Fairs have been held all over the world from time immemorial. They offered a great opportunity to merchants from distant lands to trade their wares. Fairs continue to play an important role in promoting trade. A wide range of products may be marketed at fairs — from animals and automobiles to books and art. And when a funfair with rides and stalls is added to the proceedings, it becomes an exciting place for families to have a day of fun. Clear blue skies and cool climes see people coming out in large numbers to attend fairs in different parts of…
Author: oiop
Orangutans in Indonesia’s Borneo island have devised an ingenious technique to lower the frequency of their alarm calls called kiss squeaks. The apes use leaves to alter the frequency of the kiss squeaks and make the calls sound deeper. As deeper calls are usually associated with larger animals, predators like leopards, snakes and tigers are fooled into thinking the ape is larger than it actually is and hesitate to attack it. According to Madeleine Hardus, a primatologist from the University of Utrecht, Netherlands, orangutans are the only non-human primates that have been found using tools to manipulate sound.
Heitaro the farmer had built his house near a giant willow tree – a tree that was as old as the hills. Perhaps because he lived so near it, Heitaro loved the tree passionately. So deep was his attachment, that when the villagers wanted to cut it down and use its wood to build a bridge over the river, Heitaro was indignant. “Take the trees that grow on my farm,” he said. “I cannot bear my willow to be soiled by hundreds of feet!” One night, when Heitaro was sitting under the tree, he felt a presence beside him. It…
The Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior is a grand example of the opulence and elegance that were the hallmarks of the erstwhile princely abodes. It was built in 1875 by Jayajirao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior. A part of the palace (35 rooms) has now been converted into a museum while the remaining area continues to be occupied by the Scindia family. The palace is a unique blend of various European architectural styles, drawing inspiration from Buckingham Palace, Palace of Versailles and the Greek ruins. Even the interiors reflect a distinct European influence as most of the furniture, tapestries and…
THE world famous Taj Mahal at Agra has a poor cousin by the same name. What’s more, it is also built by a Shah Jahan! Sadly the similarity ends there! While millions visit Agra to bask in the glory of the Taj, its namesake in Bhopal is a forgotten destination, being in dire need of restoration. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj as a mausoleum in the memory of his wife, whereas the Bhopal edifice was a royal residence. It was built in the late 19th century by Shah Jahan, the begum of the erstwhile princely state of…
In my mother tongue there is a phrase that when literally translated means, “What news?” This is a phrase I get often now from my relatives and acquaintances. The correct answer or the expected one from the 25-year-old me is that I am getting engaged/married or that my parents are looking for an eligible groom who I could settle down with. The next question is where I work and a large portion of the time is then dedicated to what my timings and my weekly off patterns are. I have resigned to the fact that the questioning is still done…
“I do science because it gives me happiness, excitement and inspiration” The fame of Lindau Meetings is perhaps because it is the only event that brings a large number of Nobel laureates together in one place to interact, debate and discuss scientific issues over six days. But at the core of the Meetings are the young scientists drawn from all over the world. For them, it’s a rare chance to not only attend lectures or master classes of the Nobel laureates, but also mingle with them and interact informally. Dhiraj Bhatia from Nashik in Maharashtra is a post-doctoral fellow at…
When the editor suggested a write up on a Women’s only train, yes, you heard it right- a women only train, the Shreemati Express, all I could do was roll my eyes Heavenwards. Seriously? A woman only train? You mean a train with an engine, coaches, woman loco pilot? Lady guard? Lady TTEs? Why not? When women fly the planes and park their cars with clinical precision, ahem…I am a bit over board here, I know… why not a totally woman only train? What would we long for in a woman-only train? There are ladies special trains used by commuting…
How relevant is Mahatma Gandhi today? He lived and died by some very strong beliefs and principles, which greatly influenced the way our freedom was won. Yet, are those beliefs relevant in today’s India and world? Tushar A. Gandhi introspects. It’s become fashionable to ask, “Do we need Gandhi?” And it’s asked with the expectation of the answer being, “We don’t”. This is the age of Information Technology. Where is the relevance of the spinning wheel? It is the age of consumption. What is the use of restraint? It is the age of drone bombers, stealth ships and remote warfare.…
What was the Gandhian influence on India and how do we honour his memory still? V. Gangadhar recalls the past era nostalgically, and emerges with interesting vignettes. Is the Gandhian influence still intact? It’s a difficult question which involves use of memory, knowledge, history and what not. In my 70’s, my recollections are vague. I know it is some VIP’s birthday. But whose? On earlier occasions, we saw flags everywhere. Schools and offices were closed. A lot of people carried with them what was known as ‘charkhas’. Schoolboys and girls, men and women and senior citizens carried with them the…