Chandi Prasad Bhatt wins Gandhi Peace Prize for 2013
The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2013 has been awarded to eminent
Gandhian and environmentalist, Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt.
The jury for
the prize met under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on 18th February 2014 and decided upon his name.
The other members
of the jury were Justice P Sathasivam, leader of opposition Sushma
Swaraj, Rajya Sabha MP Karan Singh, and ex-governor of West Bengal
Gopalkrishna Gandhi.
Chandi Prasad Bhatt, born in 1934 , is a noted Gandhian environmentalist
and social activist.
He was one of the pioneers of the Chipko movement
for which he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1982.
He is also a
recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 2005.
One of India's first modern
environmentalists, today he is known for his work on subaltern social
ecology.
65th Republic Day: Japanese PM Shinzo Abe the Chief guest for this year
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , Indian Republic
Day parade as the chief guest on Rajpath.
Bhutan king visited India
President
Pranab Mukherjee received the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel
Wangchuck, and Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 07
January 2014 and hosted a banquet in their honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee
congratulated the King of Bhutan on the second successful democratic
elections held in Bhutan in July 2013, and said it was due to the
enlightened policy of successive Druk Gyalpos, that Bhutan is known the
world over for a smooth transition to a democratic constitutional
monarchy.
- Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was the Chief Guest at the 64th Republic Day.
- Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the 5th and current reigning Dragon King (Druk Gyalpo) of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
India's Gorakhpur railway station has world's longest platform
A newly built railway platform
Gorakhpur from Utter Pradesh has entered into the record books as the
longest railway platform in the world.
- According to the certificate, the length of the platform is 1,355.40 metre.
- It was inaugurated on October 6, 2013.
- The previous record was held by a 1,072.5-metre long railway platform in Kharagpur in West Bengal.
World Hindi day celebrated on January 10
World Hindi
Day was celebrated by the Ministry of External Affairs on 10 January
2014 by organizing a function at the Foreign Service Institute at Ber
Sarai in New Delhi.
- The first World Hindi Conference was
organized on 10 January 2006 in Nagpur and since then every 10 January
is observed as the World Hindi Day.
- At present Hindi as a language is
spoken in more than 20 countries around the world and is being taught in
150 Universities of the world.
- Hindi day is celebrated on September 14.
- The Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi as the Official Language of the Union on 14 September 1949.
Andaman and Nicobar Tribal Research and Training Institute inaugurated
The President
of India Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated Andaman and Nicobar Tribal
Research and Training Institute at Port Blair on 12 January 2014.
- The ANTRI will formulate a new
policy for the tribal integration with the developed society, but in
their own way and own environment without disturbing their distinct
identity and unique culture.
- The institute will also conduct a
detailed study to ensure the welfare and protection of vulnerable tribal
groups, particularly Jarawas, Sentenalese, Onges and Shompens
effectively.
Army Day observed across India on 15 January
The 66th Army
Day has been observed on 15 January 2014. The day is celebrated at the
army command headquarters across India by organizing parades and other
military shows. The main function of the day is observed in the parade
ground of New Delhi near the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate.
- Army Day is celebrated in
recognition of Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) K. M. Cariappa's
taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from Sir
Francis Butcher, the last British commander, in 1948.
- Navy Day - December 4
- Indian Air force Day - October 8
