Archives October 2012

CHANDRASEKHARA VENKATA RAMAN was born at Trichinopoly in Southern India on November 7th, 1888. His father was a lecturer in mathematics and physics so that from the first he was immersed in an academic atmosphere. He entered Presidency College, Madras, in 1902, and in 1904 passed his B.A. examination, winning the first place and the gold medal in physics; in1907 he gained his M.A. degree, obtaining the highest distinctions. His earliest researches in optics and acoustics - the two fields of investigation to which he has dedicated his entire career - were carried out while he was a student. Since at that time a scientific career did not appear to present the best possibilities, Raman joined the Indian Finance Department in 1907; though the duties of his office took most of his time, Raman found opportunities for carrying on experimental research in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the more...

Banking in India has its origin in the Vedic period. It is believed that the transition from money lending to banking must have occurred even before Manu, the great Hindu Jurist, who has devoted a section of his work to deposits and advances and laid down rules relating to rates of interest. During the Mughal period, the indigenous bankers played a very important role in lending money and financing foreign trade and commerce. The first bank in India, though elemental, was established in 1786. From 1786 till today, the journey of Indian Banking System can be segregated into three distinct phases. They are—Early Phase from 1786 to 1969 of commerical banks; Nationalization of Commerical Banks and up to 1991, prior to Indian banking sector reforms; and New Phase of Indian Banking System with the advent of Indian Financial & Banking Sector Reforms after 1991. The General Bank of India was set more...

Shivaji was one of the greatest patriots of India whom the coun- try men will not forget as long as the sun is there in the sky. He was born on February 19, 4630. The name of his father was Shahaji Bhosle and the name of his mother was Jijabai. He was greatly influenced by his mother who was a highly religious lady Dada KondaDev was his guru. Shivaji was a lover of martial arts and riding, Wrestling, etc. even in his early boyhood. He also loved reading and writing. He was very fond of religious discourse and he daily listened to the sweet, enlightening religious hymns. He was a great patriot who rejected the cruel Mughal rulers. The fanatic Aurangzeb was then the emperor. He was a very brave boy and even at the age of eighteen, he wrested the control of the Torna Fort from the Bijapur rulers. more...

Minerals are valuable natural resources being finite and non-renewable. They constitute the vital raw materials for many basic industries and are a major resource for development. Management of mineral resources has, therefore, to be closely integrated with the overall strategy of development; and exploitation of minerals is to be guided by long-term national goals and perspectives. India with diverse and significant mineral resources is the leading producer of some of the minerals. Of the 89 minerals produced in the country, 4 are fuel minerals, 11 metallic, 52 non-metallic and 22 minor minerals. India is the largest producer of mica blocks and mica splittings; ranks second in the production of chromite, barytes, talc and steatite; ranks third in the production of coal and lignite, and bauxite; 4th in iron ore, fifth in steel, seventh in zinc, eight in copper, 10th in aluminium and 11th  in mica. Iron-ore, copper-ore, chromite ore, zinc more...

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956) was an Indian social reformer and politician who devoted himself to improving the life of untouchables, particularly of his own caste, the Mahars. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born at Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. He attended Columbia University during 1914-1916 and received a doctorate in19 2 6. While at Columbia, John Dewey and other prominent teachers inspired Ambedkar and reinforced his commitment to social reform. Two avenues existed for altering the conditions of Hindu untouchables in the early 20th century. Ambedkar rejected the more traditional approach of changing a caste's habits and image so that they resembled the norms associated with high castes. Instead, he tried to supplant such norms with the Western-based notion that all men, including Mahars, have rights of liberty and equality Ambedkar made it his mission to create circumstances in which those rights could become fact. Sophisticated, articulate, with a political sense and an independent more...

Agriculture in India is the means of livelihood of almost two-third of the workforce in the country. It has always been India's most important economic sector. Before 1947, Indian history was replete with famine, drought and food shortages. Between 1770 and 1880, as many as 27 food scarcities and famines were recorded. At least 20 million lives were lost in India in about 20 famines that had struck since 1850. Much of this loss was because of misplaced colonial policies, which dimed to derive maximum economic gain at the cost of human suffering and misery. After the British had created a transport infrastructure in the first half of the 19th century, they began encouraging farmers to grow crops that could be exported. The boom in export and trade accompanied by rising prices forced farmers to shift to cash crops like cotton, indigo, poppy and sugarcane. The area under food grains subsequently more...

Shari Atal Behari Vajpayee was born on 25thDecember, 1924 at Shinde Cantt, in Madhya Pradesh. His father's name was Shri Krishna Behari Vajpayee and his mother's name was Krishna Devi. His father was a teacher and his mother was a pious house wife. Shari Vajpayee was a member of R.S.S. in his school days. He passed his B.A. from Victoria College, Gwalior. There he learnt the art of politics. He was the leader of the student's union of his college. He started his political career and stood twice as the Head of the Indian Government. He belongs to Bhartiya Janata Party. Ex-Prime Ministers of India Sh. Chander Shekhar and Sh.Narsimha Rao take him as his Guruji. Atal Behari is a lover of Hindi language. He has a versatile personality. He is a writer, a journalist and a poet by heart. He has been a Parliamentarian for the past 45 years. more...

After 64 years of independence, if we scale the performance of India against other countries of the world, especially with those in Asia, we note that though a lot has been achieved, yet we need to do a lot more. We need to learn from our past follies and frame our future strategies accordingly. India has achieved many milestones, yet not enough has been done to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and other vital issues. In spite of the outstanding quality of our human capital, which is responsible for running many organizations in various fields of manufacturing, trading and services all across the globe, we have not been able to set the standard our internal market as per the world standards. We often fail to use the best effective human capital for running the country, both for public as well as private sectors. This needs serious thinking. Our own people excel outside more...

Asoka was a man of high learning. He had a strong character and lived up to his principles He taught to the then world the importance of his principles which even today holds good for humanity. He maintained friendly relations with the neighboring kingdoms. He was the most respected Emperor who won the hearts of all his subjects. He really was "The Great". Indian history reveals the heroic deeds of great men. One bright star of Indian history was the first emperor to follow the principles of Ahimsa, love and Peace. My hero is none other than the emperor Asoka — The Great. The grandson of Chandragupta and the son of bindusar, Ashoka were brought up in Patliputra. in 273 BC he ascended the throne of the mauryan Empire, founded by Chandra-gupta, With a desire to expand his kingdom and unite India under his only rule.  He began his conquests more...

The government has been trying to do a lot and a lot has been accomplished, yet a much needs to be done. We have to make sure that the farmers come out of the clutches of poverty and break free from the chains of debt and illiteracy, so that the , hands that feed millions do not go without food. By providing them with proper incentives, good quality seeds, irrigation facilities, fertilizers, pesticides and  subsidies, we can ensure that farmers of India flourish. The real India resides in its villages. About 70% of India's population lives in rural areas and earns its livelihood there. The major occupation of these people is agriculture. 90% of this rural population is dependent upon farming for their livelihood. Thus, Indian economy is totally an agrarian one. It is the Indian farmer who reaps his motherland with his sweat and blood to get us a day's more...