26 January

Republic day

 

The word Republic is used to denote that a country in which the supreme power is held by the people or their elected representatives (politicians) or by an elected or nominated President not by a permanent head like the King or queen of Britain. India is one of the important republican countries of the world. In India, the Republic Day is celebrated every year on 26th January with great pomp and pageant. The Republic Day is enthusiastically observed by citizens as one of the important national festivals of India. This national festival is also celebrated all over the country and all the administrative units like the capital cities, district headquarters, sub-divisions, panchayats and educational institutions with a lot of fervor. 

Why 26th January?

On the 26th day in January of 1950, which is one of the memorable days in Indian history, the constitution of India came into force and India became a truly sovereign state. On that day, the people of India finally realised the dream of numerous freedom fighters who fought for and sacrificed their lives for the independence of our motherland. The Republic Day is a national holiday of India to mark the adoption of the constitution of India and the transition of India from the British dominion to a republic on 26th January, 1950. It is always a solemn reminder of the sacrifice of the martyrs who dedicated their lives for the freedom movement and the succeeding wars. On the Republic Day, the independence pledge of nationalists is renewed. The Republic Day is without speeches. It is the only ceremony in which rhetoric is in the background and visuals are given priority. This national festival at Delhi and the state capitals revolves around the parade in which all the Defence, N.C.C., school children and cultural groups participate followed by a display of tableaux and folk dances. 

Salient features of the constitution: 

After a grand struggle, India achieved her long-cherished freedom on 15th August, 1947 from the British rule. The Independence Day, August 15th is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the world’s biggest democracy as a great national festival. India was governed by a constitution, which was framed by the Britishers previously. It was the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress at midnight of 31st December, 1929, the congress President Jawaharlal Nehru announced the congress policy that Complete Independence was the goal of India. It was to be ‘Complete freedom from British domination and imperialism´. In that historic session, Mahatma Gandhi also moved his famous resolution on ‘Purna Swaraj’. The resolution on Purna Swaraj was passed by the congress on the last day of the year 1929. The tricolour National flag, signifying independence, was unfurled by the Congress President Jawaharlal Nehru as the thunderous shouts of ‘Inquilab Zindabad´ or long live the resolution greeted the occasion from countless throats. The 26 January, 1930 was initially observed by nationalists as the day of Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence. The nationalists also took the independence pledge on that memorable day. The pledge declared ‘freedom as the inalienable right of the Indian people´ and criticised the foreign Government for ruling India. Arising out of Gandhi’s serious thought, a pledge had been taken that every year on January 26, the Republic Day would be celebrated and that the people would unceasingly strive for the establishment of a Sovereign, Democratic Republic of India. Although, India achieved its independence on August 15, 1947, it did not have a permanent constitution. A Constituent Assembly had been entrusted with the task of framing a new constitution for free India. On August 29, 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent Constitution with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as the Chairman. A Draft constitution was prepared by the Committee and submitted to the Assembly on November 4, 1947. The Assembly met, in session open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution. After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two handwritten copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on January 24, 1950. Two days later, the Constitution of India became the law of all the Indian lands. The constitution of India came into effect only on 26th January, 1950. Following the date January 26 ,1950, Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President of India. This was, in fact, a deliberate act signing the Constitution on 26th January, to mark and respect the freedom fighters who wanted 26th January as India’s initial Independence Day. Hence, India finally declared herself as a Republic State on 26th January,1950. 

Celebration of the republic Day at the national capital:

To mark the importance of the occasion, every year a grand parade is held in the capital New Delhi, from the Raisina hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s Palace), along the Kartavya Path, past India Gate and on the Historic Red Fort. The different regiments of the Army, the Navy and the Air-force participate in the parade with their finery and official decorations even the horses of the cavalry are attractively caparisoned to suit the occasion. The President takes salute at an impressive parade. Then, he comes forward to award the medals of bravery to the people from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in the fields and also the civilians, who have distinguished themselves by their different acts of valour in different situations. The parade is followed by a spectacular tableau from different states of the country. The Parade is also an occasion for the display of India’s military strength and a number of arms, ammunitions, tanks and fighter aircrafts, some of them indigenously developed, are paraded. The latest war weapons move slowly by the saluting base. The band plays martial tunes. 

National Identity elements:

National Song: Vande Mataram,

Currency Symbol: ₹

National Anthem: Jana-Gana-Mana,

The National Flag: Tricolor

National Bird: Peacock

National Animal: Tiger

DO YOU KNOW

 How Many Time Zones Are There In The World?

     There are 24 time zones in the world. This signifies that the Earth is divided into 24 'slices', and each time zone moves on one hour from the previous time zone.

     Time Zone One is that of Greenwich and, Universal Time (UT) which serves as a reference to the whole world is calculated from this. 

     To the west of Greenwich (towards America) the time decreases; to the east (towards Asia and Australia) the time increases.

THE FIRST QUEEN WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THE BRITISH

Velu Nachiyar

Rani Velu Nachiyar was an 18th century Tamil Queen of Sivaganga estate in South India. She is regarded as the first queen who fought against the British colonial power in India. She is also credited as the first person to apply human bomb.

Velu Nachiyar was born on January 3, 1730 as a princess of Ramanathapuram. She was the daughter ofChellamuthu Sethupathy. Nachiyar was trained in martial arts like Valari,Silambam, horse riding and archery. She was a scholar in many languages and she had proficiency in languages like French, English and Urdu.

She married the king of Siva Gangai and they had a daughter - Vellachi Nachiar. When her husband Muthuvaduganatha Udaiyathevar was killed by a few British soldiers, she was drawn into battle. 

She escaped with her daughter, lived under the protection of Hyder Ali at Virupachi near Dindigul for eight years. During this period she formed an army and sought an alliance with Gopala Nayaker and Hyder Ali with the aim of attacking the British. 

In 1780 Rani Velu Nachiyar fought the British face-to-face and won the battle. When she came to know about the ammunition store of the British, she arranged for a suicide attack. A loyal follower of the queen, Kuyili drenched herself with ghee and then set herself on fire before jumping into armoury and blowing it up. Kuyili is regarded as the first suicide bomber in the world.

Nachiar was one of the few rulers who regained her kingdom from the British invaders and ruled it for 10 more years till she died on 25th December 1796.

FUSION OF ANCIENT FAITH AND MODERN SCIENCE

 Marvel of modern engineering: Ram Mandir of Ayodhya

     The construction of Ram Mandir, a grand structure is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Rama.

The temple is a marvel of modern engineering, designed not to just withstand the strongest earthquakes and most intense flooding, but endure for a millennium. 

Let's take a look at what went into constructing the grand temple.

Constructed by Larsen and Toubro with management by Tata Consulting Engineers Limited, the Ram Temple is a result of meticulous planning and innovative construction techniques.

The temple's design, inspired by traditional Nagara style architecture, incorporates 360 pillars and is made entirely of stone, moving away from the more modern iron, steel, or even cement.

This decision was made to enhance the structure's earthquake resistance, as stone has a longer lifespan and better durability compared to other materials.

One of the most significant scientific innovations in the temple's construction is its foundation. 

The temple is built on a 15-meter thick layer of rolled compacted concrete, which includes 56 layers of compacted concrete made from fly ash, dust, and chemicals.

This robust base is further reinforced by a 21-foot thick plinth of granite, designed to protect the temple from moisture. 

The foundation's pillars are likened to those supporting mammoth bridges over mighty rivers, ensuring the temple's robustness against seismic activity.

The construction process also involved unique challenges, such as maintaining the temperature of self-compacting concrete at 18 degrees below ambient temperature during pouring. 

To achieve this, on-site ice crushing plants were utilised, and the foundation was filled only at night to minimise the impact of external temperatures.  

These measures were part of the many innovations that marked the construction of the temple, which required the expertise of a team of 150 engineers and thousands of workers.

The temple's design is capable of enduring an earthquake of up to magnitude 6.5, and is projected not to need repairs for 1,000 years. The team measured historical earthquake intensity in the region stretching from Ayodhya to Nepal and simulated it in the laboratory to design a unique foundation for the temple.

Based on the advice of the Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai, engineers dug the ground 15 meters removing the top soil, which is believed to be clayey. It was then filled with the re-engineered soil.

The re-engineered soil used for the foundation can solidify into stone within 14 days, with a total of 47 layers carefully laid during the construction process.

The Director of CISR-Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee praised the use of stone in the temple's construction, noting that it lasts longer than other materials and avoids the issue of rusting iron.

Engineers also looked into flooding records of the region and confirmed that the level on which the temple is being constructed is safe from any future flooding.

Furthermore, the temple features a unique noon reflection mechanism, designed by CBRI, which directs sunlight onto the idols' foreheads at noon during Ram Navami, enhancing the spiritual experience for devotees.

The temple is a marvel of modern engineering, being designed not just to withstand the strongest earthquakes and most intense flooding, but to endure for a millennium.

The newly constructed structure is being hailed as the amalgamation of spirituality with scientific innovation.

In Ayodhya, a temple is rising, not just as a place of worship but as a fusion of ancient faith and modern science.

AMAZING INCA CITADEL ON A MOUNTAIN

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge 2,430 metres above the sea level. It is located in the Cusco Region in Peru.

Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). It is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization.

Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style with polished dry-stone walls. Its three primary structures are the Inti Watana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows. 

Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll.

THE MASTER KEY TO SUCCESS

 Self-discipline

Your ability to develop the habit of self-discipline will contribute more to your success than any other quality of character.

Napoleon Hill, after interviewing 500 of the richest people in America, concluded saying, “Self-discipline is the master key to riches.”

Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do, what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like doing it or not.

There are 7 disciplines you can develop that will improve every area of your life. 

Goal Setting: Every morning, take 3 to 5 minutes to write out your top goals in the present tense. By writing out your 10 goals at the beginning of each day, you are stimulating your mind. Throughout the day, you will see opportunities and possibilities to move more rapidly towards your goals. 

Planning and Organising: Take a few minutes, preferably the night before to plan out every activity of the coming day. Always work from a list. Always think on paper. This is one of the most powerful and important disciplines of all for high performance. 

Priority Setting: The essence of all, time management, personal management and life management is contained in your ability to set proper priorities and use of your time. This is essential for high performance.

Concentration on your Highest-Value Activities: Your ability to work single-mindedly on your most important task will contribute as much to your success as any other discipline you can develop. 

Exercise and Proper Nutrition: Your health is more important than anything else. By disciplining yourself to exercise regularly and to eat carefully, you will promote the highest possible levels of health and fitness throughout your life. 

Learning and Growth: Your mind is like a muscle. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field. 

Time for Important People in your Life: Relationship is everything. Be sure that in climbing the ladder of success, you do not find it leaning against the wrong building. Make time for your relationship every day. 

Action Exercise: Begin today to practise self-discipline in every area of your life. Persist in this practice until self-discipline comes to you as automatically and as easily as breathing in and breathing out. Your future will be guaranteed.

MOST FASCINATING OBJECTS IN OUTER SPACE

Black holes

What is a black hole? 

Black holes are some of the strangest and most fascinating objects found in the outer space. They are objects of extreme density, with such strong gravitational attraction that they eat up everything around them including light. This can happen when a star is dying.

What gives them the enormous power?

Have you ever used vacuum cleaner in your home? When you do, watch closely because you will see the dirt and crumbs start moving towards the vacuum cleaner. A black hole is similar to a vacuum cleaner, cleaning up the debris that is left behind in the outer space. Instead of suction power, a black hole uses the power of gravity to pull things towards it.

How big are black holes?

Black holes can be big or small. Scientists think the smallest black holes are as small as just one atom. Another kind of black hole is called 'Stellar.' Its mass can be up to 20 times more than the mass of the Sun. Stellar black holes are made when the centre of a very big star falls in upon itself or collapses. The largest black holes are called 'supermassive.' These black holes have mass that is more than 1 million Suns put together have.. The supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy is called Sagittarius A. It has a mass equal to about 4 million Suns. 

Could a black hole destroy Earth?

Black holes do not go around in space, eating stars and planets. Earth will not fall into a black hole because no black hole is close enough to the solar system for Earth to do that. The Sun will never turn into a black hole. The Sun is not a big enough star to make a black hole.

The first image of a black hole: 

Since no light can get out, people can't see black holes. They are invisible. Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes.

The Event Horizon Telescope, a planet-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescope forged through international collaboration, captured the image of the supermassive black hole in the centre of the galaxy M87 and its shadow.

This historic photo of a black hole, previously thought impossible to capture, was named ‘the top scientific breakthrough of 2019 by the journal Science.