Dear friends,

This is an update on FACT.
After the successful Kashmiri Pandits� exhibition, which at the moment has been translated in Mahratti and is being shown in villages of Maharashtra, another exhibition/symposium on the persecution of Hindus, Christians and Buddhists in Bangladesh was inaugurated in Mumbai on 18th November 2006 by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, in the presence of many terrorist experts, such KPS Gill, B. Raman, Brahma Chellaney and delegates from Bangladesh invited by FACT.�
A path-breaking painting exhibition on �Aurangzeb as he was according to Moghol records� was shown in Delhi�s Habitat Centre in February this year, in G gallery Bangalore in April and is now slated to be exhibited in Pune in August and then Mumbai. A film on the condition of Brahmans and Other Upper Castes has been made (it is posted on U Tube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Xgc4ljHKM) and it will be followed by an exhibition and a book. We have also initiated a show Shivaji which will be completed at the end of the year, (see attached). FACT has embarked as well on a project to do two exhibitions: one on the 1947 Holocaust of Hindus and Sikhs and the second on the rise of Sikhism as a defender of the Hindu Dharma. FACT plans to bring out audio CD�s on all these subjects to educate people. We have already brought one on the Kashmiri Pandits� issue, another one on the victims of the Bombay train blasts and of course, a third one on Brahmins and OUC.�
But overall FACT has an ultimate goal: To build an Indian Holocaust museum. India has terribly suffered in the last fifteen centuries at the hands of invaders, be they Muslims, Christians, or even Chinese recently. No nation can move forward, unless it faces squarely its past. As His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living Foundation, pointed out recently, � the courage to remember, helps us not to repeat the same mistakes and to build a better future for our children �. Hence, FACT would like to build an Indian museum where all the atrocities committed against Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians, will be depicted, but also where all the greatness of India, past, present and future will be projected. We have been donated a small piece of land in Pune near the airport and this is where we plan the museum.�
For all this noble endeavours, we solicit your help and support. FACT India is a registered Trust with tax exemption. If your donation is in Indian rupees, you can make a cheque in the name of FACT and mail it to Fran�ois Gautier, Auromodel, Auroville, Tamil Nadu, (via Pondichery) 605101, India. If it is in $, �, or �, you can make it in the name of Fran�ois Gautier, specifying in an accompanying letter for which project it is meant. I will transfer the rupees in the FACT account which is Canara Bank, Pondichery a/c N� is 27147.�
Thanks so much


Francois Gautier
Editor in Chief La Revue de l'Inde
http://www.lesbelleslettres.com/collection...ollection_id=52
41 Jorbagh, New Delhi 110003�
tel (91-11 24649635)/ (91) 9343538419

History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh

First created : January 05,2000
Last updated: June 17,2007

From the lush green rice fields on the banks of Krishna river to the diamonds of Cudapah valley, Andhra Pradesh represents a fertile land of resources and ideas. In the fourteenth century, during the Vijayanagar kings, Andhra Pradesh represented the epitome of Indian prosperity, and in 1983 the people of Andhra Pradesh strongly came together to defeat one of the greatest threats to Indian democratic system (by restoring the government of N.T. Rama Rao by popular demand). We bring you this Potpourri of topics on Andhra history and culture, to honor a great people.

The logo (shown on the left) for the series is from a beautiful mural in Lepakshi in Anantapur district and depicts a man wearing headgear similar to that worn by Krishnadevaraya, a great former king of Andhra.



WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF ANDHRA POLITICS ON THE CENTER IN NEW DELHI AND FUTURE OF INDIA

<img src='http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/andhra/vnlogo.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

The royal emblem of the Vijayanagar kings
featuring the Varaha (boar)

The Vijayanagar Empire
1336 A.D. to 1565 A.D.

The Vijyanagar kingdom was started in South India on a humble note to resist Muslim invasion of the Hoysala territory by Mallik Kafur's destructive campaign. However, within fifty years, the Vijayanagar (a.k.a. Vijayanagara) kingdom came to be known as a powerful empire and reigned the Indian southern peninsula for nearly 200 years. It required four Muslim kingdoms to come together to destroy the unwieldy large empire at the battle of Talikota.

The big empire was visited by many foreigners who left vivid descriptions of the prosperity, strong powerful army and busy maritime trade. (See: Hu-En-Tsang.)

Their capital was at Vijayanagar on the banks of Tungabhadra river, which today (2000) contains many great ruins.

Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar was a great patron of art and literature and an accomplished poet himself in Telugu. The Hampi ruins are scattered over the area of fourteen square miles known as world's biggest open-air museum.

<!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo--> NDTV poll: icons from Mahatma Gandhi to Sachin


People vote on independent India’s greatest personalities, achievements — as well as the low points
NEW DELHI: Mahatma Gandhi leads a list of distinguished Indians as the “Greatest Icon of India” during the period since Independence, leading television channel NDTV has found in an opinion poll. It announced the results of the exercise, conducted last month, on Saturday night in a programme titled “India at 60”, in the run-up to the celebration of the 60th year of Independence on Wednesday. The Hindu was the “Print Partner.”

Thousands of respondents made their choices on the Web, through SMS, and also in direct street-corner polls.
The NDTV poll sought to identify events and landmarks that have preoccupied Indians. People were asked to mark their choices in nine categories: ‘India’s Greatest Icon,’ ‘India’s Greatest Pride,’ ‘India’s Worst Shame,’ ‘One Event that Changed India,’ ‘India’s Greatest Political Blot,’ ‘India’s Greatest Sportsperson,’ ‘India’s Greatest Film,’ ‘India’s Greatest Song,’ and ‘What Best Describes India Abroad.’

Asked about the greatest icon, 53 per cent of the respondents, from person-on-the-street to software geek, voted in favour of Mahatma Gandhi. Mother Teresa came second, winning 17 per cent of the vote. Then came industrialist J.R.D. Tata and Infosys Chief Mentor Narayana N.R. Murthy, and actor Amitabh Bachchan. Jawaharlal Nehru was placed behind his daughter Indira Gandhi.

Democracy remains India’s pride. This was confirmed by over 44 per cent of the respondents. Secularism came second, ranked above the IT industry, the armed forces, and the Railways. The judiciary claimed 4 per cent. And what makes Indians hang their head in shame? More than untouchability, hunger, dowry, and manual scavenging, people felt it was bribery.

What has changed India most dramatically is the IT revolution, more than economic liberalisation or the nuclear bomb, the respondents felt. About 12 per cent of them believe that ever since Indians got mobile phones, the country has not been the same.

Biggest blot

The biggest blot is Operation Bluestar, and the anti-Sikh riots sparked by the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. The riots after Partition, the Babri Masjid demolition, and the imposition of Emergency in the mid-1970s follow in that order. The 2002 Gujarat riots that claimed over a thousand lives came last: only 9 per cent of the people felt it was the biggest political blunder to date.

Sachin Tendulkar emerged as India’s greatest sportsperson. Viswanathan Anand, a former World No. 1 in chess, came second, followed by Milkha Singh and P.T. Usha. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi together were in the fifth position.

In cinema, the 1957 classic directed by Mehboob Khan, Mother India, was the topper. The Nargis-starrer fared better than Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay. Rang De Basanti’s appeal surpassed tha t of Mughal-e-Azam.

Favourite song

India’s favourite song, steeped in patriotism, is the one that famously moved Jawaharlal Nehru to tears: ‘Aye Mere Watan ke Logon’, sung by Lata Mangeshkar. ‘Dum Maro Dum’ from Hare Rama Hare Krishna ca me second, closely followed by ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’ (Shree 420) and ‘Jab Pyaar Kiya to Darna Kya’ (Mughal-e-Azam).

And, what best describes India to the world? Brains, Yoga, Bollywood, Curry, and Gurus — in that order.

The Bernoullis of India

I am doing some research into the Daivajnya family a family of astronomers and mathematicians in Gujarat. Pl.... add anything you knw of this family ,, their dates of birth, their genealogy and their publicatons etc.


Ganesha Daivajna I (1505 CE son of Lakshmi and Kesava))


Kesava Daivajna
Krishna Daivajna Visvanatha Daivajna (son of Divakara Daivajna ) 1578 CE Vishnu Daivajnya (son of Divakara Daivajnya) same as Visvanatha ? probably not Narasimha Daivajna (son of Krishna Daivajnya) 1586 CE Rama Daivajnya , son of Madhusudhana Daivajnya Kamalakara , son of Narasimha Daivajnya ? , 1616 CE Ranganatha son of Narasimha Daivajnya ( 1643 CE) Lakshmidasa Daivajna Ganesha Daivajnya II (great grandson of Ganesha Daivajnya I (1600 CE) Nagesh Daivajnya (son of Shiva Daivajnya) (1619 CE)

[B]

<b>‘Ere We Go!, ‘Ere We Go!!, ‘Ere We Go!!! <!--emo&:clapping--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='clap.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Again</b> <!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>22 killed in guerrilla raid and suicide attack in Pakistan</span></b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo--> [/center]

Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Today, on TIMES NOW, Mohammed Haneef said that he wants Australia to apologise to India and vowed to return there and fight to get his work visa back..

Your opinion on this....

CIA, ISI had plan for militancy in Punjab: Ex-RAW official

From Deccan Chronicle, 26 july 2007

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->‘TD is No.1 T-party’
 

Hyderabad, July 25: A confidential survey conducted by the Telugu Desam shows that the party was still lurking behind the Congress in regions other than Telangana. <b>It has however re-emerged as a major force in Telangana and was the ‘single largest party’ with a vote share of 41 per cent, said the survey.</b>
This is rather ironic, since the TD stands for the united state and is not in favour of a separate Telangana.

If the survey is to be believed, <b>a TD-CPI-CPM combination would be deadly and would be able to trounce the Congress in Telangana. “Our agitations over people’s issues have definitely improved our support in the Telangana districts,”</b> said TD leader Devender Goud. “The TD stirs on bidi packets and Babli construction have paid off.” <b>But the scenario is rather bleak in the Andhra region, where the TD has still not gained lost ground.</b>

Only in the East and West Godavari districts does it come anywhere near the Congress in terms of people’s support. <b>But the bad news is from Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, Chittoor districts, which are still stoutly behind the Congress with a vote share of 75 per cent.</b>  The TD could get only about 25 per cent vote share in Guntur and Prakasam. Even Chittor, which is TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu’s home district, is under the grip of the Congress.

<b>In Rayalaseema, the picture is mixed.</b> It is the TD all the way in Anantapur. At the same time in Kadapa, the home district of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, TD is limited to 15 per cent leaving 85 per cent to the Congress. Kurnool too is dominated by the Congress, but the TD has slightly improved since the last polls. But in Chittor, it is as disastrous as it was in 2004 for the TD.

<b>In North Coastal Andhra region the situation is still in favour of Congress party except in Visakhapatnam district, where large number of voters are moving towards the TD.</b> A team of researchers belonging to two universities in Rayalaseema were engaged in the survey which was held between June 10 and July 5 across the state. TD sources said that more than 18,000 samples from 210 assembly constituencies were collected and analysed.

<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

There is a Arun Nehru article in Pioneer and PC Alexander op-ed in Deccan Chronicle, on same subject. So it is not too early to discuss the issues and prospects. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

<img src='http://bp3.blogger.com/_TV6PQVOKQDk/RhiOfVbINqI/AAAAAAAAAUE/goZKjHYYb20/s320/nithyakalyanaperumal.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Dear friends,
I have started a podcast program named "Vaaram oru Alayam" where in each episode i'll try to narrate comprehensive brief about a temple,it's architecture,festivities etc.Ancient scholars have made outstanding contributions to the growth of these monuments of great artistic value . To make the podcast little bit more interesting I'll try to narrate the stories related to the place ,temple itself ,the beliefs and rituals being practised in there in simple tamil.

So please render your support by hearing and passing your valuable comments.

This is 2nd episode and this week's podcast is about Nithya kalyana perumal Kovil,Thiruvadanthai.

http://www.podbazaar.com/view/126100789566374033


Please download it from here.

http://podbazaar.castmetrix.net/download/1...erumalKovil.mp3

Thanx
Nataraj

Hello, this is my first post on this forum. I have been following this forum for some time now.

The reason for this post is that i wanted some information and clarification.
I wanted to know the various schools of indian legal literature that have existed till today. More importantly i need them in an appropriate format for my understanding.

Now i know that my request for information on indian legal schools is itself tinged by my understanding of legal schools and thought from an european understanding. However this only underlines my ignorance.

Further i wanted sources on the indian way of thought especially with regard to the structuring of the world as with regard to the place of logic, reasoning, reasonableness among a host of other criteria that our present societal system uses or their alternatives or the system that was prevalent or is prevalent in india today or at any point of time.

This information would help me to a great extant to gain understanding of the above mentioned topics and their ancillary and interconnected concepts as well. thanks in advance.

Pratardana.