THE FIRST AND THE LAST FEMALE RULER OF DELHI

 Razia Sultan

     Razia was born to the slave dynasty, also known as the Mamluk Dynasty, which ruled over Delhi during the 13^th century century. Her father Iltutmish knew that all his sons were useless and ensured that his daughter was trained in arms and administration. He put her in charge of the kingdom whenever he was away on military campaigns. She fulfilled this duty to everyone's satisfaction and was designated as his successor.

     After his death, however, his nobles disregarded his wish and made Razia's half-brother Raknuddin Firuz, the king. As expected by Iltutmish, he proved to be a bad ruler. His mother Shah Turkan was very ambitious and started killing or punishing nobles to control them. She even tried to get Razia killed.

     Once when Raknuddin was away on a campaign, Razia instigated the public assembled for prayers against Shah Turkan, who had got one of Razia's brothers blinded and executed. She reminded them of her father's good reign and will and promised relief from the oppressive ruler. She also offered to give up the throne if she did not meet their expectations. A mob soon attacked the palace and Shah Turkan was detained. The nobles installed Razia on the throne. She thus becamethe first female Muslim ruler in South Asia.

     Razia gave up her traditional female attire and adopted a more gender neutral attire. She also dropped her veil and displayed her face in public. She rode an elephant through the streets of Delhi. She refused to be addressed as 'Sultana' because that meant 'wife of a Sultan' and insisted on being called 'Sultan'. She also issued coins in her name.

     She streamlined the administration of her state and established schools, academics and public libraries. She encouraged the study of literature, philosophy, the sciences and astronomy. She constructed roads to connect villages with cities. She was also the first ruler to abolish the hated Jaziya tax, which was imposed on Hindus.

     Razia had ascended the throne with the support of the general public, rather than that of the powerful Turkic nobles who dominated Delhi's court. Many of the nobles could not accept a female ruling over them. Razia tried to reduce the power of the Turkic nobles by promoting non-Turkics. This further angered them and they rose up against her in rebellion. Four powerful Turkic nobles marched on Delhi from different directions. Razia led her army out to the Yamuna bank to face the rebels. After some indecisive fighting, two of the rebels switched to Razia's side and the others were defeated.

     Razia made several changes to the administration and made new appointments. The nobles who had supported her rise had expected her to be a ruler in name while they held the real power, but Razia grew increasingly assertive. She also promoted Malik Yaqut, an Abyssinian slave, as a counter to Turkic nobles. Her close relationship with Yaqut ultimately became the cause of her downfall.

     While she was away to quell a rebellion in Lahore, a conspiracy was hatched to dethrone her. On her return from Lahore, Razia learnt that Altunia of Bathinda, her childhood friend, had rebelled. She led her army to Bathinda 10 days later, but rebels killed Yaqut and imprisoned Razia. Razia had ruled from the throne of Delhi for three years and six months.

     The nobles installed Razia's half brother Bahram on the throne. They distributed the important titles among themselves, ignoring Altunia, who was holding Razia prisoner. A few months later, Razia married the now disgruntled Altunia and they together decided to attempt to win back the throne. After assembling an army, they fought against Bahram but were defeated. They were forced to retreat to Kaithal, where they were deserted by their soldiers and were robbed and killed by Jat zamindars. Curiously, there is controversy about Razia's real grave and there are three probable ones --- in Kaithal, Delhi and Tonk.

     Razia ruled and fought in a man's world. The Turkic nobles wanted to keep the ruler of Delhi under their thumb and Razia's gender gave them a convenient excuse to oppose her. Nevertheless, in her brief reign, Razia made a mark thanks to her tolerance and efforts to improve the lives of her subjects. She was truly a 'People's Queen'.

Things we learn from Razia Sultan:

* Women are equally capable as men.

* Public welfare is the supreme duty of a ruler.

* Learning and pursuit of knowledge are very important for everyone.

PEACE, HARMONY AND BROTHERHOOD

 A beautiful message from pigeons

 

     In an ancient temple, a number of pigeons lived happily on the roof top.

     When the renovation of the temple began for the annual temple feast, the pigeons relocated themselves to a Church nearby. 

     The existing pigeons in the Church accommodated the new comers very well.

     Christmas was nearing and the Church was given a facelift. All the pigeons had to move out and look for another place.

     They were fortunate to find a place in a Mosque nearby. The pigeons in the Mosque welcomed them happily. Then, It was Ramadan time and the Mosque was to be repainted. All the pigeons now came back to the same ancient temple.

     One day the pigeons on top could see some communal clashes below in the market square.

     The baby pigeon asked the mother pigeon, "Who are these people?"

     The mother replied, "They are Human beings".

     The baby asked, "But why are they fighting with each other...?"

     The mother said, "These human beings going to temple are called 'Hindus' and the people going to Church are called 'Christians' and the people going to Mosque are called 'Muslims'."

     The Baby pigeon asked, "Why is it so? When we were in the Temple we were called Pigeons, when we were in the church we were called Pigeons and when we were in the Mosque, we were called Pigeons. Similarly they should be called just 'Human beings' wherever they go, isn’t it?"

     The mother Pigeon said, "You and me and our Pigeon friends have experienced God and that's why we are living here in a highly elevated place peacefully. These people are yet to experience God. Hence they are living below us and fighting and killing each other."

   Peace, harmony and brotherhood are the marks of humanity. They are the heart of every religion. They are the ultimate weapons against all powerful weapons. Oneness will only be actualized when we uproot the seed of discord, and sow the seed of harmony.

A TREASURE TROVE OF NUTRIENTS

 The Jackfruit

     One of the oldest tropical fruits is the jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), which has a history of cultivation dating back 5,000 years. The fruit originated in south-western India, and later spread to other tropical regions of the world. The name is derived from Portuguese jaca, which in turn comes from the Malyalam name for the fruit, chakka. Today the world's leading jackfruit producers are Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. It is also grown in Thailand, the Philippines, parts of Africa (Tanzania, Mauritius etc.) and tropical America (Brazil, Hawaii). 

     The jackfruit tree is a familiar sight throughout India, especially in the southern, eastern and western states. The tree is much valued by subsistence farmers as a source of food, fodder, fuel, timber as well as medicinal and industrial products, and is the national tree of Bangladesh. The ripe fruit significantly contributes to the nutrition of low-income families as it is a good source of vitamins, minerals and calories.

     The tree is a handsome, stately evergreen that can reach a height of 80 feet. All its parts exude a milky white latex that is extremely sticky. The leaves are oblong or oval, 4 to 6 inches long, glossy and deep green in colour. The fruit, which is the world's largest tree-borne fruit, is up to 36 inches long and 20 inches in diameter. On an average, a mature fruit weighs about 20 kg. But only about 30% of the fruit is edible matter. The fruit is covered by a thick spiky skin that is dark green in colour and is difficult to cut into. The interior consists of large edible bulbs of yellow flesh, each enclosing a smooth, oval, light brown seed that is about an inch long. A single fruit contains 100 to 500 seeds. The flesh has a rich, musky flavour.

     The jackfruit is rich in potassium, vitamins A, C and B and minerals like calcium, zinc and phosphorus. It is also a good source of dietary fibre, which keeps constipation at bay and offers protection against colon cancer. Further, it contains simple sugars like fructose and sucrose, that provide instant energy and revitalise the body. 

     The jackfruit is a highly versatile fruit whose flesh can be eaten as it is, added to desserts such as ice creams or fruit salads or processed into a variety of mouth-watering delicacies including jams, jellies, beverages, sweets, biscuits, candy and chips. Asian and African cuisines make extensive use of the fruit in its ripe and raw forms. Unripe jackfruit is cooked and eaten as a vegetable and is an excellent substitute for meat in spicy curries and other savoury dishes. Jackfruit seeds which are rich in protein are boiled or roasted and eaten like nuts or added to other preparations.

     Various parts of the jackfruit tree have medicinal uses. The root extract is used to treat fever, diarrhoea, skin diseases and asthma. Application of the latex mixed with vinegar is said to cure abscesses, swellings and snake bites. 

     Jackfruit leaves have served many purposes over the years, from being used as spoons to eat gruel, plates to eat food in olden days,  to the present use as fodder for cattle. 

     Jack wood is used to make musical instruments such as the veena and mrudangam. Being termite proof and resistant to fungal decay, it is also used in house construction and for making furniture. A yellow dye is extracted from the wood and used to dye cotton.

DO YOU KNOW

 How FASTag works?

     FASTag is an electronic toll collection system used on Indian highways to make toll payments more efficient. It operates on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Here's how it works in brief:

RFID Sticker: Vehicle owners affix a unique FASTag sticker with an embedded RFID chip and bar code on their vehicle's windshield.

Prepaid Account: Users link their FASTag to a prepaid account with a bank or authorised agency. They load funds into this account.

Toll Booth Entry: When a vehicle approaches a toll booth, the FASTag RFID reader scans the tag's bar code and reads the RFID data.

Payment Deduction: The toll amount is automatically deducted from the linked prepaid account as the vehicle passes through the booth.

Instant Payment: The toll gate's barrier opens, and the vehicle can pass through without stopping, making toll collection faster, reducing congestion and promoting cashless transaction. 

     FASTag helps streamline toll collection, minimise traffic delays and improve overall road transport efficiency.

FROM A DACOIT TO DIVINITY

 Story of Valmiki

     Once upon a time, thousands of years ago, there lived a notorious highway robber by name Ratnakar. He had chosen robbery as his profession to financially support his family. He was cruel, ruthless and merciless person. His modus operandi was to first prey upon and kill the travelers and then rob them of their belongings and wealth. He continued with his gruesome ways for many years and his notoriety spread far and wide. People became scared of travelling and if it was absolutely essential to travel, they started traveling in groups to avoid being attacked by Ratnakar.

     One day as Ratnakar was waiting for a victim, hiding behind the trees on the side of a road, he saw an unusual traveler pass by. The traveler was walking alone, wearing a dhoti and playing a musical instrument Veena and singing the glories of God.

 

    As soon as the traveler walked in front of Ratnakar, Ratnakar suddenly appeared from behind the trees and landed himself in front of the traveler. The traveler was none other than the great saint Narad. Sage Narad did not flinch at the sight of the robber. Instead he stood there calmly and in a very kind voice addressed the robber, saying, "Brother! I do not have anything that would be of interest to you".

     Ratnakar had no idea that he was standing face-to-face with a great saint. But he was certainly very surprised by the traveler's even disposition and could not help asking the traveler, "I am Ratnakar, the notorious robber and a merciless killer. Aren't you scared of me?" 

     Sage Narad replied, "No, I am not scared of you. I do not have any treasures on me that you'd want to kill me for. Yet, if it gives you pleasure to kill me, then go ahead and make yourself happy. But before you do so, do tell me the purpose behind this senseless killing of innocent people." 

     Ratnakar replied, "I have a big family to support. I use the money that I collect from robbing people to feed my family and look after them."

     Out of his boundless mercy, the great sage Narad, decided to grace the sinner Ratnakar. Sage Narad told Ratnakar that livelihood earned by sinful means was a grave sin. He further asked Ratnakar, if his family members, for whom he was amassing such sins would be willing to partake a share of his sins. Ratnakar very confidently replied, "Why not? I do all this, only for their sake." Narad ji suggested that he go and confirm his understanding with his family.

     Ratnakar though almost positive that his assumption was correct, decided to go home to re-confirm his assumption with his family, but before that he decided to tie up the traveler with a rope, lest he escape. Upon reaching home, he posed the question to each member of his family --- father, mother, wife and children, "Are you all willing to partake in the sins that I accumulate as a result of killing and robbing people to support each one of you." He was shocked to hear their unanimous response. None of them were willing to accept the consequences of his sinful actions. They told him very clearly, that it was his choice whether he wanted to support them through pious and virtuous means or sinful means. In either case he was responsible to bear the fruits of his good or bad actions.

     Ratnakar was stunned. He could not believe that his family, who he worked so hard for and supported in every way would be so selfish and uncaring towards him. He realised the selfish nature of the world and instantly became completely disenchanted and indifferent towards everyone. He decided to come back to see the traveler who he had left on the side of the road tied to a tree with ropes. He untied Narad Muni, begged his forgiveness and thanked him for opening his eyes. Furthermore, he requested him to accept him as his disciple and guide him on the right path.

     Narad Muni then instructed Ratnakar to chant the name of Lord "Rama" constantly. Being a great sinner, Ratnakar was unable to utter the name of the Lord. But saints have their mysterious ways of gracing great sinners. Narad ji suggested him to repeat the word "Mara" since after pronouncing this word once, he would naturally pronounce "Rama" in rotation. Ratnakar started pronouncing Mara Mara. Narad ji instructed him to continue chanting Mara Mara till such time as he came back.

     So strong was his renunciation and so firm was his faith in the words of his Guru, that questions such as when would my Guru come back, how long should I chant Mara Mara etc. did not cross his mind. He continued to chant for many years. During this time, termites made his body their home.

     After chanting for years, Mara became Rama and all his sins were washed away. Narad ji was immensely pleased with his devotion. He enlightened him, restored his body back to its original form and granted him a new name Valmiki (home of termites). Narad Muni also bestowed on him an exclusive title of Brahma Rishi (one who has highest divine knowledge). 

     Valmiki was the composer of the first Sanskrit poem (Adikavya) known the world over as the epic Ramayana (Story of Lord Rama), hence he is called the Adikavi or First Poet.

THE COLONIES UNDER WATER

Corals

      Have you seen soft jelly like structures deep under water, in a movie or pictures? You must have thought them to be marine structures as marine plants or rocks. But you are mistaken. These animals are called corals. They are marine invertebrates meaning, invertebrate animals that live in marine habitats.

     They are made up of number of very tiny creatures called as 'polyps' that are connected together. 

     A polyp is a sac-like cylindrical animal. They are a few centimeter in length and a few millimeter in diameter. At one end, it has a mouth which is surrounded by organs called tentacles. With the help of tentacles they snatch food. Apart from small fish and planktons, corals also form their food by photosynthesis done by photosynthetic unicellular algae present in their tissues. The tentacles kill the prey using venom, a toxin, which is released when the tentacles are in contact with other organism.

     Corals are reef builders. Reefs are underwater colonies of polyps. Stony corals are most important for this reef building. 

     A small coral swims under sea until it finds a suitable place to build a house. With the use of special glue like substance, it sticks to the rock or to another piece of coral. This starts the process of making the underwater colonies of reef. Over thousands of years, the colony formed by many generations creates a large skeleton like species. Calcium carbonate is the main compound which holds these colonies together. Warm, shallow and clear water is the best source for reefs. Coral reefs are earth's most diverse underwater ecosystem (Ecosystem is a community made up of living organism and non-living components such as air and water). They are just 0.1% of the total ocean area and still are the home for 255 of marine species.

     There are different types of reefs such as --- fringing reefs and atolls. Charles Darwin first identified and classified them. The most known example of reef is The Great Barrier Reef. It is the world's largest coral reef system. Located in the Queensland, Australia, it consists of 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It is spread over an area of approximately 3,44,400 square kilometres. It is the world's largest and biggest structure made up of living organisms. In 1981, it was declared as a world heritage site.

     Apart from being home to many marine species, corals have other benefits and uses as well. The colonies are very rich in number of fishes and help the fisheries.

     They are used in jewellery and medicines as well. They are used in the treatment of diseases such as cancers and HIV. Coral calx, known as Praval Bhasm is widely used to treat the calcium deficiency and bone related problems. Reefs are now a part of global tourism economy. Tourists across the globe visit the reef areas to explore the coral ecosystem. But due to heavy human intervention, reefs are under threat. 

     Over fishing, pollution, coral mining, global warming are few of the major threats to coral ecosystem. Almost 60% of the world's coral reefs are in danger due to human activities. People and governments of different nations started serious initiatives and took steps to protect this amazing ecosystem through Marine Protected areas (MPAs), Biosphere reserves, marine parks, national monuments world heritage status, fishery management etc.

A HUMAN COMPUTER

                               Shakuntala Devi

 Who was Shakuntala Devi?

     Shakuntala Devi was born on 4th November 1929 in Bangalore, Karnataka. She had unparalleled talent in calculating complex mathematical numbers. She proved her exceptional talent in arithmetic through her math shows worldwide at a very tender age.

     Her excellent skill has brought her a renowned name as “Human-Computer.” Shakuntala Devi was also an author and showcased her wisdom through books on astrology, puzzles, and mathematics.

     She made our country proud by securing a place in “The Guinness Book of World Records” for her intellectual mathematical talent. Also a motivational speaker who enlightened the lives of many individuals towards mathematics.

     In 1960, she married Paritosh Banerjee and was blessed with a daughter. Internationally acclaimed mathematician Shakuntala Devi was genuinely a wonder on earth whose life journey needs to be known by students and parents.

Why is Shakuntala Devi famous?

     Most of the time, people were astonished by Devi’s mathematical excellence. People were always thinking about how Shakuntala Devi calculates such huge numbers randomly assigned to her in an instant. She was an extraordinary human with impeccable calculating skills that brought her the title “Human-Computer.”

     On 18th June, 1980 at Imperial College London she demonstrated multiplication of two complex 13-digit numbers such as 7,686,369,774,870 x  2,465,099,745,779.

     Those numbers were given randomly, and Devi answered it as 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730 in just 28 seconds, it has brought her worldly fame. She never used any paper or pen to calculate the numbers; it was her mental ability to determine the right answer in her mind.

     All of these outstanding accomplishments were achieved without taking any higher degree of education. Her talent for arithmetic calculation made her famous, and she deserved the magnificent titles given for her talents.

     Devi had an immense passion for numbers, and that extended her interest in astrology too. Her strength of numbers was applied to the pursuit of astrological knowledge. She even impressed many with her astrology predictions about them. Devi has also expressed her passion for writing through books, which made her author of diverse genres.

     Her perseverance in aspiring to be famous emerged when she acknowledged her rare supreme talents and utilized them for good. Her presence was an honor to the country, and she will always be remembered as one of the great mathematician.

Awards and Achievements of Shakuntala Devi

     The authenticity of Shakuntala Devi’s talents gained her many awards and achievements. One of the well-known titles that capped her talent is “Human-Computer.” She outperformed the most sophisticated computers at the time and mesmerised people with her mathematical capabilities.

     In 1980, Devi’s successful attempt to multiply two random 13-digits in 28 seconds was recorded for the year 1982 of The Guinness Book of World Records.

One of her talents include her writings such as:

•      Figuring: The Joy of the Numbers, More puzzles to Puzzle You, In The Wonderland of Numbers, The Book of Numbers, Awaken Genius in Your Child, Super Memory - It Can be Yours, Perfect Murder, Astrology For You, System of Education, Rural Credits and Agriculture Development, Caste System in India, Women’s Status and Social Change.

     Devi has written books on mathematical calculations, memory power, social issues, puzzles, and mysteries. A few books written by Devi have the tricks and tips to improve mathematical ability and enhance memory.

     She has also written books related to social issues that are inspiring and educational. Devi has added fun into Maths and explained it as the most easy-going concepts to learn. It has inspired many students to take forward their mathematical abilities. 

The early life of the mathematical prodigy

    Shakuntala Devi’s parents lived in Bangalore and belonged to a Kannada Brahmins community. At the tender age of 3, Devi’s father, Mr. Sudhararaja Rao, discovered her mathematical talent during a card trick. Later, he has also taken Devi for roadshows to demonstrate her mathematical skills in schools and colleges.

     At the age of 6, Devi has performed her arithmetic skills at the University of Mysore. She has achieved all these without any formal education. Thus, her tours to different parts of the world began and made her a world-famous Indian mathematician.

     People who attended her shows would randomly ask her numbers to calculate or find the day with the date provided. Her answers were always perfect and faster than they would expect. Many people at the top universities wondered, “How Shakuntala Devi Calculates?”.

 

     Devi’s greatest passion for calculating complex numbers has taken her to many unique places around the globe. She demonstrated her arithmetic abilities before many students and motivated young minds to discover mathematics’s beauty and simplicity.

Interesting Facts about the mathematical prodigy

     Devi did not like the title of Human-Computer given to her. She stated that the human brain’s ability is far greater than a computer and should never compare both.

     In the year 1980, she contested in the election for the parliament seat in two different localities against Indira Gandhi and lost. Devi has been a respected personal astrologer to many politicians, movie stars, and business personnel.

A movie titled “Shakuntala Devi” has been created based on her life. Released in the year 2020, it showcased the life of Shakuntala Devi and captured her indomitable spirit. 

When did Shakuntala Devi die?

     Shakuntala Devi’s demise has been a massive loss to the field of mathematics in India. The fantastic journey of mathematical prowess, respected astrologer, inspirational author, and an honourable individual ended on 21st April 2013.

     She passed away due to cardiac and respiratory failure. Before that, she also had kidney and heart complications. People will always remember her spell bound calculations and inspirational spirit.