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2010-10-04T15:11:00.001-07:00

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Lal Bahadur Shastri

2010-07-31T04:05:00.000-07:00

Born: 2 October 1904
Passed Away: 11 January 1966

Contributions
He devoted his life for the pride and honor of the country. Shastri was regarded as man of principles. Lal Bahadur Shastri offered his resignation as Union Railway Minister; hours after he was made aware of a train accident that killed around 150 people. He laid the foundation stones of the well-productive schemes like Green Revolutions and White Revolutions. He was the first person to be posthumously awarded the "Bharat Ratna".

Life
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, to Ramdulari Devi and Sharada Prasad Shrivastava, in Moghalsarai, United Province (Uttar Pradesh). He shares his birthday with Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. Lal Bahadur was against the prevailing caste system and therefore decided to drop his surname. The title "Shastri" was given after the completion of his graduation at Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi in 1925. The title "Shastri" refers to a "scholar" or a person, adept in the "Holy Scriptures".

His father Sharada Prasad, a schoolteacher by profession, passed away when Lal Bahadur was barely two years old. His mother Ramdulari Devi took him and his two sisters to their maternal grandfather Hazari Lal's house. Lal Bahadur acquired virtues like boldness, love of adventure, patience, self-control, courtesy, and selflessness in his childhood. After completing his primary education at Mirzapur, Lal Bahadur was sent to Varanasi, where he stayed with his maternal uncle.

Young Lal Bahadur, inspired with the stories and speeches of national leaders, developed a desire to participate in the Indian nationalist movement. He would also spend time by reading foreign authors like Marx, Russell and Lenin. In 1915, a speech of Mahatma Gandhi changed the course of his life and decided to jump into the fire of Indian freedom struggle.

In order to participate actively in the freedom movement, Lal Bahadur neglected his studies. In 1921, during the non-cooperation movement, called by Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur was arrested for demonstrating in defiance of the prohibitory order. Sine he was a minor then, the authority had to release him. In 1928, Lal Bahadur Shastri married Lalita Devi, the youngest daughter of Ganesh Prasad. He was against the prevailing "dowry system" and so refused to accept dowry. However, on the repeated urging of his father-in-law, he agreed to accept only five yards of khadi (cotton, usually handspun) cloth as dowry.

Active Nationalist
In 1930, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the secretary of the Congress party and later the president of the Allahabad Congress Committee. He played a crucial role during the "Salt Movement". Lal Bahadur lead a door-to-door campaign, urging people not to pay land revenue and taxes to the British authority. The leader was also sent to jail for the campaign. During the long span of nine years he spent in jails, Lal Bahadur utilized the time in reading the social reformers and western philosophers. He was one of the leading and prominent faces that continued the Quit India movement, called by Mahatma Gandhi. Lal Bahadur, in 1937, was elected to the UP Legislative Assembly.

Post Independence
Lal Bahadur Shastri had served in various positions before being elected as the Prime Minister. After Independence, he became the Minister of police in the Ministry of Govind Vallabh Panth in Uttar Pradesh. His recommendations included the introduction of "water-jets" instead of sticks to disperse the unruly mob. Impressed with his efforts in reforming the state police department, Jawaharlal Nehru, invited Shastri to join the Union cabinet as a Minister for railways. He was a responsible man and known for his ethics and morality. In 1956, Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned from his post, following a train accident that killed around 150 passengers near Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu. Nehru, had once said, "No one could wish for a better comrade than Lal Bahadur, a man of the highest integrity and devoted to ideas".

Lal Bahadur Shastri returned to the Cabinet in 1957, first as the Minister for Transport and Communications, and then as the Minister of Commerce and Industry. In 1961, he became Minister for Home and formed the "Committee on Prevention of Corruption" headed by of K. Santhanam.

Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru was succeeded by a mild-mannered and soft-spoken Lal Bahadur Shastri on 9 June, 1964. He was a follower of Nehruvian socialism. Despite the strong influence and desire of becoming the Prime Minister, of some party stalwarts Shastri emerged as the consensus candidate.

Shastri tackled many elementary problems like food shortage, unemployment and poverty. To overcome the acute food shortage, Shastri asked the experts to devise a long-term strategy. This was the beginning of famous "Green Revolution". Apart from the Green Revolution, he was also instrumental in promoting the White Revolution. The National Dairy Development Board was formed in 1965 during Shastri as Prime Minister.

After the Chinese aggression, the major cross-border-problems Shastri faced was caused by Pakistan. It sent her forces across the eastern border into the Rann of Kuch in Gujarat. Shastri showing his mettle, made it very clear that India would not sit and watch. While granting liberty to the Security Forces to retaliate He said, "Force will be met with force".

The Indo-Pak war ended on 23 September 1965 after the United Nations passed a resolution demanding a ceasefire. The Russian Prime Minister, Kosygin, offered to mediate and on 10 January 1966, Lal Bahadur Shastri and his Pakistan counterpart Ayub Khan signed the Tashkent Declaration.

Death
Lal Bahadur Shastri, who had earlier suffered two heart attacks, died of the third cardiac arrest on 11 January, 1966. He is the only Indian Prime Minister, to have died in office, overseas. Lal Bahadur Shastri was the first person to be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, (India's highest civilian award).

Lal Bahadur Shastri

Indira Gandhi

2010-07-31T04:00:00.000-07:00

Born: 19 November 1917
Passed Away: 31 October 1984

Contributions
Indira Gandhi was, undoubtedly, one of the greatest political leaders of India. She was the first and only woman to be elected as the Prime Minister. She is also regarded as the most controversial political leader of the country for her unprecedented decision of imposing "a state of emergency". She was also criticized for carrying out the Operation Blue-Star in Punjab that eventually scripted her assassination on 31 October 1984.

Life
Indira 'Priyadarshini' Gandhi was born on 19 November, 1917, in Allahabad to Kamala and Jawaharlal Nehru. Indira's father was a well-educated lawyer and an active member of the Indian Independence Movement. Since the Nehru family was the centre of national political activity, Indira Gandhi was exposed to politics when she was a little child. A leader like Mahatma Gandhi was among the frequent visitors of the Nehru house in Allahabad. She passed her Metric from Pune University and went to Shantiniketan in West Bengal. Here, the students were made to lead a very strict and disciplined life. She later went on to study in Switzerland and Oxford University in London. Indira, then stayed few months in Switzerland with her ailing mother. In 1936, after Kamala Nehru finally succumbed to tuberculosis, she returned to India. At the time of Kamala's death, Jawaharlal Nehru, was languishing in the Indian jails.

After his return to the country, Indira showed an active participation in the national movement. She also became a member of the Indian National Congress. Here, she met Feroze Gandhi, a journalist and key member of the Youth Congress - the youth wing of the Congress Party. In 1941, despite his father's objections, she married Feroze Gandhi. In 1944, Indira gave birth to Rajiv Gandhi followed two years later by Sanjay Gandhi.

Post Independence
After the independence, Indira Gandhi's father Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India. Indira Gandhi decided to shift to Delhi to assist his father. Her two sons remained with her but Feroze decided to stay back in Allahabad. He was working as an editor of The National Herald newspaper founded by Motilal Nehru.

During the 1951-52 Parliamentary Elections, Indira Gandhi handled the campaigns of her husband, Feroze, who was contesting from Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. After being elected as MP, Feroze opted to live in a separate house in Delhi.

Feroze soon became a prominent force against the corruption in the Nehru led government. He exposed a major scandal involving prominent insurance companies and the Finance Minister T.T. Krishnamachari. The Finance Minister was considered to be a close aide of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Feroze had developed as a noted figure in the country's political circle. He, with a small coterie of supporters and advisors continued to challenge the Central government. On 8 September 1960, Feroze died after a major cardiac arrest.

India as Congress President
In 1959, Indira Gandhi was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress Party. She was one of the political advisors of Jawaharlal Nehru. After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru on 27 May 1964, Indira Gandhi decided to contest elections and eventually elected. She was appointed as the in-charge of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry under Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri

It was believed that Indira Gandhi was an adept at the art of politics and image-making. This is corroborated by an event happened during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. While the war was going, Indira Gandhi went on a holiday trip to Srinagar. Despite repeated warnings by the security forces that Pakistani insurgents had entered very close to the hotel, she was staying, Gandhi refused to move. The incident fetched her huge national and international media attention.

As Prime Minister
Following the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri on 11 January 1966, in Tashkent, the race to the coveted throne of Prime Minister began. The party faced a serious trouble, as, all the senior leaders of the Congress party desired to contest. Unable to reach at a consensus, the high-command picked Indira as their contender. The virtual reason behind Indira's selection was the thought that "Indira would, indirectly be run by the top leadership." But Indira Gandhi, showing extraordinary political skills elbowed the Congress stalwarts out of power.

In 1971, in order to stop the Bangladeshi refugees from flowing in into the country, Indira Gandhi supported the East Pakistan's struggle for freedom against West Pakistan. India provided logistical support and also sent troops to fight against West Pakistan. India's triumph in the war of 1971 against Pakistan enhanced the popularity of Indira Gandhi as a shrewd political leader.

Imposition of Emergency
In 1975, the Opposition parties and social activists staged regular demonstrations against the Indira Gandhi-led Central government over rising inflation, the poor state of economy and unchecked corruption. The same year, a ruling of Allahabad High Court that Indira Gandhi had used illegal practices during the last election helped in adding fuel to the existing political fire. The verdict ordered her to vacate her seat, immediately. The agitation and anger of the people intensified. Realizing the consequences, on 26 June, 1975, Indira Gandhi declared "an emergency, due to the turbulent political situation in the country".

During the state of emergency, her political foes were imprisoned, constitutional rights of the citizens were abrogated, and the press placed under strict censorship. The Gandhian socialist Jaya Prakash Narayan and his supporters sought to unify students, peasants and labor organizations in a 'Total non-violent Revolution' to transform Indian society. Narayan was later arrested and jailed.

Meanwhile, her younger son, Sanjay Gandhi, began to run the country with full-authority. Sanjay Gandhi had ordered the removal of slum dwellings, and in an attempt to curb India's growing population, initiated a highly resented program of forced sterilization.

In 1977, fearing military coup if the emergency continued further, Indira Gandhi called for elections. She was brutally thrashed by the emerging Janata Dal, led by Morarji Desai and Jai Prakash Narayan. Congress managed to win only 153 Lok Sabha seats, as compared to 350 seats it grabbed in the previous Lok Sabha.

With so little in common among the allies of the Janata Party, the members were busy in internal strife. In an effort to expel Indira Gandhi from the Parliament, the Janata government ordered to arrest her. However, the strategy failed disastrously and gained Indira Gandhi, a great sympathy from the people who had considered her as an autocrat just two years back.

In the next elections, Congress returned to power with a landslide majority. Experts viewed the victory of the Congress as a result of inefficient and ineffective "Janata Dal".

Operation Blue Star and her assassination
In September 1981, a Sikh militant group demanding "Khalistan" entered into the premises of the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Despite the presence of thousands of civilians in the Temple complex, Indira Gandhi ordered the Army to barge into the holy shrine. The operation was carried out with tanks and armored vehicles. The act was viewed as an unparalleled tragedy in the Indian political history. The impact of the onslaught increased the communal tensions in the country. Many Sikhs resigned from the armed and civil administrative office and also returned their government awards. On 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi's bodyguards Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, as a revenge of the Golden Temple assault, assassinated the Prime Minister at her Safdarjung Road residence.

Sarojini Naidu

2010-07-31T03:58:00.000-07:00

Born: 13 February, 1879
Passed Away: 2 March, 1949

Contributions
Sarojini Naidu was truly one of the gems of the 20th century India. She was known by the sobriquet "The Nightingale of India". Her contribution was not confined to the fields of politics only but she was also a renowned poet. The play "Maher Muneer", written by Naidu at an early age, fetched a scholarship to study abroad. She briefed the struggles of freedom for independence to the political stalwarts of European nations, she had visited. She married Dr. Muthyala Govindarajulu Naidu, a South India. The marriage took place at a time when inter-caste marriage was not acceptable in the society. Her acts helped in raising many eyebrows. In 1905, a collection of poems, she had composed, was published under the title of "Golden Threshold".

Life
Sarojini Naidu was born on February 13, 1879 in Hyderabad. Her father, Dr. Aghornath Chattopadhyaya was a scientist, philosopher, and educator. He founded the Nizam College of Hyderabad. Her mother, Varada Sundari Devi was a Bengali poetess. Dr. Aghornath Chattopadhyaya was the first member of the Indian National Congress in Hyderabad. For his socio-political activities, Aghornath was dismissed from his position as Principal.

Since childhood, Sarojini was a very bright and intelligent child. Though Aghornath wanted his daughter to become a mathematician or scientist, young Sarojini was fond of poetry. At an early age, she wrote a "thirteen-hundred-lines" long poem "The Lady of the Lake". Impressed with her skills of expressing things with appropriate words, Aghornath Chattopadhyaya encouraged her works. Few months later, Sarojini, with assistance from her father, wrote the play "Maher Muneer" in the Persian language.

Sarojini's father Dr. Aghornath Chattopadhyaya distributed some copies of the play among his friends and relatives. He also sent a copy to the Nizam of Hyderabad. Impressed with the works of the little child, the Nizam granted her a scholarship to study overseas. At the age of 16, she got admission in the King's College of England. There, she had the opportunity to meet prominent English authors like Arthur Simon and Edmond Gausse. It was Gausse who asked Sarojini Naidu to write on the Indian themes like great mountains, rivers, temples, social milieu etc.

After returning to India, at the age of 19, Sarojini Naidu married Muthyala Govindarajulu Naidu. He was a noted doctor from South India. They were married by the Brahmo Marriage Act (1872), in Madras in 1898. The marriage took place at a time when inter-caste marriages were not allowed and tolerated in the Indian society. Her marriage was a very happy one. They had four children.

National Movement
Sarojini Naidu was moved by the partition of Bengal in 1905 and decided to join the Indian freedom struggle. She met regularly with Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who later introduced her to the stalwarts of the Indian freedom movement. She met Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, C. P. Ramaswami Iyer and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. With such an encouraging environment, Sarojini later moved on to become leader of the Indian National Congress Party. She traveled extensively to the United States of America and many European countries as the flag-bearer of the Indian Nationalist struggle.

During 1915, Sarojini Naidu traveled all over India and delivered speeches on welfare of youth, dignity of labor, women's emancipation and nationalism. In 1916, she took up the cause of the indigo workers of Champaran in the western district of Bihar.

In March 1919, the British government passed the Rowlatt Act by which the possession of seditious documents was deemed illegal. Mahatma Gandhi organized the Non-Cooperation Movement to protest and Naidu was the first to join the movement. Besides, Sarojini Naidu also actively campaigned for the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, the Khilafat issue, the Sabarmati Pact, the Satyagraha Pledge and the Civil Disobedience Movement.

In 1919, she went to England as a member of the all-India Home Rule Deputation. In January 1924, she was one of the two delegates of the Indian National Congress Party to attend the East African Indian Congress. In 1925, she was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress Party.

Poet
Besides her role and sacrifices in the Indian Nationalist Movement, Sarojini Naidu is also commended for her contribution in the field of poetry. Her works were so beautiful that many were transformed into songs. In 1905, her collection of poems was published under the title "Golden Threshold". Later, she also published two other collections called "The Bird of Time", and "The Broken Wings".

Death
Sarojini Naidu was the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh. Her chairmanship of the Asian Relations Conference in 1947 was highly-appraised. Two years later, on 02 March 1949, Sarojini Naidu died at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

2010-07-31T03:54:00.000-07:00

Born: January 23, 1897
Death: Not known

Contributions
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a freedom fighter of India. He was the founder of the Indian National Army. During pre-independence period Netaji had visited London to discuss the future of India, with the members of the Labor party. His sudden disappearance from Taiwan, led to surfacing of various theories, concerning the possibilities of his survival.

Life
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23 January, 1897 in Cuttack (Orissa) to Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Devi. Subhash was the ninth child among eight brothers and six sisters. His father, Janakinath Bose, was an affluent and successful lawyer in Cuttack and received the title of "Rai Bahadur". He, later became a member of the Bengal Legislative Council.

Subhash Chandra Bose was a very intelligent and sincere student but never had much interest in sports. He passed his B.A. in Philosophy from the Presidency College in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings and was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. He also adored Vivekananda as his spiritual Guru.

British Professor Thrashed
After reading so many incidents about the exploitation of the fellow Indians by the British, Subhash decided to take revenge. In 1916, Subhash reportedly beat and thrashed one of his British teachers E F Otten. The professor made a racist remark against the Indian students. As a result, Bose was expelled from the Presidency College and banished from Calcutta University. The incident brought Subhash in the list of rebel-Indians. In December 1921, Bose was arrested and imprisoned for organizing a boycott of the celebrations to mark the Prince of Wales's visit to India.

Indian Civil Service
His father wanted Netaji to become a civil servant and therefore, sent him to England to appear for the Indian Civil Service Examination. Bose was placed fourth with highest marks in English. But his urge for participating in the freedom movement was intense that in April 1921, Bose resigned from the coveted Indian Civil Service and came back to India. Soon, he left home to become an active member of India's independence movement. He, later joined the Indian National Congress, and also elected as the president of the party.

Subhash with Congress
Initially, Subhash Chandra Bose worked under the leadership of Chittaranjan Das, an active member of Congress in Calcutta. It was Chittaranjan Das, who along with Motilal Nehru, left Congress and founded the Swaraj Party in 1922. Subhash would regard Chittaranjan Das as his political guru.

While Chittaranjan Das was busy in developing the national strategy, Subhash Chandra Bose played a major role in enlightening the students, youths and labors of Calcutta. He was eagerly waiting to see India, as an independent, federal and republic nation.

Dispute in the Congress
People began to recognize Bose by his name and associated him with the freedom movement. Bose had emerged as a popular youth leader. He was admired for his great skills in organization development.

In 1928, during the Guwahati Session of the Congress, a difference in the opinion between the old and new members surfaced. The young leaders, as against the traditional leadership, wanted a "complete self-rule and without any compromise". The senior leaders were in favor of the "dominion status for India within the British rule".

The differences were between moderate Gandhi and aggressive Subhash Chandra Bose was swelling. The state was so intense that Subhash Chandra Bose had to defeat Pattabhi Sitaramayya, a presidential candidate, nominated by Gandhiji himself. Bose had won the election but without any second thought he resigned from the party. He, then formed the Forward Bloc in 1939.

Formation of INA
During the Second World War in September, 1939, Subhash Chandra Bose decided to initiate a mass movement. He started uniting people from all over the country. There was a tremendous response to his call and the British promptly imprisoned him. In jail, he refused to accept food for around two weeks. When his health condition deteriorated, fearing violent reactions across the country, the authority put him under house-arrest.

During his house-arrest, in January, 1941, Subhash made a planned escape. He first went to Gomoh in Bihar and from there he went on to Peshawar (now, Pakistan). He finally reached Germany and met Hitler. Bose had been living together with his wife Emilie Schenkl in Berlin. In 1943, Bose left for south-east Asia and raised the army. The group was later named by Bose, as the Indian National Army (INA).

Visit to England
During his sojourn to England, he met with the leaders of British Labor Party and political thinkers including Clement Attlee, Arthur Greenwood, Harold Laski, G.D.H. Cole, and Sir Stafford Cripps. Bose also discuss with them about the future of India. It must also be noted that it was during the regime of the Labor Party (1945-1951), with Attlee as the Prime Minister, that India gained independence.

Disappearance
Although it was believed that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose died in a plane crash, his body was never recovered. There have so many theories been put forward regarding his abrupt desertion. The government of India set up a number of committees to investigate the case and come out with truth.

In May 1956, the Shah Nawaz Committee visited Japan to look into the situation of Bose's assumed death. Citing their lack of political relations with Taiwan, the Centre, did not seek for the assistance from their government. The reports of Justice Mukherjee Commission, tabled in Parliament on 17 May, 2006 said, "Bose did not die in the plane crash and the ashes at Renkoji temple are not his". However, the findings were rejected by the government of India.

Lala Lajpat Rai

2010-07-31T03:53:00.000-07:00

Born: January 28, 1865
Died: October 30, 1928

Contributions
Lala Lajpat Rai immensely contributed in attaining independence the nation. He helped in establishing few schools in the country. He also initiated the foundation of Punjab National Bank. In 1897, he founded the Hindu Orphan Relief Movement to keep the Christian missions from securing custody of these children. He died after the police lathi-charged on the activists, protesting the arrival of Simon Commission.

Life
Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1865 to Munshi Radha Krishna Azad and Gulab Devi at Dhudike village in Ferozpur District. His father was a great scholar of Persian and Urdu while his mother was a strict religious lady and inculcated in her children strong morals values. His family values allowed Lajpat Rai, the freedom of having different faiths and beliefs.

Lajpatrai received his elementary education in the school where his father was posted as teacher. Lajpat Rai joined the Government College at Lahore in 1880 to study Law. While in college he came in contact with patriots and future freedom fighters like Lala Hans Raj and Pandit Guru Dutt. He studied law from Government College in Lahore and thereafter started his legal practice in Hissar, Haryana. Since childhood he had a desire to serve his country and therefore took a pledge to free it from foreign rule. In 1884 his father was transferred to Rohtak and Lala Lajpat Rai came along.

In 1886 the family shifted to Hissar, where he practiced law. There, Lajpat Rai helped to establish the nationalistic Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School and became a follower of Dayanand Saraswati. In 1888 and 1889 he was a delegate to the annual sessions of the National Congress. He moved to Lahore to practice before the High Court in 1892.

In 1895 Rai helped found the Punjab National Bank, demonstrating his concern for self-help and enterprise. In 1897 he founded the Hindu Orphan Relief Movement to keep the Christian missions from securing custody of these children. In the National Congress in 1900 he stressed the importance of constructive, nation-building activity and programs for self-reliance.

Gradually, Lajpat Rai had curtailed his legal practice and was concentrating all his efforts to free the nation from British. In October 1917, he founded the Indian Home Rule League of America in New York.

In 1920, after his return from America, Lajpat Rai was invited to preside over the special session of the Congress in Calcutta, (now Kolkata). He plunged into the non-cooperation movement, which was being launched in response to the Rowlatt Act, in principle. The movement was led by Lajpat Rai's in Punjab and he soon came to be known as "Punjab Kesri" (The Lion of Punjab).

Author
Besides, a great freedom fighter and leader, Lala Lajpat Rai was also a noted writer. The United States of America: A Hindu's impressions and a study, History of the Arya Samaj, Swaraj and social change, England's Debt to India: India, The Problems Of National Education In India were among the books, he had written.

Death
On October 30, 1928 to boycott the arrival of the members of the Simon Commission in Lahore, a peaceful procession, headed by Lajpat Rai was launched. Intercepting the march, Superintendent of Police, Scott ordered his police force to 'lathi-charge' at the activists. The police targeted Lajpat Rai, in particular, and hit him on the chest. The confrontation left Lala Lajpat Rai with severe injuries and also led to his death. To take avenge to the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of Scott. But, the revolutionaries, mistaking J.P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as Scott, killed him instead.

Rajiv Gandhi

2010-07-31T03:50:00.000-07:00

Born: 20 August 1944
Passed Away: 21 May 1991

Contribution
Rajiv Gandhi was one of the popular Prime Ministers of India. The developmental projects launched by him include the national education policy and expansion of telecom sector. Besides his achievement and subsequent popularity, Rajiv Gandhi also emerged as one of India's controversial Prime Ministers. He was allegedly involved in the "Bofors scandal" worth Rs 640 million.

Early Life
Rajiv Gandhi was born on 20 August 1944, into the country's eminent political dynasty - the Nehru-Gandhi family. His mother Indira Gandhi was the first and the only woman Prime Minister of India. Feroze, a key member of the Indian National Congress became the editor of The National Herald newspaper founded by Motilal Nehru in Allahabad.

Rajiv Gandhi initially attended the Welham Boys' School and subsequently sent to the elite Doon School in Dehradun. Later, he went to the United Kingdom to study at the Cambridge University. It was here in Cambridge University, young Rajiv met Sonia Maino (later Sonia Gandhi) from Italy. After his return from the United Kingdom, Rajiv Gandhi exhibited least interest in the politics and focused onto becoming a professional pilot. He, later, worked for Indian Airlines, as a pilot.

His Brother
Unlike Rajiv, his younger brother had developed an interest and knowledge in the subjects of public administration and political developments. Although he had not been elected, Sanjay began exercising his influence with police officers, high-level government officers and even the Cabinet Ministers. Many senior ministers, as a protest against Sanjay Gandhi, resigned from office. Sanjay, gradually promoted as a close political advisor to Indira Gandhi. On June 23, 1980, Sanjay Gandhi died in an air crash in Delhi.

Entry into politics
After the death of his brother Sanjay, the senior members of the Indian National Congress party approached Rajiv Gandhi, in order to persuade him joining politics. But, Rajiv was reluctant about joining and said "no" to them. His wife, Sonia Gandhi, also stood by Rajiv's stand of not entering into politics. But after constant request from his mother Indira Gandhi, he decided to contest. His entry was criticized by many in the press, public and opposition political parties. They saw the entry of Nehru-Gandhi scion into politics as a forced-hereditary-participation. Within a few months of his election as a Member of Parliament, Rajiv Gandhi acquired significant party influence and became an important political advisor to his mother. He was also elected as the general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee and subsequently became the president of the Youth Congress.

Assassination
Following the assassination of his mother, on 31 October 1984, the Congress leaders and partisans favored Rajiv as the immediate successor to the coveted throne. The decision was also supported by Zail Singh, the then President of India.

Achievements
As Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi endeavored to eliminate the corrupt and criminal faces within the Indian National Congress party. To deal with the anti-Sikh agitation, that followed the death of his mother, Rajiv Gandhi signed an accord with Akali Dal president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, on 24 July, 1985. The key points of the pact were:

Along with ex-gratia payment to those innocent killed in agitation or any action after 1- 8-1982, compensation for property damaged will also be paid.
All citizens of the country have the right to enroll in the Army and merit will remain the criterion for selection.
For all those discharged, efforts will be made to rehabilitate and provide gainful employment.

Revived Policies
The economic policies adopted by Rajiv Gandhi were different from his precursors like Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Going, against the traditional socialism, Rajiv Gandhi decided to improve the bilateral relationships with the United States of America and subsequently expanded the economic and scientific cooperation with it. A revived foreign policy, emphasizing on the economic liberalization and information and technology moved India closer to the West.

His introductory measures to reduce the "Red Tapism" and allow business house to set up their establishments was remarkable. In 1986, Rajiv Gandhi announced a "national education policy" to modernize and expand higher education programs across India. Rajiv Gandhi brought a revolution in the field of information technology and telecom. The idea helped in originating the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited, popularly known as MTNL. Rajiv Gandhi was the man to transcend telecom services to the rural India or "India in true sense".

Controversies
While commenting on the anti-Sikh riots, that followed the assassination of India Gandhi in Delhi, Rajiv Gandhi said, "' When a giant tree falls, the earth below shakes". The statement was widely criticized both within and outside the Congress Party. Many viewed the statement as "provocative" and demanded an apology from him. Beside, Rajiv Gandhi's name had also surfaced in the major controversies like Bofors and the formation of Indian Peace Keeping Force.

Bofors Case
The infamous Bofors scandal that still haunts the political walls of the country was exposed during Rajiv Gandhi's reign. A strong corruption racket involving many stalwarts of the Congress Party was unearthed in the 1980s. Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India and several others prominent leaders were accused of receiving kickbacks from Bofors for winning a bid to supply India's 155 mm field howitzer (a type of artillery piece).

IPKF
In 1987, the Indian Peace Keeping Force was formed to end the Sri Lankan Civil War between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan military. The acts of the military contingent was opposed by the Opposition parties of Sri Lanka and as well as LTTE. But, Rajiv Gandhi refused to withdraw the IPKF. The idea also turned out to be unpopular in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. The IPKF operation cost over 1100 Indian soldiers lives and cost over 2000 crores.

Death
On 21 May, 1991, on his way towards the dais, Rajiv Gandhi was garlanded by many Congress supporters and well wishers. At around 10 pm, the assassin greeted him and bent down to touch his feet. She then exploded an RDX explosive laden belt attached to her waist-belt. The act of violence was reportedly carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, expressing their resentment over the formation Indian Peace-keeping Force.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

2010-07-31T03:46:00.000-07:00

Born: May 9, 1866
February: 19, 1915

Contributions
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the pioneers of the Indian Independence Movement. Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress. He was one of the most learned men in the country, a leader of social and political reformists and one of the earliest and founding leaders of the Indian Independence Movement. Being one of the first generations of Indians to receive college education, Gokhale was respected widely in the Indian intellectual community.

Life
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was born in Kothluk in Ratnagiri District, Maharastra. His parents, Krishna Rao and Valubai. Gokhale received his early education at Rajaram High School in Kothapur and later, in 1884 moved to Bombay to receive higher education.

Gokhale was reportedly, one of the first Indians to complete graduation. In 1884, after the completion of his graduation in arts at the Elphinstone College, Bombay, Gokhale joined as professor of history and political economy at the Fergusson College, Poona. He remained on the staff, finally as principal, until 1902. Becoming actively identified with the National Congress movement, he was for some years the joint secretary and in 1905 president at the Benares session. The higher education made Gokhale understand the importance of liberty, democracy and parliamentary system of the government.

In 1985-86, Gopal Krishna Gokhale met a great scholar and a social reformer Mahadev Govind Ranade. Ranade was a great leader, judge, scholar and above all social reformer. He regarded Mahadev Govinda Ranade as his "Guru". Ranade helped Gokhale in establishing the "Servants of India Society" in 1905. The main objective of this society was to train Indians to raise their voices and serve their country. Gokhale also worked with Ranade in a quarterly Journal, called "Sarvajanik". The Journal wrote about the public questions of the day in frank and fearless manner.

Gokhale was the secretary of the "Reception Committee" of the 1895 Poona session of Indian National Congress. From this session, Gokhale became a prominent face of the Indian National Congress. For a while Gokhale was a member of the Bombay Legislative Council where he spoke strongly against the then Government.

Gokhale dedicated his life to the advancement of the nation's welfare. In 1905, Gokhale was sent by the Congress on a special mission to England to spread India's constitutional demands among the British leaders.

Gokhale was instrumental in the formation of the Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909, which was tabled and eventually transformed into law. But unfortunately, the Reforms Act became law in 1909 and it was disappointing to see that despite Gokhale's efforts, the people were not given a proper democratic system. However, Gokhale's efforts were clearly not in vain. Indians now had access to seats of the highest authority within the government, and their voices were more audible in matters of public interest.

Gokhale, during his visit to South Africa in 1912, met Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi. Gokhale made him aware of the issues confronting common people back in India. In his autobiography, Gandhi calls Gokhale his "mentor and guide". Not only Gandhi, Gokhale also guide Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah later aspired to become the "Muslim Gokhale".

Death
The years of hard work and devotion of Gopal Krishna Gokhale did immense contribution for the country. But, unfortunately, excessive exertion and the resulting exhaustion only aggravated his diabetes and cardiac asthma. The end came peacefully, on February 19, 1915, the great leader passed away.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

2010-07-31T03:41:00.000-07:00

Born: 31 October 1875
Passed Away: 15 December 1950

Contributions
Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the great social leaders of India. He played a crucial role during the freedom struggle of India and was instrumental in the integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union. Despite the choice of the people, on the request of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel stepped down from the candidacy of Congress president. The election on that occasion eventually meant for the election of the first Prime Minister of independent India.

Life
Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Gujarat to Zaverbhai and Ladbai. Vallabhbhai, His father had served in the army of the Queen of Jhansi while his mother was a very spiritual man.

Starting his academic career in a Gujarati medium school Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and shifted to an English medium school. In 1897, Vallabhbhai passed his high school examination and started preparing for law examination. 1910, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel went to England to study law. He completed his law studies in 1913 and came back to India and started his law practice. For his Excellencies in Law, Vallabhbhai was offered many lucrative posts by the British Government but he rejected all. He was a staunch opponent of the British government and its laws and therefore decided not to work for the British.

He later started practicing at Ahmedabad. After a meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, at the Gujarat Club, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel got influenced by Gandhi's words. Later, inspired by Gandhi's work and philosophy Patel became a staunch follower of him.

Indian National Movement
In 1917, Sardar Vallabhbhai was elected as the Secretary of the Gujarat Sabha. The next year, when there was a flood in Kaira, the British insisted on collecting tax from the farmers. Sardar Vallabhbhai led a massive "No Tax campaign" that urged the farmers not to pay their land. The peaceful movement forced the British authority to return then land taken away from the farmers His effort to bring together the farmers of his area brought him the title of 'Sardar' to his name.

In 1928, the farmers of Bardoli faced a similar problem of "tax-hike". After prolonged summons, when the farmers refused to pay the extra tax, the government in retaliation seized their lands. Vallabhbhai Patel. The agitation took on for more than six months and after a deal struck between the government and farmer's representatives, the lands were returned.

In 1930 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was imprisoned for participating in the famous Salt Satyagraha called by Mahatma Gandhi. His inspiring speeches during the "Salt Movement" transformed the lives of numerous people, who later played a major role in making the movement successful.

Sardar Patel was freed in 1931 following an agreement signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India. The treaty was popularly known as the Gandhi-Irwin pact. The same year, Patel was elected as the president of Indian National Congress Party for its Karachi session.

In the Karachi session, the Indian National Congress Party committed itself to the defence of fundamental rights and human rights and a dream of a secular nation. An agreement regarding this was also sanctioned.

In 1934, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led the all-India election campaign for the Indian National Congress. Though he did not contest a seat for himself, Sardar Patel helped his fellow party mates during the election.

Sardar Patel was annoyed at Jawaharlal Nehru for the latter's declarations of the adoption of socialism in 1936. Patel also considered Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose a "keen of more power within the party.

Influence of Gandhi
While senior leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru, Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari and Maulana Azad criticized Mahatma Gandhi's concept that the civil disobedience movement would compel the British to leave the nation, Patel extended his support to Gandhi. Despite the unwillingness of the Congress High Command, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel strongly forced the All India Congress Committee to ratify the civil disobedience movement and launch it without delaying further. Acting under the pressure, the All India Congress Committee sanctioned the drive on 7 August 1942.

One important episode that could change the political lines of the country had shaped up just a year of attaining independence. During the election for the Congress presidency in 1946, thirteen of the sixteen states proposed Sardar Patel's name for the post. It was a very crucial election, as the elected president of the congress party would be later considered as the first Prime Minister of independent India. Just a few days, before the all important election, Mahatma Gandhi request Sardar Patel to leave the candidacy and support Jawaharlal Nehru. Sardar Patel, without pondering twice, stepped down.

Integration of princely states
At the time of independence, Indian territory was divided into three parts. First, the territories under the direct control of the British government, second were the territories over which the hereditary rulers had suzerainty. The regions, which had been colonized by France and Portugal, formed the last. India, without the integration of these different territories under one roof, could not be considered as a unified and total country. It was a stupendous task for the ruling party, to persuade the rulers of these states to join. According to British government, the province rulers had the liberty to choose how they wanted to be ruled. They were given two choices. They could join either of India and Pakistan or stay independently. The stance of the British government had made the task much difficult for India. At this point many leaders of the congress approached the rulers but they failed to convince. At last, they all made a request Vallabhbhai Patel to think some other options to bring the princely rulers under Indian control. Sardar Patel eventually dealt with the tough-situation and came out successfully. He had made secured their accession. Therefore, the state of India we see today was a result of the efforts put in by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Death
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's health declined in 1950. He, himself realized that he was not going to live much longer. On 2 November his health deteriorated further and was confined to bed. After suffering a massive heart attack, on 15 December 1950, the great soul left the world.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

2010-07-31T03:38:00.000-07:00

Born: December 3, 1884
Passed Away: February 28, 1963

Contributions
Rajendra Prasad was a great leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement and also one of the architects of the Indian Constitution. He was elected as the first President of Republic of India. Rajendra Prasad was a crucial leader of the Indian Independence Movement, who left his lucrative profession to participate in the nationalist movement of India. He was also awarded with Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. on 28 February, 1963, following a brief illness, the great soul passed away.

Life
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was born into a big joint family of Mahadev Sahay in the Siwan district of Bihar, near Chhapra. His father, Mahadev Sahay was a scholar of Persian and Sanskrit language while his mother Kamleshwari Devi was a religious lady.

When Rajendra Prasad was five years old, his parents put him under a Maulavi learn Persian language followed by Hindi and arithmetic. After the completion of traditional elementary education, Rajendra Prasad was sent to the Chhapra District School. At the age of 12, Rajendra Prasad was married to Rajavanshi Devi. He, along with his elder brother Mahendra Prasad, then went on to study at R.K. Ghosh's Academy in Patna. Mahendra was eight years older than him.

Since childhood, Rajendra Prasad was a brilliant student. He stood first in the entrance examination to the University of Calcutta and was awarded Rs.30 per month as scholarship. In 1902, Rajendra Prasad joined the Presidency College. He was initially a student of science and his teachers included J.C.Bose and Prafulla Chandra Roy. Later he decided to switch his focus to the arts. Prasad lived with his brother in the Eden Hindu Hostel. A plaque still commemorates his stay in that room. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was instrumental in the formation of the Bihari Students' Conference in 1908. It was the first organization of its kind in the whole of India. The move produced the entire political leadership of the twenties in Bihar

In 1915, Rajendra Prasad passed with a Gold medal in Masters in Law examination with honors. He then went on to complete his Doctorate in Law. Rajendra Prasad used to practice his Law & studies at Bhagalpur in Bihar and eventually emerged as a popular and eminent figure of the entire region. In 1916, Rajendra Prasad joined the High Court of Bihar and Orissa. Such was his intellect and his integrity, that often when his adversary failed to cite a precedent, the judges asked Rajendra Prasad to cite a precedent against himself.

Nationalist Movement
In 1911, during his stay in Calcutta (now Kolkata) as a legal practitioner, Rajendra Prasad joined the Indian National Congress Party and was subsequently elected to the AICC. During the Champaran movement, Mahatma Gandhi asked Rajendra Prasad to visit Champaran along with the other volunteers and partisans of the Indian National Congress. Initially Rajendra Prasad was not impressed with Gandhiji's appearance and conversation but deeply moved by the dedication, conviction and courage of Gandhi.

Rajendra Prasad also responded to the call of Mahatma Gandhi to boycott Western education. He asked his son Mrityunjaya Prasad, a brilliant student to leave the University and enroll himself in Bihar Vidyapeeth. He would write articles for magazines like "Searchlight" and "Desh". When the earthquake of Bihar occurred on January 15, 1934, Rajendra Prasad was in jail. He was released two days later. He set himself for the task of raising funds and collected over Rs 38 Lakhs. Nationalist India expressed its admiration by electing Rajendra Prasad as the President of the Bombay session of the Indian National Congress Party in October 1934.

In July 1946, when the Constituent Assembly was established to frame the Constitution of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected its President. And, eventually he was also elected as the first President of Republic of India. Unfortunately, on the night of 25 January 1950, a day before the Republic Day of India, his sister Bhagwati Devi passed away. He set about the cremation but only after his return from the parade ground.

Death
In September 1962, Rajendra Prasad's wife Rajavanshi Devi passed away. The incident helped in the deterioration of his health and after suffering from brief illness for around six months on February 28, 1963, Dr. Prasad expired. Rajendra Prasad spent the last few months of his life in retirement at the Sadaqat Ashram in Patna. Rajendra Prasad was awarded with "Bharat Ratna", the nation's highest civilian award.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

2010-07-31T03:20:00.002-07:00

Born: 23 July 1856
Passed Away: 1 August 1920

Contributions
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a social reformer and freedom fighter. He was one of the prime architects of modern India and strongest advocates of Swaraj (Self Rule). He was universally recognized as the "Father of Indian Movement". Tilak was a brilliant politician as well as a profound scholar who believed that independence is the foremost necessity for the well being of a nation.

Life: Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on July 22, 1856 in a middle class family in Ratnagiri, a small coastal town in southwestern Maharashtra. Tilak's father, Gangadhar Shastri, was a noted Sanskrit scholar and school teacher at Ratnagiri. His mother's name was Paravti Bai Gangadhar. In 1886, following his father's transfer, the entire family shifted to Poona.

Tilak was a brilliant student and also very good in mathematics. Since his childhood, Tilak had an intolerant attitude towards injustice and he was truthful and straightforward in nature. Though, he was among the India's first generation of youth to receive a modern, college education Tilak was a critic of the educational system, the British had provided for the Indians. According to him, the education was not at all adequate. After graduating from Deccan College, Pune in 1877, Tilak also cleared the L.L.B. from the Elphinston College, Mumbai. Later, he helped found a school that laid emphasis on nationalism.

Social Reforms
After completing his education, Tilak spurned the lucrative offers of government service and decided to devote himself to the larger cause of national awakening. He was a great reformer and throughout his life he emphasized on the concepts of women education and women empowerment. Tilak educated all of his daughters and did not marry them till they were over 16. To inspire a sense of unity, he introduced the festivals like 'Ganesh Chaturthi' and Shivaji Jayanti'. Today, Ganesh Chaturthi is considered as the prime festival of the Marathis. It is a sheer tragedy that for his allegiance towards extremism, Tilak and his contribution were not given the recognition, he actually deserved.

Newspapers
Towards his goal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak launched two newspapers called 'Mahratta' (English) and 'Kesari' (Marathi). Both the newspaper stressed on making the Indians aware of the glorious past and empowered them to be self reliant. In other words, the newspaper actively propagated the cause of national freedom.

In 1896, When the entire nation was gripped by the famine and plague, the British government declared that there was no cause for anxiety. The government also rejected the need to start a 'Famine Relief Fund'. The attitude of the government was severely criticized by both the newspapers. Tilak fearlessly published reports about the havoc caused by famine and plague and government's utter irresponsibility and indifference.

Extremism
Bal Gangadhar Tilak joined the Indian National Congress Party in 1890. Realizing that the constitutional agitation in itself was futile against the British, Tilak opposed the moderate views of the party. This subsequently made him stand against the prominent leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale. He was waiting for an armed revolt to broom-away the British. His movement was based on the principles of Swadeshi (Indigenous), Boycott and Education. But his methods also raised bitter controversies within the Indian National Congress Party and the movement itself.

As a result, Tilak formed the extremist wing of Indian National Congress Party. Tilak was well supported by fellow nationalists Bipin Chandra Pal in Bengal and Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab. The trio was referred to as the Lal-Bal-Pal. A massive trouble broke out between the moderate and extremist factions of the Indian National Congress Party in the 1907 session of the Congress Party. As a result of which, the Congress split into two factions.

During 1908-1914, Bal Gangadhar Tilak spent six years rigorous imprisonment in Mandalay Jail, Burma. He was deported because of his alleged support to the Indian revolutionaries, who had killed some British people. Following his growing fame and popularity, the British government also tried to stop the publication of his newspapers. His wife died in Pune while he was languishing in Mandalay prison.

Tilak returned to India in 1915 when the political situation was fast changing under the shadow of World War I. There was unprecedented jubilation in India after Tilak was free and back in India. After seeing such a grand welcome, Tilak decided to re-unite with his fellow nationalists and founded the All India Home Rule League in 1916 with Joseph Baptista, Annie Besant and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Death
Tilak was so disappointed by the brutal incident of Jalianwala Bagh massacre that his health started declining. Despite his illness, Tilak issued a call to the Indians not to stop their movement no matter what happened. He was raring to lead the movement but his health did not permit that. Tilak had become very weak by this time. In mid-July 1920, his condition worsened and on August 1, he passed away.

Even as this sad news was spreading, a veritable ocean of people surged to his house. Over 2 lakh people gathered at his residence in Bombay (now, Mumbai) to have the last glimpse of their beloved leader.

Bhagat Singh

2010-07-31T03:20:00.001-07:00

Born: September 27, 1907
Passed Away: March 23, 1931

Contributions
Bhagat Singh was among the prominent revolutionaries who shaped the base of a grand national movement. Following his execution, on March 23, 1931, the supporters and followers of Bhagat Singh regarded him as a "Shaheed", "martyr".

Life
Bhagat Singh was born on 27 September 1907 at Banga in Lyallpur district (now Pakistan) to Kishan Singh and Vidya Vati. From his early childhood, Bhagat Singh was imbued with the family's spirit of patriotism. At the time of his birth, his father Kishan Singh was in jail. His uncle, Sardar Ajit Singh, was a great freedom fighter and established the Indian Patriots' Association. He was well-supported by his friend Syed Haidar Raza, in organizing the peasants against the Chenab Canal Colony Bill. Ajit Singh had 22 cases against him and was forced to flee to Iran. Bhagat Singh was considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of Indian Nationalist Movement. He became involved with numerous revolutionary organizations.

Kishan Singh enrolled Bhagat Singh in Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School. At a very young age, Bhagat Singh started following Non-Cooperation Movement called by Mahatma Gandhi. Bhagat Singh had openly defied the British and had followed Gandhi's wishes by burning the government-sponsored books. Following the violent incidents of "Chauri Chaura", Gandhi called for the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation movement. Unhappy with the decision, Bhagat Singh, isolated himself from Gandhi's nonviolent action and joined the Young Revolutionary Movement.

He was pursuing B.A. examination when his parents planned to have him married. He vehemently rejected the suggestion and said that, if his marriage was to take place in Slave-India, my bride shall be only death." Singh later joined the Hindustan Republican Association, a radical group, later known as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He returned to his home in Lahore after assurances from his parents that he would not be compelled to get married. He established contact with the members of the Kirti Kisan Party and started contributing regularly to its magazine, the "Kirti". In March 1926, the Naujawan Bharat Sabha was formed with Bhagat Singh, as its secretary.

On 30 October 1928, an all-parties procession, led by Lala Lajpat Rai, marched towards the Lahore railway station to protest against the arrival of the Simon Commission. Stopping the procession, police made a lathi charge at the activists. The confrontation left Lala Lajpat Rai with severe injuries and also led to his death. As an avenge to the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of Scott, the Superintendent of Police, believed to have ordered the lathi charge. The revolutionaries, mistaking J.P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as Scott, killed him instead. Bhagat Singh quickly left Lahore to escape his arrest. To avoid recognition, he shaved his beard and cut his hair, a violation of the sacred tenets of Sikhism.

In response to the formulation of Defence of India Act, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association planned to explode a bomb inside the assembly premises, where the ordinance was going to be passed. On April 8 1929 Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb onto the corridors of the assembly and shouted 'Inquilab Zindabad!' The bomb was not meant to kill or injure anyone and therefore it was thrown away from the crowded place. Following the blasts both Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt courted arrest

Trial and Death
The British authority, while interrogating them, came to know about their involvement in the murder of J. P. Saunders. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were charged with the murder. Singh admitted to the murder and made statements against the British rule during the trial.

While in jail, Bhagat Singh found that the authorities were following a dual policy in treating the prisoners. The criminals of foreign origin were treated better than Indian political prisoners. As a protest, he along with some fellow prisoners declared to "go on hunger strike". The strike continued for over a month and finally the British had to accept before their conditions.

Bhagat Singh along with other revolutionaries found responsible for the Assembly bombing and murder of Saunders. On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh was hanged in Lahore with his fellow comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev. Singh was cremated at Hussainiwala on banks of Sutlej river.

Chandrasekhar Azad

2010-07-31T03:20:00.000-07:00

Born: July 23, 1906
Passed Away: February 27, 1931

Contributions
A contemporary of Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad was a born firebrand revolutionary. He engaged in a heroic battle against the British. His role was crucial in inspiring the others of his generation to participate in the national movement for freedom.

Life
Chandrasekhar Azad was born to Pandit Sita Ram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi on July 23, 1906 in Badarka (Unnao). His original name was Chandrasekhar Tiwari.

He received his early schooling in Bhavra District in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh. For higher studies he went to the Sanskrit Pathashala at Varanasi. Chandrashekhar was deeply troubled by the Jalianwalabagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. Azad, at an age of 15, got involved in the revolutionary activities. He was caught by the British police while participating in the non-cooperation movement and sentenced to. whiplashes as punishment. When the magistrate asked him his name, he said "Azad" (independence). From that point onwards, Chandrashekhar assumed the title of Azad and came to be known as Chandrashekhar Azad.

Following the Chauri-Chaura incident, in which police stations were vandalized and burnt by the activists, Mahatma Gandhi called for the suspension of the non-cooperation movement. Azad, along with Bhagat Singh distanced themselves from the paths of Gandhi. They were more attracted by the aggressive and violent revolutionary ideals and means. Towards this end, they formed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and trained the revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Batukeshwar Dutt, and Rajguru. Azad was instrumental in carrying out numerous acts of violence. This includes the Kakori Train Robbery in 1926, assassination of John Poyantz Saunders in 1928 at Lahore to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai.

How important his role was in the freedom struggle of India can be understood by the fact that the British police badly wanted to nab him dead or alive. On February 27, 1931 Chandrashekhar Azad while meeting with friends at Alfred Park, Allahabad, and the police surrounded the park and asked Chandrashekhar Azad to surrender. Azad fought alone and valiantly and killed three policemen but after nearly exhausting his ammunition and foreseeing no means of escape, he shot himself in the head with his last bullet. He was reportedly betrayed by an informer.

After the independence, to commemorate Chandrashekhar Azad, Alfred Park was renamed Chandrashekhar Azad Park. The patriotism of Azad, Rajguru, Pandit Ram Prasad Basil and Ashfaqula Khan was depicted in Rang De Besant, a contemporary Bollywood film starring Aimer Khan that was released in February 2006.

Jawaharlal Nehru

2010-07-31T03:18:00.000-07:00

Born: 14 November 1889
Passed Away: 27 May 1964

Contributions
Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of independent India. He was a member the Congress Party that led the freedom movement against British Empire. Nehru was one of the architects who had the opportunity to steer the newly freed-nation. He was also the chief framer of domestic and international policies between 1947 and 1964. It was under Nehru's supervision that India launched its first Five-Year Plan in 1951. Nehru's predominant roles in substantiating India's role in the foundation of institutions like NAM had surprised the then stalwarts of international politics. He advocated the policy of Non-Alignment during the cold war and India, subsequently, kept itself aloof from being in the process of "global bifurcation".

Life
Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14 November 1889, to a wealthy Kashmiri Brahmin family in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. His father Motilal Nehru was a renowned advocate and also an influential politician.

The atmosphere in the Nehru family was different from that of other prominent families of that society. English was spoken and encouraged. His father, Motilal Nehru had appointed some English and Scottish teachers at home.

For higher education, young Nehru was sent to Harrow school and then later to Cambridge University in England. After spending two years at the Inner Temple, London, he qualified as a barrister. During his stay in London, Nehru was attracted by the ideas of liberalism, socialism and nationalism. In 1912, he had returned to India and joined the Allahabad High Court Bar.

Kamala, his wife
Upon his return to India, Nehru's marriage was arranged with Kamala on 8 February, 1916. Brought up in a traditional Hindu Brahmin family, Kamala felt alienated amongst the progressive Nehrus. During the Non Cooperation movement of 1921, Kamala played a vital role. In Allahabad, she organized groups of women and picketed shops selling foreign cloth and liquor. On19 November, 1917 she gave birth to Indira Priyadarshini, popularly known as Indira Gandhi. Kamala died from tuberculosis in Switzerland while Jawaharlal Nehru was languishing in Indian prison.

Freedom Struggle
In 1916, Nehru participated in the Lucknow Session of the Congress. There, after a very long time, member of both the extremist and moderate factions of the Congress party had come. All the members equivocally agreed to the demand for "swaraj" (self rule). Although the means of the two sections were different, the motive was "common" - freedom.

In 1921 Nehru was imprisoned for participating in the first civil disobedience campaign as general secretary of the United Provinces Congress Committee. The life in the jail helped him in understanding the philosophy followed by Gandhi and others associated with the movement. He was moved by Gandhi's approach of dealing with caste and "untouchablity". With the passing of every minute, Nehru was emerging as a popular leader, particularly in Northern India.

In 1922, some of the prominent members including his father Motilal Nehru had left the congress and launched the "Swaraj Party". The decision, no doubt upset Jawahar but he rejected the possibility of leaving the Congress party. He was also elected as the president of the Allahabad municipal corporation in 1920.

European Tour
In 1926, he along with his wife Kamala and daughter India, traveled to the flourished European nations like Germany, France and the Soviet Union. Here, Nehru got an opportunity to meet various Communists, Socialists, and radical leaders from Asia and Africa. Nehru was also impressed with the economic system of the communist Soviet Union and wished to apply the same in his own country. In 1927, he became a member of the League against Imperialism created in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium.

During the Guwahati Session in 1928, Mahatma Gandhi announced that the Congress would launch a massive movement if the British authority did not grant dominion status of India within next two years. It was believed that under the pressure of Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose, the deadline was reduced to one year. Jawaharlal Nehru criticized the famous "Nehru Report" prepared by his father Motilal Nehru in 1928 that favored the concept of a "dominion status for India within the British rule".

In 1930 Mahatma Gandhi advocated Nehru as the next president of the Congress. The decision was also an attempt to abate the intensity of "communism" in the Congress. The same year, Nehru was arrested for the violation of the Salt Law.

In 1936, Nehru was re-elected as the president of the Indian National Congress. Sources suggest that a heated argument between the classical and young leaders had taken place in the Lucknow Session of the party. The young and "new-gen" leaders of the party had advocated for an ideology, based on the concepts of Socialism.

Nehru as PM
Fifteen years after the Guwahati Session, on 15 August, 1947, the congress succeeded to overthrow the influential British Empire. Nehru was recognized as the first Prime Minister of independent India. He was the first PM to hoist the national flag and make a speech from the ramparts of Lal Quila (Red Fort). The time had come to implement his ideas and construct a healthy nation.

Following Gandhi's assassination in 1948, Jawaharlal Nehru felt very much alone. All the time he would contemplate over the issues pertaining to the economic sector of the country. In the year 1949, Jawaharlal Nehru made his first visit to the United States, seeking a solution to India's urgent food shortage. In 1951, Jawaharlal Nehru launched the country's "First Five-Year Plan" emphasizing on the increase in the agricultural output.

Nehru's Foreign Policy
Jawaharlal Nehru was supporter of the anti-imperialist policy. He extended his support for the liberation of small and colonized nations of the world. He was also one of the prominent architects of the Non-Aligment Movement. Following the policies of NAM, India decided stay away from being a part of the global bifurcation.

Controvery
In 1957, despite of the major victory attained the elections, the Nehru led central government faced rising problems and criticism. The election o

Death
In 1964, Jawaharlal Nehru suffered a stroke and a heart attack. On 27 May 1964, Nehru passed away. Nehru was cremated at the Shantivana on the banks of the Yamuna River, Delhi. f his daughter Indira as Congress President in 1959 was viewed by many, as Nepotism.

Indian Independence

2010-07-31T02:36:00.004-07:00

The feeling of nationalism had started growing in the minds of Indians as early as the middle of the nineteenth century but it grew more with the formation of the Indian national Congress in 1885. Though the Congress started on a moderate platform but with the passage of time and apathetic attitude of the British government, the national movement began to shape well. Even the very moderate demands set by the Congress were not met by the British government. This attitude of the British government made people and freedom fighters more restless and attacks against the British Raj increased.

By the first decade of the 20th century the Indian National Congress grew more skeptic of the British government. This was mainly due to increase of extremist tendencies among many Congress members. These extremists criticized the moderate policies of the early Congress members. This resulted into more attacks on the British power. The British government on its part continued its "damn care" attitude. To divide the National movement, the British even played the divide and rule card, which led to the rise of Muslim League. With Muslim league on their side the British always tried to stall all the demands of the Indian National Congress. Though the Congress and the League came together in 1916 AD but the truce was short lived. By the 1920s the mood of the national movement had become more aggressive. With Mahatma Gandhi at the helm of affairs the Congress launched many movements against the British rule.

The first of a series of national movements was the Non-cooperation movement (1920-1922AD). It was followed by the civil disobedience movement, after a lull. Though the Congress was in the forefront of the freedom struggle but there were many other organizations and individuals who also played important role. The struggle for independence continued in the 1930s but the real momentum came with the Second World War. The Indian National Congress began to cooperate with the British government in their war efforts. The Congress thought that after the war the British might leave India, but the real intentions of the British became obvious very soon. The Congress, under the leadership of Gandhi began to prepare for the "Quit India Movement" in 1942. With the pace of developments all over the world (after the Second World War), the British came to realize that it was not possible to rule India any more and they decided to quit.

On the other hand the Muslim League had vowed for a separate nation, Pakistan. The league was concerned that a united independent India would be dominated by Hindus. In the winter of 1945-46 Mohammed Ali Jinnah's Muslim League members won all thirty seats reserved for Muslims in the Central Legislative Assembly and most of the reserved provincial seats as well. In an effort to resolve deadlock between the Congress and the Muslim League and in order to transfer power "to a single Indian administration", a three-man Cabinet Mission formed in 1946 which drafted plans for a "three-tier federation for India."

According to the plan, the region would be divided into three groups of provinces, with Group A including the Hindu-populated provinces that would eventually comprise the majority of the independent India. Groups B and C were comprised of largely Muslim-populated provinces. Each group would be governed separately with a great degree of autonomy except for the handling of "foreign affairs, communications, defense, and only those finances required for such nationwide matters."

The plan, however, did not take into account the fate of a large Sikh population living in Punjab, part of the B-group of provinces. Although they did not make up more than two per cent of the Indian population, the Sikhs had been moving for a separate Punjab of their own, and by 1946 they were demanding a free Sikh nation-state. As leader of the Muslim League, Jinnah accepted the Cabinet Mission's proposal. However, when Nehru announced at his first press conference as the reelected president of Congress that "no constituent assembly could be bound by any prearranged constitutional formula," Jinnah retraced his steps and the Muslim League's Working Committee withdrew its consent and called upon the Muslims to launch direct action in mid-August 1946. This was followed by a frenzy of rioting between Hindus and Muslims.

In the March of 1947 Lord Mountbatten came to India and recommended a partition of Punjab and Bengal in the face of civil war. Gandhi was very opposed to the idea of partition and urged Mountbatten to offer Jinnah leadership of a united India instead of the creation of a separate Muslim state. But this arrangement was not acceptable to many nationalist leaders, including Nehru. In July Britain's Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act. According to it August 14 and 15 were set for partition of India. Thus came into existence two independent entities- Indian and Pakistan.

Shah Jahan

2010-07-31T02:36:00.003-07:00

Shah Jahan, also known as Shahbuddin Mohammed Shah Jahan, was a Mughal Emperor who ruled in the Indian Subcontinent from 1628 to 1658. He was the fifth Mughal ruler, after Babur, Humayun, Akbar and Jahangir. Shah Jahan succeeded the throne after revolting against his father, Jahangir. The period of Shah Jahan's rule in India is regarded as the golden age of Indian architecture. He is credited with constructing numerous beautiful monuments throughout the landscape of India. However, the most brilliant monument is the 'Taj Mahal' of Agra, which he built in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

The exquisite "Peacock Throne', which he got built for himself, is believed to be worth millions of dollars by modern estimates. Shah Jahan is also the founder of the modern city of Delhi. During that time, the city was known as Shahjahanabad. Get more information on the biography as well as life history of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan:

Early Life
Shah Jahan was born as Prince Khurram on 5th January 1592, to Emperor Jahangir and his second wife, Jagat Gosini (a Rajput Princess). In 1611, his father married Nur Jehan, the widowed daughter of a Persian immigrant and the aunt of Arjumand Banu Begum. Prince Khurram married Arjumand Banu Begum in May 1612. She was given the name of Mumtaz Mahal (Ornament of the Palace) when Prince Khurram acceded the throne and became Shah Jahan. However, the succession was not simple and easy. Infact, a bloody fight with his father ensued before the accession.

In 1627, when Jahangir died, Prince Khurram succeeded the Mughal throne as Shah Jahan (meaning the King of the World). He was also given the title of the 'Lord of the Auspicious Conjunctions', in reference to his pride in his Timurid roots. Throughout the earlier military campaigns of Shah Jahan as well as his rebellion against Jahangir, Mumtaz accompanied him everywhere with his entourage.

Reign
Throughout his reign, Shah Jahan constantly strived towards enlarging his empire. The first violence that erupted after his accession to the throne came from Jujhar Singh, son of the Bundela chief, Bir Singh Deo. In 1628, Shah Jahan faced another major revolt by Khan Jahan Lodi. He had united with the ruler of Ahmednagar and came out in open rebellion against the emperor. The aggression by Khan Jahan came to an end by the year 1960, when he surrendered and died near the fort of Kalanjar.

After Shah Jahan became emperor, the Deccan policy of the Mughals underwent a major change. This led to a suspicion of their alliance with the Shia rulers of Persia. However, with the death of Malik Ambar, the problem got sorted out. In 1631, the Mughal army led by Shah Jahan laid a failed siege on Bijapur. However in 1633, they managed to win the fort of Daulatabad. The chief aggressions of the reign of Shahjahan were - the destruction of the Ahmadnagar kingdom (1636), the loss of Kandahar to the Persians (1653) and a second war against the Deccan princes (1655).

Construction of Taj Mahal
One of the most significant incidents in the life of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was the construction of Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. His wife Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to their fourteenth child. Shah Jahan decided to build world's most beautiful monument in the memory of his beloved wife. The monument, which is known as the 'Taj Mahal', contains the tombs of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. Taj Mahal, also known as the Epitome of Love, is exceptionally beautiful and has become one of the most visited tourist destinations of India. People from different parts of the world come to India to see this amazing edifice in white.

Other Structures Constructed by Shah Jahan
The following monuments were also constructed by Shah Jahan during his rule:

Red Fort or Lal Quila (Delhi)
Agra Fort (Partly)
Jama Masjid (Delhi)
Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque (Lahore)
Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)
Sections of the Lahore Fort (Lahore)
Jahangir Mausoleum
Takht-e-Taus
Shahjahan Mosque (Thatta)

Death of a Great Emperor
Shah Jahan fell seriously ill in September 1657. Seeking this as an opportunity, one of his sons, Aurangzeb, took over the throne and imprisoned him in the citadel of Agra. Shah Jahan left this world, in confinement, in the year 1666.

Mahatma Gandhi

2010-07-31T02:36:00.002-07:00

Mahatma Gandhi was born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on 2nd October 1869. He was the most popular as well as the most influential political and spiritual leaders of India. His contribution to the freedom struggle of India is priceless and the country owes its independence, partly, to this great man. The Satyagraha movement, which led to India's independence, was founded by Mahatma Gandhi only. In India, Gandhi is known as the 'Father of the Nation' and his birthday is celebrated as a national holiday. Read on to explore the life history, story and biography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi:

Early Life
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in the Porbandar city of Gujarat, to Karamchand Gandhi, the diwan of Porbandar, and his wife, Putlibai. Since his mother was a Hindu of the Pranami Vaishnava order, Gandhi learned the tenets of non-injury to living beings, vegetarianism, fasting, mutual tolerance, etc, at a very tender age. Mohandas was married at the age of 13 to Kasturba Makhanji and had four sons. He passed the matriculation exam at Samaldas College of Bhavanagar. In the year 1888, Gandhi went to University College of London to study as a barrister.

He came back to India after being called to the bar of England and Wales by Inner Temple. In 1893, he accepted a yearlong contract from an Indian firm to a post in Natal, South Africa. There, he faced racial discrimination directed at blacks and Indians. Such incidents provoked him to work towards social activism.

Participation in Indian Independence Movement
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a leader of the Congress Party, introduced Mahatma Gandhi to the Indian issues, Indian politics and the Indian people. Gandhi participated in the following movements related to India's freedom struggle:

Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha
The Champaran Agitation and Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 was the first major success of Mahatma Gandhi in his struggle towards India's freedom. The reason for the agitation was the levy of an oppressive tax by the British, which they insisted on increasing further. He organized his supporters as well as volunteers to protest against this atrocity and also began leading the clean up of villages, building of schools and hospitals as well as encouraging the village leadership to condemn the numerous social evils affecting the society. Mahatma Gandhi was successful in signing an agreement with the British, wherein the poor farmers were granted more compensation and control over farming.

Non-cooperation Movement and Swaraj
Non-cooperation Movement of Mahatma Gandhi was one of his prime fights against the British. The massacre at the Jallianwala Bagh of Punjab was what instigated him to take this step. After the gruesome incident, he focused himself entirely on obtaining complete autonomy for the country as well as the control of all Indian government institutions. Soon, this movement turned into Swaraj (complete individual, spiritual and political independence). His association with the Indian National Congress (INC) was further strengthened in December 1921, when he was made the executive authority of the party.

Under Mahatma Gandhi, INC was restructured, accepting the goal of Swaraj, having open membership, forming a hierarchy of committees, and so on. He urged Indian citizens to boycott imported goods, British educational institutions, law courts, government employment, and the like. Non-cooperation became very popular and started spreading through the length and breadth of India. However, the violent clash in Chauri Chaura town of Uttar Pradesh, in February 1922, led to a sudden end of this movement. Gandhi was arrested on 10th March 1922 and was tried for sedition. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment, but served for only two years in prison.

Problems in the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress began to fall apart without the inspiring leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. The party split up into two groups, one led by Chitta Ranjan Das and Motilal Nehru and the other led by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Even the basis of the non-violence campaign, the cooperation amongst Hindus and Muslims, began to break down.

Salt Satyagraha and Dandi March
During the period of 1920s, Mahatma Gandhi concentrated on resolving the wedge between the Swaraj Party and the Indian National Congress. Around 1928, Gandhi again started focusing on Indian freedom struggle. In 1927, British had appointed Sir John Simon as the head of a new constitutional reform commission. There was not even a single Indian in the commission. Agitated by this, Gandhi passed a resolution at the Calcutta Congress in December 1928, calling on the British government to grant India dominion status. In case of non-compliance with this demand, the British were to face a new campaign of non-violence, having its goal as complete independence for the country. The resolution was rejected by the British.

The flag of India was unfurled in Lahore by the members of the INC on 31st December 1929. January 26, 1930 was celebrated as the Independence Day of India. Soon, British government levied a tax on salt and Salt Satyagraha was launched in March 1930, as an opposition to this move. Mahatma Gandhi started the Dandi March with his followers in March, going from Ahmedabad to Dandi on foot, to make salt himself. The campaign became so successful that British ended up arresting over 60,000 people who participated in the March. Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed in March 1931, where the British Government set all political prisoners free as an exchange for the suspension of the civil disobedience movement.

Quit India Movement
As the World War II progressed, Mahatma Gandhi intensified his protests for the complete independence of the Indian subcontinent. He drafted a resolution calling for the British to Quit India. The 'Quit India Movement' or the 'Bharat Chhodo Andolan' was the most aggressive revolt of the INC, with the aim of gaining complete exit of the British from India. Gandhi was arrested on 9th August 1942 and held for two years in the Aga Khan Palace in Pune. There, he lost his secretary, Mahadev Desai and his wife, Kasturba. The Quit India Movement came to an end by the end of 1943, when the British gave hints that complete power would be transferred to the people of India.

Freedom and Partition of India
The independence cum partition proposal offered by the British Cabinet Mission in 1946 was accepted by the Congress, inspite of being advised otherwise by Mahatma Gandhi. Sardar Patel convinced Gandhi that it was the only way to avoid civil war and he reluctantly gave his consent. After India's independence, Gandhi focused on peace and unity of Hindus and Muslims. He launched his last fast-unto-death in Delhi, asking for all communal violence to be stopped and the payment of Rs. 55 crores, as per the Partition Council agreement, to be made to Pakistan. Ultimately, all the political leaders conceded to his wishes and he broke his fast by sipping orange juice.

Assassination
The inspiring life of Mahatma Gandhi came to an end on 30th January 1948, when he was shot by Nathuram Godse. Nathuram was a Hindu radical, who held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by ensuring the partition payment to Pakistan. Godse and his co-conspirator, Narayan Apte, were later tried and convicted. They were executed on 15th November 1949.

Gandhi's Principles
Mahatma followed as well as preached the following principles throughout his life:

Truth
Nonviolence
Vegetarianism
Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
Simplicity
Faith in God

Chhatrapati Shivaji

2010-07-31T02:36:00.001-07:00

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. He is considered to be one of the greatest warriors of his time and even today, stories of his exploits are narrated as a part of the folklore. King Shivaji used the guerrilla tactics to capture a part of, the then, dominant Mughal empire. Read this biography to get more information on the warrior and his life history:

Early Life
Shivaji was born on 19th February 1630, to Sahaji and his wife, Jijabai, in the Shivneri Fort, situated almost 60 km to the north of Pune. He was named as Shiva, after the local Goddess Shivai, to whom his mother Jijabai had prayed for a son. After being defeated by the combined forces of the Mughals and Adil Shah, Sahaji was offered a jagir near the present-day Bangalore. However, he was allowed to keep his holdings in Pune. So, Sahaji left his son Shivaji to manage the Pune holdings, under the care of his mother Jijabai.

With a small council of ministers, Shivaji began managing his estate. His ministers included Shamrao Nilkanth as Peshwa, Balkrishna Pant as Muzumdar, Raghunath Ballal as Sabnis and Sonopant as Dabir. At the same time, Kanhoji Jedhe and Baji Pasalkar were appointed to look after Shivaji's training. In the year 1644, Shivaji undertook full administrative responsibilities of his estate. Thus was started his career as an independent young prince of a small kingdom. His mother, Jijabai, was instrumental in instilling in Shivaji's mind a love for independence and distaste for external political domination.

Career
The first aggression in the life of Shivaji came at the age of sixteen, when he seized the Torna fort of Bijapur kingdom. By 1647, he had gained control over Kondana and Rajgad forts, with complete power of the Pune region. With time, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj secured the forts in the Western Ghats as well as those along the Konkan coast. Shivaji also fought against the army of Adilshah at Purandhar. In November 1659, he fought the battle of Pratapgarh and defeated Afzal Khan. Immediately after this success, King Shivaji occupied the area stretching upto the Panhala fort.

The battle of Kolhapur took place in December 1659. In the battle, Shivaji crushed the army of Bijapuri general, Rustemjaman. In 1660, Siddi Johar's huge and daunting army attacked him at Panhala fort. Shivaji managed to escape from the fort. However, he soon launched an attack on Siddi Johar. The result was the surrender of Panhala and a truce between Shivaji and Adilshah. After the death of Adilshah, Aurangzeb attacked Golconda and Bijapur. Shivaji used guerilla-style tactics and captured more and more of the Bijapuri and Mughal territories. However, by 1663, he had lost most of his conquests to the Mughal army.

In the next few years, Shivaji again started seizing forts belonging to both Mughals as well as those of Bijapur. Aurangzeb sent Jai Singh, his Hindu general, to capture Shivaji. Shivaji surrendered to Jai Singh at Purander in 1665 and agreed becoming a Mughal vassal. In 1666, he managed to escape form his house arrest in Agra and lay low for the next few years. However, in January 1670, Shivaji launched an attack on Mughal garrisons in Maharashtra. Within a period of six months, he won back most of his lost empire. The period of 1670 to 1674 was spent by Shivaji Maharaj in expanding his empire at the cost of the Mughals.

In 1670, Shivaji launched an assault, under his General - Tanaji Malusare, to capture Kondana fort on the outskirts of Pune. The battle was won but he lost Tanaji. In the honor of Tanaji, the Kondana fort was renamed as Sinhagad. Shivaji was formally crowned as Chatrapati (meaning the Chief, Head or King of Kshatriyas) in June 1674 at the Raigad fort. He was given the title of Kshatriya Kulavantas Simhasanadheeshwar Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The end of 1676 saw Shivaji commencing attacks in the southern parts of India.

Death and Succession
Shivaji breathed his last on 3rd April 1680 in the Raigad fort, the capital for Maratha Empire. He was succeeded by his elder son, Sambhaji.

Akbar the Great

2010-07-31T02:35:00.000-07:00

Emperor Akbar, also known as Akbar the Great or Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar, was the third emperor of the Mughal Empire, after Babur and Humayun. He was the son of Nasiruddin Humayun and succeeded him as the emperor in the year 1556, when he was only 13 years old. One of the most successful emperors of the Mughal Empire, Akbar also made significant contribution in the field of art. Apart from commencing a large collection of literature, he also commissioned a number of splendid buildings during his reign. This biography of King Akbar will provide you more information on his life history:

Early Life
Akbar was born on 15th October 1542, to Emperor Humayun and his recently wedded wife, Hamida Banu Begum. The Rajput Fortress of Umarkot in Sind, where Humayun and Hamida were taking refuge, became the birthplace of this great emperor. In 1540, Humayun was forced into exile by Afghan leader Sher Shah and Akbar spent his childhood in Afghanistan, at his uncle Askari's place. His youth was spent in running and fighting, rather than learning to read and write. However, this could never impair his interest in art, architecture, music and literature.

Humayun recaptured Delhi in the year 1555, with the help of his Persian ally Shah Tahmasp. However, a few months after his victory, he met with an accident and died. On 14th February 1556, Akbar succeeded the throne, in the midst of a war waged by Sikandar Shah for the Mughal throne.

Early Rule
The first battle fought by Akbar was against Sikandar Shah Suri of Punjab. However, when Akbar was busy leading assault against Sikandar Shah, Hemu, a Hindu warrior, launched an attack on Delhi, which was then under the regency of Tardi Beg Khan. Tardi fled from the city and Hemu claimed the capital. On the advice of his general, Bairam, Akbar launched an attack on Delhi and reclaimed the city. On 5th November 1556, 'Akbar the Great' fought the Second Battle of Panipat against General Hemu.

Following soon after was the battle with Sikandar Shah at Mankot. In 1557, Adil Shah, who was the brother of Sikandar, died in a battle in Bengal. Along with fighting against the other rulers, Akbar also solidified his support by revoking the jizya tax on non-Muslims. At the same time, he started wooing the favor of the powerful Rajput caste, at times by marrying Rajput princesses. He expanded the Mughal Empire by including Malwa, Gujarat, Bengal, Kabul, Kashmir and Kandesh, amongst others. In no time, the rule of Akbar was firmly established over the entire Hindustan (India).

Final Years
Akbar was greatly troubled in the last few years of his life due to the misdemeanors of his sons. Especially his third son, Salim, was frequently in rebellion against his father. The last conquest of Akbar comprised of Asirgarh, a fort in the Deccan. Thereafter, he faced the rebellion of his son and breathed his last on 12th October 1605. His body was entombed in a magnificent mausoleum at Sikandra city, near Agra.

Navratnas
Akbar's court had Navaratnas (Nine Jewels), meaning a group of nine extraordinary people. They included:

Abul Fazel (Akbars's chief advisor and author of Akbarnama)
Faizi (Akbar's poet laureate)
Mian Tansen (a Hindu singer who converted to Islam)
Birbal (a noble known for his wittiness)
Raja Todar Mal (Akbar's finance minister)
Raja Man Singh (trusted general of Akbar)
Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana (a noble and a renowned poet)
Fakir Aziao-Din
Mullah Do Piaza

Rupee Symbol Download | Rupee Symbol Font

2010-07-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

The 'Rupee Symbol', has been adopted on Thursday by the government and is soon going to be on paper and may be sooner on keyboards too!

Mangalore-based Foradian Technologies Pvt Ltd has created a font called Rupee_Foradian. It can be downloaded from the company’s blogsite —http://blog.foradian.com/ — and used for free.

The symbol may take a while to appear on the keyboard but can rightaway be typed as a character, thanks to a newly-created font.

The company created a vector image of the new rupee sign and mapped the 'grave accent' symbol — the key just above the tab button on the keyboard — with it.

Many users of social networking sites have started using it, as have hundreds of bloggers. Version 2.0 of the font was released within 24 hours of the announcement of the rupee symbol.

List of Prime Ministers of India

2010-07-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

The complete list of Prime Ministers of India includes the persons sworn into the office as Prime Minister of India following the proclamation of the independence of India in 1947.
Key:

Congress: Indian National Congress, Indian National Congress (Indira), United Progressive Alliance Bharatiya Janata Party: Bharatiya Janata Party, National Democratic Alliance Parties in power that includes the support of Congress: Samajwadi Janata Party, United Front, Janata Party (Charan Singh faction) Janata Party Janata Dal

#	Portrait	Name	Time in office	Electoral mandates	Political party	Lok Sabha	Council of Ministers	Refs
1st		Jawaharlal Nehru MP for Phulpur	15 August 1947 27 May 1964¹	1951, 1957, 1962	Indian National Congress	1st 2nd 3rd	1st 2nd 3rd	^[1]
1st		Jawaharlal Nehru MP for Phulpur	Indo-Pakistani War of 1947; created Planning commission of India and initiated Five-year plan to increase government investment in agriculture and industry; launched programmes to build irrigation canals, dams and spread the use of fertilizers to increase agricultural production; oversaw widespread poverty and unemployment, even with improvements in agriculture and infrastructure; oversaw establishment of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institutes of Management; criminalized caste discrimination and increased the legal rights and social freedoms of women; pioneered the policy of non-alignment and co-founded the Non-Aligned Movement; Sino-Indian War; signed the Indus Waters Treaty; granted asylum to the Dalai Lama; oversaw liberation of Goa.					^[1]
*2nd*		Gulzarilal Nanda MP for Sabarkantha	27 May 1964 9 June 1964*	-	Indian National Congress	3rd	-	^[2]
*2nd*		Gulzarilal Nanda MP for Sabarkantha	was a caretaker prime minister until Lal Bahadur Shastri was elected as a new leader.					^[2]
3rd		Lal Bahadur Shastri MP for Allahabad	9 June 1964 11 January 1966¹	-	Indian National Congress	3rd	4th	^[3]
3rd		Lal Bahadur Shastri MP for Allahabad	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965; pushed for Green Revolution in India and Operation Flood; The National Dairy Development Board was formed; died from a heart attack at a summit in Tashkent.					^[3]
*2nd*		Gulzarilal Nanda MP for Sabarkantha	11 January 1966 24 January 1966*	-	Indian National Congress	3rd	-	^[2]
*2nd*		Gulzarilal Nanda MP for Sabarkantha	was in office as caretaker prime minister once again, until Indira Gandhi was chosen as the new leader.					^[2]
4th		Indira Gandhi MP for Rae Bareli	24 January 1966 24 March 1977	1967, 1971	Indian National Congress	3rd 4th 5th	5th 6th	^[4]
4th		Indira Gandhi MP for Rae Bareli	nationalized banks; won the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which resulted in the formation of Bangladesh; signed the Shimla Agreement; tested the first nuclear weapon with Smiling Buddha; initiated Green Revolution in India; established state of emergency from 1975-1977.					^[4]
5th		Morarji Desai MP for Surat	24 March 1977 28 July 1979⁴	1977	Janata Party	6th	7th	^[5]
5th		Morarji Desai MP for Surat	ended the state of emergency initiated by Indira Gandhi; improved relations with Pakistan, China and theUnited States; softened its relationship with the Soviet Union; launched Sixth Five-Year Plan, aiming to boost agricultural production and rural industries; the plan proved unsuccessful leading to resurging inflation, fuel shortages, unemployment and poverty; lost many MPs from Janata Party, including his rival Charan Singh, which led to his resignation.					^[5]
6th		Charan Singh MP for Baghpat	28 July 1979 14 January 1980³	-	Janata Party	6th	8th	^[6]
6th		Charan Singh MP for Baghpat	initiated high level diplomatic relations with Israel; lost support of Congress, which led to his resignation without even a single session of Lok Sabha.					^[6]
*4th*		Indira Gandhi MP for Rae Bareli	14 January 1980² 31 October 1984	1980	Indian National Congress (Indira)	7th	9th	^[7]
*4th*		Indira Gandhi MP for Rae Bareli	Operation Bluestar, which subsequently led to her assassination; 1984 anti-Sikh riots.					^[7]
7th		Rajiv Gandhi MP for Amethi	31 October 1984 2 December 1989	1984	Indian National Congress	8th	10th	^[8]
7th		Rajiv Gandhi MP for Amethi	significantly reduced License Raj; expanded telecommunications in India; signed the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord; Bofors scandal; nullified the Supreme Court's judgement on Shah Bano case.					^[8]
8th		V. P. Singh MP for Fatehpur	2 December 1989 10 November 1990³	1989	Janata Dal	9th	11th	^[9]
8th		V. P. Singh MP for Fatehpur	negotiated terrorist kidnapping of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's daughter; visited Golden Temple to ask for forgiveness for Operation Bluestar; withdrew IPKF from Sri Lanka; initiated fixed quota/reservation for allpublic sector jobs as per recommendation from Mandal Commission; Ram Janmabhoomi agitation and subsequent loss of vote of no confidence because of it.					^[9]
9th	60px	Chandra Shekhar MP for Ballia	10 November 1990 21 June 1991	-	Samajwadi Janata Party	9th	12th	^[10]
9th	60px	Chandra Shekhar MP for Ballia	resigned due to accusations of spying on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and subsequent withdrawal of Congress' support; Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.					^[10]
10th		P. V. Narasimha Rao MP for Nandyal	21 June 1991 16 May 1996	1991	Indian National Congress	10th	13th	^[11]
10th		P. V. Narasimha Rao MP for Nandyal	initiated Economic liberalization in India; SEBI Act 1992; formation of National Stock Exchange of India; 1993 Bombay bombings; introduced TADA; Demolition of Babri Masjid.					^[11]
11th		Atal Bihari Vajpayee MP for Lucknow	16 May 1996 1 June 1996³	1996†	Bharatiya Janata Party	11th	14th	^[12]
11th		Atal Bihari Vajpayee MP for Lucknow	Hung parliament†. Was in power for only 13 days, after BJP could not gather enough support from other parties to form a majority.					^[12]
12th		H. D. Deve Gowda MP for Karnataka	1 June 1996 21 April 1997³	1996†	Janata Dal	11th	15th	^[12]
12th		H. D. Deve Gowda MP for Karnataka	Hung parliament†. After a failed attempt of forming a BJP government, Congress refused to form a government and instead supported a minority United Front coalition led by Janata Dal. Chinese President Jiang Zemin begins the first visit by a Chinese head of state to India; initiates controversial president's rulein Gujarat.					^[12]
13th		Inder Kumar Gujral MP for Bihar	21 April 1997 19 March 1998	-	Janata Dal	11th	16th	^[13]
13th		Inder Kumar Gujral MP for Bihar	Fodder scam; Jain Commission.					^[13]
*11th*		Atal Bihari Vajpayee MP for Lucknow	19 March 1998² 22 May 2004	1998, 1999	Bharatiya Janata Party	12th 13th	17th 18th	^[14]
*11th*		Atal Bihari Vajpayee MP for Lucknow	Pokhran nuclear tests; Kargil War; National Highway Development Project; Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana; Barak Missile Deal Scandal;POTA; Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan; 2001 Gujarat earthquake; 2002 Gujarat violence.					^[14]
14th		Dr. Manmohan Singh MP for Assam	22 May 2004 Incumbent	2004, 2009	Indian National Congress	14th 15th	19th 20th	^[15]
14th		Dr. Manmohan Singh MP for Assam	Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement; won the 2008 Lok Sabha vote of confidence; Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline; expanding ties with Israel; Economic crisis of 2008; National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA); Right to Information Act; revoking of POTA; 2008 Mumbai attacks and the implementation ofUnlawful Activities (Prevention) Act; National Intelligence Agency;					^[15]

[edit]Notes

* Interim - It is debatable whether Mr. Gulzari Lal Nanda was a Prime Minister or an Acting Prime Minister. The constitution does not have a position of acting Prime Minister. Mr. Nanda was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India. In contrast, the constitution provides for an acting President who discharges the duties of a President. Hence, constitutional experts and historians now agree that Mr. Nanda is the second Prime Minister of India.
¹ Assassinated or Died in Office
² Returned to Office
³ Resigned
⁴ Dismissed by President following a no-confidence motion

ABBREVIATIONS

2010-07-29T13:08:00.001-07:00

A

ABM: Anti Ballistic Missiles

ABVP: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad

AC: Alternating Current; Ashoka Chakra

ACU: Asian Currency Union

AD: anno Domini; in the year of Lord Christ

ADB: Asian Development Bank

ADC: Aide-de-Camp; Access Deficit Charge

ADF: Asian Development Fund

ADS: Air Defence Ship

AJT: Advanced Jet Trainer

AG: Accountant General; Adjutant General

AI: Air India

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

AIIMS: All India Institute of Medical Sciences

AIR: All India Radio; Annual Information Report

AITUC: All India Trade Union Congress

AJT: Advanced Jet Trainer

ALH: Advanced Light Helicopter

AM: ante meridiem; before noon

AMC: Army Medical Corps; Asset Management Companies

AME: Associate Member of the Institute of Engineers

APC: Agricultural Prices Commission

APEC: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

APPLE: Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment

APPU: Asian Pacific Postal Union

ARC: Asset Reconstruction Company

ARDR: Agricultural and Rural Debt Relief

ASAT: Anti-Satellite weapon

ASC: Army Service Corps

ASCI: Advanced Strategic Computing Initiative

ASCII: American Standard Code for Information

ASEAN: Association of South-East Asian Nations

ASEM: Asia-Europe Meeting

ASIMO: Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility

ASLV: Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle

ASMA: Antarctica Specially Managed Area

ASSOCHAM: Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry

ATA: Air Time Authority; Allen Telescope Array

ATC: Air Traffic Controller

ATM: Automatic Teller Machine

ATR: Action Taken Report

ATV: Automatic Transfer Vehicle

AUM: Assets Under Management

AVC: Army Veterinary Corps

AVM: Additional Volatility Margin

AWACS: Airborne Warning and Control System

B

BARC: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation

BC: Before Christ; Board of Control; British Columbia; Battery Commander

BCG: Bacillus Calmette Guerin—Anti-Tuberculosis Vaccine

BICP: Bureau of Industrial Costs and Prices

BIFR: Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction

BIOS: Basic Input Output System

BKU: Bharatiya Kisan Union

BMD: Ballistic Missile Defence System

BOLT: BSE On-Line Trading (System)

BOSS: Bharat Operating System Solutions

BPO: Business Process Outsourcing

BPR: Bottom Pressure Records

BRO: Border Road Organisation

BSE: Bombay Stock Exchange

BSF: Border Security Force

BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd

C

CA: Chartered Accountant

CABE: Central Advisory Board of Education

C & AG: Comptroller & Auditor General

CAIR: Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

CAPART: Council for People’s Action and Advancement of Rural Technology

CAPES: Computer-Aided Paperless Examination System

CAS: Chief of Army Staff; Chief of Air Staff; Conditional Access System

CB: Citizen Band (Radio)

CBI: Central Bureau of Investigation

CBFC: Central Board of Film Certification

CCPA: Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs

CD: Conference on Disarmament

C-DAC: The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access

CECA: Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement

CERN: European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Pronounced CERN in French)

CFC: Chlorofluro Carbon

CFS: Container Freight Station

CHOGM: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

CIA: Central Intelligence Agency (of U.S.A.)

CIBIL: Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd

CIC: Chief Information Commissioner

CID: Criminal Investigation Department

C-in-C: Commander-in-Chief

cif: cost, insurance and freight

CIS: Commonwealth of Independent States

CISF: Central Industrial Security Force

CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

CITU: Centre of Indian Trade Unions

CLASS: Computer Literacy and Studies in Schools

CLAWS: Centre for Land Warfare Studies

CM: Command Module; Chief Minister

CMP: Common Minimum Programme

CNG: Compressed Natural Gas

CNN: Cable News Network

CNS: Chief of the Naval Staff

CO: Commanding Officer

COD: Central Ordnance Depot; Cash on Delivery

CPCB: Central Pollution Control Board

CPI: Communist Party of India

CPI(M): Communist Party of India (Marxists)

CPU: Central Processing Unit

CR: Central Railway

CRAC: Cyber Regulation Advisory Council

CRDi: Common Rail Direct injection

CRISIL: Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited

CRM: Customer Relationship Management

CRR: Cash Reserve Ratio

CRPF: Central Reserve Police Force

CSIR: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

CTBT: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

CTT: Commodities Transaction Tax

CVRDE: Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment

D

DA: Dearness Allowance; Daily Allowance

DAVP: Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity

DC: Deputy Commissioner; Direct Current in Electricity

DDT: Dichloro-Diphenyl Trichloro-ethane (disinfectant)

DIN: Director Information Number

DM: District Magistrate; Deputy Minister

DMIC: Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor

DMK: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (a regional political party of Tamil Nadu)

DNA: de-oxyribonucleic acid

DO: Demi-official (letter)

DOD: Department of Ocean Development

DPEP: District Primary Education Programme

DPI: Director of Public Instruction

DRAM: Dynamic Random Access Memory

DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation

DST: Daylight Saving Time

DRES: Department of Renewable Energy Sources

DTH: Direct to Home (broadcasting)

E

ECG: Electro Cardio-gram

ECS: Electronic Clearing Service

ECT: Electro-convulsant Therapy (electric shock treatment)

EDUSAT: Education Satellite

EEG: Electro-encephalography

EET: Exempt Exempt Taxation

EFA: Education for All

EFF: Extended Fund Facility

e.g.: exempli gratia; for example

EHTP: Electronic Hardware Technology Parks

ELISA: Enzyme Linked Immuno Solvent Assay (used for testing AIDS)

EMI: Equated Monthly Instalment

EMS: European Monetary System

EMU: Electric-Multiple Unit; Extra-vehicular Mobility Unit; (European) Economic and Monetary Union

E & OE: Errors and Omissions Excepted

EPROM: Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

ER: Eastern Railway

ERM: Exchange Rate Mechanism

ERNET: Educational and Research Network

ESA: European Space Agency

ESCAP: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

ESMA: Essential Services Maintenance Act

ESOP: Employee Stock Option Programme

etc.: et cetera (and other things)

EU: European Union

EVM: Electronic Voting Machine

F

FAO: Food and Agriculture Organisation

FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation (of the U.S.A.)

FCNR: Foreign Currency (non-resident) Accounts Scheme

FDR: Flight Data Recorder; Fixed Deposit Receipt

FEMA: Foreign Exchange Management Act

FERA: Foreign Exchange Regulations Act

FICCI: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

FII: Foreign Institutional Investors

FIPB: Foreign Investment Promotion Board (of India)

FLAG: Fibre Optic Link Around the Globe

FM: Field Marshal; Frequency Modulated

FPSB: Financial Planning Standards Boards (India)

FRBM: Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management

FSSA: Food Safety and Standards Authority (of India)

FTA: Free Trade Area

FTP: File Transfer Protocol

G

GAGAN: GPS-aided Geo-augmented Navigation

GAIL: Gas Authority of India Limited

GAIN: Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

GATS: General Agreement on Trade in Services

GATT: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GCA: General Currency Area

GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council

GCM: Greatest Common Measure

GEF: Global Environment Fund

GHQ: General Headquarters

GIC: General Insurance Corporation

GIST: Graphics and Intelligence-based Script Technology

GMPS: Global Mobile Personal Communications System

GMRT: Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope

GMT: Greenwich Mean Time

GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System

GNP: Gross National Product

GOC: General Officer Commanding

GPO: General Post Office

GPRS: General Packet Radio System

GPS: Global Positioning System

GSLV: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle

GSP: Generalised Special Preferences

GST: Goods and Service Tax

GSTP: Global System of Trade Preferences

H

HAWS: High Altitude Warfare School

HCF: Highest Common Factor

HDI: Human Development Index

HDTV: High Definition Television

HE: His (or Her) Excellency; His (or Her) Eminence; High Explosive; Horizontal Equivalent

HITS: Headend In The Sky

HMMWV: High Mobility Multipurpose-Wheeled Vehicle

HMS: Hybrid Mail Service

HP: Himachal Pradesh; Horizontal Plane; Horse Power

HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language

HTTP: Hypetext Transfer Protocol

HUDCO: Housing and Urban Development Corporation

HVDC: High Voltage Direct Current

I

IAAI: International Airport Authority of India

IAAS: Indian Audit and Accounts Service

IADF: International Agricultural Development Fund

IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency

IAF: Indian Air Force

IAMC: Indian Army Medical Corps

IAS: Indian Administrative Service

IATA: International Air Transport Association

IATT: Inland Air Travel Tax

IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

IBEX: Interstellar Boundary Explorer Mission

ICANN: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organisation

ICAR: Indian Council of Agricultural Research

ICCR: Indian Council of Cultural Relations

ICCW: Indian Council for Child Welfare

ICDS: Integrated Child Development Service

ICJ: International Court of Justice (with Headquarters at the Hague)

ICL: Indian Cricket League

ICMR: Indian Council of Medical Research

ICPA: Indian Cricket Players’ Association

ICRC: International Committee of the Red Cross

IDA: International Development Association

IDBI: Industrial Development Bank of India

IDSA: Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis

i.e.: id est; that is

IEA: International Energy Agency

IES: Indian Economic Service

IEX: Indian Energy Exchange

IFRS: International Financial Reporting Standard

IFS: Indian Foreign Service; Indian Forest Service

IFTU: International Federation of Trade Unions

IFWJ: Indian Federation of Working Journalists

IGNOU: Indira Gandhi National Open University

IIPA: Indian Institute of Public Administration

IISS: International Institute of Strategic Studies

IIT: Indian Institutes of Technology

ILO: International Labour Organisation

IMA: Indian Military Academy

IMET: International Military Education Training Programme

IMF: International Monetary Fund

IMO: International Maritime Organisation

IN: Indian Navy; Intelligent Network

INA: Indian National Army

INK: International Newspaper Kiosks

INMARSAT: International Maritime Satellite Organisation

INMAS: Institute of Nuclear Medicines and Allied Sciences

INS: Indian Naval Ship; Indian Newspaper Society

INSAS: Indian Small Arms System

INSAT: Indian National Satellite

INTERPOL: International Police Organisation

INTUC: Indian National Trade Union Congress

IOC: International Olympic Committee

IP: Indian Police

IPC: Indian Penal Code

IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IPEC: International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour

IPR: Intellectual Property Right

IPS: Indian Police Service; Indian Postal Service

IPTV: Internet Protocol Television

IPU: Inter-Parliamentary Union

IQ: Intelligence Quotient

IR: Infra-red

IRA: Insurance Regulatory Authority

IRBM: Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile

IREP: Integrated Rural Energy Planning

IRS: Indian Remote Sensing Satellite; Indian Revenue Service

ISAF: International Stabilization and Assistance Force (in Afghanistan)

ISC: Inter-State Council

ISCS: Integrated Smart Card System

ISD: International Subscriber Dialled (telephone)

ISH: Information Super Highway

ISKCON: International Society for Krishna Consciousness

ISO: International Standardisation Organisation

ISP: Internet Service Provider

ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation

ISS: International Space Station

IST: Indian Standard Time

ISTRAC: ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network

ITDC: Indian Tourism Development Corporation

ITO: International Trade Organisation; Income-tax Officer

ITU: International Tele-communication Union

IUC: Interconnect User Charge

J, K, L

JCO: Junior Commissioned Officer

JNNURM: Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission

JPC: Joint Parliamentary Committee

JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group

JWG: Joint Working Group

KG: Kindergarten

Kg: Kilogramme

KPO: Knowledge Process Outsourcing

LAC: Line of Actual Control

LCA: Light Combat Aircraft

LDC: Least Developed Countries

LHC: Large Hadron Collider

LIC: Life Insurance Corporation (of India)

LLP: Limited Liability Partnership

LOAC: Line of Actual Control

LTA: Light Transport Aircraft

LTTE: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

M

MAT: Minimum Alternative Tax

MER: Mars Exploration Rover

MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

MCF: Master Control Facility

MEP: Minimum Export Price

MES: Military Engineering Service

METSAT: Meteorological Satellite

MFA: Multi-Fibre Agreement

MFN: Most Favoured Nation

MIP: Moon Impact Probe

MMS: Multimedia Messaging Service

MMTC: Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of India

MNC: Multi-national Corporation

MNIC: Multi-purpose National Identity Card

MODEM: Modulator-Demodulator

MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRTPC: Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission

MRTS: Mass Rapid Transit System

MSA: Maritime Safety Agency

MSCF: Maritime Security Cooperation Framework

Mss: Manuscript

MTCR: Missile Technology Control Regime

MTO: Multilateral Trade Organisation

MVC: Maha Vir Chakra

MUNO: Maha Vir Chakra

N

NAA: National Airport Authority

NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. (It helps rural development by providing re-finance facility).

NACIL: National Aviation Company of India Ltd

NADA: National Anti-Doping Agency

NAEP: National Adult Education Programme

NAFTA: North America Free Trade Agreement

NAG: National Air Guard

NAM: Non-aligned Movement

NAMA: Non-Agriculture Market Access

NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (of the U.S.A.)

NASDAQ: National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation

NATA: Natural Aptitude Test for Architecture

NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

NAV: Net Asset Value

NB: Nota bene; note well, or take notice

NCA: Nuclear Command Authority

NCC: National Cadet Corps

NCEP: National Committee on Environmental Planning

NCERT: National Council of Education Research and Training

NCR: National Capital Region

NDA: National Defence Academy; National Democratic Alliance

NDNC: National Do Not Call (Registry)

NDPS: Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances

NDRF: National Disaster Response Force

NDTL: National Dope Testing Laboratory

NeGP: National e-governance Plan

NEDB: North-Eastern Development Bank

NEP: National Education Policy

NEPA: National Environment Protection Authority

NFO: New Fund Offers

NHDP: National Highways Development Project

NHRC: National Human Rights Commission

NIC: National Integration Council

NIFT: National Institute of Fashion Technology

NIO: National Institute of Oceanography

NIS: National Institute of Sports

NIT: National Institute of Technology

NLMA: National Literacy Mission Authority

NMD: Nuclear Missile Defence

NMDC: National Mineral Development Corporation

NPL: National Physical Laboratory

NPR: National Population Register

NPT: (Nuclear) Non-Proliferation Treaty

NRBI: National Rural Bank of India

NREGA: National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

NREP: National Rural Employment Programme

NRF: National Renewal Fund

NRI: Non-Resident Indian

NRR: National Reproduction Rate

NRSA: National Remote Sensing Agency

NSA: National Security Act

NSC: National Service Corps; National Security Council

NSDL: National Securities Depository Limited

NSE: National Stock Exchange

NSR: National Skills Registry

NTPC: National Thermal Power Corporation

NWDA: National Water Development Agency

NWRC: National Water Resources Council

O

OAS: Organisation of American States

OAU: Organisation of African Unity

OBC: Other Backward Communities

OBU: Offshore Banking Unit

ODA: Official Development Assistance

ODF: Open Document Format

ODS: Ozone Depletion Substances

OECD: Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development

OGL: Open General Licence

OIC: Organisation of Islamic Countries

OIGS: On India Government Service

OIL: Oil India Limited

OM: Order of Merit

ONGC: Oil and Natural Gas Commission

OPEC: Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries

OSCE: Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

OSD: Officer on Special Duty

OXML: Open Extended Marking Language

P

PAC: Political Affairs Committee; Public Accounts Committee

PACER: Programme for Acceleration of Commercial Energy Research

PAN: Permanent Account Number (of Income-Tax)

PATA: Pacific-Asia Travel Association

PCS: Public Civil Service; Punjab Civil Service

PIB: Press Information Bureau

Pin Code: Postal Index Number Code

PIO: Persons of Indian Origin

PLF: Plant Load Factor

PM: Post Meridiem; after-noon; also Postmaster; Prime Minister; post-mortem (after death)

PMG: Postmaster General

PN: Participatory Note

PO: Post Office; Postal Order

POPs: Persistent Organic Pollutants; Point of Purchase

POTA: Prevention of Terrorism Act

POW: Prisoner of War

PP: Public Prosecutor; Particular Person

PRO: Public Relations Officer

PS: Post Scriptum; Post Script; written after

PSC: Public Service Commission

PSE: Public Sector Enterprises

PSLV: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle

PTA: Preferential Trade Area

PTI: Press Trust of India

PTO: Please Turn Over; Privilege Ticket Order

PUFA: Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids

PVC: Param Vir Chakra

PVSM: Param Vishisht Sewa Medal

PWD: Public Works Department

Q, R

QMG: Quarter Master General

QR: Quantitative Restriction

RAF: Rapid Action Force

RAM: Random Access Memory

RBI: Reserve Bank of India

RCC: Reinforced Concrete Cement

RDF: Rapid Development Force

RDS: Radio Data Servicing

RDSS: Radio Determination Satellite Service

REACH: Rehabilitate, Educate and Support Street Children

RLO: Returned Letter Office

RLV: Reusable Launch Vehicle

RPM: Revolution Per Minute

RPO: Recruitment Process Outsourcing; Regional Passport Officer

RRB: Regional Rural Bank

RRPI: Rural Retail Price Index

RSS: Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh

RSVP: Repondez s’il vous plait (Fr.) reply, if you please

RTGS: Real Time Gross Settlement System

S

SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation

SAFTA: South Asian Free Trade Area

SAIL: Steel Authority of India Limited

SAPTA: SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement

SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

SATNAV: Satellite Navigation (Initiative)

SAVE: SAARC Audio Visual Exchange

SC: Security Council; Supreme Court; Scheduled Caste

SCI: Shipping Corporation of India

SCO: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

SCOPE: Standing Conference on Public Enterprises

SDO: Sub-Divisional Officer

SDR: Special Drawing Rights (created by the World Bank)

SEBI: Securities and Exchange Board of India

SFC: Strategic Forces Command

SGPC: Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee

SIDBI: Small Industries Development Bank of India

SIT: Special Investigation Team

SITE: Satellite Instructional Television Experiment

SLR: Statutory Liquidity Ratio

SMS: Short Messaging Service; Subscriber Management System

SOS: Save Our Souls—distress signal

SPG: Special Protection Group

SPIN: Software Process Improvement Networks

SPV: Solar Photo Voltaic

SQUID: Super-conducting Quantum Interference Device

SRE: Space Capsule Recovery Experiment

SRV: Submarine Rescue Vessel

SSN: Social Security Number

STARS: Satellite Tracking and Ranging Station

START: Strategic Arms Reduction Talks

STEP: Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Park

STT: Securities Transaction Tax

SWAN: State-wide Area Network

SWIFT: Society for Worldwide Financial Telecommunications

T

TA: Travelling Allowance; Territorial Army

TAAI: Travel Agents Association of India

TACDE: Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment

TADA: Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act

TAPS: Tarapur Atomic Power Station

TB: Tuberculosis

TDC: Transport Development Council

TDS: Tax Deduction at Source

TDSAT: Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal

TERLS: Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station

TIFR: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

TIN: Tax Information Network

TINXSYS: Tax Information Exchange System

TISCO: Tata Iron and Steel Company

TMC: Terrain Mapping Camera

TMO: Telegraphic Money Order

TNT: Tri-nitro-toluene (high explosive)

TPP: 20-Point Programme

TRAI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

TRIMs: Trade Related Investment Measures

TRIPS: Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights

TRP: Television Rating Points; Tax Return Preparer

TRYSEM: Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment

TTE: Travelling Ticket Examiner

TTF: Tourism Task Force

U

UAE: United Arab Emirates

UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

UF: United Front

UFO: Unidentified Flying Object

UGC: University Grants Commission

ULFA: United Liberation Front of Assam

UN: United Nations

UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNDP: United Nations Development Programme

UNEF: United Nations Emergency Force

UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme

UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

UNFPO: United Nations Fund for Population Activities

UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHRC: United Nations Human Rights Commission

UNI: United News of India

UNICEF: United Nations International Children’s (Emergency) Fund

UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

UNRRA: United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration

UNTAC: United Nations Transitional Authority for Cambodia

UPA: United Progressive Alliance

UPSC: Union Public Service Commission

UPTN: Universal Personal Telephone Number

USA: United States of America

USIS: United States Information Service

V

VAT: Value-added Tax

VC: Vice-Chancellor; Vice Counsel; Victoria Cross; Vir Chakra

VDIS: Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme

VHRR: Very High Resolution Radiometer

VIP: Very Important Person

VLSI: Very Large Scale Integration

VOIP: Voice Over Internet Protocol

VPN: Virtual Private Network

VPP: Value Payable Post

VRS: Voluntary Retirement Scheme

VSAT: Very Small Aperture Terminals

W

WADA: World Anti-Doping Agency

WAP: Wireless Application Protocol

WAVE: Wireless Access for Virtual Enterprise

WDF: Wasteland Development Force

WEF: World Economic Forum

WFP: World Food Programme

WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions

WGIG: Working Group on Internet Governance

WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organisation

WLL: Wireless in Local Loop

WMD: Weapons of Mass Destruction

WR: Western Railway

WTO: World Trade Organisation (previously called GATT); also World Tourism Organisation

X, Y, Z

XML: eXtensible Markup Language

YMCA: Young Men’s Christian Association

YWCA: Young Women’s Christian Association

Full forms

2010-07-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

1.BCCI:Board of Control for Cricket in India

2.SEBI:security & Exchange Board of India

3.FICCI:Federation of Indian Chamberof Commerce & Industries

4.ICICI:Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India

5.IDBI:Industrial Development Bank of India Limited

6.NABARD:National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

7.ISI:Inter-Services Intelligence

8.SIMI:Students Islamic Movement of India

9.HDFC:Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited

10.HSBC:Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

11.CID:Criminal Investigation Department

12.POTA:Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act

13.TADA:Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act

14.MISA:Maintenance of Internal Security Act

15.FDI:Foreign direct investment

16.NHAI:National Highway Authority of India

17.TRAI:Telecom Regularity Authority of India

18.NDDB:National Dairy Development Board

19.SAT:Securities Appellate Tribunal

20.TDSAT:Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal

21.FIFA:Fedaration of International Football Association [GURICH]

22.OPEC:Orgnisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries

23.MCP:Muslim Confrence Party [ruling party in PoK]

24.ADB:Asian Development Bank

25.MDMK:Marumalarchi Dravid Munetra Kazhagam

26.CERC:Central Electricity Regulatory Board

27.IOS:Indian Overseas Bank

28.ATR:Action Taken Report

29.ECIL:Electronics Corporation of India Limited

30.EAC:Economic advisory council

31.SCB:Scheduled commercial bank

32.IFAC:International Federation of Accountants