Wild Life In Maharashtra (MPSC)

WILDLIFE PARKS  Maharashtra is home to a large number of animals and bird species, including the tiger, Crocodile, Bison, Gawa, Neelgai, Wild Deer, Sambar and rare migratory birds. The state has taken adequate steps towards setting up many wildlife parks and sanctuaries to protect these regions and promote them as tourist attractions. The parks offer splendid opportunities to see a variety of wildlife in a spectacularly natural setting. Modern amenities such as jeep rides, night safaris, comfortable accommodation and efficient transport are also available at a nominal charge

Melghat Tiger Reserve This Reserve is in the enchanting sylvan beauty of the woodlands and greenery of Melghat, in the Amravati district, roams the tiger, and it is here that a greater part of Project Tiger is being implemented. In the heart of the luxuriant teak forests of Dhakna-Kolkaz is the Melghat Tiger Reserve, where Panthers, Bison, Sambar, Chital and the Flying Squirrel are familiar sights. Nagzira Wild Life Sanctuary Another wildlife sanctuary which is known for its verdant hills and dales, where the fauna offers a mesmerising blaze of colours, is the Nagzira

Wild Life Sanctuary. Ambling around in these idyllic environs is the sloth bear, tiger four horned antelope, the Bluebull, Chital, Barking Deer, Bison and the Panther. Besides these sanctuaries are alive with the Chirruping of the colourful and varied birds.

The Navegaon Forest Resort Navegaon, a popular forest resort in the Vidarbha region, was built in the 18th century. The picturesque lake set amidst lush green hills at Navegaon has a watch-tower beside it, from which visitors may find a bird's eye view of the surrounding forest and its abundant wildlife. Best known for the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Navegaon is home to almost 60 per cent of the bird species found in the entire state. Every winter, flocks of migratory birds visit the region. Visitors can join the Jungle Safari and have a stroll to see the Sambar, Chital and Langurs. Staying in a unique tree-top house and riding a power or sail boat on the lake, are thrilling pastimes.

The Dajipur Bison Sanctuary  The jungle resort of Dajipur is situated on the border of Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts, near the backwaters of the Radhanagari dam. Surrounded by rugged mountains and dense forests, this secluded area is completely cut-off from human habitation. A home to bison, wild Deers, Chital, Gawa and many more spectacular wild animals and birds, Dajipur is an exciting and beautiful holiday getaway. An excursion to the nearby Gagangiri Maharaj's Math makes for a pleasant outing.

The Tadoba National Park

This is a large park spread over many acres of lush green forested land. Situated 45 kms from Chandrapur, Tadoba is an extremely beautiful jungle of mixed teak forests around a tranquil lake. The Tadoba National Park has migratory ducks visiting its lake, and also swarms with crocodiles. The rest houses are ideal for nature lovers as it commands a lovely view of the lake and the distant green hills beyond. Late nights are ideal times to see tigers, leopards, gaur, nilgai, sambar and chital. The park has facilities for tourists to stay overnight.

Bird Sanctuaries

There are many more types of birds than animals in Maharashtra, like the bulbul, shama, cuckoo, parakeet, drongoes, Wagtails Flycatchers, Purple Sunbirds, Grey Jungle Fowl, the great Indian bustard and above all the beautiful peacock. The great Indian bustard which is an endangered species, is an ostrich-like bird, found in the Ahmednagar and Sholapur districts. It is known for its royal gait and is a fast runner. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a must for ornithologists and so is the Karnala Bird Sanctuary which is the home of winged birds like the golden oriole Source--http://www.maharashtraweb.com/lifeleis/Wildlife.asp

Virus Structure

Virus Structure

Viruses are not plants, animals, or bacteria, but they are the quintessential parasites of the living kingdoms. Although they may seem like living organisms because of their prodigious reproductive abilities, viruses are not living organisms in the strict sense of the word.

Without a host cell, viruses cannot carry out their life-sustaining functions or reproduce. They cannot synthesize proteins, because they lack ribosomes and must use the ribosomes of their host cells to translate viral messenger RNA into viral proteins. Viruses cannot generate or store energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but have to derive their energy, and all other metabolic functions, from the host cell. They also parasitize the cell for basic building materials, such as amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids (fats). Although viruses have been speculated as being a form of protolife, their inability to survive without living organisms makes it highly unlikely that they preceded cellular life during the Earth's early evolution. Some scientists speculate that viruses started as rogue segments of genetic code that adapted to a parasitic existence.

All viruses contain nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA (but not both), and a protein coat, which encases the nucleic acid. Some viruses are also enclosed by an envelope of fat and protein molecules.

  In its infective form, outside the cell, a virus particle is called a virion. Each virion contains at least one unique protein synthesized by specific genes in its nucleic acid. Viroids (meaning "viruslike") are disease-causing organisms that contain only nucleic acid and have no structural proteins. Other viruslike particles called prions are composed primarily of a protein tightly integrated with a small nucleic acid molecule.

Viruses are generally classified by the organisms they infect, animals, plants, or bacteria. Since viruses cannot penetrate plant cell walls, virtually all plant viruses are transmitted by insects or other organisms that feed on plants. Certain bacterial viruses, such as the T4 bacteriophage, have evolved an elaborate process of infection. The virus has a "tail" which it attaches to the bacterium surface by means of proteinaceous "pins." The tail contracts and the tail plug penetrates the cell wall and underlying membrane, injecting the viral nucleic acids into the cell.

Viruses are further classified into families and genera based on three structural considerations: 

1) the type and size of their nucleic acid, 
2) the size and shape of the capsid, and
3) whether they have a lipid envelope surrounding the nucleocapsid (the capsid enclosed nucleic acid).

There are predominantly two kinds of shapes found amongst viruses: rods, or filaments, and spheres. The rod shape is due to the linear array of the nucleic acid and the protein subunits making up the capsid. The sphere shape is actually a 20-sided polygon (icosahedron).

The nature of viruses wasn't understood until the twentieth century, but their effects had been observed for centuries. British physician Edward Jenner even discovered the principle of inoculation in the late eighteenth century, after he observed that people who contracted the mild cowpox disease were generally immune to the deadlier smallpox disease. By the late nineteenth century, scientists knew that some agent was causing a disease of tobacco plants, but would not grow on an artificial medium (like bacteria) and was too small to be seen through a light microscope. Advances in live cell culture and microscopy in the twentieth century eventually allowed scientists to identify viruses. Advances in genetics dramatically improved the identification process.

• Capsid - The capsid is the protein shell that encloses the nucleic acid; with its enclosed nucleic acid, it is called the nucleocapsid. This shell is composed of protein organized in subunits known as capsomers. They are closely associated with the nucleic acid and reflect its configuration, either a rod-shaped helix or a polygon-shaped sphere. The capsid has three functions: 1) it protects the nucleic acid from digestion by enzymes, 2) contains special sites on its surface that allow the virion to attach to a host cell, and 3) provides proteins that enable the virion to penetrate the host cell membrane and, in some cases, to inject the infectious nucleic acid into the cell's cytoplasm. Under the right conditions, viral RNA in a liquid suspension of protein molecules will self-assemble a capsid to become a functional and infectious virus.
• Envelope - Many types of virus have a glycoprotein envelope surrounding the nucleocapsid. The envelope is composed of two lipid layers interspersed with protein molecules (lipoprotein bilayer) and may contain material from the membrane of a host cell as well as that of viral origin. The virus obtains the lipid molecules from the cell membrane during the viral budding process. However, the virus replaces the proteins in the cell membrane with its own proteins, creating a hybrid structure of cell-derived lipids and virus-derived proteins. Many viruses also develop spikes made of glycoprotein on their envelopes that help them to attach to specific cell surfaces.
• Nucleic Acid - Just as in cells, the nucleic acid of each virus encodes the genetic information for the synthesis of all proteins. While the double-stranded DNA is responsible for this in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, only a few groups of viruses use DNA. Most viruses maintain all their genetic information with the single-stranded RNA. There are two types of RNA-based viruses. In most, the genomic RNA is termed a plus strand because it acts as messenger RNA for direct synthesis (translation) of viral protein. A few, however, have negative strands of RNA. In these cases, the virion has an enzyme, called RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (transcriptase), which must first catalyze the production of complementary messenger RNA from the virion genomic RNA before viral protein synthesis can occur.

The Influenza (Flu) Virus - Next to the common cold, influenza or "the flu" is perhaps the most familiar respiratory infection in the world. In the United States alone, approximately 25 to 50 million people contract influenza each year. The symptoms of the flu are similar to those of the common cold, but tend to be more severe. Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle weakness and pain, sore throat, dry cough, and a runny or stuffy nose are common and may develop rapidly. Gastrointestinal symptoms associated with influenza are sometimes experienced by children, but for most adults, illnesses that manifest in diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are not caused by the influenza virus though they are often inaccurately referred to as the "stomach flu." A number of complications, such as the onset of bronchitis and pneumonia, can also occur in association with influenza and are especially common among the elderly, young children, and anyone with a suppressed immune system.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - The virus responsible for HIV was first isolated in 1983 by Robert Gallo of the United States and French scientist Luc Montagnier. Since that time, a tremendous amount of research focusing upon the causative agent of AIDS has been carried out and much has been learned about the structure of the virus and its typical course of action. HIV is one of a group of atypical viruses called retroviruses that maintain their genetic information in the form of ribonucleic acid (RNA). Through the use of an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase, HIV and other retroviruses are capable of producing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from RNA, whereas most cells carry out the opposite process, transcribing the genetic material of DNA into RNA. The activity of the enzyme enables the genetic information of HIV to become integrated permanently into the genome (chromosomes) of a host cell.

Source--http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/virus.html

Branches of Biology

Biology, the scientific study of life, includes several relevant branches. Below is a list of major branches of biology with a brief description for each.
Agriculture - science and practice of producing crops and livestock from the natural resources of the earth.
Anatomy - study of the animal form, particularly human body
Astrobiology - branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Biochemistry - the study of the structure and function of cellular components, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules, and of their functions and transformations during life processes
Bioclimatology - a science concerned with the influence of climates on organisms, for instance the effects of climate on the development and distribution of plants, animals, and humans
Bioengineering - or biological engineering, is a broad-based engineering discipline that deals with bio-molecular and molecular processes, product design, sustainability and analysis of biological systems.
Biogeography - a science that attempts to describe the changing distributions and geographic patterns of living and fossil species of plants and animals
Bioinformatics - information technology as applied to the life sciences, especially the technology used for the collection, storage, and retrieval of genomic data
Biomathematics - mathematical biology or biomathematics is an interdisciplinary field of academic study which aims at modelling natural, biological processes using mathematical techniques and tools. It has both practical and theoretical applications in biological research.
Biophysics - or biological physics is an interdisciplinary science that applies the theories and methods of physical sciences to questions of biology
Biotechnology - applied science that is concerned with biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use
Botany - the scientific study of plants
Cell biology - the study of cells at the microscopic or at the molecular level. It includes studying the cells’ physiological properties, structures, organelles, interactions with their environment, life cycle, division and apoptosis
Chronobiology - a science that studies time-related phenomena in living organisms
Conservation Biology - concerned with the studies and schemes of habitat preservation and species protection for the purpose of alleviating extinction crisis and conserving biodiversity
Cryobiology - the study of the effects of low temperatures on living organisms
Developmental Biology - the study of the processes by which an organism develops from a zygote to its full structure
Ecology - the scientific study of the relationships between plants, animals, and their environment
Ethnobiology - a study of the past and present human interactions with the environment, for instance the use of diverse flora and fauna by indigenous societies
Evolutionary Biology - a subfield concerned with the origin and descent of species, as well as their change over time, i.e. their evolution
Freshwater Biology - a science concerned with the life and ecosystems of freshwater habitats
Genetics - a science that deals with heredity, especially the mechanisms of hereditary transmission and the variation of inherited characteristics among similar or related organisms
Geobiology - a science that combines geology and biology to study the interactions of organisms with their environment
Immunobiology - a study of the structure and function of the immune system, innate and acquired immunity, the bodily distinction of self from nonself, and laboratory techniques involving the interaction of antigens with specific antibodies
Marine Biology - study of ocean plants and animals and their ecological relationships
Medicine - the science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease
Microbiology - the branch of biology that deals with microorganisms and their effects on other living organisms
Molecular Biology - the branch of biology that deals with the formation, structure, and function of macromolecules essential to life, such as nucleic acids and proteins, and especially with their role in cell replication and the transmission of genetic information
Mycology - the study of fungi
Neurobiology - the branch of biology that deals with the anatomy and physiology and pathology of the nervous system
Paleobiology - the study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or geologic times, as represented by the fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms
Parasitology - the study of parasites and parasitism
Pathology - the study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences
Pharmacology - the study of preparation and use of drugs and synthetic medicines
Physiology - the biological study of the functions of living organisms and their parts
Protistology - the study of protists
Psychobiology - the study of mental functioning and behavior in relation to other biological processes
Toxicology - the study of how natural or man-made poisons cause undesirable effects in living organisms
Virology - study of viruses
Zoology - The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals
Ethology - the study of animal behavior
Entomology - the scientific study of insects
Ichthyology - the study of fishes
Herpetology - the study of reptiles and amphibians
Ornithology - the study of birds
Mammalogy - the study of mammals
Primatology - the science that deals with primates

14 Feb--Matru Pitru Poojan Divas – Parents Worship Day

How do we Celebrate Parents Worship Day?

1. Children worship their parents by putting Tilak, offering flowers & bowing to the parents. Parents put Tilak on children & bless them. Experience the God residing inside one another. The blessings of parents bring goodness to the children.
2. Parents tell the stories of devotees of parents like Ganesha, Pundalik, Shravana Kumar etc. 
3. Children can also perform some play on these devotees eg. Children can enact as Lord Ganesha to worship his/her parents as Shiva-Parvati.
4. All children take pledge: “I shall respect my parents & teachers. It is my duty to obey those commands which aim at making me great and I shall surely do it.”
5. Children sing songs filled with devotion towards parents like:”Mata-Pita-Guru Charano Me” (cassette: Bhajan Deepanjali, VCD: Sanskar Darshan, MP3 given above) or “Bhoolo sabhi ko tum magar…” (leaflets available as ashram given above)
6.  Distribute sweets to children after singing “Shri Asaramayana Yog Lila” or Aarti.
7. If possible, do such event at a community hall where Posters depicting slogans of Parents Devotion can be put up. 
8. Parents distribute books like “Bal-Sanskar”, “The Glory of Eternal Youth”, “Winsome Behaviour”, “Tu Gulab Hokar Mehak” to other children & adults in their area and they themselves read them a little daily.
9. Read and spread this benevolent message of Pujya Bapuji whose heart is filled with nothing but the well-being of mankind.

    

कैसे मनायें मात-पितृ पूजन दिवस?

v  इस दिन बच्चे-बच्चियाँ अपने माता-पिता को प्रणाम करें तथा माता-पिता अपनी संतानों को प्रेम करें। संतान अपने माता पिता के गले लगे। इससे वास्तविक प्रेम का विकास होगा। बेटे-बेटियाँ अपने माता-पिता में ईश्वरीय अंश देखें और माता-पिता बच्चों में ईश्वरीय अंश देखें।

v  बच्चे-बच्चियाँ अपने माता-पिता का तिलक, पुष्प आदि के द्वारा पूजन करें। माता-पिता भी बच्चों को तिलक करें, आशीर्वचन कहें।

v  माता-पिता का पूजन करते हैं तो काम राम में बदलेगा, अहंकार प्रेम में बदलेगा, माता-पिता के आशीर्वाद से बच्चों का मंगल होगा।

v  बालक गणेषजी की पृथ्वी परिक्रमा, भक्त पुण्डलिक की मातृ-पितृ भक्ति, श्रवण कुमार की मातृ-पितृ भक्ति - इन कथाओं का पठन करें अथवा कोई एक व्यक्ति कथा सुनाये और अन्य लोग श्रवण करें।

v  इस दिन बच्चे बच्चियाँ पवित्र संकल्प करें - मैं अपने माता-पिता व गुरूजनों का आदर करूँगा/करूँगी। मेरे जीवन को महानता के रास्ते ले जाने वाली उनकी आज्ञाओं का पालन करना मेरा कर्त्तवय है और मैं उसे अवश्य पूरा करूँगा/करूँगी।

v  माता-पिता बाल संस्कार, युवाधन सुरक्षा, तू गुलाब होकर महक,   मधुर व्यवहार - इन पुस्तकों को अपनी क्षमतानुरूप बाँटे बँटवायें तथा प्रतिदिन थोड़ा-थोड़ा स्वयं पढ़ने का तथा बच्चों से पढ़ाने का संकल्प लें। श्री गणेष, पुण्डलिक, श्रवण कुमार आदि मातृ-पितृ भक्त बालकों की कथाओं को नाटक के रूप में प्रस्तुत करें।

v  (1) मात-पिता गुरू चरणों में प्रभु... (भजन दीपांजली कैसेट से) (2) भूलो सभी को तुम मगर... ऐसे भजनों का गान करें। इस दिन सभी मिलकर श्री आसारामायण पाठ व आरती करके बच्चों को मधुर प्रसाद बाँटें। नीचे लिखी पंक्तियाँ जैसी मातृ-पितृ भक्ति की कुछ पंक्तियाँ गत्ते पर लिख कर बोर्ड बना कर आयोजन स्थल पर लगायें। 1. बहुत रात तक पैर दबाते, भरे कंठ पित आशिष पाते। 2. पुत्र तुम्हारा जगत में, सदा रहेगा नाम। लोगों के तुमसे सदा, पूरण होंगे काम। 3. मातृदेवो भव। पितृदेवो भव। आचार्यदेवो भव।

v  विश्वमंगल की कामना से भरे परम पूज्य बापू जी का परम हितकारी संदेश पढ़ें पढ़ायें। वेलेन्टाइन डे नहीं मातृ-पितृ पूजन दिवस मनायें।

Hampi dazzles again on king's 500th anniversary

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Karnataka,January 28 (ANI):The grandeur of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire was revived in Karnataka on Wednesday on the 500th anniversary of its emperor Krishna deva raya's coronation,marked by pomp and pageantry.The grandeur of one of India's oldest Hindu empires has once again come alive at Hampi in Bellary district of the southern state of Karnataka. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony,Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram praised Hampi's vast history and tradition.

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Employment News (sourced Naukrinews.co.in

Employment News Paper India (2009-10)
Month - January 2010
02 Jan - 08 Jan ( See Hindi Version )	09 Jan - 15 Jan ( See Hindi Version )	16 Jan - 22 Jan	23 Jan - 29 Jan

A luk from the football arena

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Real waiting on Ronaldo ban appeal The result of Real Madrid's appeal against Cristiano Ronaldo's red card and two-game suspension could be pivotal to their hopes of catching leaders Barcelona.

Man City's Robinho joins Santos on loan Manchester City's Brazil forward Robinho is joining Santos immediately on a six-month loan deal, the Premier League club said.

Archrivals Egypt and Algeria battle again Fierce regional rivals Egypt and Algeria clash again on the field when they meet in Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.

Rooney takes United to League Cup final Wayne Rooney secured a 3-1 victory for Manchester United over rivals City and carried the holders through to a League Cup final meeting with Aston Villa.

Chelsea halt Birmingham to return to top Chelsea eased their way back to the top of Premier League after goals from Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda sealed a 3-0 win over Birmingham City.

Source--The Times of India

Vande Mataram

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Lyrics of Vande Mataram
वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्यशामलां मातरम् ।
शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीं
फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीं
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीं
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ।। १ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
कोटि-कोटि-कण्ठ-कल-कल-निनाद-कराले
कोटि-कोटि-भुजैर्धृत-खरकरवाले,
अबला केन मा एत बले ।
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीं
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम् ।। २ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
तुमि विद्या, तुमि धर्म
तुमि हृदि, तुमि मर्म
त्वं हि प्राणा: शरीरे
बाहुते तुमि मा शक्ति,
हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति,
तोमारई प्रतिमा गडि
मन्दिरे-मन्दिरे मातरम् ।। ३ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी
कमला कमलदलविहारिणी
वाणी विद्यादायिनी, नमामि त्वाम्
नमामि कमलां अमलां अतुलां
सुजलां सुफलां मातरम् ।। ४ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
श्यामलां सरलां सुस्मितां भूषितां
धरणीं भरणीं मातरम् ।। ५ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।।
Translation by Shree Aurobindo
Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.
Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.
Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.
Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.
Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair
In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!

'हरिश्चंद्राची फॅक्टरी' ऑस्करमधून बाहेर

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हरिश्चंद्राची फॅक्टरी हा सिनेमा ऑस्करच्या स्पर्धेतून बाहेर पडला आहे. भारतातर्फे हा सिनेमा ऑस्करसाठी ऑफिशियल एन्ट्री होती. पण ऑस्करसाठी शॉटलिस्ट झालेल्या निवडक सिनेमांच्या यादीतच त्याचा समावेश होऊ शकला नाही. भारतीय सिनेसृष्टीचे जनक दादासाहेब फाळके यांच्या चरित्रावर आधारलेला हा सिनेमा येत्या 29 जानेवारीला रिलीज होत आहे. ऑस्करमधल्या परिक्षकांच्या या निर्णयाचं स्वागत करत यापुढे आणखी जोमानं काम करु असा, विश्वास हरिश्चंद्राच्या निर्मात्या दिग्दर्शकांनी आयबीएन-लोकमतशी बोलताना व्यक्त केला आहे.

India, China to be engine of global growth: WEF experts

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DAVOS: Led by India and China, Asia will not only become the global engine for growth but will also increasingly exercise its influence on the rest of the world, experts at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos have said.

"As their economic might grow, the region's (Asia) various societies will become more assertive and influential," WEF said in a statement, summing up the discussions on a session on 'The Rise of Asia' on Wednesday.

Among the speakers, who participated in the session, include president of Asian Development Bank Haruhiko Kuroda and president and CEO of Genpact India Pramod Bhasin.

India and China continued to grow at reasonable rates even when several developed countries witnessed economic contraction. While India grew 6.7 per cent in 2008-09 and is expected to rebound to 8 per cent this fiscal, China jumped to 10.7 per cent during the quarter ending December 2009 from a low of 6.8 per cent during the period a year ago.

Speakers, while stating that it is not clear what will be the impact on the world with the rise of Asia as it is a diverse region, said focus on family and the primacy of relationships over written contracts in business may be two influential 'values'. MNCs often find it difficult to understand that employee loyalty in Asia is to the boss - the individual - rather than to the company and brand name.

The rise of consumerism in Asia may also bring changes in the way Western and other companies relate to customers, the summary said.

Source
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5509855.cms

Mukesh Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal among 'World's Most Powerful Billionaires'

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Two Indians, energy mogul Mukesh Ambani and steel czar Lakshmi Mittal, have made it to the Forbes list of 'World's Most Powerful
Billionaires' combining massive fortunes with political clout.

"Through his industrial might, India's richest person, Mukesh Ambani, ranks eighth," in the US business magazine's annual list topped by Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City. Mittal ranks 13th on the list.

Bloomberg also "lords over the media, finance and fashion capital of the US - and arguably the world".

"Ambani controls oil and gas conglomerate Reliance Industries. With a market value of more than $73 billion, the firm is India's biggest independent company."

Compatriot Lakshmi Mittal - India's second wealthiest with a net worth of $30 billion - heads ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel maker, and ranks 13th on the list. The steel giant operates in 60 countries and has market value of $65 billion.

Mukesh Ambani, Forbes noted, inherited father Dhirubhai's massive industrial empire with brother Anil in 2002. "Brothers battled over power, divided assets. Mukesh controls energy entities; Anil leads banking and telecom companies."

Mittal started in the family steel business in the 1970s, broke out on his own in 1994 and is now planning joint iron venture in Liberia and Guinea with miner BHP Billiton, it noted. "Bought 12-bedroom mansion in Kensington for more than $100 million in 2004; was London's most expensive home at the time."

Billionaire Sebastian Piñera who won Chile's presidential election, defeating incumbent Eduardo Frei in a runoff vote is ranked 15th on the list which has two other billionaires currently running countries.

"Media and banking titan Silvio Berlusconi is prime minister of Italy and ranks second on Forbes list. Billionaire industrial heir, Saad Hariri, who was appointed prime minister of Lebanon Iast June, ranks fifth.

Rounding out the top five: Mexican telecom titan Carlos Slim and Russian oil magnate Vagit Alekperov.

Apple's Steve Jobs ranks as the 18th most powerful billionaire in the world. Billionaires falling from the ranks this year include Oprah Winfrey, Roman Abramovich and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud.

Source--http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-company/corporate-trends/Mukesh-Ambani-Lakshmi-Mittal-among-Worlds-Most-Powerful-Billionaires/articleshow/5510218.cms

भाषा के आधार पर रोज़गार? give ur comments

महाराष्ट्र सरकार ने फ़ैसला किया है कि टैक्सी चालकों के लिए राज्य में 15 साल के निवास के साथ-साथ मराठी बोलना, पढ़ना और लिखना अनिवार्य होगा.

सरकार के फ़ैसले के मुताबिक नए परमिट के लिए न केवल लोगों को राज्य में 15 साल के अपने निवास का प्रमाण देना होगा बल्कि मराठी की जानकारी भी साबित करनी होगी.

मुंबई के लगभग 90 हज़ार टैक्सी चालकों में से अधिकतर मराठी इसलिए नहीं जानते हैं क्योंकि वे मूलत: उत्तर भारत के हिंदी भाषी राज्यों से आए हैं.

इस फ़ैसले के बाद टैक्सी चालकों में खलबली मच गई है.

महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना के अध्यक्ष राज ठाकरे पिछले कुछ साल से महाराष्ट्र में हिंदी भाषियों के खिलाफ़ आंदोलन चला रहे हैं.

इसके कारण दुकानों और दफ़्तरों के बाहर भी नाम मराठी में लिखे जाने लगे हैं.

आपको क्या लगता है कि ये फ़ैसला सही है?

GIVE YOUR COMMENTS

SOURCE BBC NEWS

Dose :::Anicent Indian History

A Dose on the religious texts,sects,vedas,literature,dynasty,etc etc

Mahabharata originally Was called as Jaya Kavya

Sutra (Buddhism)

The Sutras (Sanskrit; Pali Sutta) are mostly discourses attributed to the Buddha or one of his close disciples. They are all, even those not actually spoken by him, considered to be 'Buddhavacana' or the word of the Buddha, just as in the case of all canonical literature. The Buddha's discourses were perhaps originally organised according to the style in which they were delivered; there were originally nine, but later twelve, of these.
The Sanskrit forms are:

• Sūtra: prose discourses, especially short declarative discourses.
• Geya: mixed prose and verse discourse. Identified with the Sagāthāvagga of the Saṁyutta Nikāya
• Vyākarana: explanation, analysis. Discourses in question and answer format.
• Gāthā: verse
• Udāna: inspired speech
• Ityukta: beginning with 'thus has the Bhagavan said'
• Jātaka: story of previous life
• Abhutadharma: concerning wonders and miraculous events
• Vaipulya either 'extended discourses' or 'those giving joy' (cf Mahayana Texts)
• Nidāna: in which the teachings are set within their circumstances of origin
• Avadāna: tales of exploits
• Upadesha: defined and considered instructions

Jain Agamas

Agamas are canonical texts of Jainism based on Mahavira’s teachings. Mahavira’s preaching were orally compiled by his disciples into various Sutras (texts) which were collectively called Jain canonical or Agamic literature. Traditionally these sutras were orally passed on from teachers (acaryas or gurus) to the disciples for several centuries. The scholars date the composition of Jain agamas at around 6th to 3rd century BCE.
The Agamas were composed of the following forty-five texts:

• Twelve Angās
  • Ācāranga sūtra
  • Sūtrakrtanga
  • Sthānānga
  • Samavāyānga
  • Vyākhyāprajñapti or Bhagavati sūtra
  • Jnātrdhārmakathāh
  • Upāsakadaśāh
  • Antakrddaaśāh
  • Anuttaraupapātikadaśāh
  • Praśnavyākaranani
  • Vipākaśruta
  • Drstivāda (now extinct)

• Twelve Upanga āgamas (Texts that provide further explanation of Angās)
  • Aupapātika
  • Rājapraśnīya
  • Jīvājīvābhigama
  • Prajñāpana
  • Sūryaprajñapti
  • Jambūdvīpaprajñapt
  • Candraprajñapti
  • Nirayārvalī
  • Kalpāvatamsikāh
  • Puspikāh
  • Puspacūlikāh
  • Vrasnidaśāh

• Six Chedasūtras (Texts relating to the conduct and behaviour of monks and nuns)
  • Ācāradaśāh
  • Brhatkalpa
  • Vyavahāra
  • Niśītha
  • Mahāniśītha
  • Jītakalpa

• Four Mūlasūtras (Scriptures which provide a base in the earlier stages of the monkhood)
  • Daśavaikālika
  • Uttarādhyayana
  • Āvaśyaka
  • Pindaniryukyti

• Ten Prakīrnaka sūtras (Texts on Independent or miscellaneous subjects)
  • Catuhśarana
  • Āturapratyākhyanā
  • Bhaktaparijñā
  • Samstāraka
  • Tandulavaicarika
  • Candravedhyāka
  • Devendrastava
  • Ganividyā
  • Mahāpratyākhyanā
  • Vīrastava

• Two Cūlikasūtras (The scriptures which further enhance or decorate the meaning of Angas)
  • Nandī-sūtra
  • Anuyogadvāra-sūtra

Bhagavatī Sūtra

Bhagwati Sutra gives the valuable information about the life of Bhagwan MAHAVIRA

The Jain Scripture Bhagavatī Sūtra (Bh.S.) occupies probably the foremost position if we set out to enlist books with ample possibilities of the study of philosophy and science.

Though the basic object of the Bh.S. is to explore the subtle mysteries of philosophy and spirituality, yet at many places there are significant scientific discourses. For example, the Bh.S. describes cosmology, matter, space, time, the medium of motion and the medium of rest, velocity, energy black hole etc. All these pertain to Physics and have been treated quite at length.


Rig Veda
Rig Veda is regarded as the book of Mantra and it possesses the oldest kind of the Sanskrit mantras. It was composed by giving stress on the pronunciation of each letter thus giving a particular meaning and power to each of the letters in it. A majority of the facets of Vedic science including mantra, meditation, yoga and Ayurveda are there in Rig Veda which is still in use.
The central history of the Rigveda is that of Indra slaying Vritra (literally "the obstacle"), liberating the rivers; in a variant of the myth, Indra smashes the stone Vala, liberating the cows that were imprisoned within. Rivers and cows are often compared or mythically identified in the Rigveda, for example in 3.33, a notable hymn describing the crossing of two swollen rivers by the cars of the Bharata tribe,

Richas refers to a shloka or couplet or mantra, usually two to four sentences long, found in the Hindu religious scriptures, in the Rig Vedas. The origin of Richas is the Sanskrit word which means to praise. Richa can also refer to a verbal composition of celestial sounds called "Shrutis". The Gayatri Mantra is a Richa as well. Richas were recited by the priests or Brahnins.
There are 1058 rhichas in Rig Veda


Yajurveda
The Yajurveda literature is divided into the White (Shukla) and the Black (Krishna) Yajurveda literature,
and the latter is divided into four Branches (Shakas), the most important of which is the Taittiriya Shaka.

Shukla Yajurveda

There are two (nearly identical) shakhas or recensions of the Shukla (White) Yajurveda, both known as Vajasaneyi-Samhita (VS):

• Vajasaneyi Madhyandiniya (VSM), originally of Bihar
• Vajasaneyi Kanva of originally of Kosala (VSK)

Krishna Yajurveda

There are four recensions of the Krishna ("black") Yajurveda:

• Taittirīya saṃhita (TS) originally of Panchala
• Maitrayani saṃhita (MS) originally of the area south of Kurukshetra
• Caraka-Katha saṃhita (KS) originally of Madra and Kurukshetra
• Kapiṣṭhala-Katha saṃhita (KapS) of the southern Panjab, Bahika

The Pearson Indian History Manual For The Upsc Civil Services Preliminary ...

can the full book here---http://books.google.co.in/books?id=wsiXwh_tIGkC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=Satpatha&source=bl&ots=OVjJ0LtsgK&sig=vFhUARgzkQnaOdn-dljkE24jAxo&hl=en&ei=uA9fS5b2HtCHkQX3-bj2Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=12&ved=0CDAQ6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=Satpatha&f=false

Brahaman who gave an account of agricultural operations for a season--Sapatha

Pashupat

Lakulish is the founder of this sect. He established this sect in the 2^nd century B.C.

Comparison between Pashupat and some other Shaiva sects

	Pashupat	Some other Shaiva sects
1. What is the     concept of the     Final Liberation     (Moksha)?	End of unhappiness and attainment of The Supreme God, attainment of The Supreme Energy and end of unhappiness thereafter	End of unhappiness or attainment of the Final Liberation (Kaivalya)
2. Origin of the     mission	The mission is perpe- tual, e.g. the embodied soul	From the Great Illusion (asat)
3. Causes of the     causes	Absent. Maheshvar carries out His mission independently	The cause requires an auxillary cause for the fulfillment of causation
4. Result of    spiritual practice	Samip Mukti (no rebirth)	Attainment of heaven (hence there is rebirth)

Bimbisara (558-491 B.C.), the greatest patron of Goutam Budhha, was one of the early kings of the ancient indian kingdom of Magadha. He extended his kingdom upto Anga in the east and this expansion is considered to have laid the foundation for the vast expansion of the Maurya Empire in future.

Bimbisara belonged to the Shishunaga Dynasty and Rajgir was his capital. He was only fifteen when he became the king and he ruled for fifty-two years. His wife was a princess of Kosala, who brought Bimbisara the village of Kashi as dowry and also bore him his son Ajathshatru.. Among his other wives there were Khema, Silava, Jayasena and Chellana also. The latter one was a Lichchavi princess from Vaishali. It is evident from these facts that Bimbisara used marriage alliances to strengthen his position. He had another son, Vimala Kondanna, by the famous courtesan, Ambapali.

In the Pabbaja Sutta of the Sutta Nipatta Atthakatha it is stated that he saw Goutam Budhha for the first time through his palace window, under the Pandava Pabbata. Bimbisara invited him to visit his court but Budhha refused as he was in search for Enlightenment. The king wished him luck and requested him to visit Rajgir as soon as he would receive Enlightenment. Later Budhha visited Rajgir to fulfill the promise he made to Bimbisara. He became a serious disciple of Goutam Budhha and continued to patronized Budhhism for the rest of his life.

This great king was unfortunately imprisoned by his own son Ajatashatru in his intense desire to become the monarch. He was instigated by Devdatta, who hated the king's patronage to the Budhha. Ajatashtru starved his father to death resulting in the end of an able and kind-hearted king's reign.

Mahajanapadas (महाजनपद) literally means "Great kingdoms" (from Sanskrit Maha = great, Janapada = foothold of tribe = country). Ancient Buddhist texts like Anguttara Nikaya (I. p 213; IV. pp 252, 256, 261) make frequent reference to sixteen great kingdoms and republics (Solas Mahajanapadas) which had evolved and flourished in the northern/north-western parts of the Indian sub-continent prior to the rise of Buddhism in India.
The 16 Mahajanapadas

1. Kasi
2. Kosala
3. Anga
4. Magadha
5. Vajji (or Vriji)
6. Malla
7. Chedi
8. Vatsa (or Vamsa)
9. Kuru
10. Panchala
11. Machcha (or Matsya)
12. Surasena
13. Assaka
14. Avanti
15. Gandhara
16. Kamboja

General Studies History 4 Upsc

 By Reddy

Page A-86

Read More--http://books.google.co.in/books?id=yWfeU9eQd5YC&pg=SL1-PA86&dq=rajukas+upsc&ei=fR9fS-OkO6e0kAS-9o2kAw&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=true




Works by Kalidas
Malavikagnimitra is a five-act drama based on king Agnimitra's love for a beautiful girl, Malavika.


About two thousand years ago, there ruled in south-west India, a dynasty of Shunga kings. Agnimitra(son of Pushyamitra) was the most celebrated among them. Vidisha was the capital of his kingdom. He had two queens Dharani and Iravati. Dharani was the elder of the two. She was mature and tolerant. Iravati was sharp and a little impatient. Both however were equally devoted to the king and he too, loved them dearly.

Read more (I njoyed it, its ur turn---http://indianmasti.4.forumer.com/a/malavikagnimitra-33_post687-.html

Perhaps the most famous and beautiful work of Kalidasa is the Shakuntalam. It is the second play of Kalidasa after he wrote Malavikagnimitra. The Shakuntalam tells the story of king Dushyant who falls in love with a beautiful girl Shakuntala, who happens to be the daughter of a saint. They get married and lead a happy life until one day, the king is asked to travel somewhere. In his absence, a sage curses Shakuntala as she offends him unknowingly by not acknowledging his presence.

Due to the curse, Dushyant's entire memory is wiped off and he doesn't remember his marriage or Shakuntala. But the sage feels pity for her and gives a solution that he will remember everything if he sees the ring given to her by Dushyant. But she loses the ring one day in the river while bathing. After a series of incidents, a fisherman who finds the ring inside a fish rushes to the king with the ring. The king then recalls everything and rushes to Shakuntala to apologize for his actions. She forgives him and they live happily ever after.

Kalidasa also wrote two epic poems called Kumaarasambhava, which means birth of Kumara and the Raghuvamsha, which means dynasty of Raghu. There are also two lyric poems written by Kalidasa known as Meghadutta that stands for cloud messenger and the Ritusamhara that means description of the seasons. Meghadutta is one of the finest works of Kalidasa in terms of world literature. The beauty of the continuity in flawless Sanskrit is unmatched till date.

Kumarasambhava'
(mention of sati system)
One of Kalidasa's greatest works is 'Kumarasambhava'. Critics maintain that Kalidasa wrote only the first eight chapters of the epic poem. The work describes the marriage of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. It begins with a fine description of that giant among mountains, the Himalaya. Kalidasa writes: "Himalaya is rich in life. Living there are the Siddhas. Kinnaras and Vidyadhara beauties. Clouds in front of the caves look like curtains. You can trace the track of lions' by looking at the precious stones spilled from the heads of elephants and not by bloodstains. You have to know the paths they tread by recognizing 'Sarala' trees against whose stem the elephants rub themselves attracted by the sweet milk exuded by the trees. All the things needed for a sacrifice ('Yajna') are available here. Brahma (the God of creation) himself has made this the king of the mountains." It is not only a place for lovers who want to find happiness in life; it is also an ideal retreat for those who want to meditate.

Read more--http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpoets/kalidas/page2.htm

The Great Wall of China

 

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in , built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China , were built since the 5th century BC. The most famous is the wall built between 220 BC and 200 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang; little of it remains; it was much farther north than the current wall, which was built during the Ming Dynasty.
The Great Wall is the world's longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia, but stretches to over 6,700 km (4,160 miles) in total. It is also the largest human-made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass. At its peak the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men. It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall.
There have been four major walls:
208 BC (the Qin Dynasty)
1st century BC (the Han Dynasty)
1138 - 1198 (the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period)
1368-1620 (from Hongwu Emperor until Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty)