Jadu Vamsha 2014

Jadavpur University Alumni Association

Hyderabad

Annual E Zine 2014

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Many Colours of Jadavpur University Alumni Hyderabad

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Many Colours of Jadavpur University Alumni Hyderabad

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Editorial Team

Anindita Chowdhury Shantanu Dey Soumik De Sujoy Sarkar

Indranil Chowdhury Kakali Dutta Sushanta Dutta Debopam Chakrabati

Cover Design

Aditi Chakraborty

Illustration

Jyotibindu Chowdhury Aditi Chakraborty Devmitra Biswas

Avidipto Avinandana

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Many Colours of Jadavpur University Alumni Hyderabad

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Contents

From the Editors Desk

Our Alma Mater and Association

Voyage 2013-2014

Symposium on Popular Science

Satyendar Canteen - Bengali Section

o Sheeter Karcha - Chandana Khan

o Asthirata Sanchita Dhar

o Pathik Sulekha Biswas

o Tamas Shantanu Dey

o Aay Megh - Brishti Hobi Debopam Chakrobarti

o Rongin Duniyar Khoje Dr. Subir Kumar Chaudhuri

o Meerar Purboraag Sumita Santra

o Celluloider Sat Satero Ankur Chakrobarti

o Gopal Jadavpure Paribesh Porachhen Mohit Roy

o Til Anjan Nath

o Kalponik Ghatona Abolombone Dhrubajyoti Chakrabarti

o Hasnuhana Madhurima Niyogi

o Jwor Piyali Chakrobarti

o Satyaranjaner Bipotii Indranil Chowdhury

o Amar Chhelebela Arundhoti Sengupta

o Kanaa Di Mandira Basu

o Viswavidyalaye Praikhsamulak Theatre Sohini Basu

o Ashwini Kumar Dutta Shantanu Dey

Kheyaal Khushi Childrens Section

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o Nandababur Experiment Bedadyuti Chakrabarti

o The Stranger Spandan Chatterjee

o The Treasure Brishti Chatterjee

o Dog Prince Mohona Chowdhury

o A Cruise up the Krishna Pratiksha Ukil

o Matter of Fact Sushanta Dutta

o The story of Arcus Aditi Chakroborty

o Facebook Thammi Aindrila Chatterjee

o Neelkanther Doot Anindita Chowdhury

Medley from Arts Lobby - English

o Ghazal to My Father Amitava Sen

o Reminiscence of a Black Day Dr. Madhab K Chattopadhyay

o Gavaskar vs. Tendulkar Gautam Das

o Cuisines of Bengal Soumabha Ray Chaudhury

o Tales of Iran Shatajit Basu

o Mars Orbiter Mission Sanway Deb

o The Lunar Calendar Arunlekha Sengupta

o Dancing in Cambodia A Book Review Suman Dhar

o An Odyssey into Darkness Dr. Saswati Sengupta

o A Day Before Storm Debashis Basu

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From the Editors desk

Hok Kolorob - a Bengali term can be loosely translated as Let there be noise. A noise that transformed mankind

through time tested collective expression. Be it the early concerted yelling of the cavemen, the enthralling beats

of powerful drums or chanting of hymns in unison, it was Kolorob that has marked the exuberance of mankind

through collective expression of thought.With the emergence of language, consciousness and culture, the human

race has learnt to voice opinions and feelings in more meaningful ways. Kolorob thus evolved into diverse forms

of expressions and became the most powerful gift to mankind- to express oneself in a language that is shared

by many.

It is with this thought in mind that Jadavs in and around Hyderabad, for the last few years, continue to bring out

Sei Somoy, their combined Kolorob; this is our seventh edition. The literary contributions are from our own

Alumni, their families and our close associates, with whom we cherish our Kolorob.

This time, we introduced a new section, Kheyaal-Khushi, a literary collection, penned by the children and by

grown-ups not yet out of their childhood! Let our Kolorob be carried on by the new generation and find expression

through new, innovative ideas.

Kolorob can only become a fascinating music of reason when we have people around us willing to harmonise

their thoughts for a common cause despite diverse views. Jadavpur University Alumni Association, Hyderabad

chapter has the privilege of having such musicians who enjoy the Kolorob and fuse together the various strains

of music into a soothing symphony, heralding in change.

Whether our Kolorob in Sei Somoy would raise a roaring sea of change or splutter merely to die down, only time

will tell us. Till then Hok Kolorob.

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Our Alma Mater and the Association

The history of our Alma Mater -- Jadavpur University -- is intrinsically connected with that of freedom struggle,

particularly the Swadeshi Movement, fuelled by the decision of the British Government to partition Bengal in

1905.

The call given to the students to leave institutions run by the imperialist masters meant that, alternate nationalist

educational institutions had to be set up to challenge the hegemony of the British and propagate nationalist

ideals. Thus was born the National Council of Education (NCE) on 11 March, 1906. Aimed at imparting education

literary, scientific and technical - under national control to achieve self-reliance, the Council found many patrons,

providing both financial and scholarly succour. This included Raja Subodh Chandra Mallik and Brajendra Kishore

Roychowdhury of Gouripur. The list also includes Sir Rash Behari Ghosh, who became the first President of NCE

and Rabindranath Tagore. The spirited yet erudite Aurobindo Ghosh became its founder Principal.

Subsequently the Bengal National College was established on 15 August, 1906 for teaching science and

humanities. The Society for the promotion of Technical Education founded the Bengal Technical Institute on 7

July, 1910. Later on, this was merged with NCE, Bengal. The present site of the Jadavpur University was

obtained on lease from the Calcutta Municipal Corporation under Mayor Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das by NCE.

The engineering college was shifted here in 1924 as the College of Engineering and Technology, Bengal.

After Independence, the Government of West Bengal, with concurrence of the Government of India, enacted the

necessary legislation to establish Jadavpur University on 24 December, 1955. The annual Convocation of the

University is still being held on this day.

Today, the university comprises three faculties - engineering and technology, science and arts with a number of

departments under them -- running various courses. It is really amazing to see that, the best minds among

linguists, historians, geologists, chemists, computer engineers and pharmaceutical technologists pass out of the

same campus every year. The campus also houses a school and a number of well- equipped research

laboratories.

The National Council of Education Alumni Association was formed on 1 January, 1921 by some enthusiastic ex-

students of the institution. Subsequently, the Alumni Association N.C.E Bengal was re-named as Alumni

Association N.C.E Bengal and Jadavpur University. The alumni help the National Council by making donations,

raising funds, and in various other ways. They also financed the overseas training of a number of faculty

members. Growing up with an indomitable spirit of independence, some of them went on to set up industries. In

the recent past, the association dedicated the Indoor Stadium and the Sports Pavilion to the University. At

present, it has some 15 branches all over India and another 10 abroad.

The Hyderabad Chapter of the association started its activities in 1975. Till 1982, it organized various cultural

programs and social welfare. In 1982, it took initiative for providing relief during floods in Andhra Pradesh

generating fund from a cultural event in which Manna De performed with his golden voice. It rejuvenated its

activities once again on April 17, 2004. During the past few years it organized several get-togethers, cultural

programmes and also helped a number of students from the economically backward section to continue their

studies. From 2009 onwards it has started organizing popular science symposium to kindle interest in science

among youngsters. This year the association extended a helping hand to a local orphanage, providing food items

and study materials.

The association hopes to continue contributing to the society at large through its philanthropic activities in days

to come, with active cooperation of its members and well-wishers.

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Voyage 2014

Musical Bonhomie

The first meet 2014 at Samagam, Haritha Plaza Aguner Poroshmoni --- AGM-cum-Picnic

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In the lap of serene Ananthagiri AGM Cum Picnic 2014 Jalvihar Necklace Road

List of students from J U, Kolkata, who received financial assistance from the Alumni, Hyderabad Chapter:

1. Ravi Vaidya 8961333097 Production Eng UG IV

2. Prasenjit Biswas 8926329836 CSE UG I

3. Anshuman Mandal 9681268860 Physics PG III

4. Abhishek Pramanik 8293029511 Bengali PG II

5. Dipti Biswas 9564040889 Sanskrit PG II

6. Soumen Pal 9143615561 MATH PG III

7. Sonali Naskar, 9874595011 LIB SC UG I

*********** ************ ***********

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Sneha Ghar, Aman Vedika, Secunderabad has replaced all electric lights with Solar LED

Aaloker ei jhorna dharae dhuiye dao Fir kab ayenge?

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Various cultural and philanthropic activities of our Hyderabad Chapter revolve around Symposium on Popular Science for

school children of our twin cities, less fortunate children in our society and meritorious but needy students through our

parent Alumni.

School children with Prof V Adimurthy, Science Symposium # 5, NGRI

Ringing in the New Year, 2015, with a Concert for a Cause

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Symposium on Popular Science 2014

Few are aware that Fostering Scientific Temper was this years chosen theme for the National Science Day,

aimed at instilling a spirit of scientific enquiry among citizens. Keeping in mind that such efforts should not be

few and far between, the Hyderabad Chapter of Jadavpur University Alumni Association has been organizing a

symposium on popular science for students for the past few consecutive years --- in order to kindle their interest

in science and scientific pursuits. Remaining true to the innovative spirit of their Alma Mater, alumni members, a

majority of whom are themselves part of research establishments and IT sector, have taken up the challenge of

motivating the future citizens of our country into pursuing science as a career option. The Hyderabad Chapter

of the association has been organizing this symposium for school students of the twin cities, since 2009. The

four symposia conducted so far were highly interactive and appreciated by most of participating schools. This

year was no exception. About 165 students from 16 schools participated in the symposium held on 29 November

at the sprawling campus of National Geo-physical Research Institute (NGRI). And the students found motivation

in plenty in the illuminating lectures and while interacting with the three distinguished scientists from diverse

fields.

Dr H H Krishnan, a renowned virologist working at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) dealt

with virology in general and Ebola, the fashionable virus as he chose to describe it, in particular. While giving

an insight into the study of viruses, Dr Krishnan reminded that most of the outbreaks were now results of zoonotic

viruses. Even something as innocent as tooth extraction could lead to viral infection unless dentists use proper,

sterilized equipment. He spoke about the killer virus, Ebola which has already claimed 6,000 lives and because

of its high degree of mutation, was scarier. Please remember, the stupidest of the virus is smarter than the

smartest virologist, Dr Krishnan observed before signing off.

Then it was the turn Prof. V Adimurthy, the Satish Dhawan Professor and Dean of Research at the Indian Institute

of Space Science and Technology to speak on Mars Orbiter Mission and Beyond: Inspirations and Intricacies.

He spoke in details how Indian scientists had prepared for the mission and shared interesting information such

as how the Mangalyaan had gone into hiding on the other side of Mars when a comet, Siding Spring, raced

past the red planet.

When New York Times published a cartoon depicting a turbaned man with a cow, knocking on the doors of the

Elite Space Club. After the successful launch of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) by India, many slammed the

newspaper for being racist --- finally forcing an apology. However, the relationship between the bovine animal

and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) goes back a long way. One of its very first experimental

communication satellite, the Ariane Passenger Pay Load Experiment (APPLE) -- launched in 1981, was

transported on bullock carts! After all, whatever technology was available, should be used for scientific upliftment,

observed Prof. V Adimurthy..

Students, teachers and those present in the auditorium got a glimpse of a brilliant scientific mind when the

professor, a keen cyclist himself, described how he had used the same Oberth Effect, used in interplanetary

spaceflight, to complete 400 km of cycling in his home state Kerala, where the topography was uneven. He also

spoke about future challenges of space mission which young scientists would have to contend with, when

manned mission to Mars would be possible. With possibilities of pandemics like Ebola, human beings did need

new colonies and interplanetary voyages. Prof. Adimurthy made it far more interesting for the young students

with slides on how literature propelled science, particularly, when it came to travelling in space, mentioning

Antoine de saint Exuperys The Little Prince, Jules Vernes From Earth To the Moon and Richard Bachs

Jonathan Livingston Seagull the last one is about a seagull learning about life and flight.

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The last speaker of the day was Dr N Purnachandra Rao, a scientist at the National Geophysical Research

Institute, who spoke about earthquakes and tsunami. It was a highly interactive session as he patiently answered

queries from the audience even during his lecture. Warning that earthquakes never killed only unsafe buildings

did, Dr Rao explained about the use of indigenous, as well as, sophisticated technology in constructing

earthquake-resistant buildings. Dr Rao spoke at length about the Sumatra Earthquake (2004), which unleashed

large scale devastation due to tsunami. According to Dr Rao, while early warning system for earthquake would

require development of communication technology, there could be early warnings for tsunami. Though the

audience heaved a sigh of relief as both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are removed from volatile zones, there

was a bit of embarrassment when they could not answer where the countrys National Tsunami Warning Centre

was located. Well, it is in Hyderabad.

In the post lunch sessions more questions awaited the students, as there was an enthralling quiz competition

with alumni members posing as quiz masters and coming up with various formats to make it a highly competitive

event. Even the audience vied for the prizes and the general knowledge and scientific awareness of the young

brains were simply astonishing. While Little Flower School won the Science Quiz Johnson Grammar IB School

bagged the second prize and Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet came third.

The students of the participating schools had also prepared posters, reflecting their creative bent of mind and

scientific acumen. Their enthusiasm and keen participation kept hope alive that, perhaps, when the time come,

they would be sufficiently inspired to make a career out of science.

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: Aswini Kumar Dutta, the philosopher of nation making, by Pabitra Kumar Gupta, Bulletin, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, 2012

http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/print_news.php?nid=102513

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwini_Kumar_Dutta

http://www.san.beck.org/20-4-India1905-18.html

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The Stranger

Spandan Chatterjee

One day I went to a shop close to my home. It was my first visit to a shop alone and I was very

excited. I bought plenty of things that I liked cheese, Snickers, Diary Milk from my pocket money

of Rs 500, which my grandparents had given before leaving. I love these, I thought and could

not wait till I reached home and munched on them.

As I walked, I had a feeling of being followed. I turned round but

could not see much as it was quite dark. There were a few stray dogs

around and I walked fast to avoid them. The feeling of being followed

returned. I turned back to see an old man at a distance. I could make

out he was wearing ragged clothes. He brought to my mind images

and descriptions of kidnappers I had seen or read about. I saw him

walking faster and felt very scared. The faster I walked, the more

rapidly he followed me. He was gaining on me. My house was still a

little distance away. I thought of all that I could do to save myself

shouting for help, running (but then mother had asked me never to

run with dogs around), a karate punch that I had picked up of late.

The man was quite close now. Hey Boy! he shouted. I was terrified and thought I would run.

Your wallet had fallen out of your pocket, please take it, he shouted again. I thought he was

trying to fool me. Still I checked my pocket and truly, the wallet was missing. I stopped till the old

man came up to me. He looked poor, still he had not stolen my wallet. I took the wallet, thanked

him and gave him Rs 100. I went home very happy that day and realized we should never judge

people by their looks.

76

The Treasure

Brishti Chatterjee

My parents, brother and I had gone to the Andaman and Nicobar islands during a vacation. We

stayed there for two weeks. As we went into the sea, the guide told us a story about a raft carrying

gold which sank near the islands, some thousands of years ago. The story goes that during

Mahabharata days, Parashurams brother was bringing gold to hide in the islands. For years,

people had tried to find it, but no one succeeded.

On the last day, we went for scuba diving. It was very exciting as we could see life under water. I

saw many fishes, turtles, beautiful corals and even a flying fish. As I watched the splendid

underwater world, my attention was caught by a tiny golden object lying half buried under the

sand. I went closer and saw the object looked like a gold coin. I dug the sand a little deeper and

took the coin out. I had not seen anything like that before. It seemed old but beautiful. There were

some etchings on it, which I could not make out.

I brought it out to show my brother what I had got under the sea. My

parents saw it too along with our scuba instructor. They took it to

the hotel manager who suddenly seemed very excited. He knew a

historian living nearby and took all of us there. The historian jumped

with joy on seeing the coin. Do you know what you have found?

he asked me. This seems like a coin dating thousands of years back! He said he would take it to

the curator of the local museum. He took a picture of me holding the coin and thanked me again

before we left.

We returned to our place. A few days later, there was an article in the newspaper stating

Mahabharata Age Coin Discovered by a Ten- Year- Old. It had my picture too and the news of

how a chance discovery had led to finding more gold coins, dating thousands of years back. I

could hardly believe my eyes. I became quite a hero in school and at home and felt very proud of

myself.

77

The Dog Which Turned into a Prince

Mohona Chowdhury

Once upon a time there lived a poor old lady who used to earn her living by sewing clothes. She

could sew beautifully.

One day, while she was sewing a pretty dress, a dog came inside the house. The kind woman

saw that its face was not very lively or happy. She gave the dog a little dog-food, which she had

for her own pup, Laika. She also gave it some water to drink.

Laika and the other dog began to play.

One day when both the dogs were playing, a wolf came by.

Both of them were very scared. They began running but the

other dog could not run very fast. The wolf was about to kill him.

The old woman emerged, suddenly, from the bushes. She

chased the wolf with a stick. It ran away.

Surprising the old woman, the dog spoke: You have saved my

life and, all of a sudden, turned into a Prince.

He said he had been cursed by a wizard as they both wanted

to marry the same princess. The curse would be broken only

when a person wished the well-being of the Prince.

He said whenever she needed him she just has to call out to Prince Hans. That was his name.

Saying this, the beautiful Prince took leave and rode away on a horse.

78

A Cruise up the Krishna

Pratiksha Ukil

Weekend again! For some it's like - Ah! Time to relax at last while adventurous souls look

forward to utilizing every minute in fun-filled activities. We opted to do both on the Diwali weekend.

We set out for a cruise trip up the River Krishna on that chilly Saturday morning. The bus for

Hyderabad-Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam-Farahbad and back trip, organized by Andhra Pradesh

Tourism Development Corporation, started from Sahakar Bhavan, Basheerbagh. It took about 3

hours to reach Nagarjuna Sagar. As we relished the hot breakfast served to us, the picture perfect

Nagarjunasagar dam seemed to peep through the gaps between vegetation and undulating land.

We arrived, freshened up a bit and set off for the most craved part of the trip - the cruise.

The weather was cloudy and very pleasant -- though not suitable for photography. The cool air

brushed my cheeks bringing a calm thrill to my heart. The gray cottony clouds in the sky played

hide and seek with the sun and the far-off banks with their rocky surfaces complimented the

scenery. The vastness of the reservoir made me realize that we were just a speck of dust in this

huge creation of God.

The launch was anchored and we toured Nagarjunakonda - an island where relics of the rich

Buddhist culture that had spread across the area prior to the construction of dam, have been

preserved. Our launch advanced towards the intended destination. Suddenly, huge drops of rain

started pouring and made the water dance. I still relish the scene. The surrounding rocks closed

upon the water body. Some of the rocks drew my attention. They looked as if they were cut using

some form of machinery. The steep cliffs appeared like strange fortifications. Such was nature's

magic.

79

An authentic Andhra lunch was served to us, amidst the breathtaking landscape of the Nalamalla

forest which had a different charm. Little fishing boats, which looked like baskets, complimented

the scenery. We could see monkeys leaping from tree to tree along the banks. The emergence of

electric cables indicated we were approaching the town. We reached a ghat in Srisailam with the

dam right in front of us. Here the land was much more elevated and the river basin was narrower.

Entering our hotel rooms was both welcoming as well as gloomy. It was welcoming as we were

tired and wanted to retire for the day and was gloomy as the enchanting cruise was over.

Next morning we visited the temple and then headed for the rope-way. Sitting in the rope-way

compartments, our minds were filled with serene happiness. Later we toured the area and after

lunch in the hotel we headed home. Our homeward journey would comprise the tour of the

Farahbad tiger reserve. Telugu movies were being played in the bus but enjoying the scenery

seemed to be a better option. Luck did not favor us in Farahbad as we were not allowed inside

the forest. There was some ongoing meeting. However, we spotted a black bear from far off and

it excited all of us tremendously. A herd of deer leaped past the road and we were all filled with

delight.

That ended our tour. The next thing I realized was that, I was in our flat getting ready for the night's

nap. It all seemed like a dream to me and I am sure that the trip has left its imprints in my heart

that will last forever.

80

Matter of Fact

I have always wondered what makes the universe exist. Time and space may forever be a

mystery, but has not stopped my pursuit. Our connection to one another have grown infinitely

and now that I have the chance, I am eager to share this journey with you. Be curious and stay

curious. I know I will forever be. --- Professor Stephen Hawking

1. Which insurance salesman invented the fountain pen in 1884?

2. Name the largest part of hydrosphere on our Planet?

3. Which track and field star overcame childhood polio and became one of the greatest

athletes of her time?

4. What are the main constituents of pearl?

5. 'Madhubani', a style of folk paintings. This is popular in which state in India?

6. The chemical, ethyl mercaptan, is added to the otherwise odorless LPG cooking gas for

imparting a detectable smell to the gas. Ethyl Mercaptan is a compound of which element?

7. Where from are the words 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the base plate of the

emblem of India, taken?

8. Where is the National Police Academy located in India?

9. CORN FLAKES How did it come to existence and when?

10. 'Nature never did betray the heart that loved her' is a quotation from a famous poet. Who

was this poet?

11. Until Victorian times, chocolate was thought of as a drink. When did the first chocolate bar

appear?

12. What is the scientific or chemical name for washing soda?

13. When did India win its first Olympic hockey gold..?

14. Name one non-green-house gas?

15. Who is the author of the book 'No Full Stops in India'?

16. Who said 'Man is a political animal'? ---

17. In which year did Milkha Singh win the first National title in the 400 m race? ---

18. What is common in Kutty, Shankar, Laxman and Sudhir Dar?

19. Dr. Joon Lew of Korea is the recipient of Gandhi Award. What was his work for the society?

20. The iron and steel industries of which country are almost fully dependent on imported raw

materials?

21. Who was the first woman who went in space?

22. What is the scalar quantity which is measured in Light year?

23. When did the Indian football team made its first appearance at Olympics?

24. It is more difficult to walk on a sand than on a concrete road. Why?

25. What is the sound of frequency below 20 Hz called?

26. Who invented the Ballpoint Pen?

27. This statesman, politician, scholar, inventor, and a President of USA invented the swivel

chair, the spherical sundial, the moldboard plow, and the cipher wheel. Do you know this

President of USA?

28. On a clean glass plate a drop of water spreads to form a thin layer whereas a drop of

mercury remains almost spherical. What could be the reason?

29. What did Benjamin Franklin invent 1760? This, in fact, was one of his many inventions.

81

30. On which principle does optical fiber work?

31. The Manhattan Project was started by President Roosevelt in 1942 to ensure that the U.S.

beat the Germans in developing a nuclear bomb. Whom did Roosevelt appoint as scientific

head of the Manhattan Project?

32. Who had an explosive idea and first patented DYNAMITE?

33. Why Potassium Permanganate is used for purifying drinking water?

34. Who was the first Indian to swim across English Channel?

35. When was blue jeans first put on?

36. How long does light takes to reach us from the Sun?

37. For what contribution was Dr. V. Kurien well known?

38. Rainbow is produced when sunlight falls on drops of rain. What is the physics behind this?

39. How many gold medals did P.T.Usha win in the 1986 Seoul Asian Games?

40. For whom were high heeled shoes invented?

41. What are the main constituents of LPG?

42. In the 1700s, who used to pay the postage fee for letters before the stamp was used?

43. Chlorophyll is a naturally occurring chelate compound. What is its central metal?

44. When was the toothbrush invented?

45. Which of the following is a tropical grassland? Taiga, Savannah, Pampas, Prairies.

46. To whom is the 'Dronacharya Award' given?

47. The infrared radiation by sun are strongly absorbed by a Green House gas. What is this

gas?

48. Name the islands with coral covered surfaces in Bay of Bengal

49. Where would you find the greatest variety of animal and plant species on Earth?

50. What is the limit called beyond which the stars suffer internal collapse?

51. The imaginary axis at which the earth rotates remains inclined at an angle to the plane of

earth's orbit. How much is this angle?

52. The length of the tropical years (the time interval between successive occurrences of the

spring equinox) is decreasing very slowly. What are the reasons behind?

53. What is the chemical name for baking soda? ---

54. Where was the first ODI Cricket match played in India?

55. Who is the author of famous statement: "That Government is the best which governs

least"?

56. Who said "God helps those who help themselves"?

57. Where is the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology situated?

58. In which year was the first international cricket match held?

59. What is Siachen?

60. Name the leper colony built by the Missionaries of Charity under the guidance of Mother

Teresa.

61. Who was the first captain of Indian Test team?

62. What is the ratio of width of our National flag to its length? Where would you see the

famous Chikankari work, which is a traditional art of embroidery?

63. Who invented the first flying Airplane with control?

64. Name the sacred books on Buddhism.

65. Which place is famous for Chikamkari work?

66. Name the leading paper producing state in India

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67. In which language was Kirshnadev Raya's work Amuktamalyada written?

68. Two of the great Mughals wrote their own memories. Who are they?

69. How many stanzas from Rabindranath Tagore's song 'Jana Gana Mana' has been adopted

as National Anthem of India?

70. With which sport is the 'Choudhury Trophy' associated?

71. How long does the light take to reach the Earth from Alpha Centauri, which is nearest star

after the sun?

72. Which gas is usually filled in electric bulbs? ---.

73. Who is the father of English Poetry?

74. The ionosphere contains ionized air. How does this air jacket protect the Earth?

75. What were the two major monuments, built during the reign of Alauddin Khilji?

I cant believe God plays dice.Unlimited competition leads to crippling of social consciousness of individuals --- Albert Einstein

For Answers refer to the last page

83

The story of Arcus

Aditi Chakroborty

This is a fable I had heard from my grandfather when I was a little girl and I would love to share it

with all of you, in my own words.

A very long, long, time ago when the world was a little child and things were not as complicated

as it is today, there lived a group who were known to everyone as Colours. The Colours

resembled our country - India in many ways. They were a group, with lots of diverse members,

each different in their individual patterns, but with a rich heritage.

Initially, things were very simple but as days went by, there began a fight over dominance amongst

the members.

Red, the most pompous of them all, boasted: I am the ruler of all. I am blood, lifes blood. I am

willing to fight for a cause. I am known for bravery and courage.

Immediately, Green taunted, Huh! Clearly, I am the most important. Without me there would be

no life, hope or even blood.

Even before Green could finish Blue retorted, How foolish of you to think only about life and

blood? Without me there would be no space and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be

just busybodies.

All this while the discussion was limited only to the primary members of the group. Now many

other members, who were only spectators all this while, also began to participate in the squabble.

Incidentally, these members were the descendants of the primary members but had individual

identities.

For instance, Yellow, the daughter of Red and Green, chuckled, You elderly people are so

serious. I am the one who brings laughter, warmth and gaiety to the world. Without me there would

be no fun at all.

Magenta, the daughter of Red and Blue, raised her arms and announced, Freedom! I bring

freedom of thought to this world. You may let your imagination go wild, only because of me.

Cyan, the son of Blue and Green and the most serious amongst the lot, spoke quietly, but

determinedly, I am the most trust worthy among you all; you will always need me to maintain

balance in life and inner peace.

Orange interrupted, You sound so cold and pensive. I dont think you can survive without my

warmth.

Indigo and Violet the younger sons of Red and Blue, would not fall back and each threw tantrums

shouting, Let me speak! Let me speak!

This went on to the extent that it could not silence even the tertiary members who were the grand

children of the primary members.Azure, Rose, Orange, Chartreuse, Spring Green, the names

were endless.

And so this fight went on and on, louder and louder.

The dispute spread from one generation to the next, from one group to another, from one land to

the other. At first a buzz, then a chatter, then a noise.

Suddenly, one day, there was a loud boom!!! There was a startling flash of brilliant white light and

thunder roared in the sky, silencing everybody. All of a sudden, rain began to pour down

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relentlessly. All over the world the rain poured and poured and poured. Everybody crouched down

in fear, drawing close to each other for comfort, fearing that the pounding rain would wash away

each of their identities. Each of them realised how vulnerable they stood in the face of this

tremendous calamity.

Gradually, the rains receded and the skies cleared. But lo, behold! What was this that had spread

across the sky? There he was spreading his beautiful arms, each with all the qualities that

everyone was fighting about. The youth of Violet, the serenity of Blue, the freshness of Green, the

inner peace of Indigo, the spirit of Yellow, the warmth of Orange and lastly, the courage of Red,

everybody had his or her own place in the heart of this beautiful spectrum.

The most lilting song could be heard in the background; resonating with the chirp of the birds and

the hum of the bees, I am Arcus, the bow. I bring the message of harmony to this world. Did you

know that all of us have been created, each for a special purpose, to be unique and different?

Each of us is needed to make this world a better place to live. Let us make this everlasting promise

that there should be no division, but mutual respect for each of our gifts as well as differences.

The wheel of time has rolled on, and even though millions and millions of years have gone by,

there have been many squabbles and fights and many wars have been fought over individual

diversities. But after every storm and shower, Arcus the rainbow, the spectrum of colours, made

his distinctive appearance in the sky reminding us of the promise, once made between him and

the people of this world.

85

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92

A Ghazal to my Father

Amitava Sen

"Not through command, nor decree, a lifelong lesson you taught me!

Through action, interaction, the pattern of an exemplary life, that's you, not me!

The innate worth of each human being, the meaning of friendship and trust,

To find common ground with a prince or a pauper, someone who is not me,

To reason with scientific rigor, yet understand with a poet's sensitivity,

To know what is authentic, what is hypothetical and abstract, you taught me.

The infinite shades of grey between the black and the white that cloud the sky,

The infinite shades of green in the woods and forests in spring, you taught me,

The infinite shades of meaning behind each spoken word, each glance of the eye,

The infinite patterns of joy and sorrow in the musician's notes, you taught me,

The universal melody in a painter's canvas, a sculptor's form, a poet's lines,

A friend's laughter, a helpful hand, and a thoughtful word

--- this life is all about you, not me."

93

Reminiscence of a Black Day

Dr. Madhab K.Chattopadhyay

It was August 1980. I was busy with my M.Pharm project work at the Department of

Pharmaceutical Technology (known as Department of Pharmacy at that time), Jadavpur

University. I had chosen Microbiology for specialization in Masters. Professor Durlav Kumar Roy

and Dr Sunil Kumar Mandal were the joint supervisors for my dissertation work.

At that time the department was in turmoil due to serious dissention between two groups of

teachers over various department-related issues. It was rare to see the two groups agreeing on a

viewpoint and the meetings of the board of studies (comprising departmental teachers) were often

marked by heated arguments over various issues (most probably) related to the welfare of

students. Though we were not allowed inside we could figure outthat the goings-oninside, might

have been an action replay of one of ourstormy Parliament sessions.

Most probably, it was 12August when one suchcrucially important meeting was going on.

Suddenly, a few of our professors rushed out of the meeting hall and asked us to inform the

university doctor that Professor Anupam Sengupta, the then Head of the Department, was not

feeling well. The doctor came and foundit was a case of cerebral thrombosis. We rushed him to

the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan Hospital on Sarat Bose Road where specialist doctors

examined him and provided medical care to him. After a couple of days, his condition was reported

to be stable. But just when everybody was expecting him to resume duties within a short time, he

had another attack and passed away on 22 August.

The news sent a shock wave through the teachers, students and non-teaching employees alike

all over the university. It was a rainy day and the atmosphere was also gloomy. While we were

accustomed to disharmony and brawls between two groups of teachers due to their irreconcilable

difference of opinion, nobody was mentally prepared to

accept the shocking incident. It was vehemently denied

by some people that any altercation in the meeting had

led to the cerebral attack and they chose to put the

blame on the deceased for not following his daily

regimen of medication. However, fact-finding exercises

of this sort provided no solace to people like us, who

were not associated with any camp. Professor

Sengupta was one of our teachers in the first year of

B.Pharm. He remembered names of his students who

attended his classes regularly. As students, we had

some emotional attachment with him and hence we were unable to accept the fact that our ASG-

Sir with a characteristic smile on his lips, attired in a cotton shirt tucked into a loose-fitting trouser,

held over his tummy with the help of a safety- pin, would no longer be visible in the department.

We went to the Keoratala crematorium to bid him good bye along with a shell-shocked Vice-

Chancellor Professor ManindraMohunChakraborty. He accompanied us till the mortal remains of

Professor Sengupta, were consigned to the flames. ASG-Sir was one of Prof. MM Chakrabortys

former students in Calcutta University. The tear-laden face of the teenage son of

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ProfessorSengupta, standing helplessly in front of the electric furnace, is still vividly etched in my

memory.

Needless to say, no class was held the next day. A morbid silence prevailed everywhere in the

department though most of the students and research scholars were present. While an M.Pharm

student of Professor Sengupta was crying inconsolably in his laboratory, others were sitting

dumbstruck. After a couple of days, the university authority appointed a substitute for Professor

Sengupta as the Head of the Department, only to trigger off another dispute between the teachers.

As such, I was facing a lot of oddities in doing my project work. Acute shortage of facilities, coupled

with this shocking incident made it clear to me that it was no longer possibleto continue working

at the department. After completion of M.Pharm, despite having two fellowships in hand to work

at the department, I switched over to the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, a CSIR laboratory

located on the opposite side of the road and got enrolled as a Ph.D student. Till now, 22 August

remains a black day in my memory.

95

Gavaskar or Tendulkar

Gautam Das

It was a bright sunny day, sometimes in the month of Nov 2009. Kapil Dev came to Hyderabad to

participate in a promotional Golf tournament of one of the leading MNC of construction.

It was a privilege for me to meet Kapil in the Golf. While Kapil was busy in showing his skill with

Tee, I started bouncing idiotic questions. Surprisingly, he was kind enough with his patient

response. When I asked him, Whom do you rate a better batsman Gavaskar or Tendulkar?

Kapil flashed his toothy smile and said, If I ask you, who is better - your father or your mother? What will be your answer? And then, seeing me completely baffled, Kapil said, I think you got my answer. Yes! It is a fact that, as an ardent follower of cricket -- especially Indian

cricket -- many a time I dwell on some fanciful thoughts. For example,

what could be the Indian squad of seventies and eighties if there were

no partitions after independence? Indian

bowling attack might have seen the likes

of Imran, Akram, Waqar, Qadir along

with Kapildev, Bishen Bedi,

Chandrasekhar and Prasanna. The batting line up might have been

Gavaskar, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Vishwanath, Miandad and so

on. The team from undivided India would, then, monitor secretion of

adrenalin of Australians and West Indians.

It is only a fictitious set of thoughts like the comparison of Gavaskar

with Tendulkar in todays scenario. Though, Kapil was at his diplomatic best while defending my question, I would venture further

with my little understanding on batting.

Gavaskar Tendulkar Comments

1. Opened Test innings throughout his career.

2. In his time wearing helmet was not in practice. He faced the new ball from Roberts, Holding, Marshal, Garner, Lillie, Thomson, Willis, Imran, Akram (most of them bowled with 160km/hr) with pure technique.

3. Gavaskar had to carry the entire burden

1. Played in the middle order in Test Cricket. 2. Played throughout his career wearing head protection. He faced Akram, Donald, Bret Lee, Magrath, Steyn, Shoaib Akhtar and thrashed them to the fence in all direction. 3. Tendulkar had the back-up strength of the fabulous four

Opening and facing the new ball is the most challenging.

Gavaskar might have handled more hostile bowlers.

Gavaskar could not afford to play carefree

96

of Indian batting since the line-up was mediocre except Vengsarkar and Vishwanath.

4. Gavaskar was extra cautious to safe-guard any batting collapse.

5. Gavaskar was orthodox in his approach.

6. Gavaskar was master in finding gaps in the field and a perfect timer. He was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs.

7. Gavaskar was also successful as a Captain.

8. Gavaskar had to customize himself in one day cricket.

9. Gavaskar is a role model in personal discipline and professionalism.

10. Gavaskar might be considered as a head-strong person.

---Dravid, Ganguli, Lakshman, and Sehwag. 4. Tendulkar could afford to be playing aggressively with a relatively better strength of lower order. 5. Tendulkar was a gifted individual and could switch over to any mode at will. 6. Tendulkar was equally flawless in timing and placement. His overall compilation of runs in all form of this game is next to no one. 7. Tendulkar could not live up to the expectation as a Captain. 8. Tendulkar was a natural one day cricketer 9. Tendulkar is the revised edition of Gavaskar 10. Tendulkar appears to be a person of more humility.

cricket under the enormous pressure in those days.

Unlike Tendulkar, lofted shots were not in the coaching manual of Gavaskar.

Both had immaculate balance and technic.

Tendulkar was comparatively more hard heater.

Balancing of God

Generation Gap

Both draw respect in corporate world.

Final verdict: I leave it to my readers. Readers are most welcome to give their own view, as well.

Let me follow the footsteps of my other hero --- Kapil Dev!

97

Cuisines of Bengal Bangal & Ghoti

Soumabha Raychaudhuri

With elaborate preparations of fish, vegetables and lentils served with rice as a staple diet, Bengali

cuisine has evolved over years, passing through the rule of Nawabs and undergoing a major

change with European influence, when the East India Company decided to make Calcutta their

administrative headquarters. At the time of Partition, considering the huge state that Bengal was,

there were distinctly two different styles of cooking based on the ancestral origin of the families

- the fiery curries of the Bangal style by those from East Bengal (Bangladesh) and the sweet

loving natives of West Bengal who developed the Ghoti style.

Though both styles of cooking originate from almost the same geographical location, they differed

significantly in the spices and marinades used. With a lavish use of oil and chillies, the trump card

of Bangal cooking was the use of morich bata and phoron, a combination of whole spices, fried

and added at the start or finish of cooking as a flavoring special to each dish. Bhapa Ilish is one

such preparation in which the Hilsa fish is steamed in oil and spices, giving it a musky and smoky

flavour.

The main ingredient in a Ghoti's kitchen, in earlier

days, was jaggery or sugar. Traditionally

preferring the sweet taste, a true Ghoti from West

Bengal was known to add a bit of sugar to most

of their dishes. Another ingredient, which was

widely used by the Ghotis was posto (poppy

seeds). Their all time fascination with this has led

to most of the Ghoti delicacies being lined with

poppy seeds like Alu Posto, Dim Posto, Jhinge

Posto and much more.

Contrary to the popular belief, then, not all

Bengalis were rice oriented and herein lies another difference in Ghotis and Bangals. A typical

Bangal used to start his day with rice for breakfast, lunch with rice and even dinner with rice. On

the other side, a Ghoti preferred deep-fried flatbread made of wheat-flour called luchis. These

luchis are in different variations too --- the ones made of atta are called puris and stuffed luchis

are called kochuris.

While Bengalis were in general stereotyped and associated with Macher Jhol Bhaat (Fish

Curry), the divide among the Paschimbangya (West Bengal residents) and the Purbabangya (East

Bengal residents) caused a division in the loyalty to the fishes as well as their style of cooking.

The Bangals were characterized by their staunch support for Ilish Machh (Hilsa) and believed that,

the Hilsa from the Padma River was any day tastier than that from Rupnarayan River. While

Ghotis, in those days, used to love lobsters and prawns over Hilsa. Bangals also used to savour

98

typical fishes like Pabda and Loita as well as dried fish or sutki machh. Ghotis preferred the bigger

Rohu or Katla.

The Hilsa and Lobster rivalry in Kolkata was so deep that, they were even used as symbols or

emblems of the two sects during football matches. Whenever there was a match between East

Bengal (Bangal supporters) and Mohun Bagan (Ghoti

supporters), the respective fans used to carry Hilsa or

Lobsters home for dinner after the victory --- as a sign of

dominance over the other.

Overcoming all differences, the last few decades have seen

a significant cross influence on each other, which has

resulted in more of a unified fusion-cuisine. This is due to

migration on religious lines after the partition of India, as

well as inter marriages across districts of both the

Bengals. In today's nuclear families, the style followed by

Bengali homes usually depends on which district the lady is

from. However, still when you talk to a Bangal or Ghoti,

based on their ancestral origin, they will proudly try to

convince you how their cuisine is better than their

counterpart's.

Soumabha blogs at foodaholix.blogspot.in

99

Tales from Iran

Shatajit Basu

Last year in October, I visited a member country of the alleged axis of evil Iran. I had done my

research thoroughly and knew that, much of the bad press Iran gets, is due to biased coverage

by the media and American propaganda. Therefore, I was not surprised that I escaped

unscathed from my visit and returned home in one piece --- despite the country allegedly being

a hotbed of extremism. In fact, Iran is the most hospitable country I have ever visited and among

the most beautiful in the world.

Part of the reason I wanted to visit Iran (beyond the world-famous falouda of Shiraz and Kebabs

of Tehran) was my long standingcuriosity about the pre Islamic religion of Iran Zoroastrianism

and its similarities to the Vedic culture of ancient India. Therefore, during my visit, I made it a point

to visit some of the countrys most ancient and still surviving centres of Zoroastrianism. I had

wrongly assumed that the theocratic state of Iran had banned and shut down all religious centres

other than those of Islam however it came as a pleasant surprise when I found out that not only

was Zoroastrianism tolerated, butits most ancient centres were preserved by the government.

This included the last refuge of Iranian Zoroastrians Abyaneh, the shrine of ChakChak as well

as numerous burial sites around the city of Yazd.I later found out that the Iranian parliament

actually has quotas for religious minorities such as Jews and Christians which put to rest any last

influences of American propaganda that remained in my system.

Zoroastrian burial grounds and the Tower of Silence, Yazd, Iran

100

The Apadana Staircase, Palace of Darius, Persepolis, Iran

I already knew that the language of ancient Iran, Old Persian or Avestan is very similar to

Sanskrit. This is because both Sanskrit and Avestan originate from a common root language

which is referred to as the synthetic Proto Indo European (PIE) language by European linguists.

Indian linguists argue that PIE is the same as Vedic Sanskrit, an ancient form of the simpler

Puranic Sanskrit in which the Rig Veda was composed. For example, I found out that one of their

best known ancient texts is called YasnaHaptangaiti which really is a corruption of the Sanskrit

word yagnahapt-ang-iti which means the seven(hapt) components (ang) of a ritual(yagna).

Likewise, the Zoroastrian text which records the words of their prophet Zarathustra is called the

Gatha, which means the same in Avestan as the Sanskrit word gatha i.e. tales / songs / that

which was sung. The word Gita for example means song and it derives from the same root

word ga as does gatha and means to sing. Another example comes from the water goddess of

Darius ancient desert city, Persepolis, who was called Apadana which is a combination of two

avestan words which have the same meaning as their Sanskrit equivalents Apa means water,

dana means to give. The Avestan goddess of water was aptly called giver of water

A more rigorous research showed how numerous Avestan words can be traced to their Sanskrit

origins using clearly defined rules of linguistic evolution. For example

1. The s in Sanskrit words gets changed into h into their equivalent Avestan words which

has the exact same meaning

a. Soma = Homa = nectar of immortality

b. Sapta = Hapta = seven

c. Maasa = maaha = month

d. Saraswati = Harahquati = The river saraswati

e. Sarayu = Harayu = The river Sarayu

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f. Asura = Ahura = [curious story about this translation more about this later]

2. The shv of Sanskrit into sp in avestan

a. Vishva = vispa = of the world

b. Ashva = aspa = horse

c. Shvan = span = dog

3. The h of Sanskrit into j or z in avestan

a. Hridaya = jardaya = heart

b. Hasta = janta = hand

c. Varaaha = varaaja = boar

Now, not only the Avestan words originated from ancient Sanskrit, there are curious theistic

similarities as well. The most interesting of these is the Avestan word Ahura. Those, familiar with

Zoroastrianism, will know that their god is called Ahura Mazda. Mazda simply means great and

Ahura means God.

As was discussed earlier, Ahura is an Avestan evolution of the word Asura, which in simplified

Sanskrit parlance means Demon. The word for God, in ancient Persian, is the same as the

word for demon in Sanskrit. Fascinating, but it gets even better. The Avestan word for Demon is

Daeva, which is a corruption of the Sanskrit word Deva. Thus one comes across a curious

situation where the Sanskrit word for God is the Avestan word for demon and vice versa. I was

intrigued by the contradiction -the apparent friendliness of several Avestan words originating

from Sanskrit coupled with the seeming enmity of the Avestans referring to Vedic gods as

demon.

I decided to investigate this further.

It turned out that the answer to the question on similarity between the two lies in the Atharva Veda.

And the examples are numerous -

1. From literary records, it turns out that both Vedic and Zoroastrian culture recorded the

words of, at least, one common spiritual master. Section 53 of the Avestan text Yasna is

called VahishtoishtiGatha which literally means The Gatha of Vahisht. Now remember

the Avestans change the sound s to h thus this section 53 literally means The Gatha

of Vasishth. Vashishth is a well-known sage in Vedic literature and this establishes that

the Gathas record the saying of an ancient Vedic sage and that, if one goes sufficiently

back in time, the Avestans (Zoroastrians) evolved from a Vedic tribe. Or at the very least,

revered a Vedic master.

2. Further, in the Vendidad section of the Zoroastrian text ZendAvestaAhura Mazda (the

avestan god) tells Zarathustra (the prophet) of the sixteen perfect lands, and the

penultimate in that list is hapta-hindu, or sapta-sindhui.e the region around undivided

Punjab. The first of the perfect lands is a phrase that translates into east of Iran, which

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refers to the western reaches of the undivided Punjab i.e. Western India. As a side note, it

is interesting how even an Iranian text refers to the region around Punjab as saptasindhu

indicating it was drained by seven rivers and not five. The two additional rivers were Indus

and Saraswati, no doubt, since even the Iranians recorded the river Saraswati in their texts

(albeit in a corrupted form Harahquati)

3. And finally, the most irrefutable proof of the origin of Zoroastrianism from Vedic

mainstream arises from the fact that there are sentences in the ZendAvesta which are a

word for word copy of the Vedic hymns. For example -

a. Atharvaveda 7.66 and ZendAvesta 8.12

i. yadantariksheyadivataasayadivriksheshuyadivolapeshuyadashravanpash

avaudyamanam tad brahmanampunarasmanupaitu

ii. yadiantareeksheyadivaateaasayadivriksheshuyadibolapashuyadashravan

pashavaud-yamaanam tad braahmanampunarasmaanupaitu

iii. (English) Whether you be in the sky or in the wind, in the forest or in the

waves. No matter where you are, come to us once. All living beings

restlessly await the sound of your footsteps

b. Rig Veda 10.87.21 and Yasna 53.4

i. mahaantaamitraavarunaasamraajaadevaavasuraahasakhesakhaayaamaj

arojarimneagnemartyaanamartyastvam nah

ii. mahaantaamitraavarunaadevaavahuraahasakheyafedroividaatpatyayeca

avaastrevyo at caakhatrataveashaaunoashavavyo

iii. (English) O Supreme Being, you are fire, you are the sun, you are water.

You have appeared to us as Father, as our ruler, as our friend and as our

teacher. O Great Father, you are beyond aging but we are not. You are

beyond death but we are not. In spite of that you have given us the great

fortune to call you our friend

These examples clearly prove that modern day Iranians are descendants of a tribe that belonged

to the wider Vedic family of tribes that spoke a similar language, had common spiritual masters

and similar socio-cultural beliefs in ancient times.

The (later) enmity between the two tribes on the other hand, can be traced back to two possible

origins. One is mythical and the other based on literary evidence. I am personally sceptical about

the mythical origin (the fight between daevas and asuras for soma rasa during the

samudramanthan following which the asuras become fierce enemies of the devas). The literary

evidence lies in the Rig veda in hymns 7.18 to 7.33 which describe the dasragnya war i.e. the

war of ten kings. Interestingly, this set of hymns was composed by the seer Vashishta, some of

whose sayings are passed down by the later Zoroastrians and recorded in hymn 53 of the Yasna

described earlier. The war was fought between King Sudas who belonged to the Bharata dynasty

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and a group of 10 major enemy kings. King Sudas eventually emerges victorious. It is described

that he crossed the river Ravi in undivided Punjab and defeated the tribes who lived beyond the

Ravi in regions that we today refer to as NWFP in Pakistan, Balochistan and Afganistan. The main

defeated tribes mentioned in the Rig Veda who were forced to migrate further westward after the

war were:

1. Pakhtas = (modern day) Pashtuns

2. Prithus or Parthavas = Parthians

3. Parshus or Prashavas = Persians

4. Bhalanas = Balochis

5. Shivas = Khivas

Each of the defeated tribe after migrating further westwards established kingdoms of their own

and the remains of which are known to modern day archaeologists the Pashtuns in Afghanistan,

Parthians in West Asia, Persians in Iran, the Bhalanas in Balochistan and Khivas in Uzbekistan.

This loss to King Sudasexplains the hostility that the earlier Zoroastrians (i.e. Persians / Parshus)

had for the Vedic Indians which led to them worshipping the Vedic demon Ahura and demonising

the Vedic Gods daeva.

In summary, this article uses a variety of literary evidences to show how in early antiquity, the

Zoroastrian Iranians evolved from the Vedic Indian tribe Parshus who lived in the region around

undivided Punjab and how dasragnya war drove them further West into modern day Iran. It was

fitting, perhaps, that when the Arabs invaded Iran and destroyed the Zoroastrian culture of Iran,

the last remaining survivors sought refuge in their ancient homeland on the Western reaches of

India not far from where they originally lived before the DasragnyaWar. The community thrives

today in India where they are known as the Parsis.

Sources:

1. The translations of the Rig and Atharva Veda available online on www.sacred-texts.com

2. The translation of the Yasna http://www.cais-

soas.com/CAIS/Religions/iranian/Zarathushtrian/gathas_vahishto_ishti_gatha.htm

3. Wikipedia

4. In search of the cradle of civilisation David Frawley and David Feuerstein

5. Inscriptions and edicts on the last surviving Fire Temple in Iran the Fire Temple of Yazd

built by the Tatas of India

6. Tehran Museum

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A Giant Leap to Mars Mangalyaan

Sanway Deb

Red planet is always an interesting subject for sky-watchers. Being half the size of the Earth, Mars

is an Earth Like planet (terrestrial planet). Mars is having a thin atmosphere. Its surface is spotted

with impact craters as in moon and is also having volcanoes, valleys, deserts and polar ice caps

as in the Earth. Scientists are always curious whether life can sustain in Mars or not. To find the

answer different countries have sent space crafts to Mars. Out of all the missions only 35 missions

are successful till date and today only 7 space crafts are in operational condition (5 are orbiting

around Mars and 2 are on the surface of Mars). Among all these missions, Mars orbiter mission

is a very unique one. This is the cheapest mission out of all successful missions and India is the

first country to reach Mars in her very first attempt.

Mission Objectives:

One of the main objectives of the first Indian mission to Mars is to develop the technologies

required for design, planning, management and operations of an interplanetary mission.

Following are the major objectives of the mission:

1) Technological Objectives:

Design and realization of a Mars orbiter with a capability to survive and perform an Earth

bound maneuver, cruise phase of 300 days, Mars orbit insertion / capture, and on-orbit

phase around Mars.

Deep space communication, navigation, mission planning and management.

Incorporate autonomous features to handle contingency situations.

2) Scientific Objectives:

Exploration of Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and Martian atmosphere by

indigenous scie