Hayat Ashraf

भारत के सबसे अधिक समर्थित और व्यापक रूप से स्वीकृत विरोधों में से एक, 'वैकोम सत्याग्रह' ने हाल ही में अपने 100 वर्ष पूरे किए हैं। वैकोम सत्याग्रह के बारे में: यह पहला जाति-विरोधी आंदोलन है, क्योंकि दलित वर्ग और अछूतों के शिष्यों को मंदिर में प्रवेश करने से प्रतिबंधित कर दिया गया था। इसका उद्देश्य कोट्टायम जिले के वैकोम में श्री महादेव मंदिर की सड़कों पर चलने के लिए दलित वर्गों के अधिकारों को स्थापित करना था।   पृष्ठभूमि: मंदिर में प्रवेश का मुद्दा सबसे पहले एझावा नेता टी.के. माधवन ने 1917 में अपने अखबार देशाभिमानी के संपादकीय में उठाया था। काकीनाडा में 1923 में AICC (अखिल भारतीय कांग्रेस समिति) की बैठक में, के. माधवन ने सरदार पणिक्कर और के.पी. केशव मेनन के साथ मिलकर त्रावणकोर विधान परिषद को एक याचिका प्रस्तुत की।  याचिका में जाति, पंथ और समुदाय से परे समाज के सभी वर्गों के लिए मंदिर में प्रवेश और देवताओं की पूजा का अधिकार देने की मांग की गई थी। यह आंदोलन 30 मार्च 1924 को शुरू किया गया था।  केरल के कोट्टायम जिले में महादेव मंदिर के आसपास के क्ष...

Recently, World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a new network for coronaviruses, CoViNet. About CoViNet: It is a network of global laboratories with expertise in human, animal and environmental coronavirus surveillance. It will identify and monitor potentially novel coronaviruses that could emerge shortly. The network will now have animal health and environmental surveillance and timely risk assessment to feed WHO policies and protective measures. In low- and middle-income countries, CoViNet will support the building of more laboratories to monitor MERS-CoV and novel coronaviruses of public health importance. Data generated through CoViNet's efforts will guide the work of WHO's Technical Advisory Groups on Viral Evolution (TAG-VE) and Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC). It currently comprises 36 laboratories from 21 countries in all six WHO regions. Three Indian laboratories namely; the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Resear...

According to the Food Waste Index Report 2024, households across the globe wasted over one billion meals a day in 2022. About Food Waste Index Report 2024: It a study jointly authored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), a U.K.-based non-profit. It tracks the global and national generation of food and inedible parts wasted at the retail and consumer (household and food service) levels. Highlights of the report: The report defines “food waste” as “food and the associated inedible parts removed from the human food supply chain”. ‘‘Food loss” is defined as “all the crop and livestock human-edible commodity quantities that, directly or indirectly, completely exit the post-harvest/slaughter production/supply chain up to, and excluding, the retail level”. It noted that in 2022, there were 1.05 billion tonnes of food waste generated (including inedible parts), amounting to 132 kilograms per capita and almost one-fifth of all food ...

Recently, Skyroot Aerospace, the leading space-tech company, has successfully test-fired the Kalam-250 at the propulsion testbed of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).  About Kalam-250: It is a stage-2 of Vikram-1 space launch vehicle. It is a high-strength carbon composite rocket motor, which uses solid fuel and a high-performance Ethylene-Propylene-Diene terpolymers (EPDM) thermal protection system (TPS). The stage includes a carbon ablative flex nozzle along with high-precision electro-mechanical actuators for thrust vector control of the vehicle, aiding in achieving the desired trajectory.  The second stage of Vikram-1 will play a crucial role in the ascent of the launch vehicle, propelling it from the atmosphere to the deep vacuum of outer space. Key facts about the Vikram-1 Rocket: It is named after the father of India’s space programme, Vikram Sarabhai and is a multi-stage launch vehicle with a capacity to place around 300 k...

As per the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 4,500 Rohingya refugees set off across the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in 2023. About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: It protects refugees worldwide and facilitates their return home or resettlement. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland It was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1950 in the aftermath of the Second World War to help the millions of people who had lost their homes. It is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. It was awarded Nobel Peace Prizes in 1954 and 1981. It started Nansen Refugee Award in 1954 for recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees, displaced or stateless people. Who are the Rohingya refugees? The Rohingya are a Muslim minority ethnic group with their roots in the Arakan kingdom in Myanmar. Accordin...

In a historic move, the Kerala Kalamandalam, a deemed university for arts and culture, has lifted gender restrictions to learn Mohiniyattam. About Mohiniyattam: It is an Indian classical dance form that evolved in the state of Kerala. History and Evolution: Its roots date back to the age-old Sanskrit Hindu text on performing arts called ‘Natya Shastra’. It is used to be performed by Devadasis (temple dancers) in temples during the rule of the Chera kings from 9 to 12 C.E. Features:                               It is conventionally a solo dance performed by female artists. It adheres to the Lasya type that showcases a more graceful, gentle and feminine form of dancing.  Theme: The dance form Mohiniyattam has love and devotion to God as its major themes, with usually Lord Vishnu or his incarnation Lord Krishna as the lead character. It emotes a play through dancing and singing, where the song is customar...

The Supreme Court recently dismissed the review petitions filed against its judgment related to Section 120B of the IPC.  About Section 120B of the IPC: Section 120A of the IPC defines the offence of criminal conspiracy. Section 120B of the IPC, on the other hand, defines the punishment for criminal conspiracy. Criminal Conspiracy under IPC is an agreement between two or more persons to commit an illegal act or to commit a lawful act by illegal means. In other words, it is a criminal offence where two or more individuals agree to plan and execute a criminal act. Section 120A of the IPC states: “When two or more persons agree to do or cause to be done, an illegal act or an act which is not illegal by illegal means, such an agreement is designated a criminal conspiracy”. For a conspiracy to be established, there must be an agreement between the conspirators, a common intention to commit an illegal act, and an overt act in furtherance of that intention. The agreement does not hav...