THE GALAXY AND THE LIVING WORLD

  The Attack: In 1791, during the Third Anglo-Mysore War, the Sringeri Math and the temple of Goddess Sharada were indeed attacked and plundered by a contingent of irregular Maratha horsemen (Pindaris) under the command of Raghunath Rao Patwardhan. The temple's idol was desecrated, many Brahmins were killed, and considerable wealth, estimated at about 60 lakh rupees, was looted. The Aftermath & Tipu Sultan's Aid: The head of the Math, Sri Sachidananda Bharati Swamy, fled and subsequently wrote to Tipu Sultan for help in reconsecrating the idol and restoring the temple. Tipu Sultan, who had a good relationship with the math and often addressed the Swamy as "Jagadguru", expressed anger and grief over the incident. He made monetary arrangements (including 200 rahatis in cash and other gifts) for the re-consecration of the idol and provided security and aid for the repairs. Maratha Reaction: The incident was not a planned Maratha policy, but rather an act by irregular...

Christmas, celebrated annually on December 25th, has evolved far beyond its liturgical origins. Today, it stands as a global phenomenon that transcends religious boundaries, acting as a bridge between cultures and a catalyst for human connection. Origins and Evolution The roots of Christmas are a rich tapestry of faith and ancient tradition. While it primarily commemorates the Nativity of Jesus Christ, the date and customs were influenced by historical winter festivals.  * Religious Foundation: For Christians, it marks the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, symbolizing hope and divine love.  * Pagan Transitions: Early celebrations merged with Roman festivals like Saturnalia and the Germanic Yule, which celebrated the winter solstice—the "return of the sun."  * Modern Synthesis: By the 19th century, figures like Charles Dickens and the evolution of "Santa Claus" (derived from St. Nicholas) shifted the focus toward family, charity, and gift-giving. The Role of Christmas in ...

 The Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, has been implemented, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005. Here are the key details: - *Implementation Date*: The Act was passed by Parliament on December 18-19, 2025, and received presidential assent on December 21, 2025 . - *Employment Guarantee*: The Act guarantees 125 days of wage employment per financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. - *Wage Rates*: The Central Government will notify wage rates, and until then, existing MGNREGA rates apply. - *Unemployment Allowance*: If employment isn't provided within 15 days, an unemployment allowance is payable. - *Funding Pattern*: The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a 60:40 Centre-State sharing ratio (90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan states). - *Planning and Execution*: Gram Panchayats lead planning and execution, with oversight from district...

  अरावली पर्वतमाला केवल चट्टानों और पहाड़ियों का समूह नहीं है, बल्कि यह भारत की आत्मा में रची-बसी एक प्राचीन जीवनरेखा है। लगभग 250 करोड़ वर्ष पुरानी अरावली पर्वतमाला विश्व की सबसे प्राचीन पर्वत श्रृंखलाओं में से एक है। गुजरात से लेकर राजस्थान, हरियाणा और दिल्ली तक फैली यह पर्वतमाला भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप के इतिहास, संस्कृति, भूगोल, राजनीति और मानव जीवन पर गहरा प्रभाव डालती आई है। ऐतिहासिक और सांस्कृतिक महत्व अरावली ने भारत के इतिहास को दिशा दी है। यहीं से अनेक सभ्यताओं ने जीवन पाया। मेवाड़, मारवाड़, अंबेर और दिल्ली जैसे ऐतिहासिक क्षेत्र अरावली की छाया में फले-फूले। राजपूतों के दुर्ग—कुंभलगढ़, चित्तौड़, रणथंभौर—इन पर्वतों की गोद में खड़े होकर आज भी स्वाभिमान और शौर्य की कहानी कहते हैं। भील, मीणा, गरासिया जैसे जनजातीय समुदायों की संस्कृति, लोकगीत, परंपराएँ और जीवनशैली अरावली से गहराई से जुड़ी हैं। यह पर्वतमाला उनकी माता है—पालन करने वाली, संरक्षण देने वाली। भौगोलिक और पर्यावरणीय भूमिका भूगोल की दृष्टि से अरावली थार मरुस्थल के प्रसार को रोकने वाली प्राकृतिक दीवार है। यह पर्वतमाला मानसून पव...

Introduction India and its neighbours, Pakistan, China, and Sri Lanka, have had different development experiences since their independence. This chapter will compare and analyze the development experiences of these countries, focusing on their economic growth, social development, and human development indicators. Economic Growth - India: India has experienced rapid economic growth since the 1990s, with an average annual growth rate of 7%. The country has become one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. - China: China has experienced even more rapid economic growth, with an average annual growth rate of 10% since the 1980s. The country has become the world's second-largest economy. - Pakistan: Pakistan's economic growth has been slower, with an average annual growth rate of 4-5%. - Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's economic growth has been steady, with an average annual growth rate of 5-6%. Social Development - India: India has made significant progress in social develop...