25th Kargil Vijay Diwas

 India holds Kargil Vijay Diwas every year on July 26 to remember the brave soldiers who died in the 1999 Kargil Conflict.  On the 25th anniversary in 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, Ladakh, to pay tribute to the martyrs.

Historical Background

India and Pakistan fought a fierce war called the Kargil War from May 8, 1999, to July 26, 1999. The war was a turning point in India’s military history, and it ended with the successful finishing of Operation Vijay. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in charge of India then, and Nawaz Sharif was in charge of Pakistan.

Cause of the Conflict

In late 1998 and early 1999, Pakistani troops sneaked into India by pretending to be mujahideen. They took over key positions along the Line of Control (LoC), taking advantage of the fact that Indian forces found it hard to keep up high posts in the winter.

Significance of Kargil Vijay Diwas

Kargil Vijay Diwas has been celebrated every year on July 26 since 1999. It is a time to remember and honor the bravery of Indian troops. The holiday boosts national pride and remembers the final sacrifice made by the armed forces.

Post-War Initiatives

After the war, K. Subramanyam led the Kargil Review Committee, which looked into what led to the conflict and suggested ways to stop it from happening again. One important suggestion was to lower the average age of soldiers in the Armed Forces so that they are better prepared for battle and more effective.

About Operation Vijay

Operation Vijay was India’s military operation in 1999 to reclaim the Kargil district from Pakistani soldiers and militants. The conflict was significant for being India’s first high-altitude warfare since WWII. The operation lasted approximately 60 days, from May to July 1999. Approximately 527 Indian soldiers were killed, and over 1,300 were wounded. The operation led to the establishment of the Kargil War Memorial. It also prompted India to improve its military capabilities, particularly in high-altitude warfare and surveillance.

National Flag Day on July 22

 The Constituent Assembly of India officially accepted the National Flag on July 22, 1947. This was a big step in India’s journey to become free from colonial rule. This adoption was a sign of the hopes and togetherness of the country during hard times.

Constituent Assembly Meeting

The Constituent Assembly met in New Delhi at 10:00 AM, with Dr. Rajendra Prasad in charge. Since its start on December 9, 1946, the Assembly has met many times to talk about a wide range of important issues. A move about the flag, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, was the main item on the agenda.

Nehru’s Resolution for the Flag

Nehru wanted the National Flag to have a white band with an Ashoka Chakra in navy blue in the middle of the white band. The flag should be a horizontal triangle with deep golden, white, and dark green colors. The goal of this design was to capture India’s spirit and past while also being aesthetically pleasing. At a ratio of 2:3, the measurements were made uniformly. In his speech, Nehru talked about his pride and memories, relating the flag to the deaths of freedom fighters. He knew that the country would face problems in the future, but he still saw this as a victory over the empire. Nehru stressed that the flag wasn’t just a sign of Indian nationalism; it was also a word of freedom to people all over the world who were being ruled over.

The Symbolism of the Flag

Nehru said that the flag was chosen because it was liked by many people and had historical importance, not because it had anything to do with a particular group. The colors showed the country’s rich history. The Ashoka Chakra was chosen to connect the current flag to India’s long past because it represents the ideals of India’s ancient civilization.

Assembly Support and Amendments

Two changes were suggested, but they were not made. Several assembly members, such as Sarojini Naidu and S. Radhakrishnan, said they liked the style of the flag. Some people were against adding the Swastika to the flag, but in the end, everyone agreed to go with the suggested design.

About the National Flag of India

• There are three horizontal bands on the Indian National Flag. They are saffron, white, and green.
• The golden color stands for bravery, the white color for peace and honesty, and the green color for faith and honor.
• It was made by Pingali Venkayya and was approved on July 22, 1947.
• The 24-spoke navy blue wheel that is the Ashoka Chakra stands for the endless wheel of law.
• There are two equal parts on the flag, and it is made of khadi cloth. The Flag Code of India tells people how to fly the flag.

Remembering Sir CV Raman on National Science Day 2024 & Its Transformative Power Today!

 Every year on February 28, India celebrates National Science Day, a commemoration that honours the groundbreaking discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1928. This day is not just a tribute to a singular scientific achievement but a celebration of the spirit of inquiry, exploration and the relentless pursuit of knowledge that drives the scientific community worldwide.

The Discovery that Changed Physics

The Raman Effect, discovered by CV Raman, unveiled the scattering of photons when light traverses a transparent material, changing their energy and wavelength. This phenomenon not only provided deep insights into the quantum nature of light but also laid the foundation for the field of Raman spectroscopy, a technique widely used today in various scientific disciplines, including chemistry, physics, and biology for analysing the molecular composition of materials.

Raman's work was groundbreaking and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, making him the first Asian to win a Nobel Prize in the sciences. His discovery was a testament to the global significance of scientific research conducted in India and has since inspired generations of scientists in the country and around the world.

The Enduring Legacy of CV Raman

Sir CV Raman's legacy extends far beyond his Nobel Prize winning discovery. He was a visionary who believed in the power of science to transform society and was deeply committed to education and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Raman was instrumental in establishing research institutions in India, including the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, where he served as a professor and later as a director.

National Science Day 2024

Today is not just a day to reflect on Raman's contributions to science but also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of scientists across the country and to foster a scientific temper among the masses.

The theme for National Science Day 2024, ‘Indigenous Technology for Viksit Bharat (Developed India)’, devised to reflect the evolving challenges and opportunities in the sphere of science and technology in present day India, is a clarion call to the nation's scientific community and innovators to delve deep into the wealth of indigenous knowledge and technologies that have sustained our country through the centuries.

This thematic approach fosters a forward-looking attitude towards harnessing traditional wisdom in tandem with cutting-edge science to pave the way for a sustainable, self-reliant and technologically advanced India. It underscores the significance of local innovations in solving global challenges, promoting the development of home-grown technologies that are both environmentally sustainable and economically viable.

As India strides towards becoming a 'Viksit Bharat,' the theme of the year serves as a reminder of the power of blending the old with the new, creating a future where tradition and innovation coexist harmoniously, driving growth and prosperity for all.

Celebrating National Science Day

As we celebrate National Science Day, let us remember the contributions of CV Raman and countless other scientists who have pushed the boundaries of our understanding of the world. National Science Day is a tribute to the spirit of scientific inquiry and a reminder of our collective responsibility to foster a culture of curiosity and innovation. It is a day to celebrate, reflect, and look forward to the infinite possibilities that science holds for the future.

Let this day be a catalyst for young minds to explore the realms of science and technology and for society to appreciate the indispensable role of science in driving progress and innovation!

Ranajit Dey

Source: The Telegraph, 28/02/24

Why do we celebrate Women’s Day on March 8?

 

Women’s Day was a result of several socialist movements, which demanded voting rights for women and better working conditions. Here is a brief history.

March 8 was marked as Women’s Day by the United Nations in 1975 and officially recognised as such two years later. While countries across the world have since celebrated the day, its roots go much further back.

The UN’s official website says that the first National Woman’s Day was first observed in the United States on February 28, 1909. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of “the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.” Around 15,000 women marched that day for shorter hours of work, better pay and voting rights, the International Women’s Day (IWD) website says.

For many years after that, the last Sunday of February would be marked as Women’s Day. But these were not isolated events, they came amid what is now seen as the First Wave of Feminism. Additionally, some critics believe that the focus on this event overshadows similar initiatives made in erstwhile Soviet and Communist countries. Here’s their brief history.

Early feminism in the US and Europe

The New York protest was preceded by many events that marked a shift in the fight for women’s rights. First Wave Feminism (from the mid-19th century to the 1920s) saw the very first campaigns for equality in terms of voting rights, pay and other fundamental issues in the West.

As early as 1848, Americans Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott staged the first women’s rights convention in New York, after they were denied a chance to speak at an anti-slavery convention. Mott was a staunch campaigner against slavery, while Stanton was a renowned feminist in her own right. In her 1892 speech titled ‘The Solitude of Self’, she laid down the reasons why women deserved to have equal rights:

“The strongest reason for giving woman all the opportunities for higher education, for the full development of her faculties… is the solitude and personal responsibility of her own individual life.”

“No matter how much women prefer to lean, to be protected and supported, nor how much men desire to have them do so, they must make the voyage of life alone, and for safety in an emergency, they must know something of the laws of navigation… It matters not whether the solitary voyager is man or woman; nature, having endowed them equally, leaves them to their own skill and judgment in the hour of danger, and, if not equal to the occasion, alike they perish.”

In Europe, too, socialist feminist movements had begun to take shape.

The IWD website notes, “In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named Clara Zetkin (Leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day – a Women’s Day – to press for their demands.” Zetkin was a well-regarded speaker, who saw workers’ movements as the only way for women to have their rights. The Guardian noted in a report that her obituary in the Manchester Guardian termed her the “grandmother of communism”.

With over 100 women from 17 countries in attendance at the conference, Zetkin’s suggestion was accepted. In 1911, more than “one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination” in countries across Europe. Thus, there was a growing recognition for having a day of commemoration.

Why March 8?

Russian women protested the possibility of a World War (1914 to 1918) on February 23, 1913, as per the Julian calendar that was then in use in Russia. According to the Gregorian calendar, which was much more widely accepted elsewhere, that date translated as March 8. The day thus became the global benchmark and rallies began to be held on the day in many countries.

Another such Sunday fell on February 23, 1917, as per the Julian calendar. On this day, Russian women protested against the ongoing war and shortages of food and other essentials under Czar Nicholas’s regime.

Historian and activist Rochelle Ruthchild of Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies told Time Magazine how the 1917 protests were unique: “Women were mostly the ones on the breadline, and were the core protesters,” she said. 

She added, “In fact, male revolutionaries like [Leon] Trotsky were upset at them, as these disobedient and misbehaving women were going out on this International Women’s Day when they were meant to wait until May,” which is when Workers’ Day is marked.

The protests would also help galvanise public opinion against the monarchy and just a few days later, the Russian Revolution removed the Czars and a communist state was established. Women also gained the right to vote in Russia that year, while white American women got it in 1920. Women of colour faced hurdles and would only be able to vote after the 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed.

In 2011, the Barack Obama administration also decided to proclaim March as ‘Women’s History Month’.

“This year, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future. International Women’s Day is a chance to pay tribute to ordinary women throughout the world and is rooted in women’s centuries-old struggle to participate in society on an equal footing with men. This day reminds us that, while enormous progress has been made, there is still work to be done before women achieve true parity,” the then-US President said in a statement.

Source: Indian Express, 8/03/24

National Science Day

 India celebrates National Science Day on February 28. National Science Day is celebrated in the country to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect. Raman discovered the Raman Effect on February 28, 1928, and received Nobel Prize for his discovery in 1930.

History of National Science Day

National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in 1986 proposed to mark National Science Day on February 28. The Government of India agreed to the proposal.

The objective of National Science Day

National Science Day is celebrated to spread the importance of science in day-to-day life. On the occasion, the importance of science and achievements in the field are discussed. New technologies are implemented.

The theme of National Science Day 2024

The theme of this year’s ‘National Science Day’ is Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat, emphasizing the importance of home-grown Technologies in shaping the future of India.

Department Initiatives

The Department of Science and Technology organised a function in New Delhi to commemorate the outstanding discovery of Raman’s Effect by great Indian physicist Sir C.V. Raman.

On the occasion, Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the exhibition, featuring a diverse range of innovative projects selected under the Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science.

About Raman Effect

Raman effect is inelastic scattering of the photons by matter where there is an exchange of energy and change in the direction of light. This effect comprises the vibrational energy which is gained by the molecule when the incident photons from visible laser are shifted to the lower energy. This effect takes place when light enters in the molecule and interacts with the electron density of chemical bond. This causes the electromagnetic field in molecule which in turn leads to vibrational and deformation of the frequency shift.

National Council for Science and Technology Communication

It operated under the purview of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The main objectives of NCSTC are to develop and build scientific thinking, develop scientific knowledge, conduct training, and spread awareness

World Book Day

 orld Book Day is a yearly celebration observed on April 23rd globally to promote the love for reading, writing, publishing, and copyright. It is an initiative to create awareness of the importance of education and literacy. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organized the first World Book Day in 1995, chosen to coincide with the death anniversary of notable writers William Shakespeare, Garcilaso de la Vega, and Miguel de Cervantes.

Significance of World Book Day

The significance of World Book Day lies in its promotion of the importance of education and literacy. Reading is an essential skill needed by people from all walks of life, and books are a vital source of knowledge. World Book Day also focuses on publishing and copyright issues that are prevalent in the digital age. With the rise of e-books and piracy, the publishing industry faces significant challenges. World Book Day helps raise awareness of these issues and promotes the protection of intellectual property rights.

The Theme for World Book Day 2023

The theme for World Book Day 2023 is ‘Indigenous Languages.’ The theme is focused on promoting the diversity of native languages in a country. This theme highlights the importance of preserving cultural and linguistic heritage.

Books and the Past and Future

Books serve as a connection between the past and the future, a pathway that links various generations and cultures. They provide a window into different times and worlds, connecting people across continents and ages. UNESCO recognizes the importance of books and authors and stands for creativity, diversity, and equal access to knowledge.

Celebrating Books and Authors

To sustain the momentum of World Book Day’s festivities, UNESCO and global organizations that represent the primary sectors of the book industry, namely publishers, booksellers, and libraries, pick the World Book Capital for a year. World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of books and authors that brings together numerous individuals and groups, including authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, private and public institutions, humanitarian NGOs, and the media. It has become a platform to rally together millions of people worldwide to celebrate books and authors, and promote the enjoyment of reading.

International Day of Zero Wastes

 Every year on March 30, people around the world celebrate the International Day of Zero Waste, a day designated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote reducing waste and sustainable consumption and production patterns. This day promotes the creation of a more sustainable and waste-free world.

History of the International Day of Zero Waste

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on December 14, 2022, designating March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste. The proposal was co-sponsored by Turkey and 105 other countries and is part of a series of resolutions dealing with waste. It aims to achieve all the objectives and targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by promoting zero-waste initiatives.

Theme of the International Day of Zero Waste 2023

The theme of the International Day of Zero Waste in 2023 is “Achieving sustainable and environmentally sound practices of minimizing and managing waste.” This theme emphasizes the importance of promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns to reduce the negative impact of waste on the environment.

Impact of Waste on the Environment

According to the UN data, around 2.24 billion tons of municipal solid waste are produced each year. Only 55% of them is being disposed of in managed facilities. Also, an estimated 931 million tons of food are either lost or wasted every year, and approximately 14 million tons of plastic waste enters aquatic ecosystems each year. These numbers highlight the adverse consequences of waste on the environment, including landfills, pollution, and resource depletion.

Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns

The International Day of Zero Waste seeks to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns by encouraging individuals, communities, and organizations to adopt practices that minimize waste, reuse and recycle materials, and reduce the amount of waste generated. Initiatives like clean-up campaigns, recycling drives, educational programs, and advocacy campaigns are being conducted on this occasion to enable community mobilization towards a more sustainable and waste-free world.

Sustainable Development Goals Promoted by the International Day of Zero Waste

The International Day of Zero Waste promotes SDGs 11 and 12, which aim to make cities and communities more sustainable and promote responsible consumption and production. These goals align with the broader agenda of the United Nations to promote sustainable development and address the challenges posed by climate change, environmental degradation, and poverty.

Observance of the International Day of Zero Waste

International Day of Zero Waste is jointly overseen by the UN-Habitat and the UNEP. Member countries, UN organizations, civil societies, private entities, academia, youth and other stakeholders are encouraged to participate in activities that create awareness of of national, subnational, regional, and local zero-waste initiatives and their role in enabling a sustainable development.

Source: https://www.gktoday.in/topic/international-day-of-zero-wastes/

World Theatre Day 2023: ‘Theatre makes me feel alive & excited,’ says Ramanjit Kaur

 ‘Theatre is the art of looking at ourselves,’ said Augusto Boal, a Brazilian theatre practitioner, and drama theorist.

Theatre has been a significant influence in many people's lives, allowing their creativity to thrive and, more importantly, allowing them to nurture their self-expression.

To celebrate the transformative power of this art form, The International Theatre Institute (ITI) instituted March 27 as World Theatre Day in the year 1961. The ITI Centers and the global theatrical community observe this day every year.

To commemorate World Theatre Day 2023, The Telegraph Online Edugraph connected with Ramanjit Kaur, an award-winning actor & director in both theatre & cinema as well as founder and head of Kolkata's The Creative Arts Academy, a school for the arts. Ramanjit has performed at festivals all over the globe and has been a torchbearer for the potential that drama and theatre have to bring about change. She has directed innumerable plays at The Creative Arts, which she founded in 2002 in Kolkata, to train children and adults in different genres of Theatre - proscenium, site-specific, studio theatre et al. She created an all-women Theatre Group in 2011, a unique project that received the LAADLI National Award for gender sensitisation.

Today she talks to us about her journey, the healing power of theatre, as well as the scope for pursuing theatre as more than just a hobby.

Ramanjit’s Journey in Theatre

Ramanjit's grandmother was a painter, and her aunt was a poet and music professor. It is unsurprising, then, that she chose a creative career as well. Ramanjit began performing at the age of 6 and while in school, she was introduced to Padmashree Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry.

Neelam noticed her incredibly remarkable skills, and Ramanjit's professional career with her began there. Ramanjit went on to be the lead actress in Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry's theatre group for more than three decades.

Ramanjit holds multiple degrees in Music, Dance, Fine Arts, and Literature, as well as a Masters in Music (Instrumental) Gold Medal.

While in college, she travelled globally with Neelam’s theatre group and came to realise that she could keep contributing to theatre all her life. In her words, ‘I had more to give to theatre than music.’

Ramanjit’s first theatre performance was at the age of 16 in an adaptation of Clytemnestra, the Greek legend, by Neelam Mansigh Chowdhry. She played two important characters in Act 1 & Act 2 of the play. After the very first performance, Ramanjit remembers Neelam Ji offering her the role of the protagonist in Girish Karnad’s Nagamandala which toured all over the nation. She has also delivered exceptional performances in other plays directed by Neelam, notable among them being Yerma, a play by Federico García Lorca, globally renowned for its exceptional performance.

The art of theatre encompasses all art forms, be it music, dance, design or visual art. For Ramanjit this has a special significance since she holds multiple degrees in the creative art field.

‘Being an actor and a performer, working with maestros has been exceptionally remarkable. Whenever I am on stage, I feel alive & mostly excited. Theatre has been cathartic and most compelling. It is more than just acting,’ says Ramanjit on her experience as a theatre actor.

Not just her journey, but also her experiences and her efforts as a theatre director have gone a long way in inspiring children and young adults to pursue acting as a career. Speaking about direction, Ramanjit adds, ‘Acting to me is equivalent to breathing, and directing is just an extension of that. I have learned so much from my gurus as an actor and I feel it’s my time to pass on my learnings to my students. Direction, for me, is to give back to the arts community because I use theatre for development, empowerment, and healing process. I teach students from the age of 5 to 73. I seek to make the community understand that Arts should be an integral part of life. It helps one in self-expression & understanding the emotions of others, which is a recipe for leading a wonderful life.’

Ramanjit believes that to stay relevant in theatre, it is immensely important to train one’s mind, body & heart. Her top tips for doing that are to read lots of literature, keep your body fit and embrace all the other art forms, in addition to theatre. In her words, ‘Learning is a constant process & staying updated with the latest trends & development in theatre will only make one understand the contemporary language of theatre’.

We, of course, asked Ramanjit for her insights on those who want to build a career in theatre and are not merely content with pursuing it as a hobby - read on for what she had to say.

Roadmap to building a career in theatre

Building a career in theatre is a passionate effort that one must start at the foundational level. Ramanjit advises aspiring theatre artists to start participating in plays at school. She says, ‘After school, get a degree in Fine Arts and then join a drama school. Before enrolling in any drama school, one must check out the faculty, because a good mentor can pave the way for artists to make it big in their careers. One should keep training themselves in all art forms, even if the theatre course doesn’t include [those] in the curriculum.’

Acting is not the only profession in Theatre

When it comes to theatre, often people have the misconception that there’s just one profession involved - which is acting. But let Ramanjit tell you otherwise.

‘A theatre artist has myriad options, apart from being an actor. They can be a director, a producer, a scriptwriter, a facilitator, a stage set designer, a costume designer, a technical director, a scenic designer, a stage manager, a production manager or a backstage coordinator. The options are unlimited. One must be open to learning, engaging with varied facets of theatre and creating more opportunities for oneself within the umbrella of theatre.’

One can also take a leaf out of Ramanjit’s own story when she talks about the healing and transformative powers of theatre, which also opens up other opportunities like drama therapy for children or adults.

The importance of Theatre in today’s world

Theatre is a live entertaining artform where performers & audiences connect & understand emotions intricately. Through the dramatisation of emotions and events, both the performer and the audience are given an opportunity to live the feeling and be moved by it. It is an experience that has a lasting impact on one and all.

If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone. When one is involved and engaged in theatre, they nurture their self-expression and hone their communication skills to the best.

As we celebrate World Theatre Day 2023, let this immensely powerful tool–theatre–be used for revolution, development of thought, bringing change in society, creating long-lasting bonds & most of all, shaping a more kind and compassionate society.

Source: The Telegraph, 27/03/23

World Water Day

 Every year, March 22 is observed as World Water Day to raise awareness about the global water crisis and the importance of water. The day aims to inspire people to sustainably manage freshwater resources, address water-related issues and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation for All by 2030.

History of World Water Day

In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe World Water Day on March 22 every year. The first World Water Day was observed in 1993, and since then, the day has been celebrated globally to highlight the importance of water.

Significance of World Water Day

Water is the elixir of life, and everyone needs it to sustain their lives. However, according to the United Nations, around two billion people worldwide lack safe drinking water. Additionally, diseases related to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene shorten the lives of 74 million people each year, and 1.4 million people die annually due to a lack of access to clean water. This highlights the importance of conserving water and addressing water-related issues.

Theme of World Water Day 2023

The theme for World Water Day 2023 is “Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.” It highlights the urgent need to take action to address the global water crisis and the necessity to go beyond business as usual. The United Nations aims to unite the world around water and kickstart the UN 2023 Water Conference from March 22 to 24 in New York, United States.

Celebration of World Water Day

World Water Day is celebrated by organisations, NGOs, and individuals to conserve water and address issues associated with water resources. On this day, seminars, webinars, and events are organised worldwide to raise awareness about the importance of water and the need to address water-related challenges.

World Consumer Rights Day

 World Consumer Rights Day 2023 was celebrated on March 15 with the theme “Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions.” The Department of Consumer Affairs marked this day by leveraging technology to minimize the dependence on traditional energy sources and promote a rapid transition to clean energy solutions that are sustainable, secure, affordable, and accessible to consumers.

World Consumer Rights Day: Understanding its History

World Consumer Rights Day has been celebrated since March 15, 1983, with the goal of empowering and protecting consumers worldwide. It originated from US President John F. Kennedy’s address to Congress on March 15, 1962, where he highlighted the importance of consumer rights and was the first world leader to do so. Since then, organizations such as Consumer International commemorate the day by hosting various activities and campaigns to defend consumer rights.

Consumer Rights in India: Enactment of the Consumer Protection Act

The Indian Parliament passed the Consumer Protection Act on December 9, 1986, to give customers more power and create consumer councils, forums, and appellate courts for the resolution of consumer complaints. This Act significantly improved the rights of consumers in India, giving them protection against unfair trade practices, access to goods and services at competitive prices, and the right to be informed about the quality, standard, and price of goods and services.

The Six Basic Consumer Rights Embedded in the Act

The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, embedded six basic consumer rights that serve as a guide for the Indian consumers. The first right is the right to be heard at an appropriate forum. The second is the right to seek redressal in case of unfair trade practices. The third right is the right to consumer education, which involves spreading awareness among consumers about their rights and the methods to seek redressal. The fourth is the right to goods and services at competitive prices, which protects consumers from being exploited by unscrupulous traders. The fifth right is the right to be informed about the quality, potency, purity, standard, and price of goods and services before purchasing them. Finally, the sixth right is the right to be protected against wrong marketing of goods and services that are hazardous to the life and property of consumers.

 

Zero Discrimination Day 2023

 Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated on March 1. The day is mainly celebrated by organizations like UNAIDS. The main objective of the day is to promote equality. The first Zero Discrimination Day was celebrated in 2014. It was launched by UNAIDS. The first Zero Discrimination Day celebrations were conducted in Beijing.

The theme of Zero Discrimination Day 2023

Save Lives: Decriminalize

Zero Discrimination Day in India

In India, activists use the day to speak against discrimination faced by the LGBT community.

Section 377 and Zero Discrimination Day

The day is used by Indian activists to raise voices to repeal section 377. The section was legislated by the Britishers. It penalizes sexual acts that are against nature, that is, homosexual activities. In 2018, the Supreme Court dismissed the section from the IPC. However, Parliament has not yet taken any action on this.  So internationally, the code hasn’t been repealed in India. In other former British colonies like Singapore, the act has been completely repealed.

History

The day first started focusing on HIV. However, it has now been extended to all forms of discrimination.

National Science Day 2023: The Raman Effect, which CV Raman won the Nobel for

 

In 1986, the Government of India designated February 28 as National Science Day, to commemorate the announcement of the discovery of the “Raman effect”. Here is more about CV Raman and his groundbreaking discovery.

In 1986, the Government of India, under then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, designated February 28 as National Science Day to commemorate the announcement of the discovery of the “Raman Effect”. This year’s edition is being celebrated under the theme of “Global Science for Global Wellbeing”, in light of India’s G20 presidency.

The Raman Effect was the discovery which won physicist Sir CV Raman his Nobel Prize in 1930. Conducting a deceptively simple experiment, Raman discovered that when a stream of light passes through a liquid, a fraction of the light scattered by the liquid is of a different colour. This discovery was immediately recognised as groundbreaking in the scientific community, being the subject of over 700 papers in the first seven years after its announcement.

What is the “Raman Effect”? Why is it so important? Most importantly, who was the man behind this momentous discovery?

A young prodigy conducting after-hours research

Raman was born to a family of Sanskrit scholars in Trichy (present-day Tiruchirapalli) in the Madras Presidency in 1888. At the age of only 16, He received a BA degree from Presidency College in Madras, and was placed first in his class. While studying for his MA degree, at the age of 18, he got published in the Philosophical Magazine: this was the first research paper ever published by Presidency College.

Due to his ill health, he was unable to travel abroad for further education. Thus, in 1907, he got married and settled down in Calcutta as an assistant accountant general. While still a full-time civil servant, Raman began after-hours research at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS). Raman raised the profile of IACS, doing some award-winning research as well as conducting public demonstrations with charisma. At the age of 29, he finally resigned from his civil services job and took up a professorship in Presidency College, Calcutta.

A voyage across the ocean leads to interest in the scattering of light

By 1921, CV Raman had gained a solid reputation as a top scientific mind both in India and in the West. That year, he made his first journey to England. It was on the return journey that Raman would make an observation that would change his life and science forever.

While passing through the Mediterranean Sea, Raman was most fascinated by the sea’s deep blue colour. Dissatisfied with the then-accepted answer (“the colour of the sea was just a reflection of the colour of the sky”), his curious mind delved deeper.

He soon found out that the colour of the sea was the result of the scattering of sunlight by the water molecules. Fascinated by the phenomenon of light-scattering, Raman and his collaborators in Calcutta began to conduct extensive scientific experiments on the matter – experiments that would eventually lead to his eponymous discovery.

Simply put, the Raman Effect refers to the phenomenon in which when a stream of light passes through a liquid, a fraction of the light scattered by the liquid is of a different colour. This happens due to the change in the wavelength of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected by molecules.

In general, when light interacts with an object, it can either be reflected, refracted or transmitted. One of the things that scientists look at when light is scattered is if the particle it interacts with is able to change its energy. The Raman Effect is when the change in the energy of the light is affected by the vibrations of the molecule or material under observation, leading to a change in its wavelength.

In their first report to Nature, titled “A New Type of Secondary Radiation,” CV Raman and co-author KS Krishnan wrote that 60 different liquids had been studied, and all showed the same result – a tiny fraction of scattered light had a different colour than the incident light. “It is thus,” Raman said, “a phenomenon whose universal nature has to be recognised.”

Raman would go on to verify these observations using a spectroscope, publishing the quantitative findings in the Indian Journal of Physics on March 31, 1928.

The importance of the discovery

CV Raman’s discovery took the world by storm as it had deep implications far beyond Raman’s original intentions. As Raman himself remarked in his 1930 Nobel Prize speech, “The character of the scattered radiations enables us to obtain an insight into the ultimate structure of the scattering substance.” For quantum theory, in vogue in the scientific world at the time, Raman’s discovery was crucial. The discovery would also find its use in chemistry, giving birth to a new field known as Raman spectroscopy as a basic analytical tool to conduct nondestructive chemical analysis for both organic and inorganic compounds. With the invention of lasers and the capabilities to concentrate much stronger beams of light, the uses of Raman spectroscopy have only ballooned over time.

Today, this method has a wide variety of applications, from studying art and other objects of cultural importance in a non-invasive fashion to finding drugs hidden inside luggage at customs.

Source: Indian Express, 28/02/23

National Women’s Day 2023

 India celebrates National Women’s Day on February 13. The celebrations commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India. She stood for women’s empowerment. She took an active part in the Indian independence movement. She is popular for her poems on patriotism and other literary works.

Why do we celebrate National Women’s Day?

India celebrates National women’s day to honour the achievements of women in the country, especially in the field of politics, culture, and economy.

About Sarojini Naidu

She was a contributor to the Indian Constitution. She served as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1925. She was imprisoned for 21 months for participating in the Quit India Movement. She did her higher studies in London. She was born in Hyderabad and died in Lucknow.

International Women Day

It is celebrated on March 8 by the UN and other countries of the world. The day is being celebrated since 1975. The day is marked to honour the achievement of women in the field of politics, culture, and economy. (The same reason for which National women’s Day is celebrated). Also, the celebrations aim to achieve Goal 5 of the SDG, which is, Achieve Gender Equality.

World Radio Day 2023

 In 2023, the United Nations and other countries are celebrating the 12^th edition of World Radio Day. It is celebrated on February 13. The celebrations of World Radio Day are launched by UNESCO on behalf of the UN. The day aims to highlight the fact that radios are the pillars of conflict prevention and play a major role in maintaining peace in the world

The theme of World Radio Day

Radio and Peace

Significance of the theme

The war between countries may translate into media conflicts. This increases tensions. Radio can fuel conflicts. On the other hand, radios can also prevent conflicts from escalating. Therefore, radio plays a huge role in maintaining peace and making people safe. For sustainable democracy, radio should provide news independently. It should gather evidence impartially and let the citizens know what exactly is happening in the country and in the world.

Why is World Radio Day celebrated?

The day is celebrated to highlight the role played by radio and other broadcasting media. The day emphasizes the impact of news broadcasted by the radio on the public. Also, radio is one of the least expensive mediums of communication. It can easily reach remote areas.

World Wetlands Day, 2023

 Wetlands support a wide range of biodiversity and help to maintain natural cycles. They replenish water resources and protect coastlines. They account for 4.7% of the Indian Geographical area. Today 30% of the Indian wetlands have been lost. And 35% of wetlands have been lost at the world level. To create awareness about the importance of wetlands and protect them from degrading, the UN and other international organizations celebrate World Wetlands Day.

The theme of 2023 World Wetlands Day

It is Time for Wetlands Restoration

Major causes of wetland degradation

Population growth is the primary cause of wetlands degradation. The natural factors that cause wetland degradation are erosion and land subsidence.

History of World Wetlands Day

The proposal for marking World Wetlands Day was made in 1997. However, the resolution was passed in 2021 and the first world wetlands day was celebrated in 2021.

Five Major Types of Wetlands

• Estuarine: Area where the freshwater river meets the ocean
• Marine: These wetlands are on the coastlines and are the most productive and most threatened
• Lacustrine: These wetlands are found near the lakes
• Palustrine: Found in a marshy environment. They are common in the mouth of rivers and delta regions
• Riverine: Found near rivers or riverbanks

September 21: International Day of Peace

 

Key facts

• The International Day of Peace is observed to strengthen the ideals of peace through the observance of 24-hours of non-violence and ceasefire.
• Its main objective is to create a world where compassion and empathy overcome suspicion and hatred.
• The theme for 2022 is “End racism. Build peace.” It aims to eradicate racism and put an end to race-based discrimination.
• It highlights the plights faced by people who were displaced by conflicts because of racism.
• It also recognized the issues faced by certain racial groups during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect on certain races during the economic crisis.
• This year, International Day of Peace was observed on September 16, 2022 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
• The programme commenced with the traditional Peace Bell Ceremony at the Peace Garden

Background

The International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations General Assembly in the year 1981. In 2001, the UNGA adopted a resolution to designate this day as a period of non-violence and ceasefire.

About Peace Bell

The Peace Bell was donated by the United Nations Association of Japan in June 1954. It was created as a symbol of hope for peace. The bell was made from coin and medals donated by the representatives of member states, the Pope and people, including children from 60 countries. The bell tower was modelled based on the Hanamido (a temple decorated with flowers) that symbolizes the place where Buddha was born. It is rung twice a year – once at the Vernal Equinox and on the occasion of the International Day for Peace. It has an inscription on its side that reads “Long Live Absolute World Peace”.

Engineer’s Day 2022: The Engineer who received the Bharat Ratna and British Knighthood

 To commemorate the birth anniversary of Sir Moksha Gundam Visvesvaraya, India celebrates 15 September as Engineer’s Day. Known as the father of Indian engineering, he is regarded as one of the nation's greatest engineers. His remarkable contribution to the world of engineering has changed the way we perceive the field today. Along with India, other countries such as Sri Lanka and Tanzania have also honoured him by marking 15 September as Engineer’s day.

Significance:

National Engineering day serves as a day for thanking engineers for their immense support and contribution made to the nation’s development. In 1968, the Government of India decided to observe 15 September as National Engineering day with the intention that aspiring engineers would look get inspired by Visvesvaraya’s consider him to be their role model and guiding light.

India has often been referred to as a country of engineers. This is no surprise, considering engineering is still one of the most earnest and popular career choices in India.

About Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya:

Born on 15 September 1861 in Karnataka, Visvesvaray initially attended the University of Madras to become a Bachelor of Arts. However, he soon made a career transition and instead pursued a Diploma in Civil Engineering from the College of Science in Pune. His remarkable innovation of creating ‘block systems’, where he installed an irrigation system with water floodgates at a reservoir near Pune, became a feather in the cap for him. The system helped in increasing the water supply level as well as storage. This irrigation system was initially installed at the Khadakvasla Reservoir, along with Tigra Dam at Gwalior and Krishnaraja Sagara Reservoir, KRS Dam in Mysuru, Karnataka.

In the year 1955, he was conferred the ‘Bharat Ratna’ by the President of India for his exceptional contribution to the development of India. He has also been awarded the British knighthood and served as Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918.

India and Engineering in 2022:

The advancement in technology, ease of access and growth in the IT industry would not have been actualised without engineering. It is the link which holds every industry together. India in particular is making significant investments in IT. Our country also currently has the highest number of engineers graduating, as well as several top-level engineering colleges and institutions. Engineering, in particular, is an ever-expanding field where new development keeps on happening with every passing year. This in-demand and highly skilled profession is one to stay.

Source: Telegraph, 15/09/22