Ponniyin Selvan was the sobriquet given to Raja Raja Chola, who is the greatest of them all, variously described and sung in history as the hero who conquered all the way into North of India across Vindhyas, sea-fared to Sri Lanka many a times, went across the seas to South East in those days when it was a wonder, and the only sea-faring race heard of were the Phoenecians and the Arabs.The novel describes how the people of this period bought horses from the Arabs who land on the shores of a small island, and how the sighting of this horse plays its own minor role in tracing and developing the plot further.In fact, the story revolves and shuttles between Raja Raja (meaning the King of Kings) and the political happenings at home, during his sojourn in Sri Lanka. The narrative deals with attempts by his sister Kundavai to bring back Arunmozhi (as Raja Raja was called before his crowning) to establish political peace in a land seemingly getting besot with unrest and signs of civil war, plotted by vassals and petty cheiftains.A little deal of historical knowledge helps a great extent in making the best of one's enjoyment of reading Ponniyin Selvan, and has been proved time and again how families have been victims of this infectious addiction called Ponniyin Selvan readership. So in this context, it helps to learn of Arunmozhi (Raja Raja Chola) and his family. Rajarajan Family:The original title of Arunmozhivarman (Rajaraja Cholan) was Rajakesari Varman or Mummudi-Sola-Deva. He was the second son of the Parantaka Cholan II alias Sundara Cholan and Vaanavan Maadevi. Rajarajan had an elder sister, Kundavaiyar and an elder brother, Aditya Karikalan. Rajarajan had a high regard for his sister, who spent her later life in Tanjore with her younger brother, his first daughter was named after her. Only one son and three daughters of the King are known namely; Rajendra Cholan I, Kundavai, who married the Eastern Chalukya King Vimaladitya, Mahadevadigal and another whose name is not traceable. Rajarajan had a number of queens. Lokamahadevi was probably the chief queen, who built the shrine of Sri Lokamahadesvarar, called Uttara Kailas in the Sri Panchanadisvara temple at Thiruvaiyaru.

I think the story of Ponniyin Selvan might have been referring to the 10th century AD because Raja Raja Chola or rather Arulmozhi Varman of Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan ruled the Chola kingdom from 985 AD to 1014 AD.You are right. The incidents happened somewhere in 970 AD - 975 AD. Uthama Chozhar ruled from that day till 985 AD, and after his death Rajaraja ascended the throne.Somehow it occurred to me that 900 - 1000 is called as ninth century rather than tenth. May be I have become too digital and started counting from Zero :-)Rajendra Chola, son of Raja Raja Chola, might have made some military gains during his North Indian campaign.Probably yes. It is said that the Chozha empire reached its peak during his reign. He might have made at least some short term advancements in the North.But this book was mentioning about the ancestors of Rajaraja planting "tiger flags" on the Himalayas. I doubt whether there is any reality in that.But I guess it would have been a wonderful experience for you to read such a novel from Kalki, whatever may be the history or the reality.Yes, it was a great experience. I am looking for Kalki's other two historic novels Shivakamiyin Shapadham and Parthipan Kanavu.

Ponniyin Selvan by "Kalki" Krishnamurthi: R. Krishnamurthy's (pen name: Kalki) epic novel Ponniyin Selvan. This novel was first published in serial form in the Tamil weekly magazine Kalki from 1950 - 1954. Though Krishnamurthy wrote a large number of short stories, it was as a novelist that he got fame. He was also the first significant historical novelist in Tamil and his other works include Parthiban Kanavu and Sivagamiyin Sabatham.Parantaka Chozha was succeeded by his second son Kandaraditha as the first son Rajaditha had died in a battle. On the death of Kandaraditha, his son Maduranthaka was a child and hence Kandaraditha's brother Arinjaya ascended the throne. After Arinjaya's death, his son Parantaka II, Sundara Choza was coronated. He had two sons, Aditha Karikalan and Arulmozhi Varman and a daughter Kundavai.When the story starts, the emperor Sundara Chola is ill and bedridden. Aditha Karikalan is the general of the Northen Command and lived in Kanchi and Arulmozhi Varman (who would be famous later as Rajaraja Chola I) is in Sri Lanka in battle and their sister Kundavai Piratti lived in Chola royal household at Pazhayari.The story is set in motion, when rumor starts that there is a conspiracy against Sundara Chozhar and his sons. One person who gets a glimpse of the Pandya conspirators is a warrior of the Vana clan Vallavarayan Vandiyathevan. Even though the book is titled Ponniyin Selvan, the hero of the book is Vandiyathevan, a friend of Adhitha Karikalan.It is through Vandiyathevan that we meet most of the characters in the novel such as Arulmozhi Varman, the prince whom all the people loved and Periya Pazhavetturayar, the chancellor who married Nandini when he was sixty. During his youth Aditha Karikalan had fallen in love with Nandini, but she turned vengeful after Aditha Karikalan killed Veerapadyan (who was either Nandini's father or brother) and vowed to destroy the Chozha dynasty. We also meet Kundavai Devi, who after hearing the news of the conspiracy sends Vandiyathevan to Sri Lanka to give a message to Arulmozhi Varman to come back immediately.

Ponniyin SelvanI have just finished reading a truly wonderful Tamil epic Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki. The main characters in the story are
· Kandaradithar - the late emperor,Sembianmadevi - his wife and dowager queen and Madurantaka Thevar - their son (rather, the title of their son)
· Paranthaka Sundara Chozhar - the ailing emperor and Vanamadevi - his wife
· Aditha Karikalar - their eldest son, Arul mozhi varman - their second son - Ponniyin Selvan - later Raja Raja Cholan and Kundavai - their daughter
· Aniruddha Brahmarayar - the prime minister and Chinna Pazhuvettarayar - Commander of Tanjavur fort.
· Periya pazhuvettarayar - Treasury keeper, lord of Pazhuvur and Nandini Devi - his wife
· Sambuvarayan - lord of Kadambur, Kandan Maran and Manimekalai - his son and daughter
· The Pandya king and Ravidasan, Soman Sambhavan, Idumbankari and Devaralan - Pandya Conspirators
· Vandiyathevan - a warrior of an impoverished Vana clan and the beloved of Kundavai
· Parthibendran - friend of Adita Karikalar
· Tirumalai - a vaishnavite spy of the prime minister and Kudandai Astrologer
· Sendan Amudan and his motherVani - keepers of the garden
· Poonkuzhali - boat girl
· Mandakini - a mute, mad lady from Ilangai
Historical background Vijayalaya Cholan (848-871 CE) was the founder of the later Chola dynasty. He conquered the country from a vassal chief of the Pallavas, and established Thanjavur as the capital of the dynasty. His son and successor Aditya I conquered the Pallavas and the Kongu country. Later, under the leadership of his son Parantaka I (c 907-955 CE), the cholas acquired a dominion which foreshadowed the greater empire of Rajaraja and Kulothunga Chola I. Parantaka I won victories over the Banas, the Gangas, the Pandya and the King of Ceylon.
This fact and the extent of his conquest are known from his inscriptions. Towards the end of his reign, or before his death, the Rashtrakutas under Krishna III invaded the Tamil Country, killed the Chola prince Rajaditya at Takkolam (near Arakonam) in c. 948 CE , and seized Tondainadu which they seemed to have ruled for about a quarter of a century, confining the sway of the Cholas to their ancestral dominion comprising the Tanjavur and Thiruchirapalli districts.


The names of the next five kings after Rajaditya are known, but little is on record regarding their life history. They were Gandaraditya, Arinjaya Chola, Parantaka Chola II, Aditya Karikalan or Aditya II and Madurantaka. Aditya Karikalan II appears to have re-conquered Tondainadu a few years later. On Aditya's death, or on the death of Parantaka II, whichever was the later, the succession was probably disputed. Most of the nobles and subjects preferred that Arulmozhivarman (Rajaraja) ascend the throne, but he himself was in favour of his uncle, Madurantaka Uththama Chola becoming the king. Eventually, Arulmozhivarman was appointed heir-apparent. Rajarajan became the king in 985 CE. His reign was the starting point of a period of unexampled prosperity.
Ponniyin Selvan was the sobriquet given to Raja Raja Chola. The original title of Arulmozhivarman was Rajakesari Varman or Mummudi-Sola-Deva. He was the second son of the Parantaka Chola II alias Sundara Chola and Vaanamaadevi. Raja Raja Cholan had an elder sister, Kundavai and an elder brother, Aditya Karikalan. He had a high regard for his sister, who spent her later life in Thanjavur with her younger brother, and named his first daughter after her.
Kalki’s other sources were stone inscriptions, copper-plates and other books. There is a stone tablet in the great temple of Thanjavur which has the following inscription: “The revered elder sister of Raja Raja Cholar, the consort of Vallavarayar Vandiyathevan, Azwar Paranthakar Kundavaiyar”. The book sources were K.A.Nilakanta Sastri’s The Cholas and T.V.Sadasiva Pandarathar’s Pirkala Cholar Charitttiram. The second book has a five line reference to Vandiyathevan and from that, he became the hero of this novel. The names of the conspirators also came from a stone inscription.
A lot of the information about the activities of various kings came from inscriptions like these as well as copper plates like the one found at Anbil. The Thiruvalangadu copper-plates state, "The Chola people were very keen that after Sundara Chola, Arulmozhivarman should ascend the throne and rule their country. But Arulmozhivarman respected the right of his Uncle Uttama Chola, the son of his grandfather’s older brother, Gandaraditya, to the throne and crowned him King".
Parantaka Chozha was succeeded by his second son Kandaraditha as the first son Rajaditha had died in a battle. On the death of Kandaraditha, his son Maduranthaka was a child and hence Kandaraditha's brother Arinjaya ascended the throne. After Arinjaya's death, his son Parantaka II, Sundara Choza was coronated. He had two sons, Aditha Karikalan and Arulmozhi Varman and a daughter Kundavai.
When the story starts, the emperor Sundara Chola is ill and bedridden. Aditha Karikalan is the general of the Northen Command and lived in Kanchi and Arulmozhi Varman and their sister Kundavai Piratti lived in Chola royal household at Pazhayari.
The story is set in motion, when rumor starts that there is a conspiracy against Sundara Chozhar and his sons. One person who gets a glimpse of the Pandya conspirators is a warrior of the Vana clan Vallavarayan Vandiyathevan. Even though the book is titled Ponniyin Selvan, the hero of the book is Vandiyathevan, a friend of Adhitha Karikalan.
It is through Vandiyathevan that we meet most of the characters in the novel such as Arulmozhi Varman, the prince whom all the people loved and Periya Pazhavetturayar, the chancellor who married Nandini when he was sixty. During his youth Aditha Karikalan had fallen in love with Nandini, but she turned vengeful after Aditha Karikalan killed Veerapadyan (who was either Nandini's father or brother) and vowed to destroy the Chozha dynasty. We also meet Kundavai Devi, who after hearing the news of the conspiracy sends Vandiyathevan to Sri Lanka to give a message to Arulmozhi Varman to come back immediately.
Besides these, there are other characters like Maduranthaka Thevar, the son of Kandaraditha and the man whom the conspirators want to crown king, and Anirudha Brahmarayar, Sundara Chozhar's Prime Minister and the man who has eyes and ears everywere. But the most wonderful character in the book is Brahmarayar's spy Azhwarkadiyan Nambi, a Vaishnavite, who roams around the country challenging Saivaites for debates. He collects information for the Prime Minister and is always around Vandiyathevan, rescuing him during trouble.
There are some lovely women too, like Vanathi, the Kodumbalur princess who is in love with Arulmozhi, Poonkuzhali, the boat woman who rows the future king to Lanka, Mandakini, the deaf and dumb step mother and Rakkammal, the wife of a boatman who supports the Pandya conspirators. Most memorable among these is Nandini, who has the power to make influence any man.
With the help of a boat girl, Vandiyathevan reaches Sri Lanka and meets Ponniyin Selvan and becomes his close friend. In Lanka, Ponniyin Selvan realizes that his father had spent some time in an island near Lanka and had been with a girl born deaf and dumb. He meets her and realizes from her drawing that he had two children. Who are those children and do they have the right to the throne? Later one day in Thirupurambayam forest Vandiyathevan seens Nandini and the Pandya conspirators place a small boy on a throne and take a vow in front of him. Who is this boy and what right does he have to the thone? This is the kind of suspense that is maintained throughout the novel.
While coming back from Lanka, Ponniyin Selvan is caught in a cyclone and goes missing. Rumor spreads that he is dead, but he survives and stays at Choodamani Viharam, a Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam. Then slowly the dispersed family starts asembling. The conspirators meanwhile choose one day in which both the king and both his sons would be assasinated.
Will the conspirators succeed in killing Sundara Chozha and crowning Madhuranthaka as the king or will Ponniyin Selvan be the king? That is the summary for the story. But then it is not that simple either for all the people in the novel have long histories of interaction with each other and everything is not as black and white as it seems. There are new revelations and relations being established all the time. and even when you think you can predict what is going to happen, new surprises pop up.
Even though this is a work of fiction loosely based on historical facts, some incidents are left without a closure such as the question - who murdered Aditha Karikalan. Various people confess to doing it, but even at the end, a doubt remains.
The three strengths of Kalki are plot, characters and dialogue.There is not even one dull moment in this 1800 page book. Suspense is maintained throughout the novel and when you think you have understood his techniques, the characters themselves reveal that they are not who you think they are. Even the last book is a page turner due to the unexpected turn of events. For a novel of this size, there are many characters like spies, magicians, warriors, soothsayers and Buddhists, and since the novel is this big, we get to know each of them very well. The dialogue between the characters are very poetic which looks odd in English. I am sure would have sounded beautiful in Tamil.
There are couple of points of irritation also. The author for some reason decides to pop into the novel at some places and give some commentary which is sometimes a detail about history, or a rationalization of events. This intervention broke the flow and I felt would have been more appropriate as an appendix or a separate article. In the book, Vandiyathevan goes to Sri Lanka in a boat rowed by the boatwoman Poonkuzhali, but there is very less detail of the type of boat or how they were able to navigate the ocean. In many places such technical details are glossed over.
This was originally published in Tamil, but thanks to the translation by C.V.Karthik Narayanan, non-Tamil reading people like me can enjoy this classic work. People who can read Tamil have certified that this translation is excellent. Though this book is quite lengtly, (6 books, each of about 300 pages), it is a page turner.
This was my first Indian historic novel and it gave a good idea of the Chola dynasty in a non-boring way.

Introduction:Sri R. Krishnamurthi (1899-1954), popularly known as Kalki, is the author of thirty-five volumes of short stories, novels, essays, travelogues, and biographies. Though his eminent scholarship was found expressed in all types of literature still he is recognized and appreciated more as a writer of social and historical novels.Novel as a new literary genre in Tamil had its beginning in the later part of the 19th century and there were a few works of originality and high quality in that century.But the dawn of the twentieth century witnessed only poor imitations of Western detective fiction. It was an era of translated and adapted novels first from Bengali and then from English and Marathi. The flowers that blossomed were of foreign origin and did not display the colour and fragrance of this soil. The novels of J. W. M. Reynolds rambled in the garb of this country and their influence was so great that even a scholar like Maraimalai Adigal had adapted a story of Reynolds for his Kumudavalli or Naganttrasi.With the appearance of Kalki in the literary scene Tamil novels had entered another era. His first novel Kalvanin Katali, when serialized in Ananta Vikatan, stole the hearts of the readers by its features of realism and description. It echoed the vox populi of this country and blazoned the colour and quality of this soil. These qualities raised the standard of the Tamil novel and increased the number of novel readers with literary taste.Three reasons can be cited for the phenomenal success of Kalki's novels. First of all, he possessed in abundance the gift of story-telling. Secondly, he introduced healthy humour in his writings. And lastly, he threw light upon the cultural and social aspects of this country as well as the current time. "Like the great European novelists of the 19th century, Kalki was a master of striking scenes and episodes. With something of the burning patriotic fervour too of the humour of Dickens and the gift of portraiture of a Thackeray Kalki spread out his novels in impressive sequence."1Almost all of Kalki's novels appeared first in the serial form and only then in the book form. So they had both the advantages and disadvantages of serialization.Thiaga Boomi (1937), Solaimalai Ilavarasi (1947), Magudapathi (1942), Apalaiyin Kannir (1947) Alai Osai (1948), Devakiyin Kanavan (1950), Poiman Karadu (1950), Punnaivanattupuli (1952), Parthiban Kanavu (1941-42), and Amara Valvu are his other novels.

Kumble, the best man to lead Test side
At heart he is a lion. And he can still roar, writesPeter Roebuck
Anil Kumble has qualities needed to coax fine performances from veterans and to instil confidence in youth.
Anil Kumble is the best man to lead the Indian Test team on its forthcoming expedition to Australia. He could forge a strong alliance with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the obvious man for the T20 and ODI teams down under.
Between them these sturdy cricketers have the qualities needed to coax fine performances from veterans and to instil confidence in youth. Probably it won’t happen because selectors and officials are otherwise inclined but it’d be worth a g o.
More likely a more fashionable player will be given a second or third tilt at the pot.
Almost alone amongst the senior men, Kumble has not been given a chance to take charge of the Indian team. Over the last few years he has been the most constant, most probing of the Indian players yet he is seldom mentioned as a contender for the captaincy. Unstinting effort
Instead he has served with unstinting effort. Always he has put the team first.
His loyalty is to India and his comrades, and his own interests are pushed to the back of his mind, an uncommon occurrence amongst cricketers.
From time to time he may have been beaten but he has never been broken. Kumble has set a towering example. Neither the glamour and clamour of the age has distracted him from his task.
Captains scanning the field in search of someone still wanting to bowl with the sun scorching, the batsmen dominating and the scoreboard rattling, need not look past him.
Others might appear discouraged but Kumble would stride to the crease, his hope intact, his intentions plain.
Nor does he berate a fieldsmen after a catch had been dropped, or not for long anyhow (for he is only human). He can glare but he forgives readily and then tries to make amends. His appetite for wickets has never been sated. Are not these exceptional qualities? Here is an underestimated man.
As a cricketer, Kumble has surpassed expectations. It might be the same as a tactician and leader. On the rare occasions this unsmiling tweaker has directed operations he has shown the sort of flexibility and aggression supposedly absent in contemplative types.
But then Kumble merely resembles a librarian. At heart he is a lion. And he can still roar, continues to take wickets and has even scored his first Test century, an innings that reminded observers that he had started as a batsman.
Certainly he has a couple more years left in him in Test cricket. Moreover he does not expect to play in the one-day matches and is therefore perfectly placed to form a partnership with Dhoni, a young cricketer with plenty on his plate. Superb captaincy
Dhoni was superb in South Africa and is clearly capable of inspiring younger players. That does not mean he ought forthwith to be put in charge of a successful Test side full of older hands. Nor does success in T20 necessarily mean that the same players will prosper in the Test arena. Indeed Yuvraj, the most explosive batsmen in the tournament, has been exposed in Tests as a batsman with a dubious back foot game.
Dhoni can take charge of the Test team in two years, when his proteges, including the splendidly fertile Gautam Gambhir, Uthappa, Chawla and those contrasting pacemen, R.P. Singh and Sreesanth (the ice and the fire), are ready to replace the fading champions.
Till then it’d be wise to let him work on his own game whilst widening his experience of captaincy in one-day matches. Let us not kill the golden goose after a single egg has been laid.

A very crucial game for India

Setback in third ODI could mean no comeback for the host
Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly have been under needless pressure
Ponting could take Brad Hodge’s spot at No. 3
Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, who gave India solid starts during the series in England, will once again be in the thick of things against Australia.
Hyderabad: The Future Cup series is on the boil. The third game – the visitors lead 1-0 – could be pivotal to the outcome of a seven-match series, effectively reduced to six after the abandoned verdict in Bangalore. A setback here and it would mean no comebacks for the Indians.
The sky was overcast here on Thursday. The forecast for Friday says the weather will be “generally cloudy with rain in some parts of the city.” The conditions could greatly influence the course of events.
The surface at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium has encouraged pacemen in the initial phase. In the India-South Africa duel here nearly two years back, the host lost five wickets for very little in the morning and lost the match. For India, at least, fielding first is the more likely option in the event of winning the toss.Ponting may play
The influential Ricky Ponting is expected to lead the side and could take Brad Hodge’s spot at No. 3. The innovative Brad Haddin, who has provided the innings momentum in the end overs, should keep his place. Experienced left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken is back as well and could replace either Mitchell Johnson or all-rounder James Hopes.
Sourav Ganguly batted at the nets and should come in for Gautam Gambhir or Robin Uthappa. At the end of the day, it is performance that matters, and the seniors, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Ganguly have been under needless pressure.
In the three ODIs that India clinched in England, Tendulkar, who batted with refreshing freedom, and Ganguly laid a solid platform. Dravid’s effort in Bristol must rank among the finest ODI innings by any batsman over the last two years.
While the Indian Twenty20 side should be given its due for a fantastic triumph, it must be realised that ODI cricket brings with it different demands in terms of focus and innings-building skills.
There has been, sadly, much bad blood between the teams. Both the captains have already been spoken to by the match referee and the umpires. A hefty fine or a ban awaits subsequent offenders in this series.
Sreesanth, if he holds on to his place, will be under intense scrutiny. If he switches his mind back to his match-winning burst against the South Africans in the Test at the Wanderers, Sreesanth would realise that he was relaxed and calm as he ran in to bowl.
India has serious bowling worries with the Australians hustling the Indian spinners. The Aussie batsmen have used their feet to go after the spinners, forced them to shift line.
Off-spinner Ramesh Powar must have realised the difference between bowling at the Englishmen and the fleet-footed Australians adept at reading the hand. Powar has been tentative, his length has suffered and with it the crucial element of his bowling — the dip. Even the more experienced Harbhajan Singh was forced to switch his line. Brilliant running
The Aussies have also run brilliantly between the wickets. Dhoni might have to take the calculated risk of placing his fielders in single-denying positions and forcing the Aussies to go over the top.
There is a possibility of left-arm paceman Rudra Pratap Singh replacing Powar but then such a move would leave the spin department thin with Harbhajan, not yet at his best. Both Tendulkar and Yuvraj went for runs in Kochi.
Finding the right mix is never easy, when you are up against the World Champion.
The teams (from): India: M.S. Dhoni (captain), S. Tendulkar, S. Ganguly, R. Uthappa, R. Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, I. Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, R.P. Singh, S. Sreesanth, G. Gambhir, R. Powar, R. Sharma, D. Karthik.
Australia: R. Ponting (captain), A. Gilchrist, M. Hayden, M. Clarke, A. Symonds, B. Haddin, B. Hogg, B. Lee, S. Clark, M. Johnson, N. Bracken, J. Hopes, B. Hodge, B. Hilfenhaus, A. Voges.
Umpires: Steve Bucknor and Suresh Shastri. Third umpire: Pratap Kumar; Match Referee: Chris Broad.
Play begins at 9 a.m.

NEW DELHI: World number one Viswanathan Anand ended his seven-year wait for a second World chess championship crown by taking a short draw against Hungarian Peter Leko in the 14th and final round in Mexico City on Saturday.
Needing just a draw to claim the championship when the final round began, Anand and Leko reeled off 20 moves in quick time, as was anticipated, and shook hands. The draw gave Anand an unsurpassable tally of nine points and the title, worth $3,90,000.
Unlike Anand’s maiden title in Tehran in 2000, the latest conquest makes him the undisputed World champion.
“I am feeling the same way as I did seven years ago,” the 37-year-old champion told The Hindu on Sunday. “This is somewhat special in the sense the competition was very tough and to come out undefeated gives a great feeling.”
Dethroned champion Vladimir Kramnik holds a one-time right to challenge Anand next year over a stipulated number of games.
Anand is expected to come to India in mid-October to a fitting reception.

15 women die in stampede in Mughalsarai railway station
MUGHALSARAI: Fifteen women were killed and 48 people injured in a stampede on the staircase of an over-bridge at Mughalsarai railway station in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
There was a sudden surge of people, who alighted from two trains which arrived almost simultaneously on platforms 5 and 6 around 1.45 p.m., on the staircase leading to the stampede, said Divisional Railway Manager H.K. Kala.
Nitin Ramesh Gokaran, Commissioner of Varanasi division, said the condition of seven of the 48 injured was serious and they were referred to Sir Sunder Lal Hospital in Varanasi.
The others are being treated at the railway hospital here.
The fasting women passengers were on their way to Varanasi, 20 km from here, for a dip in the Ganga on the occasion of a local festival. Compensation
Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has announced Rs.2 lakh compensation for the kin of those killed and Rs.1 lakh for the injured. He also announced a Railway job for one member each from the victims’ families.
A high-level three-member committee had been set up to probe the stampede, he said. — PTI

Space Age’ is 50 years old

Bangalore: Fifty years ago this week — on October 4, 1957, to be exact — a 100-tonne rocket blasted off from the steppes of Kazakhstan, then a part of the Soviet Union, and placed in orbit the first artificial satellite to girdle the globe. It weighed 83 kg, was roughly the size of a basketball and its beeps, as it circled the planet every 98 minutes, signalled the dawn of the Space Age.
Coming as it did, at the height of the Cold War, it also triggered off what was to be become a bitterly fought Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, that ended only when the Soviet Union itself broke up, leading the new Russia as well as the U.S. to join hands with other nations to create an International Station.
The frenzy set off by that first satellite launch — and the desperate attempts of the U.S. to play “catch up” — led famed British novelist and disarmament advocate J.B. Priestley to deride the satellites as so many “tin footballs” knocking around in Space, as part of a disease he called “satellitis.”
But the Soviet Union was to launch a second Sputnik, this time carrying a dog, Laika (which sadly did not survive) before the Americans put their own first satellite — Explorer 1 — in orbit on January 31, 1958. The Soviets continued to lead in the Space Race with the first human in Space — Yuri Gagarin — in April 1961; and the first woman — Valentina Tereshkova — in June 1963. The U.S. had to wait till July 20, 1969, to edge past the Soviet Union, when Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon.
Only weeks later that same year on Independence Day, the Indian Space Research Organisation was set up, launching an ambitious programme that has remained rooted in a peaceful and bold mandate to exploit the technology of satellites and Space for earthy benefit.
When Arthur Clarke, the writer whose work first predicted many of the achievements of Man in Space, was asked in 1999, to look forward to 2057, the 100th anniversary of the first Sputnik, he said the centenary would be celebrated by humans on Earth, the Moon and Mars — and in orbit around Venus, Neptune and Pluto.
Half way down that road, such a prediction looks rather optimistic; but the fact remains that recent months have seen a renewed global interest in a renewed Moon mission as well as fresh explorations of Mars.

Mahatma’s message more important today”

Manmohan Singh dwells on Gandhiji’s universal message on his 138th birth anniversary
Gandhi Jayanti observed as International Day of Non-Violence
Gandhiji was also a great political leader

NEW DELHI: “Mahatma Gandhi’s message is more important today than ever before because nations across the world are grappling with the threat of conflict, violence and terrorism. As long as there is the temptation to resort to violence, the Mahatma’s message of non-violence will tug at our hearts,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Vigyan Bhawan here on Tuesday.
Dr. Singh was speaking on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 138th birth anniversary, which is now celebrated across the world as the International Day of Non-Violence.
The Prime Minister said the Mahatma’s message was universal and timeless and held as much significance today as it did during his lifetime. The message of love and peace, of non-violence and satyagraha, of the equality of all people, of harmony between all religions was a universal message for all societies and peoples.
Dr. Singh said:
“We are proud and grateful that the international community has declared this day as the International Day of Non-Violence. This unanimous decision of the United Nation General Assembly originates in a declaration of the International Conference on Peace, Non-violence and Empowerment.
“The conference commemorating the centenary of the satyagraha movement launched by Gandhiji underscored the universal relevance of his message of non-violence and the fight for truth. We are grateful to all those who supported this idea at the United Nations.
“The ideas that Mahatma Gandhi is best remembered are based on universal ideals. You will agree with me that many ‘isms’ have battled for our minds over this past century but few have succeeded in touching our hearts. Many political ideologies, and movements based on them have come and gone but Gandhiji’s philosophy has stood the test of time, and I believe it will continue to do so as long as humankind seeks peace and equality of all people.”
Dr. Singh said whenever injustice was redressed and freedom won through peaceful means, Gandhiji would always be remembered. “Let us not forget that Gandhiji was not some lofty saint. He was also a great political leader. He was regarded as a Mahatma because he practised what he preached. Because he cared for the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak.” Gandhiji believed in Swami Vivekananda’s policy of “Narayana Seva,” service of God through the service of man. This enabled him to see God in all human beings and serve them as though he was serving the Almighty. He reminded the gathering of the words of Albert Einstein, who had said of Gandhiji: “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”
The Prime Minister released a set of commemorative postage stamps, ‘Satyagraha,’ at the function organised by the Ministry of Culture along with Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti. He administered a pledge ‘India of My Dreams’ as envisaged by Gandhiji to the gathering, which included senior Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and children. Prior to this function, Dr. Singh flagged off an ‘Ahimsa Divas Yatra’ from the Congress party headquarters to Rajghat.
Lamenting the manner in which the country had forgotten Mahatma Gandhi’s message of non-violence, the Prime Minister sought to underline the power of non-violence and its relevance in today’s world.
At a function in the Central Hall of Parliament, floral tributes were paid to the Father of the Nation and the country’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to mark their birth anniversaries.

Judge’s outburst against DMK government

New Delhi:

A Supreme Court Judge on Monday orally observed that if it was found that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu had not implemented the September 30 orders to stop Monday’s bandh, the court would “recommend” its dismissal to the President of India.
Justice B.N. Agrawal made this observation after the counsel for the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) contended before the court that by not running the transport services on Monday and by keeping the shops shut, the government had failed to obey the directions issued on Sunday.
Oral observations made from the bench during the course of hearings have no relevance in law.
In its special sitting on Sunday, a Bench of Justice Agrawal and Justice P.P. Naolekar, acting on a special leave petition filed by the AIADMK, restrained the DMK, the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the CPI and the Pattali Makkal Katchi from proceeding with the call for the bandh and enforcing it.
On Monday, AIADMK counsel Guru Krishna Kumar alleged before Justice Agrawal (sitting with Justice Sathasivam) that a situation had arisen in Tamil Nadu where transport buses were not plying and shops and establishments were closed.
He alleged: “Your orders are not being implemented in letter and spirit.”
Justice Agrawal orally observed: “If what you say is true, then there is complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the State. We will recommend to the President to dismiss the DMK government in Tamil Nadu.”
Counsel submitted that the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was on a fast. Justice Agrawal commented: “Let him go on fast.
First let them implement our orders. You file a contempt; we will see. If you make out a case for contempt, we will not hesitate to call the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary to this court.”
V.G. Pragasam, counsel for the State, told the Bench that some unions were on strike but the government was trying to run the bus services. Justice Agrawal retorted: “What is the government doing? Don’t put the blame on the unions.
They will try to perpetuate the bandh to make it a success. We have not issued any direction to the unions. We gave directions only to you [State].”
Justice Agrawal observed further: “Is this the Tamil Nadu government? DMK is a strong ally of the UPA government at the Centre. If this is the attitude of the DMK government, then it [Centre] should not feel shy to dismiss the State government.”
When Mr. Krishnakumar submitted to the court that he would move a proper contempt application, the Bench said “do it.”
The strong observat
ions by Justice Agrawal were based on the contentions and allegations of the AIADMK counsel and there was no written order.
The AIADMK is filing the contempt application on Wednesday, according to its lawyers.

Are sharks as dangerous as they are made out to be?

There are nearly 400 types of sharks known today. The largest — also one of the largest fish in the ocean — is the whale shark. It can grow to over 20 m in length! Some sharks are tiny, like the deepwater dogfish is one of the smallest — just about 20 cm long when full grown!
One of the fastest sharks is the shortfin mako clocking up to 32 km per hour! There are a lot of myths about shark attacks. First of all, of the over 375 species of sharks known to humans, only about 30 have ever been recorded to have attacked people. White sharks, tiger sharks and bull sharks are the only three species ever recorded to have made unprovoked attacks on humans. Humans vs sharks
Some shark attacks are provoked by humans. When encountered, some humans prod, poke, try to feed or capture the animal. Sometimes, sharks get caught in fishing nets, and bite fisherman trying to untangle them.
Often, in an unprovoked attack, the shark merely mistakes a human being for something else that it normally eats. It takes a bite and swims off, realising its mistake. These types of attacks take place in shallow water, most often, when the shark is confused. What precautions can you take to guard against this? Stay in groups and relatively close to the shore. If you are going to swim in the ocean, try and avoid dawn and twilight. Avoid wearing flashy jewellery when swimming. Don’t splash like an animal in distress — that will attract the shark. Most important if you do encounter a shark, do not panic. Instead, leave the water quietly. And don’t provoke it.

The latest issue of Current Science, the international science journal, reports the finding of the smallest known land vertebrate in India, a miniature frog, from Kurichiyarmala in Kerala’s Wayanad district on the Western Ghats of peninsular India. The finding was reported by Delhi University Systematics Biologist S.D. Biju and his colleagues. This new species of frog, measuring only between 10 and 14 millimetres in size in adult males, belongs to the Nyctibatrachidae family and they have named it Nyctibatrachus minimus.
Only 12 species
The frog compares in smallness to the smallest reported from any other part of the world, including Cuba, the Amazon and Borneo. There are only 12 recognised species currently in Nyctibatrachidae family. The scientists found the fro g in the Shola forests of Kurichiyarmala, at an altitude of 1,200 metres above mean sea level. The frog usually rests under leaf litter or rocks and turns active during the night, with the males starting their calls inflating their subgular external vocal sacs on either side of their neck immediately after sunset.
It is most vociferousduring the nights of the monsoon season, the best time for reproduction. Nyctibatrachus means night-frog.
Though other researchers might have found it in the recent past, it could have been mistaken for the juvenile specimen of Nyctibatrachus minor, another species slightly bigger in size first reported in 1984. Miniaturisation in Nyctibatrachus species seems to be associated with the absence of webbing on toes and fingers, which may have resulted from evolutionary specification to life in terrestrial habitats, according to Dr. Biju.
Western Ghats is considered one of the 18 biodiversity hotspots in the world, and the new finding is yet another indication of how incomplete the knowledge of its biotic wealth is at present, even at the higher taxonomic levels.
Dr. Biju has been working in the Western Ghats to find new species of frogs over the past several years, and his findings include the purple frog (Nasikabatrachus) and the first Indian canopy frog (Philautus nerostagona) from the region.