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1. The recently released film Rhythm of Dammam sheds light on the marginalized Siddi community in India, whose origins trace back to African slaves brought by the Portuguese in the late 17th century during the trans-Indian Ocean slave trade. The Siddis, also known as Habshi or Badsha, display Negroid physical traits and primarily reside along India's western coast, particularly in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. In 2003, the Indian government recognized them as Scheduled Tribes, and they are included in the list of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. The Siddi community follows a nuclear family structure, though extended families exist. Culturally, they are renowned for their folk music and dances, such as Dhamal and Rasda, with men performing the Dhamal dance, which remains a key expression of their heritage.
2. The Indian Army has successfully installed optical fiber connectivity at Siachen and Daulet Beg Oldie (DBO) to ensure high-speed broadband access for these strategic locations. Fiber optic cables, which use pulses of light for data transmission, rely on total internal reflection to function. Siachen, the world's highest and coldest battlefield, lies strategically between Pakistan to the west and China to the east. Located to the north of Nubra Valley, it is home to the Nubra River, originating from the Siachen Glacier and flowing into the Shyok River, which is part of the Indus River system. Siachen has been under Indian control since 1984, when Operation Meghdoot secured the glacier. DBO, situated at the northernmost tip of India in the Karakoram mountains, serves as a crucial Indian military base.
3. Yakshagana is a traditional folk dance-drama from coastal Karnataka, combining dance, music, song, and elaborate costumes. The term "Yakshagana" means "celestial music" and depicts celestial stories through scholarly dialogues, often based on Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Performances, traditionally held in open-air theatres, now increasingly involve women in Yakshagana Melas (troupes). The music features instruments like Chande (drums), Harmonium, Maddale, and flute, creating a rhythmic atmosphere. Performers wear elaborate costumes including large headgear, face paint, and musical beads (Gejje). Each performance is a night-long affair, requiring strength and endurance. Tulasi Raghvendra Hegde, a 15-year-old prodigy, has gained recognition as a leading Yakshagana performer and was awarded the Young Achiever Award 2024 by the Rotary Club of Madras East. Major Folk Dances of India include forms like Garba, Bhangra, Bihu, and Yakshagana from various states.
4. The ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024 was held in New Delhi, marking India’s first hosting of the event in the International Cooperative Alliance's 130-year history. The theme was “Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All,” aligning with India's vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation). The conference launched the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025, with the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” A commemorative postal stamp symbolizing the Panchatatva (five elements of nature) was also released. India has over 8 lakh cooperatives, covering 98% of rural areas, with about 300 million people involved. The 97th Constitutional Amendment (2011) gave cooperatives constitutional status. The Ministry of Cooperation was formed in 2021 to strengthen the cooperative movement, and plans for a cooperative university and a new policy are underway.
5. The MACE (Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment) telescope, inaugurated in Hanle, Ladakh, is the highest imaging Cherenkov telescope globally, located at an altitude of 4.3 kilometers. It is also the second-largest of its kind in the world. MACE uses an Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) to detect high-energy gamma rays indirectly, capturing the Cherenkov radiation produced when gamma rays interact with Earth's atmosphere. Key features include a high-resolution camera with 1,088 photomultiplier tubes and a 356-panel mirror array for enhanced stability and reflective capacity. MACE aims to study cosmic gamma rays, including potential dark matter through the detection of WIMP annihilation. The project involves BARC and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Similar projects include the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), HAGAR in Hanle, and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT).