News In Shorts

• Geographical Indication (GI) tag was accorded to following products: 

• A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

International Recognition:

• Under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, GI is covered as an element of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs).
• Also covered under the WTO’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.

• Inclusion in tentative list is first step towards nominating a site for inscription on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. 
  • World heritage is designation for places of outstanding universal value to humanity.
  • Currently, there are 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (34 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed). 

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Sri Ayya Vaikunda Swamikal on his birth anniversary

About Ayya Vaikunda Swamikal (Early 19^th Century) 

• Birth: Born in a poor Nadar family in village of Poovandan Thoppu, near Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu).
• Parents: Ponnu Nadar and Veyilal Ammaiyar.

Key Contributions 

• Among the Pioneer of Indian Renaissance: His famous slogan was “One Caste, One Religion, One Clan, One World, One God” which makes all caste people to feel equality.
• Founded Ayyavajhi Sect: Taught the virtue of non-violence, charity, tolerance and love among the people.

Temple Reformation

• Created new temples (Pathis and Nizhal Thankals) for those who were denied permission to enter the temple.
• Introduced Thottu Namam, encouraging priests to apply sacred paste on devotees' foreheads, regardless of caste.

Social Initiatives

• Initiated the Thuvayal Panthy program to promote vegetarianism 
• Organized Samapanthi-bhojana (community eateries)
• Undertook the digging of common wells, known as Muthirikinarus, to provide water access to lower castes who were barred from using upper caste wells.
• Authored books: Akila thiruttu; Arulnool; Ammamai 

• Maharashtra cabinet has recently decided to ask the Ministry of Railways to rename Mumbai Central station after Nana Jagannath Shankarseth. 

Early life of Nana Jagannath Shankarseth  (1803- 1865)

• Birth: Born in a Brahmin family in Murbad in Thane district, Maharashtra. 
• Father:Shankar Murkute
• Mother: Bhawanibai Murkute.
• Ideals and Influences: He was greatly inspired by the merchant and philanthropist Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy.

Key Contributions 

• Architect of Mumbai: He led major projects to plan buildings, streets, and avenues in Bombay. This earned him the title "architect" of Mumbai.
• Education Patronage: He donated family-owned land for the establishment of schools, particularly emphasizing education for girls. 
  • He founded the Native School of Bombay, which later evolved into the prestigious Elphinstone College in 1856.
• Cultural and heritage: Played a significant role in promoting the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Byculla, constructed, The Bhawani Shankar Temple and a Ram temple.
• Railway Project: He was member of the committee that gave impetus to the project for the first train in India that ran between Boribunder and Thane on April 16, 1853.
• Political Contributions: He was the first” 
  • Indian nominated to the Legislative Council of Bombay.
  • President of the Bombay Association. 
    •  The association was founded in 1852 by notable figures like Naoroji Furdunji, Narryan DinanathJi, Dr. Bhau Daji, and Dadabhai Naoroji. 
  • Indian Member of Asiatic Society of Mumbai.  
    • The society was established in established in 1804 by by Sir James Mackintosh to promote investigation and encouragement of Oriental Arts, Sciences and Literature.

Legacy and influence

• Described as ‘Architect of Modern India’ by the renowned scholar of economics, Gangadhar Gadgil. 
• Influenced freedom fighters like Dadabhai Naoroji and Justice Ranade, who adopted his vision of economic nationalism in their pursuit of India's independence.

• The Eri (tank) network in the Kazhuveli watershed region in Tamil Nadu is to be proposed for nomination to the World Monuments Fund Watch 2025 program. 
  • The World Monuments Watch is a nomination-based program that connects local heritage preservation to global awareness and action.

About WMF

• It’s the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places.
• Headquarters in New York, also has an office in India.
• It has preserved more than 700 sites in 112 countries.

• PM has offered his reverence to the Shankaracharya Hill and the temple atop it, on his recent visit to Kashmir.
  • The hill located in the Zabarwan Range, houses the Shankaracharya Temple.

About the Temple

• The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located at a height of 1100 feet.
• It is considered as the oldest shrine for worship in Kashmir valley.
• The temple got its name from the visit of the philosopher and saint Adi Shankaracharya.
  • He propounded the Doctrine of Advaita and 
  • He established the four maths namely Dwarka, Joshimath, Puri, and Sringeri.

• Prime Minister visited Sabarmati Ashram and inaugurated redeveloped Kochrab Ashram on 12^th March.
  • On 12^th March 1930, Gandhiji started Salt Satyagraha March or Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal town of Dandi.
  • At Dandi, Gandhiji broke the British government’s salt law by gathering natural salt on the sea shore. 
• Kochrab Ashram in Ahmedabad was the first Ashram established by Mahatma Gandhi after coming to India from South Africa in 1915.
  • Jivanlal Desai, a fellow lawyer, helped Gandhiji setup the Ashram.

• Recently, Gorsam Kora festival was concluded in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

About Gorsam Kora festival

• An annual festival held at Gorsam Chorten, a 93 feet tall Stupa, built during 13th Century CE by a local monk- Lama Pradhar.
• Theme (2024): ‘Zero Waste Festival’
• Organized by local community of Zemithang in collaboration with civil authorities.
  • Zemithang Valley holds historical significance as 14th Dalai Lama found refuge upon his escape from Tibet in 1959.
• Devotees including Bhutanese nationals visit during the festival to observe virtuous occasion during last day of first month of Lunar calendar.

• President of India conferred SNA Fellowships and Awards for the years 2022 and 2023.

About SNA Awards

• Akademi awards are being conferred since 1952.
• Symbolizes highest achievement in music, dance and drama.
• Awards in Hindustani and Carnatic music were instituted in 1951, even before SNA was set up and these were known as Presidential Awards.
• Honour of Akademi Fellow carries purse money of ₹3 Lakh while Akademi Award carries purse money of ₹1 lakh, besides a Tamrapatra and Angavastram.
• SNA, setup in 1953, is the apex body in the field of performing arts for the preservation and promotion India’s intangible cultural heritage.