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INTERNATIONAL: PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD WINNER: How Paris-based, Kolkata’s Neha Ganeriwal Captured ‘Fedal’ & Won in the Independent Photograper Category at the Prestigious ‘2023 World Sports Photography Awards’

Neha recalls the Rafa-Roger day that changed her life, how the same ‘boys’ gave her the best photo of her career, and more.

When Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal held hands at the end of the last competitive match of the former’s career at the 2022 Laver Cup, tears flowed. First, from the eyes of the two tennis GOATs at London’s O2 arena. And then, from millions of their admirers around the world. However, were it not for one Neha Ganeriwal, many would never have witnessed that iconic moment. It was Neha, originally from Kolkata’s Hindustan Park but currently based in Paris, who snapped ‘Fedal’ at their most human, providing one of the most enduring sports images of 2022.

Almost a year later, that image has been adjudged as the winner (out of more than 800 submissions) in the Independent Photographer category of the 2023 World Sports Photography Awards, sponsored by IMAGO, which is the largest and most prestigious competition of its kind. Additionally, two other photos taken by Neha (as well as the ‘Fedal’ one) at the aforementioned Laver Cup finished as finalists in the tennis category of the awards.

Days after her victory, Neha, 42, spoke to My Kolkata, via a video call connecting a wet Kolkata and an equally drenched Paris, reflecting on the ‘Fedal’ image, her journey, her most memorable clicks and more. Edited excerpts from the conversation follow.

My Kolkata: Congratulations on your win! Has the achievement sunk in yet?

Neha Ganeriwal: It’s been overwhelming! I was on vacation when I got the news. It was my first time applying to any award, so I couldn’t have been happier. It’s been a barrage of congratulatory messages since I found out on email (from the sponsors and organisers) that I had won, sometime in the middle of August. What makes me even more delighted is that these are the only dedicated sports photography awards in the world.

‘I had blurry vision because of my tears and was quite worried about the photo’

The image that won you the prize is one of the most moving and shared sports photos of the past year. Talk us through how you captured it.

Before I’m a photographer, I’m a tennis fan. And I was bawling at the time, it was so emotional! I had blurry vision because of my tears and was quite worried about the photo. I was certain that the camera had shaken. The lighting wasn’t great, either, and we were all just clicking away… Federer had just given a speech and he came to sit down. Then a singer took centrestage. A lot of people went towards her, but, for some reason, I kept tracking Federer. He sat down, and just for a split second, he happened to reach for Nadal, for comfort, first touching Nadal’s thigh and then his hand. That’s when I clicked. I had no idea how the results were until I downloaded my work on my laptop. And then, of course, the image went viral. There were two or three photographers who got a similar shot, but depending on which part of the world you were in, you got to see my image.

Why did you choose to submit the photo in black and white?

The actual image has a lot of blue. The background is sort of purple-ish and there’s a bit of white, too. There’s a lot of colour and that distracts from the emotion of the moment. I usually prefer black and white photography, as that helps to train the eye and take it to whatever you want by cutting out all the distractions. That’s why I went for monochrome and I think that’s also why it won.

You named the photo as “Boys don’t cry”. It seems ironic at two levels. First, because the subjects in the photo are actually crying. Second, because there is a suggestion that boys become men when they are comfortable displaying their emotions openly. Would that be a reasonable reading of your caption?

Exactly, that’s right. There’s also a third point to it. There’s this whole myth that men can’t be “weak” or show emotions. Nobody would use the adjective “weak” for Nadal, though. There’s probably no fiercer athlete than him on the tennis court. But there he was, in tears, underlining how even the greatest are also human beings with emotions, perhaps even more so than the rest of us. And there’s nothing weak about that.

‘I know that both Federer and Nadal have seen the photo’

Do you know if Federer and/or Nadal saw your photo? Did any of them reach out or speak to you about it?

I know that both Federer and Nadal have seen the photo. I haven’t met Federer since, but I hope to hear from him in person soon, possibly at some event later this year. I’m actually working on a photo book, combining other unreleased photos, which I’d like to present to Federer. As for Nadal, I met him in November and got him to sign a copy of the photo. We had a little chat about it and he was a bit embarrassed about it all!

‘That one day in Madrid had changed my life… I knew nothing about photography but jumped right into the deep end’

Going back in time, how did your journey as a sports photographer begin? And what did meeting Federer and Nadal (those boys, again!) a decade ago have to do with it?

The photo was a full circle moment for me. I was born and brought up in Hindustan Park in Kolkata. I went to La Martiniere for my schooling and then studied at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), before completing my master’s in fashion designing in Milan. A personal tragedy made me settle in Europe about 15 years ago. But I wasn’t working in sports at all. I was a professional fashion designer living the corporate life. Everything was good, but I felt that something was missing. I was climbing the ladder that we’re told to climb, but I never felt that it was mine to climb. I had always been a sports fan. Growing up, I used to go to Ordnance Club (in Kolkata) to play tennis with my father, was in my school swimming team and used to love watching Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari.

Exactly a decade ago, the Rafa Nadal Foundation was having an event in Madrid and I somehow managed to get a pass for that. I almost didn’t go because my resources were limited. But I finally took the plunge, not knowing what to expect. When Federer and Nadal entered the room, they shook hands with absolutely everyone. It was a stark contrast to the glamour industry I was used to, where everyone was inaccessible and god-like. We spent the entire day with the two of them. There was a press conference, a session with kids, a match and a gala. Just seeing the energy and just how the two of them were, I went back to being a sports lover, in between the emotional trauma that was going on for me personally.

I came back thinking that I have to find a way to be a part of that sporting world. So, I got an extra job to pay for a camera, acquired skills and read like a mad woman! I knew nothing about photography but jumped right into the deep end. That one day in Madrid had changed my life. I had found what my soul really wanted, to be around brilliant but normal, wonderful human beings.

What have been some of your other most memorable photos till date?

Capturing Federer winning his 10th Swiss Indoors Basel title (in October 2019) was special. He had started out over there as a ballboy and that was the last time he was going to be playing there. That was really emotional, Federer was crying again. Nadal winning his 10th Roland Garros (in 2017) would be up there, too. Nobody expected him to win that one, but he did. I got a special photo between him and Toni [Nadal] back then.

n football, there was the Euro 2016 final, when Portugal beat France, and Ronaldo was lapping it all up. He was injured and substituted, and there were some really great shots of him stepping up as an additional manager. And, of course, Messi was here [in Paris] for the last two years, which produced some nice shots of him along with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Just the sheer starpower in the same frame was special.

Of all the great athletes you have been around and photographed, who has surprised you the most?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was really interesting! He has this aura of arrogance, but that’s a persona for the camera. He’s the nicest guy you can meet. Of course, he can get annoyed if you poke him or rub him the wrong way, but he’s generally super nice.

‘I can tell which side Mbappe is going to run after he scores a goal or when Djokovic is going to smash his racket’

Given you predominantly cover tennis and football across Europe, what are the different challenges concerned with each sport? Both institutionally and technically.

In terms of institutional challenges, breaking in wasn’t easy. I had to create my own path. When I started, the internet wasn’t the way it is now. Getting in touch with press managers and press officers and getting accredited to FIFA or UEFA was complicated. I had to learn multiple languages, including Italian and French. All of that took time.

The technical aspect took a lot of education and learning, most of which happened on the pitch or the court. Which place to be in, where the players’ teams are and all that. After some experience, you know exactly what the athletes are going to do. For instance, I can tell which side Mbappe is going to run after he scores a goal or when [Novak] Djokovic is going to smash his racket in frustration and yell at his team. There are also the technical fundamentals, such as shutter speed, but that’s about skill acquisition. About putting your ego aside and learning. At the same time, hard as the challenges have been, my colleagues have been amazing and have always answered my questions.

On the ground during match days, tennis gives you more space to move around. I go for close-ups when in doubt. The top positions are always free in tennis. In football, movement is more limited. I can’t always choose my position. Mentally, I make a list of the players I need to photograph. Then, I choose my end and usually go for the one where the home fans are sitting, as it makes for a better background. Then there are the lenses, which also affect the images. Generally, I have less options for lenses when I’m travelling farther.

‘Learning from Nadal, at no point did I give up’

Sports photography still remains a male domain for the most part. How much of your experience so far has been shaped by your gender?

Whenever I walk into those photographers’ rooms, more for football than tennis, I’m usually the only person of colour, often the only woman, too. European football is completely male-dominated. It wasn’t easy when I started, but I’ve become accustomed to it now. Initially, I didn’t want to come across as brash. At the same time, I wanted to be taken seriously. To have people treat me with respect and not dismiss me was challenging. However, at no point was I completely disillusioned. Learning from Nadal, at no point did I give up.

‘I’d love to be a part of some professional event in Kolkata’

Coming to your Kolkata connection, how often do you come back? What are your favourite things to do in the city?

I spent the first 25 years of my life in Kolkata. My parents are still there, so I try to come back every six months. It’s just about downtime for me. I love the street food, like the phuchka and the papdi chaat near Lake Kalibari. Strangely, I haven’t shot anything in Kolkata yet. I’d love to be a part of some professional event in the city, particularly given how big football is back home.

‘My dream is to photograph an Indian winning an Olympic medal, ideally gold!’

What are you most looking forward to in terms of upcoming events? Is there a dream shot that you are still chasing?

I’m really looking forward to next year’s Olympic Games (in Paris). My dream is to photograph an Indian winning an Olympic medal, ideally gold! Then, I’ll probably have to choose between the Euros (in Germany) and the Copa America (in the US). I do want to click Messi with a trophy, since I couldn’t do the World Cup (in Qatar) last year.

‘Do what you do for the right reasons, for your reasons’

Lastly, what would your advice be to budding photographers, especially those wanting to document sports?

No matter what you do, it’s going to be hard, so it’s much better to figure out what it is that you’re willing to suffer for. Do what you do for the right reasons, for your reasons.

Moreover, sports mirror life. There’s no instant gratification, no substitute for consistency. It’s the small successes that lead to the big triumphs. Today, I’m talking about my award, but nobody apart from me has seen those days when all I wanted to do was stay in bed. But I pushed myself, went out in the rain and stood there for four hours. I did it because I love it. As Nadal has taught the world, show up everyday and do the basics. Think of the number of matches he has won simply because he refused to go away. If you do that, things eventually fall into place.

source/content: telegraphindia.com / my-kolkata (headline edited)

GLOBAL: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: India is ‘Right Country’ at ‘Right Time’ to hold G20 Presidency, says UK PM Rishi Sunak

“2023 is a huge year for India, from all the different G20 meetings taking place all over the country to the Cricket World Cup next month,” he said.

India’s diversity and its extraordinary successes means it is the “right country” at the “right time” to hold the G20 presidency, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday, as he hailed Narendra Modi’s leadership over the last year, noting that India’s presidency of the bloc came when the world is facing innumerable challenges.

In an exclusive interview to PTI just days ahead of the G20 summit in Delhi on September 9-10, Sunak, the first Indian-origin prime minister of Britain, said the relationship between the UK and India will define the future of the two countries, even more than it is defining the present.

“This country’s scale, diversity and its extraordinary successes means India is the right country at the right time to hold the G20 Presidency. I pay tribute to Prime Minister Modi’s leadership over the last year and it’s wonderful to see India showing such global leadership,” he said.

The prime minister’s responses to PTI’s questions were sent by email.

“We will also work closely with India through their Presidency of the G20 to address the biggest challenges the world is facing, from stabilising the global economy to dealing with climate change,” Sunak said.

The British premier, PM Modi, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and other G20 leaders are set to deliberate extensively on pressing global issues including consequences of the Ukraine war at the G20 summit.

“2023 is a huge year for India, from all the different G20 meetings taking place all over the country to the Cricket World Cup next month — India is definitely home to the biggest global geopolitical events of the year!,” he said.

The 43-year-old leader of the Conservative Party also referred to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and asserted that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is allowed to invade a sovereign neighbour with impunity, then it will have “terrible consequences” for the entire world.

ALSO READ | Will only agree to India trade deal approach that works for UK, says PM Rishi Sunak

“As two major world democracies, our people define and drive us. That is why the UK is focused on supporting Ukraine to defend itself and defeat this illegal and unprovoked Russian invasion,” he said.

“As a free and democratic country, Ukraine has the right to determine its own future. If Putin is allowed to invade a sovereign neighbour with impunity it will have terrible consequences for the entire world.”

The British premier said nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians, but it is Putin who has the power to end the war “tomorrow” by withdrawing his troops.

“Until he does, we will help the vulnerable in Ukraine and around the world deal with the terrible consequences of Putin’s war, including the spike in the global price of food and energy caused by his manipulation of markets and attacks on grain supplies,” he asserted.

Sunak’s comments came as India faces the uphill task of building a consensus on the text to refer to the Ukraine crisis in the G20 leaders’ declaration.

Both Russia and China had agreed to the two paragraphs on the Ukraine conflict in last year’s Bali declaration, but they backtracked from it this year creating difficulties for India.

“India has taken on the Presidency of the G20 at a time when the world is facing multiple challenges,” Sunak said.

“In the last twelve months we’ve seen sharp rise in inflation and economic instability, we’ve witnessed the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, military coups in Niger and Gabon, and the ongoing repression of human rights in Afghanistan and elsewhere,” he added.

Sunak said he is looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Modi and deliberate on how collaboration between India and the UK helps in dealing with various global challenges.

“When I meet Prime Minister Modi again this week it will be an opportunity to speak about some of the global challenges we face, and the huge role that the UK and India have to play in addressing them,” he said.

On the possible outcome of the G20 summit, Sunak said: “We will have to wait and see what the summit outcomes will be. The UK certainly is here to support India’s efforts in achieving a successful summit.”

In the interview, Sunak extensively delved into various aspects of India-UK ties including cultural and people-to-people links.

He said what makes the UK-India relationship “truly unique” is the “Living Bridge” between the countries which includes a 1.6 million-strong Indian diaspora in the UK, and which connects “our people across culture, education, food, sport and more.”

“The relationship between the UK and India will define the future of our two countries, even more than it is defining the present,” he said.

“Recognising the close links and aligned interests of our countries, two years ago we agreed to the ‘2030 Roadmap’ which was an historic commitment to bring our countries, economies and people closer together,” he added.

At the summit between Prime Minister Modi and then British PM Boris Johnson, the two sides had adopted a 10-year roadmap to expand ties in the key areas of trade and economy, defence and security, climate change and people-to-people connections among others.

The India-UK relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the bilateral virtual summit in May 2021.

“We have already achieved so much under this roadmap, including the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications, new visa routes for young professionals, and billions in new investment deals including British firms like Tesco, Deliveroo and Revolut establishing or expanding their presence in India, creating thousands of new jobs,” Sunak said.

On defence and strategic ties, he said the UK Navy, Army and Air Force have all carried out exercises with their Indian counterparts, increasing “our ability to work together to tackle shared threats.”

In the areas of science and technology, Sunak said, both sides are making significant progress.

“As science and technology superpowers, shared UK-India expertise is pushing the boundaries of innovation for global good,” he said.

“Together, we delivered a Covid-19 vaccine; researched at Oxford University with UK Government financial support, developed by AstraZeneca, and manufactured at scale by India’s Serum Institute,” he said.

“From preventing pandemics to unravelling the human genome the UK and India are working together to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, today,” he added.

Sunak also mentioned the India-UK trade engagement and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

“India is already on track to be the third largest economy in the world within ten years. That is why India is such an important partner in this region and more generally,” he said.

“I absolutely see more for the UK and India to do together in the Indo-Pacific, building on the impressive cooperation that has already taken place across trade, defence and security under the 2030 Roadmap,” the British prime minister said.

Sunak also talked about Britain’s 2021 foreign policy strategy, which underlined the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific to the UK and the world.

“That’s something we have confirmed this year when we published a refreshed version of the policy – our commitment to the Indo-Pacific isn’t going anywhere, just as this region isn’t going anywhere,” he said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: 05 September – TEACHERS DAY / Exploring the Pinnacle of Education, the Greatest Teachers of all time.

Top Indian teachers: Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Savitribai Phule, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Chanakya, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda.

Teaching is one of the most noble professions. It is a career that not only helps a child gain knowledge about various subjects and domains but also helps a child recognise his strengths and weaknesses, helping him/her to become a better human being.

India has a deep-rooted history as far as the field of education is concerned and the contribution, talent and skills of our very own educationalists, teachers and lecturers have been acknowledged globally. Here are the top teachers of all the time.

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Each year, on September 5th, India observes Teachers’ Day in honour of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the country’s inaugural Vice-President and its second President. Dr. Radhakrishnan was a renowned scholar and was bestowed with the prestigious Bharat Ratna award. This date holds significance as it commemorates his birthday.

Dr. Radhakrishnan was an ace student and received various scholarships throughout his life. He studied philosophy at the Christian College, Madras.

After Dr. Radhakrishnan completed his degree, he became a Professor of Philosophy at Madras Presidency College and then subsequently a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore.

He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936. In 1936, he was named Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at the University of Oxford and was also elected a Fellow of All Souls College.

Savitribai Phule

The first female teacher at India’s inaugural women’s school, she is also acclaimed as the pioneer of contemporary Marathi poetry. In an era when women’s capabilities were often undervalued, she passionately advocated for the empowerment and education of women throughout the nation. Collaborating with her husband, she established a school specifically for girls belonging to the untouchable caste.

Despite facing ridicule and even physical attacks by orthodox upper-caste individuals who opposed her efforts, she remained steadfast in her commitment to education. Her dedication eventually garnered recognition from the British government, which honoured her for her exceptional contributions to the field of education.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

A P J Abdul Kalam, the ‘missile man’ who came to be known as ‘People’s President’, a distinguished scientist and the 11th President of India, he fervently championed education as the foremost catalyst for individual development. His conviction lay in the notion that education should not solely revolve around acquiring academic qualifications but should also encompass the enhancement of personal skills and capabilities, which play a pivotal role in shaping one’s career and life.

In addition to his presidential duties, he served as a guest lecturer at esteemed institutions such as IIM Shillong, Ahmedabad, and Indore. He also held the honorary status of a fellow at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.

 Moreover, he shared his expertise by teaching Information Technology at IIIT Hyderabad and technology at both Banaras Hindu University and Anna University.

Chanakya

Renowned by the alias Kautilya, this distinguished figure stands as India’s earliest celebrated scholar. His academic journey began as a professor of political science and economics at Takshila University, situated in the region that is now part of Pakistan. Subsequently, he continued to impart knowledge as a teacher at the same prestigious institution.

He is best known for his authorship of two influential texts: “Arthashastra” and “Neetishastra.”

Swami Dayanand Saraswati

The founder of the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement rooted in the Vedic tradition, was a renowned scholar deeply versed in the Vedic scriptures and Sanskrit language. His efforts were dedicated to advocating for gender equality, including women’s rights to education and access to Indian scriptures. His commentary on the Vedas, presented in both Vedic Sanskrit and Hindi, remains highly acclaimed.

Swami Vivekananda

The individual responsible for establishing the ‘Ramakrishna Mission,’ an organization that united monks and laypeople in the dissemination of Practical Vedanta and diverse forms of social service, was a visionary leader. His teachings and philosophical outlook applied this reimagined interpretation to numerous facets of education, faith, character development, and pertinent social matters in India.

He was also an advocate for the Gurukula system, which emphasized the integration of educational institutions and the home environment. In this system, teachers and students coexist in close and harmonious relationships, fostering holistic learning and growth.

source/content: hindustantimes.com(headline edited)

NATIONAL: HERITAGE : ‘Indian Heritage’ App with details of 143 Monuments launched by ASI, to be updated in phases

The agency also unveiled a revamped ‘adopt a heritage’ scheme seeking collaboration with corporate houses for sprucing up surroundings of monuments and development of amenities.

Information about scores of notified and unprotected heritage sites including geo-tagged locations, public amenities and images will now be available to mobile phone users as the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday launched an app called Indian Heritage. On the occasion, the agency also unveiled a revamped ‘adopt a heritage’ scheme seeking collaboration with corporate houses for sprucing up surroundings of monuments and development of amenities.

In the beginning, details of 143 ticketed monuments under the jurisdiction of the Survey are available on the app. According to the ASI official, the app will subsequently be updated in phases with additional inputs pertaining to remaining 3,554 notified historical buildings and over 4,000 monuments which are under the control of state governments and union territory (UT) administration.

“The app will have state-wise details of monuments along with photographs, list of public amenities available, geo-tagged location and feedback mechanism for citizens. The users may also tell us about any lacuna or shortcomings they find at any site through the app. The app will enable common man to send information and images of any monument which is not in the list of protected structures of ASI or state. After proper vetting, the details will be added to the database,” said an official.

The ‘adopt a heritage’ scheme was launched in 2017 by the tourism ministry in 2017. The revised version introduced by the Survey aims for better maintenance of centrally protected heritage properties, creation of basic amenities and world-class additions in a transparent and time-bound manner.

The latest version is equipped with guidelines –dos and don’ts and leaner arrangement for approval of proposals for adoption of protected sites.

Corporate stakeholders can express their interest to take over a site for development of an amenity or amenities including cultural activities like light and sound show and interpretation centre.   

“Heritage is increasingly playing an important role not only in the cultural sphere of this country but also creating an evolved image in the making of a new India. Keeping that in perspective, we believe that heritage can’t be maintained solely by the ASI…hence we launched this scheme for enhancing visitors’ experience at any site,” said KK Basa, director general of the Survey.

An e-permission portal–www.asipermissionportal.gov.in–for obtaining permission for photography, filming and developmental projects on monuments was introduced on the occasion.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: Singapore’s Indian-Origin Ex-Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam Wins Presidential Election

Tharman Shanmugaratnam, an Indian-origin Singapore-born economist has registered a landslide victory in Singapore’s presidential election.

He won over 70 per cent of votes in the country’s first contested presidential polls since 2011.

The 66-year-old former senior minister bagged 70.4 per cent (1,746,427 votes) of the 2.48 million votes cast, while his Chinese-origin rivals Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian received 15.72 per cent and 13.88 per cent respectively, the Elections Department said, PTI reported.

The result was announced by Returning Officer Tan Meng Dui at past midnight, making Tharman Singapore’s third Indian-origin president.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Tharman, who served as Singapore’s Deputy prime minister from 2011 to 2019, on winning the presidential election.

“Singaporeans have chosen Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam to be our next president by a decisive margin. As head of state, he will represent us at home and abroad, and exercise custodial powers, including over the reserves and key appointments,” he said.

Lee noted that in Friday’s election, both voters and candidates showed a greater understanding of the roles and duties of the president, which bodes well for Singapore.

“I have every confidence that he will carry out his duties as president with distinction,” he said.

Earlier speaking at Taman Jurong Food Centre where his supporters had gathered, Tharman said he is “truly humbled by the strong endorsement” Singaporeans have given him.

“I’m humbled by this vote – it is not just a vote for me, it is a vote for Singapore’s future, a future of optimism and solidarity. That’s what it really is. My campaign was one of optimism and solidarity, and I believe that’s what Singaporeans want,” he said.

“I will honour the trust that Singaporeans have placed in me and respect all Singaporeans including those who did not vote for me,” Tharman said.

Prime Minister Lee’s People’s Action Party (PAP) had backed Tharman in the election.

Lee said he congratulated Tharman for his resounding victory to assure him of his government’s full cooperation.

“Tharman has also declared his intention to work closely with the Government. As head of state, the president has to be a unifying figure that all Singaporeans can look up to and identify with,” Lee said.

Tharman formally launched his presidential campaign in July with a pledge to evolve the country’s culture to keep it a “shining spot” in the world.

He joined politics in 2001 and has served in the public sector and ministerial positions with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) for over two decades.

Over 2.7 million voters cast their ballots. The voters started casting their ballots at 8 AM when polling stations opened. The polls closed at 8 PM (local time).

Incumbent President Madam Halimah Yacob’s six-year term will end on September 13. She is the country’s eighth and first female president.

This was Singapore’s first contested presidential election since 2011.

Singapore in the past has had two Indian-origin presidents.

Sellapan Ramanathan, popularly known as S R Nathan, a Singaporean politician and civil servant of Tamil descent served as the president of Singapore. In 2009, Nathan defeated Benjamin Sheares to become Singapore’s longest-serving president.

Chengara Veetil Devan Nair, better known as Devan Nair, served as the third president of Singapore from 1981 until his resignation in 1985. Born in 1923 in Malacca, Malaysia, Nair was the son of a rubber plantation clerk, who was originally from Thalassery, Kerala.

source/content: outlookindia.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: AGRICULTURE: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: Prestigious M.S. Swaminathan Award for Scientist P V Satyanarayana for his Outstanding Contributions to Agriculture in 2021-22

P V Satyanarayana, principal scientist at the Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Ragolu, has been awarded the prestigious M.S Swaminathan Award for his outstanding contributions to the field of agriculture during the period 2021-2022.

Satyanarayana’s pioneering work involves the development of high-yielding rice varieties that exhibit resilience against various pests and environmental challenges, including BPH, BLB, Blast, Submergence, and salinity. Additionally, he has made substantial contributions to fine-grain varieties and hybrid rice that have revolutionised agriculture across India.

P V Satyanarayana, currently serving as the Principal Scientist at the Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Ragolu, boasts an impressive list of awards including the National Award as Team Leader for the Best Golden Jubilee AICIP Centre Award in 2015 and the Best Scientist Award by the Seedman Association in 2021.

This award was presented at an event at Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad on Sunday. This biennial national award, jointly constituted by the Retired ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) Employees Association (RICAREA) and Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL), includes a cash prize of Rs. 2 Lakhs and a gold medal.

Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICAR and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) was the chief guest at the event. Dr. R.S. Paroda, former DG, ICAR and others were present.

The award selection committee headed by Dr. A Padma Raju, Vice Chancellor of ANGRAU, recognised Dr. PV Satyanarayana for his invaluable contributions.

  1. Prabhakar Rao, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Nuziveedu Seeds Limited, noted that this prestigious award has been conferred upon eight individuals to date, with four of them hailing from the Telugu-speaking states.

Referring to the ban on rice exports, he stated that if the government maintains sufficient stocks and promotes exports, it could prove advantageous for farmers. Prabhakar Rao said Nuziveedu Seeds are actively engaged in research related to high-density farming in cotton, which promises a 30-40 per cent increase in yield. With appropriate management practices, this could escalate to 50-60 per cent higher yields compared to conventional varieties.

The Retired Indian Council of Agricultural Research Employees’ Association (RICAREA) was established in 1997 with the primary mission to promote the cause of agriculture based on the ideals and objectives of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL), operating for nearly 50 years, stands as one of India’s largest seed companies. NSL is engaged in crop improvement projects spanning over 30 crops, with breeding stations located across the country, covering a wide range of agro-climatic conditions.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL & NATIONAL / RECORDS : INDIA IN SPACE: Moon done for India, over to the Sun as ISRO’s Aditya-L1 lifts off successfully

The first space-based observatory to study the Sun, the spacecraft, after traveling about 1.5 million km from the Earth over 125 days, is expected to be placed in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1 which is considered closest to the Sun.

ISRO on Saturday launched the country’s ambitious Solar mission, Aditya L1 eyeing history again after its successful lunar expedition, Chandrayan 3 a few days ago.

As the 23.40-hour countdown concluded, the 44.4 meter tall Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) soared majestically at the prefixed time of 11.50 am from this spaceport, located on the Eastern coast about 135 km from Chennai.

It will be PSLV’s “longest flight” for about 63 minutes.

According to ISRO, Aditya-L1 is the first space-based observatory to study the Sun. The spacecraft, after traveling about 1.5 million km from the Earth over 125 days, is expected to be placed in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1 which is considered closest to the Sun.

Among others, it will send pictures of the sun for scientific experiments.

According to scientists, there are five Lagrangian points (or parking areas) between the Earth and the Sun where a small object tends to stay if put there. The Lagrange Points are named after Italian-French mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange for his prize-winning paper — “Essai sur le Probl me des Trois Corps, 1772.”

These points in space can be used by spacecraft to remain there with reduced fuel consumption.

At a Lagrange point, the gravitational pull of the two large bodies (the Sun and the Earth) equals the necessary centripetal force required for a small object to move with them.

After the lift-off at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, the scientists would be involved in placing the spacecraft at Low Earth Orbit initially, and later it will be more elliptical.

The spacecraft would be launched towards the Lagrange L1 point using on-board propulsion so that it exits the earth’s gravitational Sphere of Influence and cruises towards the L1. Later, it would be injected into a large Halo Orbit around L1 point near the Sun.

The total time from launch to reaching the L1 point would be about four months for the Aditya-L1 Mission, ISRO said.

Explaining the reasons to study the Sun, ISRO said it emits radiation in nearly all wavelengths along with various energetic particles and magnetic fields.

The atmosphere of the Earth as well as its magnetic field acts as a protective shield and blocks harmful wavelength radiations. In order to detect such radiation, solar studies are carried out from space.

The major objectives of the mission include understanding the Coronal Heating and Solar Wind Acceleration, the initiation of Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), near-earth space weather and the solar wind distribution.

The Aditya-L1 mission carries seven scientific payloads to carry out the study.

The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) will study the solar corona and dynamics of CME.

VELC, the primary payload will be sending 1,440 images per day to the ground station for analysis on reaching the intended orbit.

It is “the largest and technically most challenging” payload on Aditya-L1.

The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope would do imaging of the Solar photosphere and Chromosphere in near Ultraviolet and measure the solar irradiance variations.

The Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) and Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payloads will study the solar wind and energetic ions as well as the energy distribution.

The Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer and the High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) will study the X-ray flares from the Sun over a wide X-ray energy range.

The Magnetometer payload is capable of measuring interplanetary magnetic fields at the L1 point.

The payloads of Aditya-L1 are indigenously developed with the close collaboration of various centers of ISRO.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Indian-American scientist hopes to be first woman to make stratospheric jump in 2025

Swati Varshney and two other finalists will undergo rigorous training for 18 months and only one of them will make the historic jump while the other two explorers will remain on the team for support.

An Indian-American scientist, Swati Varshney, is one of the three skydivers who is set to prepare for the first-ever jump from the stratosphere by a woman hoping to break the world record.

Rising United, a non-profit organisation, that aims to inspire young women’s participation in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) has chosen three young women explorers as part of their “Hera rising initiative” who will embark on the journey to jump from the stratosphere at an altitude of 42.5 km above the Earth.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the organisation said, “We’re thrilled to introduce Hera Rising — a pioneering campaign for Female Equality and STEAM Education, featuring the FIRST EVER stratospheric jump by a woman!”

The other two finalists preparing to achieve this historic feat are Eliana Rodriquez of Columbian origin and Diana Valerín Jiménez of Costa Rican descent.

The three finalists will go under rigorous training for 18 months and only one of them will make the historic jump while the other two explorers will remain on the team for ground support and educational outreach, Space.com reported.

The stratosphere is Earth’s second layer of atmosphere which reaches a height of around 12 to 50 kilometers (7 to 31 miles) above the Earth’s surface.

The temperature in the stratosphere reaches a minimum of roughly -80°C (-112°F) at the stratopause.

Swati, who has done a PhD in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in an interview with Space.com said that her career trajectory has been close to skydiving.

“I just did a tandem skydive as a thing, I had an absolute blast. I felt really comfortable in freefall. It became this never-ending journey of another pursuit of knowledge that went alongside my academic career,” she was quoted as saying.

Swati has made over 1,200 jumps with a speciality in vertical freefall.

When it comes to training, we’ll need to do a series of high-altitude jumps, going higher and higher and higher, she said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: LANGUAGE: 31 August -World Sanskrit Diwas 2023: Know the date, history, significance and more

Sanskrit is thought to be around 3500 years old, making it part of the ancient Indo-Germanic or Indo-Aryan language family.

Sanskrit Diwas, also known as Vishwa Samskrita Dinam, is celebrated annually on the full moon of Shravana. The 31st of August is Sanskrit Diwas this year. This annual event honours Sanskrit, one of the world’s oldest living languages and a cultural treasure in India.

Sanskrit, sometimes called the “Mother of All Languages,” is an important part of human history and culture. The traditional works in several disciplines, including Literature, Philosophy, Mathematics, and Science, were originally written in Sanskrit, giving the language immense importance.

History

The Government of India’s Ministry of Education proclaimed the World Sanskrit Day. In 1969, on the day of Shraavana Poornima, people began commemorating this special day. Sanskrit is thought to be around 3500 years old, making it part of the ancient Indo-Germanic or Indo-Aryan language family. It is the source of the Latin and Greek languages and has the most extensive vocabulary. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, not only in India, consider it to be their native tongue.

Sanskrit has influenced Europe as much as the Indian subcontinent. Sir William Jones, an English scholar who admired Indic languages, travelled to India in 1783 and started researching the language. This makes Sanskrit one of the oldest languages throughout the globe.

Sanskrit linguist Panini developed the Ashtadhyayi, the eight-chapter grammar manual. He led the world in spoken Sanskrit. India honours Panini on World Sanskrit Day. This day sees several Kavi Sammelan activities for authors and students throughout and beyond.

Significance

The historic event in India honours Sanskrit’s rich cultural history and scientific accomplishments. It tries to expand the language beyond Vedas and other Hindu religious texts. World Sanskrit Day promotes this ancient form of communication. Sanskrit Diwas is celebrated to bring attention to and revitalise the ancient language for the modern world.

The Europeans also gave the day its importance in the language. William Jones established the Asian Society and created the English translation of works including Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntala, Ritu Samhara, and Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda.

In addition, harmony and acceptance are honoured on this special day. Sanskrit is a powerful tool for unity and connecting individuals across the globe.

Sanskrit is fading in India despite its significance in history. The language existed from 1500 to 500 BCE, although it is now lost. Therefore, Sanskrit Diwas was created to restore the language.

source/content: newsroompost.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL: Prof Pankaj Khanna, Indian Institute of Technology (IITGN) Gandhinagar Joins ‘IODP Expedition 389′ Team as Sedimentologist for Offshore Study of Hawaiian Reefs’ role in Climate Change

Prof Pankaj Khanna, a faculty member in Earth Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), has been handpicked as the sedimentologist from India to join an offshore research expedition.

This endeavor, titled ‘IODP Expedition 389,” is a part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and aims to investigate climate change patterns through the study of drowned reefs off the coast of Hawaii.

Prof Khanna’s role scheduled to unfold from August 29 to November 1, places him amidst a cohort of 31 leading researchers hailing from various parts of the world. Their collaborative mission will centre on the meticulous drilling and analysis of fossilised coral reefs encircling the Hawaiian islands. This undertaking promises to unearth invaluable insights into the intricate interplay between global sea-level variations and the broader spectrum of climate change on a planetary scale.

Prof Pankaj Khanna, said, “The research cruise will provide critical datasets to dive deep into past sea levels and climate for the last five lakh years for which there are very limited records. The rocks collected through scientific drilling will give critical information on mechanisms that control abrupt climate change. I will be analysing the core samples that will be collected on the research expedition. I am looking forward to what the drowned reefs offshore Hawaii holds for us to expand our understanding.”

At the heart of this enterprise lies the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), a far-reaching collaborative effort encompassing contributions from 21 countries, including India. Its goal is to delve into the annals of Earth’s history, structure, and dynamics through the meticulous collection and examination of seafloor sediments, rocks, and sub-seafloor environments.

Within this framework, the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD), a key component of IODP, oversees specialised missions such as the ongoing ‘Expedition 389,’ designed to probe submerged reefs off Hawaii’s coastline.

Steered by Co-chief Scientists Prof Jody Webster from the University of Sydney, Australia, and Prof Christina Ravelo from the University of California, Santa Cruz, the expedition will unfold aboard the MMA Valour vessel.

Distinguished by its Benthic Portable Remotely Operated Drill (PROD5) system, the vessel will be home to scientific endeavors that span up to 11 distinct sites. These locales encompass fossil coral reefs encircling Hawaii and hold a treasure trove of climate data spanning significant epochs in Earth’s history.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)