Kalam on India Vision 2020I have three visions for India.

In 3000 years of our history, people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our lands, conquered our minds. From Alexander onwards. The Greeks, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch, all of them came and looted us, took over what was ours. Yet we have not done this to any other nation. We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history tried to enforce our way of life on them. Why? Because we respect the freedom of others.

That is why my first vision is that of FREEDOM.

I believe that India got its first vision of this in 1857, when we started the war of independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and nurture and built on. If we are not free, no one will respect us.

My second vision for India is DEVELOPMENT.

For fifty years we have been a developing nation. It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation. We are among top 5 nations of the world in terms of GDP. We have 10 present growth rates in most areas. Our poverty levels are falling; our achievements are being globally recognized today. Yet we lack the self-confidence to see ourselves as a developed nation, self-reliant and self-assured. Isn't this right?

I have a third vision. The India must STAND UP TO THE WORLD. Because I believe that unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. Only strength respects strength. We must be strong not only as a military power but also as an economic power. Both must go hand-in-hand.

My good fortune was to have work with three great minds. Dr Vikram Sarabhai of the Dept. of space, Professor Satish Dhawan, who succeeded him, and Dr.Brahm Prakash, father of nuclear material. I was lucky to have worked with all three of them closely and consider this the great opportunity of my life.

I see four milestones in my career: ONE: Twenty years I spent in ISRO. I was given the opportunity to be the project director for Indias first satellite launch vehicle, SLV3. The one that launched Rohini. These years played a very important role in my life of Scientist. TWO: After my ISRO years, i joined DRDO and got a chance to be the part of Indias guided missile program. It was my second bliss when Agni met its mission requirements in 1994. THREE: The Dept. of Atomic Energy and DRDO had this tremendous partnership in the recent nuclear tests, on May 11 and 13. This was the third bliss. The joy of participating with my team in these nuclear tests and proving to the world that India can make it.That we are no longer a developing nation but one of them. It made me feel very proud as an Indian. The fact that we have now developed for Agni a re-entry structure, for which we have developed this new material. A Very light material called carbon-carbon. FOUR: One day an orthopaedic surgeon from Nizam institute of Medical Sciences visited my laboratory. He lifted the material and found it so light that he took me to his hospital and showed me his patients. There were these little girls and boys with heavy metallic calipers weighing over three Kgs.each, dragging their feet around. He said to me: Please remove the pain of my patients. In three weeks, we made these Floor reaction Orthosis 300 gram calipers and took them to the orthopaedic center. The children didn't believe their eyes. From dragging around a three kg. load on their legs, they could now move around! Their parents had tears in their eyes. That was my forth bliss!Why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why? We are the second largest producer of wheat in the world. We are the second largest producers in rice. We are the first in milk production. We are number one in Remote sensing satellites. Look at Dr. Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed with the bad news and failures and disasters.

I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert land into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news. In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. Why are we so negative?

Another question:

Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with everything imported? Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance?

I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is: She replied: "I want to live in a developed India." For her, you and I will have to build this developed India.

You must proclaim. As an aside from yours truly: India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation in an advanced state of decay!!!!! 9. Comprehension Questions from the following description of Places1) Which place is described in the Ahtushi Deshpande's travelogue 'To the land of snow'?

A) RaipurB) Munsiyari

C) SuratD) Manipur

View Answer

Answer : Munsiyari

YanaimalaiNot to be confused with Anaimalai.

Yanaimalai (Elephant Hill)Yanaimalai (Elephant Hill) is a protected monument and tourist attraction in Tamil Nadu, India.[1] It has Jain sculptures, a Shaivite temple, and a Vaishnavite temple.NameThe hill derives its name from the Tamil word Yanai, meaning "elephant", and Malai, meaning "hill". The hill looks like an elephant in a sitting position.[2] The site has had this name for over 2000 years.[3]LocationYanaimalai is located in Othakadai, 8 kilometres (5.0mi) from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. The hill stretches over 3 kilometres (1.9mi) and is 90 metres (300ft) high.[1]DescriptionYanaimalai is considered a sacred place by the Tamil Jain.[4] Jain monks lived here during the Pandyan Dynasty.[5] At the top of the hill can be found caves containing Jain bas relief sculptures of Mahavira, Gomateshwara, and other tirthankaras fashioned by Jain monks. There are also stone beds used by the monks for resting.[6] Tamil-Brahmi and Vattelettu inscriptions can be found on the hill.[6]

Ladan Cave TempleTwo Hindu temples are present in the foothills, one being the Ladan cave temple (Ladan koil), a Shaivite temple dedicated to Muruga, and the other being Yoga Narasimha temple, a Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Vishnu.[5] Both are rock-cut temples constructed by the Pandyas, belonging to the 8th century. The place where the Yoga Narasimha temple is situated is known as Narasingam.[7] Tamil-Brahmi and Vattelettu inscriptions in the temples shows their history.[5][7] The Ladan temple has been declared a protected monument by the Archeological Survey of India.[8][9]The hill of is rich in granite, and has been damaged by illegal quarrying.[10] In 2010, the government of Tamil Nadu tried to set up a sculpture garden on the hill, but backed out after locals and activists protested against the idea.[3][11][12]Brihadeeswarar TempleFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaPeruvudaiyaar Kovil

Peruvudaiyaar KovilLocation in Tamil Nadu

Name

Other namesBrihadeshwara TempleBig Temple

Proper namePeruvudaiyaar Temple

Tamil

Geography

Coordinates104658N 790754ECoordinates: 104658N 790754E

CountryIndia

StateTamil Nadu

DistrictThanjavur

LocationThanjavur

Culture

Primary deityLord Shiva

Important festivalsMaha Shivaratri

Architecture

Architectural stylesDravidian Architecture

History and governance

Date built11th century AD

CreatorRaja Raja Chola I

The Peruvudaiyar Kovil (Tamil: ) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva that is located in the city of Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is an important example of Tamil architecture achieved during the Chola dynasty. It is also known as Periya Kovil,[1] Brihadeshwara Temple, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram,[2] It is one of the largest temples in India[3] and one of India's most prized architectural sites. Built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 AD,[4] Peruvudaiyaar Temple, also popularly known as the 'Big Temple', turned 1000 years old in 2010. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples".[5]Thanjavur Periya Kovil stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The vimanam (or temple tower) is 216ft (66m) high[6] and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kumbam (Kalasha or Chikharam, the apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single rock and it weighs around 80 tons.[7] There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high.[8] The entire temple structure is made out of granite, the nearest sources of which are close to Tiruchirappalli, about 60km to the west of Thanjavur. The temple is the most visited tourist attraction in Thanjavur and the state alike.[9]History

Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple EntranceThe Brihadeshwarar temple was built to grace the throne of the Chola empire by the Tamil emperor Arulmozhivarman, popularly called Rajaraja Chola I, (Tamil: , Rjarja Choan?) in compliance to a command given to him in a dream.[8] One of the first great Tamil Chola building projects, the temple's foundations were laid out in 1002 CE.[10] An axial and symmetrical geometry rules the temple layout.[11] Temples from this period and the following two centuries are an expression of the Tamils (Chola) wealth, power and artistic expertise. The emergence of such features as the multifaceted columns with projecting square capitals signal the arrival of the new Chola style.[12]Intended to display the emperor's vision of his power and his relationship to the universal order, the temple was the site of the major royal ceremonies such as anointing the emperor and linking him with its deity, Shiva, and the daily rituals of the deities were mirrored by those of the king. It is an architectural example showcasing the pure form of the Dravida type of temple architecture and representative of the Chola Empire ideology and the Tamil civilisation in Southern India. The temple "testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting."[13]Construction

Statue of Rajaraja Chola Chola I who consecrated the templeThe esteemed architect and engineer of the temple was Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan as stated in inscriptions found at the temple. The temple was built per ancient texts called Vaastu Shastras and Agamas. The temple was built using a measure of 1 3/8-inch called an angula (24 units equalling 33 inches called a hasta, muzam, or kishku). This is the same measure found in ancient Lothal and other sites in the Indus Valley dating back 4000 6000 years. This same measure is used to build structures compliant with the Vaastu Shastras and Agamas today. While some builders use a different measure this is considered a standard due to its antiquity.This temple is the first building fully built by granite and finished within 5yrs[1004AD 1009AD]. The solid base of the temple raises about 5 metres (16 feet), above which stone deities and representatives of Shiva dance.[14] The huge kalasam or Vimanam (top portion of the shrine) weighing in at 81.284 tonnes and made of 8 pieces, was raised to its present height by dragging on an inclined plane of 6.44km.[15] The big Nandi (bull), weighing about 20 tonnes is made of a single stone and is about 2 m in height, 6 m in length and 2.5 m in width.[15] The presiding deity of lingam is 3.7m tall. The prakaram (outer precincts of the temple) measures 240m by 125m.[15] The outer wall of the upper storey is carved with 108 dance karanas postures of Bharathanatyam, the classical dance of Tamil Nadu.[15] The shrine of Goddess was added by Pandyas during the 13th century, Subramanya Shrine by Vijayanagara rulers and the Vinayaka shrine was renovated by Maratha rulers.[15] There were significant additions from the Thanjavur Nayaks.[16]Temple complex

Tamil writings and sculptures at right side of Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple Gopuram.

Carved figures on temple wallThe temple complex sits on the banks of a river that was channelled to make a moat around the complex's outer walls, the walls being built like a fortress. The complex is made up of many structures that are aligned axially. The complex can be entered either on one axis through a five-story gopuram or with a second access directly to the huge main quadrangle through a smaller free-standing gopuram. The massive size of the main Vimanam (Shikhara) is ca. 60.96 meters high, with 16 elaborately articulated stories, and dominates the main quadrangle. Pilaster, piers(a raised structure), and attached columns are placed rhythmically covering every surface of the Vimanam.[17] The gopuram of the main entrance is 30 m high, smaller than the vimana. It is unusual in the dravidian architecture where the gopurams are generally the main towers and taller than the vimanam.[18]Main templeA first rectangular surrounding wall, 270 m by 140 m, marks the outer boundary.[18] The main temple is in the center of the spacious quadrangle composed of a sanctuary, a Nandi, a pillared hall and an assembly hall (mandapas), and many sub-shrines. The most important part of the temple is the inner mandapa which is surrounded by massive walls that are divided into levels by sharply cut sculptures and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses. Each side of the sanctuary has a bay emphasising the principle cult icons.[11] The karuvarai, a Tamil word meaning the interior of the sanctum sanctorum, is the inner most sanctum and focus of the temple where an image of the primary deity, Shiva, resides. Inside is a huge stone linga. The word Karuvarai means "womb chamber" from Tamil word karu for foetus. Only priests are allowed to enter this inner-most chamber.[19]In the Dravida style, the Karuvarai takes the form of a miniature vimana with other features exclusive to southern Indian temple architecture such as the inner wall together with the outer wall creating a pradakshina around the garbhagriha for circumambulation (pradakshina). The entrance is highly decorated. The inside chamber housing the image of the god is the sanctum sanctorum, the garbhagriha.[12] The garbhagriha is square and sits on a plinth, its location calculated to be a point of total equilibrium and harmony as it is representative of a microcosm of the universe. In the center is placed the image of the deity.[11] The royal bathing-hall where Rajaraja the great gave gifts is to the east of the hall of Irumudi-Soran.The circumambulation winds around the massive lingam in the garbhagriha and is repeated in an upper story, presenting the idea that Chola Empire freely offered access to the gods.[17]The inner mandapa leads out to a rectangular mandapa and then to a twenty-columned porch with three staircases leading down. Sharing the same stone plinth is a small open mandapa dedicated to Nandi, Shiva's sacred bull mount.Temple DeitiesThe "moolavar" or prime deity of the Brihadeeswarar Temple is Shiva. All deities, particularly those placed in the niches of the outer wall (Koshta Moorthigal) like Dakshinamurthy, Surya, Chandra are of huge size. The Brihadiswarar temple is one of the rare temples which has idols for "Ashta-dikpaalakas" (Guardians of the directions) Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirti, Varua, Vyu, Kubera, na each of whom was originally represented by a life-sized statue, approximately 6 feet tall, enshrined in a separate temple located in the respective direction. (Only Agni, Varua, Vyu and na are preserved in situ.)Adjoining structuresSurrounding the main temple are two walled enclosures. The outer wall is high, defining the temple complex area. Here is the massive gopuram or gateway mentioned above. Within this a portico, a barrel vaulted gorpuram with over 400 pillars, is enclosed by a high wall interspersed with huge gopurams axially lined up to the main temple.FeaturesA widely held, though disputed, belief is that the shadow of the gopuram (pyramidal tower usually over the gateway of a temple) never falls on the ground. .[20] The temple is said to be made up of about 60,000 tons of sandstone and granite. The Kumbam itself, a 60-ton granite stone carved in one piece, on top of the main gopuram is believed to have been taken to the top by creating an inclined slope to the height of 66m to the top of the gopuram. Elephants might have been used to drag the stone up the slope.[citation needed]Murals

Rajaraja mural-2

Mural at Brihadeeswarar temple,Tanjavur. This is painting style that evolved in the townThe temple has Chola frescoes on the walls around the sanctum sanctorum potryaing Shiva in action, destroying demonic forts, dancing and sending a white elephant to transport a devotee to heaven.[14] These frescoes were discovered in the 1940s and portray the mythological episodes of the journey of Saint Sundarar and the Chera King to heaven, the battle scene of Tripurantaka (Lord Siva) with Asuras (demons).[21] The Chola artists have proved their mettle by portraying even the Asura women with a sense of beauty.[21] Some of the paintings in the sanctum sanctorum and the walls in the passage had been damaged because of the soot that had deposited on them. Owing to the continuous exposure to smoke and soot from the lamps and burning of camphor in the sanctum sanctorum over a period of centuries certain parts of the Chola paintings on the circumambulatory passage walls had been badly damaged.[21] The Tanjore Nayak kings replaced them with a few paintings of their own, about 400 years ago.[21] The Archaeological Survey of India, for the first time in the world, used its unique de-stucco process to restore 16 Nayak paintings, which were superimposed on 1000-year-old Chola frescoes.[21] These 400-year-old paintings have been mounted on fibre glass boards, displayed at a separate pavilion.[21]Temple personnelThe temple was consecrated in 1010 CE by Raja Raja Chola I & in 2010 a celebration commemorated the temple's thousandth anniversary. The temple maintained a staff of 1000 people in various capacities with 400 being temple dancers[15] Besides the Brahmin priests, these included record-keepers, musicians, scholars, and craftsman of every type as well as housekeeping staff. In those days the temple was a hub of business activities for the flower, milk, oil, and ghee merchants, all of whom made a regular supply of their respective goods for the temple for its poojas and during festival seasons. Moreover as evidenced by the inscriptions that found in the compound wall of this temple, the temple had always been serving as a platform for the dancers who excelled in the traditional dance form of Bharatnatyam.[22]Millennium commemorationBuilt in the year 1010 CE by Raja Raja Chola in Thanjavur, Brihadeeswarar Temple popularly known as the 'Big Temple' turned 1000 years old in September 2010. To celebrate the 1000th year of the grand structure, the state government and the town held many cultural events. It was to recall the 275th day of his 25th regal year (1010 CE) when Raja Raja Chola (9851014 CE) handed over a gold-plated kalasam (copper pot or finial) for the final consecration to crown the vimana, the 59.82-metre tall tower above the sanctum.[23][24][25]Bharathanatyam Yajna

One of the 108 dance posturesTo mark the occasion, the state government organised a Bharathanatyam Yajna, classical dance show under noted dancer Padma Subramaniam. It was jointly organised by the Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) and the Brhan Natyanjali Trust, Thanjavur. To mark the 1000th year anniversary of the building, 1000 dancers from New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Singapore, Malaysia and the US danced in concert to the recorded 11 verses of divine music Thiruvichaippa (ninth of Thirumurai) composed by Karuvur Thevar (the guru of Raja Raja Chola) named Tiruvisaippa. The small town turned into a cultural hub for two days beginning 26 September 2010 as street performers and dancers performed throughout the town.[26][27]Commemorative stamps and coins

1000 currency note released by Reserve Bank of India on 1 April 1954 to honour the historic Brihadeeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World heritage site

A 5 Special Commemorative coin released by Reserve Bank of India to mark the millennium year celebrations of the famous Brihadeeswarar Temple built by the great Chola ruler Raja Raja Chola IOn 26 September 2010 (Big Temple's fifth day of millennium celebrations), as a recognition of Big Temple's contribution to the country's cultural, architectural, epigraphical history, a special 5 postage stamp featuring the 216-feet tall giant Raja Gopuram was released by India Post.The Reserve Bank of India commemorated the event by releasing a 5 coin with the model of temple embossed on it.[28][29] A Raja, Cabinet Minister of Communications and Information Technology released the esteemed Brihadeeswarar Temple special stamp, the first of which was received by G K Vasan, Cabinet Minister of Shipping.Mumbai Mint issued Rs 1000 Commemorative Coin with the same picture as on the Rs 5 coin. It was the first 1000 Rupees coin to be released in the Republic of India coinage. This coin was a Non Circulative Legal Tender (NCLT).[30]On 1 April 1954, the Reserve Bank of India released a 1000 currency note featuring a panoramic view of the Brihadeeswarar Temple marking its cultural heritage and significance. In 1975, the then government led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi demonetised all 1,000 currency notes in an effort to curtail black money. These notes are now popular among collectors.[31]Tamil Nadu chief minister, M Karunanidhi renamed Semmai Paddy, a type of high productivity paddy variant, as Raja Rajan-1000 to mark the millennial year of the constructor of the temple, Raja Raja Cholan.[32]Popular cultureKalki, a renowned Tamil novelist, has written a historical novel named Ponniyin Selvan, based on the life of Raja Raja Chola I.[33] Balakumaran, another Tamil author has written a novel named Udaiyar themed on the life of Raja Raja Chola I and the construction of the Brihadeeswarar temple.[34]Car festivalThe Car of this temple rolled out on its trial run from opposite to Sri Ramar temple on West Main Street and travelled through the main streets on 20 April 2015 while all the sections of the people of Thanjavur, irrespective of age, had the nice opportunity of the Big Temple car run ritual.[35] The maiden run with the Lord on top was held on Wednesday, 29 April 2015. Many number of devotees earnestly took part in the inaugural run which was the first time in a hundred years that the car festival of the Big Temple, constructed by Chola King Rajaraja I over 1,000 years ago, was held.[36]An Adventurous trekking experience to Milam Glacier

Trekking - Trekking is a long adventurousjourneymade on foot through mountains, rural and rugged areas.Trekking explores you about the incredible beauty of nature..You can witness the nature at its best while trekking.

As from my childhood I'm notmuchaware about trekking.. But while I was studying in class twelve, I have gone through a lesson in English subject named "To the Land Of Snow".. Its all about a trekkingexperience shared by its author Ahtushi Deshpande..As a nature lover, I was very much keen on that particular lesson.. Even now after so many years, whenever I get anopportunityto read that lesson, I would never miss that chance.. That particular lesson on a trekking experience makes us to feel as like we travel along with the author..If you are too a nature lover, then don't miss to read that entire trek experience..You can find out the entire story in internet..The scope of the author's journey was to trek the Milam Glacier...Despite meeting several hurdles on his way to the glacier, the author was motivated by his guide Khem nam, the veteran trekker.. After finishing his trek successfully, on the way back home, the authorreminiscences"Patience is the art well learnt when one is at the mercy of nature"..

Milam Glacier is located northwest of Munsiyari part of Uttarakhand,India..It is situatedto the south of Himalayas range.. It is found to be one of the major glaciers of Kumaon Himalaya.. It is estimated that it would take 11 days to trek the Milam Glacier..

En-routeto Milam Glacier

Milam Glacier