SEA OF MILK

Dhudhsagar

 Discovering the Magic of Dudhsagar Falls

     Today, we will embark on a virtual journey to explore a magnificent natural wonder, the Dudhsagar Falls. Nestled in the vibrant land of Goa, India, these falls are truly exceptional.

A Natural Marvel:

Dudhsagar Falls, which translates to “Sea of Milk” in the local language, gets its name because of its frothy, milky appearance. It is one of India’s tallest waterfalls, standing at an impressive 1017 feet (310 meters). Imagine four football fields stacked on top of each other—that’s how tall it is!

The Four-Tiered Beauty:

What makes Dudhsagar Falls truly exceptional is its four-tiered structure. The water tumbles down from the mountain in four stages, creating a breathtaking cascade that is a sight to behold. The falls are surrounded by lush greenery, making it a picture-perfect scene for anyone lucky enough to visit.

Jungle Adventure:

The Dudhsagar Falls are located in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, so you can explore the surrounding jungle while visiting the falls. For young explorers like you, it’s like stepping into a real-life jungle book! Keep your eyes peeled for colorful birds, playful monkeys, and maybe even a hidden waterfall or two along the way.

An Exciting Trek:

Getting to the Dudhsagar Falls is an adventure in itself. One way to reach this incredible natural wonder is by trekking. You must follow a thrilling trail through the dense forest, crossing streams and navigating uneven terrain. It’s an opportunity to connect with nature, get some exercise, and build unforgettable memories.

Refreshing Swimming:

The pool at the base of the falls is the perfect place for a refreshing swim. You can take a dip and cool off in the crystal-clear waters of Dudhsagar. It’s like having your natural swimming pool surrounded by the beauty of the jungle.

A Historical Bridge:

As you approach the falls, you’ll encounter a historic railway bridge. The view from here is absolutely stunning. Trains passing on the bridge create a postcard-like scene with the falls in the background. It’s a great place for a family photo!

Visit in the Monsoon:

Dudhsagar Falls are at their most magnificent during the monsoon season, from June to September. This is when the waterfall is at its fullest and most spectacular. The surrounding greenery is also at its most vibrant during this time.

Respecting Nature:

While enjoying this incredible place, respecting the environment is important. Always follow the national park rules and ensure you leave no trace behind. Let’s ensure that Dudhsagar Falls remains a magical place for generations to come.

In a Nutshell:

Dudhsagar Falls is a natural marvel, standing tall at 1017 feet with a four-tiered structure. It’s in a lush jungle, making it an exciting destination for trekkers and nature enthusiasts. The monsoon season is the best time to visit to see this marvel of nature. 

THE WALT DISNEY OF INDIA

 Pran Kumar Sharma

 

     Pran Kumar Sharma was born on 15 August, 1938 in Kasur, a small border town in Pakistan. He was a child when his family fled to India in 1947 and settled down in Firozpur in Punjab. 

     To escape the harsh memories of the violence of partition, Pran sought refuge in the magic world of cartoons. While still in college, he drew political cartoons for the newspaper Dainik Milap. He got his first break when his cartoons were published in 'Shankar's Weekly' a popular magazine. 

     In those days, newspapers carried only Western comics like Phantom and Mandrake as no one was making Indian comics. Pran decided to change that and established the Pran Features Syndicate to create comics strips.

     Pran's most popular comics strip was Chacha Choudhary. Originally produced in Lotpot magazine, the series is about an indomitable old man with a characteristic moustache and turban. The short sprightly man solves various issues with his incisive wit with the help of his associates like the giant Sabu and pet dog Rocket.

     Pran was commended in the list of 'people of the year 1995' by Limca Book of Records for popularizing comics in India.  Two episodes of Chacha Choudhary were acquired by the International Museum of Cartoon Art, USA and Pran was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 from the Indian Institute of Cartoonists.

     Though Pran passed away on 5 August 2014, he will be remembered for generations to come as the 'father of Indian comics'.

DO YOU KNOW

What is a tangram?

     A tangram is a classic Chinese puzzle that consists of a square divided into 7 flat pieces, called tans, which are to be rearranged into various shapes. The pieces are of different shapes and sizes --- five right triangles (two small, one medium-sized, and two large), one square, and one parallelogram/rhomboid. The objective of the game is to make a specific shape using all the seven pieces, as they are (no trimming them to fit), by laying them flat so that they touch one another but with no overlapping. The tans may be rotated or flipped as necessary to obtain the desired figure. In this manner, they can be rotated or flipped as necessary to obtain the desired figure. In this manner, they can be arranged to form hundreds of silhouette patterns, ranging from animals and people to everyday objects, letters and numbers. 

     Little is known about the early history of the tangram, apart from the fact that it originated in China several centuries ago. Apparently, the ancient Chinese regarded the tangram as a game meant for women and  children, too trivial to be worthy of serious study. Hence there are hardly any records of its origin and evolution. In the 19th century it was introduced to the West, where it rapidly became very popular. Famous tangram fans include Napoleon Bonaparte, Edgar Allen Poe and Lewis Carroll.

     One of the classic puzzles that appeals to young and old alike, the tangram attracts people on various levels. While maths buffs are hooked on the geometry and the ratios of the pieces, artists are fascinated by their form and visual appeal. Tangrams are used as a teaching tool in school maths classes. 

SPEECH THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

Sisters and brothers of America...!

(Swami Vivekanand at the world's Parliament of Religions, Chicago, 11 september 1893)

Sisters and brothers of America,

     It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

     My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honour of bearing to different lands that idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.  We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you,  brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is everyday repeated by millions of human beings: 'As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, varies though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to thee.'

     The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world, of the wonderful doctrine preached in Gita: "Whoever comes to me, through whatever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or the pen, and all the uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal. 

NOVEMBER 19

 World Toilet Day 

     Lack of proper sanitation, including toilet facilities and sewage treatment, causes the spread of diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid and dysentery. This affects millions of people globally, especially children. 

     World toilet day is officially observed every year on November 19 to create awareness about the global sanitation crisis. The day was first celebrated in 2013 and was designated by the United Nation General Assembly. Since then, on this day, events are conducted to educate people about health, hygiene, sanitation and the effects of open defecation. 

Facts: 

* Close to 1.1 billion people across the world still practise open-air defecation. 

* A normal person will visit the toilet 2,500 times a year. 

* One spends close to three years of one’s life in the toilet. 

* Globally, 1.5 million children under the age of five die every year from diarrhoea. 

* Using clean toilet adds 20 years to a human lifespan. 

* Sir John Harrington invented the world's first flush toilet. 

* Only one in 20 people will wash their hands properly after using the toilet!

Did you know? When you avoid using public toilets because they are dirty, you are putting immense pressure on your kidneys. This, in the long run, can lead to kidney and bladder ailments. 

Transparent toilet: Switzerland has a 'see through' public restroom. It has one-way mirror so no one can see in, but the one using the restroom has a clear picture of everything happening outside!

DO YOU KNOW

 Why England vs Australia series called 'The Ashes'?

     The Ashes series was started in 1882 when the Australian team won the first test by 7 runs on the England soil. This defeat was published as a satirical obituary by the journalist Shirley Brooks in 'The Sporting Times'. The obituary stated that the England cricket was dead, the body would be cremated and the ashes would be taken to Australia. 

     When the England team went to Australia the same year and won the series 2-1, the victory was described as bringing the Ash (ash) back to England. From here the test series between the two countries came to be called the Ashes series. The 'ashes urn' made of terracotta is known to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket ball. It's around 15cm or 6 inches tall in size. The winning team keeps the urn as a symbol of winning trophy. 

THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

 Smt. Droupadi Murmu

     History was being rewritten when Smt. Droupadi Murmu became the 15th President of India, the first woman President from the tribal (Santhal) community. She was also the first woman-governor from the tribal area of the state of Jharkhand where she had proved her leadership might in her administration and governance. 

     When the tenure of Shri Ramnath Kovind was over, the NDA government didn't have to think twice to nominate Droupadi Murmu to the highest office of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's view about Droupadi Murmu is, "Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country."

     She served as a junior assistant at the irrigation department of the Government of Odisha, and then a teacher at the school, Sri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Centre in Rairangpur, where she taught Hindi, Oriya, Maths and Geography. In 1997, she was elected as the Councillor of Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat. From 2000 to 2004, she was an MLA, and was honoured with Nilkanth Award for her admirable work. Because of sincere and committed social work, she became the Governor of Jharkhand. 

Droupadi Murmu has devoted her life serving the society and empowering the poor, the downtrodden and the marginalised. Her contribution towards woman empowerment during this period was commendable. 

     Droupadi was born on June 20, 1958 at a place named Baidaposi of Mayurbanch district, Odisha. Her father Biranchi Narayan Tudu was the village head, like her grandfather. From childhood, she was excellent in studies, and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. She had her elementary education at the local primary school in Uparbeda and graduated (Bachelor of Arts) from Rama Devi Women's College, Bhubaneswar. 

     She was married to Shyam Charan Murmu and had two sons and a daughter. Unfortunately, her husband, two sons, mother and a brother died in a span of 7 years from 2009 to 2015. She is also a follower of the Brahma Kumari's spiritual movement. 

     The fact that a woman born in an undeveloped tribal area becomes the President of India has been like a new chapter in the history of India. She remains a model not just to the Indians, but to the whole world.