APRIL 22

Earth Day 

The entire month of April is celebrated as Earth Month. During this month, people work to raise awareness about environmental issues, talk about the importance of protecting our planet, take action to address pressing environmental challenges and work towards promoting sustainability. The celebrations of Earth Month can be traced back to the first Earth Day, which was celebrated on April 22, 1970. 

On Earth Day, people engage in various activities to protect the environment, such as planting trees, cleaning up litter, and conserving energy. It’s a time to appreciate the beauty of nature and reflect on ways we can protect our planet for future generations. 

Earth Day reminds us of the importance of taking care of our Earth and encourages everyone to make small changes in their daily lives to reduce their impact on the environment. By working together, we can make a positive difference and create a healthier, more sustainable world for all living beings. 

Each year, the United Nations has a theme for Earth Day celebrations; this year's theme is Planet vs. Plastics. 

How is plastic destroying the planet?

* Plastic is not biodegradable. It only breaks down into microplastics that accumulate in ecosystems, posing a threat to wildlife. 

* Plastic pollution has contaminated every corner of the planet - from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest mountains. Microplastics have been found in soil, air, water sources, the food we eat and the air we breathe. 

* Animals become entangled in plastic debris, which leads to them suffocating and dying from internal injuries. 

* Many plastics contain harmful chemicals that are known to disrupt hormone systems and cause ailments. 

* Plastic pollution has wreaked havoc on ecosystems and threatened biodiversity. 

* The sheer volume of plastic waste generated globally overwhelms waste management systems, particularly in developing countries. Plastics cannot be destroyed and burning it leads to environmental pollution and health risks for nearby communities. 

Support the Earth Day theme:

# Do not accept plastic bags from shops and vendors. 

# Always carry a reusable bag, water bottle, straw and cutlery. 

# Take a part in a clean-up drive. 

WARRIOR ARTISTS OF ODISHA

Paika

The ancient kings of Odisha relied on the military prowess of the paika, an infantry class of warriors among their peasantry. As and when the need arose, the peasant soldiers were hired by the king to fight wars, defend territory or maintain law and order. Today, their martial traditions are kept alive in the form of Paika akhada.

Paika akhada means ‘warrior gymnasium’. In the past, the paika gurus not only trained the students on how to use force to control their body movements, but also taught them archery and swordfights.

Today, youths gather at the akhada after work to perform age-old physical exercises and practise swordfights. They also dance in choreographed moves with swords and shields to the rhythms of traditional drums. However, it is a dying art form. It is mainly performed in villages during festivals like Dussehra and other occasions. Dressed in vests and dhotis, the warrior dancers begin with slow moves. As the tempo increases, the dance moves get more and more vigorous and the men engage in mock combat.

Women have also joined their ranks in recent years, with young Sunita Behera forming the first all-woman Kalinga Kanya Paika Akhada Dal in Odisha in 2012. Behera hails from Khurda, the place where the Paikas rose in rebellion against the British East India Company in 1817. The group not only trains school and college girls in self defence, it also showcases their skills in martial arts, baton and sword fighting and military formations in various state and national-level events across the country.

DO YOU KNOW

 How are navy ships named?

In India, the Internal Nomenclature Committee (INC) at the Defence Ministry chooses the names of ships and submarines. Headed by the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, the INC has representatives from various government departments. Its recommendations require the approval of the Navy Chief while the names, crests and mottos of major war vessels require the President’s assent too.

Certain broad parameters are followed to ensure that the names of vessels of one type have some uniformity. For example, aircraft carriers are given suitable abstract names. India’s biggest aircraft carrier is INS Vikramaditya (meaning ‘Sun of Prowess’), thus named because of its suitability and because it was the title of many Indian rulers. Cruisers or destroyers are named after a state capital, a big city or a great historical warrior or king. Examples include INS Delhi and INS Ranjit. Frigates are named after a river, mountain range or weapon. The names of ships of the same class have the same initial letters. Examples include INS Sahyadri, INS Shivalik, INS Talwar and INS Teg (‘sabre’). Corvettes (small, fast warships) are named after personal arms like the INS Khukri, INS Kirpan and INS Khanjar, while multi-purpose patrol vessels are named after an island—for example, INS Car Nicobar and INS Kalpeni.

A HUNDRED-STRINGED LUTE

Santoor 

The Santoor is an ancient folk musical instrument that is believed to have originated in Iran and made its way from there to various countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. In India, it can be found in Kashmir, where it has been played for centuries as an indispensable accompaniment for the Sufi vocal music. Sufi mystics used it as an accompaniment for their hymns. It came to be known in Sanskrit as shat-tantri veena or hundred-stringed lute. This in due course became Santoor. 

A trapezoid-shaped instrument, the Santoor is basically a hollow box made of walnut wood with top and bottom boards of plywood and veneer and 72 metal strings, arranged in sets of 3 or 4, tied on nails and stretched over wooden bridges placed on the top board. The length and thickness of the strings vary according to the octave, and they are the thickest in the lower octave. A unique feature of Santoor is the way it is played - not by plucking the strings or drawing a bow across them as in the violin, but by striking them lightly using two light-weight wooden mallets, known as mezrab. The musician sits in a posture known as ardha-padmasana, keeps the instrument on his lap with the broad side closer to his body, holds the mallets between the index and middle fingers and thumb and uses them to strike the strings. 

Traditionally, the Santoor was played during festivities and celebrations. However, today it is emerging as a key element in North Indian classical concerts and music festivals. The credit for popularizing the instrument goes to Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, a master instrumentalist and India’s most famous Santoor exponent.

Other well-known names in the field include his son Rahul Sharma, Bhajan Sopori, and the late R. Visweswaran.

LEGEND ASSOCIATED WITH DUSSEHRA

Kautsa's Gurudakshina

     Kautsa, the young son of Devdatt, a Brahmin, was living in the city of Paithan. After completing education from Rishi Varatantu, he insisted on his Guru accepting Guru Dakshina. But Guru said, "Kautsa, to give 'Dakshina' in return for learning wisdom is not proper. Graduation of the disciple makes the Guru happy, and this is the real Guru Dakshina."

     Kautsa was not satisfied. He still felt it was his duty to give his Guru something. Finally the Guru said, "Alright,  if you insist on giving me Dakshina, give me 140 million gold coins. 10 million for each of the 14 sciences I have taught you." 

     Kautsa went to King Raghu. Raghuraja was an ancestor of Shri Rama, famous for his generosity. But just at that time, he had emptied all his coffers on the Brahmins, after performing the Vishvajit yajna (sacrifice). He asked Kautsa to give him three days time. 

     Raghuraja immediately left to get the gold coins from Indra Dev (king of Gods). Indra Dev summoned Kuber, the God of wealth. Indra Dev told Kuber, "Make a  rain of gold coins fall on Bidi leaf tree on the outskirts of Raghuraja's Ayodhya city."

     The rain of gold coins began to fall. King Raghu gave all the coins to Kautsa, and Kautsa hastened to offer the coins to Varatantu Rishi. Guru had asked only 140 million, so he gave the rest back to Kautsa. Kautsa was not interested in money. In those days honour was considered more valuable than wealth. He told the King to take the remaining gold coins back. But the King refused to take them back as Kings do not take back the daan (offering).  

    Finally Kautsa distributed the gold coins to the people of Ayodhya on the day of Ashwin Shukla Dashami (Dussehra). In remembrance of this event the custom is kept of looting the leaves of the "Bidi leaf tree" (Aaptyache paan) and people present each other these leaves as "sona" (gold).

STORY OF ALEXANDER AND THE SAGE

The passion of anger 

As Alexander began preparation to invade India, his wife approached him and asked him to bring a sage from India to her. For she knew that the Indian sage was very wise and knowledgeable person and she and her children could learn many things from him,

Alexander agreed. He conquered India and then found a sage whom he wanted take to his wife. But the sage refused to go with him. 

Alexander was furious. It was the first time somebody refused to obey him. He drew his sword out and told him that he was going to kill him.

To this the sage smiled and told, "Before you strike me, please listen to two things. First, you cannot kill me with that sword. Secondly, you are the slave of my slave."

Alexander was filled with rage, but he asked, "Why do you say that I cannot kill you?"

"With this sword you can only cut my body, but I am not the body alone. I am something else. And you cannot kill that."

"But why did you say that I am the slave of your slave?"

"I have, through my meditation and reflection, conquered the passion of anger. Now anger is my slave. Anger cannot rise in me without my permission. And then, you are filled with anger, and so you are the slave of anger which is my slave."

HEALTH BENEFITS

Boiled rice water 

 Drinking the water in which rice is cooked is really good as it can boost your energy levels. In India, farmers generally drink cooked rice water before they start their laborious work in the fields. They stay energetic throughout the day in spite of their hard work in the fields, thanks to rice water.

Most of us eat rice cooked in pressure cookers and electric cookers and that is the reason why we don’t have the habit of drinking cooked rice water. In fact, we don’t know the health benefits of boiled rice water. When rice is cooked in a pot along with water, the remaining water can be removed and consumed after the rice is cooked. That water is totally nutritious as the rice is boiled or cooked in it. 

Rice is consumed almost all over India and some parts of Asia. In fact, cooked rice water is used for beauty purposes. It is included in many skin care and hair care recipes. Some people use raw rice water whereas others recommend cooked rice water to get the benefits better. 

When rice gets cooked, it releases many of its nutrients into the water and that is the reason why that water should not be thrown away after the cooking process is over. 

Some of the health benefits of boiled rice water:

Prevents gastroenteritis: Rice water is said to prevent gastroenteritis. This is one of the health benefits of cooked rice water. Consuming rice water regularly is good for health.

Prevents cancer: Drinking cooked rice water regularly may also prevent certain types of cancer. This is one of the benefits of drinking cooked rice water.

Protection from sun: Rice water contains a substance called oryzanol. It helps withstand the UV rays from the sun. Use rice water internally and externally to help your skin take the sun’s heat.

Alzheimer’s: Although research has not yet confirmed this, there are some sources that say that cooked rice water has the ability to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. This is one of the benefits of drinking cooked rice water.

Constipation: Rice water is good in preventing constipation. When you are suffering from constipation, try drinking cooked rice water as a remedy.

Carbohydrates: Rice water can be a good source of carbohydrates. If you are looking for a healthy source of carbohydrates, try drinking rice water.

Body temperature: Rice water plays an important role in regulating the temperature levels of your body. It is advisable to drink some rice water to withstand the summer heat.