Portal:India/Today's selected article/April 2006

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April 1

Kerala is a state on the southwestern tropical Malabar Coast of India. To its east and northeast, Kerala borders Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; to its west and south lie the Indian Ocean islands of Lakshadweep and the Maldives, respectively. Kerala also envelops Mahé, a coastal exclave of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. In prehistory, Kerala's rainforests and wetlands — then thick with malaria-bearing mosquitoes and man-eating tigers — were largely avoided by Neolithic humans. More than a millennium of overseas contact and trade culminated in four centuries of struggle between and among multiple colonial powers and native Keralite states. Kerala was granted statehood on November 1, 1956. Radical social reforms begun in the 19th century by the kingdoms of Kochi and Travancore — and spurred by such leaders as Narayana Guru and Chattampi Swamikal — were continued by post-Independence governments, making Kerala among the Third World's longest-lived, healthiest, and most literate regions. Kerala's 31.8 million people now live under a stable democratic socialist political system and exhibit unusually equitable gender relations.(more...)

Recently appeared: political integration of India – Greco-Buddhism – Sikkim

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April 2

Side view of Chennai central

Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is India's fourth largest metropolitan city. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. With an estimated population of 6.90 million, the 367-year-old city is the 31st largest metropolitan area in the world. The city is a large commercial and industrial centre, and is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture. The city is the automobile capital of India, with around forty percent of the automobile industry having a base there. The 12 kilometre long Marina Beach forms the city's east coast and is one of the longest beaches in the world. The city is also known for its sport venues and hosts India's only ATP tennis event, the Chennai Open. Chennai is located on a flat coastal plain known as the Eastern Coastal Plains. The city has an average elevation of 6 metres, its highest point being 60 m. City is governed by the Corporation of Chennai, which consists of a Mayor and 155 Councillors representing the 155 Wards. Chennai's culture reflects its diverse population. The city is known for its classical dance shows and Hindu temples. (more...)

Recently appeared: Kerala – political integration of India – Greco-Buddhism

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April 3

Side view of Chennai central

Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is situated in the lower Himalayas. Known for its clean surroundings and temperate climate, this hill station of about fifty thousand people is the centre of Sikkim's tourist industry. Gangtok was a small hamlet until the construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840 made it a pilgrimage center. It became a major stopover between Tibet and British India at the end of the 19th century. Following India's independence in 1947, Sikkim became a nation-state with Gangtok as its capital. In 1975 the monarchy was abrogated and Sikkim became India's twenty-second state, with Gangtok remaining as its capital. City is also a centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning with numerous monasteries and religious educational institutions. Gangtok is connected to the rest of India by an all-weather metalled highway, NH-31A, which links Gangtok to Siliguri. The civic infrastructure of Gangtok is overseen by the local municipal corporation whose councillors are directly elected by the people. The rural roads around Gangtok however, are maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, which is a part of the Indian army. (more...)

Recently appeared: Chennai – Kerala – political integration of India

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April 4

The Bombay Stock Exchange is the country's main stock exchange.

The economy of India is the fourth-largest in the world as measured by purchasing power parity (PPP), with a GDP of $3.3 trillion. When measured in USD exchange rates it is the tenth largest in the world, with a GDP of $691.8 billion. However India's huge population results in a relatively low per capita income ($3,100 at PPP). Services are the major source of economic growth in India today, though two-thirds of Indian workforce earn their livelihood directly or indirectly through agriculture. In recent times, India has also capitalised on its large number of highly-educated populace fluent in the English language to become a major exporter of software services, financial services and software engineers. For most of India's independent history, a socialist inspired approach was adhered to, with strict government control and regulation on private sector participation, foreign trade and foreign direct investment. Since the early 1990s, India has gradually opened up its markets through economic reforms by reducing government controls on foreign trade and investment. The socio-economic problems India faces are the burgeoning population, growing inequality, lack of infrastructure, growing unemployment and growing poverty. (more...)

Recently appeared: Gangtok – Chennai – Kerala

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April 5

The New Delhi Metro railway

Indian Railways is the state-owned railway company of India; it has a complete monopoly over the country's rail transport. Indian Railways (IR) has one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting over 5 billion passengers and over 350 million tonnes of freight annually. IR is also the world's largest commercial or utility employer, having more than 1.6 million regular employees on its payroll. Railways were first introduced to India in 1853, and by 1947, the year of India's independence, it had grown to forty-two rail systems. In 1951 the systems were nationalised as one unit, to become one of the largest networks in the world. Indian Railways operates both long distance, as well as suburban rail systems. It operates 8,702 passenger trains and transports around five billion annually across twenty-seven states and three union territories (Delhi, Pondicherry and Chandigarh). Sikkim is the only state not connected. The Railway Budget deals with the induction and improvement of existing trains and routes, the modernisation and most importantly the tariff for freight and passenger travel. (more...)

Recently appeared: Economy of India – Gangtok – Chennai

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April 6

Himalaya is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. By extension, it is also the name of the massive mountain system which includes the Himalaya proper, the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush. Together, the Himalaya mountain system is the planet's highest and home to all fourteen of the world's highest peaks. the Eight-thousanders, including Mount Everest. To comprehend the enormous scale of Himalaya peaks, consider that Aconcagua, in the Andes, is at 6,959 m the highest peak outside the Himalaya, while the Himalaya system has over 100 peaks exceeding 7,200 m. The Himalaya stretches across five nations, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. It is the source of three of the world's major river systems, the Indus Basin, the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin and the Yangtze Basin. An estimated 750 million up people live in the watershed area of the Himalayan rivers, which also includes Bangladesh. (more...)

Recently appeared: Indian Railways – Economy of India – Gangtok

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April 7

Srinivasa Aiyangar Ramanujan was a world-renowned Indian mathematician. Nicknamed as "the man who knew infinity", who had uncanny mathematical manipulative abilities. He excelled in number theory and modular functions. He made significant contributions to the development of partition functions and summation formulas involving π. A child prodigy, he was largely self-taught in mathematics and had compiled over 3,000 theorems by the year 1914 when he moved to Cambridge. Often, his formulas were stated without proof and were only later proven to be true. In 1997 the Ramanujan Journal was launched to publish work "in areas of mathematics influenced by Ramanujan". Not only did he achieve merit certificates and academic awards throughout his school years, but was also assisting the school in the logistics of assigning its 1200 students to its 35-odd teachers, completing mathematical exams in half the allotted time, and already showing familiarity with infinite series. (more...)

Recently appeared: Himalaya – Indian Railways – Economy of India

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April 8

Ashoka Pillar

Ashoka Pillar

Ashoka was the emperor of the Mauryan Empire from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. He reigned over most of South Asia and beyond. An early supporter of Buddhism, Ashoka established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, and according to Buddhist tradition was closely involved in the preservation and transmission of Buddhism. He was the first ruler of ancient Bharatavarsha (India), after Mahabharata rulers, to unify such a vast territory under his empire. The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is the most popular of the relics left by Ashoka, made of sandstone. It has a four-lion capital which was adopted as the emblem of the modern Indian republic. In translating these monuments, historians learn the bulk of what is assumed to have been true fact of the Mauryan Empire. It is difficult to determine whether certain events ever happened, but the stone etchings depict clearly of how he wanted to be remembered. (more...)

Recently appeared: Srinivasa Ramanujan – Himalaya – Indian Railways

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April 9

Indian Air Force is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. It was established on October 8, 1932 as the Royal Indian Air Force. The prefix Royal was dropped after India became a Republic in 1950. It is the fourth largest air force in the world. It has a strength of 750+ combat aircraft and presently operates with a total of 42 squadrons. The Sukhoi is the IAF's prime air superiority combat aircraft. The IAF currently possesses several multi-role fighter jets that perform these functions. Single-seater Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 serve both strike and defense squadrons. The IAF currently possesses 100 Jaguar IM and 20 maritime strike Jaguar IS aircraft. In 2003, the IAF bought 6 IL-78 aircraft from Russia. The aircraft's primary role is mid-air re-fueling. It currently operates IAI Malat-built Searcher MkII and Heron UAVs. An important objective of the IAF is to support ground troops by providing air-cover and by transporting men and essential commodities across the battlefield. (more...)

Recently appeared: Ashoka – Srinivasa Ramanujan – Himalaya

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April 10

Srinagar, is the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India, and is situated in the valley of Kashmir. The city lies on both banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus River. The city is famous for its lakes and houseboats floating over them. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits. Srinagar is 876 km north of Delhi. The headquarters of the Srinagar District are situated in the city. After, India’s independence, certain tribes, mostly Pathans, actively supported by elements of the Pakistani forces, invaded the valley to wrestle control, by armed force, of the city of Srinagar and the Valley. Ruler Maharaja Hari Singh having a solemn and sovereign assurance backed by the international law that all rulers of such states were free to remain as independent entities, or to choose to annex either to India or to Pakistan. It is the most pivotal centre of the economy of the Kashmir Valley, and it has remained a tourist destination for centuries. (more...)

Recently appeared: Indian Air Force – Ashoka – Srinivasa Ramanujan

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April 11

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was an Indian freedom fighter, senior political leader and statesman. Inspired by the work of Mohandas Gandhi, Patel organized the peasants of Kheda and Bardoli in Gujarat in non-violent mass civil disobedience against the oppressive tax policies imposed by the British Raj. He served as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1931, and rose to the forefront of rebellions and political events — helping lead Indians into the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India movement. Becoming the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel took charge of the task to forge a united India from a plethora of semi-independent princely states, colonial provinces and possessions. Patel employed an iron fist in a velvet glove diplomacy — frank political negotiations backed with the option (and the use) of military action to weld a nation that could emancipate its people without the prospect of divisions or civil conflict. His leadership obtained the peaceful and swift integration of all 565 princely states into the Republic of India. Patel's initiatives spread democracy extensively across India, and re-organized the states to help transform India into a modern federal republic with states autonomy. He was also well known as Iron Man of India. (more...)

Recently appeared: Srinagar – Indian Air Force – Ashoka

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April 12

O. V. Vijayan was an Indian author and cartoonist, an important figure in modern Malayalam literature. Vijayan wrote his first short story, "Tell Father Gonsalves", in 1953. He went on to write five novels and translated some of his own work into English. His first and most famous novel, Khasakinte Ithihasam, tells the story of a teacher named Ravi dispatched to a newly created school in remote Khasak. He brought about a sea-change in Malayalam literature with this novel: so much so that it can be divided into pre-Khasak and post-Khasak eras, named after Vijayan's pioneering first novel. The former era was romantic and formal; the latter is modernist, post-modernist and post-post-modernist, with tremendous experimentation in style and content. In a way, Vijayan released Malayalam fiction writing from the shackles of tradition. He wrote many other short stories, essays and satire. He is also a cartoonist. The famous malayalam poet OV Usha is his sister. In 2003, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. Vijayan struggled with Parkinson's Disease for 10 years and finally sucummed to organ failure in a Hyderabad hospital at age 75. (more...)

Recently appeared: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – Srinagar – Indian Air Force

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April 13

The Governor-General's Flag (1885–1947) depicted the "Star of India" on a Union Flag.

The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William. The officer had direct control only over Fort William, but supervised other British East India Company officials in India. Complete authority over all of British India was granted in 1833, and the official became known as the Governor-General of India. In 1858, India came under the direct control of the British Crown, and the Governor-General acted as the Sovereign's representative. To reflect this role, the term "Viceroy" was informally applied; the title was abandoned when India became independent in 1947. The office of Governor-General continued to exist until India adopted a constitution in 1950. Governors-General served five-year terms, but could be removed earlier. After the conclusion of a term, a provisional Governor-General was sometimes appointed until a new holder of the office could be chosen. Provisional Governors General were often chosen from among the provincial Governors. (more...)

Recently appeared: O. V. Vijayan – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – Srinagar

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April 14

Tabla is a widely popular South Asian percussion instrument used in music of the northern Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres. The term tabla is derived from an Arabic word which means "drum", and this attests to its status as a product resulting from the fusion of musical elements from indigenous Hindu and Central Asian Muslim cultures that began in the late 16th century. The black spot found on each of the drums that make up the set of tablas, called Syahi, is made of a mixture of flour, water and iron filings. Traditionally, it was applied and removed many times but it is now permanently attached to the drum. It has acquired tremendous international popularity as a result of its large-scale, transnational diffusion started by notable "musical ambassadors" such as the late Ustad Alla Rakha. It has also become a popular fusion instrument and is found in performance and recordings of an array of musical styles from traditional forms such as flamenco to cutting edge electronica, Tabla Beat Science. (more...)

Recently appeared: Governor-General of India – O. V. Vijayan – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

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April 15

Subhash Chandra Bose, also known as Netaji, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian Independence Movement against the British Raj. Bose helped to organise, and later lead the Indian National Army, put together from Indian prisoners-of-war and plantation workers from Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia. Bose travelled to Moscow on the passport of an Italian nobleman "Count Orlando Mazzotta". From Moscow, he reached Rome, and from there he traveled to Germany, where he instituted the Special Bureau for India broadcasting on the German-sponsored Azad Hind Radio. He created the Indian Legion (consisting of some 4500 soldiers) out of Indian prisoners of war who had previously fought for the British in North Africa prio to their capture by Axis forces. He criticized the British during World War II, saying that while Britain was allegedly fighting for the freedom of the European nations under Nazi control, it would not grant independence to its own colonies, including India. Bose is said to have died in a plane crash over Taiwan, while flying to Tokyo in August 1945. However, his body was never recovered. (more...)

Recently appeared: Tabla – Governor-General of India – O. V. Vijayan

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April 16

India has a large and extensive transportation system. The country has one of the world's largest railway and roadway network transporting millions of people every year. Bullock carts have been traditionally used for transport, especially in rural India. Palkee was one of the luxurious methods used by the rich and nobles for travelling purposes. Advent of the British saw drastic improvements in the horse carriages which were used for transport since early days. Bicycles are still an important mode of travelling for the lower middle class. Trams are still in use in Calcutta and provide a pollution-free means of transportation. Buses are very cheap in most cities but also very crowded and have unpredictable timings, frequently necessitating long waits. Two wheelers like Scooter and the motorcycle are the most popular mode of transport in terms of number of vehicles. The demand for cars in India is one of the highest in the world. Mass rapid transit systems are operational in Mumbai, Kolkatta, Chennai and Delhi. India's rail network is the longest of any country. (more...)

Recently appeared: Subhash Chandra Bose – Tabla – Governor-General of India

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April 17

Sanskrit is a classical and liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is one of the oldest Indo-European languages in the world and boasts a rich tradition of poetry, literature, and philosophical and religious texts. It is one of the 22 languages in India. According to recent reports, it is being revived as a vernacular in Mattur near Shimoga in Karnataka. Today it is mostly used as a ceremonial language in Hindu religious rituals in the forms of hymns and mantras. It is pre-Classical form of Vedic Sanskrit and most ancient text being the Rigveda. In India, it is prized as a storehouse of scripture and the language of prayers in Hinduism. While vernacular prayer is common, Sanskrit mantras are recited by millions of Hindus. Most higher forms of Indian vernacular languages like Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu and Hindi are much more heavily sanskritized. The national anthem, Jana Gana Mana is higher form of Bengali, so Sanskritized as to be archaic in modern usages. The national song of India Vande Mataram is in pure Sanskrit. Sanskrit words are found in many other present-day non-Indian languages. (more...)

Recently appeared: Transport in India – Subhash Chandra Bose – Tabla

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April 18

Mahabharata is one of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. Traditionally ascribed to Vyasa, it is the longest literary epic poem in the world. The title may be translated as "History of the Great India" or, more accurately, "the Great Bharata Dynasty" . The work is part of the Hindu itihaasas, literally "that which happened", along with the Puranas. The core story of the work is that of a dynastic struggle for the throne of Hastinapura, the kingdom ruled by the Kuru clan. The two collateral branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The struggle culminates leading to the Great battle of Kurukshetra, and the Pandavas are ultimately victorious. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu age of Kali (Kali Yuga), where the great values and noble ideas have crumbled, and man is speedily heading toward the complete dissolution of right action, morality and virtue. Some of the most noble and revered figures in the Mahabharat end up fighting on the side of the Kauravas, due to allegiances formed prior to the conflict. (more...)

Recently appeared: Sanskrit – Transport in India – Subhash Chandra Bose

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April 19

File:Victoria memorial water.PNG

Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal and was capital of British India until 1912. The city's name was officially changed from Calcutta to Kolkata in January 2001. The urban agglomeration of Kolkata covers several municipal corporations, municipalities, city boards and villages and is the third largest urban agglomeration in India after Mumbai and Delhi. As per the census of 2001, the urban agglomeration's population was 13,216,546 while that of the city was 4,580,544. Kolkata city's population growth has been pretty low in the last decade. The city is situated on the banks of the Hoogli River (a distributary of the Ganges). Some of the renowned engineering marvels associated with Kolkata include the bridges like, Howrah Bridge, Vivekananda Setu and Vidyasagar Setu. Kolkata is the main business, commercial and financial hub of eastern India. The city's economic fortunes turned the tide as the early nineties economic liberalization in India reached Kolkata's shores during late nineties. (more...)

Recently appeared: Mahabharata – Sanskrit – Transport in India

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April 20

Nepal is a landlocked Himalayan country in South Asia, bordering Tibet to the north and India to the south, east and west. Nepal has the distinction of being the world's only Hindu state, with over eighty percent of the people following this faith. For a relatively small country, the Nepali landscape is uncommonly diverse, ranging from the humid Terai in the south to the lofty Himalayas in the north. Nepal boasts eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest on the border with Tibet. Kathmandu is the capital and largest city. After a long and complex history, during which the region has splintered and coalesced under a variety of absolute rulers, Nepal became a constitutional monarchy in 1990. The Maoists have sought to overthrow the monarchy and establish their own form of republic; this has led to a civil war in which more than 12,000 people have died. On February 1, 2005 with the stated pretext of quashing the insurgents and restoring elected democracy to the country, the king declared a "state of emergency" and assumed the role of Chairman of the government, assuming all executive powers. The King's government subsequently released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency in May 2005. (more...)

Recently appeared: Kolkata – Mahabharata – Sanskrit

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April 21

Cricket is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. There are different types and levels of Cricket, but at the international level these are Test cricket, One-day cricket and Twenty20. It is a bat-and-ball game played on a roughly elliptical grass field, in the centre of which is a hard, flat strip of ground 22 yards long pitch. At each end of the pitch stand a set of three wooden stakes called stumps, made from wood of the ash tree, which along with two smaller wooden crosspieces. Cricket has been an established team sport for several centuries. It originated in its modern form in England, and is popular mainly in the present and former members of the Commonwealth. In some countries in South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, cricket is by far the most popular sport. Cricket is also a major sport in England and Wales, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean, which are known in cricketing parlance as the West Indies. It is also a prominent minor sport in countries as diverse as the Netherlands, Israel, Nepal, and Argentina. The length of the game can last six or more hours a day for up to five days in one form of the game — the numerous intervals for lunch and tea. For its fans, the sport and the intense rivalries between top cricketing nations provide passionate entertainment and outstanding sporting achievements. (more...)

Recently appeared: Nepal – Kolkata – Mahabharata

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April 22

Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas. It is the least populous state in India, and the second smallest. Sikkim was an independent state ruled by the Chogyal monarchy until 1975, when a referendum to make it India's twenty-second state succeeded. The thumb-shaped state borders Nepal in the west, Tibet to the north and east, and Bhutan in the south-east. The Indian state of West Bengal borders Sikkim to its south. The official language is Nepali, and the predominant religions are Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Gangtok is the capital and largest town. Despite its small size, Sikkim is geographically diverse, owing to its location at the Himalayan foothills. Terrain ranges from tropical in the south to tundra in the north. Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak, is located in Sikkim, straddling its northern border with Nepal. Sikkim has become one of India's most visited states owing to its reputation for untouched scenic beauty and political stability. (more...)

Recently appeared: Cricket – Nepal – Kolkata

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April 23

The flag of India

The Flag of India, sometimes also known as the Tiranga, which in Hindi means tricolour, was adopted as the national flag of the Republic of India on July 22, 1947, during an ad hoc meeting of the Constituent Assembly just before India's independence on August 15 1947. In India, the term "tricolour" almost always refers to the Indian national flag. The flag is a horizontal tricolour of saffron at the top, white in the middle and green at the bottom. In the centre is a navy blue wheel with twenty-four spokes, known as the Ashoka Chakra, taken from the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath. The flag is also the Indian army's war flag, hoisted daily on military installations. The Indian National Flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya. Official flag specification requires that the flag be made only of khadi–a special type of hand-spun yarn. The display and use of the flag are strictly enforced by the Indian Flag Code. A few days before India gained its freedom in August 1947, the Constituent Assembly set up an ad hoc committee headed by Rajendra Prasad. The Flag Committee was constituted on 1947-06-23 and after three weeks they came to a decision on 1947-07-14, being that the flag of the Indian National Congress should be adopted as the National Flag of India with suitable modifications. The "Dharma Chakra" which appears on the abacus of Sarnath was adopted in the place of the "Charkha". (more...).

Recently appeared: Sikkim – Cricket – Nepal

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April 24

The Tamil people are an ethnic group from South Asia with a recorded history going back almost two millennia. The oldest Tamil communities are those of southern India and north-eastern Sri Lanka. Unlike many ethnic groups, the Tamils have at no time been governed by a single political entity; Tamil̲akam, the traditional name for the Tamil lands, has always been under the rule of more than one kingdom or state. Despite this, the Tamil cultural identity has always been strong. Historically, this identity has been primarily linguistic, with Tamils being those whose first language was Tamil. In recent times, however, the definition has been broadened to also include emigrants of Tamil descent who maintain Tamil traditions, even when they no longer speak the language. Tamils are ethnically, linguistically and culturally related to the other Dravidian peoples of South Asia. There are an estimated 74 million Tamils around the world. Most Indian Tamils live in the state of Tamil Nadu, which includes the major part of the former Madras Presidency. Morover, Tamils are in clear majority in the union territory of Pondicherry, a former French colony is a subnational enclave situated geographically within Tamil Nadu. (more...).

Recently appeared: Flag of India – Sikkim – Cricket

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April 25

Goa is India's smallest state in terms of area and the second smallest in terms of population after Sikkim. It is located on the west coast of India, in the region known as the Konkan, and is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the east and south. The Arabian Sea makes up the state's west coast. Panaji is the state's capital, and Margao the largest town. A former colony of Portugal, Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for almost 450 years until 1961, when it was forcibly taken, after demands for a merger with India failed. Internationally renowned for its beaches, Goa is visited by thousands of foreign and domestic tourists each year. Besides beaches, Goa is also known for its world heritage architecture including the Bom Jesus Basilica. Goa also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which are classified as a biodiversity hotspot, one of only three among the ecoregions of India. (more...).

Recently appeared: Tamil people – Flag of India – Sikkim

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April 26

Hyderabad is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. With more than 6 million people, it is India's 6th largest metropolis. It is known for its rich history, culture and architecture. It is a unique place where north India meets south India, both geographically and culturally. It is also one of the most developed cities in the country and is the emerging IT and biotech hub of India. The original city of Hyderabad was founded on the banks of river Musi. Now known as the historic old city, home to the Charminar and Makkah Masjid, it lies on the southern bank of the river. The city has grown over the centuries on both banks and is now a metropolitan area that spreads out from the Musi river. Hyderabad was founded as Bhagyanagar on the banks of Musi river by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, in 1590; this relocation was intended to relieve a water shortage the dynasty had experienced at their old headquarters at Golkonda. (more...)

Recently appeared: Goa – Tamil people – Flag of India

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April 27

Buddhist art, defined as the figurative arts and decorative arts linked to the Buddhist religion, originated in the Indian subcontinent in the centuries following the life of the historical Gautama Buddha in the 6th to 5th century BCE, before evolving through its contact with other cultures and its diffusion through the rest of Asia and the world. A first, essentially Indian, aniconic phase (avoiding direct representations of the Buddha), was followed from around the 1st century CE by an iconic phase (with direct representations of the Buddha). From that time, Buddhist art diversified and evolved as it adapted to the new countries where the faith was expanding. It developed to the north through Central Asia and into Eastern Asia to form the Northern branch of Buddhist art, and to the east as far as South-East Asia to form the Southern Branch of Buddhist art. In India, the land of its birth, Buddhist art flourished and even influenced the development of Hindu art, until Buddhism almost disappeared around the 10th century with the expansion of Hinduism and Islam. (more...)

Recently appeared: Hyderabad, India – Goa – Tamil people

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April 28

A graffiti artist working with spray paint at a Graffiti competition in London

Graffiti is a type of deliberate human markings on property. Graffiti can take the form of art, drawings, or words, and is illegal vandalism when done without the property owner's consent. Its origin can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as the Roman Empire and Ancient Greece. Graffiti originally was the term used for inscriptions, figure drawings, etc., found on the walls of ancient sepulchers or ruins, as in the Catacombs, or at Pompeii. It has evolved to include any decorations inscribed on any surface that are considered to be vandalism or pictures or writing placed on surfaces, usually outside walls and sidewalks, without the permission of the owner. Thus, inscriptions made by the authors of a monument are not considered graffiti. (more...)

Recently appeared: Buddhist art – Hyderabad, India – Goa

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April 29

A saffron crocus flower with red stigmas

Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of the saffron crocus, a species of crocus in the family Iridaceae. The flower has three stigmas, which are the distal ends of the plant's carpels. Together with its style, the stalk connecting the stigmas to the rest of the plant, these components are often dried and used in cooking as a seasoning and colouring agent. Saffron, which has for decades been the world's most expensive spice by weight, was first cultivated in the vicinity of Greece. Saffron is characterised by a bitter taste and an iodoform- or hay-like fragrance; these are caused by the chemicals picrocrocin and safranal. It also contains a carotenoid dye, crocin, that gives food a rich golden-yellow hue. These qualities make saffron a much sought-after ingredient in many foods worldwide. Saffron also has medicinal applications. The word saffron originated from the 12th century Old French term safran, which derives from the Latin word safranum. (more...)

Recently appeared: Graffiti – Buddhist art – Hyderabad, India

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April 30

FSF artwork of the GNU mascot and the Tux the penguin, the Linux kernel mascot

The GNU/Linux naming controversy is a conflict over what the operating system commonly called "Linux" should be named. The Free Software Foundation promotes the term "GNU/Linux", while most people simply use the term "Linux" for the whole system. The main argument for GNU/Linux is that the Linux kernel was only the final small part of an otherwise complete system, GNU, written and assembled over many years with the explicit goal of creating an integrated free operating system. On the other hand, Linux is the most widespread name, and most people therefore simply adopt this usage. (more...)

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