tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63676119282970438052024-02-20T12:54:51.775+05:30Read india ReadRead India in Words...hard task to doUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-21210070374141035812010-12-04T14:21:00.000+05:302010-12-04T14:21:12.582+05:30Adi Godrej<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><img alt="Adi Godrej" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/adi-godrej.jpg" /></span>Adi Godrej is one of the icons of Indian Industry. He is the chairman of Godrej Group. .Adi Godrej was born in a business family. His father's name was Burjorji Godrej and his mother's name was Jai Godrej. More than a century age, the Godrej's were into manufacturing locks and vegetable-based soaps. The Godrej products were among the first indigenously manufactured products to displace entrenched foreign brands.<br />
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Adi Godrej left India at the age of 17 to enroll at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Though he planned to study mechanical engineering but he later on switched to management. After his return to India, Adi Godrej joined the family business. He modernized and systematized management structures and implemented process improvements. Adi Godrej took the Godrej Group to great height during controlled economy era.<br />
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After the liberalization process, Adi Godrej restructured company's policies to meet the challenges of globalisation. In the early 2000s, the Group completed a 10-year restructuring process through which each business became a stand-alone company with a CEO/COO from outside the Godrej family.<br />
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Under Adi Godrej's leadership, the group is also involved in philanthropic activities. Godrej is major supporter of the World Wildlife Fund in India, it has developed a green business campus in the Vikhroli township of Mumbai, which includes a 150-acre mangrove forest and a school for the children of company employees.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;"><b>Adi Godrej</b> is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="India">Indian</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrialist" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Industrialist">industrialist</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropist" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Philanthropist">philanthropist</a>. As of 2010, he is one of the richest Indian's with net worth of US$5.2 billion. Adi Godrej left India at the age of 17 to enroll at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Massachusetts Institute of Technology">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a>. Though he planned to study mechanical engineering, he later on switched to management. Adi was a member of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_Lambda_Phi" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Pi Lambda Phi">Pi Lambda Phi</a> and lived there his freshman year.</div><div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">After his return to India, Adi Godrej joined the family business. He modernized and systematized management structures and implemented process improvements. Adi Godrej took the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godrej_Group" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Godrej Group">Godrej Group</a> to great height during controlled economy era.</div><div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">After the liberalization process, Adi Godrej restructured company's policies to meet the challenges of globalisation. In the early 2000s, the Group completed a 10-year restructuring process through which each business became a stand-alone company with a CEO/COO from outside the Godrej family.</div><div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">Under Adi Godrej's leadership, the group is also involved in philanthropic activities. Godrej is major supporter of the World Wildlife Fund in India, it has developed a green business campus in the Vikhroli township of Mumbai, which includes a 150-acre (0.61 km<sup style="line-height: 1em;">2</sup>) mangrove forest and a school for the children of company employees.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-42640464581530210672010-12-04T14:19:00.002+05:302010-12-04T14:19:39.767+05:30JRD Tata<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/jrd-tata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="JRD Tata" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/jrd-tata.jpg" /></a><b>Born:</b> July 29, 1904<br />
<b>Died:</b> on November 29, 1993<br />
<b>Achievements:</b> He had the honor of being India's first pilot; was Chairman of Tata & Sons for 50 years; launched Air India International as India's first international airline; received Bharat Ratna in 1992.<br />
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JRD Tata was one of the most enterprising Indian entrepreneurs. He was a pioneer aviator and built one of the largest industrial houses of India.<br />
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JRD Tata was born on July 29, 1904 in Paris. His mother was a French, while his father was Parsi. JRD's full name was Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and he was popularly known as Jeh to his friends. JRD's father Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and Sri Jamsetji Tata shared their greatness from the same great-great-grandfather, Ervad Jamsheed Tata, a priest of Navsari.<br />
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JRD Tata was the second of four children. He was educated in France, Japan and England before being drafted into the French army for a mandatory one-year period. JRD wanted to extend his service in the forces but destiny had something else in store for him. By leaving the French army JRD's life was saved because shortly thereafter, the regiment in which he served was totally wiped out during an expedition in Morocco.<br />
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JRD Tata joined Tata & Sons as an unpaid apprentice in 1925. He has great interest in flying. On February 10, 1929, JRD became the first Indian to pass the pilot's examination. With this distinctive honor of being India's first pilot, he was instrumental in giving wings to India by building Tata Airlines, which ultimately became Air India. His passion for flying was fulfilled with the formation of the Tata Aviation Service in 1932.<br />
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In 1938, at the age of 34, JRD was elected Chairman of Tata & Sons making him the head of the largest industrial group in India. He started with 14 enterprises under his leadership and half a century later on July 26, 1988, when he left , Tata & Sons was a conglomerate of 95 enterprises which they either started or in which they had controlling interest.<br />
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JRD was the trustee of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust from its inception in 1932, which remained under his wings for over half a century. Under his guidance, this Trust established Asia's first cancer hospital, the Tata Memorial Center for Cancer, Research and Treatment, Bombay, 1941. It also founded the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, 1936 (TISS), the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 1945 (TIFR), and the National Center for Performing Arts.<br />
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In 1948, JRD Tata launched Air India International as India's first international airline. In 1953, the Indian Government appointed JRD as Chairman of Air-India and a director on the Board of Indian Airlines-a position JRD retained for 25-years. For his crowning achievements in Aviation, JRD was bestowed with the title of Honorary Air Commodore of India.<br />
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In 1956, JRD Tata initiated a program of closer "employee association with management" to give workers a stronger voice in the affairs of the company. He firmly believed in employee welfare and espoused the principles of an eight-hour working day, free medical aid, workers' provident scheme, and workmen's accident compensation schemes, which were later, adopted as statutory requirements in India.<br />
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JRD Tata cared greatly for his workers. In 1979, Tata Steel instituted a new practice; a worker is deemed to be "at work" from the moment he leaves home for work till he returns home from work. The company is financially liable to the worker if any mishap takes place on the way to and from work. Tata Steel Township was also selected as a UN Global Compact City because of the quality of life, conditions of sanitation, roads and welfare that were offered by Tata Steel.<br />
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JRD Tata received a number of awards. He received the Padma Vibhushan in 1957 on the eve of silver jubilee of Air India. He also received the Guggenheim Medal for aviation in 1988. In 1992, because of his selfless humanitarian endeavors, JRD Tata was awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna-one of the rarest instances in which this award was granted during a person's lifetime. In the same year, JRD Tata was also bestowed with the United Nations Population Award for his crusading endeavors towards initiating and successfully implementing the family planning movement in India, much before it became an official government policy.<br />
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JRD Tata died in Geneva, Switzerland on November 29, 1993 at the age of 89. On his death, the Indian Parliament was adjourned in his memory-an honor not usually given to persons who are not Members of Parliament.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-31029199857944960012010-12-04T14:18:00.002+05:302010-12-04T14:18:49.101+05:30Dhirubhai Ambani<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/dhirubhai-ambani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dhirubhai Ambani" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/dhirubhai-ambani.jpg" /></a><b>Born:</b> December 28, 1932<br />
<b>Died:</b> July 6, 2002<br />
<b>Achievements:</b> Dhiru Bhai Ambani built India's largest private sector company. Created an equity cult in the Indian capital market. Reliance is the first Indian company to feature in Forbes 500 list<br />
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Dhirubhai Ambani was the most enterprising Indian entrepreneur. His life journey is reminiscent of the rags to riches story. He is remembered as the one who rewrote Indian corporate history and built a truly global corporate group.<br />
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Dhirubhai Ambani alias Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani was born on December 28, 1932, at Chorwad, Gujarat, into a Modh family. His father was a school teacher. Dhirubhai Ambani started his entrepreneurial career by selling "bhajias" to pilgrims in Mount Girnar over the weekends.<br />
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After doing his matriculation at the age of 16, Dhirubhai moved to Aden, Yemen. He worked there as a gas-station attendant, and as a clerk in an oil company. He returned to India in 1958 with Rs 50,000 and set up a textile trading company.<br />
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Assisted by his two sons, Mukesh and Anil, Dhiru Bhai Ambani built India's largest private sector company, Reliance India Limited, from a scratch. Over time his business has diversified into a core specialisation in petrochemicals with additional interests in telecommunications, information technology, energy, power, retail, textiles, infrastructure services, capital markets, and logistics.<br />
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Dhirubhai Ambani is credited with shaping India's equity culture, attracting millions of retail investors in a market till then dominated by financial institutions. Dhirubhai revolutionised capital markets. From nothing, he generated billions of rupees in wealth for those who put their trust in his companies. His efforts helped create an 'equity cult' in the Indian capital market. With innovative instruments like the convertible debenture, Reliance quickly became a favorite of the stock market in the 1980s.<br />
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In 1992, Reliance became the first Indian company to raise money in global markets, its high credit-taking in international markets limited only by India's sovereign rating. Reliance also became the first Indian company to feature in Forbes 500 list.<br />
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Dhirubhai Ambani was named the Indian Entrepreneur of the 20th Century by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). A poll conducted by The Times of India in 2000 voted him "greatest creator of wealth in the century".<br />
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Dhirubhai Ambani died on July 6, 2002, at Mumbai.</div><br />
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<div align="CENTER"><ins style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline-table; height: 280px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 336px;"></ins></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-53717344587186738472010-12-04T14:15:00.003+05:302010-12-04T14:15:47.651+05:30Acharya Vinoba Bhave<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/acharya-vinoba-bhave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="Acharya Vinoba Bhave" border="0" class="imgbord" height="160" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/acharya-vinoba-bhave.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: double; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: double; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: double; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: double; border-width: initial; margin-top: 6px;" width="220" /></a><b>Born:</b> 11 September, 1895<br />
<b>Died:</b> 15 November, 1982<br />
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<b>Contributions</b><br />
Acharya Vinoba Bhave was a freedom fighter and a spiritual teacher. He is best known as the founder of the 'Bhoodan Movement' (Gift of the Land). The reformer had an intense concern for the deprived masses. Vinoba Bhave had once said, "All revolutions are spiritual at the source. All my activities have the sole purpose of achieving a union of hearts." In 1958, Vinoba was the first recipient of the international Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. He was also conferred with the Bharat Ratna (India's highest civilian awards) posthumously in 1983.<br />
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<b>Life</b><br />
Vinoba Bhave was born at Gagode in Kolaba district, Maharashtra on 11 September, 1895. His original name was Vinayak Narahari Bhave. His mother Rukmini Devi was a very religious person. At a very young age Vinoba was deeply interested in Mathematics. In 1916, on his way to Mumbai to appear for the intermediate <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">examination</span>, Vinoba Bhave put his <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">school and college</span>certificates into a fire. It was believed that Vinoba took the decision after reading a piece of writing in a newspaper written by Mahatma Gandhi.<br />
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<b>Association with Gandhi</b><br />
After a series of exchange of letters between Gandhi and Bhave, on 7 June, 1916 Vinoba went to meet Gandhi. Five years later, on 8 April, 1921, Vinoba went to Wardha to take charge of a Gandhi-ashram there. During his stay at Wardha, Bhave also brought out a monthly in Marathi, named, `Maharashtra Dharma'. The monthly comprised of his essays on the Upanishads. Over the years, the bond between Vinoba and Gandhi grew stronger and his involvement in constructive programmes for the society kept on increasing.<br />
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In 1932, accusing Vinoba Bhave of conspiring against the colonial rule, the British government sent him to jail for six months to Dhulia. There, he told the fellow prisoners about the different subjects of 'Bhagwad Gita', in Marathi. All the lectures given by him on Gita in Dhulia jail were collected and later published as a book.<br />
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Till 1940, Vinoba Bhave was known only to the people around him. Mahatma Gandhi, on 5 October, 1940, introduced Bhave to the nation by issuing a statement. He was also chosen as the first Individual Satyagrahi (an Individual standing up for Truth instead of a collective action) by Gandhi himself.<br />
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<b>Bhoodan Movement</b><br />
In 1951, Vinoba Bhave started his peace-trek on foot through the violence-torn region of Telangana. On April 18, 1951, the Harijans of the Pochampalli village requested him to provide them with around 80 acres of land to make a living. Vinoba asked the landlords of the village to come forward and save the Harijans. To everybody's surprise, a landlord, got up and offered the required amount of land. This incident added a new chapter in the history of sacrifices and non-violence. It was the beginning of the Bhoodan (Gift of the Land) movement. Following this, Vinoba Bhave traveled all across the country asking landlords to consider him as one of their sons and so give him a portion of their land. He then distributed those portions of land to the landless poor. Not a single people around him ever saw him getting angry and violent. He always followed the path of truth and Non-violence, as shown by Mahatma Gandhi.<br />
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<b>Controversy</b><br />
Vinoba Bhave received serious brickbats in 1975 for supporting the state of emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Bhave advocated that the emergency was required to teach people about Discipline. According to many scholars and political thinkers, Vinoba Bhave was an imitator of Mahatma Gandhi.<br />
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<b>Death</b><br />
In November 1982, Vinoba Bhave fell seriously ill and decided to end his life. He also refused to accept any food and medicine during his last days. On 15 November, 1982, the great social reformer of India passed away.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-63544659616715818392010-12-04T14:15:00.001+05:302010-12-04T14:15:15.661+05:30Baba Amte<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/babaamte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="Baba Amte" border="0" class="imgbord" height="160" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/babaamte.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: double; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: double; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: double; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: double; border-width: initial; margin-top: 6px;" width="220" /></a><b>Born:</b> December 26, 1914<br />
<b>Passed Away:</b> February 9, 2008<br />
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<b>Contributions</b><br />
From a child born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Baba Amte later transformed his life into a social activist. He <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">devoted</span> his entire life to serve the downtrodden people of the society. He left his lucrative profession to join India's <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD5" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">struggle</span> for independence. Baba Amte formed Anandvan (Forest of Joy), to serve the people struck by leprosy. He received many awards including the Ramon Magsaysay Award.<br />
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<b>Life</b><br />
Muralidhar Devdas Amte, popularly known as Baba Amte, was born on 26 December, 1914 in Hinganghat, Wardha <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">district</span> in Maharashtra. He was the eldest son of his parents. His father was a wealthy Brahmin landowner of Wardha district, who owned over 450 acres of good cultivable land. The name 'Baba' was affectionately given by his parents. At a very young age, Baba Amte owned a gun and used to hunt wild boar and deer. Later, he went on to own an <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">expensive sports car</span>, cushioned with panther skin.<br />
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He studied Law and started a lucrative practice in Wardha, but was moved by distressed condition of the poor and downtrodden classes of society. Then he relinquished his ceremonial dress and started working with the rag-pickers and sweepers for sometime in Chandrapura district. Later, he resumed practicing but as a "defence lawyer" for the leaders imprisoned in the 1942 Quit India movement.<br />
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Amte, like Vinoba Bhave was deeply influenced by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. Amte was a constant follower of Gandhiji and practiced various aspects of Gandhism for his entire life.<br />
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In 1946, Baba Amte married Sadhana Guleshastri. She was also a believer of humanity and always supported Baba Amte in his social works. She was popularly known as Sadhnatai. 'Tai' in Marathi language means "elder sister". After pursuing a leprosy orientation course at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Baba Amte set up 11 weekly clinics and started working for those struck by leprosy. Later in 1951, Baba Amte was given 250 acres of land by the state government on which Amte founded the Anandvan ashram. Inside the ashram premises, two hospitals, a university, an orphanage and a school for the blind were opened.<br />
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<b>Amte's role in Narmada Bachao Andolan</b><br />
In 1990, Baba Amte left Anandvan to join Medha Patkar's Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Movement). While leaving Anandvan Baba said, "I am leaving to live along the Narmada... Narmada will linger on the lips of the nation as a symbol of all struggles against social injustice." In place of the dams, the Narmada Bachao Andolan demanded for an energy and water strategy based on improving dry farming technology, watershed development, small dams, lift schemes for irrigation and drinking water, and improved efficiency and utilization of existing dams.<br />
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<b>Baba Amte on Youth</b><br />
Baba wanted the youth to enlighten themselves with knowledge so that they can understand the meaning and importance of India's freedom. Baba had once said, "We must try to understand this power contained in the roots of trees. Only when you will understand this phenomenon, will you find the courage to embrace adventure and perform what needs to be done. Those who want to bring about creative revolution must fully understand this root phenomenon."<br />
<br />
<b>Awards</b><br />
The work of Baba Amte, was unanimously praised by many national and international organizations. He was awarded with the United Nations Human Rights Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay award (1985), the Templeton Prize(1990), the Gandhi Peace Prize, and many other humanitarian and environmental prizes. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered as the "Nobel Prize of Asia".<br />
<br />
<b>Death</b><br />
In 2007, Baba Amte was diagnosed with leukemia. After suffering for more than a year, Amte left his mortal body on 9 February, 2008 at Anandvan. Many renowned faces from across the world expressed condolences at the death of the great soul. Unlike Hindu rituals, the body of Baba Amte was buried not cremated.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-19721582238117095172010-12-04T14:14:00.002+05:302010-12-04T14:14:27.727+05:30Dr. B.R. Ambedkar<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/b-r-ambedkar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="RIGHT" alt="Dr. B. R. Ambedkar" border="0" class="imgbord" height="160" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/b-r-ambedkar.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: double; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: double; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: double; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: double; border-width: initial; margin-top: 6px;" width="220" /></a><b>Born:</b> 14 April, 1891<br />
<b>Passed Away:</b> 6, December, 1956<br />
<br />
<b>Contribution</b><br />
Dr B R Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was one of the architects of the Indian Constitution. He was a well-known politician and an eminent jurist. Ambedkar's efforts to eradicate the social evils like untouchablity and caste restrictions were remarkable. The leader, throughout his life, fought for the rights of the dalits and other socially backward classes. Ambedkar was appointed as the nation's first Law Minister in the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor in 1990.<br />
<br />
<b>His Life</b><br />
Bhimrao Ambedkar was born to Bhimabai Sakpal and Ramji on 14 April 1891 in Madhya Pradesh. He was the fourteenth child of his parents. Ambedkar;s father was a Subedar in the Indian Army and posted at Mhow cantonment, MP. After the retirement of his father in 1894, the family moved to satara. Shortly after, his mother passed away. Four years later, his father remarried and the family shifted to Bombay, where he cleared his matriculation in 1908. His father Bhimabai Sakpal died in Bombay, in 1912.<br />
<br />
Ambedkar was a victim of caste <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">discrimination</span>. His parents hailed from the Hindu Mahar caste, which was viewed as "untouchable" by the upper class. Due to this, Ambedkar had to face severe discriminations from every corners of the society. a The discrimination and humiliation haunted Ambedkar even at the Army school, run by British government. Fearing social outcry, the teachers would segregate the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">students of</span> lower class from that of Brahmins and other upper classes. The untouchable students were often asked by the teacher to sit outside the class. After shifting to Satara, he was admitted to a local school but the change of school did not change the fate of young Bhimrao. Discriminationfollowed wherever he went. In 1908, Ambedkar got the opportunity to study at the Elphinstone College. Besides clearing all the exams successfully Ambedkar also obtained a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">scholarship</span> of twenty five rupees a month from the Gayakwad ruler of Baroda, Sahyaji Rao III. Political Science and Economics were the subjects in which he graduated from the Bombay University in 1912. Ambedkar decided to use the money for higher studies in the USA.<br />
<br />
After coming back from the US, Ambedkar was appointed as the Defence secretary to the King of Baroda. Even, there also he had to face the humiliation for being an 'Untouchable'. With the help of the former Bombay Governor Lord Sydenham, Ambedkar obtained the job as a professor of political economy at the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Bombay. In order to continue his further studies, in 1920 he went to England at his own expenses. There he was awarded honor of D.Sc by the London University. Ambedkar also spent few months at the University of Bonn, Germany, to study economics. On 8 June, 1927, he was awarded a Doctorate by the University of Columbia.<br />
<br />
<b>Dalit Movement</b><br />
After returning to India, Bhimrao Ambedkar decided to fight against the caste discrimination that almost fragmented the nation. Ambedkar opined that there should be separate electoral system for the Untouchables and lower caste people. He also favored the concept of providing reservations for Dalits and other religious communities.<br />
<br />
Ambedkar began to find ways to reach to the people and make them understand the drawbacks of the prevailing social evils. He launched a newspaper called "Mooknayaka" (leader of the silent). It was believed that, one day, after hearing his speech at a rally, Shahu IV, an influential ruler of Kolhapur dined with the leader. The incident also created a huge uproar in the socio-political arena of the country.<br />
<br />
<b>Political career</b><br />
In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labor Party. In the 1937 elections to the Central Legislative Assembly his party won 15 seats. Ambedkar oversaw the transformation of his political party into the All India Scheduled Castes Federation, although it performed poorly in the elections held in 1946 for the Constituent Assembly of India.<br />
<br />
Ambedkar objected to the decision of Congress and Mahatma Gandhi to call the untouchable community as Harijans. He would say that even the members of untouchable community are same as the other members of the society. Ambedkar was appointed on the Defence Advisory Committee and the Viceroy's Executive Council as Minister for Labor. His reputation as a scholar led to his appointment as free India's first, Law Minister and chairman of the committee responsible to draft a constitution.<br />
<br />
<b>Framer of Constitution</b><br />
Bhimrao Ambedkar was appointed as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee. He was also a noted scholar and eminent jurist. Ambedkar emphasized on the construction of a virtual bridge between the classes of the society. According to him, it would be difficult to maintain the unity of the country if the difference among the classes were not met.<br />
<br />
<b>Conversion to Buddhism</b><br />
In 1950, Ambedkar traveled to Sri Lanka to attend a convention of Buddhist scholars and monks. After his return he decided to write a book on Buddhism and soon, converted himself to Buddhism. In his speeches, Ambedkar lambasted the Hindu rituals and caste <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">division</span>. Ambedkar founded the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha In 1955. His book "The Buddha and His Dhamma" was published posthumously.<br />
<br />
On October 14, 1956 Ambedkar organized a public ceremony to convert around five lakh of his supporters into Buddhism. Ambedkar traveled to Kathmandu to attend the Fourth World Buddhist Conference. He completed his final manuscript, "The Buddha or Karl Marx" on December 2, 1956.<br />
<br />
<b>Death</b><br />
Since 1954-55 Ambedkar was suffering from serious health problems including <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD5" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">diabetes</span> and weak eyesight. On 6 December, 1956 he died at his home in Delhi. Since, Ambedkar adopted the Buddhism as his religion, a Buddhist-style cremation was organized for him. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters, activists and admirers.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-57780150804148564202010-12-04T14:13:00.004+05:302010-12-04T14:13:44.321+05:30Mother Teresa<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/mother-teresa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="Mother Teresa" border="0" class="imgbord" height="160" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/mother-teresa.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: double; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: double; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: double; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: double; border-width: initial; margin-top: 6px;" width="220" /></a><b>Born:</b> August 26, 1910<br />
<b>Passed Away:</b> 5 September, 1997<br />
<br />
<b>Contributions</b><br />
Mother Teresa was a true follower of humanity. Many people considered Mother as the "reincarnated form of Lord Jesus". Mother Teresa devoted her entire life in serving the needy and abandoned people of the society. Although her mission started in India, she succeeded in bringing the people of all societies under one roof, i.e. humanity. Besides the Nobel Peace Prize, she was also awarded with Ramon Magsaysay and Padmashri Award for her social works.<br />
<br />
<b>Life</b><br />
The original name of Mother Teresa was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She was born in Skopje, the capital of <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">Macedonia</span>, on 26 August, 1910. In 1919, when she was eight years old, Agnes lost her father, a noted politician in Albania. At the age of twelve, she felt strongly the "call of God" and wanted to spread the love of Christ. Her religious foundation developed further and in 1928, she left Skopje to join the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ireland. The institution was popularly known as Sisters of Loreto. There, she received the name Sister Mary Teresa. After a training of around six months in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, Teresa was sent to India. On 24 May, 1931 she took her initial vows as a nun.<br />
<br />
For around next 15 years, Mother Teresa taught at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta, now Kolkata. She also became the principal of the school. On 10 September, 1946, while traveling to Darjeeling, North-Bengal, for the annual retreat Mother realized "the call within call". She felt as if the Jesus was asking her to come out of the walls and serve the down-trodden people. The feeling was so intense that on 17 August, 1947, Mother dressed in white, blue bordered sari left the Convent. In December 1950, Mother for the first time visited the slums of Calcutta. Although she had no funds, she started an open-air school for slum children. Soon she was joined by many voluntary organizations, which provided Mother, a crucial financial support.<br />
<br />
Later, on 7 October, 1950, Mother established the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. The primary objective of the Missionaries of Charity was to love and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD5" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">care for</span> weak and downtrodden persons in the society. In 1965, the Pope Paul VI granted a Decree of Praise and allowed Mother Teresa to expand her congregation to other countries. Now, the Society became an International Religious Family. Following the decree, the society opened its branches in many countries of the world including some influential erstwhile communist nations.<br />
<br />
To strengthen the organization and spread the message of international brotherhood, Mother Teresa opened a few more organisations. She founded the Missionaries of Charity for brothers in 1963, Contemplative <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">Branch of</span> Sisters in 1976 and Contemplative Branch of Brothers in 1979, subsequently.<br />
<br />
<b>Missionaries of Charity</b><br />
The Missionaries of Charity was formed by Mother Teresa in 1950. Today, it consists of over 4,000 nuns. The organization, so far, has expanded its wings to over 100 countries. The objective of the Missionaries of Charity is to provide care and support to the sick, mentally ill, aged, victims of incorrigible diseases, and abandoned children. The Missionaries of Charity has opened around 20 homes in Calcutta including a school for street children.<br />
<br />
<b>Awards</b><br />
People from across the globe have appreciated the work and dedication of Mother Teresa. She received numerous awards including the Nobel Peace Prize (1991), Ramon Magsaysay Award and Padmashri Award (1962). The honor and appreciation, Mother Teresa received could not be measured in terms of awards and prizes. The real awards came from the people she served and worked with.<br />
<br />
<b>Her Last Days</b><br />
After 1980, Mother suffered some serious health problems including two cardiac arrests. Despite the problems, Mother herself governed the Missionaries of Charity and its branches, as efficiently as earlier. In April 1996, Mother Teresa fell and broke her collar bone. Since then, Mother's health started declining. On September 5, 1997, Mother Teresa passed away.<br />
<br />
<b>Beatification</b><br />
In 2002, Pope John Paul II confirmed the decrees to Mother's canonization. On 19 October, 2003 the Pope beatified the Mother before a huge crowd at St. Peter's square, Vatican City.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-55604798648627109152010-12-04T14:13:00.001+05:302010-12-04T14:13:03.179+05:30Shri Jyotiba Phule<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/jyotiba-phule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="Jyotiba Phule" border="0" class="imgbord" height="160" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/jyotiba-phule.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: double; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: double; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: double; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: double; border-width: initial; margin-top: 6px;" width="220" /></a><b>Born:</b> 11 April, 1827<br />
<b>Passed Away:</b> 28 November, 1890<br />
<br />
<b>Contributions</b><br />
Jyotiba Phule was one of the prominent social reformers of the nineteenth century India. He led the movement against the prevailing caste-restrictions in India. He revolted against the domination of the Brahmins and for the rights of peasants and other low-caste fellow. Jyotiba Phule was believed to be the first Hindu to start an orphanage for the unfortunate children.<br />
<br />
<b>Life</b><br />
Jyotirao Phule was born in Satara <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">district</span> of Maharastra in 1827. His father, Govindrao was a vegetable-vendor at Poona. Originally Jyotirao's family belonged to 'mali' caste, considered as inferior by the Brahmins. Since, Jyotirao's father and uncles served as florists, the family came to be known as `Phule'. Jyotirao's mother passed away when he was nine months old.<br />
<br />
Jyotirao was an intelligent boy but due to the poor financial condition at home, he had to stop his studies at an early age. He started helping his father by working on the family's farm. Recognising the talent of the child prodigy, few months later, a neighbor persuaded his father to send him to school. In 1841, Jyotirao got <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">admission</span> in the Scottish Mission's High School, Poona. There, he met Sadashiv Ballal Govande, a Brahmin, who remained his close friend throughout his life. Jyotirao was married to Savitribai, when he was thirteen years old.<br />
<br />
<b>Movement</b><br />
In 1848, an incident took place in his life that later sparked off the dalit-revolution in the Indian society. Jyotirao was invited to attend a wedding of one of his Brahmin friends. Knowing that he belonged to inferior caste, the relatives of the bridegroom insulted and abused him. Jyotirao left the procession and made up his mind to defy the prevailing caste-system and social restrictions. He then started his campaign of serving the people of lower caste who were deprived of all their rights as human beings.<br />
<br />
After reading Thomas Paine's famous book 'The Rights of Man', Jyotirao was greatly influenced by his ideas. He believed that enlightenment of the women and lower caste people was the only solution to combat the social evils. Therefore, in 1848, he along with his wife started a school for the girls.<br />
<br />
The orthodox Brahmins of the society were furious at the activities of Jyotirao. They blamed him for vitiating the norms and regulations of the society. Many accused him of acting on behalf of the Christian Missionaries. But Jyotirao was firm and decided to continue the movement. Interestingly, Jyotirao had some Brahmin friends who extended their support to make the movement successful.<br />
<br />
Jyotirao attacked the orthodox Brahmins and other upper castes and termed them as "hypocrites". He campaigned against the authoritarianism of the upper caste people. He urged the "peasants" and "proletariat" to defy the restrictions imposed upon them.<br />
<br />
In 1851, Jyotiba established a girls' school and asked his wife to teach the girls in the school. Jyotirao, later, opened two more schools for the girls and an indigenous school for the lower castes, especially the Mahars and Mangs.<br />
<br />
Viewing the pathetic condition of widows and unfortunate children Jyotirao decided the open an orphanage. In order to protect those widows and their children, Jyotiba Phule established an orphanage in 1854. Many young widows, from the upper-caste spent their days in the orphanage.<br />
<br />
<b>Satya Shodhak Samaj</b><br />
After tracing the history of the Brahmin domination in India, Jyotirao blamed the Brahmins for framing the weird and inhuman laws. He concluded that the laws were made to suppress the "shudras" and rule over them. In 1873, Jyotiba Phule formed the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth). The purpose of the organization was to liberate the people of lower-castes from the suppression of the Brahmins. The membership was open to all and the available evidence proves that some Jews were admitted as members. In 1876 there were 316 members of the 'Satya Shodhak Samaj'. In 1868, in order to give the lower-caste people more powers Jyotirao decided to construct a common bathing tank outside his house. He also wished to dine with all, regardless of their caste.<br />
<br />
<b>Death</b><br />
Jyotiba Phule <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">devoted</span> his entire life for the liberation of untouchables from the exploitation of Brahmins. He revolted against the tyranny of the upper castes. On 28 November, 1890, the great reformer of India, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, passed away.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-81590954475107608742010-12-04T14:12:00.000+05:302010-12-04T14:12:15.320+05:30Raja Ram Mohan Roy<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/raja-ram-mohan-roy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="RIGHT" alt="Raja Ram Mohan Roy" border="0" class="imgbord" height="160" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/raja-ram-mohan-roy.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: double; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: double; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: double; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: double; border-width: initial; margin-top: 6px;" width="220" /></a><b>Born:</b> August 14, 1774<br />
<b>Died:</b> September 27, 1833<br />
<br />
<b>Achievements</b><br />
Raja Ram Mohan Roy is considered as the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">pioneer</span> of modern Indian Renaissance for the remarkable reforms he brought in the 18th century India. Among his efforts, the abolition of the sati-pratha-a practice in which the widow was compelled to sacrifice herself on the funeral pyre of her husband-was the prominent. His efforts were also instrumental in eradicating the purdah system and child marriage. In 1828, Ram Mohan Roy formed the Brahmo Samaj, a group of people, who had no faith in idol-worship and were against the caste restrictions. The title 'Raja' was awarded to him by Mughal emperor Akbar, the second in 1831 when Roy visited England as an ambassador of the King to ensure that Bentick's regulation of banning the practice of Sati was not overturned.<br />
<br />
<b>Background</b><br />
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on 14 August, 1774 to Ramakanta Roy and Tarini Devi in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. His father was a wealthy Brahmin and strictly performed the duties set by the religion. Ram Mohan himself was also devoted to lord Vishnu and in his 14th year, he wanted to become a monk but his mother, Tarini Devi objected to his desire.<br />
<br />
Though his father Ramakanto was very orthodox but he wanted his son to have higher education and after the basic formal education in Sanskrit and Bengali in the village school, Ram Mohan was sent to Patna to study Persian and Arabic in a madrasa. After that he went to Benares (Kashi) for learning the intricacies of Sanskrit and Hindu scripture, including the Vedas and Upanishads. He learnt English language at the age of 22 years.<br />
<br />
<b>Father of Renaissance</b><br />
Ram Mohan viewed education as a medium to implement the social reforms. So, in 1815, Ram Mohan came to Calcutta and the very next year, started an English College by putting his own savings. He was well aware that the students should <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">learn the English language</span> and scientific subjects and that's why he criticized the government's policy of opening only Sanskrit schools. According to him, Indians would lag behind if they do not get to study modern subjects like Mathematics, Geography and Latin. Government accepted this idea of Ram Mohan and also implemented it but not before his death. Ram Mohan was also the first to give importance to the development of the mother tongue. His 'Gaudiya Byakaran' in Bengali is the best of his prose works. Rabindranath Tagore and Bankimchandra also followed the footsteps of Ram Mohan Roy.<br />
<br />
<b>Freedom of Press</b><br />
Ram Mohan Roy was a staunch supporter of free speech and expression and fought for the rights of vernacular press. He also brought out a newspaper in Persian called 'Miratul- Akhbar' (the Mirror of News) and a Bengali weekly called 'Sambad Kaumudi' (the Moon of Intelligence). In those days, items of news and articles had to be approved by the government before being published. Ram Mohan protested against this control by arguing that newspapers should be free and that the truth should not be suppressed simply because the government did not like it.<br />
<br />
<b>His Last Days</b><br />
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, during his visit to United Kingdom as an ambassador of Akbar- the second, died of meningitis at Stapleton in Bristol on 27 September, 1833. He went there to request <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">the British</span> government to increase the royalty, received by the Mughal Emperor and to ensure that Lord Bentick's regulation of banning the practice of Sati was not overturned. Recently, the British government has named a street as 'Raja Rammohan Way' in the memory of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-63049422469354630232010-12-04T14:11:00.003+05:302010-12-04T14:11:36.147+05:30Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/ramakrishna-paramhansa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa " border="0" class="imgbord" height="160" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/ramakrishna-paramhansa.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: double; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: double; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: double; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: double; border-width: initial; margin-top: 6px;" width="220" /></a><b>Born:</b> February 18, 1836<br />
<b>Passed Away:</b> 16, August, 1886<br />
<br />
<b>Contributions</b><br />
Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa was a popular saint of India. He had a strong faith in the existence of god. He regarded every woman of the society, including his wife, Sarada, as holy mother. Swami Vivekananda was one of the prominent disciples of Ramakrishna, who later formed the Ramakrishna Mission.<br />
<br />
<b>Life</b><br />
The original name of Ramakrishna Paramhansa was Gadadhar Chattopadhyay. He was born into a poor and orthodox Brahmin family on 18 February, 1836 in Kamarpukur, Hooghly <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD5" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">district</span> of West Bengal. His parents were Khudiram Chattopadhyaya, and Chandramani Devi.<br />
<br />
Though Gadadhar was very reluctant going to school, he had a god-gifted ability of painting and creating clay models. He was also good at learning things. He easily mastered the tales, based upon the religion. Young Gadadhar loved the nature so much that he used to spend much of his time in orchards and on the river-banks.<br />
<br />
After the death of his father in 1843, the responsibilities of the family were handled by his elder brother Ramkumar. Ramkumar left home for Calcutta and started teaching Sanskrit in a local school. Ramkumar also served as a priest at different socio-religious functions. Young Gadadhar, back in his village started performing regular worshipping of their family-deity.<br />
<br />
<b>Ramkrishna at Dakshineswar</b><br />
Few months later, Ramkumar was invited to Dakshineswar temple by Rani Rasmoni, the founder of the temple. Ramkumar was appointed as the chief-priest of the temple. In 1852, Ramakrishna went to Calcutta and started assisting his brother at the same temple.<br />
<br />
In 1856, after the death of Ramkumar, Ramakrishna took his place as the chief-priest of the Kali temple. It is believed that the name Ramakrishna was given to Gadadhar by the son-in-law of Rani Rasmoni.<br />
<br />
After being given more responsibilities, Ramkrishna began to spend much time in the "Thakur-Ghar" (home of the deity). He considered Goddess Kali as the mother of all. He wanted to see the glimpse of the god. At times, he would go into the jungle and spend the entire night worshipping goddess Kali. The activities of Ramakrishna were viewed by many as gimmick. Many believed that Ramakrishna has become "mad". With an effort to bring Ramakrishna back into the normal life, her mother began to search for a bride. In 1959, Ramakrishna was married to five year old Sarada.<br />
<br />
Sri Ramakrishna was the most 'rational <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">mystic</span>'. With scientific precision he put forward in most simple terms, as parables and stories, the eternal truth regarding God and God realization. He talked about God only after directly experiencing the reality of God. To get rid of the thought that he belonged to a higher brahmanical caste, he began to eat food cooked by the shudras or lower-caste.<br />
<br />
<b>Sarada Devi, Ramakrishna's wife</b><br />
At the age of eighteen, Sarada, the bride of the Ramakrishna, was sent to Dakshineshwar to join her husband. It was believed that the Ramakrishna regarded Sarada as the holy mother. Sarada Devi is considered as the first disciple of Ramakrishna. Even after Ramakrishna's death in 1886, Sarada Devi led the movement and worked hard to make it a success.<br />
<br />
<b>With Vivekananda</b><br />
Ramakrishna met Vivekananda for the first time in November 1881 when Vivekananda visited Dakshineswar to know if the god really exists. In his reply Ramakrishna said, "Yes, I see God, just as I see you here, only in a much intenser sense. God can be realized,"<br />
<br />
At first Vivekananda did not believe Ramakrishna. He felt, how such a simple man could see the God. But, gradually he started developing faith in Ramkrishna. Few days later, Vivekananda realized that Ramakrishna's words were honest and uttered from a deep experience. Vivekananda started visiting Dakshineswar frequently and a relationship of "Master and disciple" developed between the two.<br />
<br />
<b>At Death-Bed</b><br />
In 1885 Ramakrishna suffered from throat cancer. In order to consult the best physicians of Calcutta, Ramakrishna was shifted to Shyampukur by his disciples. But with the time, his health started deteriorating and he was taken to a large house at Cossipore. His condition worsened and on 16 August, 1886, he expired at the Cossipore <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">garden house</span>. After the death of Ramakrishna, the monastic disciples formed a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">fellowship</span> at a half-ruined house at Baranagar, headed by Vivekananda. This was the initial stage of Ramakrishna Mission.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-36331983971088138122010-12-04T14:11:00.001+05:302010-12-04T14:11:13.893+05:30Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/ramakrishna-paramhansa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa " border="0" class="imgbord" height="160" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/ramakrishna-paramhansa.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: double; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: double; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: double; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: double; border-width: initial; margin-top: 6px;" width="220" /></a><b>Born:</b> February 18, 1836<br />
<b>Passed Away:</b> 16, August, 1886<br />
<br />
<b>Contributions</b><br />
Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa was a popular saint of India. He had a strong faith in the existence of god. He regarded every woman of the society, including his wife, Sarada, as holy mother. Swami Vivekananda was one of the prominent disciples of Ramakrishna, who later formed the Ramakrishna Mission.<br />
<br />
<b>Life</b><br />
The original name of Ramakrishna Paramhansa was Gadadhar Chattopadhyay. He was born into a poor and orthodox Brahmin family on 18 February, 1836 in Kamarpukur, Hooghly <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD5" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">district</span> of West Bengal. His parents were Khudiram Chattopadhyaya, and Chandramani Devi.<br />
<br />
Though Gadadhar was very reluctant going to school, he had a god-gifted ability of painting and creating clay models. He was also good at learning things. He easily mastered the tales, based upon the religion. Young Gadadhar loved the nature so much that he used to spend much of his time in orchards and on the river-banks.<br />
<br />
After the death of his father in 1843, the responsibilities of the family were handled by his elder brother Ramkumar. Ramkumar left home for Calcutta and started teaching Sanskrit in a local school. Ramkumar also served as a priest at different socio-religious functions. Young Gadadhar, back in his village started performing regular worshipping of their family-deity.<br />
<br />
<b>Ramkrishna at Dakshineswar</b><br />
Few months later, Ramkumar was invited to Dakshineswar temple by Rani Rasmoni, the founder of the temple. Ramkumar was appointed as the chief-priest of the temple. In 1852, Ramakrishna went to Calcutta and started assisting his brother at the same temple.<br />
<br />
In 1856, after the death of Ramkumar, Ramakrishna took his place as the chief-priest of the Kali temple. It is believed that the name Ramakrishna was given to Gadadhar by the son-in-law of Rani Rasmoni.<br />
<br />
After being given more responsibilities, Ramkrishna began to spend much time in the "Thakur-Ghar" (home of the deity). He considered Goddess Kali as the mother of all. He wanted to see the glimpse of the god. At times, he would go into the jungle and spend the entire night worshipping goddess Kali. The activities of Ramakrishna were viewed by many as gimmick. Many believed that Ramakrishna has become "mad". With an effort to bring Ramakrishna back into the normal life, her mother began to search for a bride. In 1959, Ramakrishna was married to five year old Sarada.<br />
<br />
Sri Ramakrishna was the most 'rational <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">mystic</span>'. With scientific precision he put forward in most simple terms, as parables and stories, the eternal truth regarding God and God realization. He talked about God only after directly experiencing the reality of God. To get rid of the thought that he belonged to a higher brahmanical caste, he began to eat food cooked by the shudras or lower-caste.<br />
<br />
<b>Sarada Devi, Ramakrishna's wife</b><br />
At the age of eighteen, Sarada, the bride of the Ramakrishna, was sent to Dakshineshwar to join her husband. It was believed that the Ramakrishna regarded Sarada as the holy mother. Sarada Devi is considered as the first disciple of Ramakrishna. Even after Ramakrishna's death in 1886, Sarada Devi led the movement and worked hard to make it a success.<br />
<br />
<b>With Vivekananda</b><br />
Ramakrishna met Vivekananda for the first time in November 1881 when Vivekananda visited Dakshineswar to know if the god really exists. In his reply Ramakrishna said, "Yes, I see God, just as I see you here, only in a much intenser sense. God can be realized,"<br />
<br />
At first Vivekananda did not believe Ramakrishna. He felt, how such a simple man could see the God. But, gradually he started developing faith in Ramkrishna. Few days later, Vivekananda realized that Ramakrishna's words were honest and uttered from a deep experience. Vivekananda started visiting Dakshineswar frequently and a relationship of "Master and disciple" developed between the two.<br />
<br />
<b>At Death-Bed</b><br />
In 1885 Ramakrishna suffered from throat cancer. In order to consult the best physicians of Calcutta, Ramakrishna was shifted to Shyampukur by his disciples. But with the time, his health started deteriorating and he was taken to a large house at Cossipore. His condition worsened and on 16 August, 1886, he expired at the Cossipore <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">garden house</span>. After the death of Ramakrishna, the monastic disciples formed a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">fellowship</span> at a half-ruined house at Baranagar, headed by Vivekananda. This was the initial stage of Ramakrishna Mission.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-51172618175163479132010-12-04T14:10:00.003+05:302010-12-04T14:10:28.385+05:30Swami Vivekanand<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/swami-vivekananda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="Swami Vivekananda" border="0" class="imgbord" height="160" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/swami-vivekananda.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: double; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: double; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: double; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: double; border-width: initial; margin-top: 6px;" width="220" /></a><b>Born:</b> 12 January, 1863<br />
<b>Died:</b> 4 July, 1902<br />
<br />
<b>Contributions</b><br />
Swami Vivekananda is known for his inspiring speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions at Chicago on 11 September, 1893, where he introduced Hindu philosophy to the west. But this was not the only contribution of the saint. He revealed the true foundations of India's unity as a nation. He taught how a nation with such a vast diversity can be bound together by a feeling of humanity and brother-hood. Vivekananda emphasized the points of drawbacks of western culture and the contribution of India to overcome those. Freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose once said: "Swamiji harmonized the East and the West, religion and science, past and present. And that is why he is great. Our countrymen have gained unprecedented self-respect, self-reliance and self-assertion from his teachings." Vivekananda was successful in constructing a virtual bridge between the culture of East and the West. He interpreted the Hindu scriptures, philosophy and the way of life to the Western people. He made them realize that in spite of poverty and backwardness, India had a great contribution to make to world culture. He played a key role in ending India's cultural isolation from the rest of the world.<br />
<br />
<b>Family</b><br />
Swami Vivekananda's real name was Narendranath Dutta and his parents called him 'Bile'. He was born in Calcutta's Shimla Palli, on January 12, 1863. His father Viswanath Dutta was a successful attorney with interests in a wide range of subjects, and his mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi, was endowed with deep devotion, strong character and other qualities.<br />
<br />
<b>Education</b><br />
Vivekananda was a precocious boy with a sharp memory and also excelled in music, gymnastics and studies in his childhood. He was also interested in instrumental and vocal music.<br />
<br />
In 1879, Vivekananda went to the Presidency College, Calcutta University for higher studies. By the time he graduated from the college, he had acquired a vast knowledge of different subjects, especially Western philosophy and history. He was also associated with Brahmo Movement led by Keshab Chandra Sen, for some time. Vivekananda was always supported by one of his close friends Brajendranath Seal. In order to understand the intricacies of faith and spiritual insight both read the works of John Stuart Mill, Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer and G.W.F. Hegel. He also questioned the validity of superstitious customs and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD5" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">discrimination</span> based on caste and religion. During this spiritual crisis, Vivekananda first heard about Sri Ramakrishna from William Hastie, the Principal of the Scottish Church College.<br />
<br />
<b>With Ramakrishna Paramhansa</b><br />
One day in November 1881, Vivekananda went to Kali Temple in Dakshineshwar where Sri Ramakrishna was staying. He straightaway asked the Ramakrishna, "Sir, have you seen God?" Without a moment's hesitation, Sri Ramakrishna replied: "Yes, I have. I see Him as clearly as I see you, only in a much deeper sense." Vivekananda was astonished with Ramakrishna's reply. He was also surprised to see a common simple man saying that "God can be seen". Apart from removing doubts from the mind of Narendra, Sri Ramakrishna won him over through his pure, unselfish love. Vivekananda started visiting Dakshineswar frequently and a relationship of "Master and disciple" developed between the two.<br />
<br />
<b>Vivekananda as a Monk</b><br />
In 1884, Vivekananda went under a considerable distress due to the death of his father. Now, he had to support his mother, brothers and sisters. And, after few months his guru Ramakrishna fell seriously ill. He was suffering from throat cancer. In September 1885, Sri Ramakrishna was moved to Shyampukur, and a few months later Vivekananda took a rented villa at Cossipore. Here, he formed a group of young people who also believed in the same principles as Vivekananda. The young disciples, then, nursed the Master with <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">devoted</span> care. On 16 August, 1886 Sri Ramakrishna gave up his mortal body.<br />
<br />
After the passing away of Sri Ramamkrishna, around fifteen of his disciples began to live together in a dilapidated building at Baranagar in North Calcutta. Under the leadership of Narendra, they formed a new monastic brotherhood, and in 1887 they took the formal vows of sanyasa, thereby assuming new names. Few months later, they all left for a journey to become a wandering monk.<br />
<br />
<b>Ramkrishna Mission</b><br />
During his travels all over the country, Vivekananda was deeply hurt to see the appalling poverty and backwardness of the countrymen. He found people starving for days and there are no food and shelter for them. He also found that, despite of poverty, the masses clung to religion. One thing became clear to Swamiji: to carry out his <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">plans for</span> the spread of education and for the uplift of the poor masses, and also of women, an efficient organization of dedicated people was needed. Few years later, he founded one of the world's largest charitable relief missions, the Ramakrishna Mission.<br />
<br />
<b>Death</b><br />
On 4 July , 1902, the day of his death, he had a walk with Swami Premananda, a brother-disciple at Belur Math, Calcutta. Vivekananda expired while he was meditating.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-21655967553291766332010-12-04T14:08:00.000+05:302010-12-04T14:08:40.116+05:30Swami Dayanand Saraswati<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/swami-dayanand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swami Dayanand Saraswati" border="0" src="http://www.culturalindia.net/gifs/swami-dayanand.jpg" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Born:</b> 12, February, 1824<br />
<b>Died:</b> 31, October, 1883</span></b></span></b></div><div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><br />
</b></span></b></div><div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Early Life</b><br />
Dayanand Saraswati was born on 12, February, 1824 in Tankara, Gujarat. His original name was Mool Shankar. His father Karsanji was a tax collector and was a rich, prosperous and influential person. He was the head of an eminent Brahmin family of the village. When Mool Shankar was eight years old, Yajnopavita Sanskara, or the investiture with thread of the "twice-born" were performed. His father was a follower of Shiva and taught Dayanand Saraswati the ways to impress the Lord. Dayanand was also told the importance of keeping fasts. On the occasion of Shivaratri, Dayanand had to sit awake the whole night in obedience to Lord Shiva. One such night, he saw a mouse eating the offerings to the God and running over the idol's body. After seeing this, he questioned himself, if the God could not defend himself against a little mouse then how could he be the savior of the massive world.<br />
<br />
When Dayanand was fourteen years old, his sister died. He was so shocked by the sudden demise of his sister that he began to look upon death as a challenge. He also ran away from home to know the secret of death. In search of the answer, Dayanand wandered all over the country for around twenty years. During his course, Dayanand visited temples and sacred places of religious devotion. He met Yogis living in the mountains and forests but nobody had the perfect answer Dayanand was seeking for.<br />
<br />
Lastly, Dayanand Saraswati went to Mathura where he found Swami Vrijananda and became his disciple. Vrijananda asked Dayanand to throw away all his books and learn directly from the Vedas. After completing his Vedic-education, Dayanand realized that his purpose of learning the "secret of death" has been satisfied. On the day Dayanand was to leave from the ashram, Swami Vrijananda called him and asked to spread the knowledge of Vedas in the society. The name Rishi Dayanand was also given by his guru Swami Vrijananda.</span></b></div><div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Arya Samaj</b><br />
On 7 April, 1875 Dayanand Saraswati formed the Arya Samaj at Bombay. It was a Hindu reforms movement, meaning "society of the nobles". The purpose of the samaj was to move the Hindu religion away from the fictitious beliefs. 'Krinvanto Vishvam Aryam" was the motto of the samaj, which means, "Make this world noble". Today, the Arya Samaj organization is very active not only in India but also in various parts of the world. The United States, Canada, Trinidad, Mexico, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Malawi, Mauritius, Pakistan, Burma, Thailand, <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; color: rgb(0, 0, 153) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana !important; font-size: 12px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;">Singapore</span>, Hong Kong, and Australia are some of the countries where the Samaj has its branches. </span></b></div><div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="text" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><b>The 10 principles of Arya Samaj</b></div><ul style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 10px;"><li style="color: black;">God is the efficient cause of all true knowledge and all that is known through knowledge.</li>
<li style="color: black;">God is existent, intelligent and blissful. He is formless, omniscient, just, merciful, unborn, endless, unchangeable, beginning-less, unequalled, the support of all, the master of all, omnipresent, immanent, un-aging, immortal, fearless, eternal and holy, and the maker of all. He alone is worthy of being worshiped.</li>
<li style="color: black;">The Vedas are the scriptures of all true knowledge. It is the paramount duty of all Aryas to read them, teach them , recite them and to hear them being read.</li>
<li style="color: black;">One should always be ready to accept truth and to renounce untruth.</li>
</ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><ul style="display: inline !important; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 10px;"><li style="display: inline !important;">All acts should be performed in accordance with Dharma that is, after deliberating what is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099;">right and</span> wrong.</li>
</ul></span></b><br />
<ul style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 10px;"><li style="color: black;">The prime object of the Arya Samaj is to do good to the world, that is, to promote physical, spiritual and social good of everyone.</li>
<li style="color: black;">Our conduct towards all should be guided by love, righteousness and justice.</li>
<li style="color: black;">We should dispel Avidya (ignorance) and promote Vidya (knowledge).</li>
<li style="color: black;">No one should be content with promoting his/her good only; on the contrary, one should look for his/her good in promoting the good of all.</li>
<li style="color: black;">One should regard oneself under restriction to follow the rules of society calculated to promote the well being of all, while in following the rules of individual welfare all should be free.</li>
</ul><div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><b>Death of a saint</b><br />
Due to his radical thinking and approach to the social issues and beliefs Dayanand Saraswati had created many enemies around him. One such enemy of the saint was the Maharaja of Jodhpur. On the occasion of Diwali, the King invited Dayanand Saraswati to Jodhpur and killed him by offering food mixed with poison, in 1883. The king was believed to be against the principal of Dayanand Saraswati.</div><div style="color: #2c2c2c;"><br />
</div></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-87521771735591429082010-12-04T13:54:00.000+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.018+05:30Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi<a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/mahatma-gandhi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mahatma Gandhi" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/mahatma-gandhi.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><b>Born:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">October 2, 1869</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><b>Martyrdom:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">January 30, 1948.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><b>Achievements:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Known as Father of Nation; played a key role in winning freedom for India; introduced the concept of Ahimsa and Satyagraha.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Mahatma Gandhi popularly known as Father of Nation played a stellar role in India's freedom struggle. Born in a Bania family in Kathiawar, Gujarat, his real name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (M.K. Gandhi). The title Mahatma came to be associated with his name much later. Before Gandhiji's arrival on the Indian political scene, freedom struggle was limited only to the intelligentsia. Mahatma Gandhi's main contribution lay in the fact that he bridged the gulf between the intelligentsia and the masses and widened the concept of Swaraj to include almost every aspect of social and moral regeneration. Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death, famous scientist Albert Einstein said, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this walked the earth in flesh and blood".</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, a small town on the western coast of India, which was then one of the many tiny states in Kathiawar. Gandhiji was born in middle class family of Vaishya caste. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a Dewan or Prime Minister of Porbandar. His mother, Putlibai, was a very religious lady and left a deep impression on Gandhiji's mind. Gandhiji was a mediocre student and was excessively shy and timid.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Gandhiji was truthful in his conduct right from the childhood. There is a very famous incident in this regard. A British school inspector once came to Gandhiji's school and set a spelling test. Gandhiji spelled all the words correctly except kettle. The class teacher noticed the mistake and gestured Gandhiji to copy the correct spelling from the boy sitting next to him. Gandhiji refused to take the hint and was later scolded for his "stupidity".</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Gandhiji was married at the age of thirteen to Kasturbai. He was in high school at that time. Later on in his life, Gandhiji denounced the custom of child marriage and termed it as cruel. After matriculating from the high school, Gandhiji joined the Samaldas College in Bhavnagar. After the death of Gandhiji's father in 1885, a family suggested that if Gandhiji hoped to take his father's place in the state service he had better become a barrister which he could do in England in three years. Gandhi welcomed the idea but his mother was objected to the idea of going abroad. To win his mother's approval Gandhiji took a solemn vow not to touch wine, women and meat and remained true to it throughout his stay in England.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Gandhiji sailed for England on September 4, 1888. Initially he had difficulty in adjusting to English customs and weather but soon he overcame it. Gandhiji completed his Law degree in 1891 and returned to India. He decided to set up legal practice in Bombay but couldn't establish himself. Gandhiji returned to Rajkot but here also he could not make much headway. At this time Gandhiji received an offer from Dada Abdulla & Co. to proceed to South Africa on their behalf to instruct their counsel in a lawsuit. Gandhiji jumped at the idea and sailed for South Africa in April 1893.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">It was in South Africa that Gandhiji's transformation from Mohandas to Mahatma took place. Gandhiji landed at Durban and soon he realized the oppressive atmosphere of racial snobbishness against Indians who were settled in South Africa in large numbers. After about a week's stay in Durban Gandhiji left for Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal, in connection with a lawsuit. When the train reached Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Natal, at about 9 p.m. a white passenger who boarded the train objected to the presence of a "coloured" man in the compartment and Gandhji was ordered by a railway official to shift to a third class. When he refused to do so, a constable pushed him out and his luggage was taken away by the railway authorities. It was winter and bitterly cold. This incident changed Gandhiji's life forever. He decided to fight for the rights of Indians. Gandhiji organised the Indian community in South Africa and asked them to forget all distinctions of religion and caste. He suggested the formation of an association to look after the Indian settlers and offered his free time and services.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">During his stay in South Africa, Gandhiji's life underwent a change and he developed most of his political ideas. Gandhiji decided to dedicate himself completely to the service of humanity. He realized that absolute continence or brahmacharya was indispensable for the purpose as one could not live both after the flesh and the spirit. In 1906, Gandhiji took a vow of absolute continence. In the course of his struggle in South Africa, Gandhiji, developed the concepts of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (holding fast to truth or firmness in a righteous cause). Gandhiji's struggle bore fruit and in 1914 in an agreement between Gandhiji and South African Government, the main Indian demands were conceded.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 and on the advice of his political guru Gopal Krishna Gokhale, spent the first year touring throughout the country to know the real India. After an year of wandering, Gandhiji settled down on the bank of the river Sabarmati, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, where he founded an ashram called Satyagraha Ashram. Gandhiji's first satyagraha in India was in Champaran, in Bihar, where he went in 1917 at the request of a poor peasants to inquire into the grievances of the much exploited peasants of that district, who were compelled by British indigo planters to grow indigo on 15 percent of their land and part with the whole crop for rent. Gandhiji's Satyagraha forced British government to set up a inquiry into the condition of tenant farmers. The report of the committee of which Gandhi was a member went in favour of the tenant farmers. The success of his first experiment in satyagraha in India greatly enhanced Gandhiji's reputation in the country.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">In 1921, Gandhji gave the call for Non-cooperation movement against the ills of British rule. Gandhiji's call roused the sleeping nation. Many Indians renounced their titles and honours, lawyers gave up their practice, and students left colleges and schools. Non-cooperation movement also brought women into the domain of freedom struggle for the first time. Non-cooperation movement severely jolted the British government. But the movement ended in an anti-climax in February 1922. An outbreak of mob violence in Chauri Chaura so shocked and pained Gandhi that he refused to continue the campaign and undertook a fast for five days to atone for a crime committed by others in a state of mob hysteria.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Gandhiji was sentenced to six years imprisonment but was released in 1924 on medical grounds. For the next five years Gandhi seemingly retired from active agitational politics and devoted himself to the propagation of what he regarded as the basic national needs, namely, Hindu-Muslim unity, removal of untouchability, equality of women, popularization of hand-spinning and the reconstruction of village economy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">On March 12, 1930 Gandhiji started the historic Dandi March to break the law which had deprived the poor man of his right to make his own salt. On April 6, 1930 Gandhiji broke the Salt law at the sea beach at Dandi. This simple act was immediately followed by a nation-wide defiance of the law. This movement galvanized the whole nation and came to be known as "Civil Disobedience Movement". Within a few weeks about a hundred thousand men and women were in jail, throwing mighty machinery of the British Government out of gear. This forced the then Viceroy Lord Irwin to call Gandhiji for talks. On March 5, 1931 Gandhi Irwin Pact was signed. Soon after signing the pact Gandhiji went to England to attend the First Round Table Conference. Soon after his return from England Gandhiji was arrested without trial.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">After the outbreak of Second World War in 1939, Gandhiji again became active in the political arena. British Government wanted India's help in the war and Congress in return wanted a clear-cut promise of independence from British government. But British government dithered in its response and on August 8, 1942 Gandhiji gave the call for Quit India Movement. Soon the British Government arrested Gandhiji and other top leaders of Congress. Disorders broke out immediately all over India and many violent demonstrations took place. While Gandhiji was in jail his wife Kasturbai passed away. Gandhiji too had a severe attack of Malaria. In view of his deteriorating health he was released from the jail in May 1944.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Second World War ended in 1945 and Britain emerged victorious. In the general elections held in Britain in 1945, Labour Party came to power, and Atlee became the Prime Minister. He promised an early realization of self Government in India. A Cabinet Mission arrived from England to discuss with Indian leaders the future shape of a free and united India, but failed to bring the Congress and Muslims together. India attained independence but Jinnah's intransigence resulted in the partition of the country. Communal riots between Hindus and Muslims broke out in the country in the aftermath of partition. Tales of atrocities on Hindus in Pakistan provoked Hindus in India and they targeted Muslims. Gandhiji worked ceaselessly to promote unity between Hindus and Muslims. This angered some Hindu fundamentalists and on January 30, 1948 Gandhiji was shot dead by one such fundamentalist Nathu Ram Godse while he was going for his evening prayers. The last words on the lips of Gandhiji were Hey Ram.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-51722679275200803632010-12-04T13:53:00.000+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.018+05:30Sir Surendranath Banerjee<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/sir-surendranath-banerjee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sir Surendranath Banerjee" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/sir-surendranath-banerjee.jpg" /></a><b>Born</b> - 10 November 1848<br />
<b>Died</b> - 6 August 1925<br />
<b>Achievements</b> - Being among the earliest of Indian politicians in the pre-independence era, Sir Surendranath Banerjee established the Indian National Association that he later merged with the Indian National Congress owing to their common agenda. At a very young age, he cleared the British instituted ICS examinations, but was dismissed due to racial discrimination. He whipped up a strong protest against this.<br />
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Among the earliest Indian politicians during the British raj was Sir Surendranath Banerjee. He set up the Indian National Association that was among the earliest political organizations of that era. Later on, Banerjee became a senior member of the Indian National Congress. Born on 10 November 1848 at Calcutta in West Bengal, Surendranath Banerjee was intensely swayed by the liberal, progressive thinking of his father, Durga Charan Banerjee. Read on to know more about the biography of Sir Surendranath Banerjee.<br />
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After graduating from the University of Calcutta, Surendranath traveled to England in 1868 along with Romesh Chunder Dutt and Behari Lal Gupta to appear for the Indian Civil Service exams. Though he passed the ICS in 1869, he was dismissed because of a dispute over his right age. After this matter was sorted out in a court of law, Banerjee reappeared for the exam and once again managed to clear it in 1871. He was appointed as the assistant magistrate in Sylhet, but was chucked out due to racial discrimination.<br />
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Not one to leave challenges lying down his entire life history, Sir Surendranath Banerjee headed straight to England this time. Though he raised his voice against the injustice, his protest failed to deliver any positive result. However, during his stay in England from 1874 to 1875, Banerjee acquainted himself with the works of Edmund Burke and other liberal philosophers. Upon returning to India, Surendranath Banerjee instead started working as a professor of English at the Metropolitan Institution, the Free Church Institution and at the Ripon College.<br />
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In the time to come, Banerjee went on to launch 'The Bengali' newspaper and the Indian National Association in 1876. He employed these forums to address political and social issues like the age-limit for Indian students appearing for ICS. He rebuked the racial discrimination practiced by the British officers through public speeches all over the country, which made him very popular. After the Congress was set up in 1885 at Bombay, Banerjee merged his Indian National Association with it owing to their common agenda. He served as Congress President in 1898 and 1904.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-79913364791458184402010-12-04T13:52:00.002+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.018+05:30Mangal Pandey<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/mangal-pandey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mangal Pandey" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/mangal-pandey.jpg" /></a><b>Born:</b> 19 July 1827<br />
<b>Martyrdom:</b> 8 April 1857<br />
<b>Achievements:</b> A sepoy working under the British East India Company, Mangal Pandey's name got etched into the pages of the Indian history after he attacked his senior British officers in an incident, which is today remembered as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 or the India's First War of Independence. The reason behind this was the rumor that the cartridges used by Indian sepoys were greased with the fat of cow and pig.<br />
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Mangal Pandey, whose name is often preceded by Shaheed meaning a martyr in Hindi, was an Indian soldier during the pre-independence era. A member of the 34th Regiment of the Bengal native infantry of the East India Company, Mangal Pandey is counted among the most popular figures associated with India's freedom struggle in present times. He was born on 19 July 1827 in the Nagwa village in the Ballia district of the Uttar Pradesh state. There still exist families in this village who claim to the descendents of Mangal Pandey.<br />
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However, some disputes exist over the exact place where Mangal Pandey was born. So read on to know more about the biography of Mangal Pandey, who joined the sepoy force of the British East India Company in the year 1849 at the age of 22. His name got etched into the pages of the Indian history after he attacked his senior British officers in an incident, which is today called the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 or the India's First War of Independence. Due to this, he was later captured and hung till death on 8 April in 1857.<br />
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Here's more about the life history of Mangal Pandey, who was a devout Hindu and practiced his religion strictly. It was rumored that the cartridge used in the Enfield P-53 rifle which was being used by the Indian sepoys was greased with the fat of pig and cow fat. These cartridges had to be bitten off in order to remove the cover prior use and this went against the religious beliefs of the Muslims and Hindus. The general opinion was that the Britishers had deliberately done this to hurt the sentiments of Indians. And this was the main reason behind the outburst of Pandey's anger.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-59884066221008458012010-12-04T13:51:00.005+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.019+05:30Jayprakash Narayan<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/jayaprakash-narayan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jayaprakash Narayan" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/jayaprakash-narayan.jpg" /></a><b>Born</b> - 11 October 1902<br />
<b>Died</b> - 8 October 1979<br />
<b>Achievements</b> - Jayaprakash Narayan was a freedom fighter and political leader of India. Popularly called JP, Narayan played a pivotal role in the Quit India movement and earned a lot of fame and respect for this. During the Quit India Movement too in 1942, JP was at the helm of the agitation.<br />
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Jayaprakash was an Indian freedom fighter and political leader of India. Popularly called JP by his allies, Narayan is remembered for spearheading the opposition to Indira Gandhi during the 1970s era. This biography traces out the political life history of Jayaprakash Narayan who was born in the Sitabdiara village in the Saran district of Bihar. Being a bright student, he went on to complete his BA and MA in politics and sociology from the United States in 1922.<br />
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Once in the United States, Jayaprakash Narayan studied the political science, sociology and economics at the Universities of Berkeley, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio State. He was really impressed by Marxism during his study at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. The ideas and writings of M.N. Roy also equally impressed him. But financial problems and his mother's health caused him to give up his dreams of securing a PhD.<br />
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It was while Narayan was returning to India that he got the chance to meet revolutionaries like Rajani Palme Dutt in London on his way back to India. As such, he joined the Indian National Congress in 1929 upon receiving an invitation from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. In the time to come, the great Mahatma Gandhi turned out to be the mentor and guide of Jayaprakash Narayan. Narayan was jailed and tortured by the British forces several times during the war for Independence.<br />
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Jayaprakash Narayan played a crucial role in the Quit India movement and earned a lot of fame and respect for this. JP wedded freedom fighter Prabhavati Devi, who was a follower of Kasturba Gandhi. She resided at the Sabarmati Ashram while Jayaprakash Narayan was studying abroad. Though she nurtured viewpoints that contradicted JP's, yet her husband always respected her independence.<br />
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Jayaprakash Narayan met Ram Manohar Lohia, Minoo Masani, Ashok Mehta, Yusuf Desai and other national leaders when he was put behind bars in 1932 because of the civil disobedience movement. After JP came out of jail, the Congress Socialist party was set up. While Acharya Narendra Deva was elected as its President, JP was chosen its general secretary. During the Quit India Movement in 1942, JP was again at the helm of the agitation.<br />
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Post independence and death of Gandhiji, Jayaprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev and Basawon Singh directed the CSP out of Congress to create the first opposition Socialist Party. This unit later on took the title Praja Socialist Party. Basawon Singh became the first leader of the Opposition in the state and assembly of Bihar, whereas Acharya Narendra Deva became the first leader of opposition in the state and assembly of U.P.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-89637561510086013892010-12-04T13:51:00.002+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.019+05:30Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/chakravarthi-rajagopalachari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/chakravarthi-rajagopalachari.jpg" /></a><b>Born</b> - 10 December 1878<br />
<b>Died</b> - 25 December 1972<br />
<b>Achievements</b> - He was a very well-known lawyer, writer and statesman of India during the independence struggle. A prominent figure in the Indian National Congress, he was elected the second governor-general of India after its independence. Following this, Rajaji was made the chief minister of the Indian state of Madras.<br />
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Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari, who was more popular as Rajaji or C. Rajagopalachari, was a well-very known lawyer, writer and statesman of India. He was elected the second governor-general of India after its independence and following this, Rajaji was made the chief minister of the Indian state of Madras. Read on about the biography of C. Rajagopalachari, whose interest in politics started at inception of the 1900s. He was hugely impressed on meeting Congress extremist, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and even struck a good kinship with his follower, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai.<br />
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After Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1919, Rajaji made up his mind to follow him. C. Rajagopalachari was appointed the general-secretary of the Congress in 1921 and thus, got opportunity to gain acquaintance with other leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Azad, Rajendra Prasad et al. Rajaji steadily rose in rank and even came to be regarded as Gandhiji's successor. He shared close kinship with Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel too, despite the difference in their viewpoints. Rajaji developed differences with Nehru later, but still both respected one another tremendously.<br />
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Being among the five most important leaders in the Indian National Congress, C. Rajagopalachari played a pivotal role in the life history of this party. Rajaji was the member of its Working Committee from 1919 to 1942 and then again from time period 1950 to 1955. Though Rajaji was active in Congress for about half a century, he was not elected its president even once. In the year 1932, however, he was chosen as the acting president of the Congress and played crucial role in formulating the Poona Pact with Ambedkar. Later when he was asked by Gandhiji and Nehru to head the Congress a couple of times, he refused.<br />
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Possibly, Rajaji was amongst the initial Congress leaders during 1940s to accept the right of Muslims to self-determination. He even worked out a solution by which there could be common defense and communications between the two nations. But this idea was discarded by Ali Jinnah and also some Congress leaders. Rajaji was always known to be a staunch protector of his political principles and never hesitated to disagree with his closest allies even in front of the public.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-61227935656018427812010-12-04T13:50:00.002+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.019+05:30<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/bipin-chandra-pal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bipin Chandra Pal" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/bipin-chandra-pal.jpg" /></a><b>Born</b> - 1858<br />
<b>Died</b> - 1932<br />
<b>Achievements</b> - With the other two members - Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak - from the Lal Bal Pal team, Bipin Chandra Pal doled out a number of extremist measures like boycotting goods made by British, burning Western clothes and lockouts in the British owned businesses and industrial concerns to get their message across to the foreign rulers of India.<br />
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Bipin Chandra Pal was a teacher, journalist, orator, writer and librarian. But above all, he was the one of the three famous leaders called "Lal Bal Pal" who comprised the extremist wing of the Indian National Congress. It was these three leaders who started the first popular upsurge against British colonial policy in the 1905 partition of Bengal. This was before Mahatma Gandhi had entered the fray of Indian politics. Bipin Chandra Pal recognized the positive outcome of the British kingdom, but at the same time upheld India's federal idea.<br />
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Read on about the biography of Bipin Chandra Pal, who was born on 7 November 1858 into a wealthy Hindu family at Habiganj, which is now in Bangladesh. He was a staunch radical in both public and private life. He was also among the first who openly rebuked Mahatma Gandhi and his followers because they sought to reinstate the current government with no government or by the priestly tyranny of Gandhiji. It was, however, his coalition with pan-Islamism during Khilafat movement due to which he was cast off from the Congress till his death in 1932.<br />
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With the other two members - Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak - from the Lal Bal Pal team, Bipin Chandra Pal doled out a number of extremist measures like boycotting goods made by British, burning Western clothes and lockouts in the British owned businesses and industrial concerns to get their message across to the foreign rulers. Later on during the course of his life history, Bipin Chandra Pal came in contact with prominent Bengali leaders like Keshab Chandra Sen and Sibnath Sastri, but not as one looking for a teacher for guidance. Pal died in the year 1932.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-10542466186518634172010-12-04T13:49:00.002+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.019+05:30Kasturba Gandhi<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;">Kasturba Gandhi was born to a prosperous businessman Gokuladas Makharji of Porbandar on April 11, 1869. She got married to Mohandas Gandhi, when she was just thirteen years old. At the time of her marriage, Kasturba was an absolute illiterate. Gandhi taught her how to read and write. When her husband left for London for pursuing further studies, she remained in India for upbringing their newly born son Harilal. The couple had three more sons. Well, in this article, we will present you with the biography of Kasturba Gandhi.<br />
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In the year 1906, Mohandas Gandhi made up his mind to practice Brahmacharya. Like a good wife, Kasturba always stood by the side of her husband, even if she didn't approve of some of his ideas. Kasturba was very religious minded. She broke the barriers that created caste distinction and lived in ashrams. She always supported her husband in the political protests. She went along with her husband to South Africa in the year 1897. To know the complete life history of Kasturba Gandhi, read on.<br />
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From the period between 1904 and 1914, she was actively involved in the Phoenix Settlement near Durban. In the year 1913, she raised her voice against the inhuman working conditions of Indians in South Africa. Infact, she was imprisoned for three months and that too in the jail, where the prisoners were made to do hard labor. In 1915, she accompanied her husband and supported the Indigo planters. There, she taught women and children about basic concepts like personal hygiene, discipline etc.<br />
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Kasturba Gandhi suffered from the problem of chronic Bronchitis. To top it, the stress level caused during the Quit India Movement's arrests aggravated her illness. Her health began to decline. The situation got worse, when she got victimized by pneumonia. Her husband disagreed with her idea to go in for penicillin. On February 22, 1944, she had a major heart attack and she died.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-22909990870341172912010-12-04T13:49:00.000+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.020+05:30Veer Savarkar<a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/veer-savarkar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Veer Savarkar" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/veer-savarkar.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><b>Born:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">May 28, 1883</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><b>Died:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">February 26, 1966</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><b>Achievements:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Founded the Abhinav Bharat Society and Free India Society; brought out an authentic informative researched work on The Great Indian Revolt of 1857 called "The Indian War of Independence 1857"; founded Hindu Mahasabha.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Veer Savarkar occupies a unique place in the history of Indian freedom struggle. His name evokes controversy. While some consider him as one of the greatest revolutionaries in the Indian freedom struggle, others consider him a communalist and Machiavellian manipulator. Vir Savarkar was also a great orator, prolific writer, historian, poet, philosopher and social worker. He was an extraordinary Hindu scholar. He coined Indian words for telephone, photography, the parliament, among others.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Veer Savarkar’s original name was Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. He was born on May 28, 1883 in the village of Bhagur near Nasik. He was one among four children born to Damodarpant Savarkar and Radhabai. Veer Savarkar had his initial education at the Shivaji School, Nasik. He lost his mother when he was only nine. Savarkar was a born rebel. He organized a gang of kids ,Vanarsena when he was just eleven.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">During his high school days, Veer Savarkar used to organize Shivaji Utsav and Ganesh Utsav, started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak (whom Savarkar considered as his Guru) and used these occasions to put up plays on nationalistic themes. Savarkar lost his father during the plague of 1899. In March 1901, he married Yamunabai. Post marriage, in 1902, Veer Savarkar joined Fergusson College in Pune.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">In Pune, Savarkar founded the “Abhinav Bharat Society”. He was also involved in the Swadeshi movement and later joined Tilak’s Swaraj Party. His instigating patriotic speeches and activities incensed the British Government. As a result the British Government withdrew his B.A. degree.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">In June 1906, Veer Savarkar, left for London to become Barrister. However, once in London, he united and inflamed the Indian students in England against British rule in India. He founded the Free India Society. The Society celebrated important dates on the Indian calendar including festivals, freedom movement landmarks, and was dedicated to furthering discussion about Indian freedom. He believed and advocated the use of arms to free India from the British and created a network of Indians in England, equipped with weapons.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">In 1908, brought out an authentic informative researched work on The Great Indian Revolt, which the British termed as "Sepoy Mutiny" of 1857. The book was called "The Indian War of Independence 1857". The British government immediately enforced a ban on the publication in both Britain and India. Later, it was published by Madame Bhikaiji Cama in Holland, and was smuggled into India to reach revolutionaries working across the country against British rule.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">In 1909, Madanlal Dhingra, a keen follower of Savarkar shot Sir Wyllie after a failed assassination attempt on the then Viceroy, Lord Curzon. Savarkar conspicuously did not condemn the act. When the then British Collector of Nasik, A.M.T. Jackson was shot by a youth, Veer Savarkar finally fell under the net of the British authorities. He was implicated in the murder citing his connections with India House. Savarkar was arrested in London on March 13, 1910 and sent to India.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">After a formal trial, Savarkar was charged with serious offences of illegal transportation of weapons, provocative speeches and sedition and was sentenced to 50 years' of jail and deported to the Kalapani (Blackwaters) at Andaman cellular jail.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">In 1920, many prominent freedom fighters including Vithalbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak demanded the release of Savarkar. On May 2, 1921, Savarkar was moved to Ratnagiri jail, and from there to the Yeravada jail. In Ratnagiri jail Savarkar wrote the book 'Hindutva'. On January 6, 1924 he was h freed under the condition that he would not leave Ratnagiri district and abstain from political activity for the next five years. On his release, Veer Savarkar founded the Ratnagiri Hindu Sabha on January 23, 1924 that aimed to preserve India's ancient culture and work for social welfare.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Later Savarkar joined Tilak's Swaraj Party and founded the Hindu Mahasabha as a separate political party. He was elected President of the Mahasabha and toiled for building Hindu Nationalism and later joined the Quit India movement.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">The Hindu Mahasabha opposed creation of Pakistan, and took exception to Gandhi's continued Muslim appeasement stances. Nathuram Godse, a volunteer of the Hindu Mahasabha, assassinated Gandhi in 1948 and upheld his actions till his hanging. Veer Savarkar was arrested and indicted by the Government of India in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination case. But he was acquitted by the Supreme Court of India, for reasons of lack of evidence.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Veer Savarkar died on February 26, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">1966 at the age of 83.</span><br />
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</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-55300791829076560342010-12-04T13:48:00.002+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.020+05:30Subhash Chandra Bose<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/subhas-chandra-bose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Subhas Chandra Bose" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/subhas-chandra-bose.jpg" /></a><b>Born:</b> January 23, 1897<br />
<b>Died:</b> August 18, 1945<br />
<b>Achievements:</b> Passed Indian Civil Services Exam; elected Congress President in 1938 and 1939; formed a new party All India Forward block; organized Azad Hind Fauj to overthrow British Empire from India.<br />
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Subhas Chandra Bose, affectionately called as Netaji, was one of the most prominent leaders of Indian freedom struggle. Though Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have garnered much of the credit for successful culmination of Indian freedom struggle, the contribution of Subash Chandra Bose is no less. He has been denied his rightful place in the annals of Indian history. He founded Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to overthrow British Empire from India and came to acquire legendary status among Indian masses.<br />
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Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. His father Janaki Nath Bose was a famous lawyer and his mother Prabhavati Devi was a pious and religious lady. Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth child among fourteen siblings. Subhas Chandra Bose was a brilliant student right from the childhood. He topped the matriculation examination of Calcutta province and graduated with a First Class in Philosophy from the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings and was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. To fulfill his parents wishes he went to England in 1919 to compete for Indian Civil Services. In England he appeared for the Indian Civil Service competitive examination in 1920, and came out fourth in order of merit. However, Subhas Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, and left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway to return to India in 1921<br />
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After returning to India Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National Congress. On Gandhiji's instructions, he started working under Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, whom he later acknowledged his political guru. Soon he showed his leadership mettle and gained his way up in the Congress' hierarchy. In 1928 the Motilal Nehru Committee appointed by the Congress declared in favour of Domination Status, but Subhas Chandra Bose along with Jawaharlal Nehru opposed it, and both asserted that they would be satisfied with nothing short of complete independence for India. Subhas also announced the formation of the Independence League. Subhas Chandra Bose was jailed during Civil Disobedience movement in 1930. He was released in 1931 after Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed. He protested against the Gandhi-Irwin pact and opposed the suspension of Civil Disobedience movement specially when Bhagat Singh and his associates were hanged.<br />
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Subash Chandra Bose was soon arrested again under the infamous Bengal Regulation. After an year he was released on medical grounds and was banished from India to Europe. He took steps to establish centres in different European capitals with a view to promoting politico-cultural contacts between India and Europe. Defying the ban on his entry to India, Subash Chandra Bose returned to India and was again arrested and jailed for a year. After the General Elections of 1937, Congress came to power in seven states and Subash Chandra Bose was released. Shortly afterwards he was elected President of the Haripura Congress Session in 1938. During his term as Congress President, he talked of planning in concrete terms, and set up a National planning Committee in October that year. At the end of his first term, the presidential election to the Tripuri Congress session took place early 1939. Subhas Chandra Bose was re-elected, defeating Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya who had been backed by Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Working Committee. Clouds of World War II were on the horizon and he brought a resolution to give the British six months to hand India over to the Indians, failing which there would be a revolt. There was much opposition to his rigid stand, and he resigned from the post of president and formed a progressive group known as the Forward Block.<br />
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Subhas Chandra Bose now started a mass movement against utilizing Indian resources and men for the great war. There was a tremendous response to his call and he was put under house arrest in Calcutta. In January 1941, Subhas Chandra Bose disappeared from his home in Calcutta and reached Germany via Afghanistan. Working on the maxim that "an enemy's enemy is a friend", he sought cooperation of Germany and Japan against British Empire. In January 1942, he began his regular broadcasts from Radio Berlin, which aroused tremendous enthusiasm in India. In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore from Germany. In Singapore he took over the reins of the Indian Independence Movement in East Asia from Rash Behari Bose and organised the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) comprising mainly of Indian prisoners of war. He was hailed as Netaji by the Army as well as by the Indian civilian population in East Asia. Azad Hind Fauj proceeded towards India to liberate it from British rule. Enroute it lliberated Andeman and Nicobar Islands. The I.N.A. Head quarters was shifted to Rangoon in January 1944. Azad Hind Fauj crossed the Burma Border, and stood on Indian soil on March 18 ,1944.<br />
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However, defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War forced INA to retreat and it could not achieve its objective. Subhas Chandra Bose was reportedly killed in an air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18, 1945. Though it is widely believed that he was still alive after the air crash not much information could be found about him.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-78592751850009913812010-12-04T13:47:00.003+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.020+05:30Sarvepalli Radhakirishnan<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan.jpg" /></a><b>Born:</b> September 5, 1888<br />
<b>Died:</b> April 17, 1975<br />
<b>Achievements:</b> First Vice President and second President of India. Placed Indian philosophy on world map.<br />
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Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was first Vice President of India and second President of India. He was also a philosopher and introduced the thinking of western idealist philosophers into Indian thought. He was a famous teacher and his birthday is celebrated as Teacher's Day in India.<br />
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Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888 at Tirutani, Madras in a poor Brahmin family. As his father was poor Radhakrishnan supported most of his education through scholarships. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan had his early education at Gowdie School, Tiruvallur and then went to the Lutheran Mission School in Tirupati for his high school. He joined the Voorhee's College in Vellore and later switched to the Madras Christian College. He chose Philosophy as his major subject and did his B.A. and M.A. in it.<br />
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After completing his M.A., Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, accepted an Assistant Lectureship at the Madras Presidency College in 1909. In college, he mastered the classics of Hindu philosophy, namely the Upanishads, Bhagvad Gita, Brahmasutra, and commentaries of Sankara, Ramunuja and Madhava. He also acquainted himself with Buddhist and Jain philosophy and philosophies of Western thinkers such as Plato, Plotinus, Kant, Bradley, and Bergson.<br />
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In 1918, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was selected as Professor of Philosophy by the University of Mysore. In 1921, Radhakrishnan was nominated as Professor of Philosophy at the Calcutta University, 1921. In 1923, Dr. Radhakrishnan's book "Indian Philosophy" was published. The book was hailed as a "philosophical classic and a literary masterpiece."<br />
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Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was called to Oxford University, to deliver lectures on Hindu philosophy. He used his lectures as a platform to further India's cause for freedom. He also argued that Western philosophers, despite all claims to objectivity, were biased by theological influences from their wider culture. He showed that Indian philosophy, once translated into standard academic jargon, is worthy of being called philosophy by Western standards. He thus placed Indian Philosophy on world map.<br />
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In 1931, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was elected Vice Chancellor of the Andhra University. In 1939, Radhakrishnan became the Vice Chancellor of the Benaras Hindu University. In 1946, he was appointed as Ambassador to UNESCO. After Independence Dr. Radhakrishnan was requested to Chair the University Education Commission in 1948. The Radhakrishnan Committee's suggestions helped mould the education system for India's needs.<br />
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In 1949, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was appointed ambassador to the Soviet Union. He helped laid the foundation for a strong relationship with Soviet Union. Radhakrishnan was elected first Vice-President of India in 1952. He was honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1954. After serving two terms as Vice-President, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was elected President of India in 1962. During his tenure as President India fought wars with China and Pakistan. As President he helped see India through those trying years safely. He retired as President in 1967 and settled in Madras.<br />
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Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan died on April 17, 1975.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-62083195277612284512010-12-04T13:47:00.000+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.020+05:30Sarojini Nayudu<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/sarojini-naidu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sarojini Naidu" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/sarojini-naidu.jpg" /></a><b>Born:</b> February 13, 1879<br />
<b>Died:</b> March 2, 1949<br />
<b>Achievements:</b> She was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the governor of a state in India.<br />
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Sarojini Naidu was a distinguished poet, renowned freedom fighter and one of the great orators of her time. She was famously known as Bharatiya Kokila (The Nightingale of India). Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the governor of a state in India.<br />
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Sarojini Naidu was born on February 13, 1879. Her father Aghoranath Chattopadhyaya was a scientist and philosopher. He was the founder of the Nizam College, Hyderabad. Sarojini Naidu's mother Barada Sundari Devi was a poetess and used to write poetry in Bengali. Sarojini Naidu was the eldest among the eight siblings. One of her brothers Birendranath was a revolutionary and her other brother Harindranath was a poet, dramatist, and actor.<br />
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Sarojini Naidu was a brilliant student. She was proficient in Urdu, Telugu, English, Bengali, and Persian. At the age of twelve, Sarojini Naidu attained national fame when she topped the matriculation examination at Madras University. Her father wanted her to become a mathematician or scientist but Sarojini Naidu was interested in poetry. She started writing poems in English. Impressed by her poetry, Nizam of Hyderabad, gave her scholarship to study abroad. At the age of 16, she traveled to England to study first at King's College London and later at Girton College, Cambridge. There she met famous laureates of her time such as Arthur Simon and Edmond Gausse. It was Gausse who convinced Sarojini to stick to Indian themes-India's great mountains, rivers, temples, social milieu, to express her poetry. She depicted contemporary Indian life and events. Her collections "The golden threshold (1905)", "The bird of time (1912)", and "The broken wing (1912)" attracted huge Indian and English readership.<br />
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At the age of 15, she met Dr. Govindarajulu Naidu and fell in love with him. a non-brahmin, and a doctor by profession. After finishing her studies at the age of 19, she married him during the time when inter-caste marriages were not allowed. It was a revolutionary step but Sarojini's father fully supported her in her endeavour. Sarojini Naidu had a happy married life and had four children: Jayasurya, Padmaj, Randheer, and Leilamani.<br />
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Sarojini Naidu joined the Indian national movement in the wake of partition of Bengal in 1905. She came into contact with Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Rabindranath Tagore, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Annie Besant, C.P.Rama Swami Iyer, Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru. She awakened the women of India. She brought them out of the kitchen. She traveled from state to state, city after city and asked for the rights of the women. She re-established self-esteem within the women of India.<br />
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In 1925, Sarojini Naidu presided over the annual session of Indian National Congress at Kanpur. Sarojini Naidu played a leading role during the Civil Disobedience Movement and was jailed along with Gandhiji and other leaders. In 1942, Sarojini Naidu was arrested during the "Quit India" movement and was jailed for 21 months with Gandhiji. She shared a very warm relationship with Gandhiji and used to call him "Mickey Mouse".<br />
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After Independence, Sarojini Naidu became the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. She was India's first woman governor. Sarojini Naidu died in office on March 2 ,1949.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367611928297043805.post-36599104691851590992010-12-04T13:46:00.002+05:302010-12-04T13:55:27.021+05:30Great Sardar Patel<div class="text" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: arial, tahoma, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/sardar-patel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sardar Patel" border="0" src="http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/pics/sardar-patel.jpg" /></a><b>Born:</b> October 31, 1875<br />
<b>Died:</b> December 15, 1950<br />
<b>Achievements:</b> Successfully led Kheda Satyagraha and Bardoli revolt against British government; elected Ahmedabad's municipal president in 1922, 1924 and 1927; elected Congress President in 1931; was independent India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister; played a key role in political integration of India; conferred Bharat Ratna in 1991.<br />
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Sardar Patel was popularly known as Iron Man of India. His full name was Vallabhbhai Patel. He played a leading role in the Indian freedom struggle and became the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. He is credited with achieving political integration of India.<br />
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Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Nadiad, a small village in Gujarat. His father Jhaverbhai was a farmer and mother Laad Bai was a simple lady. Sardar Vallabhai's early education took place in Karamsad. Then he joined a school in Petlad. After two years he joined a high school in a town called Nadiad. He passed his high school examination in 1896. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a brilliant student throughout his schooling.<br />
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Vallabhbhai wanted to become a barrister. To realize this ambition he had to go to England. But he did not have the financial means to even join a college India. In those days a candidate could study in private and sit for an examination in Law. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel borrowed books from a lawyer of his acquaintance and studied at home. Occasionally he attended courts of law and listened attentively to the arguments of lawyer. Vallabhbhai passed the Law examination with flying colours.<br />
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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel started his Law practice in Godhra. Soon his practice flourished. He got married to Jhaberaba. In 1904, he got a baby daughter Maniben, and in 1905 his son Dahyabhai was born. Vallabhbhai sent his elder brother Vitthalbhai, who himself was a lawyer, to England for higher studies in Law. Patel was only thirty-three years old when his wife died. He did not wish to marry again. After his brother's return, Vallabhbhai went to England. He studied with single-minded devotion and stood first in the Barrister-at-Law Examination.<br />
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Sardar Patel returned to India in 1913 and started his practice in Ahmedabad. Soon he became popular. At the urging of his friends, Patel contested and won elections to become the sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad in 1917. Sardar Patel was deeply impressed by Gandhiji's success in Champaran Satyagraha. In 1918, there was a drought in the Kheda division of Gujarat. Peasants asked for relief from the high rate of taxes but the British government refused. Gandhiji took up peasants cause but could not devote his full time in Kheda. He was looking for someone who could lead the struggle in his absence. At this point Sardar Patel volunteered to come forward and lead the struggle. He gave up his lucrative legal practice and entered public life.<br />
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Vallabhbhai successfully led peasants revolt in Kheda and the revolt ended in 1919 when the British government agreed to suspend collection of revenue and roll back the rates. Kheda Satyagraha turned Vallabhbhai Patel into a national hero. Vallabhbhai supported Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement, and as president of the Gujarat Congress, helped in organizing bonfires of British goods in Ahmedabad. He gave up his English clothes and started wearing Khadi. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel was elected Ahmedabad's municipal president in 1922, 1924 and 1927. During his terms, Ahmedabad was extended a major supply of electricity and underwent major education reforms. Drainage and sanitation systems were extended over all the city.<br />
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In 1928, Bardoli Taluka in Gujarat suffered from floods and famine. In this hour of distress the British government raised the revenue taxes by thirty percent. Sardar Patel took up cudgels on behalf of the farmers and appealed to the Governor to reduce the taxes. The Governor refused and the government even announced the date of the collection of the taxes. Sardar Patel organized the farmers and told them not to pay even a single pie of tax. The government tried to repress the revolt but ultimately bowed before Vallabhbhai Patel. It was during the struggle and after the victory in Bardoli that caused intense excitement across India, that Patel was increasingly addressed by his colleagues and followers as Sardar.<br />
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Disobedience Movement in 1930. After the signing of Gandhi-Irwin pact in 1931, Sardar Patel was released and he was elected Congress president for its 1931 session in Karachi. Upon the failure of the Round Table Conference in London, Gandhiji and Sardar Patel were arrested in January 1932 and imprisoned in the Yeravada Central Jail. During this term of imprisonment, Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi grew close to one another, and the two developed a close bond of affection, trust, and frankness without reserve. Sardar Patel was finally released in July 1934.<br />
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In August 1942, the Congress launched the Quit India Movement. The government jailed all the important leaders of the Congress, including Vallabhai Patel. All the leaders were released after three years. After achieving independence on 15th of August 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of independent India and Sardar Patel became the Deputy Prime Minister. He was in charge of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of States.<br />
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There were 565 princely states in India at that time. Some of the Maharajas and Nawabs who ruled over these were sensible and patriotic. But most of them were drunk with wealth and power. They were dreaming of becoming independent rulers once the British quit India. They argued that the government of free India should treat them as equals. Some of them went to the extent of planning to send their representatives to the United Nations Organization. Patel invoked the patriotism of India's monarchs, asking them to join in the freedom of their nation and act as responsible rulers who cared about the future of their people. He persuaded the princes of 565 states of the impossibility of independence from the Indian republic, especially in the presence of growing opposition from their subjects. With great wisdom and political foresight, he consolidated the small kingdoms. The public was with him. He tackled the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Junagarh who initially did not want to join India. Sardar Patel's untiring efforts towards the unity of the country brought success. He united a scattered nation without much bloodshed. Due to the achievement of this massive task, Sardar Patel got the title of 'Iron Man'. Sardar Patel died of cardiac arrest on December 15, 1950. For his services to the nation Sardar Patel was conferred with Bharat Ratna in 1991.</div><div><br />
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