HAMSA PADMANABHAN

HAMSA PADMANABHAN

Hamsa is among six Indian students who have got planets named after them since 2006. Hamsa Padmanabhan is on top of the world. A minor planet, code number 21575, will now be named 'Hamsa' after her.

హీతల్ వైష్ణవ్

హీతల్ వైష్ణవ్ 

హీతల్ వైష్ణవ్ పేరు ఒక గ్రహానికి పెట్టడం వెనక కారణం చెత్తలోని మందపాటి కవర్లు రీ సైకిల్ కి పనికి రావని తెలిసి ఆ కవర్లను కొన్ని రసాయనాలతో కలిపి మరింత మందంగా చేసి వాటిని మళ్ళీ ప్యాకింగ్ కోసం ఉపయోగించే పద్దతి కనిపెట్టినందుకు ఒక చిన్న గ్రహానికి "25636 వైష్ణవ్ " అనే పేరు పెట్టారు. 

National Spelling Bee Winner: Snigdha Nandipati Wins 2012 Scripps Competition

14-year-old Indian-American Snidgha Nandipati from San Diego, California won this year's renowned US national spelling bee contest by correctly spelling the French word "Guetapens" which means ambush.

IMPRESSIVE WOMEN OF INDIA - TARLA DALAL

Tarla Dalal  is a noted and best selling cookery author and host of cooking shows like "Tarla Dalal show" and "Cook It Up With Tarla Dalal". Her first cook book The Pleasures of Vegetarian Cooking was published in 1974. She has written a total of 30 titles, several of which have been translated in various languages like Hindi, Gujrati, Marathi, Bengali and even Dutch and Russian! The total sales of her cookbooks exceed 1 million copies. She also runs the largest Indian food web site (http://www.tarladalal.com) and publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Cooking & More. Her cooking show is broadcast all over South East Asia, India, the Gulf, the United Kingdom and United States of America. Her range of ready-to-cook mixes, 'Tarla Dalal Mixes' was acquired by International Bestfoods Ltd (IBL) in 2000. Though she writes about many cuisines and healthy cooking, she specializes in Indian cuisine especially Gujarati cuisine. She was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India in 2007.

First Indian women - Surekha Yadav Asia's first woman engine driver

On the occasion of International Women's DayInternational Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8 every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.
..... Click the link for more information, Surekha Yadav, Asia's first woman train driver, got the opportunity of driving the Deccan Queen, one of India's most prestigious trains.

Surekha Yadav, 46, started her career as an assistant diver in 1989 and worked her way up to become a goods driver in 1996, and then a motorwoman in 2000.

Last year, she graduated to a Ghat driver. Since 10 months now, she has served as mail driver.

Real Stroies - Shila Ghosh the spirit of Calcutta

Image Courtesy : Facebook Page

Shila Ghosh the spirit of Calcutta, alive and kicking in the grit of an 83-year-old selling savouries on a pavement lives at pali in West Bengal. Shila Ghosh changes two buses to reach the Exide crossing on Chowringhee Road from Bally, in Howrah, every afternoon to sell chips on the pavement outside Haldiram till the flow of the homebound-crowd ebbs. The pedestrians out of respect buy the fries from her. After lung cancer took away her breadwinner son from her 5 years back,to make ends meet she works. Her nephew aged 30 works as a mover on meagre wages in pali. When asked if she has a problem in travelling,she weakly smile ans says “No,the bus gets me here and my health is not that bad”.She earns 400 rupees per day but still it is less for her family of four. Circumstances could have easily forced her to beg but her dignity and respect is everything for her,she would work till the end of her life rather than beg on the streets. When we go on complaining she has chose to solve her problems on her own for as they say God helps them those who help themselves.She is a determined women and deserves our respect.

Here is the one more link related to her http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120402/jsp/calcutta/story_15323873.jsp

Sports - Archer Deepika Kumari wins first World Cup gold medal on saturday

India's Deepika Kumari won her first World Cup individual recurve gold medal on Saturday in Antalya, Turkey, beating South Korea's Lee Sung Jin by six set points to four in the final, according to information received here.

Deepika won the second set (29-27), fourth (27-26) and the fifth set (28-27) after losing the first (27-30) and the third (27-29). Deepika is the current junior World Champion and a gold medallist at the Delhi Commonwealth Games. She had also won the Cadet World Title in 2009.

Deepika Kumari was born on13 June 1994. She was born in the city of Ranchi, in the state of Jharkhand, India. Deepika Kumari father Shivnarayan Mahato, an auto-rickshaw driver and Geeta Mahato, a nurse in Ranchi Medical College. In the early days it was rather difficult for the parents to financially support Deepika's dream, often compromising on the family budget to buy her new equipments for her training. In fact, when her father came to know that she wanted to make a career in archery, he wasn't happy. But the young gutsy archer never gave up and started her practice with bamboo made bows and arrows. Finally it was Deepika's cousin Vidya Kumari, also an archer at Tata Archery Academy, who showed her the way.

రాగతి పండరి

రాగతి పండరి

Annie Besant

Annie Besant was a prominent Theosophist, social reformer, political leader, women's rights activist, writer and orator. She was of Irish origin and made India her second home. She fought for the rights of Indian and was the first woman president of Indian National Congress.

Annie Besant fought for the causes she thought were right, such as, women's rights, secularism, birth control, Fabian socialism and workers' rights. She became interested in Theosophy as a way of knowing God. Theosophical Society was against discrimination of race, color, gender and preached Universal brotherhood. To serve humanity at large was its supreme goal. It was as a member of Theosophical Society of India that she arrived in India in 1893.
Annie Besant died on September 20, 1933 at Adyar (Madras). As per her wish her ashes were immersed in Ganga in Benares.

Sri Sarada Devi

On 22nd December 1853, a saintly soul was born in a poor Brahmin family in Jayrambati, a village adjoining Kamarpukur in West Bengal. Little did the world know that this little baby girl would one day become Sri Sarada Devi, the wife and spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna, one of the greatest spiritual souls the world has ever beheld. When only about six years old, she was married off (as was the custom prevalent in India in those days) to Sri Ramakrishna. However, she continued to live with her parents after marriage, while Sri Ramakrishna lived a God-intoxicated life at Dakshineshwar. When she turned 18, Sarada went to her husband who received her with great affection, and allowed her to stay with him. But they lived pure lives and Sri Ramkrishna is believed to have obtained her wife's permission in following his spiritual path and staying away from a sensual domestic life. Sri Sarada Devi smilingly encouraged her husband and remained a virgin nun. Sri Ramakrishna accepted her as his devoted wife and disciple and taught her how to lead a spiritual life while discharging her household duties. He aroused the universal Motherhood latent in her and taught her to look upon his disciples as her own children. When Sri Ramakrishna passed away in 1886, Sarada Devi went to Kamarpukur to live in seclusion. But the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna brought her to Kolkata and many spiritual seekers became her disciple. Sarada Devi made no distinction between them and accepted all as her children irrespective of caste, religion or race. Even those who had led sinful lives were not turned away. She demonstrated her progressive outlook in a conservative society when she accepted the Western women disciples of Swami Vivekananda, one of her husband's greatest disciples. All through her life, this divine lady lived like a simple village mother, washing clothes, sweeping the floor, bringing water from the pond, dressing vegetables, cooking and serving food. In her own words, she lived to "manifest that Divine Motherhood in the world" that Sri Ramakrishna had, the "maternal attitude (matri-bhava)" that he possessed. For thousands of people including Swami Vivekananda, she was the ideal woman and the "Holy Mother".

On 21 July 1920, the Holy mother left her mortal coils to be in unison with the great divinity. But even about 100 years later, she remains ever so bright in our hearts and her peaceful image continues to be venerated in many Indian homes.

K. Pratibha Bharati - first woman speaker in Andhra Pradesh's history

K. Pratibha Bharati (born 6 February 1956) is a politician of Andhra Pradesh. She is a former speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly (1999 –2004). She was the first woman speaker in Andhra Pradesh's history. She was Minister of Social Welfare 1983, 1985 and 1994 and 1998 of Higher Education.

M.S. Subbalakshmi - Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi - ( 16 September 1916 – 11 December 2004)

M.S. Subbalakshmi was a renowned Carnatic vocalist. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna. She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award.  Subbulakshmi was born in Madurai to veena player Shanmukavadiver Ammal and Subramania Iyer. Her grandmother Akkammal was a violinist. She started learning Carnatic music at an early age and trained in Carnatic music.

Subbulakshmi gave her first public performance in 1929 when she was 13 years old at the prestigious Madras Music Academy.

She also made her film debut in Sevasadan in 1938.  MS Subbulakshmi also played the male role of Narada in "Savitri" (1941) to raise money for launching Kalki, her husband's nationalist Tamil weekly. Her title role of the Rajasthani saint-poetess Meera in the eponymous 1945 film gave her national prominence.

Subbulakshmi first recording was released when she was 10 years old. She gave her first public performance during the Mahamaham festival at Kumbakonam at the age of sixteen.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had this to say about M.S. Subbulakshmi- "Who am I, a mere Prime Minister before a Queen, a Queen of Music". While Lata Mangeshkar called her Tapaswini (the Renunciate), Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan termed her Suswaralakshmi (the goddess of the perfect note), and Kishori Amonkar labeled her the ultimate eighth note or Aathuvaan Sur, which is above the seven notes basic to all music. The great national leader and poet Sarojini Naidu called her "Nightingale of India".

Her many famous renditions of bhajans include the chanting of Bhaja Govindam, Vishnu sahasranama, Hari Tuma Haro and the Venkateswara Suprabhatam.

Kasturba Gandhi

Kasturba Gandhi was born to wealthy businessman Gokuladas Kapadia of Porbandar. She was married to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi through arrangement. Gandhi was thirteen and Kasturba was fourteen when they married.

Mahatma Gandhi taught her how to read and write. She joined her husband in political protests.

Kasturba was very religious minded. She took Gandhi's place when he was under arrest, and was always closely associated with the struggle in India, giving encouragement to women volunteers.

In the year 1906, Mohandas Gandhi made up his mind to practice Brahmacharya. Like a good wife, Kasturba always stood by the side of her husband, even if she didn't approve of some of his ideas.

Kasturba Gandhi suffered from the problem of chronic Bronchitis. To top it, the stress level caused during the Quit India Movement's arrests aggravated her illness. Her health began to decline. The situation got worse, when she got victimized by pneumonia. Her husband disagreed with her idea to go in for penicillin. On February 22, 1944, she had a major heart attack and she died.

India's first women prime minister - Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad, the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru, later the first prime minister of India. Being influenced and inspired by her parents, Indira Gandhi rose to power in India and eventually became prime minister. She dedicated her life to progress in her country despite the overwhelming problems and challenges she encountered.

Telugu women directors - Director Nandini Reddy

Nanadini Reddy director of Ala Modalaindi a successful love story movie in 2011 for which she bagged Nandi Award for Best Debut Director. Nandini Reddy was born in Hyderabad. Her father Bharath.V.Reddy was a well known chartered accountant settled in Bangalore.

Nandini Reddy worked as an assistant director with Gunnam Gangaraju, Krishna Vamsi and Suresh Productions.

Nandini has a younger brother Uttam Reddy who runs a successful restaurant chain in Hyderabad, Rayalaseema Ruchulu.

She did her schooling from St.Anns High School, Secunderabad, graduation at Women's Collge, Koti and her post graduation in international politics from J.N.U New Delhi. She was active in dramatics,elocution and cricket through out her school and college years. A self confessed foodie, she enjoys watching food and travel shows and sitcoms on tv, her favorite being friends. Old Hindi and Telugu film songs are another of her passions.She has also worked as a radio jockey for Worldspace, radio spandana which combined her passion for music and cinema.

She is also one of the judge in a Telugu talent show "ADHURS".

Anjali Bhagwat - rifle shooter from India

Anjali Bhagwat is a rifle shooter from India. Her maiden name was Anjali Ved Pathak. She was born on 5^th December 1969 in Marathi Daivajna family. She took part in 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and won four gold medals. She got this for individual category, pair’s events of Air rifle and Smallbore Rifle for three positions.

She received Arjuna Award in 2000. She shared Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award with Beenamol in 2002-2003. He played on behalf of India in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics but did not win any medal. She has also received Chhatrapati Award, Maharashtra Gaurav award and Maharashtra Pratishtha award.

She got her first national title under the guidance of Sanjay Chakravarthy. She performed well at the SAF games in Madras. In this, she got bronze medal in Air Rifle event and both silver and gold medals in Sports 3p event. She won four gold medals in the 1999 SAF games. She is the second Indian women to reach the Olympic finals. She got four gold medals in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.

She became the first Indian women to get gold and silver medal in the Sports 3p and Air Rifle events in the 2003 Afro Asian Games. In the Beijing Olympics 2008, she did well but could get only 8^th place. She got fourth place in the 2006 Brazil world cup. In the national competitions she has won 54 gold medals, 35 silver medals and 14 bronze medals.

Mother Teresa

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, the Late Mother Teresa was a beacon of light for empowerment and care for the poor. Her contribution to our country’s development has been indescribably immense.

She founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta , and for 45 years she tended to the poor, the sick, and orphans. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and the Bharat Ratna in 1980.

The Missionaries of Charity have homes and hospices for lepers, patients with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and also counseling centers in 123 countries around the world. After her death in 1997, Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II and she came to be known as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.