CULTURAL QA 11-2023-14 Q1 What are some interesting facts about the Sahara desert?
KR ONCE AGAIN ON DOT FOR READERS WHO DID NOT READ? Q2 Why is Tulasi [Tulsi Leaves] always added in Prasadam offered to Lord Shri Krishna? KR: Padma Puranam Chapter 23 - The Importance of Tulasī Mahādeva said: 1-5a. O Nārada, listen. I shall tell you the importance of Tulasī, having heard which a man is free from sin from his birth to his death. Everything of Tulasī including leaves, flowers, fruits, roots, branches, skin, and stem is purifying, so also the clay (where) Tulasī-plant grows. Those whose bodies are burnt with the Tulasī-wood (are free from sins), so also he on whose dead body the Tulasī-wood is placed and who (i.e. whose dead body) is cremated after doing so, is freed from sins. He who at the time has (heard) the narration (of the virtues) or the recollection of Viṣṇu, and who is cremated with the Tulasī-wood is not reborn. 5b-lla. If among hundred (pieces of any other kind of) wood, there is (just) one (piece) of Tulasī-wood (in the funeral pyre), the man would have salvation just at the time of cremation—even if he has committed a crore of sins. By being sprinkled with the water of Gaṅgā, religious merit becomes meritorious. (Pieces of) wood become meritorious (when) mixed with Tulasī-wood. As long as the funeral pyre mixed with Tulasī-wood is burning, all his sins committed during crores of kalpas are burnt. Seeing (the dead body of) a man being burnt with the Tulasī-wood, Viṣṇu’s messengers take him (to Viṣṇus world) and not Yama’s servants. Freed from thousands of crores of existences, he goes to Viṣṇu. On those men seated in aeroplanes, who (i.e. whose dead bodies) are burnt with Tulasī-wood, gods drop handfuls of flowers. All the celestial damsels sing and singers sing songs. 11b-21. Seeing him, Viṣṇu, along with Śiva, is pleased. Taking him by his hand and physically taking him to his house Viṣṇu would clean all his sins in the presence of gods after having celebrated a great festival along with cries of victory. The sin of men is burnt in the fire-chamber or crematory when the fire of Tulasī-wood is burning with clarified butter. Those men who perform a sacrifice with the fire of Tulasī-wood, would obtain the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice forevery sesamum-seed that is offered (into the fire). A man who offers the incense of a (piece of) Tulasī-wood to Viṣṇu, obtains the fruit similar to that of a hundred sacrifices (or that of the gift) of a hundred cows. That food which a man cooks as an offering of eatables to the deity with the fire made from Tulasī-wood, is indeed offered to Viṣṇu. O lord, he who offers one lamp (lighted from) the Tulasī-wood to Viṣṇu, obtains the fruit of the religious merit earned by (the offering of) thousands of lakhs of lamps. There is no devotee seen on the earth like him who offers the sandal (-like paste) of Tulasī-wood to Kṛṣṇa. O best brāhmaṇa, he becomes fit for the favour of Viṣṇu. Having devoutly smeared Viṣṇu with the sandal(-like paste) obtained from Tulasī-wood in the Kali-age, he always enjoys in the vicinity of Viṣṇu. He who with his body smeared with the paste from Tulasī-wood, worships Viṣṇu, obtains the fruit of having given a hundred cows in one day—(a fruit) of the worship offered for a hundred days. 22-27. Listen (i.e. note that), the fruit of the religious merit remains as long as the sandal(-like paste) from the Tulasī-wood, used for smearing the image of Viṣṇu, remains in the temple. The same fruit as the religious merit a man would obtain by giving eight prasthas of sesamum-seeds, is obtained by the favour of Viṣṇu. If a man gives (i.e. puts) a Tulasī-leaf on the piṇḍa offered to the manes, then for every leaf (that is thus offered) the manes are contented for a hundred years. A man should especially bathe with (i.e. after applying to his body) the clay at the root of Tulasī. As long as the clay is on the body, he has bathed at a holy place. When a man worships with the shoot of it (i.e. Tulasī), he has performed the worship with many flowers (and it lasts) as long as the moon and the sun (shine in the sky). All that sin like (that due to) the murder of a brāhmaṇa perishes by touching or seeing (the plant) when there is a garden of Tulasī (-plants) in one’s house. Even by seeing it, O Nārada, all that (sin) perishes. Mahādeva said: 28-33. Now I shall tell you something else. Listen (to it) with a concentrated mind (i.e. attentively). O best of the divine sages, I have not told it to anyone (else). In whichever house, village or grove there would be the Tulasī(-plant), Viṣṇu, the lord of the world, being pleased, would stay there. In that house where there is a Tulasī(-plant) there is no poverty, no (hostile) action due to (i.e. from) the kinsmen, no grief, no fear, and no disease. Everywhere Tulasī(-plant) is auspicious, and especially so in a sacred place. Due to its being planted on the earth, it is always in the vicinity of that god (i.e. Viṣṇu). When Tulasī is planted (by men) they eternally get Viṣṇu’s position. When Tulasī is devoutly worshipped, Viṣṇu pacifies portents, fearful diseases and many ill-omens. Wherever the wind goes (i.e. the breezes blow) after taking the fragrance of Tulasī, (all) the ten quarters are (thereby) purified, so also the aggregate of beings of four kinds. 34-46. O best sage, the deities, Śiva, Viṣṇu always reside in that house in which there is the clay (taken from) the root of the Tulasī(-plant). At its root is Brahma. In the middle is god Viṣṇu. Rudra stays in the sprout. Therefore, Tulasī is purifying. All that sprinkling himself with water which a man does at the time of the sandhyā (prayer) is snatched by demons, and gives (i.e. takes) him (to) hell. He who carries on his head the water dropping from the Tulasī-leaf obtains the fruit of (having bathed in) Gaṅgā and would get the fruit of a gift of a hundred cows. If he especially plants a Tulasī(-plant) in the temple of Śiva, he would stay in heaven for as many yugas as is the number of the seeds (of Tulasī). Formerly goddess Pārvatī had planted a hundred Tulasī-trees (i.e. plants) on the Himālaya for Śaṅkara. I bow down to Tulasī. A man should plant (a Tulasī-plant) on a parvan day (i.e. the day of the four changes of the moon), on (any other) occasion or in Śrāvaṇa, or on a Saṃkrānti-day. Tulasī gives great religious merit. A poor man who worships Tulasī daily would be rich. The image of Viṣṇu, bringing about every kind of success, gives fame also. Viṣṇu is present there where there is a Śālagrāma stone. Bath and (giving) gifts there is hundred times superior to (doing so) at Vārāṇasī. The religious merit is a crore of times superior to (a visit to) Kurukṣetra, Prayāga, and Naimiṣāraṇya. All that religious merit which can be bad at Vārāṇasī would be (secured) there where the mark of the form of Śālagrāma is present. By means of the worship of a Śālagrāma stone, a man would quickly destroy all that sin due to the killing of a brāhmaṇa etc. NB Vilvam can be reused but not Tulasi Q3 What are some details of Gautam Goswami, a Bihar IAS officer of 1991 batch ? KR Nothing wrong in emulating but do we all know the whole back ground of any person including your neibors? And such articles are in the media across. But when we really appreciate such we should talk tall about all satva people. Now added one more from the media: India is a land of diversity, rich culture, and heritage. The country has always been a centre of attraction for people all over the world due to its unique qualities. However, to maintain a country of such diversity, it is imperative to have a strong administrative structure that can work tirelessly to ensure the welfare of the people as suggested by the best civil services exam coaching in Kolkata (click here). The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the most prestigious and respected civil service in India, known for its effective administration and governance. The IAS officers play a crucial role in shaping the country's future by implementing policies and programs that aim to uplift the marginalized sections of society. Their work has had a significant impact on India's socio-economic development, making the country a better place to live in as suggested by the best UPSC coaching in West Bengal (click here). In this blog, we will look at some of the IAS officers who made India proud with their exceptional work and contributions. Anna Rajam Malhotra The first female member of the IAS was Anna Rajam Malhotra. When she enlisted in the Madras Cadre, her prior battles against gender bias and other issues continued. She was instrumental in constructing Mumbai’s first computerized port. She received the Padma Bushan award after Rajaji later acknowledged her service. Ashok Khemka Ashok Khemka is an IAS officer who is known for his honesty and integrity. He has been transferred over 50 times in his career, which has earned him the nickname of "transferred man". Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, he has continued to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct in his work. Khemka has been involved in several high-profile cases throughout his career, including the cancellation of a land deal between real estate developer DLF and Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi. According to APTI PLUS, the best civil services exam coaching in Kolkata (click here), he has also exposed several cases of corruption in the Haryana government, where he was serving as the Director-General of Land Records and Consolidation of Holdings. Khemka has received several awards for his work, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in 2018. He is widely respected for his commitment to public service and his unwavering dedication to the principles of honesty and integrity. T.N. Seshan T.N. Seshan was an IAS officer who served as the Chief Election Commissioner of India from 1990 to 1996. During his tenure, he introduced several reforms that transformed the electoral system in India. He brought in transparency and accountability in the electoral process by implementing measures like the Voter ID card and the use of indelible ink to prevent multiple voting. Seshan's contributions to the country's democratic process have been recognized by numerous national and international awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the Padma Bhushan. D.R. Mehta D.R. Mehta is a former IAS officer who has made significant contributions to the field of social work and rural development in India. After serving as a civil servant for several years, Mehta resigned from the IAS in 1986 to focus on social work. Mehta is the founder of the NGO, Jaipur Foot, which provides artificial limbs to people who have lost their limbs due to accidents or disease. According to APTI PLUS, the best civil services exam coaching in Kolkata (click here), the organization has helped millions of people in India and other developing countries, and Mehta's efforts have been recognized with numerous national and international awards, including the Padma Bhushan and the Raon Magsaysay Award. U.Sagayam U.Sagayam worked tirelessly to promote transparency and accountability in the Indian bureaucracy. He served in various positions, including the District Collector of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Sagayam is known for his zero-tolerance approach to corruption, and his efforts to expose corruption have earned him several enemies. According to APTI PLUS, the civil services exam coaching in Kolkata (click here), he has however remained committed to his cause, and his efforts have been recognized with numerous national and international awards, including the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year Award. Armstrong Pame Armstrong Pame is an IAS officer from the Tamenglong district of Manipur, India. He is known for his extraordinary efforts to build a 100 km long road that connects his district to the rest of the state. This road, which was built entirely with community participation, is known as the "People's Road" and is considered a model of community-led development for which he was also called the “Miracle Man of India”. Pame is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and has been working in the Indian Administrative Service since 2010. He has been involved in several development initiatives in his district, including the construction of schools and health centers. In recognition of his efforts, Pame has received several awards, including the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2017. According to APTI PLUS, the best civil services exam coaching in Kolkata (click here), he is widely respected for his commitment to community development and his innovative approach to problem-solving. Durga Shakti Nagpal Durga Shakti Nagpal is a Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who is known for her efforts to curb illegal sand mining in the state of Uttar Pradesh. In 2013, while serving as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Gautam Buddha Nagar district, she ordered the demolition of illegal constructions and seized the equipment of those involved in illegal sand mining. According to APTI PLUS, the best UPSC coaching in West Bengal (click here), her efforts angered the sand mafia and politicians with vested interests in the illegal trade, and she was suspended from her post by the Uttar Pradesh government on charges of "dereliction of duty". Her suspension caused widespread outrage and protests across the country, with many people seeing it as a punishment for her efforts to uphold the law. Nagpal's suspension was eventually revoked by the central government, and she was reinstated to her post. However, she was later transferred to a less significant position. Nagpal's work to curb illegal sand mining and her courage in the face of political pressure have made her a symbol of integrity and honesty in India. She has been widely praised for her efforts to uphold the law and for her commitment to public service as suggested by the best UPSC coaching in West Bengal (click here). Aruna Sundararajan While she served as the IT secretary of Kerala, she had a significant role to play in the development of e-governance in the state of Kerala. She was also the feminist torchbearer who headed the Kudumbashree project, which has created benchmarks in the field of women empowerment and has created significant employment opportunities for women. Vinod Rai A former IAS officer who served as the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai was one reason why the anti-corruption movement in India gained momentum in the early 2010s. He was the one who brought out the report on the 2G spectrum scam. Awanish Sharan Awanish Sharan received only 44% in his 10th and had average grades for the rest of his career. Sharan proves that a person must not be judged for how well they performed at school; we’re capable of great things regardless of our marks. Some other notable civil servants: Name Achievements Pradeep Singh Kharola Took initiatives to improve airport infrastructure and passenger experience in India. Syed Asif Ibrahim Former Director of Intelligence Bureau; contributed to national security and counter-terrorism. R. K. Laxman Known for his innovative use of technology in public service delivery. G. R. Khairnar Known for his work in eradicating manual scavenging in India. Abhishek Singh Known for his work in implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme in India. Manu Kumar Srivastava Known for his work in developing the online portal for the Indian Railways. Amitabh Kant CEO of NITI Aayog; known for his contributions to the "Make in India" campaign. S.R. Sankaran Known for his work in improving the lives of Dalits and Adivasis in India. Rajeev Kumar Former Kolkata Police Commissioner; known for his role in the Saradha chit fund scam probe. Pranjal Yadav Known for his work in transforming the education system in Rajasthan. J. Satyanarayana Known for his role in the Aadhaar project and other e-governance initiatives in India. Anil Swarup Known for his work in improving the quality of education in India. Shiv Das Meena Known for his work in improving the conditions of tribal communities in India. P.S. Krishnan Known for his work in the field of social justice and welfare. Tukaram Mundhe Known for his work in improving the public transport system in Nagpur. R. Balakrishnan Known for his work in the field of rural development and poverty alleviation. Praveen Kumar Known for his work in implementing the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in India. Ravi Kumar Surpur Known for his work in transforming the public distribution system in Karnataka. R. Sridharan Known for his work in the field of urban development and infrastructure in India. C. V. Anand Known for his work in transforming the public transport system in Delhi. Anil Baijal Former Lt. Governor of Delhi; known for his work in improving the city's infrastructure. Harsha Kumar Bhatnagar Known for his work in the field of disaster management and relief in India. Conclusion The IAS officers have made significant contributions to the development of India in various fields, including science, technology, law enforcement, economics, social work, and security. Their tireless efforts and dedication to their cause have made India a better place to live in as suggested by the best UPSC coaching in West Bengal (click here). They are an inspiration to millions of people in India and around the world, and their contributions will always be remembered in the country's history. It is essential to recognize their efforts and provide them with the support they need to continue their work and make India a better place to live in as suggested by the best UPSC coaching in West Bengal (click here). KR IRS 14 11 23 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2023 at 12:22 Subject: CULTURAL QA 11-2023-14 To: Patty Thatha <[email protected]>, Iyer < [email protected]>, Kerala Iyer <[email protected]> *CULTURAL QA 11-2023-14* *All the BELOW QA are from Quora DIGEST to me on 14-11-2023.* *QUORA ANSWERS NEED NOT BE 100% CORRECT ANSWERS.* *Compiled and posted by R. Gopala Krishnan, 80, on 14-11-2023.* *Q1 What are some interesting facts about the Sahara desert?* *A1 Gary Meaney, passionate fan of all things animal2y* *The Sahara is unimaginably vast; spanning some 9 million square kilometres, it’s the world’s largest desert outside those of the polar regions. Thus, as you would expect, there’s an awful lot of interesting stuff going on inside it. For this answer I’ve picked only the most fascinating tidbits I could find on this region.* *Despite its (deserved) reputation as a scorching wasteland, it does occasionally snow in the Sahara. Three instances of significant snowfall have been recorded here, all in Algeria, and in all cases the snow melted within hours of it falling. The last time it happened was January of 2018.* *In some parts of the Sahara Desert, especially Tunisia, desert roses form. These are beautiful crystals of gypsum, encrusted in sand, which are created by the evaporation of shallow water bodies. It’s easy to see how they get their name.* *In Mauritania you can find an immense circular rock formation known as the Richat Structure, or the Eye of the Sahara. It measures forty kilometres in diameter, and was originally thought to be an impact crater, but is now understood to be an eroded dome of volcanic rock.* *About 14,500 years ago, an era called the African Humid Period began, lasting up until ~6,000 years ago. During this time, the monsoon of West Africa became stronger, and the Saharan region saw a marked increase in rainfall. The desert gave way to lush savannah, leading to a Green Sahara.* *Lake Chad is currently the largest body of water in the Sahara, but it is a shadow of its former self. While the region was green, Lake Chad was Lake MegaChad, over 700 times its modern size! In fact, it was the world’s largest lake, by far, at more than a million square kilometres in area.* *The Sahara Desert contains more prehistoric rock art than perhaps any other part of the world. These ancient paintings date back as far as 12,000 years ago, and depict everything from warfare and farming to people swimming and now-extinct local wildlife. They are an invaluable window into the lush, rainy past of this now-bleak desert.* *In Eastern Morocco, there is an incredibly rich fossil site - the Kem Kem Beds - from around 95 million years ago. It shows that this part of the Sahara was once a marshy place which was the abode of some of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs of all time, 30-ton sauropods, giant crocodiles, sawfish bigger than minivans, and much more.* *The desert’s Saharan silver ants are spectacularly well-adapted to the extreme heat. Their beautiful silvery hair reflects sunlight, and they have special proteins which allow them to withstand up to 53 degrees Celsius! Even still, they can only spend 10 minutes per day in the sun, so they have to be speedy - in fact, for their size they are the third-fastest organisms on Earth.(That paragraph was criminally short for an overview of these amazing ants, I’ll have to do them justice in a full answer some day…)* *The Sahara is home to a fascinating plant called Anastatica hierochuntica, also known as the rose of Jericho. When the dry season begins, it shrivels up and becomes fully desiccated, detaching from the ground and blowing away in the wind. Yet, upon contact with moisture in the following wet season, it “resurrects” itself, regaining its former vitality.* *In Chad, you can find Guelta d’Archei, a beautiful secluded oasis in a deep sandstone gorge. Every day, it is used by local herders to quench the thirst of thousands of camels, which have stained the waters black with their dung. The oasis is the only known remaining colony of West African crocodiles in the Sahara Desert, too.* *In 1993, electrician Emile Leray was travelling in the desert of Morocco when his car allegedly hit a rock and had its front axle destroyed. He dismantled the wreck, and used the parts to build a fully functioning motorcycle, which he dubbed his “Steel Camel” and rode to civilization.* *(It’s worth mentioning that, while this is nevertheless really cool, it’s unlikely that it was a daring tale of survival as is often claimed. What’s much more probable is that Leray went to the Sahara with the explicit intention of building a motorbike out of his Citroen there.)* *The hottest known part of the Sahara Desert is Bou Bernous, a very small and isolated town in western Algeria. Its average temperature over the course of a day was once recorded at a blistering 47 degrees Celsius, the highest such measurement anywhere on Earth!* *If you look at a satellite map of Libya, you might notice an abrupt little black dot. That is Waw an Namus, a verdant oasis inside a volcano, famous for its black tephra (volcanic gravel, basically). It is rich in bird-life, unlike the surrounding wasteland.* *The Ancient Romans made several military explorations deep into the Sahara, even venturing into sub-Saharan Africa. One expedition party, for example, arrived at Lake Chad, which they called the “lake of hippopotamuses”. They stationed a small garrison here.* *In Mali’s Dogon region, in the southern extreme of the Sahara, there is a steep cliff known as the Bandiagara Escarpment. Here, the local people build spectacular villages of mud huts which hug the sandstone cliffside.* *The Mauritanian Railway is a rail route on which some of the world’s longest trains traverse. These trains can be up to three goddamn kilometres long, and weigh tens of thousands of tonnes! They carry iron ore and occasionally passengers.* *In Tunisia, there is a unique desert village called Matmata. Here, some local Berbers dwell in underground houses, formed around one or more large pits, perfect for shielding oneself from the scorching Saharan sun. The town was the main filming location of Tatooine in the original Star Wars film.* *One of Egypt’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites is Wadi El Hitan, or the Valley of the Whales. It is in fact a paleontological dig site, where exceptional fossils of the ancient whale Basilosaurus have been uncovered. Remains of sharks, sea cows, turtles and even the first ever pelican have also been found there, showing the sands were once a shallow sea.* *Morocco boasts the title of having the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant, the Ouarzazate Solar Power Station. Its construction began in 2013, and when it is finished it will produce an estimated 582 megawatts of energy. The project has cost around 2.5 billion dollars.* *Though not nearly as famous for the structures as Egypt is, Sudan is home to over 350 pyramids - more than twice as many as the former nation has. These were built by the Nubian people, who were then known as the Kingdom of Kush, starting at around 800 BC.* *When you think about Saharan scenery, you probably imagine featureless dune fields and rocky plains, but the Hoggar Mountains of Algeria feature many dramatic landscapes. These highlands are volcanic in origin, and some of their peaks are nearly 3 kilometres high.* *In the desert of Niger, you can find the world’s tallest mud-brick building, the Mosque of Agadez. It was built way back in 1515, and has gone practically unchanged since then.* *In Morocco every year, the Marathon des Sables is held - arguably the world’s most gruelling and challenging footrace. At 251 km in length, the course is six times longer than a standard marathon, and takes nearly a week to complete. Due to COVID-19, the race hasn’t been held since 2019.* *There is a 7,000 square kilometre lake in the Tunisian Sahara called Chott el Djerid which - in summer - becomes the desert’s largest salt pan. Due to evaporation, a crust of salt builds up over the water, thick enough to drive a car over. When winter comes, it returns to its watery state.* *On average, 182 million tonnes of Saharan dust are blown west over the Atlantic Ocean each year. Of that, 28.8 million tonnes settle in the Amazon Rainforest of South America. This seemingly plays a crucial role in the jungle’s biodiversity, as the dust carries vital minerals for fertility such as phosphorus.* *Some of that dust also ends up in Cape Verde, an archipelago off the west coast of the Sahara, and acculumates in the Viana Desert. This small field of sand dunes could be considered an extension of the Sahara Desert found way out in the Atlantic Ocean.* *Egypt is home to both a Black Desert and a White Desert. The former is a volcanic area full of mounds of basalt, in which dinosaur remains have been excavated. The latter is famous for its chalk rocks, which have been eroded into exquisite shapes.* *So, I’ll leave it that for today. At first glance, the Sahara seems pretty empty, but upon taking a much closer look I’ve realized that I couldn’t possibly fit all of its interesting features in a digestible answer. I hope you enjoyed the ones that I selected.* *As an aside, I know the phrase “Sahara Desert” is tautological, as the word Sahara itself derives from the Arabic word for desert. However, I have used the phrase in this answer, mainly to mix up the word choice a bit. A bit ironic that I ended up using a repetitive name to avoid being repetitive, but anyway…* *Q2 Why is Tulasi [Tulsi Leaves] always added in Prasadam offered to Lord Shri Krishna?* *A2 Aditi Pathak,Author and Servant of Lord Krishna2h* *There are a few reasons why tulsi leaves are always added in prasadam offered to Lord Shri Krishna:* *Tulsi is a sacred plant in Hinduism. Tulsi is known as the "queen of herbs" and is revered for its medicinal and spiritual properties. It is believed that tulsi purifies the body and mind, and promotes spiritual growth.* *Tulsi is dear to Lord Krishna. According to Hindu scriptures, tulsi is an incarnation of the goddess Vrinda, who was Krishna's beloved consort. Vrinda was known for her unwavering devotion to Krishna, and it is said that Krishna is especially pleased when he is offered tulsi.* *Tulsi enhances the flavor of prasadam. Tulsi has a unique and refreshing flavor that complements many different dishes. It is also said to add a special spiritual energy to food.* *For these reasons, tulsi is always added in prasadam offered to Lord Shri Krishna. It is a symbol of devotion, purity, and blessings.* *In addition to the above reasons, there are also some practical benefits to adding tulsi to prasadam. Tulsi is a natural preservative and can help to keep food fresh for longer. It also has antibacterial properties, which can help to prevent food poisoning.* *Overall, adding tulsi to prasadam is a way to show our devotion to Lord Krishna, to purify our food, and to enjoy a healthier and more flavorful meal.* *My note- I have read elsewhere the Tulsi leaves, garlands etc can be washed and reused in temples.* *Q3 What are some details of Gautam Goswami, a Bihar IAS officer of 1991 batch ?* *A3 Do you know this person?* *He was Gautam Goswami, a Bihar IAS officer of 1991 batch, he made headlines as one of the TIME ASIAN HEROES of 2004 and later he was accused in the infamous flood relief scam.* *Born in Bihar, he did his schooling from Banaras. He also did his MBBS and MD from Banaras Hindu University. He was always the topper of his school and college. He cracked civil services exam in 1991 and joined as an IAS.* *He first hit the national headlines when he literally put his hand on microphones to prevent the then Union home minister, Lal Krishna Advani, from continuing his speech at an election rally in 2004.* *Gautam Goswami was serving as the DM of Patna and Advani's election rally was going on in Gandhi Maidan. Exactly at 10 PM, Goswami comes on stage and puts his hand over Advani's mic. “Sir, your time is up.”* * The officer told the minister referring to the Election Comission's Model Code of Conduct which proscribed use of Public address system after 10 PM.* *To this, Advani asks him, “Do you know whom are you talking to?”* *Goswami replied, “Sir, I am just following my duty and I know very well what am I doing.”* *Times Magazine printed his photo on its cover page and gave a message to many IAS officers about how to follow their duty.* *Just after 1 year of this, Bihar saw massive floods in 2005. Once again Gautam Goswami did his duty well and due to this Times Magazine awarded him with Asian Young Achiever and he made the headlines once again.* *But he was alleged for a scam of Rs 18 crores during the flood relief campaign.* *The chief accused of this scandal was Santosh Jha who was an close ally of Sadhu Yadav, brother-in-law of Lalu Yadav. Sadhu Yadav surrendered himself in the court in December 2006 but he was granted bail after 1 month.* *But Goswami had to spend 1 year in jail. When released from jail, his health was not well. It was found that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He lost the battle of life against cancer and left this world at the age of 41.* *According to his friends , “there could be a stain on moon, but stains on Goswami's character were unnecessary.”* *TIME magazine wrote, Goswami’s reputation for upholding the law improves the image of a civil service perceived by many Indians as corrupt or inefficient. Ironically, the same bureaucrat ended up dying as a tainted officer.* *There are many other examples like this.* *Ashok Khemka, IAS. He was transferred 52 times in his 27 year-career. He was in headlines for stopping land deal between Robert Wadra and DLF. He brought Wadra under scrutiny.* *Durga Shakti Nagpal, IAS. She came into public view after launching a massive drive against corruption and illegal sand mining within her jurisdiction of Gautam Budh Nagar. She was later suspended by the Uttar Pradesh government for allegedly demolishing an illegal mosque wall in a village in Greater Noida, which resulted in severe opposition as it was perceived to be based on flimsy grounds. There was a growing demand from various political parties, associations of Indian bureaucrats, and by the general public on online social media for her suspension to be revoked. Her suspension was revoked by the Uttar Pradesh government on 22 September 2013.* *DK Ravi , IAS. He committed suicide by hanging himself due to false allegations of corruption.* *Yashwant Sonawane, IAS. He was burnt alive by the oil Mafia.* *Narendra Kumar Dev, IPS. He was killed by the mining mafia for stopping a tractor because of illegal mining.* *Zia-Ul-Haq, a UP Police officer. Known for his honesty, he was shot dead in Kunda. UP Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya was alleged to be the part of conspiracy.* *Satyendra Dubey, IES. He was murdered for exposing corruption of NHAI.* *DK Ganpathi, Karnataka Police officer. He killed himself and CBI named Karnataka Minister KJ George as the prime accused in its FIR.* *Neha Shorie , a Punjab State Civil Services Officer was shot dead. Although the murderer killed himself after shooting her.* *Shanmugam Manjunath. This brave officer worked as a sales manager for Indian Oil Corporation and worked actively to stop selling of adulterated fuel. His courageous nature and honesty made him one of the most commendable officers the country has seen. But he too paid the price for being an honest man, while he was on his way to exposing two petrol pumps selling adulterated fuel in Lucknow. He ordered to seal them, and when they started working again, he conducted a surprise raid. He was shot dead the same night and his body with six bullets was found in his own car’s backseat.* *There are a lot of examples of great officers/employees who had to pay for their honesty.* *What did these officers get for being honest?* *honesty is Crime faces Transfers, bullets, false allegations, etc, etc.* *In a single word, I would say Politics. Yes, the political system and politicians always makes me sad about India.* *Why I mentioned politics?* *Because it doesn't matter how honestly a person works for the system, these bastard politicians surely up his/her career.* *Edit: Not all politicians are corrupt but a majority of them are. Period!Edits are welcome.* *My note- Raju Narayanaswamy, A 1991 Kerala-cadre officer Narayanaswamy has held a number of posts and has been repeatedly penalised for exposing corruption. * -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/2062646263.1855491.1699944760063%40mail.yahoo.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/2062646263.1855491.1699944760063%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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