Days before the Men in Blue took on their arch rivals across the border in their World Cup opener, most of the fans and former cricketers had virtually written them off.
In the aftermath of the disastrous tour Down Under where India lost the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2-0 to Australia and then failed to qualify for the finale of the ODI tri-series, not many would have expected the Indians to finish as one of the four semi-finalists in this edition of the Cricket World Cup. However, as they say, "Cometh the hour, cometh the man". In this case though, it was not one man, but a team of 15 men who brought joy to a cricket crazy nation of over a billion. The Indians dominated the Pool B vanquishing all their opponents including a mercurial Pakistani side, routing pre-tournament favorites South Africa and seeing off the challenge posed by the West Indies. Though the quarter-finals against Bangladesh was mired in controversy thanks to umpiring blunders, there was no doubt as to which was the better team on that day. Though the fairy-tale ended with a massive 95 runs defeat against a strong Australian team, the Indians could still hold their heads high; after all, they had played superb cricket throughout the tournament.
Perhaps, the biggest revelation of the series, from the Indian perspective was our bowling. What was suppose to be our Achilles heel turned out to be the most potent weapon in our arsenal. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers for me, finishing with 17 wickets in the 7 matches that he played with an enviable average of 17.29. Umesh Yadav who bagged 18 scalps in the tournament, including a four wicket haul against the mighty Australian line up ended as the third highest wicket taker in the series. One aspect that the pacer from UP can improve upon is his tendency to bowl at least one 'bad' ball per over. Meanwhile Mohit Sharma who got a break after Ishant was ruled out of the world cup due to an injury, justified his selection into the side by maintaining the pressure that the strike bowlers had built up during their opening spell. Ravi Ashwin too was spot on; he was amongst the top three spinners of the tournament behind Vettori and Tahir. In fact, India was the only team to take all the wickets in the first seven matches they played. Moreover, two of our fast bowlers or as the critics call them 'medium pacers', namely Yadav and Shami feature amonsgt the top five wicket takers of the series. And for your information, there was just one Indian batsman in the list of top five batsmen in the 2015 edition of the World Cup. Surprising, isn't it?
Apart from our bowling, our fielding during the course of the world cup was spectacular to say the least. Diving, sliding and direct hits have never been our forte in the past. However, one of the reasons for us to make it so far in the tournament was our excellent fielding. Perhaps, the one moment that epitomizes the high standards that the Indians displayed throughout the tournament was the run out of A B de Villiers due to an bullet like throw from Mohit Sharma along the boundary line in our second group match. Other highlights during the world cup include Jadeja's run out of Imrul Kayes and Dhawan's juggling act to send back the in-form Mahmudullah in the quarters.
India has always been known for producing some of the best batsmen in the world. Be it the textbook of batting - Sunil Gavaskar or the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, our batting has been our USP and has won us a lot of matches. Coming to the 2015 World Cup, four of our batters - Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli scored centuries in the tournament. Serious questions were raised over the form of Shikhar Dhawan before the tournament; however, the southpaw answered his detractors by finishing as the fifth highest run getter in the tournament, scoring 412 runs at an average of a little over 51, including two centuries. Raina's century against Zimbabawe and his innings against Pakistan were a treat to the eyes. Though there is no doubt that our batters did well, in my opinion, they did not realize their full potential on the big stage. Rohit took ages to finally break free, Virat failed to live up to the expectation after that century against Pakistan in the opener whereas Rahane too could have done much more.
MSD, possibly playing in his last ODI world cup proved why he is the greatest captain in the history of Indian cricket. He marshaled his troops well. To be frank, I think that the team that won the holy grail in 2011 was far stronger than this one. In spite of this, Dhoni led from the front and his tactics were largely responsible for us doing so well in this series. Again, one aspect that he could have done better was team selection. It was heartening to see the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel and Stuart Binny just warming the benches throughout the tournament. I mean, these guys could have at least got an opportunity against the lesser teams like UAE or Zimbabwe, especially after it was pretty much clear that we were sure to finish at the top in our pool. With Rohit Sharma failing to make an impact, Rayudu should have got a call whereas Jadeja's indifferent performance should have led to the selection of Binny, a player who was picked ahead of Yuvraj.
There are a list of the things that the team could have done better. But then, the big picture is that we played well, just like the defending champs. Of course, we failed to make it two times in a row. However, the good part is that we did not surrender the trophy tamely, as many expected. There were lots of people who said and wrote a lot of things of how the Men in Blue had let the country down. However, the truth was that team played some very exciting cricket and tried their very best against a well balanced Australian side which was far better than us. Moreover, an overwhelming majority of the fans felt this way. Well played, Team India! We are still proud of you guys!
As we were watching the opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup 2015 at a restaurant at the ITPL Mall, a colleague of mine asked my views about India's chances at the tournament. "The chances of India retaining the world cup are even lesser than that of the Congress winning the Delhi polls", I quipped, much to the amusement of my team members. Two weeks down the line though, I am happy to eat the humble pie. The 'Men in Blue' who had failed to win a single match in their three month long tour of Australia prior to the start of the series, have peaked at the right moment and their performance so far has been fabulous to say the least.
The Indian team made short work of their arch rivals - the Pakistanis in their opening game, handed one of the tournament favorites - the South Africans their worst ever defeat in World Cup history and then crushed the UAE by nine wickets earlier in the day. With 6 points in their kitty, India are at the top of Pool 'B' and are expected to finish at the numero uno position, thereby avoiding both Australia and New Zealand in the quarters. Delhi lads Virat Kohli and Shikar Dhawan who looked lack luster in the tri-series have stuck form at the right time with both batters notching up a century each. Particularly, Dhawan's ton against top quality South African pace attack boasting of the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel has been the best performance by an Indian batsman in this world cup so far. Rahane and Raina too have played their part exceedingly well, piercing the gaps, rotating the strike, thereby helping the team in the middle overs by scoring at more than run a ball. Our fast bowling, which was considered by many to be our weakling, has been a 'revelation'. The pacers - Shami, Yadav and Sharma have bowled in the right areas and reaped huge dividends, sharing 15 wickets amongst themselves whereas Ashwin has taken eight scalps. The highlight though has been our fielding with the boys dropping just 1 of the 22 chances that came their way. A large share of the credit for this transformation must also go to captain M S Dhoni who has marshaled his troops well so far.
Meanwhile, the co-hosts Australia and New Zealand are comfortably placed to enter the knock out stages of the tournament. The match between these two teams has been the best match of the World Cup 2015 with the rivals exposing each others weakness, especially in the batting department. This was one of those matches which reassures you that in spite of the rules being heavily in favor of the batsmen, we still have some quality bowlers at the international level who can turn a game on their own. Though Brendon McCullum and David Warner notched up quick fire half centuries whereas Boult and Starc produced amazing bowling spells, the difference between the two teams was Kane Williamson's innings of 40 odd runs in which he played some good cricketing shots, taking minimal risk. In this era of T20 cricket wherein batsmen go all guns blazing right from the start, the Kiwi batsman might come across as a 'misfit'. However, to win ODIs, you need supremely gifted players like him. After this one wicket victory over the Aussies, the Kiwis are all set to top their group just ahead of their rivals across the Tasman Sea provided Australians manage to beat the Lankans.
1996 winners Sri Lanka and pre-tournament favorites South Africa have not exactly set the stage on far, at least the way they would have liked to. The Proteras who have one of the most well balanced side in the series were thumped by India before they registered a 257 run win over the boys from the Caribbean courtesy a 66 ball 162 from their skipper De Villers. With consecutive wins over Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the Lankans have collected four points but the big test will come when they face off against the English and then the Aussies. Meanwhile, the performance of teams like Pakistan, West Indies and England has been disappointing. The boys from Caribbean were shocked by the Irish whereas the Pakistanis are yet to register a single win. England who are chasing their maiden World Cup have managed just one win in three games. Ireland on the other hand, need to beat Zimbabwe and register one win over a Test playing nation to go through the quarter finals. Oh boy, what an achievement will that be. That would be a tight slap on the faces of all those who want the series to be restricted only to full ICC members which would essentially make it a Commonwealth event rather than a 'World Cup'.
It is extremely important that the World Cup 2015 witnesses high level of competition played with the realm of the spirit of the game. I say this because, with the advent of T20, the 'sword of damocles' seems to be hanging over the fate of the ODIs with several former greats speaking in favor of doing away with this format altogether. For fans like me who have spent a great deal of their childhood watching this format, that would be nothing less than a personal tragedy. The 50 over game though a little longer when compared to T20s provides an unique opportunity for players across both the major disciplines to show case their skills while testing their temperament. Unlike the 20 over game which is based on the principle of 'Hit out or Get out', having a decent technique and holding on to the nerves are the keys to succeed in the ODIs. Though I would like either India or New Zealand to walk away with the trophy, I would be very happy if the real winner at the end of the two month long series is top quality ODI cricket.
While there has been much talk regarding the myriad failures of the UPA on the economic front, what many of us seem to have forgotten is that the Manmohan regime also left the country's foreign affairs in a complete mess. With the new government being sworn in, one of the major challenges before Narendra Modi and the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj is how to improve the nation's relations with the rest of the world. An excellent step in this direction, a master stroke of sorts came in the form of the invitation that the PM sent out to the leaders of the SAARC countries to attend his swearing in, re-iterating his government's stand of maintaining peace in the entire South Asian region. With either the premiers or the representatives of all our neighboring nations descending on New Delhi to witness Modi take power, the whole episode was hailed as the BJP's regime first major accomplishment. As the former Gujarat CM settled in his new job, one of the questions doing the rounds was which country would he choose for his first official foreign trip.
There was a significant section of observers who felt that it would be logical for the new PM to return the favor and send a strong signal by visiting Islamabad. After all, his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif had defied the all powerful Pakistani army, the Islamists and other right wing elements within the establishment to come to India. However, considering his aggressive stance on Pakistan and the BJP's criticism of the previous government's 'soft approach' towards our western neighbor, a visit to Pakistan, that too at such an early stage of his tenure was ruled out. Another possible choice before Modi was China; even the incumbent Chinese President Xi Jinping's first foreign visit was to New Delhi. Of course, he did travel to Pakistan next, a trip which he could have definitely avoided. Anyway, with border dispute far from being settled and the two nations competing with each other in the race become the next big super power, the visit could have laid the agenda for future talks between the Asian giants. Japan was another country which some thought would have the pleasure of hosting the new Indian PM considering his admiration for the island nation and the progress it has made in the later half of the twentieth century. Old ally Russia and even the USA which has revoked all visa restrictions on Modi which was imposed following the Gujarat riots were also believed to be in the 'reckoning' to be the first nations to welcome him. However, as the 'honor' ultimately went to the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, many were perplexed if Narendra Bhai had lost the opportunity to strike a deal with one of these 'big' players at the onset of his tenure.
Now, the relations between India and the tiny Himalayan kingdom stretch back to 1949 when the two neighbors signed a bilateral agreement in 1949. In fact, ties improved further as a part of our 'Himalayan frontier' policy following the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the Sino-Indian war of 1962. Over the years, New Delhi and Thimpu moved closer with the former playing a key role in the latter's external affairs. In fact, as the Indian army entered and liberated the erstwhile 'East Pakistan', Bhutan was the second country after India to officially recognize Bangladesh. Besides, we have for long been Thimpu's biggest trading partner and have invested heavily in its infrastructural development. Of course, the Himalayan neighbors have reciprocated too. In 2003, the Royal Bhutanese Army completely flushed the ULFA militants from its territories in an operation led by the Crown Prince himself. Nearly four years later, the two nations renegotiated a new treaty, replacing the one signed in 1949 which reduced our influence on Bhutan's foreign affairs, besides curbing our control over its arms imports.
While Thimpu has probably been our closest ally, there have been instances where there has been some friction between the two nations like in 1979 when we took contrasting positions over the membership of Khmer Cambodia in the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM). However, the thaw in the relations between Thimpu and New Delhi in July last year did threaten to break this six decade old friendship. Nearly an year ago as the small South Asian country went tot the polls, the Manmohan Singh government decided to discontinue the subsidiary on LPG cylinders and kerosene provided by the Indian government till then. It was believed that the move which was taken during the middle of the elections was a kind of protest against the incumbent PM Jigme Thinley's 'over-ambitious' policy of reaching over to the world without consulting India. Besides, the officials in the South Block were said to be displeased with the slow pace of work on infra projects being implemented by India assistance. As India refused to renew the pact, the rising prices hit the common Bhutanese on the streets. What came in as a surprise move though was China's offer to Bhutan to supply these essential commodities at reasonable rates. With India on the back foot, the Singh government finally decided to wake up from its deep slumber and agreed to continue with its earlier policy in what was a decision taken to keep the Chinese away from wooing our 'buddies'.
In the backdrop of this avoidable controversy on the part of our government, PM Modi's visit to Thimpu is highly significant. While we have had critical differences with Pakistan and China, a major cause of concern is that a lot of smaller players in the Sub-continent including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and even Nepal are increasingly unhappy with us, accusing us of 'big-brotherly' treatment. Now, this is certainly not good news for us. What is a bigger cause of worry for us is that the Chinese seem to be making the best of the situation by increasing their influence in our own backyard. Beijing has tipped India to become the biggest foreign investor in Nepal, a move that has set alarm bells ringing in the South Block. China's ambitious 'String of Pearls' which includes building ports in our neighboring has been a big cause of worry for India's defense as it can be used effectively against our navy during the times of war. The cancellation of GMR's airport contract by the Mauritian government seem to have been influenced by the Chinese authorities. Beijing's interest in opening an embassy in Thimpu shows its eagerness to bury all differences with the Himalayn country. As such, it is but imperative for us to assert our position and improve our ties with our neighbors even if it means taking on the Chinese 'diplomatic' threat head on. Considering that we have had historic and deep cultural ties with nations in South Asia, it should not been hard to correct some of our past mistakes.
Besides, we do have our own personal interests in Bhutan that we need to safeguard. India has been the major trading partner, accounting for nearly 98 percent of Bhutan's total exports. We have helped Bhutan in construction of innumerable roads and dams. Considering this, PM Modi's move will for sure be a positive step. By visiting Thimpu, he has sent a strong message that to our friends across the border that we treasure our friendship, that for us, Bhutan is not not another other ally; in fact, for us, it an important and trustworthy friend. Hopefully, in the coming days, the ties between the south Asian neighbors will improve further and help both nations in the long run.
(1) Which is the longest amongst the rivers that flow entirely within the territorial limits of India?
Godavari
Krishna
Narmada
Kaveri
(2) The names ‘Panjnad’ and ‘Satnad’ are associated with which Indian River?
Ganag
Indus
Brahmaputra
Narmada
(3) Which of the following is not a southward flowing tributary of the Ganga?
Gomati
Son
Ghaghara
Kosi
(4) Which of the following rivers flows through the maximum number of NE states?
Brahmaputra
Manas
Barak
Luhit
(5) According to the Puranas, after relieving millions of people of their sins, the River Ganga assumes the form of a black cow and takes a dip in another river of peninsular India to cleanse herself. Which river are we referring to?
Narmada
Kaveri
Krishna
Godavari
(6) The Farakka Barrage pumps water from the Ganges into which river?
Teesta
Hooghly
Damodar
Torsa
(7) The Periyar River is the said to be the lifeline of which Indian state?
Karnataka
Andhra
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
(8) Which is the famous temple town on the banks of the river Vegavathi?
Kanchipuram
Madurai
Thanjore
Coimbatore
(9) Name the largest tributary of Krishna.
Malaprabha
Ghataprabha
Tungabhadra
Bhima
(10) Which is the longest road bridge in India?
Indira Gandhi Setu
Jawaharlal Nehru Setu
Mahatma Gandhi Setu
Rajiv Gandhi Setu
(11)The Palar river rises in which state?
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Andhra
Telangana
(12) Arrange the major rivers according to the ascending order based on their total length.
(i)Brahmaputra (ii)Indus (iii)Ganga (iv)Narmada (v)Godavari (vi)Krishna (vii)Sutlej (viii)Yamuna
(ii) - (i) - (iii) - (v) - (vii) - (viii) - (vi) - (iv)
(iii) - (i) - (ii) - (viii) - (vi) - (iv) - (vii) - (vi)
(i) - (ii) - (iii) - (vi) - (v) - (iv) - (v) - (iv)
Jhelum & Tawi
(13) The three islands of Srirangapatnam, Shivanasamudram and Srirangam are located in which river?
Krishna
Godavari
Kaveri
Periyar
(14) Which is the largest tributary of the Ganga by volume?
Yamuna
Ghaghara
Ramganga
Son
(15) Match the Peninsular Rivers and the places where they originate at.
(i) Narmada (ii) Godavari (iii) Kaveri (iv) Krishna (v) Tapi
(a) Talakaveri (b) Multai (c) Amarkantak (d) Mahabaleshwar (e) Triambakeshwar
(i)(d) - (ii)(b) - (iii)(a) - (iv)(e) - (v)(c)
(i)(e) - (ii)(b) - (iii)(a) - (iv)(c) - (v)(d)
(i)(b) - (ii)(c) - (iii)(a) - (iv)(d) - (v)(e)
(i)(c) - (ii)(e) - (iii)(a) - (iv)(d) - (v)(b)
(16) According to Indian mythology, which of the following river is the sister of Lord Yama?
Jamuna
Chambal
Gomati
Kosi
(17) On which river is Hyderabad located?
Indravati
Mutha
Musi
Mula-Mutha
(18) Which Indian river is also known as Siang?
Brahmaputra
Indus
Satlej
Jhelum
(19) Which of the following rivers does not meet the Bay of Bengal?
Narmada
Godavari
Krishna
Kaveri
(20) Name the sage who is associated with the birth of Godavari in Hindu mythology.
Gautam
Agastya
Valmiki
Vishwamitra
(21) Amongst the following tributaries of the River Indus, which has the longest flow within India?
Satluj
Jhelum
Chenab
Ravi
(22) According to a peace treaty signed between Emperor Harsha Vardhan and Chalukyan Emperor Pulakeshin II, which river was to serve as the boundary between the two empires?
Godavari
Tapi
Narmada
Krishna
(23) Which is the highest dam in India?
Bhakra
Nagarjuna Sagar
Hirakud
Tehri
(24) Arrange these towns according to how you will encounter them will moving in a ferry downstream along the Ganga.
(i) Varanasi – (ii) Patna – (ii) Kanpur – (iv) Allahabad
(i) – (iii) – (iv) – (ii)
(iii) – (i) – (iv) – (ii)
(iii) – (iv) – (i) – (ii)
(iv) – (i) – (iii) - (ii)
(25) The River Arkavathy flows through which Indian city?
Hubli
Mysore
Bengaluru
Mangalore
For the previous post in this series, click here (Link.
So after a hiatus of over two weeks, I am back to blogging. Having written extensively during the recently concluded elections, I thought I needed a break. While covering politics, especially from the perspective of individual states was fun and a knowledge enriching experience, I wanted to make sure that I don't over do it. Also, having devoted most of my time post the office hours to watching news and writing about Indian politics, I felt that I have to blog more about other topics too. During the last two months, I have collected a list of 50 questions on the topic: Rivers of India, which I would post in a two part series. Hope you enjoy it. And yes, the analysis of Narendra Modi's stupendous victory is something I will start blogging about soon.
(1) On the banks of which Indian River did Alexander the Great defeat King Porus in what is believed to be the most costly battle in the Macedonian King’s Eurasian campaign?
Indus (Sindhu)
Hydaspes (Jhelum)
Zarodros (Satluj)
Acesines (Chenab)
(2) Which of the following river derives its name from the Sanskrit word for 'Salt'?
Son
Banas
Luni
Jawai
(3) The Dibang, the Lohit and the Dhansiri are the left ward tributaries of which Indian River?
Brahmaputra
Mahanadi
Tapi
Godavari
(4) Which of the following is not one of the four rivers that meet the Yamuna at Pachnada?
Chambal
Pahuj
Parbati
Kuwari
(5) Which Indian river has a namesake in Thailand?
Mahi
Narmada
Tapi
Sabarmati
(6) Which river is also referred to as 'Rewa'?
Godavri
Tapi
Narmada
Yamuna
(7) Kabini is the tributary of which of the following rivers?
Kaveri
Krishna
Periyar
Godavari
(8) Which city in Maharashtra is located on the bank of the Mula-Muthi River?
Nagpur
Pune
Mumbai
Nashik
(9) By what name is the Mahadei river more popularly known as?
Zuari
Netravati
Mapusa
Mandovi
(10) The sacred Saligrama Sila stones are associated with which Indian River?
Kosi
Ghaghara
Gandaki
Son
(11) River Ganga and its tributaries flow through how many different Indian states?
13 states
12 states
11 states
10 states
(12) The summer and the winter capitals of India’s northernmost state are located on which rivers?
Beas & Tawi
Indus & Ravi
Chenab & Jhelum
Jhelum & Tawi
(13) The Coringa Mangrove forests are located on the delta of which river?
Krishna
Godavari
Kaveri
Ganga-Brahmaputra
(14) The island of Majoli is located in which river?
Ganga
Indus
Brahmaputra
Narmada
(15) The Gandhi Sagar, the Pratap Sagar and the Jawahar Sagar are dams associated with which Indian river?
Chambal
Ken
Son
Betwa
(16) Which of the following cities is located on the banks of the Karamana River?
Thiruvananthapuram
Chennai
Bengaluru
Hyderabad
(17) The river Teesta is the lifeline of which north eastern state?
Arunachal
Sikkim
Meghalaya
Assam
(18) Which Indian River is sage Agasthya associated with?
Krishna
Godavari
Kaveri
Tungabhadra
(19) The river Ganga is the confluence of five head streams that join the Alaknanda. Arrange the other 5 according to how they join the Alaknanda while travelling from north to south.
(i) Bhagirathi – (ii) Mandakini – (iii) Nandakini – (iv) Pindar Ganga – (v) Dhauli Ganga
(ii)-(v)-(iii)-(i)-(iv)
(i)-(iii)_(iv)-(ii)-(v)
(iv)-(ii)-(v)-(iii)-(i)
(v)-(iii)-(iv)-(ii)-(i)
(20) The rivers - Shetrunji, Bhadar and Machchu flow in which Indian state?
Rajasthan
Bengal
Gujarat
Orissa
(21) Besides Orissa, which other state does the Mahanadi flow through?
Jharkhand
Chattisgarh
Bengal
Andhra
(22) The famous Jog Falls is formed by which river?
Sharavathi
Hemvathi
Indravati
Vegavathi
(23) According to mythological sources, the birth of the river Vaigai is associated with which Tamil dynasty?
Pandyas
Cheras
Pallavas
Cholas
(24) The name 'Chandrabhaga' is associated with which Indian River?
Chambal
Kaveri
Chenab
Godvari
(25) Which of the following rivers flows through Mumbai?
Mula
Musa
Mithi
Mandovi
For the next post in this series, click here (Link).
India has begun the new year on a positive note. The political arena is heating up and there is little doubt that this years's Lok Sabha polls are going to be one of the most important elections in the history of the country. Unlike previous occasions when parties used religion and caste to gain power, our netas today are taking about issues that really affect us - Narendra Modi is talking about economic development, Arvind Kejriwal is leading the crusade against corruption whereas Rahul Gandhi is concentrating on social issues. With so much media coverage around the national mandate, it is easy to forget the success stories that are coming from other fields. Here is a look at two such events that happened in the last fortnight, two positive news items that make us all proud to be Indian.
Courtesy: Business Standard
The Indigenous Cryogenic Engine: On 5th January earlier this year, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at Sriharikota successfully launched the GSLV - D5 Rocket which put the GSAT 8 satellite in orbit. While this is no big deal for our space scientists who have achieved this feat time and again, the fact was, with this launch India entered an elite club of nations (USA, Russia, France, China and Japan) who have mastered the use of cryogenic engines. What makes this achievement so special is that like our nuclear technology, the complete development of this rocket engine which works at extremely low temperatures was done within the country. While we are experts in the field of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV), having set several records including one in February last year when we launched ten satellites in a row, our performance in the field of Geo Stationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV) has been below average. However, there are indications to suggest that this is soon going to be a thing of the past.
India's tryst with cryogenic engines began in the early 1990s when we were suppose to buy this technology from the the Russians for Rs 235 crores. However under pressure from the Americans who thought that we would use it for military purposes, PM Boris Yelstin refused; instead a new agreement was signed between the two nations and Moscow gave us seven such engines for use. In 1994, when we came close to developing such liquid based fuels, the ISRO spying scandal emerged in which the then Head of Cryogenics Nambi Narayanan was falsely accused of passing on highly confidential data to two Maldivian women. The case was later squashed by the Supreme Court but the damage was already done, not only were the names of the innocent men like Narayanan and D Sasikumaran, it also delayed our march in the sphere of GSLV. In 2010, our first attempt to use the cryogenic-based fuel engine was a complete failure and three years later, the second test was called off at the last minute following a leak in the fuel tank. As such, the launch of the new GSAT with the help of the latest technology has brought cheer to the entire space community. The Moon prober (Chandrayaan), the unmanned Mars voyager (Mangalyaan) and now the success of the GSLV has reaffirmed ISRO's position as one of the top space organizations in the world, apart from making our nation one of the most advanced in the race to space. However, there is so much more to do. In the next two years, we need to launch more satellites using these new engines so that we can perfect it. While the start has been made, achieving the level of perfection in this sphere, similar to that we presently have in PSLV might take some time. The value add that cryogenic engine provides us are many. Some of these are as follows:
(1) More fire power for further space exploration: The PSLV puts a restriction on the weight of the payload that it can fire; in fact, it is good to launch satellites weighing between 1000 to 17000 kg. However, the GSATs are much heavier, some measuring up to five tonnes. In such scenarios, the cryogenic engines come handy. Moreover, with the success of Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, we have started exploring other heavenly bodies; considering that these missions have several devices and instruments, each providing valuable information to scientists back on the Earth, their net weight is enormous; another reason why the new engines are important. And finally, when we are ready to send our premiere manned mission to the Moon, the space shuttle will for sure be powered by a GSLV working on cryogenic technology.
(2) Money Matters: Not many may know, but launching satellites and other space shuttles is a big business, involving vast sums of money. Earlier we used to generally launch our Geostationary Information Satellites - GSATs from French Guiana. Not so surprisingly, we had to shell out big money to the French authorities. The success of the indigenous cryogenic engine will change this scenario, saving millions which can be later diverted to other space programmes. At the same time, we should concentrate on developing more engines of this kind and install them in different parts of the country. In a few years, when we have achieved perfection in this, we can offer these services to nations which lack such technology for launching their own satellites. Considering that ISRO is one of the most respected space organization in the world, I guess many countries will be ready to pay for launching their heavy satellites, earning us dollars and more importantly goodwill.
(3) Matter of Pride: Space is the ultimate challenge for mankind; even the smallest of breakthrough in space technology is considered as a great feat and hence, exploring the universe is a matter of great pride for nations and its people. Nothing summarizes this more than the Space Race that took place between the US and Soviets during the Cold War. Apart from launching several satellites, our missions to the Moon and Mars have received a lot of acclaim around the world. The use of the cryogenic engine is another feather in our cap. Truly, ISRO and the numerous scientists working there who have made this happen are a source of inspiration to us all. They have truly made us proud.
Courtesy: Government of India (Archives)
India to declared polio free by the WHO: Yes! The dreaded viral disease that affected millions of our countrymen over the years is all but eradicated from India. While we are fast growing as an important destination for medical tourism, this news is particularly important because the virus was particularly widespread in rural areas and our record in rural health is bad to say the least. Once regarded as the Polio capital of the world, the last recorded case of polio in the country was from Bengal in January 2010. With no new cases detected for the past three years, the World Health Organization (WHO) is all set to declare India as a polio-free country in the next month, provided all samples pending with various laboratories are negative. As of now, there are only three other countries in the world who are affected by this virus namely Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. In the coming years, when these countries are able to curb Polio, it will be the third disease to be eradicated by humans after Small Pox (1980) and Rinderpest (2011). We have a lot to cheer about here. India has spent over 2 billion US dollars to curb this disease. The Pulse Polio programme which was launched in 1995-96 is probably one of the biggest and most effective health initiatives in the world. Under this scheme, the government planned to immunize all children below the age of five. The challenges were many - poverty, inaccessibility, the huge man power and superstitions to name a few. With the help of celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan were roped in to convince people to get their newborns and infants to the nearest pulse polio camps. And the result is there to see. At the same time we cannot afford to drop guard. The virus may well make a comeback and it is wise to continue the immunization scheme for some more years. The government on its part is playing safe; earlier this week President Pranab Da launched the Pulse Polio 2014 scheme at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The victory in the fight against Polio is proof that if we have the ability and the resolve to tackle any issue that we are plagued with. Jai Hind!
IMAGES
(1) Courtesy: Business Standard
Source: GSLV-D5 launch outs India in 'cryo club' (Link)
(2) Courtesy: Government of India (Archives)
Source: Spotlight - Pulse Polio (Link)
(1) A group of doctors led by Dr Deborah Persaud claimed to have cured an infant of a deadly disease. Which disease are we referring to?
Blood Cancer
HIV
Liver Cirrhosis
SARS
(2) According to the UK magazine Times Higher Education, which is India's top education institute?
IIT - Bombay
IIM - Bangalore
IISc - Bangalore
IIT - Kanpur
(3) Irom Sharmila hails from which Indian state?
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Tripura
(4) The Changtang plateau in the Ladak region is home to which of the following species of goat?
Totapari
Sirohi
Pashmina
Karoli
(5) Name the MLA from Uttar Pradesh who resigned as the Food and Supplies Minister from the state cabinet who resigned after being accused in the murder of the police officer Zia ul Haq.
Ram Gopal Yadav
Azam Khan
Raghuraj Pratap Singh
Amar Singh
(6) Which is the helpline number for complaints related to rations via the fair price shops?
1957
1967
1977
1987
(7) Which constituency does Varun Gandhi represent in the Lok Sabha?
Amethi
Rae Bareli
Pilibhit
Aonla
(8) Which of the following Indian institutes is reportedly building the world's largest magnet?
ISRO
BARC
DRDO
ONGC
(9) Atleast two naval personnel were killed when their helicopter crashed near Vishakapattnam on Tuesday. Which chopper were they travelling in?
Dhruv
Chetak
Light Combat Helicopter
Cheetah
(10) Give the full form of ICDS.
Integrated Cereal Distribution Scheme
Integrated Cultural Diversity Scheme
Integrated Child Development Scheme
Integrated Commercial Disinvestment Scheme
(11) Who is the CM of Meghalaya?
Niephiu Rio
Mukul Sangma
Manik Sarkar
Pavan Kumar Chamling
(12) Which party does Jammu Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah belong to?
People's Democratic Party
Panther's Party
National Conference
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
(13) Which Trinamool MP has resigned as an advisor to the West Bengal industry ministry over differences with Mamata Bannerjee?
Dinesh Trivedi
Saugata Roy
Derek O'Brien
Mukul Roy
(14) Which Indian minister will hold a dinner for the Pakistani PM when he visits India?
Salman Khurshid
A K Anthony
Sushil Kumar Shinde
P C Chidambaram
INTERNATIONAL
(1) How many Indians are in the race for the Nobel Peace Prize?
12
14
16
18
(2) Which African country voted to elect its President on Monday?
Rwanda
Somalia
Uganda
Kenya
(3) Keith O'Brien was the highest Roman Catholic priest of which country?
United States
Germany
Britain
France
(4) Two former officials of an Afghan bank were indited by a court on charges of corruption. Which bank are we referring to?
Kabul Bank
Pasthany Bank
Azizi Bank
Afghanistan International Bank
(5) Who was the PM of Japan during most of the second World War?
Fumimaro Kanoe
Mitumasa Yonai
Kuniaki Koiso
Hideki Tojo
(6) Who is the PM of Maldives?
Mohammed Waheed Hussain Manik
Mohammed Nasheed
Ibrahim Naseer
Muamoon Abdul Gayoom
(7) A former European Head of State was sentenced to a year in jailed over a case relating to a wire leak?
Nicolas Sarkozy
Gordon Brown
Helmut Kohl
Silvio Berlusconi
(8) Against which country did the UN Security Council impose new tougher sanctions this week?
North Korea
Syria
Mali
Iran
(9) Forces loyal to Jamalul Kiram III is the self proclaimed Sultan of Sulu province of Philippines clashed with the policemen of which country on the island of Borneo?
Indonesia
Brunei
East Timor
Malaysia
BUSINESS
(1) Name the nation that has agreed to look into the concerns raised by India regarding double taxation.
Maldives
Seychelles
Mauritius
Sao Tome and Principe
(2) Which of the following families owns a stake in the Takshashila Hospitals?
Adani
Ruia
Birla
Kirloskar
(3) P C Menon is the founder of which construction firm?
Shobha
Prestige
Purvankara
Mahaveer
SPORTS
(1) Who amongst the following was named as the ambassador of Chinese Super League football tournament?
Zinadine Zidane
Paul Scholes
David Beckham
Wayne Rooney
(2) Who scored two goals in India's victory over Guam in the second match of the AFC Challenge Cup?
Sunil Chhetri
Clifford Miranda
Jewel Raja Shaikh
None of the above
(3) Which Australian bowler was named as the mentor of the IPL team KKR?
Andy Bichel
Glen McGrath
Shane Warne
Brett Lee
(4) What was India's rank in the recently concluded women's wrestling world cup?
1
3
5
7
(5) Who is India's most successful Test captain?
Sourav Ganguly
Kapil Dev
Tiger Ali Pataudi
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
(6) Who scored the lone goal in the Man City versus Aston Villa tie this week?
Sergio Aguero
Carlos Tevez
David Silva
Gareth Barry
(7) What is Parupalli Kashyap's latest Badminton World Federation rankings released this Thursday?
11
10
9
8
(8) The name of Pavel Smirnov has been recommended to the SAI for coaching the Indian side in which sporting discipline?
Archery
Pistol
Javelin Throw
Swimming
(9) To which Union Territory does ace cyclist Deborah belong?
Lakshadweep
Chandigarh
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(10) Which Indian batsman was dropped from the team for the last two matches against Australia?
Murali Vijay
Virendra Sehwag
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli
(11) Former Pakistani speedster Waqar Younis has joined which IPL side as their coach?
