GREAT MATHEMATICIAN AND ASTRONOMER

 Aryabhatta

Aryabhatta was the first major mathematician and astronomer from the classical age of India.

His works include Aryabhatiya and the Arya-Siddhanta.

His most famous work was compiled when he was just 23 years old.

‘Ayrabhatiya’ covers several branches of mathematics such as Algebra, Arithmetic, Plane and Spherical Trigonometry.

His principal focus was mathematics; he went into extraordinary insight about arithmetic and geometric movements like 2, 4, 6, and 8 or 2, 10, 50, and 250.

He formulated a brilliant technique for finding the lengths of chords of circles with half chords as opposed to the full chord strategy utilised by the Greeks.

He came up with an approximation of pi.

He was the first mathematician to give what later came to be known as the tables of sine, cosine and converse sine to four decimal spots, which brought forth trigonometry.

Aryabhatta has named the initial 10 decimal places and derived the methods for extracting square roots, summing arithmetic series and solving indeterminate equations of the type ax – by = c.

Aryabhatta worked on the place value

system and discovered zero for the first

time, making use of letters to indicate

numbers and pointing out qualities.

He stated correctly the number of days in a year to be 365, alongside the seven-day week and about an intercalary month embedded into a year to make the calendar adjust to the seasons.

He discovered the position of nine planets and expressed that these likewise rotated around the sun.

He also provided the circumference and measurement of the Earth and the radius of the Earth and the radius of 9 planets.

Aryabhatta challenged many superstitious theories. Aryabhatta also gave a theory on eclipse; he said it wasn’t because of Rahu, but because of shadows cast by the earth and moon.

Aryabhatta pronounced that the moon has no light of its own. It is visible because it mirrors the light of the sun.

He concluded that the earth is round. He also stated that it rotates on its own axis, which is why we have days and night.

Another discipline Aryabhatta explored was astronomy; he concentrated on a few geometric and trigonometric parts of the celestial sphere that are still used to study stars.

In his old age, Aryabhatta composed another treatise, ‘Aryabhatta-Siddhanta’.  It’s a booklet for every day astronomical calculations as well as a guide to examine auspicious times for performing rituals. To this very day, astronomical data provided in this text is used for preparing Panchangs (Hindu calendars).

India’s first satellite was named after him.

There is also an Indian research centre is

called ‘Aryabhatta Research Institute Of

Observational Sciences’ in Nainital.

DEMOCRACY

What is democracy?

Democracy is a form of government in which it is the people who decide who will rule them. Democracy came into existence in ancient Greece, in the city state of Athens, during 6^th century BC.

In fact the very word is of Greek origin

and it means ‘rule by the people’.

  

In a democracy, each individual adult in a

country, city or specific area, can vote

for a candidate who will represent him in

the government. This means that power is

not concentrated in the hands of one

person, or a group of people, but is

shared equally by all the members of the

society. The idea of democracy is based

on the belief that everyone should enjoy

the same rights and freedom, in short,

that all men and women are born equal.

BIRTH DAY OF LORD GANESH

Ganesh Jayanti

Once, Bhagwan Shiva was away and Parvati Mata went for a bath in the river. 

She took a little turmeric paste from Her body and started to mould a human baby boy from it and gave Him life. 

She clearly instructed the boy to keep a guard and not allow anyone inside.

Meanwhile, Bhagwan Shiva returned and wanted to go to His beloved Parvati Devi.

The Boy refused admission to Bhagwan Shiva. Bhagwan Shiva became furious and He threw His trident towards the boy, decapitating Him.

When Parvati Mata returned, She was very sad to see Her dear son lying lifeless. Bhagwan Shiva tried to console Parvati Devi but was not successful. 

Bhagwan Shiva then sent His army to fetch the head of anyone they meet. 

The army men first saw the dying elephant. 

They fetched that head and came back to Bhagwan Shiva. Bhagwan Shiva attached the head on the boy’s body and brought Him back to life.

 Parvati Mata was very happy but was also worried that Her son would be mocked by all the Gods. 

Bhagwan Shiva sensed Her sadness and to allay Her fear, He invoked all the Gods and asked them to bless their son. 

All the Gods showered their blessings and boons upon Shri Ganesha.

SPACE NEWS

Get ready for the celestial event:  Green Comet

The rare green comet that last came to Earth about 50,000 years ago has returned to the skies of Earth. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) can be seen with the naked eye if the conditions in the sky are just right. The comet will reach its highest magnitude as it gets closest to the planet in its orbit.

The comet, recently went close to the Sun, completing its over 50,000-year-long orbit. The last time it came this close to Earth, modern humans were yet to be fully evolved and Neanderthals roamed the planet. The comet has already amazed stargazers and astrophotographers with its unique greenish tinge and long tail.

What is Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)?

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was first discovered in March last year by the wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility when it was already inside the orbit of Jupiter. While it was initially believed to be an asteroid, it began developing a tail as the Sun's influence began vapourising the ice. At the time of its discovery, it was shining with a magnitude of 17.3.

Comets consist mostly of ice coated with dark organic material. They are referred to as dirty snowballs and may yield important clues about the formation of our solar system. NASA said that Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is now sweeping through stars near the northern boundary of the constellation Bootes. It is outward bound but still growing brighter.

Is the green comet visible?

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is now visible in several parts of the world, thanks to its close approach and the rise in magnitude. The comet no longer requires a telescope for viewing and can be seen with the naked eye in countries like Spain with little light pollution and clear skies.

According to NASA, Comet ZTF will make its closest approach on February 2, coming to within about 2.4 light-minutes of our planet. "Its faint ion tail has been buffeted by recent solar activity. This visitor from the distant Oort cloud rounded the Sun on January 12," NASA said in a statement.

 Will it be visible in India?

The comet will be visible in the skies above India in several parts of the country, including in Ladakh, and eastern India. The Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle had captured the comet while it was in transit. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was photographed by astronomers using the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, which is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru.

At its closest, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be just 42 million kilometers away from Earth. The next time it comes this close to Earth, our entire species might have fully evolved into something else or maybe even become interplanetary settled in colonies on Mars and the Moon.

The comet is estimated to come closest to Earth around February 2.

NASA has said the comet could be visible with telescopes and binoculars, and might even be visible to the naked eye under a clear night sky.

24 JANUARY

 National Girl Child Day

National Girl Child Day is celebrated on 24 January in India to spread awareness about the rights of girls, to highlight the inequalities that they face in their lives and also to promote the importance of education, health and nutrition.

National Girl Child Day was first initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. To mark the occasion this year, the Women and Child Development Department will celebrate National Girl Child Week from 24 to 30 January.

23 JANUARY, PARAKRAM DIWAS

 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Early life of Subhash Chandra Bose

Subhash Chandra Bose was born to a Bengali family on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack. His parents were Janakinath Bose who was a well reputed advocate and Prabhavati Devi. He was the ninth child of a total of fourteen siblings.

Subhash Chandra Bose’s nationalistic temperament first came to light at the Presidency College, Calcutta where he studied briefly, when he was rusticated for assaulting Professor Oaten for his anti-India comments in his classroom to all his pupils. Bose later went on to top the matriculation examination of Calcutta province in 1911 and passed his B.A. in 1918 in philosophy from the Scottish Church College.

 

Political career

In 1923, he was elected President of the All India Youth Congress as well as Secretary of Bengal State Congress. He also worked as an editor for Deshbahdhu Das’s newspaper “Forward.” In a roundup of nationalists in 1925, Bose was arrested and sent to prison in Mandalay, where he contracted tuberculosis. After spending two years in prison, Bose was released and was appointed the General Secretary of the Congress party and worked closely with Jawaharlal Nehru for Independence.

During the mid-1930s Bose travelled in Europe, visiting Indian students and European politicians, including Mussolini. He observed party organization and saw communism and fascism in action. By 1938, he had become a leader of national stature and agreed to accept a nomination for Congress president. He stood for Swaraj (self-governance), as well as using force against the British but this however meant a confrontation with Gandhi, which also created a rift between him and Nehru.

 

Holwell Monument

On the outbreak of World War II, Subhash Chandra Bose advocated a campaign of mass civil disobedience to protest against Viceroy Lord Linlithgow’s decision to declare war on India’s behalf without consulting the Congress leadership. Bose organized mass protests in Calcutta calling for the ‘Holwell Monument,’ which then stood at the corner of Dalhousie Square, to be removed. Bose was thrown into jail, but was released following a seven-day hunger strike.

 

Escape from Kolkata

Bose’s house in Calcutta was kept under surveillance by the CID. With two court cases pending, he felt the British would not let him leave the country before the end of the war. Subhash Chandra Bose planned an escape with the help of his nephew sir K. Bose in a car, dressed as a Pathan sporting a long beard which he grew overnight. This car which he used to escape is displayed at his home in Calcutta.

 

Escape to Germany

Subhash Chandra Bose escaped to Germany, via Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. In Germany he founded the Indian Legion consisting of 3000 soldiers out of Indian prisoners of war who had fought for the British in North Africa prior to their capture by Axis forces. Its members swore the following allegiance to Hitler and Bose: “I swear by God this holy oath that I will obey the leader of the German race and state, Adolf Hitler, as the commander of the German armed forces in the fight for India, whose leader is Subhash Chandra Bose.”

Instead of being delighted, Subhash Chandra Bose was worried. An admirer of Russia, Bose was devastated when Hitler’s tanks rolled across the Soviet border. Matters worsened when the now-retreating German army would be in no position to offer him help in driving the British from India. So, in February 1943, Bose turned his back on his legionnaires and slipped secretly away aboard a submarine bound for Japan. Travelling onboard the German submarine U-180 around the Cape of Good Hope he reached Imperial Japan (via Japanese submarine I-29). This was the only civilian transfer between two submarines of two different Navies in World War II.

 

Formation of Indian National Army

The idea of a liberation army was revived with the arrival of Subhas Chandra Bose in the Far East in 1943. Bose took control of the Indian National Army (INA) and was able to reorganize the fledgling army and organize massive support among the expatriate Indian population in south-east Asia. At its height the INA consisted of some 85,000 regular troops, including a separate women’s unit headed by Capt. Lakshmi Swaminathan, which was seen as a first of its kind in Asia. The regiment’s name was Rani Jhansi.

Even when faced with military reverses,Subhash Chandra Bose was able to maintain support for the Azad Hind movement. The INA along with the Japanese fought in key battles against the British Army of India. Spoken as a part of a motivational speech for the Indian National Army at a rally of Indians in Burma on July 4, 1944, Bose’s most famous quote was “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!” In this, he urged the people of India to join him in his fight against the British Raj. In 1942, he earned the title 'Netaji', in Germany by the Indian soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj.

 

Possession of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The INA’s first commitment was in the Japanese thrust towards Eastern Indian frontiers of Manipur. The INA and the Japanese also took possession of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1942 and a year later, the Provisional Government of the INA was established in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The islands were renamed Shaheed (Martyr) and Swaraj (Independence). On the Indian mainland, the Indian tricolour, modelled after the Indian National Congress, was raised for the first time in the town of Moirang, in Manipur.

It was the battle of Kohima and Imphal which had a significant impact on the Indian National Army. The Japanese could no longer fund their armies, and eventually surrendered. The INA were no match for the British troops, without the help of the Japanese, and therefore surrendered to the British as well.

 

Death of Subhas Chandra Bose

Mystery still surrounds the disappearance and eventual death of Subhash Chandra Bose though he is alleged to have died in a place crash in Taipei, Taiwan, on 18 August 1945 while en route to Tokyo. The Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Bomber he was travelling on had engine trouble and when it crashed Bose was badly burned, dying in a local hospital four hours later.

 Parakram Diwas

The 23rd of January is observed as

Parakram Diwas every year to inspire

people of the country, especially the

youth, to act with fortitude in the face

of adversity as Netaji did, and to infuse

in them a spirit of patriotic fervour.

AQUATIC LIFE

 Quirky Creatures Of The Ocean

Scientists say that life first began in the

oceans. Yet, so far, we have discovered

only 10% of the life in our oceans. Much

of it has the most bizarre, flummoxing

appearances and behaviours. Let's dive

into the oceans and explore some of these

quirky creatures.

Mudskippers

If you happen to be on a mudflat during low tide, you may come across some lively fish that leap, hop, somersault, walk on their fins and even balance on their tail. They are mudskippers, fish that can live outside water until the tide comes back in. Their bulging, globular eyes on top of their head make them look comical. What's more, they fill their jowls with water to keep from getting dehydrated, giving the impression of having their mouth full.

 

Puffer fish

In rocky tidal pools, you may come across puffer fish, which on feeling threatened, attempt at disguising themselves. They huff and puff and fill themselves with water, turning into cute-looking balls, maybe to make themselves look larger and 'fiercer' to other creatures. But the flipside is that in this globular avatar, they become too clumsy to be able to swim. Only when the water is pumped out can they move on. Most species of puffer fish are toxic so don't ever try to touch them.

 

Octopuses

Octopuses are masters at performing the disappearing act. They not only change their colours to blend with their background, but even change their shape and skin texture! What you think is a rock or a clump of algae or corals may turn out to be a very clever octopus!

 

Seahorses

Seahorses have the distinction of being the only ones amongst whom the papas give birth, not the mamas! Pssst, here is the secret-the mama shoves her eggs into her male partner's pouch as soon as she lays them! The papa dutifully looks after them until they finally hatch, when he jerks them out of his pouch.

 

Parrotfish

Swim up close to a coral reef and you may get to see the very attractive bluish-green parrotfish, which have a mouth that looks like a parrot's beak. They use it to bite off chunks of coral to get at the algae living inside the little polyps that make up the coral colony. A surprise awaits you when it's bedtime for them. That's when they secrete a blanket of slime all over themselves-not to feel cosy but to prevent their body odour from seeping out and attracting foraging moray eels!

 

Otters

If you happen to come across otters while you are out exploring the quirky creatures of the watery world, don't be surprised if you see them floating lazily on their back, holding onto their partner's hand to make sure the waves do not separate them while they are dozing. Their favourite foods are crabs and clams. They break open the hard shells of these creatures to get at the soft flesh within by placing them on their chest and smashing them with rocks! They have a collection of small rocks in pouches in their armpits!

 

Anglerfish

Have you heard of fish that fish for other fish in the deeper ocean realms? That's anglerfish for you! A spine on their head is modified into a kind of fishing rod, complete with a luminous tassel to act as bait. Small fish that get attracted by the shining tassel are gulped down in a trice!

 

Firefly Squid

In the deeper depths of the ocean, sunlight cannot penetrate. Here in the twilight zone, you come across fish giving off their own bioluminescent light. It's the firefly squid.

 

Deep Sea Gulpers

Further on, in the dark recesses of the

deep ocean depths, you may come across

these fish, which normally look like they

are just tails! But they can expand their

stomach to three times their size to gulp

down much larger fish when needed.