Category Archives: Amazing Feats

NATIONAL: HERITAGE : ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ to be India’s Nomination for UNESCO tag for 2024-25

The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ was included in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2021 .

‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ representing extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers will be India’s nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle, the Culture Ministry said on January 29.

The twelve components of this nomination are— Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohgad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijay Durg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee fort in Tamil Nadu, it said in a statement.

These components, distributed across diverse geographical and physiographic regions, showcase the strategic military powers of the Maratha rule, officials said.

The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’, which developed between 17th and 19th centuries, “represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers”, the statement said.

This will be India’s nomination for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2024-25, it added.

“This extraordinary network of forts, varying in hierarchies, scales and typological features, is a result of integrating the landscape, terrain and physiographic characteristics distinctive to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau and the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula,” the statement said.

The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ was included in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2021, it said.

There are more than 390 forts in Maharashtra, out of which only 12 forts are selected under the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’, and eight of these forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The forts under ASI are Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee fort; whereas Salher fort, Rajgad, Khanderi fort and Pratapgarh are protected by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, government of Maharashtra, the statement said.

“In the Maratha Military Landscapes of India, Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad and Gingee fort are hill forts, Pratapgad is hill-forest fort, Panhala is hill-plateau fort, Vijaydurg is coastal fort whereas Khanderi fort, Suvarnadurg and Sindhudurg are island forts,” the Ministry said.

The inception of the Maratha military ideology dates back to the 17th century during the reign of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by 1670 and continued through subsequent rules until Peshwa rule till 1818, the statement said.

‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ nomination is in the category of cultural property, the ministry said.

At present, there are 42 World Heritage Sites in India, out of which 34 are cultural sites, seven are natural sites whereas one is mixed site.

In Maharashtra, six sites have a UNESCO tag— five cultural and one natural. These are Ajanta Caves (inscribed in 1983), Ellora Caves (1983), Elephanta Caves (1987), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004), Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018), and Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala is serial property in natural category (2012), the statement said.

There are six criteria for sending a nomination— i to vi— for cultural sites, and four criteria— vii to x— for natural sites for inclusion in the World Heritage List, it added.

The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ is nominated under criterion iii— to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization that is living or which has disappeared; criterion iv— to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape that illustrates significant stage(s) in human history; and criterion vi— to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance, the statement said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / RECOGNITION : Jyotsna Srikanth: First Carnatic Musician to Receive Britain’s 03rd Highest Civilian Award

It was natural, considering that Jyotsna is thoroughly trained in both Carnatic and Western classical music.

Jyotsna Srikanth received, a few weeks ago (December 2023), the prestigious MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) from His Majesty King Charles.

“I was simply overwhelmed and overjoyed. I also felt immensely grateful to God, my parents, gurus, musiclovers, the UK government and everyone who made this possible!” says musician Jyotsna Srikanth describing her response to receiving, a few weeks ago (December 2023), the prestigious MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) from His Majesty King Charles. Internationally acclaimed violinist and composer Jyotsna is the first Carnatic musician ever to receive the MBE, UK’s third highest civilian award.

The investiture ceremony by King Charles was held in December, 2023, at Windsor Castle in UK. Says Jyotsna: “I had previously visited Windsor Castle as a wide-eyed visitor along with hordes of other tourists, after I had moved to the UK. Never did I ever imagine then, that I would come here one day, to receive an MBE from King Charles himself. I had also visited Buckingham Palace when I came to the UK along with other tourists. Years later I had the unforgettable honour of meeting Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth, and performing before her.” These were surreal experiences for her.

Jyotsna, now a British citizen, met Her Majesty late Queen Elizabeth a few years ago when she performed before her at Buckingham Palace for the inauguration of the Commonwealth heads meeting. Many years before that, she had performed for the British Parliament in the presence of the-then MPs and British Prime Minister. The UK press and music-connoisseurs have showered praise on her. Leading UK newspapers have variously described her as an “amazing”, “extraordinary”, “versatile” artiste and called her music “often mesmerising”.

Jyotsna was very diffident, even apprehensive, and slightly nervous when she moved to the UK in 2002, when she followed her husband, Shreekantha Sharma, who had been posted there on work. At that point, she had spent years of effort and hard work building up her career and reputation as a violinist in Indian music circles and among Indian audiences. She recalls thinking at that time: “Now that I have uprooted myself from my native country, I have to begin building my career from scratch in a new country and a foreign culture. I told myself that I have to work very, very hard to gain acceptance in this new environment.”

Look where all that hard work and determination got here! Not only did Jyotsna gain acceptance in the UK, and receive the honours already mentioned but she has also performed at the country’s most prestigious venues, taught the violin for courses at the University of Cambridge and other educational institutions, and even toured all over Europe and played the violin to applause at the continent’s best-known festivals and venues and collaborated with several Western music legends and upcoming artistes. She has composed for and performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and many famous string quartets and bands.

It was natural, considering that Jyotsna is thoroughly trained in both Carnatic and Western classical music. She has also given talks and held workshops and lec-dems at universities, music conservatories and music-fests worldwide. She has contributed her talent to the world of cinema too: she has played the violin for over 300 south-Indian films, the background scores in many Italian, French, Portuguese films, as well as English TV documentaries. She has featured in a wide gamut of musical genres like Carnatic, Western classical, jazz, western contemporary, south-Indian contemporary, pop, jazz, Bollywood, south-Indian cinema, Hollywood, etc.

Jyotsna thus has demonstrated extraordinary success in a wide variety of musical scenarios. This has been made possible because of the eclectic, broad-based training she received and her cosmopolitan outlook both as a person and professional. Born into a Telugu family hailing from Andhra Pradesh and settled in Karnataka; she was born and brought up in Bengaluru, a city she loves and idolises; lived for decades in London; constantly travels around the world, and thus been exposed to many influences. She adds: “Besides the Western and Carnatic classical streams that I am trained in, I also listen to many genres: folk-music including Irish folk, Nordic music, flamenco, Klezmer style (Eastern Europe), jazz, film music. I pay special attention to how the violin is played in all these genres.” All this has given her what she calls a 360-degree vision of the violin.

Jyotsna’s musical journey began at the age of five when her mother and first teacher, musician Rathna Srikantiah, initiated her into Carnatic music. She received advanced training under the renowned seven-string-violin master R R Keshavamurthy. She gave her first concert at age nine. After that, for years, she performed around India both as a solo artiste and also accompanist to young artistes as well as maestros. For example, she first accompanied the Carnatic icon M. Balamuralikshna when she was just 15 years old!

Jyotsna, who is a mother of two children, also became a postgraduate medical doctor but has almost stopped practising except during the pandemic in UK when she went to help because all doctors on hand were needed. She also gave up her career in IT after working for TCS. This after becoming the world’s first medical doctor to study C, C ++, Java, and earn Sun Certification in Java! “Yes, I did give up two lucrative professions, medicine and ÌT for the violin, but my love of music was so overpowering,” she exclaims.

In the world of classical music, perhaps in any art and even sports, there is no substitute for sheer hard work, discipline, intense focus, and sustained practice to gain success. Jyotsna believes in all these means.

How and why did she foray into Western classical music? “I was listening to Ilayaraja’s album ‘How to Name It’ in which I heard the violin played by V S Narasimhan in different shrutis (pitches) on a single violin. I was fascinated and wanted to learn this technique. I wanted to understand the potential of the bowing technique in Western music.” This was followed by a thorough grounding in the Western classical-style violin at the Bangalore School of Music and VS Narasimhan. She has also worked in film music for Ilayaraja whom she admires a lot.

Well, after all, the violin is an instrument of Western origin which arrived in India, a few centuries ago and has now become ubiquitous in Indian classical music. So, it is interesting that an Indian violinist wanted to explore its depth and breadth as a Western classical-music instrument.

However, Jyotsna has had her fair share of setbacks and obstacles. The music-fraternity in India is well aware of the prejudices among several male classical musicians including leading ones, against performing with female accompanists, whether violinists or mridangam-and-ghatam-players. She reveals: “I too faced this negativity. Many a time, after receiving a concert opportunity, I was quietly told that I would not be allowed to perform as the male musician had objected saying he only wanted a male accompanist only. So, I had to withdraw. Yes, it was both frustrating and humiliating. Fortunately, there are also male classical musicians in India who are merit-oriented and have allowed me to accompany them. In cinema playback music too, many opportunities have been lost at various stages, for various reasons. If you ask me, these prejudices against women have prevailed for a long time and will continue to do so.”

This was one of the reasons that Jyotsna was spurred to become a music-events organiser who gives opportunities to anyone based on merit and regardless of background, gender, etc. “I also wanted to give back to the art of music,” she adds. She became founder and curator of the London International Arts Festival (LIAF) in 2012. The LIAF showcases world music with a focus on her first love, Carnatic music. She has also teamed up with Bangalore String Ensemble. Her brainchild is the Jyotsna Srikanth Project and part of this project is Jyotsna Srikanth Live which mainstreams the violin with the support of drums, piano, keyboard and Indian ethnic percussion. She is also founder of a not-for-profit organisation, the UK-based Dhruv Arts which provides music classes, workshops, etc., to further the cause of music.

Drawing on her rigorous training, vast theoretical knowledge, immense creativity, and eclectic influences, she continues to impress audiences at every performance, whether as a performer—as a soloist, accompanist, or one among a group of collaborating musicians—or a composer. However, she is constantly aware that all the accolades have come after tremendous effort. As Jyotsna says: “My track-record might look good but I know how tough the journey was and is, and the endless hours of sadhana and many sacrifices that have gone and are going into it. I also know the journey ahead is tougher. There are countless challenges to becoming an accomplished and appreciated artist. The more I learn, the more I realise what a vast amount of knowledge is out there still waiting to be acquired. I just want to be able to explore that world of music as much as I can.”

The writer is a journalist, photographer, translator and author of Forgotten Composers. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.

source/content: firstpost.com (headline edited) / aruna chandaraju

INTERNATIONAL: DEFENCE : MADE IN INDIA / COLLABORATION WITH FRANCE : Welcome progress in Maintenance-Repair-Overhaul (MRO) for LEAP, Rafale Engines, Scorpene Subs to be Made in India, IMRH Engine Partnership

The joint statement was released after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with visiting French President and Republic Day chief guest Emmanuel Macron Thursday and Friday.

India and France on Friday welcomed the progress in establishing the MRO (Maintenance-Repair-Overhaul) facility for LEAP engines in India by French defence major Safran and plans to add MRO for Rafale engines, a joint statement released by the two countries stated.

Both the countries also welcomed a comprehensive helicopter partnership with a Joint Venture for Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) engine between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran, and the Scorpene submarines constructed in India, including indigenisation, it added.

The joint statement was released after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with visiting French President and Republic Day chief guest Emmanuel Macron Thursday and Friday.

As per the statement, they also welcomed the discussions between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA), and intend to conclude an Arrangement MoU in an early timeframe.

Both countries had adopted a roadmap on Defence Industrial Cooperation which was further elaborated in the joint statement.

It said President Macron and Prime Minister Modi reiterated their commitment to further deepening the integration between the two countries’ respective defence industrial sectors and to work together to identify opportunities for co-design, co-development, co-production with the objective of not only fulfilling the defence needs of the Indian armed forces, but also of providing a viable and reliable source of defence supplies to other friendly countries.

It said that they noted that defence industrial collaboration, especially from the design stage, not only creates quality jobs for the youth and advances Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, but also supports a broader progress in scientific, technological, digital and material sciences fields to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat for 2047.

“Towards this end, the two leaders welcomed the adoption of an ambitious Defence Industrial Roadmap,” it said.

As per the statement, defense and security partnership has been the cornerstone of India-France partnership in the Indo Pacific region, which include a comprehensive range of bilateral, multinational, regional and institutional initiatives, especially in the Indian Ocean Region.

“They also agreed to intensify their cooperation in the Southwest Indian Ocean, “building on the joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022,” it stated, adding that they also welcomed the extension of those interactions in India’s maritime neighbourhood.

“These interactions may contribute positively to the securitization of strategic sea lanes of communication,” it said.

“In addition, the two leaders welcomed the progress in bilateral dialogue and identification of specific opportunities for using India as a base for the manufacture and export of defense equipment for friendly countries in the region,” it added.

India and France have been talking over collaborating on manufacturing an engine for India’s planned fifth generation aircraft—the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. The plans for the joint development of the engine were announced during PM Modi’s visit to France last year. At that time, both countries also said they will support industrial cooperation for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the IMRH programme with the French Safran Helicopter Engine, adding that a a Shareholders’ Agreement between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engine has been concluded for engine development.

India and the US will be jointly manufacturing the F-414 engine which will power its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Mk 2 and the initial version of the AMCA.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: AVIATION & DEFENCE: HELICOPTERS: Airbus, Tata team up to set up India’s First Private Helicopter Assembly line

The Final Assembly Line will produce Airbus’ best-selling H125 helicopter for India and neighbouring countries.


In the backdrop of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India, Airbus Helicopters has announced that it is partnering with the Tata Group to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for civil helicopters in the country, making it India’s first helicopter assembly facility in the private sector. Under this partnership, the FAL will produce Airbus’ best-selling H125 single-engine civil helicopter for India and export to some of the neighbouring countries, the company said.

Under this partnership, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a subsidiary of Tata Group, will set up the facility along with Airbus Helicopters. Airbus and Tata are already setting up a FAL in Vadodara for the C-295 military transport aircraft as part of a contract to supply 56 aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

The announcement was made during the two-day visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India as Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

“The FAL in India will undertake the integration of the major component assemblies, avionics and mission systems, installation of electrical harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel system and the engine,” Airbus said in a statement. “It will also do testing, qualification, and delivery of the H125 to customers in India and the region.”

The FAL will take 24 months to set up and deliveries of the first ‘Made in India’ H125s are expected to commence in 2026, it stated. “The location of the FAL will be jointly decided by Airbus and the Tata Group.”

The H125 is the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter that outclasses other helicopters in its category, according to Airbus and is a member of Airbus’ Ecureuil family, which has accumulated more than 38 million flight hours worldwide. It can operate in high-and-hot and extreme environments and can be easily reconfigured for various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, passenger transport, and many others, Airbus said. “The H125 is the only helicopter to have landed on Mount Everest, demonstrating its agility in operating in high altitude, extreme environments.”

Airbus currently does $750 million worth of sourcing from India every year to its global supply chain and this expected to go up to $1.5 billion per year by 2026, company officials said.

India’s fast growing aerospace sector has a large requirement for both military and civil helicopters.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

IIT-Guwahati’s PhD scholar clinches best product design at Vishwakarma Awards 2023 for groundbreaking water quality monitoring system

Satyam, a PhD Scholar in the department of biosciences and bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-Guwahati), recently achieved a significant feat by securing the “Best Product Design” award in the Water and Sanitation category at the prestigious Vishwakarma Awards 2023.

The competition, organized by the IIT-Delhi in collaboration with Maker Bhavan Foundation and the WIN Foundation, aimed to recognize and support innovative minds in technology from science and engineering colleges across India. The theme for 2023 focused on water and sanitation, clean technology and smart mobility. Satyam’s winning device, R-SAM-PRO, is an IoT-enabled water quality monitoring system that outshines existing devices in terms of cost-effectiveness and integration with the Internet of Things (IoT).

Prof. Sanjukta Patra, from the department of biosciences and bioengineering at IIT-Guwahati, congratulated Satyam, acknowledging his dedication and innovation in developing the IoT-enabled water monitoring system. She praised the project for its technological advancement, reflecting a profound understanding of the challenges faced in water resource management, particularly in developing nations. The system’s affordability, accessibility, and real-time data transmission capabilities were highlighted as not only showcasing technical prowess but also a commitment to societal betterment.

The R-SAM-PRO device distinguishes itself by comprehensively addressing critical water and sanitation needs through technological innovation, integrating IoT, multiple sensors, and AI readiness for advanced water quality monitoring. Its real-time data provision is deemed crucial for environmental conservation and resource management. The device’s affordability and user-friendly design make it highly accessible, with the potential for widespread adoption, especially in resource-limited settings, significantly enhancing water quality monitoring practices.

Satyam shared his inspiration behind the innovation, emphasizing the critical issue of water pollution in developing countries. He expressed the aim of empowering communities and authorities for effective water resource management through the provision of a cost-effective, multi-parametric, IoT-enabled solution.

Key features of the award-winning IoT-enabled real-time water monitoring system include integrated GPS for precise location tracking, diverse sensors for comprehensive water quality analysis, an ESP32 Microprocessor for efficient processing and communication, a hybrid power system for adaptability, AI integration for enhanced data analysis, and advanced data retrieval for user-friendly interactions.

Looking ahead, the innovators plan to enhance the device over the next 1 to 7 months by integrating more sensors, ensuring market readiness with necessary certifications and approvals. They aspire to expand their impact, reaching a broader audience, and contributing significantly to sustainable water resource management on a global scale.

source/content: timesofindia.indiatimes.com (headline edited)

6 Kirti Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras in Republic Day awards list

Three of the Kirti Chakras and two of the Shaurya Chakras will be awarded posthumously. These awards are equivalent to the wartime Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, respectively.

 President Draupadi Murmu on Thursday approved 391 gallantry awards and other decorations for armed forces personnel, with the honours including six Kirti Chakras and 16 Shaurya Chakras, the country’s second and third highest awards for uncommon courage during peacetime, the defence ministry said in a statement on the eve of 75th Republic Day.

Three of the Kirti Chakras and two of the Shaurya Chakras will be awarded posthumously. These awards are equivalent to the wartime Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, respectively.

The Kirti Chakra awardees are Major Digvijay Singh Rawat (21 Para-Special Forces), Major Deependra Vikram Basnet (4 Sikh), Captain Anshuman Singh (Army Medical Corps, 26 Punjab)(Posthumous), Havildar Pawan Kumar Yadav (21 Mahar), Havildar Abdul Majid (9 Para-Special Forces) (Posthumous) and Sepoy Pawan Kumar (Grenadiers, 55 Rashtriya Rifles) (Posthumous).

The Shaurya Chakra awardees are Major Maneo Francis PF (21 Para-Special Forces), Major Amandeep Jakhar (4 Sikh), Captain MV Pranjal (Signals, 63 Rashtriya Rifles) (Posthumous), Captain Akshat Upadhyay (20 Jat), Naib Subedar Baria Sanjay Kumar Bhamar Sinh (21 Mahar), Havildar Sanjay Kumar (9 Assam Rifles), Rifleman Alok Rao (18 Assam Rifles) (Posthumous) and Parshotam Kumar (Civilian c/o 63 Rashtriya Rifles), Lieutenant Bimal Ranjan Behera (Navy), Wing Commander Shailesh Singh (IAF), Flight Lieutenant Hrishikesh Jayan Karuthedath (IAF), DSP Mohan Lal (J&K Police), ASI Amit Raina (J&K Police), SI Faroz Ahmed Dar (J&K Police) and Constable Varun Singh (J&K Police).

The other gallantry awards include 53 Sena Medals (Gallantry, including seven posthumous, four Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry) and one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), the statement said.

The other awards approved by the President include 31 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, two Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 59 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 10 Yudh Seva Medals, eight Bar to Sena Medals (devotion to duty), 38 Sena Medals (devotion to duty), 10 Nao Sena Medals (devotion to duty), 14 Vayu Sena Medals (devotion to duty), five Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals and 130 Vishisht Seva Medals.

The President also approved 84 Mentioned-in-Despatches to armed forces personnel, including 10 posthumous. The Coast Guard has been awarded one President’s Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service), two Tatrakshak Medals (Gallantry) and three Tatrakshak Medals (Meritorious Service).

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

WORLD RECORD: SPORT / TENNIS : World No.1 Ranking will Inspire ‘Gen-Next’ of Indian Tennis, says Rohan Bopanna after Achieving the Feat

Bopanna is set to become the oldest tennis player to achieve the world No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles after reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open along with his partner Matthew Ebden of Australia.

Rohan Bopanna feels that his ascent to world No. 1 in doubles rankings at the twilight of his career is perfect boost that Indian tennis needed just when it was falling off the radar.

Bopanna is set to become the oldest tennis player to achieve the world No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles after reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open along with his partner Matthew Ebden of Australia here on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old, who had entered the tournament with a career-high ranking of world No. 3, and Ebden recorded a comfortable 6-4 7-6(5) win over sixth seeded Argentinian duo of Máximo González and Andrés Molteni in the quarterfinals that lasted an hour and 46 minutes here.

Bopanna will be crowned the new numero uno spot on Monday after the end of the tournament.

“It (the feat) means a lot not to just me but for Indian tennis also. You need something to inspire the next generation. Sumit (Nagal) also had a great Australian Open. He won a round,” Bopanna told PTI in an exclusive interview from Melbourne.

And the star player said the feat came with a lot of sacrifices.

“Extremely proud of this (world no.1 ranking in men’s doubles). It’s a special moment. Lot of sacrifices have gone into this. My coaches, family everyone. My family is travelling with me, so different feeling,” he said.

In fact, he is more happy that for the past week, Indian tennis has been in the news.

“Nothing at all was happening in Indian tennis. You (journalists) also did not have much to write about, so this has happened at the right time.” Earlier, Rajeev Ram of the USA was the oldest player to be ranked world no. 1 when he had achieve the top ranking in October 2022 at the age of 38 for the first time in his career.

Ebden, on the other hand, is set to reach the world no 2 spot.

Bopanna twice reached the US Open final but never won a men’s doubles major.

He, however, has a mixed doubles trophy at the French Open when he and his partner Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada won the crown at the 2017 French Open, defeating Anna-Lena Grönefeld and Robert Farah in the final 2–6 6–2 12–10.

But Bopanna’s desire to win a men’s doubles title at the Slam still remains unfulfilled, something which we wants to achieve before hanging up his racquet.

“That’s a personal goal (winning men’s doubles title at a Grand Slam). It’s no one else’s goal,” he said.

For the veteran, it is always one step at a time.

“When you reach second round, next you want is third round then fourth, quarters, semi-final. So, yes I have been in two Slam final and now want to win but it’s a natural. You always try to go one better,” Bopanna said about his future goal.

Bopanna, who had achieved the highest of world No. 3 for the first time in 2013, is the fourth Indian after Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza to take the world number one rank in doubles.

He also didn’t forget to acknowledge the contribution of his long-time coach Scott David of the USA in his breathtaking journey in the game.

“I am probably fifty world number one of coach Scott David. It’s a proud moment for him also. I switched to doubles in 2010 and since then I have been with him only,” Bopanna said.

Bopanna and Ebden have been one of the most consistent pairs on the tour over the last 12 months. The duo reached the final of US Open 2023, their best result so far in Grand Slams.

En route the semifinals here, the second seeded Bopanna and Ebden, had to over come two close contests in the first and third rounds to book their place in the semifinals.

Their first hurdle came in the opening round against wildcards James Duckworth and Marc Polmans of Australia, whom Bopanna and Ebden defeated 6-7(5) 6-4 6-7(2).

Their next steep challenge came in the third round where they overcame 14th seeds Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Croatian Nikola Mektić 7-6(8) 7-6(4).

And Bopanna attributed the ability to finish close matches to his experience on the circuit.

“Experience is a great factor in getting those wins. Ever since, I started focussing only on doubles in 2010, it has taken me 13-14 years to reach this. I have been a journeyman,” said Bopanna, who will take over the top position from USA’s Austin Krajicek, who and his Croatian partner Ivan Dodig lost in the second round.

The Indo-Australian pair will play unseeded Tomas Machac of Czech Republic and Chinese Zhizhen Zhang in the semi-finals.

His former Davis Cup teammates Mahesh Bhupathi and Somdev Devvarman termed it as one of the greatest stories in Indian sport.

“Rohan Bopanna getting to World Number 1 today after 20 years on tour in my opinion is one of the greatest stories in Indian Sport!!!,” Bhupathi wrote on ‘X’.

“Bops first told me he was contemplating retirement 5 years ago, then 4 years ago, then 3 years ago…Moral of the story is…. Who cares… He’s number 1! Couldn’t be happier for the Bopanna family! rohanbopanna is the best story in indian sport,” Devvarman wrote.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: RESEARCH: National Institute of Technology-Warangal (NIT-W) Faculty Members Develop Innovative Wastewater Treatment System for Textile Industry Effluents

The brains behind this sustainable innovation — Prof Shirish Sonawane, Dr Murali Mohan Seepana, Dr Ajey Kumar Patel and Malkapuram Surya Teja — started working on the project in 2019.

While the textile industry helps many across the state earn their livelihoods, the chemical effluents from the units affect the lives of people living in the vicinity. To address this, a team of faculty members at the National Institute of Technology, Warangal (NIT-W), has developed an environment-friendly hybrid wastewater treatment system for textile industry effluents.

The brains behind this sustainable innovation — Prof Shirish Sonawane, Dr Murali Mohan Seepana, Dr Ajey Kumar Patel and Malkapuram Surya Teja — started working on the project in 2019.

According to Prof Sonawane, conventional methods involve the extensive use of chemicals. However, in order to reduce pollution levels to permissible limits of discharge, the team put forward a combination of coagulation, hydrodynamic cavitation (HC)-based oxidation system and a ceramic membrane (CM)-based filtration process. In the course of the coagulation process, the turbidity of the effluents is removed. Meanwhile, HC, a process involving the generation and collapse of microbubbles in a liquid, is employed afterwards to initiate the breakdown/mineralisation of complex organic compounds.

In place of polymeric membranes, the novel methodology uses ceramic membranes. “After two years, polymeric membranes need to be discarded. It becomes solid waste,” he adds.

As per the innovators, the integrated system achieved an 80% reduction in organic pollutants. The use of ceramic membranes makes the methodology more sustainable, he mentions. The surface-modified CM further improves filtration efficiency, ensuring the removal of even finer particles and impurities.

The team has filed three patents — two for the processes and one for design — for the cost-effective technology.

Elaborating on the hurdles they faced, Surya Teja says the textile pollutants are very stubborn in nature. “To degrade the pollutants, we have to remove the turbidity in the initial phase. That was the challenging task,” he says.

The second hurdle in front of the team was the soluble nature of dyes. “Even after the advanced oxidation process, there will be remnants of dyes in the water,” he adds.

Speaking to TNIE, NIT-W director Prof Bidyadhar Subudhi underlines the need for HEIs to come up with sustainable innovations. “A lot of the research coming from IITs and NITs are primarily on sustainable generation of energy. The expected outcome from different institutes towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals is a big challenge,” he adds.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: ARTS & CULTURE : MUSIC & SINGING RECORD : Indian student Suchetha Satish in Dubai sets Guinness World Record for Singing in 140 Languages at concert

Suchetha Satish performed for 9 hours straight, all from memory, as prelude to COP28.

An Indian expat in Dubai has set a new Guinness World Record for the most languages sung in a concert by singing in 140 languages – for nine hours at a stretch, all from memory.

Suchetha Satish had performed her ‘Concert for Climate’ on November 24, 2023 at the Indian Consulate Auditorium in Dubai as a prelude to COP28 UN climate conference, which concluded in December in Dubai.

The Guinness World Records officially announced the success of her attempt on their website on January 3. She was presented the Records certificate by the Consul General of India in Dubai, Satish Kumar Sivan, who congratulated her. Though Satish could have sung in 150 languages, she preferred to sing in 140 as a tribute to the 140 heads of states invited to COP28.

Message of preservation

She told Gulf News: “I’m delighted and humbled by the fact that the Record has been reported and applauded by media across India and rest of the world. And more importantly the Concert for Climate and the message for climate preservation has spread far and wide, which really justifies the whole effort. We have to do everything possible to make this world a better place to live in.”

She tries to emulate her role model Shreya Ghoshal in rendering the songs “perfectly”.

Award-winning music composer M Jayachandran, who was present at Satish’s concert, said: “It was so heartening to see her smile as she was journeying through these songs. I felt so proud to be there. Suchetha is indeed an extra-ordinary artist. She sang the songs with total dedication, understanding the inner meanings of each word she was singing and at the same time not compromising on the musicality or nativity of each song.”

The first-year digital media student at Middlesex University Dubai – who also learns carnatic, hindustani and western vocals from teachers Asha Menon, Jerry Amaldev and Hanna Nielazina – aims to become an accomplished international performer and playback singer.

source/content: gulfnews.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: REPUBLIC DAY : Tri-services Women Contingent, C-295 Transport Aircraft to make Debut at Republic Day parade

A total of 51 aircraft comprising 29 fighters and eight transport aircraft of IAF, 13 helicopters and one heritage aircraft will participate in this year’s Republic Day flypast.

A 144 personnel tri-service women contingent would be participating in Republic Day Parade this time for the first time with 48 personnel from each service. Also the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) latest induction, the C-295 medium transport aircraft will make debut over kartavya path during the Republic Day flypast this year.

“A total of 48 Agniveervayu Women would be part of this contingent. Flight Lieutenant Shrishti Verma would be marching as supernumerary Officer of the (tri-service) contingent,” said Wg Cdr Manish Sharma briefing the media on IAF’s participation in the Republic Day parade this year.

A total of 51 aircraft comprising 29 fighters and eight transport aircraft of IAF, 13 helicopters and one heritage aircraft will participate in this year’s Republic Day flypast. This includes four helicopters of the Army and one P-8i maritime patrol aircraft of the Navy which will fly in two separate formations.

A C-295 aircraft flanked by two C-130 aircraft in echelon, will fly as the Arjan formation during Republic Day fly past, said IAF Spokesperson Wg Cdr Ashish Moghe.

The IAF induced the first C-295 in September last year, which will replace the legacy HS-748 Avro transport aircraft in service.

The IAF marching contingent of 144 personnel will be led by Squadron Leader Rashmi Thakur with Squadron Leader Sumita Yadav, Squadron Leader Pratiti Alhuwalia and Flight Lieutenant Kirti Rohil as supernumerary Officers. They will be marching to the tune ‘Sound Barrier’ played by 72 lAF musicians and three drum majors. The band will be led by Sergeant CA Daniel.

For the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29 at Vijay Chowk, the IAF Band comprising of 121 musicians would be participating in the event. The band will be led by Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar. 

In line with theme of the 75th Republic Day Parade-2024 “Samridh Bharat Sashakt Bharat”, the theme of the IAF tableau is “Bharatiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Atmanirbhar”, said Wg Cdr Sharma. Flight Lieutenant Ananya Sharma and Flying Officer Asma Sheikh, both Su- 30 pilots, would be present on the tableau, he added.

On the tableau, Wg Cdr Sharma said the IAF has been at the forefront of rendering humanitarian aid, both within and across borders. In Operation Kaveri launched on April 24, 2023 to evacuate Indian nationals from strife-torn Sudan, the IAF’s C-130J aircraft were used extensively towards rescuing 3,862 Indians from the country, he noted. “The rear element of the tableau depicts one specific sortie of this mission during which an IAF C-130 extricated Indian nationals from Wadi Sayyidna in Sudan under extremely adverse conditions at night.”

The middle section of the tableau depicts Tejas and SU-30 fighters flying over the Indian Ocean Region which depicts the ever-expanding reach of the lAF- over land, as well as over the sea, he added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)