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Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Why in News:

• The Prime Minister of India has recently offered homage to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his Punya Tithi.

Biography of Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Personal Life:

• Syama Prasad Mookerjee was born in a Bengali family.

Legislative Career:

• He was a member of the Constituent Assembly and later, the first Lok Sabha.
• He served as a minister in Nehru’s first cabinet after independence but resigned in 1950 due to differences over relations with Pakistan.
• He founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• June 23 is celebrated as the death anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and as a day of resolution to abrogate Article 370 from the Constitution.
• He was the finance minister of the Province of Bengal and was subsequently elected the national president of the All India Hindu Mahasabha, the Mahabodhi Society, and the Royal Asiatic Society.

Youngest Vice-Chancellor:

• In 1934, Syama Prasad became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University.
• During his tenure, Rabindra Nath Tagore delivered his convocation address in Bengali, marking the beginning of the end of the era of English superiority over Bengali and other Indian languages.

Views on Partition:

• He had supported the Congress in 1946 elections but was assured by Sardar Patel that the Congress would never accept partition.
• He advocated for the scheme of partition of Bengal, which soon became the universal demand of Bengali Hindus.
• Due to his efforts, half of Punjab and half of Bengal were saved for India.

Opposition to India's Kashmir Policy:

• He was opposed to India’s policy of autonomy to Jammu & Kashmir.
• He was arrested during Jana Sangh’s agitation against Kashmir policy and died during detention.
• His manifesto affirmed the declaration to abrogate the temporary Article 370.

Alluri Sitarama Raju

Why in News:

• The Prime Minister has inaugurated a bronze statue of Alluri Sitharama Raju in Andhra Pradesh.
• The statue was unveiled on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary on July 4, 2022.
• This move is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative.
• The government aims to give recognition to the contribution of freedom fighters and raise awareness about them among the people of the country.

Who was Alluri Sitarama Raju?

About:

• He was an Indian revolutionary who was involved in the Indian independence movement.
• Born in present-day Andhra Pradesh in 1897 or 1898.
• At the age of 18, he became a sanyasi and gained a mystical aura among the hill and tribal peoples with his austerity, knowledge of astrology and medicine, and his ability to tame wild animals.

Alluri Sitarama Raju and his contribution in Freedom Movement

• Raju channeled the discontent of the hill people in Ganjam, Visakhapatnam, and Godavari into a highly effective guerrilla resistance against the British.
• Colonial rule threatened the tribals’ traditional podu (shifting) cultivation, as the government sought to secure forest lands.
• He became involved in anti-British activities in response to the 1882 Madras Forest Act, which effectively restricted the free movement of Adivasis (tribal communities) in their forest habitats and prevented them from practicing a traditional form of agriculture known as podu (shifting cultivation).
• Rising discontent towards the British led to the Rampa Rebellion/Manyam Rebellion of 1922, in which he played a major part as a leader.
• The Rampa Rebellion coincided with Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement, during which he persuaded people to wear khadi and give up drinking.
• However, he asserted that India could only be liberated by the use of force, not non-violence.
• He was nicknamed "Manyam Veerudu" (Hero of the Jungle) by local villagers for his heroic exploits.
• In 1924, Raju was taken into police custody, tied to a tree, and shot by public execution, effectively ending the armed rebellion.

Alluri Sitarama Raju and his recognition by the Government

• Prime Minister unveiled a bronze statue of Alluri Sitharama Raju in Andhra Pradesh to celebrate 125th birth anniversary on 4th July 2022.
• As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Government is giving due recognition to the contribution of freedom fighters and making people across the country aware of them.

Flag Code of India

Why in News:

• The Flag Code of India is a collection of laws and conventions regarding the usage, display, and hoisting of the Indian national flag in the country.
• The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, previously governed the display of the national flag.
• The Flag Code of India replaced these previous provisions after its introduction in 2002.

About:

• The Flag Code of India is a set of laws and conventions concerning the use, display, and hoisting of the Indian national flag in the country.
• Before the 2002 code was introduced, the display of the national flag was governed by provisions of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

Parts of the Code:

• The code has been divided into three parts.
• The first part contains a general description of the national flag.
• The second part talks about the display of the flag by members of the public, private organisations, and other institutions.
• The third part is about the display of the national flag by central and state governments, and their organisations/agencies.

Amendments to the Code:

• The Centre recently amended the Flag Code of India, allowing the national flag to be flown both in the day and at night if it is displayed in the open or in the house of a member of the public.
• Previously, the tricolour could be hoisted only between sunrise and sunset.
• In an earlier amendment dated December 30, 2021, the government had allowed the use of machine-made and polyester flags. Previously, such flags were not allowed to be used.
• The code states that a member of the public, private organisation, or educational institute is allowed to hoist the national flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise, consistent with the dignity and honour of the flag.

Statue of Peace of Swami Ramanujacharya

• In a recent event in Srinagar, the Statue of Peace of Swami Ramanujacharya was unveiled by the Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah.

Who was Ramanujacharya?

• Born in 1017 in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu
• Revered as a Vedic philosopher and social reformer
• Travelled across India, advocating equality and social justice
• Brought the treasure of Vedic literature to the doorsteps of the common man
• Advocated the philosophy of Visistadvaitha, qualified monism
• Dispelled the Mayavada concept, the world is illusionary
• Became the preceptor of the Bhakti movement and the source for all other Bhakti Schools of thought
• An inspiration for mystic poets like Kabir, Meerabai, Annamacharya, Bhakta Ramdas, Thyagaraja, and many others.
• Initiated the concept that Nature and her resources like Water, Air, Soil, Trees, etc., are sacred and should be protected from pollution.

Why is it called the Statue of Peace?

• The installation of this peace statue will bring the blessings and message of Ramanujacharya to Kashmiris of all religions and will take Kashmir further on the path of peace and progress
• It would further enhance the development of the people of Kashmir without any discrimination.

Saint Ramanuj's Connection with Kashmir

• Ramanujacharya visited Kashmir in the 11th Century to get an important manuscript called Bodhayana Vritti, a treatise on the Brahma Sutras. 
• The Bodhayana Vritti had the reputation of being the most authoritative explanation of the Brahma Sutras
• His disciple Kuresha accompanied him and committed the entire text to memory as local scholars did not permit Ramanujacharya to carry the manuscript out of Kashmir
• After returning to Srirangam, Ramanujacharya dictated the Sri Bhashyam, the commentary on Brahma Sutra and the Acharya’s most notable work, to Kuresha, who wrote it down
• Ramanujacharya again returned to Kashmir after 2 years to dedicate Sri Bhasyam to the region.

UNESCO’s Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage

Why in News:

• India has been elected to be a part of the Intergovernmental Committee for UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for the 2022-2026 cycle.
• India has served twice previously as a member of the ICH Committee, from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2018.
• Durga Puja in Kolkata has been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity.

Significance of India’s Election to the Convention

• India's election to the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for the 2022-2026 cycle.
• India's role in fostering community participation, strengthening international cooperation through intangible heritage, promoting academic research on intangible cultural heritage, and aligning the work of the Convention with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• India's responsibility to closely monitor the implementation of the 2003 Convention.
• India's endeavour to encourage international dialogue within the State Parties to the Convention to better showcase the diversity and importance of living heritage.

UNESCO’s Convention for Safeguarding the Intangible Heritage

About:

• The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted by UNESCO in 2003 and entered into force in 2006.
• The Committee comprises 24 members and is elected in the General Assembly of the Convention according to the principles of equitable geographical representation and rotation.
• Members of the Committee are elected for a term of four years.

Purpose:

• To safeguard the expressions of intangible cultural heritage that are endangered by the processes of globalization.
• To ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups, and individuals.
• To raise awareness at the local, national, and international levels of the importance of intangible cultural heritage.

Publications:

• Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
• Register of good safeguarding practices.

Indian Elements Recognized as ICH

• India has 14 intangible cultural heritage elements on the prestigious UNESCO Representative List of ICH of Humanity.
• Besides Durga Puja, there are 13 Traditions in India recognized by UNESCO as ICH.

Chola Dynasty

Why in News:

• The Idol Wing-CID has submitted documents to the U.S. officials to retrieve six Chola-era bronze idols which went missing from the Veeracholapuram temple in the Kallakurichi district in the 1960s.

About the Chola Dynasty

Origin:

• The Cholas came into power by defeating the Pallavas in the 9th century.
• The Sangam literature started in the early periods of the Chola rule.

Developments:

• The Cholas ruled for over five centuries until the 13th century and made South Asia and South-East India a military, economic and cultural power.
• Prominent Rulers: Vijayalaya, Aditya I, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola, Virarajendra Chola and Kulothunga Chola I.

About Rajendra Chola I:

• Rajendra I succeeded Rajaraja Chola I and built a new capital called Gangaikondacholapuram.
• He was popularly known as the Victor of the Ganges.
• Rajendra I built the Brihadisvara Temple and upgraded several others.
• His period is referred to as the golden age of the Cholas.

Chola-era Bronze Idols

• Six bronze idols from the Chola-era have gone missing from the Veeracholapuram temple.
• The temple was constructed 900 years ago by Chola king Rajendra Chola I.