievements:
Pierre Curie is widely credited to be one of the founders of modern
physics. As a young researcher, his work had already brought important
discoveries related to heat waves, crystals, magnetism and symmetry. He
formulated the Curie’s law before he married Marie Sklowdowska in 1895. The Curies, the husband and wife, together discovered polonium and radium while conducting research in radioactivity.
Together with Henri Becquerel, the Curies shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in physics for their revolutionary work on radioactivity.
Later Life and Death:
Pierre Curie died in a street accident in Paris on 19 April 1906. He was only 46 years old.
Monday 13 April 2015
Ambedkar Jayanti
Ambedkar jayanthi 2015- April 14 (Tuesday)
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar or simply B.R. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 at MHOW (Military Headquarter of War) in Madhya Pradesh. He was the architect of Indian Constitution and is also known as the "Father of Indian Constitution."
He had dedicated his entire life for uplifting the deprived section of
the society. Hence, many Indians and even people from other countries
revere him as a great social reformer. He also played a significant role
in India’s freedom struggle.
Dr. Ambedkar was one of the first 'untouchables' to obtain a college education in India. He went on to United States and England to pursue higher studies, where he earned a law degree and multiple doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science.
Returning home as a famous scholar, Ambedkar practiced law for a few years before he began publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India's untouchables.
Dr. Ambedkar spent his life fighting against the system of untouchability and the caste system. He is also credited for having sparked the Dalit Buddhist movement. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the chairman of the drafting committee that was constituted by the Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution for the independent India; he was also the first Law Minister of India.
He was honored with Bharat Ratna in 1990, India's highest civilian award. The day, 14th April is celebrated all over the country as his birthday (Jayanti) and it is also declared as a public holiday.
Various Dalit organizations carry out huge processions on this day in the memory of this great soul. On this very day various organizations organize several activities including rally and cultural programs.
Dalit Melas are held in various parts of the country. Ambedkar Jayanti is observed both in government and private organizations. Prayers, meetings and memorial speeches are organized in various state capitals.
Dr. Ambedkar was one of the first 'untouchables' to obtain a college education in India. He went on to United States and England to pursue higher studies, where he earned a law degree and multiple doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science.
Returning home as a famous scholar, Ambedkar practiced law for a few years before he began publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India's untouchables.
Dr. Ambedkar spent his life fighting against the system of untouchability and the caste system. He is also credited for having sparked the Dalit Buddhist movement. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the chairman of the drafting committee that was constituted by the Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution for the independent India; he was also the first Law Minister of India.
He was honored with Bharat Ratna in 1990, India's highest civilian award. The day, 14th April is celebrated all over the country as his birthday (Jayanti) and it is also declared as a public holiday.
Various Dalit organizations carry out huge processions on this day in the memory of this great soul. On this very day various organizations organize several activities including rally and cultural programs.
Dalit Melas are held in various parts of the country. Ambedkar Jayanti is observed both in government and private organizations. Prayers, meetings and memorial speeches are organized in various state capitals.
Contributions of B. R. Ambedkar
- He worked to eliminate the social belief of untouchability for the lower group of people. He protested to uplift the untouchables in the society to enhance their social status during law practice in the Bombay High Court. He had organized an event called Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha to encourage the education among untouchables for their socio-economic improvement and welfare of the outcastes people of depressed classes. He also protected the Dalit rights by organizing various programs like “Mook Nayak, Bahishkrit Bharat and Equality Janta”.
- He had started an active public movements and marches in 1927 against untouchability to remove the untouchability for water resources as well as enter to the Hindu temples (Kalaram Temple movement in 1930). He has demanded for the separate electorate through the Poona Pact to reserve seats for untouchable people of depressed class.
- He was invited by the Congress government to serve as a first Law Minister after the independence of India on 15th of August in 1947 and appointed as a “Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee” on 29th of August in 1947 where he drafted the new Constitution of India which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th of November in 1949.
- He had played his great role in establishing the Reserve Bank of India as he was a professional economist. He became successful in forming the Reserve Bank of India in 1934 after giving his ideas to the Hilton Young Commission through his three successful scholarly books on economics such as “Administration and Finance of the East India Company, The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India, and The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution”.
- He also played his role in planning the Indian economic as he got his Economics doctorate degree from abroad. He encouraged people for the growth and development of the industrialization and agricultural industry to enhance the economy of country. He had given ideas to the government for accomplishing the food security goal. He encouraged people for good education, hygiene and community health as their basic requirement. He had established the Finance Commission of India.
- He had opposed the Article 370 in the Constitution of India in order to provide the special status to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Jalianwala Bagh Massacre Day
Jalianwala Bagh Massacre
Massacre of Amritsar, also called Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre, Jallianwalla also spelled Jallianwala, incident on April 13, 1919, in which British troops fired on a large crowd of unarmed Indians in Amritsar in the Punjab region (now in Punjab state) of India,
killing several hundred people and wounding many hundreds more. It
marked a turning point in India’s modern history, in that it left a
permanent scar on Indo-British relations and was the prelude to Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi’s full commitment to the cause of Indian nationalism and independence from Britain.
During World War I
(1914–18) the British government of India enacted a series of
repressive emergency powers that were intended to combat subversive
activities. By the war’s end, expectations were high among the Indian
populace that those measures would be eased and that India would be
given more political autonomy. The Montagu-Chelmsford Report, presented to the British Parliament
in 1918, did in fact recommend limited local self-government. Instead,
however, the government of India passed what became known as the Rowlatt Acts in early 1919, which essentially extended the repressive wartime measures.
The acts were met by widespread anger and discontent among Indians,
notably in the Punjab region. Gandhi in early April called for a one-day
general strike throughout the country. In Amritsar
the news that prominent Indian leaders had been arrested and banished
from that city sparked violent protests on April 10, in which soldiers
fired upon civilians, buildings were looted and burned, and angry mobs
killed several foreign nationals and severely beat a Christian
missionary. A force of several dozen troops commanded by Brigadier
General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer was given the task of restoring order. Among the measures taken was a ban on public gatherings.
On the afternoon of April 13, a crowd of at least 10,000 men, women, and children gathered in an open space known as the Jallianwalla Bagh,
which was nearly completely enclosed by walls and had only one exit. It
is not clear how many people there were protesters who were defying the
ban on public meetings and how many had come to the city from the
surrounding region to celebrate Baisakhi, a Hindu and Sikh spring
festival. Dyer and his soldiers arrived and sealed off the exit. Without
warning, the troops opened fire on the crowd, reportedly shooting
hundreds of rounds until they ran out of ammunition. It is not certain
how many died in the bloodbath, but, according to one official report,
an estimated 379 people were killed, and about 1,200 more were wounded.
After they ceased firing, the troops immediately withdrew from the
place, leaving behind the dead and wounded.
The shooting was followed by the proclamation of martial law
in the Punjab that included public floggings and other humiliations.
Indian outrage grew as news of the shooting and subsequent British
actions spread throughout the subcontinent. The Bengali poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore
renounced the knighthood that he had received in 1915. Gandhi was
initially hesitant to act, but he soon began organizing his first
large-scale and sustained nonviolent protest (satyagraha) campaign, the noncooperation movement (1920–22), which thrust him to prominence in the Indian nationalist struggle.
The government of India ordered an investigation of the incident
(the Hunter Commission), which in 1920 censured Dyer for his actions and
ordered him to resign from the military. Reaction in Britain to the
massacre was mixed, however. Many condemned Dyer’s actions—including Sir Winston Churchill, then secretary of war, in a speech to the House of Commons in 1920—but the House of Lords
praised Dyer and gave him a sword inscribed with the motto “Saviour of
the Punjab.” In addition, a large fund was raised by Dyer’s sympathizers
and presented to him. The Jallianwalla Bagh site in Amritsar is now a
national monument.
Saturday 11 April 2015
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule - Jayanthi
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule
Born: 11 April, 1827
Passed Away: 28 November, 1890
Passed Away: 28 November, 1890
Contributions
Jyotiba Phule was one of the prominent social reformers of the nineteenth century India. He led the movement against the prevailing caste-restrictions in India. He revolted against the domination of the Brahmins and for the rights of peasants and other low-caste fellow. Jyotiba Phule was believed to be the first Hindu to start an orphanage for the unfortunate children.
Jyotiba Phule was one of the prominent social reformers of the nineteenth century India. He led the movement against the prevailing caste-restrictions in India. He revolted against the domination of the Brahmins and for the rights of peasants and other low-caste fellow. Jyotiba Phule was believed to be the first Hindu to start an orphanage for the unfortunate children.
Life
Jyotirao Phule was born in Satara district of Maharastra in 1827. His father, Govindrao was a vegetable-vendor at Poona. Originally Jyotirao's family belonged to 'mali' caste, considered as inferior by the Brahmins. Since, Jyotirao's father and uncles served as florists, the family came to be known as `Phule'. Jyotirao's mother passed away when he was nine months old.
Jyotirao was an intelligent boy but due to the poor financial condition at home, he had to stop his studies at an early age. He started helping his father by working on the family's farm. Recognising the talent of the child prodigy, few months later, a neighbor persuaded his father to send him to school. In 1841, Jyotirao got admission in the Scottish Mission's High School, Poona. There, he met Sadashiv Ballal Govande, a Brahmin, who remained his close friend throughout his life. Jyotirao was married to Savitribai, when he was thirteen years old.
Jyotirao Phule was born in Satara district of Maharastra in 1827. His father, Govindrao was a vegetable-vendor at Poona. Originally Jyotirao's family belonged to 'mali' caste, considered as inferior by the Brahmins. Since, Jyotirao's father and uncles served as florists, the family came to be known as `Phule'. Jyotirao's mother passed away when he was nine months old.
Jyotirao was an intelligent boy but due to the poor financial condition at home, he had to stop his studies at an early age. He started helping his father by working on the family's farm. Recognising the talent of the child prodigy, few months later, a neighbor persuaded his father to send him to school. In 1841, Jyotirao got admission in the Scottish Mission's High School, Poona. There, he met Sadashiv Ballal Govande, a Brahmin, who remained his close friend throughout his life. Jyotirao was married to Savitribai, when he was thirteen years old.
Movement
In 1848, an incident took place in his life that later sparked off the dalit-revolution in the Indian society. Jyotirao was invited to attend a wedding of one of his Brahmin friends. Knowing that he belonged to inferior caste, the relatives of the bridegroom insulted and abused him. Jyotirao left the procession and made up his mind to defy the prevailing caste-system and social restrictions. He then started his campaign of serving the people of lower caste who were deprived of all their rights as human beings.
After reading Thomas Paine's famous book 'The Rights of Man', Jyotirao was greatly influenced by his ideas. He believed that enlightenment of the women and lower caste people was the only solution to combat the social evils. Therefore, in 1848, he along with his wife started a school for the girls.
The orthodox Brahmins of the society were furious at the activities of Jyotirao. They blamed him for vitiating the norms and regulations of the society. Many accused him of acting on behalf of the Christian Missionaries. But Jyotirao was firm and decided to continue the movement. Interestingly, Jyotirao had some Brahmin friends who extended their support to make the movement successful.
In 1848, an incident took place in his life that later sparked off the dalit-revolution in the Indian society. Jyotirao was invited to attend a wedding of one of his Brahmin friends. Knowing that he belonged to inferior caste, the relatives of the bridegroom insulted and abused him. Jyotirao left the procession and made up his mind to defy the prevailing caste-system and social restrictions. He then started his campaign of serving the people of lower caste who were deprived of all their rights as human beings.
After reading Thomas Paine's famous book 'The Rights of Man', Jyotirao was greatly influenced by his ideas. He believed that enlightenment of the women and lower caste people was the only solution to combat the social evils. Therefore, in 1848, he along with his wife started a school for the girls.
The orthodox Brahmins of the society were furious at the activities of Jyotirao. They blamed him for vitiating the norms and regulations of the society. Many accused him of acting on behalf of the Christian Missionaries. But Jyotirao was firm and decided to continue the movement. Interestingly, Jyotirao had some Brahmin friends who extended their support to make the movement successful.
Jyotirao attacked the orthodox Brahmins and other upper castes and
termed them as "hypocrites". He campaigned against the
authoritarianism of the upper caste people. He urged the "peasants"
and "proletariat" to defy the restrictions imposed upon them.
In 1851, Jyotiba established a girls' school and asked his wife to teach the girls in the school. Jyotirao, later, opened two more schools for the girls and an indigenous school for the lower castes, especially the Mahars and Mangs.
Viewing the pathetic condition of widows and unfortunate children Jyotirao decided the open an orphanage. In order to protect those widows and their children, Jyotiba Phule established an orphanage in 1854. Many young widows, from the upper-caste spent their days in the orphanage.
Satya Shodhak Samaj
After tracing the history of the Brahmin domination in India, Jyotirao blamed the Brahmins for framing the weird and inhuman laws. He concluded that the laws were made to suppress the "shudras" and rule over them. In 1873, Jyotiba Phule formed the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth). The purpose of the organization was to liberate the people of lower-castes from the suppression of the Brahmins. The membership was open to all and the available evidence proves that some Jews were admitted as members. In 1876 there were 316 members of the 'Satya Shodhak Samaj'. In 1868, in order to give the lower-caste people more powers Jyotirao decided to construct a common bathing tank outside his house. He also wished to dine with all, regardless of their caste.
In 1851, Jyotiba established a girls' school and asked his wife to teach the girls in the school. Jyotirao, later, opened two more schools for the girls and an indigenous school for the lower castes, especially the Mahars and Mangs.
Viewing the pathetic condition of widows and unfortunate children Jyotirao decided the open an orphanage. In order to protect those widows and their children, Jyotiba Phule established an orphanage in 1854. Many young widows, from the upper-caste spent their days in the orphanage.
Satya Shodhak Samaj
After tracing the history of the Brahmin domination in India, Jyotirao blamed the Brahmins for framing the weird and inhuman laws. He concluded that the laws were made to suppress the "shudras" and rule over them. In 1873, Jyotiba Phule formed the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth). The purpose of the organization was to liberate the people of lower-castes from the suppression of the Brahmins. The membership was open to all and the available evidence proves that some Jews were admitted as members. In 1876 there were 316 members of the 'Satya Shodhak Samaj'. In 1868, in order to give the lower-caste people more powers Jyotirao decided to construct a common bathing tank outside his house. He also wished to dine with all, regardless of their caste.
Death
Jyotiba Phule devoted his entire life for the liberation of untouchables from the exploitation of Brahmins. He revolted against the tyranny of the upper castes. On 28 November, 1890, the great reformer of India, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, passed away.
Jyotiba Phule devoted his entire life for the liberation of untouchables from the exploitation of Brahmins. He revolted against the tyranny of the upper castes. On 28 November, 1890, the great reformer of India, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, passed away.
Friday 10 April 2015
Scientist of the day - Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin, widely considered as one of the greatest and most
revolutionizing scientists in history, was the British naturalist who
formulated the theory of evolution. Pre-Darwin, it was thought that each
species of life on earth came individually and that none had ever
changed its form. He confuted this notion and demonstrated from his
research that evolution is the law of nature and all living things on
earth have descended from common ancestors who lived millions of years
ago. He proved that animals and plants have evolved in an orderly manner
and keep on evolving even today.
Early Life:
Born at Shrewsbury in 1809, Darwin was raised by his eldest sister
from the tender age of eight. Young Darwin had a passion for gathering
up even insects and minerals and he used to experiment with them. When
Darwin was 16, he joined Edinburg University to study medicine. However,
he was too gentle and tender to become a proper physician. Anatomy, in
particular, sickened him. He hated the surgical operations, because they
had to be performed without any anesthetics at that time. This made
Darwin a great failure as a medical student.
Darwin said goodbye to Edinburg in 1828 and sought admission in
Cambridge to study Theology. There, he also disregarded his studies and
was more interested in beetles than theology. He was lucky to attain his
degree anyhow. At Cambridge, he managed to make valuable friends, even
befriending the professors of botany and geology.
Contributions and Achievements:
Darwin got his big break in 1831. A naturalist was needed to travel
along on a scientific expedition – a voyage around the world in the
brigantine HMBS Beagle under the supervision of Captain Fits Roy.
Luckily, some of his Cambridge fellows also recommended him for the
place. The voyage took around five years.
Throughout this voyage, Darwin collected bones of extinct animals. He
was curious about the relationship between the extinct animals and the
existing ones. The unusual marine iguana, the tortoises and the finches
on the Galapagos Islands in the pacific made him perplexed, since
similar, yet rather distinct, forms of the same animals were found on
separate islands. These observations led to his legendary ideas on
evolution.
After the return, Darwin moved to London for a while and compiled an
account of his travels. Darwin got married to his cousin Emma Wedgowood
in 1839. The coupled moved to Downe House in Kent in 1844. There, Darwin
got a letter from the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who had made
similar observations about evolution separately. A collaborative report
by Darwin and Wallace was published in 1858. Darwin publicized the
theory of evolution in his famous book, “The Origin of Species by
Natural Selection”, in 1859. The book, which asserted that all the
varied forms of life on earth could, in the course of time, have evolved
from a common ancestry, was a huge success. Darwin also commented that
in the struggle for life, only the ‘fittest’ creatures would survive
while others fail.
The book became controversial due to its conflict with the religious
belief about the creation of the world. However, in later years, it was
embraced by all biologists. Darwin’s another book, “The Variation of
Animals and Plants Under Domestication”, came out in 1868. It is
considered to be his second most significant work. The book maintains
that man, by selective breeding, could make rather different breeds of
pigeons, dogs, and some species of plants also. His work also included
“The Various Contrivances by which Orchids are Fertilised by Insects”,
“Insectivorous Plants”, “The Power of Movement in Plants”, “Descent of
Man”, and “The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of
Worms”.
Later Life and Death:
Charles Darwin died at 74 and he was buried in Westminster Abbey,
fairly near to the tomb of Sir Issac Newton. Out of his 10 children, of
whom seven survived him, four became prominent scientists. Three of his
sons went on to become fellows of the Royal Society, just like their
legendary father.
Wednesday 8 April 2015
Scientist of the day - John Ray
John Ray
John Ray was a highly influential English naturalist and botanist whose
contributions to taxonomy are considered groundbreaking and historic. He
is also well-known in the world of botany for the establishment of
species as the ultimate unit of taxonomy.
Early Life and Education:
Born in 1627 in a small village of Black Notley, Essex, John Ray’s
father was a blacksmith. Ray entered the Cambridge University at the
young age of sixteen.
Contributions and Achievements:
John Ray was selected a Fellow of Trinity College in 1649. However,
he lost the position thirteen years later when, in 1662, he declined to
take the oath to the Act of Uniformity after the Restoration. With full
support of his former stundent and fellow naturalist, Francis
Willoughby, Ray made several trips throughout Europe with him, carrying
out research in the fields of botany and zoology.
Ray formulated the fundamental principles of plant classification
into cryptogams, monocotyledons and dicotyledons in his landmark works
“Catalogus plantarum Angliae” (1670) and “Methodus plantarum nova”
(1682). Other major publications of Ray include “Historia generalis
plantarum” (3 volumes, 1686-1704) and “The Wisdom of God Manifested in
the Works of the Creation” (1691), both of which became quite
influential during the time.
The zoological contributions of Ray include the developement of the
most natural pre-Linnaean classification of the animal kingdom. He was
appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1667. Ray endorsed scientific
empiricism as compared to the deductive rationalism of the scholastics.
Later Life and Death:
In his later years, Ray moved to his native village, where he
remained until his death in 1705. He was 77 years old. The Ray Society
was established in his honor in 1844.
Tuesday 7 April 2015
World Health Day 2015: Food safety
World Health Day 2015: Food safety
Background
Unsafe food is linked to the deaths of an estimated 2 million
people annually – including many children. Food containing harmful
bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances is responsible for
more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers.
New threats to food safety are constantly emerging. Changes in
food production, distribution and consumption; changes to the
environment; new and emerging pathogens; antimicrobial resistance - all
pose challenges to national food safety systems. Increases in travel
and trade enhance the likelihood that contamination can spread
internationally.
The topic for World Health Day 2015 is food safety
As our food supply becomes increasingly globalized, the need
to strengthen food safety systems in and between all countries is
becoming more and more evident. That is why the WHO is promoting efforts
to improve food safety, from farm to plate (and everywhere in between)
on World Health Day, 7 April 2015.
WHO helps countries prevent, detect and respond to foodborne disease outbreaks - in line with the Codex Alimentarius,
a collection of international food standards, guidelines and codes of
practice covering all the main foods and processes. Together with the UN
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), WHO alerts countries to food
safety emergencies through an international information network.
Five keys to safer food
Food safety is a shared responsibility. It is important to
work all along the food production chain – from farmers and
manufacturers to vendors and consumers. For example, WHO’s Five keys to safer food offer practical guidance to vendors and consumers for handling and preparing food:
- Key 1: Keep clean
- Key 2: Separate raw and cooked food
- Key 3: Cook food thoroughly
- Key 4: Keep food at safe temperatures
- Key 5: Use safe water and raw materials.
World Health Day 2015 is an opportunity to alert people
working in different government sectors, farmers, manufacturers,
retailers, health practitioners – as well as consumers – about the
importance of food safety, and the part each can play in ensuring that
everyone can feel confident that the food on their plate is safe to eat.
Monday 6 April 2015
Mountains retained its favourite child
Malli Mastan Babu
Malli Mastan Babu, one of India's top mountaineers who
grabbed the global spotlight by climbing the seven summits in the seven
continents in record time, was found dead in his tent in the Andes on
Friday. He was 40.
The IIM-Calcutta alumnus was trying to
scale solo Cerro Tres Cruces Sur, the second highest mountain of Chile,
at 6,749m. He had been missing since March 24 after the weather turned
ugly in the area.
Babu's friend Satyam Bheemarasetti told on Saturday that the body was located by fellow mountaineers in a
tent "without life", surrounded by snow. "From what we have heard and
seen in photos, the tent was blown open and destroyed," says Apoorva
Prasad, founder of The Outdoor Journal, an active adventure magazine
which had been tracking Babu's disappearance. The mountaineer probably
froze to death.
In
2006, Babu became the fastest "7 summiteer" in the world by climbing
the peaks - Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), Elbrus
(Europe), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt Everest (Asia), Vinson Massif
(Antarctica) and Kosciuszko & Carstenz (Australia & Oceania) -
between January 19 and July 10 in a record 172 days.
"Challenge
is what enthrals me and free spirit is what I exhibit. Never give up,
never give in - is a phrase that works miracles for me," Babu wrote on
his website, 1stindian7summits.com.
"Solo climbing is fraught
with extra danger if the weather turns bad. Babu was an enterprising
spirit and climbed many peaks in unusual countries, something Indians
normally don't do," says fellow mountaineer and explorer Mandip Singh
Soin. In that sense, Babu was a trailblazer who didn't get as much
acclaim and attention as he deserved.
Of late, Babu was scaling
peaks in Latin America. He had climbed the tough Aconcagua (6,292m)
three times from the Argentinian side; Huascaran (6,768m) in Peru;
Sajama (6,542m) in Bolivia; Chimborazo (6,310m) in Ecuador and Ojos de
Salado (6,800m) in Chile, retired diplomat and former ambassador to
Argentina, R Vishwanathan posted in a blog last week.
A report
in The Outdoor Journal's website, says Babu had left for the mountains
with friends on March 22. He left the base camp alone to climb Cerro
Tres Cruces Sur, which borders Chile and Argentina, from the Argentinian
side. The last contact was on March 24 when he told friends that he
would come down the same evening as the weather had turned foul.
Efforts were made to rescue him from both sides with the Indian
embassies in Chile and Argentina involved in the process. The local
Chilean government was preoccupied with the flash floods that had rocked
the region. By March 26, rescue teams were out, according to Babu's
friend Hernan Augusto Parajon, a Chilean mountaineer who had accompanied
him to the base camp. On March 29, Hernan told The Outdoor Journal that
a team of 8-10 mountaineers were trying to locate him. But the aerial
search began only on March 31.
"RIP #MalliMastanBabu. With his
friends & family we are working with authorities in Argentina and
Chile on next steps in a difficult situation," tweeted MEA Friday night.
There is an outpouring of grief on social media.
Babu came
from a modest family of agriculturists. His sister says he got seriously
interested in mountaineering at IIM where he became the founder of
adventure club. "He raised money for his trips delivering motivational
talks and conducting adventure camps," says Dorasanamma. In his blog
Viswanathan writes that Babu told managers during his talks that a CEO
is like the man on top of the mountain peak.
The retired
diplomat also narrates an interesting anecdote. "When Babu went to climb
the Cristobal Colon peak in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of
Colombia, the local Indians would not allow him to go up. They consider
the mountain sacred and would not let outsiders on top of it. But Babu
did not give up. He stayed on and established dialogue with them over
several local drinks. He told them that he is also an Indian and that
the people from India too worship many mountain gods. This made the
Colombian Indians relent," he writes.
Viswanathan also explains
why Babu preferred to go "solo." The mountaineer told him he "likes the
privacy of his one-to one dialogue with the summits and treasures this
intimate conversation." Asked how he overcame the language problem in
South America, Babu is supposed to have smiled and said, "Mountains all
over the world speak the same language."
Now, as his friends
who had started a Facebook page, Rescue Malli Mastan Babu, posted after
the news of his death came through, "Mountains (have) retained its
favourite child...RIP Mastan Babu."
Saturday 4 April 2015
Scientist of the day - James Dewey Watson
James Dewey Watson
James Dewey Watson was an American geneticist and biophysicist. Noted
for his decisive work in the discovery of the molecular structure of
DNA, the hereditary material associated with the transmission of genetic
information. He shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with
Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins in 1962
Early Life and Education:
James Watson was born in 1928 in Chicago, Illinois and his father was
a tax collector of Scottish ancestry. He attended the University of
Chicago, Indiana University and the Cavendish Laboratory of the
University of Cambridge with Francis Crick. He was appointed a faculty member at Harvard University, and a few years later, the director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Contributions and Achievements:
James Watson gained worldwide fame and prominence as the joint author
of the four scientific papers between 1953 and 1954 (which he co-wrote
with fellow scientist Francis Crick) that laid down the double helical
structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a megamolecule that is the
fundamental substance in the process of genetic replication. This
discovery won Watson and Crick (with Maurice Wilkins) the Nobel Prize in
physiology or medicine in 1962.
During the 1960s, Watson became one of the most celebrated science
writers, as he published his textbook “Molendor Biology of the Gene” in
1965, and his best-selling autobiographical book “The Double Helix” in
1968. Watson became the undisputed leading voice in the whole of
American science. He epitomized the scientific creativity in 20th
century science, giving rise to molecular biology and its two applied
offsets; biotechnology and the “Human Genome Project”.
Thursday 2 April 2015
Mahavir Jayanthi
Mahavir Jayanti is the most important Jain festival. It celebrates the
birth of Saint Mahavir in a small town called Vaishali. The importance
of the festival owes to the fact that Saint Mahavir was the founder of
Jainism as a religion. It is a peaceful religion that cherishes
simplicity. Their core values are such that they do not believe in
killing even an insect. The mood of this festival is also without any
kind of drama, just a quite celebration with respect to their saint.
There are dominantly four types of Jains: Digambars and Svetambaras,
Deravasis and Sthanakvasis. The worship rituals of Jains are not very
elaborate or striking as their leader Mahavir was against idol worship
in its ideal sense. Out of the four sects only Deravasis go to temples,
while the others regard their ideal faith to be purest when
internalized.
History/Significance
History/Significance
Mahavir Jain was born in the 5th century B.C. He was born in a palace of Vaishali to King Siddhartha and Queen Trisala. During the pregnancy, the queen is said to have had dreams of auspicious nature. The number of dreams varies in belief of each sect. After running his kingdom faithfully till 30 years of his age, the great saint gave up all luxuries and comforts of palace for penance. For twelve long years the saint had been under penance. At this time he was enlightened. He was known to be the 24th and the last tirthankara to have received enlightenment. He gave up all redundancies of life. He would eat on his palms refusing to use a plate. He also gave up wearing clothes. Getting rid of these rudimentary materials he focused on the real things and the real meaning of life. He preached the importance of truth and non-violence along with the message of not owning anything and not stealing. He later formulated all his teachings into a religion that he names Jainism.
Celebrations And Rituals
The festival is celebrated throughout the country among Jain communities. Although they believe in simplicity and avoid grandiosity, there are some significant ceremonies that they uphold. One of the most significant traditions of this day is the visit to various tirthankar statues and temples. There are processions with pictures and images of Mahavir. The temples have varied pujas to honor the statue of Mahavir by flowers, rice, fruits and abhishek it with milk. There are places of gathering or temples where the core values and message of Mahavira is preached. Some places his life history is also told. Some of the believers also observe a fast on this day. Kheer is prepared in most houses as a sweet dish.
Commonly Celebrated
Lord Mahavira, as it is believed in Jainism was born somewhere around the 5th century B.C. His birth date according to Lunar calendar is on the thirteenth day of the month of rising moon called Chaitr. According to the Gregorian calendar it falls somewhere in the month of April. The most important places of celebration of Mahavir Jayanti are Gujarat and Rajasthan. Gujarat is said to have to maximum number of Jain shrines. They are also the states where highest numbers of Jains reside. In India, Gujarat holds the biggest fair for this festival. Palitana and Girnar are some of the most significant places of worship of the state. Yet Vaishali, in Bihar, being the birth place of Mahavir, has its own importance and also celebrates this Jayanti significantly.
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