MAHAKAVI

Subramanya Bharathi 

 A Tamil writer, poet, journalist, Indian independence activist, a social reformer and a polyglot. 

     Great Tamil poet and nationalist Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi was born on 11 December 1882 at Ettayapuram town in present-day Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. He was born to Chinnaswamy Iyer and Lakshmi Ammal. He was called Subbiah in his childhood.

     He started writing poetry in Tamil at the tender age of seven. At the age of 11, he won a debate in the court of Ettayapuram Raja and was bestowed the title ‘𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢’ (meaning blessed by Goddess Saraswati) since he impressed all the eminent men present in the court with his intellect and erudition.

     At the age of 15, he spent 2 years in Banares and learnt Sanskrit, English and Hindi there. His stay in Banares changed his outward appearance. He started growing a beard and wore a turban. He also gained a bold swing in his gait. It was in Benares that Bharathi was exposed further to Hindu spirituality and the idea of nationalism. He also attended Congress sessions.

     He worked as an editor of magazines and newspapers. He also contributed to these journals. His poems and hymns were based on diverse themes like patriotism, relationship between man and God, Russian and French revolutions, children, devotion, etc. These magazines included 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 and 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦.

     At the historic Surat session of the Congress in 1907 when the party split into extremists and moderates, Bharathi sided with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and supported armed resistance against the authorities.

     In 1908, Bharathi fled to Pondicherry, then under the French, when faced with the prospect of arrest owing to his writings in ‘𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’. In Pondicherry, he edited and published journals '𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚', '𝐕𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐲𝐚', '𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦' 𝐚𝐧𝐝 '𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐦'. In 1909, the British government banned ‘𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’ and ‘𝐕𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐲𝐚’ in India.

     Bharathi also met great leaders like Aurobindo, Lala Lajpat Rai and V V S Aiyar while in Pondicherry. He started learning Vedic literature here. He translated Vedic hymns, Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra into Tamil. In 1918, when Bharathi entered India, he was arrested. He was released after 3 weeks following the intervention of Annie Besant and C P Ramaswamy Aiyar. In 1920, he resumed being the editor of Swadeshamitran in Chennai. He spent the last few years of his life in Triplicane, Chennai.

     Subramanya Bharathi was an advocate of women’s rights and also against the caste system. According to him, Indian society would have to be united before being liberated from foreign rule. He condemned certain Shastras that denigrated women. He believed in the equality of humankind and criticised many preachers for mixing their personal prejudices while teaching the Gita and the Vedas.

     He is considered the foremost poet in not only modern Tamil language but in all of Tamil history. He is widely regarded as the pioneer of modern Tamil literature. He used simple but effective words and rhythm. As a poet, his themes ranged from patriotism to nature, from romance to philosophy, from devotion to self-respect. 

     He also wrote of the need for scientific advancements if the country was to move ahead. His famous poems include 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢, 𝐒𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐳𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐫, 𝐀𝐠𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐦, etc. He was a polyglot and translated the speeches of Aurobindo, Swami Vivekananda and Tilak into Tamil.

    His poems have and continue to inspire millions of people around the globe. He is fondly called ‘𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐯𝐢’ or ‘𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭’. Bharathi was struck by ill-health due to his arrests. He passed away on 11 September 1921 aged just 38. In 1949, he became the first poet whose works were nationalised by the state government.

FATHER CHRISTMAS

                                                               Santa Claus 

  Santa Claus also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklass, which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. 

     Santa Claus is generally depicted as a portly, joyous, white-bearded man --- sometimes with spectacles --- wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films. 

     According to a tradition traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with many magical elves and nine flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularised by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.

TEMPLE DEVOTED TO SUN GOD

Konark Surya Mandir

     Of all the places to visit in Orissa, there is one place in particular that stands out the most. Whenever you are visiting Orissa, this is the one place that everyone will recommend visiting to experience its grandeur and enormity. It’s the Konark Sun Temple or Konark Surya Mandir. Located in the eponymous village of Konark, 35 km from Puri, it is the remains of a temple that was constructed in the 13th century. If you are visiting Orissa, Konark Sun Temple is a place that you must visit. If you don’t, then your trip to Odisha will stay incomplete. Konark Sun Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a cultural relevance even in the 21st century. To explain this better, let’s know about its history, architecture, and why it is so revered: -

1. History

The name Konark is made of two Sanskrit words: Kona, meaning corner, and arka, meaning sun. The town gets its name from its geographical location which makes it look like the sun rises at an angle.

The history of Konark Sun Temple and sun worship goes as far back as the 19th century BC. The Konark Sun Temple, however, was built in the 13th century. The historic region of Kalinga which comprises major parts of modern-day Odisha and several parts of Chhatisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, was ruled by the rulers of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty from 5th Century AD to 15th Century AD. It was one of the most powerful dynasties in India which gave existence to majestic temples like Konark Sun Temple and Puri Jagannath Temple.

The Konark Temple was built by King Narasimha Deva I in 1244 to worship Surya, the Sun God. Konark was chosen as its place of construction because it has been described as the holy seat of Surya in various ancient texts.

2. Significance

Many Hindu scriptures mention Konark as an important place for worshipping the sun. There’s one that says Konark was the place where the first Sun temple was constructed. Samba Purana, an ancient text dedicated to Surya, tells the legend of how Samba, son of Lord Krishna, built the temple to worship the sun. It is believed that worshipping the sun was started by Samba. As the legend goes, Samba built a sun temple in the 19th Century BC at the end of his 12-year long worship of the Sun at Maitryeavana. This worship cured him of leprosy that he was suffering from.

3. Early References

In his book “The Sun Temple Konark” (1986), author Balram Mishra lists down several legends that led Narsimha Deva to build a sun temple in Konark. One of them states that King Anangabhima Deva worshipped Surya, the result of which was a longed-for son in the family whom he named Narasimha Deva. King Narasimha built the temple as an act of gratitude to Surya. Another legend, a copper plate inscription of Narsimha Deva II (The Konark Sun Temple was built by Narasimha Deva I)in 1295 AD mentions that Narsimha Deva I fulfilled the promise of his father to expand the Jagannath Temple in Puri, which was built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga.

As a ruler, Narsimha Deva I was a powerful monarch and he defended his kingdom against the army of Tughral Tughran Khan from the Mamluk Dynasty in the 13th century. In 1244 AD, Narsimha Deva I defeated Tughan Khan’s army in the province of Varendra (which is now in Bangladesh) and Rarh (a region between Ganga Delta and the Chhota Nagpur Plateau).

4. Architecture

The inside of Konark Temple is as glorious and magnificent as it is made to be. Its architecture has all the defining elements of the Kalinga architecture - it includes Shikhara (crown), Jagmohana (audience hall), Natmandir (dance hall), and Vimana (tower). Several legends mention that the architecture of the Konark Surya Mandir is so accurate and intricate that the day’s first light fell on the image of Surya in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, known as the Garbha Griha.

5. Depth of Information Through Design

The Konark Sun Temple is built in the form of a mammoth chariot that Surya rode. It is said that Surya rode across the sky on his chariot pulled by 7 horses. The platform of Konark is engraved with 24 wheels of the chariot. The numbers 7 and 24 hold a lot of significance.

Some say that the 7 horses represent the 7 days of the week, while others say that 7 horses represent the 7 components of white light that we know as the VIBGYOR. Number 7 is said to be a magical number because it’s present all around us, spiritually, historically, and materialistically. For instance, in Hindu weddings, the bride and groom take 7 rounds of Agni, the Fire God; the periodic table has elements in the groups of 7; an octave as 7 musical notes, and so on. So, the 7 horses may just represent the magical number that surrounds us.

The number 24 represents the 24 fortnights in a year and also the 24 hours of the day, something that Ashok Chakra in the centre of the Indian flag also represents.

6. Magnificence Personified

Besides the horses and wheels at Konark, you can also view the gorgeous and intricately carved reliefs of dancers, musicians, animals, and some erotic figures on the plinth of the temple. The entirety of the chariot has carved images of cult icons, and gods and goddesses. The exquisite detail of the temple can only be seen when standing right in front of it. The walls also have carvings of the daily life of the members of the Natmandir.

The chariot of the Konark Sun Temple is 100-feet high. But what you see of the temple is what remains of it. Next to the chariot was once a 200-feet high Shikhara. Much of the temple’s complex has been destroyed over the years due to unknown reasons and this is what remains of it. Since the temple shows its glory even in the ruins of what it is now, it would have been a thousand times beautiful at its peak when King Narsimha Deva originally built the temple.

7. When should you visit the Konark Sun Temple?

Here’s the key bit of information about the Konark Sun Temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Konark is a coastal town which means that the best time to visit it during the winters; the weather is pleasant during that time i.e. between September and March. Summer, however, should be avoided because the town can get hot and humid. And if you want to spend your time noticing the intricacies of the carvings on the chariot, standing out in the sun all day long can be exhausting. Pleasant weather will ensure that you don’t exhaust yourself by simply walking.

As for the timings, the Konark Sun Temple is open from 6 am to 10 pm. Since it’s a temple dedicated to Surya, the best time to visit is in the morning itself. That’s when you see the temple in its glory as it was intended to be. 

DO YOU KNOW

 What is a noble gas?

     It is any of a group of six chemical elements, namely helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon. They are colourless and odourless natural gases found in the atmosphere. The noble gases were discovered in the 1890s by the British scientists Lord Rayleigh and William Ramsay. 

     They are called noble because they do not easily react with other elements. All of them except radon, which is highly radioactive, are used in incandescent and gas-discharge lamps.

     Argon and helium are used in welding.

  Helium is also used in balloons that carry scientific instruments high into the atmosphere.

   Radon is at times used in cancer treatment because of its radioactivity. 

INNOVATIVE DEVICES FOR USING GREEN ENERGY

 Ulta Chhaata, Wind Tree, Solar Power Tree 

     There is a growing demand for both clean water and power. Here are some innovative devices that promise a greener future.

Umbrella With A Twist

 

ULTA CHHAATA: As the name suggests, resembles an inverted umbrella. It is a large concave structure that collects rainwater in the monsoon and converts it into potable water, while the solar panels fitted alongside the canopy, produce energy in the dry season.

     The rainwater collected in the ‘bowl’ of the Chhaata, trickles down the stalk to reach a filtering unit of activated carbon where itis cleared of impurities. A cluster of ten or more Ulta Chhaatas is connected to a common device where the water undergoes further filtration to remove microorganisms, making it fit for drinking. A single unit can harvest as much as 1,00,000 litres of water every year. 

    The solar energy harnessed in the dry season is stored in the battery and is used not just to light up the Chhaata but also the premises. Unlike a typical rainwater harvesting unit, Ulta Chhaata’s attractive design lends itself well to the aesthetics of the surroundings, especially when lit up. 

    The device takes up to one sq. ft of area. Ulta Chhaatas can be installed as sustainable workstations in open spaces. They can provide a green roof for reception areas, cafeterias, gazebos, car parks, bus stops and even railway stations. Each Chhaata costs between 4.5 and 5 lakh.

 Besides a number of corporates, Guntakal railway station in Andhra Pradesh has installed six such structures in its premises.

     Ulta Chhaata is the brainchild of a Mumbai-based environmentally conscious couple Priya Vakil and Samit Choksy whose start-up ThinkPhi designs sustainable products.

Winds Of Change 

WIND TREE: Wind tree is a tree-shaped structure that harnesses wind energy using small trembling wind turbines called ‘aeroleaves’ that look exactly like leaves on a tree.

     The micro-turbines work well even when there is little wind. Just a gentle breeze as light as 7 kmph is sufficient. This is something a conventional windmill cannot do. 

     French innovator Jérôme Michaud-Larivière designed the Wind Tree as an elegant, sustainable energy-harnessing device that would enhance urban landscapes. The first Wind Tree was a 3-m-tallstructure with 72 aeroleaves. It produced 3.1kW of power. ‘Wind Bush’ is a combination of aeroleaves and photovoltaic petals that harnesses both wind and solar energy. 

     For the Indian market, Larivière has created ‘Lotus’, an affordable wind tree minus the solar petals.

Sunny Tree 

SOLAR POWER TREE: A solar power tree is a device that is shaped like a tree with its steel branches holding the solar photovoltaic panels. 

     Just like a natural tree, the steel branches of the solar tree are arranged in such a fashion that every solar panel is properly exposed to the Sun. Moreover, the panels can be mechanically tilted east or west to derive the maximum benefit of the Sun’s position. The height of the tree is about 9–10 metres. 

   One tree can produce about 5kW of power. One of the main hurdles in installing solar power plants is the lack of availability of large areas of land. Often, farmers are reluctant to sacrifice their cultivable land for solar power production. But a solar tree with its vertically arranged branches, occupies only four sq. ft of area, leaving almost the entire land free for cultivation. The energy generated can be used to run pumps, e-tractors and tillers as a green alternative to diesel.

     India’s first solar power tree was producedby Central Mechanical Engineering and Research Institute (CMERI), at Durgapur. In2020, a much bigger tree with 35 panels was installed at the CMERI campus. The largest of its kind in the world, it produces up to 11.5kW of power. CMERI hopes to install many such solar trees along highways and farmlands.

FOOTBALLING REVOLUTION

Young Female Footballers Of Alakhpura

  Alakhpura, a village of 2,000 people in Haryana’s Bhiwani district, is a hub for young female footballers.

     More than 200 girl trainees practise football in Alakhpura twice a day—two hours in the morning and three hours in the late afternoon. Earlier, parents hesitated to let their daughters out of the house alone and the idea of girls playing a sport was frowned upon. Today these girls are breaching social taboos. 

  It all began when Gordhan Dass, a sports teacher posted at the government school, introduced football for girls in 2006. He encouraged girls to play the sport. If some families refused to let their daughters participate, Dass would take his daughter along to explain to them that there was no shame attached to football and that they should take pride in what their daughters could achieve. This approach worked and the families relented.    

  Initially, what motivated the girls was the scholarship money for playing well in competitions. But when football became the means of securing a government job, every family began pushing girls to play football—some have landed government jobs in the Indian Railways, the state education department and paramilitary forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). This has helped the girls become financially independent and support their families, many of whom live below the poverty line. As a result, Alakhpura’s residents no longer view daughters as a burden but as assets. 

  In 2017, the villagers officially registered the Alakhpura Football Club (AFC) with the All India Football Federation. While the Haryana government paid for the coaching and equipment, the villagers crowdsourced funds to cover the team’s expenses. The responsibilities of the club are divided among some of the villagers. Whenever the trainees need financial support, the entire village comes forward. 

    Today, at least half of the players of Haryana’s women’s football team hails from Alakhpura. Overall, 75 girls from the village have played in national-level competitions in different age groups and 12 have participated in international-level events. With their dedication and determination, the Alakhpura girls have firmly carved a space for their village on the country’s sports map and have become an inspiration for girls in India.

NATIVE BIRD OF NORTH AMERICA

 Turkey

     Turkeys are huge birds that are often raised by people for their meat. These birds are native to North America. There are two species of turkeys --- the wild turkey, which is found in central and eastern North America, and the ocellated turkey, which is found in Mexico. 

     Male and female turkeys look slightly different from each other. Male turkeys are larger than females and have colourful plumage and a fan-like tail. They have a red piece of flesh that grows from their forehead over their beak, called a snood, and a fleshy part that grows under their throat, called a wattle. Turkeys eat grains, nuts, seeds and small creatures such as frogs, lizards and snails. 

     A male turkey is called a tom and a female turkey is called a hen. Male turkeys have protrusions on their legs and spurs, which they use to fight with other male turkeys. Turkeys are believed to have been domesticated by humans more than 2,000 years ago. Turkeys have very good eyesight and can spot their predators from a distance. Turkeys can change the colour of their head from red to blue to white depending on their mood. 

Habits:

* Turkeys are social creatures and live in flocks. 

* Turkeys are active during the day and sleep at night. 

* Turkeys can produce around 20 different kinds of sounds to express themselves and communicate with each other. 

* Turkeys often peck the ground to search for food. 

* Turkeys eat small stones along with their food. This helps them to grind food in their stomach and aids digestion. 

Did you know? 

Roasted turkey is an important part of the Christmas meal in the USA, Canada and many European countries.