ON COMPLETING 112 YEARS

 Our National Anthem 

The sense of solidarity it embodies cuts through all geographical boundaries across the globe and across all ages and socio-economic peripheries - the national anthem of India exudes an intrinsic essence of unity through diversity binding all Indians the world over. As the year celebrates the hundred-year anniversary of the Indian National Anthem, this is a tribute to the historical proceedings that went into making it an important aspect of the largest democracy of the world.

The journey of the song unfolds an interesting history. Written by Nobel Laureate, poet, litterateur and artist Rabindranath Tagore the song is a Brahmo hymn composed in highly sankritised Bengali. It was first sung at the session of the Indian National Congress on December 27, 1911 and eventually adopted as the Indian National Anthem by the Indian Constitution when it came into force in 1950. Originally of five stanzas, the formal rendition however, was finally decided to be ideally of 52 seconds by the constitution of India, and so includes only the first stanza. Praising the God Almighty, the song also beautifully represents message of ‘unity in diversity’- a concept that portrays the very essence of the socio-cultural ethos of the nation of India. Sung proudly by Indians all across the globe, the song has also been translated into various local dialects for better understanding over the ages and is available in libraries across the nation. A handwritten translation in English named The Morning Song of India is available for free over the Internet. The version is not only popular for its lyrical splendour, but reminds one of the original ethoses of the beauty of manuscripts and the cursive appeal or the pen.

Down the course of history, the song has stood against several tests of time, including the much debatable question regarding the essence of the song, which many claimed was originally written in salutation to King George V on the occasion of the Delhi Durbar on December 15, 1911. However, another song in Hindi was sung at the same occasion titled- Badshah Humara written by Rambhuj Chaudhary. Many historians debate that the British Indian press misrepresented the song which was sung at the December conference of the Indian National Congress, when both songs were sung at the same event and the matter came into limelight only when it was finally adopted as the National Anthem of the nation in 1950. 

An article titled Coronation Durbar, dated December 15, 1911 which appeared in the Indian English daily ‘The Statesman’, specifically mentions the event that took place a century back in Delhi. Referring to the visit of the king to the Royal Pavilion on the Polo grounds for conferring of medals to men in uniform, the event was preceded by the song, which is mentioned as- “On the arrival of the King-Emperor inside the entrance of the parade ground, the military guard-of-honour presented arms and the band played the National Anthem.” 

In support of his arguments against this debate, Rabindranath Tagore wrote a few letters, which were later published (the original letter in Bengali is present in Tagore’s biography Ravindrajivani, volume II page 339 by Prabhatkumar Mukherjee). On November 10, 1937, Tagore in a letter to Pulin Bihari Sen mentioned about the controversy, “A certain high official in His Majesty’s service, who was also my friend, had requested that I write a song of felicitation towards the Emperor. The request simply amazed me. It caused a great stir in my heart. In response to that great mental turmoil, I pronounced the victory in Jana Gana Mana of that Bhagya Vidhata [God of Destiny] of India who has from age after age held steadfast the reins of India’s chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved. That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide, could never be George V, George VI, or any other George. Even my official friend understood this about the song. After all, even if his admiration for the crown was excessive, he was not lacking in simple common sense.” In another letter dated March 19, 1939, Tagore also mentioned, “I should only insult myself if I cared to answer those who consider me capable of such unbounded stupidity as to sing in praise of George the Fourth or George the Fifth as the Eternal Charioteer leading the pilgrims on their journey through countless ages of the timeless history of mankind.” (quote from Bengali book by Rabindranath Tagore Purvasa, Phalgun, 1354, p738- the book was published in the Bengali year 1354 also known as bangabda). Recognised as a patriot himself, who renounced knighthood in protest against the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre and whose poem and song Ekla chalo re inspired Gandhiji in his work and determination, the statements of Tagore in support of his creation has a special place of mention. The debate however continues amidst historians with divided opinions regarding the actual reason for the creation of the song. 

Several years later, the song was once again brought under critical limelight in 2005 with reference to a demand for a change in its verse which was mentioned in a petition at the Supreme Court. The petition demanded an inclusion of the word Kashmir in the song and an exclusion of the word Sindh as the latter is placed geographically in the present country of Pakistan after the independence of India. However, the song maintained its sanctity, as the Supreme Court ruled against the petition mentioning the National Anthem as expressing patriotic sentiments or feelings and not defining the geographical territory of a nation. Today, yet again is a demand for inclusion of other states from the North-East and the controversies continue…

A hundred years later, in the land of the birthplace of the song, the occasion was marked by a special event at the same location where it was sung a hundred years ago- the Town Hall in Kolkata. Through an initiative of the state government and in the presence of the Governor of West Bengal, Mr MK Naryanan and chief minister Ms Mamata Banerjee, the song was sung at the Kolkata Town Hall, accompanied by a programme on special cinematography, stage performance and narration, orchestrated by filmmaker and actor Rituparno Ghosh. 

Thus, travelling far and wide through the passage of time, the National Anthem of India witnesses history being made at several occasions as men and women of all ages across the globe stand, often moist-eyed and with heavy hearts, singing the song and gazing upon the fluttering of the tricolour flag- whose hoisting emboldens the national sentiment of the song and the sacrosanct feeling associated with it. The song binds one and all, irrespective of geographical, socio-cultural, political and religious diversities.

DO YOU KNOW

Q. Ants don’t get hurt when they fall. Why?

A: The fall of a body is controlled mainly by the gravitational attraction of the earth. The strength of the gravitational force depends on the mass of the falling object. A heavier object is thus “attracted” more than a lighter object. This attractive force is opposed by an upward thrust, or resistance, that is offered by air on the falling body. The strength of the resistance depends among other things on the surface area of the object. If the surface area is greater, so is the resistance. When any object falls through the air, these two forces compete with each other. In the case of an ant, the force of gravity is almost completely balanced by the resistance offered by the air. Thus the ant is able to land safely. In fact, if there is a wind blowing, the ants may just float away. But if a cluster of ants or a sufficiently large ant is forcibly hurled at the ground, they will get hurt. This is how much we know from the laws and theories of physics about how ants fall through the air. Whether the ant actually gets hurt is another question entirely — and probably one that hasn’t been answered so far.

THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF ACHIEVEMENTS

Guinness Book of World Records 

Have you ever heard of the longest pizza in the world, a person who can eat the most hot dogs in 10 minutes or the tallest man to ever walk the earth? All these incredible feats, and many more, are part of the Guinness World Records, a book filled with astonishing achievements from around the globe, where people push the limits of what’s possible.

The idea for the Guinness World Records began back in 1951 when Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of the Guinness Brewery in Ireland, had a debate while out hunting. He and his friends were arguing over - which game bird was the fastest - but they couldn’t find the answer anywhere. This sparked the idea of creating a book that could settle all kinds of quirky arguments like this. He brought the idea to Norris and Ross McWhirter, who were twin brothers and fact-checkers. Together, they created the first edition of the Guinness Book of Records, which was published in 1955.

It became an instant hit! Originally created as a free giveaway for the Guinness Brewery, the book soon gained popularity worldwide. People loved reading about the weird and wonderful records, from the longest fingernails to the most pogo stick jumps. What began as a fact-checking book quickly transformed into a global sensation, with millions of copies sold every year.

Today, the book features thousands of records across a wide range of categories, including sports, animals, human body records and even the wackiest things you can imagine. 

For example, do you know that the world’s longest pizza measured over 6,333 feet long? 

Or that the heaviest onion ever grown weighed 18 pounds? These are just a few of the extraordinary records you’ll find inside.

What’s fascinating is that Guinness World Records has grown beyond just a book. Now, there are TV shows, live events and even a website where people can submit their own attempts at breaking records. There are official rules and judges to make sure each record is accurate and fair. Once verified, the record is entered into the book for everyone to see.

For young readers like you, this book isn’t just about outrageous achievements; it’s a reminder that anyone can push their limits and set a record of their own. With determination, practice and creativity, even the most unexpected things can become world records.

So, the next time you’re looking for some mind-blowing inspiration, grab a copy of the Guinness World Records. Maybe one day, your name will be among the world’s greatest achievers! 

STORY TIME

The wise farmer and the magic pot

Once upon a time in a small village, there lived a poor but wise farmer. One day, while working in the field, he found a strange pot buried in the ground. To his surprise, the pot had magical powers. Whatever he placed inside it would double! The farmer used the pot wisely, placing seeds, grains and even money inside and soon he became prosperous. 

However, the farmer never let greed take over. He continued to help his neighbours and shared his newfound wealth with the village. Hearing about the pot, a greedy man from the village tried to steal it, but when he placed his hand inside, his greed caused the pot to trap him. The wise farmer, seeing this, warned everyone that greed leads to downfall. 

Moral: Use your blessings wisely and never let greed take over, for it can lead to your ruin. 

PRECIOUS METAL

Silver

Silver is found as crystals and usually occurs as massive or as thick wiry aggregates. Silver has been the most popular precious metal since ancient times. Silver mining is done only in a few countries like Mexico, Peru, Australia, China, Chile, Bolivia and Russia among others. It is used mainly as an Industrial byproduct in the world.

In medieval times, silver was more valuable than gold. It was the main metal used for money as coins, and for fine metal works. Today too, this precious metal is very expensive and is used as bullion, for investment, in jewellery and utensil making. 

Metallic silver is used for silver plating in electronic and photographic industry.

Odisha’s famous filigree work is based on silver. Silver is useful because like gold it is also soft and easy to work with and is difficult to destroy. It is popular for business investment and as social security because it’s easy to store in big chunks and can be sold easily in difficult financial situations.

Now it has been scientifically proven by some doctors that silver is good for health too; something our forefathers always believed in and that is why eating and drinking in silver utensils was encouraged. A book entitled “The Most Precious Metal” by Dr. Gordon Pedersen, Medical Director of the Silver Health Institute, and co-authored by Dr. Bryan Frank, has almost surprised everyone in the Western world as they describe in 90 pages how silver helps to fight germs and is good for health. Silver is ingrained in the psyche of Indians with the precious metal being used in religious ceremonies, festivals, weddings and many other cultural events. 

Even the name of the Indian currency ‘Rupee’ is derived from the Sanskrit word for silver, which is ‘Rupya’. 

In India, foods can be found decorated with a thin layer of silver, known as ‘Varak.’ 

Silver in India is valued next only to gold for making ornaments due to its softness and attractive white colour. It had been an important currency metal in several parts of the world. It is also used in the manufacture of chemicals, electroplating, photography and for colouring glass, etc.

It is found mixed with several other metals such as copper, lead, gold, zinc, etc. India is not a major producer of silver. Our major production comes from Zawar mines in Udaipur district of Rajasthan. Here, silver is obtained as a by-product during the concentration and smelting of galena ore in Hindustan Zinc Smelter. The silver content varies from 171.4 gm to 774.5 gm per tonne of zinc and lead concentrates respectively.

The Tundoo Lead Smelter in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand is another important producer of silver as a by-product of lead. Some silver is produced by Kolar Gold Fields and Hutti gold mines in Karnataka during refining of gold. The Hindustan Copper Ltd. at Maubhandar smelter in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand obtains silver from copper slimes. Silver is also produced by Vizag Zinc smelter in Andhra Pradesh from the lead concentrates. Traces of silver also occur in Hazaribag, Palamu, Ranchi and Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand; Cuddapah, Guntur and Kumool districts of Andhra Pradesh; Vadodara in Gujarat, Bellary district of Karnataka, Baramula.

PORT BLAIR RENAMED

Sri Vijaya Puram 

Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will now be known as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’. The name has been changed to “free the nation from colonial imprints”. The city was named after Captain Archibald Blair, a British colonial navy official of the East India Company.

What is the process to rename an Indian city?

Typically, the renaming process begins with a proposal made by a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the state assembly, which outlines the reasons for the name change. The proposal is then discussed in the state assembly and a simple majority vote is required for the proposal to pass. Once passed, the proposal is sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs at the central government level where various agencies are consulted before issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Upon receiving the NOC, the state government can issue an official notification in the state gazette to finalise the name change.

Port Blair is the 8th major city to have been renamed in the last decade.

LOVE IN THE AIR

Lovebirds

Lovebirds are small, multi-hued parrots that get their name from their habit of pairing for life. If separated, they are believed to pine away!

There are nine species of lovebirds and they are native to sub-Saharan Africa with one species, the grey-headed, found only in Madagascar. Also known as short-tailed parrots, they are popular aviary birds as well as pets. One can find feral (a domesticated animal that returns to the wild after being released or escaping captivity) populations in the United States, Australia and South Africa. 

Like parrots, lovebirds have bright green plumage on their bodies but different colours on their heads, ranging from crimson and orange, to deep rust and greyish white. They have hooked bills and zygodactyl feet, which means that two toes point forward and two toes point backward. Unlike parrots which can grow to around 100 cm in length, lovebirds range from 12 to 15 cm long.

Four species—the masked, black-cheeked, Nyasa and Fischer’s lovebirds—have distinctive white eye rings. They are monogamous, choosing to be with one mate for their lifespan of 15 years. Since parrots in general are social, gregarious birds that move about in big flocks, the lifelong pairing is believed to keep the group stable. It has been observed that if separated from its flock or if its companion dies, a lovebird shows signs of stress and behaves differently. If reunited, one will feed morsels of food to the other to rekindle the bond they shared!

In the wild, lovebirds like most parrots, live in cavities, such as tree holes, or niches in rocks and shrubs. They may nest together as a flock or as individual pairs. In cities, feral birds choose crevices in buildings or trees in urban parks to nest. Peach-faced or rosyfaced lovebirds in Phoenix, Arizona, often make their homes in cacti. 

The nests are typically constructed of grass, stalks and bark. Some even build a domed roof over the nest. If the lovebirds are feeling lazy, they often occupy communal nests abandoned by weaver birds.

The birds may not be lovey-dovey all the time as their name suggests! Parrots are territorial and lovebirds, too, will attack other species and each other, especially during the breeding season.

Lovebirds eat seeds, berries, fruits, and occasionally insect larvae in the wild. In Africa, farmers consider them pests, as they love to feast on maize and millet crops. 

Fact File

● Their closest relatives are hanging parrots found in Asia. The vernal hanging parrot is native to India.

● Fossils of ancient lovebird species dating as far back as 1.9 million years ago, have been unearthed in South Africa. 

● In some species, the females sport different colours but in others, it is difficult to tell the two sexes apart.

● Lovebirds are affectionate, sociable and intelligent, making them ideal as pets. Fischer’s lovebird, the peach-faced lovebird and the black-masked lovebird are favourites. In fact, Fischer’s lovebird was so widely traded that its population declined drastically in the 1980s.

● Unlike other parrots, lovebirds cannot talk or mimic sounds. They are very noisy birds, though, twittering and chirping the livelong day!

● Unusually, after moulting, a lovebird’s feathers may grow back in a jumble of colours it didn’t have before!