14 NOVEMBER CHILDREN'S DAY

 The children of today, The India of tomorrow..!

“Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow.” ---Jawaharlal Nehru

     In India, Children's Day is celebrated on the 14th November that marks the birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter and independent India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

     He was a true friend of children. His love for children was the same as his love for red rose. He loved children and kept them dear to his heart. Therefore children called him ‘Chacha Nehru’.

     On this day we all need to remember to renew our commitment to the words of Nehru and learn to live by his thoughts and dreams.

     Nehru was a great statesman, idealist and dreamer. He has written many books including ‘The Discovery of India’, ‘Glimpses of World History’, Letters From A Father To His Daughter’.

     When he became the Prime Minister, his first priority was to give good education to children and youth. He brought a revolution in the field of academics in India, and was involved in establishing All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management and the National Institutes of Technology.

     The future of the country depends upon the present children. If they do not develop in a proper way, the country’s future will be ruined.

   We all need to remember the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, “The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country.”

     Therefore children should work hard to bring his dream into reality and help to build strong nation to make our country a better place to live in.

Happy Children’s Day!

THE FATHER OF MODERN COMPUTER

Alan Turing

     Nobody can ever forget Alan Turing. Today, the world is at your finger tips, thanks to the contribution of Alan Mathison Turing. 

     Alan Turing was born in London on 23rd June 1912. His father, Julius Mathison Turing, was British member of the Indian Civil Service. While he was a student, Turing was very much interested in Mathematics. However the book titled ‘Natural Wonders Every Child Should Know‘ attracted him deeply and eventually he turned to learning science. He studied in King’s College, Cambridge and he became one of the noted scientists of this period. 

     During the Second World War, Turing worked in Britain’s Code Breaking Centre. He successfully developed a number of devices for breaking the German Ciphers including the technique of bomb and electro mechanical machine. Alan Turing made a remarkable contribution in the development of computer science by giving a formalisation of the concept of ‘algorithm’ and computation with the Turing Machine. This device can be considered as a model of a general purpose computer, science and artificial intelligence.

     In 1948, Turing joined the Max Newman Computer Laboratory at Manchester University. He assisted there for the development of the Manchester Computer. In fact, he was a man in search of knowledge always and his attention turned to Mathematical Biology. He wrote a Paper on the Chemical basis of Morphogenesis and predicted Oscillating chemical reactions.

     Unfortunately, this great scientist bade farewell to this world on 7 June 1954 at the early age of 41. In memory of Alan Turing, The Association for Computing Machinery gives the annual ‘ACM Turing Award‘ to the scholars who get the highest distinction in computer science.  

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Stories and Legends of Deepavali

     India, the land of rich cultural heritage, has one or the other festival every month. It is the spiritual and religious richness in India that each festival has significance related to lifestyle, seasons, history and legends of this great land. One such festival is the 'festival of lights: Deepawali'. 

     Like every other Hindu festival, stories and legends are associated with Diwali too. Here are some of them in brief:

Return of Shri Ram To Ayodhya: The most famous legend behind the celebrations of Diwali is about the prince of Ayodhya Nagri - Lord Shri Ram. While in exile, the king of Lanka, Ravana, kidnapped Ram's wife, Sita from the forest, where they were staying as per the instructions of King Dashratha, father of Lord Ram. In order to free Sita from Ravana's custody, Ram attacked Lanka with the aid of 'Vaanar Sena' in which, Ram defeated Ravan and released Sita. On the return of Lord Ram along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, from exile after 14 years,  people of Ayodhya decorated their homes as well as the city of Ayodhya by lighting tiny diyas all over. It was this day.

The Rebirth of Lakshmi: Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and prosperity, is the most prominent goddess associated with Diwali and thus her story is one that has particular significance to the festival. As the legend goes, through a display of arrogance,  Lord Indra once provoked Lakshmi to leave the divine world and enter the milky ocean. Without the guidance and blessings of Lakshmi, the world then turned into a dark place and the gods were desperate to bring her back. After churning the milky ocean (Samudra Manthan) for 1,000 years, Lakshmi was finally reborn, rising to the surface on a beautiful lotus flower and once again bringing to the world her blessings of good fortune. On Diwali, people light up the night to guide Lakshmi into their home and bring good fortune and prosperity for the year to come.

Lord Krishna Destroyed Demon Narakasur: Legend holds that Narakasura was blessed by Brahma with the power that he could only die at the hands of a woman, whom Narakasura believed would never happen. After victory over Lord Indra during a war, Narakasur snatched away the magnificent earrings of Mother Goddess Aditi. Narakasur also imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of Gods and saints in his harem. With the support of Lord Krishna, Satyabhama defeated Narakasur, released all the women from his harem and restored the magnificent earrings of Mother Goddess Aditi. While dying, Narakasura requested that no one mourn his death and instead celebrate with life and colour, as we see take place every year during the Diwali festival.

The Return of The Pandavas: The great Hindu epic 'Mahabharata' has another interesting story related to the 'Kartik Amavasya'. According to the story, the 'Pandavas', were sentenced to thirteen years exile after losing a game of dice, against 'the Kauravas'. Therefore, the Pandavas spent thirteen years in the forest and returned to their kingdom on the day of 'Kartik Amavasya' leading to celebrations.

Coronation of King Vikramaditya: Another legend about Diwali celebrations relates to one of the greatest Hindu King - Vikramaditya. It was the day when he was coronated and the people celebrated this event by lighting tiny earthen 'diyas'. His reign was also the beginning of Vikram Samvat, the Hindu calendar, and celebrated as Hindu New year every year on this day in some regions.

Kali Destroys the Demons: Kali, the goddess of destruction, is celebrated in West Bengal as the major deity associated with Diwali. According to Hindu mythology, Kali was born to liberate heaven and earth from the cruel oppression of the demons. However, after slaying all the demons, Kali lost control and continued her path of destruction until the intervention of Lord Shiva. Her day of repentance is celebrated on Diwali, paying tribute to the awesome power of Kali and her embodiment of the ultimate victory of good over evil.

Lord Mahavira attains Nirvana: While these previous legends come from Hindu mythology, Jains also have their own traditions that guide the celebration of Diwali. According to Jainism, Lord Mahavira, a contemporary of Gautama Buddha, reached enlightenment at the time of Diwali in the 6th century BCE, around the time of the first historical records of the festival’s observation. 

Guru Hargobind's Release from Prison 'Bandi Chhor Divas': In Sikh tradition, this date commemorates the 17th-century release from prison of Guru Hargobind, a significant figure in the Sikh religion, who had been detained under the Mughal empire. It is also a time of year during which all Sikhs traditionally gather to receive guru blessings, and has officially been observed as a Sikh festival since the 16th-century.

The basic nature of the human spirit is celebration whatever may be the occasion. So let's celebrate Diwali, let's celebrate Life!

Happy Diwali!

DO YOU KNOW

 What is a bunk bed?

A bunk bed is a special type of bed designed for kids that has two beds stacked on top of each other. 

It looks like a tall frame with a ladder to climb up to the upper end. 

The top bed is like a cosy nest high above the ground, while the lower bed is closer to the floor. 

Bunk beds are super fun for kids because they can sleep on different levels, almost like having a little adventure every night. 

They are perfect for siblings who share a room or for sleepovers with friends. 

Bunk beds save space and create a playful and exciting sleeping area for young ones to enjoy.

THE FUN SPORT WITH SWORDS

 Fencing

Fencing is a cool sport where people wear special clothes and swords to play.

Fencers wear masks and jackets to stay safe while playing. 

There are three types of swords in fencing: foil, epee and sabre, each with its own rules.

It helps people practice balance, focus and quick thinking.

Fencers learn special moves like lunges and parries to score points.

The matches are like exciting duels, where fencers try to hit each other with the sword's tip.

Fencing is not just winning; it's about having fun and making friends.

It's a sport that teaches respect, discipline and good sportsmanship.

Fencing is a great way to stay active, learn new skills and enjoy the thrill of friendly competition.

AN ANCIENT TEMPLE VILLAGE OF KARNATAKA

Hampi

     Hampi is an ancient temple village in Karnataka. Located inside Vijayanagara city, it is also known by its traditional names --- Pampa Kshetra, Kishkindha Kshetra and Bhaskara Kshetra. The history of Hampi dates back to the first century, but concrete information exists from the 12^th  and 13^th centuries when the city was established. In about 200 years, Vijayanagara was ruled by four dynasties --- Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu.

     The Vijayanagara empire was established and founded by Bukka and Harihara, who were also known as the Sangama brothers. They made Hampi their capital city in the 14^th century. The rulers of all the four dynasties built many monuments and sculptures; of these only 500 monuments now survive. The rest, present as ruins, are spread over 4,100 hectares of land and include forts, sacred complexes, temples, shrines and pillared halls. Some of the ruins worth visiting are as follows.

     The Virupaksha temple, also known as the Pampvathi Temple, is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The structure dates back to the 9^th century and is known for its inscriptions. The temple has three gopuras and a 160 ft-high tower at the main entrance.

     The stone chariot located inside the Vitthala temple premises is another known and well-visited monument. The chariot was built by the king Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire during the 16^th century. It is said that the chariot was inspired by the Konark Sun Temple chariot of Odisha. The chariot is a shrine for Lord Vishnu's vehicle, the Garuda. It is built based on the Dravidian style of architecture, where slabs of granite have been used to look like a solid structure. The base of the chariot depicts a mythical battle scene and has sculptures of horses and elephants.

     Another attraction is the king's balance or the Tulapurushandana. Situated close to the Stone chariot, this 5mt-tall structure forms an archway-like structure. It is carved from stone and locals believe that during an eclipse and Dussehra, the king would weigh himself against gold and precious stones and these jewels were then handed over to the priests of the temple. 

     The Achyutaraya temple is another classic temple structure that was built in 1534. This was the last structure to be built before the empire fell to the Sultans. This temple is also dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple courtyard is lined by intricately carved pillars and the temple houses an antarala, rangamantapa and garbhagriha.

Some more information:

* The rocks of Hampi are thousands of years old. It is believed that they were formed from years of erosion of giant monoliths that existed during the prehistoric ages.

* The Vitthala Temple is known for its 56 melodic columns or musical pillars, which are also known as SaReGaMa Pillars. These stone pillars create musical sounds when tapped delicately.

* A simple scientific fact was used to break the stones that the temples are constructed out of. Artists cut the gigantic stones by drilling a sequence of holes on the stones' surface. Dry wooden pieces were then pegged into the holes and drenched in water. As the wooden pegs absorbed the water, they expanded, causing the stones to split and break.

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.